Japanese NGOs in Cambodia are concerned about the NGO law

04 October 2009
By Savyut
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Katsuya Okada, the Japanese Foreign Minister, indicated that a number of Japanese NGOS currently operating in Cambodia have expressed their concerns that the Cambodian government will adopt a law that could affect the freedom of operation of all Japanese NGOs currently operating in Cambodia.

Kazuo Kodama, the information secretary of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, said, following the bilateral meeting between Katsuya Okada and Hor 5 Hong, his Cambodian counterpart, during the 2nd Mekong-Japan FM meeting in Siem Reap on Saturday 03 October, that he does not know the issues that Japanese NGOs are facing in Cambodia.

Kazuo Kodama said: “I don’t know if there is anything happening to the Japanese NGOs currently operating in Cambodia, and I understand that their concerns may stem from the fact that they want to provide information to the Japanese FM to let him know only.”

Kazuo Kodama added that Mr. Okada met with Japanese NGO representatives who are currently working in Cambodia, and that some of these NGOs have expressed their concerns that the Cambodian government will enact a law that affect the freedom of Japanese NGOs currently working in Cambodia.

Vice-PM and minister of Foreign Affairs Hor 5 Hong said, during the bilateral meeting between Japan and Cambodia, that Mr. Okada told him about this issue, and Hor 5 Hong replied by saying that, currently, there are several thousands of NGOs operating in Cambodia, and among all these NGOs, the Japanese NGOs never create any problem for Cambodia.

Hor 5 Hong said: “I told him (Okada) that, in the world, maybe Cambodia is the only country that counts thousands of NGOs, and among these thousands of NGOs, the Japanese NGOs never create any problem for Cambodia. In fact, they help Cambodia a lot.”

The concerns expressed by the Japanese NGOs come at a time when numerous local NGOs are also expressing the same concerns because the Cambodian government is drafting a law ruling on the NGOs.

Ny Chariya, the investigation director for the Adhoc human rights organization, NGOs do not want to see the enactment of the NGO law, because, at this time, it is not necessary [for the government] to rule over the NGOs.

Okada vows support for Mekong

Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009
The Japan Times

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Kyodo) - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Saturday that Tokyo is preparing to boost economic assistance to countries in the Mekong region.

"We would like to make greater contributions than ever to the Mekong region," Okada said during a meeting with his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

He also pledged that the new administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan will actively engage in diplomacy with Asian countries by promoting its "long-term vision" to create an "East Asian community."

The Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting being held in Siem Reap, northwestern Cambodia, is also aimed at laying the groundwork for a summit meeting between the leaders of Japan and the five Mekong region countries scheduled for early November in Tokyo.

New Japanese government pledges to continue aid Cambodia: Hor 5 Hong

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 3
KYODO

New Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada assured his Cambodian counterpart Saturday that despite a change of government in Japan, policy toward Cambodia remains unchanged, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said after meeting with Okada.

Myanmar says nuclear ambitions are peaceful: Japan

Katsuya Okada (L) and U Nyan Win (R) (Photo: Xinhua)

Sat Oct 3, 2009
By Ek Madra

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Reuters) - Japan said on Saturday it had been assured by military-ruled Myanmar that it was not developing nuclear weapons even though it was working with Russia on a nuclear energy program.

Myanmar has remained tight-lipped about its nuclear plans, despite speculation it has been receiving help from North Korea to build nuclear facilities near its remote capital with the intent of developing a weapon.

Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win told his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada that his country was seeking Russia's expertise, but only in developing a peaceful energy program for its people.

"(Nyan Win) told Japan's foreign minister that Myanmar has no intention to have a nuclear weapon," Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama told reporters on the sidelines of a Mekong-Japan ministerial meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

"Myanmar has conducted a consultation to have assistance from Russia for a peaceful use of nuclear energy."

Kazuo did not say if the issue of any nuclear links with North Korea was discussed.

Academic researchers said in August Myanmar was building a secret nuclear reactor and plutonium facility in caves tunneled into a mountain, citing intelligence from two defectors.

The defectors also said Myanmar, which has known reserves of uranium ore, had provided refined "yellowcake" processed uranium that can be used as nuclear fuel to Iran and North Korea.

The isolated country has been under Western sanctions for two decades and analysts say a nuclearized Myanmar could trigger an arms race in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a security forum in Thailand in July that she was concerned about the possible transfer of nuclear technology to Myanmar from North Korea.

In reference to ties between North Korea and Myanmar, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, said there were "some signs that that cooperation has extended into areas that would be prohibited.

However, many analysts have said evidence of attempts to develop nuclear weapons is scant and have questioned the reliability of the defectors' information.

(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alison Williams)

Mekong, Japan's foreign ministers pledge for more cooperation

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung, Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong , Laos' Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Nyan Win pose for a photo during the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting at a hotel in Siem Reap province, 230km (143 miles) nort-west of Phnom Penh, October 3 , 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The second foreign ministerial meeting among five Mekong countries and Japan ended Saturday afternoon with pledges for more cooperation in the region.

In a chair's statement released after the meeting, "the ministers reaffirmed their determination to closely cooperation on regional and global issues of common concern, and to deepen and broaden the existing Mekong-Japan cooperation and cooperation under other frameworks, such as the ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations, the ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region."

"The ministers also reaffirmed the importance of improving, through closer consultation of all its stakeholders, the business environment of each country and of the region as a whole to accelerate trade and investment," it said.

