Protest discrimination to Khmer Krom Indigenous people in Kampuchea Krom by Kinh people

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China wary of U.S. military moves in Asia-Pacific

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is likely to face sharp questions when he arrives in Beijing for talks with China’s defense minister.

As Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visits Beijing this week, the U.S. is forging closer defense ties to countries near China and renewing its focus in the South Pacific.

September 16, 2012

Los Angeles Times (USA)

WASHINGTON — When a senior U.S. general met in Beijing recently with Lt. Gen. Cai Yingting, the deputy chief of China's armed forces, Cai forcefully objected to America's expanding military presence in Asia and the Pacific, describing it as an effort to encircle his country.

"Why are you containing us?" Cai demanded, according to a U.S. official who was present and described the incident in return for anonymity.

The U.S. general denied seeking to contain China, but it's easy to see why officials in Beijing might get that impression.

The Obama administration is forging closer defense ties to countries near China, including India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore; repositioning troops, planes and ships; and stepping up aid in the South Pacific to offset attention from Beijing.

Asian territory disputes could trigger war: Panetta

2012-09-16
AFP

China and other Asian countries could end up at war over territorial disputes if governments keep up their "provocative behaviour", US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday.

Speaking to reporters before arriving in Tokyo on a trip to Asia, Panetta appealed for restraint amid mounting tensions over territorial rights in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

"I am concerned that when these countries engage in provocations of one kind or another over these various islands, that it raises the possibility that a misjudgment on one side or the other could result in violence, and could result in conflict," Panetta said, when asked about a clash between Japan and China.

"And that conflict would then have the potential of expanding."

Precious wood transported to Vietnam like a funeral procession

ឈើប្រណីត សំរុកដឹកចេញ តាមទូកឆ្ពោះ ទៅស្រុកយួន ដូចហែរខ្មោច

Monday, 03 September 2012
ដោយ ដើមអម្ពិល(DAP)

ហេ! ហេ! ដើមអម្ពិល ហៅចៅហ្វាយ យួន ថា យួនៗ ឲ្យពេញៗ មាត់ដែរណ៎!

រតនគីរីៈ បើទោះបីជាប្រមុខរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល បានដាក់ចេញនៅបទបញ្ជានិងវិធានការ ឲ្យក្រសួងស្ថាប័ន សមត្ថកិច្ចគ្រប់លំដាប់ថ្នាក់ ជាពិសេស មន្ត្រីរដ្ឋបាល ឈើក្នុងការលុបបំបាត់ ការកាប់បំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើខុសច្បាប់ ។ ប៉ុន្តែជា រៀងរាល់ថ្ងៃ-យប់គេសង្កេតឃើញសកម្មភាពដឹកជញ្ជូនឈើប្រណីត ប្រភេទធ្នង់យ៉ាងគគ្រឹកគគ្រេង ខ្លាំងណាស់ដឹកតាម កាណូតចេញទៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម ហើយមិនត្រូវបានសមត្ថកិច្ចជំនាញ ស្ថាប័នពាក់ព័ន្ធ រួមទាំងអាជ្ញាធរ មូលដ្ឋានធ្វើការទប់ស្កាត់ឡើយ។

តាមប្រភពព័ត៌មានពីប្រជាពលរដ្ឋម្នាក់សុំមិនបញ្ចេញឈ្មោះ រស់នៅភូមិក្តុល ឃុំសេសាន្ត ស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវ ខេត្តរតនគីរី បានប្រាប់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលព័ត៌មានដើមអម្ពិលឲ្យដឹងថា ឈ្មួញឈើប្រណីតដែលគេអះអាងថា ឈ្មោះចែ ឡន យាយសាន ដែលជាថៅកែឈើដុះស្លែរជាយូរមកហើយនោះ ដោយពួកគាត់យកលុយ ទៅប្រមែលប្រមូលទិញឈើបណ្រីត យ៉ាងអាណាធិបតេយ្យ ពីតំបន់ផ្សេងយកមកគរទុកនៅភូមិក្តុល ឃុំសេសាន្ត ស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវ ខេត្តរតនគីរី ដើម្បីដឹកជញ្ជូនតាមកាណូត ចុះទៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម ដោយឆ្លង កាត់សមត្ថកិច្ចជាច្រើន កន្លែងដូចជាប៉ុស្តិ៍ នគរបាលរដ្ឋបាល ឃុំសេសាន្ត ប៉ុស្តិ៍នគរបាល ប៉ុស្តិ៍យោធា ការពារព្រំដែនច្រក ភូមិភិ ស្រុកអូរយ៉ាដាវ ខេត្តរតនគីរី។

Five ink deal to form rice cartel [-Will farmers benefit from rice price increase?]

Yanyong: 10% price rise acceptable

Goal is to boost price by 10% annually

23/08/2012
Bangkok Post

Five Asean rice-producing countries are joining forces to form a regional alliance with the ambitious goal to boost rice prices by 10% annually.

Trade ministers from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos are scheduled to sign the agreement later this year to establish the Asean Rice Federation, said Yanyong Phuangrach, the commerce permanent secretary.

Mr Yanyong called the cooperation a first for a region that exports 20 million tonnes of rice a year.

The cooperation will help lift rice prices and the census is agreed among these members that rice is not only a staple but also a main source of revenue for them.

He said a 10% rise each year is acceptable and will not have significant effect on consumers.

"The cooperation can stabilise rice prices and ensure food security in the region," he told a press briefing yesterday.

Top Tycoon Arrested

Nguyen Duc Kien addresses a meeting with Vietnam Football Federation officials in Hanoi, Sept. 8, 2011. (AFP)

The arrest of one of Vietnam’s richest businessmen sends shockwaves through the country.

2012-08-21

Radio Free Asia

"The arrest is a good signal for the implementation of laws in Vietnam. It is a strong sign that [even] such rich people in Vietnam cannot evade legal punishment if they commit a crime"

Vietnam has arrested a top banking mogul on suspicion of undisclosed financial crimes, the government said Tuesday, putting a spotlight on the country’s beleaguered banking sector, state-linked corruption, and the need for reforms.

Nguyen Duc Kien, 48, a key shareholder in some of Vietnam’s largest financial institutions, was taken into custody Monday afternoon in Hanoi after police raided his home and seized documents.

The multimillionaire cofounder of one of the largest banks in Vietnam, the Asian Commercial Bank (ACB), was arrested for “illegal business activities” in connection with three private companies he chaired, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday.

Vietnam’s weak banking sector is poorly regulated and laden with bad debt stemming from years of high inflation and plunging asset prices.

Beijing considers stronger foreign ties

August 15, 2012
By Kathrin Hille in Beijing
Financial Times

When the Association of Southeast Asian Nations last month failed to agree a joint position on the South China Sea, the disputed waters contested by several of its members and China, many observers lamented the organisation’s weakness.

But in Beijing, the outcome was quietly celebrated as a success for its new foreign policy strategy as China seeks to use key allies to push through its own interests in the region.

Cambodia, which this year chairs the 10-nation Asean group, blocked an attempt by the Philippines and Vietnam to include a reference in the summit communiqué to a recent stand-off with China in the South China Sea.

“We co-ordinated very well with Cambodia in that case and . . . prevented an incident which would have been detrimental to China,” says Chen Xiangyang, a foreign policy expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Vietnamese buses in losing competition with Cambodian rivals [-Me no speak Yieknamese!!!]

A Cambodian bus parked on Le Hong Phong Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City 

Monday, August 13, 2012
Thanh Nien News

Vietnamese bus companies operating on the Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh route complain they are getting the short end of the stick since their Cambodian rivals can buy buses much cheaper and get away with violating road rules, and thus offer lower fares.

Since an agreement between the two countries took effect in 2006, Vietnamese and Cambodian vehicles are allowed to enter and buses can take tourists to each other's territory.

Four Vietnamese companies operate on the HCMC-Phnom Penh route -- Sapaco, a pioneer in the Vietnam-Cambodia transport market, Kumho Samco, Mai Linh, and Sinh Café.

They are ranged against a clutch of Cambodian bus operators like Mekong, Sorya, Capital, Phon Linh, Rasmey Samaky, Khai Nam, and SH 15.

According to the Vietnamese companies, the biggest advantage for the Cambodians is that they can buy buses at much lower prices in their country than in Vietnam.

Then, the Cambodian buses draw away customers because the Vietnamese police ignore their offences such as parking in prohibited areas to pick up passengers.

Many of the Cambodian bus drivers violate Vietnamese traffic laws but claim not to speak or understand Vietnamese, and are let off with a warning, they said.

Vietnam jails second dissident blogger in a week

A Vietnamese blogger who posted online calls for democracy has been jailed for five years, official media said Saturday, the second web dissident imprisoned this week in an ongoing crackdown on activists (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

AFP – 08/11/2012

A Vietnamese blogger who posted online calls for democracy has been jailed for five years, official media said Saturday, the second web dissident imprisoned this week in an ongoing crackdown on activists.

Le Thanh Tung was convicted of "propaganda against the state" by a Hanoi court over Internet articles for the banned Vietnam Freedom and Democracy Movement, said the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, Nhan Dan newspaper.

The court, which found him guilty Friday of distorting the policies of the state and the party, also handed down a subsequent sentence of four years' house arrest.

Cambodia orders envoy to leave the Philippines

08/10/2012
By Paterno Esmaquel II
Rappler.com (Philippine)

MANILA, Philippines – The Cambodian ambassador who accused the Philippines of playing "dirty politics" has been ordered to leave.

Cambodia has recalled its ambassador to the Philippines, Hos Sereythonh, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Friday, August 10. "It is the prerogative of a sending state to assign or reassign its ambassador," DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez explained in a text message.

Hernandez said Cambodia did not state the reason for Hos' recall.

US starts landmark Agent Orange cleanup in Vietnam

By MIKE IVES | Associated Press – 08/08/2012

DANANG, Vietnam (AP) — Vo Duoc fights back tears while sharing the news that broke his heart: A few days ago he received test results confirming he and 11 family members have elevated levels of dioxin lingering in their blood.

The family lives in a two-story house near a former U.S. military base in Danang where the defoliant Agent Orange was stored during the Vietnam War, which ended nearly four decades ago. Duoc, 58, sells steel for a living and has diabetes, while his wife battles breast cancer and their daughter has remained childless after suffering repeated miscarriages. For years, Duoc thought the ailments were unrelated, but after seeing the blood tests he now suspects his family unwittingly ingested dioxin from Agent Orange-contaminated fish, vegetables and well water.

Dioxin, a persistent chemical linked to cancer, birth defects and other disabilities, has seeped into Vietnam's soils and watersheds, creating a lasting war legacy that remains a thorny issue between the former foes. Washington has been slow to respond, but on Thursday the U.S. for the first time will begin cleaning up dioxin from Agent Orange that was stored at the former military base, now part of Danang's airport.

The end of ASEAN centrality?

Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say.

Aug 8, 2012

By Amitav Acharya

SPEAKING FREELY

Asia Times Onlune

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) suffered a major loss of face, at least in the perceptions of some international media and academic experts, owing to its failure to issue its customary joint communique at its last ministerial meeting (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, or the AMM) in Cambodia held during July 9-13.

The reason, as has been widely reported, was the refusal of Cambodia as the ASEAN chair to incorporate the positions of Philippines and Vietnam regarding their dispute with China over the South China Sea. As a result, the idea of ASEAN centrality, which assumes that ASEAN, rather than the great powers like China, Japan, the US or India, should be the building bloc and hub of developing a wider Asian or Asia-Pacific regional architecture, is facing a severe test. But there may be some silver linings and useful lessons which, if acted upon, can put ASEAN in a better position to move forward.

Much has been made of the infighting and putdowns inside the AMM deliberations, based on leaked accounts, that led to the impasse in Phnom Penh. Many observers have noted that this was the first time ASEAN had failed to issue a joint communique in its 45 years history.

But ASEAN's rise to regional and international prominence has never been smooth. The ASEAN process ground to a virtual halt in 1968-1969 over the Philippines' claim to Sabah. Moreover, the expansion of its membership and functions has its costs and consequences.

UN concerned at shrinking space for freedom of expression in Viet Nam

3 August 2012 –The United Nations human rights office today voiced concern at reports of the ongoing persecution of bloggers and people who use the Internet and other means to freely express their opinions in Viet Nam.

“We are concerned by what appears to be increasingly limited space for freedom of expression in Viet Nam,” Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva.

The office voiced particular concern that the upcoming trial of Nguyen Van Hai (also known as Dieu Cay), Pan Thanh Hai and Ta Phong Tan for “conducting propaganda” against the State is directly linked to their legitimate exercise of freedom of expression, including their online publications about social and human rights issues.

Vietnam breaks up anti-China protests

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Hanoi, Vietnam, last month following China's oil and gas moves in the South China Sea. Source: AP

August 05, 2012
AFP

VIETNAMESE police have detained at least 20 people in a protest in Hanoi against Beijing's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea.

Demonstrators were forced into waiting buses and taken to a rehabilitation centre usually used to detain sex workers and drug users, after attempting to gather in defiance of a heavy police presence, one detainee told AFP.

"There are at least 25 people here and there are arrestees elsewhere," the person -- who requested anonymity for security reasons -- said by telephone from the Loc Ha detention centre.

Another eyewitness estimated that 20 people had been detained.

Clarification from Cambodia [-Baby Hor no. 2 sent to the rescue of Papa Hor]

Hor Monirath

Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012
By Hor Monirath
Ambassador of Cambodia to Japan
Tokyo

A week after the 45th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on July 9-13 in Phnom Penh, which ended without the issuance of ASEAN's traditional Joint Communique, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers agreed on ASEAN's Six-Point Principles to deal with the South China Sea issue. The Statement of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on ASEAN's Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea was issued on July 20.

However, we have noted with deep disappointment that during the last two weeks, there has been a lot of media attention across the region (including The Japan Times July 21 editorial "Divisions serve to weaken ASEAN") that has turned the issue into a polemic.

Critically, some media have gone as far as to try to paint a bleak picture of Cambodia's Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As Chair of ASEAN, while deeply regretting the nonissuance of the Joint Communique, the Embassy wishes to clarify Cambodia's view and position:

● Over the past 45 years, it was the first time that two ASEAN member states had "hijacked" the AMM by making the inclusion of a direct reference to their bilateral disputes in the South China Sea as a sine qua non for their endorsement of the 45th AMM's Joint Communique.

[Viet] Students abducted to Cambodia for ransom [-Could the culprits be Vietnamese also?]

Mr. Dang, N’s father, reports the kidnapping to police (Photo: Cong An Nhan Dan Online)

Thu, August 2, 2012
Tuoitrenews

Police in Binh Phuoc Province are investigating a case in which two students reported that they had been kidnapped by a man to Cambodia for a US$8,000 ransom.

After V.V.N and N.V.L, who are both 16 years old and grade 10 students at a local school, were released to Vietnam on July 29, their fathers reported the case to police on July 31.

The victims’ families live in Tan Phu Town, Dong Phu District.

According to their reports, on July 26, when they were going out, N and L met a man, their acquaintance who is about 30 years old, in the town.

The man lured the students to visit Cambodia to gamble, but the students refused, saying they had no money. The man then said they “could gamble there without needing to have money.”

US urges release of Vietnam bloggers facing trial

People visit an Internet shop in Hanoi. The United States on Wednesday called on Vietnam to free three bloggers facing trial for propaganda against the state, voicing deep concern at the self-immolation of the mother of one of the trio

AFP – 08/01/2012

The United States on Wednesday called on Vietnam to free three bloggers facing trial for propaganda against the state, voicing deep concern at the self-immolation of the mother of one of the trio.

The defendants were arrested after posting hundreds of political articles on the banned Vietnamese website "Free Journalists Club", as well as writing on their own blogs, in a case that has been raised by US President Barack Obama.

If convicted they face up to 20 years in prison, according to their lawyers.

Dang Thi Kim Lieng, the mother of one of the three, died after setting herself ablaze on Monday in front of the local authorities' offices in Bac Lieu province, according to people close to the family.

Philippines and Cambodia in South China Sea row

China has overlapping claims with four Asean members in the South China Sea

31 July 2012
BBC News

The Philippines has summoned Cambodia's ambassador over comments linked to Manila's territorial row with Beijing.

Hos Sereythonh was asked to explain remarks accusing the Philippines and Vietnam of playing "dirty politics" over the issue of Asean and the South China Sea.

Mr Hos made the comments in a letter to the Philippine Star newspaper.

But he did not turn up on Tuesday, saying that he was sick, said foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez.

"We will continue to summon him until he is able to come," Mr Hernandez said.

Philippines hits out at Cambodia in China row

Philippine navy ship BRP Rajah Humabon leaves Subic Bay, the former US navy base, near the south China sea on July 27. The Philippines said Tuesday it had summoned Cambodia's ambassador to explain

Hos Sereythonh

AFP – 07/31/2012

The Philippines said Tuesday it had summoned Cambodia's ambassador to explain comments he made accusing it and Vietnam of playing "dirty politics" in trying to solve a maritime row with China.

The move appeared to further deepen divisions within the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), more than two weeks after a ministerial meeting hosted by Cambodia ended in disarray over the sea dispute.

Foreign Department spokesman Raul Hernandez said Cambodian ambassador Hos Sereythonh was asked Tuesday to personally explain his comments, but he failed to turn up claiming he was sick.

"We will continue to summon him until he is able to come," Hernandez said in a statement.