Judicial Inspectorate Not Expected To Be Effective

Chea Sim, center, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, Heng Samring, rear left, the party honorary president, Hun Sen, foreground, the party's vice president and the prime minister of the Cambodian government.

Supporters say it will speed up judicial reform, but opponents say it won’t serve the public.

21.09.2012

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

WASHINGTON DC - Prime Minister Hun Sen has approved a new inspectorate office for the judicial system that critics say is unnecessary and potentially harmful.

The 16-member agency, called the Inspection Office of the Supreme Council of Magistracy, was initiated by Supreme Court chief Dith Munthy and Cabinet Minister Sok An, according to government officials and media reports.

It would increase the influence of Sok An, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister and already the co-chairman of the Council for Legal and Judicial Reform, over the Supreme Council of Magistracy, which is an independent oversight body.

Cambodia Failed to Listen to Seek Aung San Suu Kyi’s Wisdom on Democracy

September 16, 2012
By Mu Sochua

The Cambodian Democratic Movement for National Rescue

‎"I have to study more about Cambodia democracy” Aung San Suu Kyi said according to Cambodia Deputy PM, Sok An. The D-PM interprets this as ASSK’s criticism of Cambodia opposition. The two met this week end at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

ASSK knows more than anyone else not to criticize the opposition in Cambodia where democracy is taking a very critical step backward-now Cambodia is behind Burma on democracy building.

Cambodia’s ruling party that is in power for more than 30 years continues to fear democratic reforms by silencing the opposition and its critics. Sok An should have listened to ASSK and her wisdom.

Cambodia opposition parties’ request electoral reforms are once again rejected by the Minister of Interior.

The U.N. Special rapporteur on Human Rights will report in Geneva on 25 September. His report will include recommendations for free and fair elections in Cambodia.

Cambodia main opposition and a strong contender to the 2013 elections is sentenced to 14 years for crime he never committed.

Cambodia is currently Chair of ASEAN.

Click here to read RFA's report on Sok An's statement

តោហ៊ា សុកអាន ស្តាប់ អ្នកស្រី អង់ សានស៊ូជី មិនយល់

សាន អុក ក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​កាសែត​ស្ដីពី​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​វេទិកា​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​យោបល់​គណបក្ស ​នយោបាយ​នៅ​អាស៊ី នៅ​ប្រទេស​ភូមា នា​ប្រលាន​យន្តហោះ​អន្តរជាតិ​ភ្នំពេញ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៥ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។

សុខ អាន ត្រឡប់​ពី​ប្រជុំ​វេទិកា​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​យោបល់​បក្ស​នយោបាយ​នៅ​ភូមា

2012-09-15
ដោយ វណ្ណ វិចារ
Radio Free Asia

សុខ អាន បន្ត​ថា ក្នុង​ជំនួប​គ្នា​រវាង​លោក និង​មេ​ដឹកនាំ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង អ្នកស្រី អង់ សានស៊ូជី លោក​បាន​ប្រាប់​អ្នកស្រី អង់ សានស៊ូជី ពី​ដំណើរ​ការ​វិវត្ត​នយោបាយ និង​ការ​បង្រួប​បង្រួម​ជាតិ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នកស្រី អង់ សានស៊ូជី បាន​តប​វិញ​ថា អ្នកស្រី​ត្រូវ​សិក្សា​រៀន​សូត្រ​ច្រើន​ថែម​ទៀត ពី​ចំណុច​ខ្សោយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា។ ត្រង់​ចំណុច​នេះ លោក សុខ អាន សន្និដ្ឋាន​ថា អ្នកស្រី អង់ សានស៊ូជី ចង់​សំដៅ​ពី​ចំណុច​ខ្សោយ​នៃ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែល​នាំ​ឲ្យ​បក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច​កាន់​តែ​ខ្លាំង​ឡើង​ពី​មួយ​ថ្ងៃ​ទៅ​មួយ​ថ្ងៃ។

មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច លោក សុខ អាន ត្រឡប់​មក​ពី​ចូល​រួម​ប្រជុំ​វេទិកា​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ​យោបល់​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​នៅ​អាស៊ី (អាយខាប់=ICAPP) នៅ​ប្រទេស​ភូមា (មីយ៉ាន់ម៉ា) នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍ ទី​១៥ កញ្ញា។


នៅ​ឯ​ប្រលាន​យន្តហោះ​អន្តរជាតិ​ភ្នំពេញ លោក សុខ អាន ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ភាគី​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​របស់​កម្ពុជា បាន​ថ្លែង​ពី​កំណែទម្រង់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​នយោបាយ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដើម្បី​ជា​បទពិសោធន៍​ជូន​បក្ស​កាន់​អំណាច និង​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​របស់​ភូមា ដែល​កំពុង​តែ​ធ្វើ​កំណែទម្រង់​នយោបាយ​ពី​របប​យោធា​ទៅ​ជា​របប​នយោបាយ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ​សេរី​ពហុបក្ស។

សុខអានជានរណា? - Who is Xok An? - By Anonymous

https://www.box.com/s/d2074466ab4d224a1fd8

Xok An: Cambodia to cooperate with Thailand in oil and gas exploration on Overlapping Claims Area (OCA)

លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ពេលផ្ដល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ ក្រោយបញ្ចប់ជំនួបជាមួយគណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ

​លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន​៖ កម្ពុជា​បង្ហាញ​ជំហរ​ធ្វើ​អាជីវកម្ម​ប្រេង និង​ឧស្ម័ន ជាមួយ​ថៃ


ថ្ងៃទី 28 កក្កដា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ជួបពិភាក្សាជាមួយលោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ កាលពី​ម៉ោង ៤​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃទី​២៧ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ នៅ​ស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​។​

​បន្ទាប់ពី​បញ្ចប់​ជំនួប​ពិភាក្សា​ជាមួយ​គណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​នោះ លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ប្រាប់​ក្រុម​អ្នករាយការណ៍​ព័ត៌មាន​យ៉ាងនេះ​ថា លោក​បានធ្វើ​បទ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ បទ​ឧ​ទេ្ទ​សនាម​ជម្រាបជូន​គណៈប្រតិភូ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ​ដែល​ដឹកនាំ​ដោយ​លោក Suradet JIRATITICHAROEN ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​ទទួលបន្ទុក​ថាមពល នៃ​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​ថៃ អំពី​គោលជំហរ​របស់​កម្ពុជា ក្នុងការ​ចរចា​ជាង ១០​ឆ្នាំ​ហើយ ដើម្បី​រក​រូបមន្ត​ដែល​ភាគី​ទាំងពីរ​ទទួលបាន ដើម្បី​ធ្វើ​អាជីវកម្ម​រួមគ្នា​យក​ប្រេងកាត និង​ឧស្ម័ន​ពី​តំបន់​សមុទ្រ​ត្រួតស៊ីគ្នា​។​

Government quashed PM Sok An's health rumours

Xok An (R)

Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

The Council of Ministers yesterday flatly rejected recent rumours and speculation about the health of Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, stating that he is recovering well after weeks of treatment for kidney stones at a Singapore hospital.

In a statement, the Council’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit called the rumours a form of “psychological warfare”, though they did not specify who they believed responsible.

As to the deputy prime minister’s health, it is “improving and as strong as ever after the successful treatment of lime stone in the kidney by specialised doctors overseas,” the statement reads.

Sok An, 62, has been out of the public eye since before the Asean Foreign Ministers meeting earlier this month, and his trip overseas for treatment has prompted much speculation about his health.

Shuffling in Siem Reap due Xok An's health?

Rumors posted on Facebook:

តើបញ្ហាសុខភាពឯត្ដមសុខអានយ៉ាងមេចហើយបានជាថា្នក់ដឹកនាំមានការដោះដូរ និងជំនួសតំណែងគ្នាបែបនេះ?

យោងតាមប្រភព ក្រៅផ្លូវការ ដែល​ប្រជាជនខេត្តសៀមរាប លួចនិយាយ​ទាំងការ ភ័យខ្លាច អំណាច បុណ្យស​ក្ដិ្ អ្នកធំទាំង អស់នេះតៗគ្នា ​បានឱ្យដឹងថា ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ បាន​រៀបចំឱ្យ ឯកឧត្ដមស៊ូភិរិនអភិបាលខេត្ត​សៀមរាប ផ្លាស់ប្ដូរ ទៅជំនួសតំ​ណែង ឯកឧត្ដមសុខអាន ដែលជាប្រធា​នអាជ្ញាធរអប្សរា ទៅវិញ និងយកឯកត្ដមឃឹមប៊ុនសុង ដែលជា​ប្រធាន ប្រតិបត្តិការណ៍សឹក ខេ​ត្តសៀមរាប ឋានៈផ្កាយ ១ និងជាម្ចាស់សណ្ខាគារ បុរីអង្គរ រីសត និងស្ប៉ា ទៅជំនួស តំណែងលោក ស៊ូភីរិនជា អភិបាលខេត្តសៀមរា​ប ទៅវិញដែលនឹងចាប់ ផ្ដើមក្នុងពេលឆាប់ៗនេះ។
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Report posted by Khmerization:

Recently, rumours and speculations about Deputy Prime Minister Sok An's illness are milling around Phnom Penh as well as debates among bloggers that the deputy prime minister was hospitalised in Singapore for kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant. Later on, The Cambodia Daily, one of Cambodia's trusted daily newspapers, reported that Sok An was suffering from a kidney stone or a minor stroke.

Eventually, Svay Sitha, spokesman for the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU), confirmed that Sok An was indeed being hospitalised in a Singaporean hospital, but is recovering well. Today, the Khmer-language Free Press Magazine Online reported that an official from the PQRU said that Sok An is recovering well and will return to Cambodia in the not too distant future.

However, as news that Sok An is recovering well, there is another speculation that he has been replaced by Sou Phirin, Governor of Siem Reap province, as the chairman of Apsara National Authority. The blogger, Pang Sokheoun, reported that a credible source in Siem reap told him that Prime Minister Hun Sen has appointed Sou Phirin as chairman of the Apsara National Authority, a position held by Deputy PM Sok An for more than 10 years. Sou Phirin's deputy, Deputy Governor Khim Bun Song, who is a brigadier general in charge of Siem Reap Military Command and owner of Angkor Borei Resort and Spa, will become governor of Siem Reap province.

The question is: Is Sok An recovering well or is he really sick that he need to be relieved of his official functions? Or has he had fallen out of favour with Hun Sen?

តោហ៊ា ស៊ីលុយហុតឈាមគេ ច្រើនពេក ទាល់តែកើត ជាដុំគ្រួស ញ៉ុកពេញ ក្រលៀន!

Xok An (R)

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Shocked An

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

តោហ៊ាឈឺក្រពះ

នាយ កើតស្វាយ រាយការណ៏តាមហ្វេសប៊ុកមកថា៖ តោហ៊ា គ្រាន់បើហើយ

នាយ កើតស្វាយ រាយការណ៏តាមហ្វេសប៊ុកមកថា៖ តោហ៊ានិយាយឮក្រតៗ គ្រាន់ជាងមុន និងអាចអង្គុយ បានយូរ ជាងមុនតែមិនទាន់ បឺតក្បាល និងឲ្យទឹក មាន់បាននៅឡើយទេ។

Xok An

មន្រ្តីទីស្តីការ គណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី បញ្ជាក់ពី ភាពល្អប្រសើរ នូវសុខភាពរបស់ លោកឧបនាយក រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី សុខ អាន

Friday, 20 July 2012
ដោយ៖ ស៊ន សុភក្រ្ត
DAP-News

សុខ អាន មានជំងឺ ក្រពះ និងលើសឈាម

ភ្នំពេញ៖ ក្រោយពីមាន ការរិះគន់ និងការបក ស្រាយខុសការពិត ផ្សេងៗគ្នា ទាក់ទងនឹង ស្ថានភាព ជំងឺរបស់ លោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី សុខ អាន រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ទទួលបន្ទុក ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី តាមបណ្តាញ សារព័ត៌មាន និងតាមប្រព័ន្ធ ទំនាក់ទំនង សង្គមហៅថា ហ្វេសប៊ុក រួចមក មន្រ្តីទីស្តីការ គណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី បានចេញមក អះអាងនិងបញ្ជាក់យ៉ាងច្បាស់ ពីភាពធូស្រាល នូវសុខភាព របស់លោក ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ជៀសវាងកុំឲ្យមាន ការភ័ន្តច្រឡំ និងការលើក ឡើងផ្តេសផ្តាស ពីជនអគតិ មួយចំនួន ។

លោក ស្វាយ ស៊ីថា រដ្ឋលេខាធិការ និងជាប្រធាន អង្គភាពព័ត៌មាន និងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស របស់ទីស្តីគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៩កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ បានបញ្ជាក់នៅ ក្នុងគេហទំព័រ ហ្វេសប៊ុក របស់លោកថា ឥឡូវលោកបាន ត្រឡប់មកធ្វើការវិញ ហើយក្រោយពេល ដែលជំងឺរបស់លោក បានជាសះស្បើយនោះ ។

លោកបានបញ្ជាក់ទៀតថា មុនពេលលោក ត្រឡប់មក ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាវិញ ក្រោយទៅសម្រាក ព្យាបាលជំងឺនៅ ប្រទេសសឹង្ហបុរី លោកបានជួបជាមួយ លោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន ២ដង។

លោក ស្វាយ ស៊ីថា បានបន្តថា លោកឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សុខ អាន មានសុខភាពល្អ ប្រសើរឡើងវិញហើយ ដោយអាចនិយាយបានឮជាងមុន និងអាចអង្គុយ បានយូរជាងមុន ។

Comrade Xok An under medical care in Singapore for kidney stone or minor stroke?

Comrade Xok An

Cambodians putting curses on corrupt government officials

18 July 2012
KI-Media

Following the public absence of Comrade Xok An for the past several weeks, the Cambodia Daily reported in today’s edition that Phay Siphan, the mouthpiece of the Council of Ministers, confirmed that the comrade is under medical care in Singapore. Phay Siphan declined to tell the nature of the comrade’s illness, although rumors have been circulating that the comrade suffered from kidney stone. However, the Cambodia Daily reported that it could have been a minor stroke as well.

Phay Siphan indicated that the comrade would return back to the Kingdom of Extraordinary Wonder this weekend following the “perfect condition” Comrade Xok An was restored back to.

False rumors on chicken kidney graft for Comrade Xok An?

Recently, several poor Cambodians, who suffered forced evictions from their homes and lands, put curses on corrupt officials involved in unfair evictions. We were wondering if kidney stone and stroke were among these curses. Hmm, something the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU) of the Council Ministers will have to investigate soon.

Due to the comrade’s penchant for cockfighting, some bad mouth had spread the rumor that Comrade Xok An had to suffer to kidney replacement, however, the illustrious Singaporean medical team had determined that only chicken kidney can be use in the graft. After hearing this ridiculous medical pronouncement, the comrade also suffered a minor stroke from his uncontrolled anger. Now this version seems more plausible, would you want to bet on it?

Who's who in Hun Xen's regime?

Nguyen Van Son aka Hok Lundy?

Hoa Van Anh alias Sok An (right)?

Lucky Man aka Keat Chhon

THE GREAT CAMBODIA DEBATE

By Mark A. Smith, DSC,
Major, USA, Retired
Posted 01 May 2005 at: http://www.rossie.com/camboddebate.htm

Before John Arnone and Kurt Heck take the "Great Book Readers" advice on Who Is Who in Cambodia, they may wish to look at the true facts not in the bookstore.

----Many years ago, I chased the current Police Chief of Cambodia around Tay Ninh Province of the then Republic of Vietnam. Though now known as Hok Lundy, he was then named Nguyen Van Son. The actual leader who asked the Vietnamese to intervene was Pen Sovan. He, of course, fell from power and was jailed in Vietnam when the relative of his wife, Pham Van Dong, lost out to the the relative of the wife of Hun Sen; Do Moi. Before this event, Hun Sen was only number 8 in the leadership sponsored by Vietnam.The reason the U.S. Government did not recognize the Government installed by Vietnam was not because it supported the Khmer Rouge, but because true Cambodians had little or no say in that Government and little now.

----Much is made of the U.S. and Thai support for the resistance to Vietnamese occupation. Many have made this to mean support for the Khmer Rouge.The only group not needing U.S. support was the Khmer Rouge. China more than adequately supplied them at the request of then Prince Sihanouk. Many nations assisted the non-communist resistance to Vietnamese occupation.

Kasper-Ansermet: Khmer Rouge tribunal staff tampering with Case 004

Chea Leang in pain

Monday, 07 May 2012
Bridget Di Certo and Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

“There is no proof, he is leaving, so he is just making pain for others” - CPP Chea Leang writhing in pain long after LKA left

Current and former staff at the Khmer Rouge tribunal have criminally interfered with investigations into government opposed Case 004 and their actions have been reported to prosecutors within the Cambodian court system, the outgoing reserve international co-investigating judge said on Friday.

In his final statement in the role, Laurent Kasper-Ansermet slammed staff at the court, including his Cambodian counterpart You Bunleng, whose conduct the Swiss national said amounted to “a serious interference with the conduct of the judicial investigation in Case Files 003 and 004”.

“The Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge has therefore brought this matter to the attention of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy of the Kingdom of Cambodia,” Kasper-Ansermet said in his statement.

Before departing the court on Friday, Kasper-Ansermet said he had also reported the results of his own internal investigation of the interference by court staff in the two government-opposed cases 003 and 004 to prosecution authorities in Cambodia.

After announcing his resignation in March, Kasper-Ansermet issued a lengthy note describing the “egregious dysfunctions” at the court including a mafia-like system of orders, originating from You Bunleng and disseminated throughout offices involved in investigations in cases 003 and 004, to block the Swiss national and his investigators from conducting their work.

Cambodia Urged to Indict More KR Leaders

Cambodian officials including Prime Minister Hun Sen have openly expressed their objection to more indictment other than case 002 and the Supreme Magistracy has refused to endorse the UN-appointed Judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet -- a move that effectively halted work on potential new prosecutions. (Photo: Courtesy of ECCC)

Sunday, 04 March 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“The situation surrounding the cases 3 and 4 was discussed.”

The UN has urged Cambodia to move forward the controversial case 003 and 004 and appoint a Swiss Judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet to lead the investigation, officials said on Friday.

The UN special expert to the tribunal David Sheffer met with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Thursday to discuss about the issues and ways to mobilize more resources to fund the cash-strapped court.

“The situation surrounding the cases 3 and 4 was discussed,” said Lars Olsen, UN spokesman for the tribunal.

Cases 003 and 004 involve five mid-level Khmer Rouge leaders who are currently living freely in the country.

Cambodia Expects Offshore Crude Field to Start Up This Year

By Rakteem Katakey and Supunnabul Suwannakij

Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Cambodia expects oil production to start in the offshore Block A by the end of this year, said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.

The country is reviewing the field operator Chevron Corp.’s offshore production license this year, said Sok An at an energy conference in Bangkok today. The company found oil and gas in waters off the country in 2005, he said today.

--Editors: Christian Schmollinger, Baldave Singh

Xan Ok's remarks on Duch's judgment

http://www.box.com/s/m0lgihaofv8y4l2qes4h

‘Differing views’ on judge

Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Mary Kozlovski and Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and recently appointed United Nations Special Expert to the Khmer Rouge tribunal David Scheffer have “differing views” on the interpretation of the 2003 agreement that established the court, according to a statement released late yesterday.

“Although the Deputy Prime Minister and the Special Expert have differing views on the interpretation of the ECCC Agreement, they intend to continue their close discussions … and both remain optimistic that the court can achieve its mandate,” read the statement, which was released following a meeting between Scheffer and Sok An.

The interpretation of that mandate, however, which broadly states that the ECCC is to try “senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea” and “those who were most responsible” for the crimes committed under Khmer Rouge rule, has been a point of contention since negotiations dating back to 1997.

In a 2009 opinion piece in the Post, Scheffer addressed the issue of which, and how many, suspects the court would prosecute, stating there had been “no serious negotiation” embracing the view of some Cambodian officials that a small pool of suspects be brought to trial, as it would have been “intolerable” for non-Cambodian negotiators and also “fatally undermined the integrity of the court”.

KRT judge backflip [-Lies and stupid denials by Sok An and his PQRU gang!!!]

Judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet was appointed as Reserve Co-Investigating Judge on 1 December 2010. (Photo: Courtesy of ECCC)

Friday, 13 January 2012
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Details of purported communications between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Prime Minister Hun Sen regarding the appointment of a new international judge at the Khmer Rouge tribunal were released and then abruptly retracted by the Press and Quick Reaction Unit yesterday afternoon.

The Council of Ministers’ spokesbody, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit, issued a press statement yesterday, including details of letters between the premier and Ban.

However, it was quickly replaced by a three-paragraph statement on the government’s position toward the endorsement of Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet, who will oversee controversial cases 003 and 004 with his Cambodian counterpart.

“We wish not to reveal details about the communications,” Ek Tha of the PQRU told the Post after the sudden replacement of the lengthy and detailed press statement with one of just three paragraphs.

Thai-Cambodian talks to neutralise exploration conflict

December 29, 2011
The Nation

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An called for a renewed discussion with Thailand over power generating and conflicts over overlapping petroleum exploration area, said Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan.

After his meeting with the Cambodian minister today, Pichai said that Sok An wanted all conflicts cleared within a year and a half, for the mutual benefits of both countries.

Pichai noted that the matter is now upto the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s negotiation team. He insisted that no particular person would gain benefits if the negotiation allows a joint development similar to what Thailand agreed with Malaysia or Vietnam. To lead the Thai investment is PTT Plc, which is majority owned by the government, he said.