The statement, however, said the ministers recognized that the Mekong region, despite its recent development, still confronts challenges that need to be overcome as soon as possible.

(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In a join press conference after the end of the meeting, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong said Japan's had pledged to provide and increase assistance to ASEAN nations, especially, the Mekong sub-region.

He said the assistance from Japan to the region will focus on "infrastructure, investment, human resource development, cultural exchange and youth exchange."

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) shakes hand with Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada during the Japan Mekong Foreign Minister's meeting in Siem Reap October 3, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

For youth exchange, Japan pledged to accept 10,000 youth from Mekong countries for five years, starting from 2007, said Hor Namhong.

At the start of the meeting earlier in the day, Hor Namhong said "Our gathering here today constitutes a step further in the realization of our partnership for the development of the Mekong basin, which would certainly yield great benefit for the peoples living along the Mekong River and Japan as well."

The second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting has reviewed progress made since the first meeting in Tokyo, Japan in January 2008.

Mekong-Japan Partnership Program was launched in 2007 for the sake of peace, development and prosperity in the Mekong sub-region.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung,Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Laos' Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Nyan Win prepare to take a photo during the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting at a hotel in Siem Reap province, 230km (143 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, October 3 , 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Hun Sen offers greetings to Mekong, Japan FMs

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has offered greetings to foreign ministers from five Mekong countries and Japan on the sideline of the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministerial Meeting, spokesman to the prime minister said Saturday.

Srey Thamarong said Hun Sen had offered his greetings to the foreign ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan just before the plenary session of the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministerial Meeting that was about to start in Siem Reap province, northern Cambodia.

He said Hun Sen has attached significance of cooperation and solidarity among the five Mekong countries as well as Japan.

The second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministerial Meeting is being taken place in Siem Reap and will be ended late Saturday.

Hun Sen arrived in Siem Reap Friday morning and returned to Phnom Penh Saturday morning.

'Kasit Piromya' attends Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cambodia

BANGKOK, Oct 3 (TNA) – Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and his diplomatic counterparts from Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, and Vietnam, are meeting Saturday with newly-appointed Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in the northwest Cambodian city of Siem Reap to review progress and set the direction for continued cooperation in regional development.

The Second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is being chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong and is being attended by Mr. Okada along with the foreign ministers of Lao, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.

On the sidelines of the Mekong meeting, Mr. Hor Namhong will also chair the Second Foreign Ministers’ Meeting regarding Emerald Triangle Cooperation between Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

Under the Second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Japan, which has actively assisted the Mekong region countries, is expected to offer continued commitment to regional development with its vision to create an ‘East Asian Community’.

The meeting is aimed at improving regional infrastructure and human resources, as well as reducing poverty, and will pave the way for a leaders’ summit later this year.

In the afternoon, the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand will meet under the Emerald Triangle Cooperation umbrella in which they are expected to commit to expanded cooperation in tourism, infrastructure and trade.

The Emerald Triangle Cooperation framework consists of the three neighbouring countries joining together to utilise the combined tourism resources of the sub-region for the mutual benefit of the participating countries. The strengths in the tourism industry of each member country will enhance the combined potential in this sector and promote tourism in the sub-region.

It will also help generate growth and reduce income disparity in the three countries and enhance the well being of people at the grassroots level.

In the afternoon Mr Kasit will hold bilateral talks with the newly-appointed Japanese foreign minister over common interests and plans to develop the Mekong Sub-Region.

Cambodian FM calls on strengthening partnership for development of Mekong basin

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The second foreign ministerial meeting among five Mekong countries and Japan kicked off Saturday in Siem Reap province, northern part of Cambodia, aimed to boost joint development effort in the area.

As the meeting started, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong, who chaired the one-day meeting session said "Our gathering here today constitutes a step further in the realization of our partnership for the development of the Mekong basin, which would certainly yield great benefit for the peoples living along the Mekong River and Japan as well."

The agenda for the second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting is to review progress made since the first meeting in Tokyo, Japan in January 2008.

Hor Namhong also said that "The cooperation between the Mekong region and Japan is bound to have major implications for the future development of the Mekong basin." He highly appreciates Japan's commitment to provide more Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Asia, saying that this initiative "would not only strengthen Asia's growth potential, but also contribute to ASEAN integration."

The meeting attended by foreign ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Japan, Vietnam was represented by a deputy foreign minister attended the meeting.

Mekong-Japan Partnership Program was launched in 2007 for the sake of peace, development and prosperity in the Mekong sub-region.

According to the program of discussion, the foreign ministers will not only discuss the development programs, but also to exchange views on regional and global issues of common concern.

Cambodia to host Mekong-Japan foreign ministers meeting next week

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host the Second Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting next week to review progress and to set out future direction for cooperation in the region, according to a press release issued Wednesday by Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.

The press release said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong will chair the meeting of foreign ministers from Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam from Oct. 2 to 3 in Siem Reap.

On the sidelines of the Mekong-Japan meeting, Hor Namhong will also chair the Second Foreign Minister's Meeting of the Emerald Triangle Cooperation between Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

The ministers will review the progress of Japan-Mekong cooperation since "Japan-Mekong Region Partnership Program" was launched in 2007 and the First Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo in January 2008, and to set out the future direction of the cooperation in this mechanism.

Siem Reap is chosen as an alternative venue for many international meetings or conferences beside Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh and coastal beach of Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia.