Sweden grants 59.4 mln USD aid to Cambodia for social development

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Government of Sweden on Wednesday signed up to provide 400 million Swedish Kronor (59.4 million U.S. dollars) to Cambodia for causes of democratic development, human rights, education, and climate change for two years, said a Cambodian senior official.

The agreement was signed between Cambodian deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Finance, and Ambassador of Sweden to Cambodia Anne Hoglund.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Keat Chhon said the two- year grant aid would make a significant contribution to promoting sustainable development and accelerating poverty reduction in Cambodia.

Sweden Gives $59 Million To Cambodia Following Pirate Bay Founder’s Arrest [-Everything is for sale in Cambodia!]

06 Sept 2012
By Zach Walton
WebProNews.com

We brought you word on Tuesday that The Pirate Bay founder Gottfrid Svartholm was arrested in Cambodia last week. He is to be deported to Sweden where he faces a one year prison sentence and a $1.7 million fine. After the arrest, people began to ask why Cambodia was so dead set on arresting and deporting Svartholm after he had already been living in the country for a few years. The answer may lie in a suspicious coincidence.

TorrentFreak reports today that Sweden has made a generous donation of $59 million to the country of Cambodia in the form of a care package. The money will be going to the development of Cambodia’s democracy, education, and other worthwhile causes. It’s a good move by Sweden, but the timing just seems a little suspect.

I don’t think anybody would deny the noble intentions of Sweden to help out their fellow man in a less fortunate nation. It just seems oddly suspicious that such a gift would come right after Cambodia agreed to arrest and deport the founder of one of Sweden’s most notorious file sharing outfits.

Economic Land Concessions under Hun Xen - Kaching! Kaching!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySF22KjLlk8

Show the licences: SRP

Prey Lang destruction from illegal mining (Photo: CCHR)

Friday, 31 August 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

An opposition lawmaker is calling for the government to publicise its licensing of Cambodian mines, claiming that parliament has never received formal documentation of licensed mining companies.

In a letter to Minister of Industry Mines & Energy Suy Sem last week, Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay demanded to know the number and location of licensed companies, how much these companies pay the government for licences, whether these companies have the right to sell their licences, and whether the government benefits from these sales, such as the one in which the Vietnamese Nam Hai Mineral Joint Stock Company, sold its licence to an Australian company for US$3 million.

Cambodia's islands up for grabs [-A country for sale ... down to the last island, if it is not given to Vietnam yet]

A view from the pristine beaches on Koh Rong island, off Sihanoukville. The island is one of 28 in Cambodia earmarked for development. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 17 August 2012
May Titthara and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

Some of the most audacious Cambodian island developments have been connected to shady individuals, including convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov, who allegedly drove to his resort on Koh Pos from prison regularly before he was pardoned by the king last year.

Adhoc’s list of soon-to-be concessionaires includes a veritable who’s who of controversial development including LYP Group (Koh Kong Knong), TTY Corporation Co, Ltd (Koh Koan) and Try Pheap Company (Koh Tonsay), all firms that have been involved in major land disputes.

More than 180,000 hectares on 28 of Cambodia’s 64 islands were reclassified as state private property for 31 companies seeking land concessions between 2008 and 2010, government sub-decrees reveal.

The reclassification sub-decrees, compiled by investigators at the rights group Adhoc, pave the way for firms to secure 99-year leases to develop hotels, resorts and casinos, mostly on islands dotted across the coasts of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong province.

They include already popular destinations off Preah Sihanouk and Kep province such as Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), Koh Russey (Bamboo Island), Koh Rong, Koh Rong Somleom and Koh Takhieo, as well as far more obscure enclaves.

Experts in the investment and conservation communities have told the Post that on top of these land reclassifications, many of which have since gained final approval, plots have been earmarked for development by private firms on almost every single island in the Kingdom.

After 30 years of CPP rule, Cambodia lost many state assets: SRP

Thief-in-Chief

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​សមាជ​លើក​ទី​២ របស់​គណបក្ស សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស ក្នុង​រាជ​ធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២២ កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ ២០១២។ (RFA/Vann Vichar)

បក្ស​សម​រង្សី៖ បក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​គ្រប់​គ្រង​អំណាច​៣០​ឆ្នាំ កម្ពុជា​បាត់បង់​ទ្រព្យ​រដ្ឋ

2012-07-22
ដោយ ម៉ម មុនីរតន៍
Radio Free Asia

Synopsis: Yim Sovann, the SRP spokesman, criticized the CPP leadership for the loss of natural resources, such as lakes and rivers, land, mines, gas and public buildings. Global Witness considered Cambodia as a “country for sale”. Government officials could not be reached to clarify this accusation, but in the past, Hun Xen reacted angrily in public, calling Global Witness thieves.

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី បាន​រិះគន់​ការ​ដឹក​នាំ​ប្រ​ទេស​ដោយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​កម្ពុជា​ថា កំពុង​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​សម្បត្តិ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ មាន​បឹង​បួរ ដី រ៉ែ ឧស្ម័ន ប្រេង​កាត និង​អាគារ​សាធារណ​របស់​រដ្ឋ​រង​ការ​បាត់​បង់។

អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំមើល​បរិស្ថាន​ពិភពលោក ក្លូបល វីតណេស (Global Witness បាន​ចាត់​ទុក​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ថា​ជា​ប្រទេស​សម្រាប់​លក់។

មន្ត្រី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ពុំ​អាច​ស្នើ​សុំ​ការ​បំភ្លឺ​បាន​ទេ​ចំ​ពោះ​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​នេះ។ តែ​ទោះ​ជា​បែប​ណា​ក្ដី លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ក្នុង​ពេល​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ បាន​ចេញ​ប្រតិកម្ម​ជា​សាធារណ ដោយ​លោក​ហៅ​ការ​រក​ឃើញ​នោះ​ថា អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំ​មើល​បរិស្ថាន​នេះ​ថា ជា​ចោរ។

Cambodia carve-up under the spotlight [-The wholesale of an entire country by Hun Xen]

(Photo: CCHR)

Hun Xen (L) and Hun Manith (R)

Jul 10, 2012
By Sebastian Strangio
Asia Times Online

According to the local human-rights group Licadho, which monitors land disputes and rights abuses, foreign mining and agriculture firms now control a total of 3.9 million hectares in Cambodia, or 22% of the country's surface area. Industrial agri-business deals, known as economic land concessions (ELCs), now account for 53% of Cambodia's total arable land. Last year alone, the government approved 2 million hectares in concessions for 227 plantation firms.

PHNOM PENH -There were scenes of jubilation in Cambodia's capital last month when a group of 13 imprisoned women - including a 72-year-old grandmother - was set free by an appeal court. The women were arrested in May during peaceful demonstrations against the forced eviction of thousands of families living around Boeung Kak Lake, an area in central Phnom Penh earmarked for a glitzy housing and commercial development.

The company behind the controversial development is known as Shukaku Inc, an obscure firm known to be a front for the interests of Lao Meng Khin, a leading tycoon and senator for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Two Chinese companies are also reported to be investing in the project, which has seen the lake - once ringed by a bustling community of more than 4,000 families - reduced to a massive sand bank in the center of the city. Most families have already left the site in exchange for resettlement or small cash hand-outs, but a robust protest movement continues to resist eviction.

After their arrest on May 22, the 13 Boeung Kak women were charged with illegally occupying private land, and in a swift trial held just two days later - an unprecedented turnaround for Cambodia's poorly resourced court system - were each sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. One land rights activist told Agence France-Presse at the time that the proceedings were "a show trial - a complete charade".

Carving Up Cambodia: One Concession at a Time

20 April 2012
By Mu Sochua

I brought this up with The Greens Party in Australia when I met with Senator Lee Rhiannon yesterday. She will bring this up in session as well as with Ausaid. She encourages more contacts and assures that all concerns about efficiency of Australian aid should be raised. Australian mining companies will deny any wrong doings, of course because that is their business. OXFAM Australia is watching and acting on the issue.

Click here to read CARVING UP CAMBODIA: ONE CONCESSION AT A TIME  at CambodiaWatch-Australia

.

CAMBODIA: Khmer Buddhist New Year 2556 is time for Cambodians to spark effective change

Thus, as the Khmer New Year brings each a new soul, I pray Cambodians heighten their Buddhist consciousness and practice of their Lord's teachings in order to change old thoughts and old habits and unleash nonviolent action against oppression.

April 15, 2012
An article by Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth published by the Asian Human Rights Commission

Talking about the need for political change in Cambodia gets "old." I write aplenty in this space and elsewhere on the topic, yet Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People's Party persists and keeps piling on more reasons why change must occur.

It's obvious a lot has changed in Cambodia, especially the mirage of development and progress seen in images of bustling metropolitan cities with high rises, latest model cars, crowded markets and restaurants, camera-toting tourists. Cambodia is a paradise for foreign investors who compete for her markets and resources. This influx of capital accelerates change, but these are the sort of changes that should be taken only after deliberation and consideration of their potential impact. This broad-based review does not occur in Cambodia today.

The more things change

An oft-quoted proverb of French origin by novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90), later quoted by George Bernard Shaw and others, says, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," or "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Is this paradoxical?

I admit to being chagrined at reading a commentary by an editor of the Bangkok Post who in "Poor Cambodia not looking so 'poor' anymore," (April 6) noted ironically that "billions of dollars in aid money" help make Phnom Penh visibly "clean" and "spotless" a la Singapore, "at least in those areas where (foreign) delegates (to the ASEAN conference) were either visiting or staying," with "perhaps … the highest number of Lexus vehicles per capita" and "only three beggars" observed. "I personally don't believe that the funding (from aid donors) ever reaches those Cambodians in real need in any case," the editor writes, among other things.

Widespread concern among observers about the worrisome widening gap between those is confirmed by a longtime friend, a non-Cambodian professional with decades-long experience working with peoples in developing countries, who shared World Bank data that show the dramatic rise in economic inequality.

Statistically, poverty in Cambodia has been reduced between 1993 and 2007, but one-third of the near 15 million Cambodians still live below the national poverty line of 2,473 riel per day, or US$0.61; the Gini Coefficient moved up from 0.35 in 1994 to 0.40 in 2004 and 0.43 in 2007 (0 being perfect equality and 1 being absolute inequality); within the rural areas where some 80 percent of the people live, rural inequality rose from 0.27 in 1994 to 0.33 in 2004 and climbed again to 0.36 in 2007.

Call to stop firms accepting Cambodian land

Politician and rights activist Mu Sochua says "Cambodia is for sale". (Photo: Simon O'Dwyer)

April 16, 2012
Georgia Wilkins
The Sydney Morning Herald

A CAMBODIAN opposition leader has urged the federal government to stop Australian companies from accepting land concessions in Cambodia, saying they are contributing to a pressing humanitarian crisis displacing up to one million people.

Mu Sochua, a representative of the Sam Rainsy Party and prominent human rights advocate, is in Australia to meet with the Cambodian community and Greens MPs about the issue.

She says the Cambodian government has given away 2.5 million hectares of land - 13.8 per cent of the country - to domestic and international agricultural firms, and an additional 1.9 million hectares to mining companies to explore for gold and other precious metals.

"Cambodia is for sale," she said. ''China is the biggest beneficiary of economic land concessions. Australian companies are in the north-east, in indigenous areas. We are talking about thousands of hectares of land.''

Just like Vietnam, Thailand is eyeing agrocultural land concessions in Cambodia

CP makes case for regional export collaboration

Asean cooperation as food demand grows

11/04/2012
Bangkok Post

Cambodia allows foreigners to invest in rice cultivation via 99-year leaseholds.

Thailand should join forces with other Asean countries to supply raw materials to global food businesses and to push for an increase in the supply of Asean farm products in world markets.

Ajva Taulananda, vice-chairman of the CP Group, said cooperation could be accomplished by identifying potential export products from each country. For example, for Thailand it may be chicken and rice while for Malaysia it could be palm oil.

He said regional collaboration makes sense, especially in the case of palm oil, because the world's population over the next 50 years will increase to 9 billion, the production of fossil-fuel generated energy will drop and the world will face more environmental problems as a result of global climate change and natural disasters.

បទវិភាគ៖ អ្នកភូមិ ព្រួយបារម្ភ នឹងការ បាត់បង់ ដីស្រែចំការ ដោយសារ វិនិយោគ ជាមួយចិន

http://www.box.com/s/2292e1d9ca6f3cd695fe

បទវិភាគ

អ្នកភូមិព្រួយបារម្ភ នឹងការ បាត់បង់ ដីស្រែចំការ ដោយសារ វិនិយោគ ជាមួយចិន

អានុសាសន៏

រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា គួរតែមានភាពចាស់ទុំខាងផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ច កុំប្រែក្លាយជីវិតប្រជាពលរដ្ឋពីភាពជាម្ចាស់នៃដី សមុទ្រ ទន្លេ បឹង និងព្រៃ ឲ្យទៅជាភាពជាទាសករ ស៊ីឈ្នួលឲ្យចិន ស្ទើរគ្រប់ជំនាន់។

សម័យនេះជាសម័យរីកចំរើន កម្ពុជាក៏មានធនធានមនុស្សគ្រប់គ្រាន់ មានសមត្ថភាព លទ្ធភាពពេញ លេញក្នុងការធ្វើអាជីវកម្ម ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ឲ្យមានភាពរីកចំរើនផងដែរ។ សូមកុំ ដឹកនាំ ឲ្យអ្នកភូមិ ក្លាយទៅ ជាខ្ញុំកញ្ជះ របស់ចិន តទៅទៀត។

អ្នកវិភាគផ្នែកដីធ្លីនៅកម្ពុជា
អ៊ូច ឡេង

ជាការពិតណាស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលចិនបានផ្តល់ថវិការ និងកំចីដល់រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាក៏ពិតមែន តែថវិការនោះមិនបានធ្វើឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរីកចំរើនទាល់តែសោះ ផ្ទុយទៅវិញរដ្ឋាភិបាលបានដកហូតដីអ្នកភូមិប្រគល់ជូនក្រុមហ៊ុនវិនិយោគរបស់ចិន ជាថ្នូរនឹងការឆ្លើយតបអំណោយរបស់ចិន។ ផ្ទៃដីទាំងនេះ ត្រូវបានជនជាតិចិនប្រើប្រាស់ ដាំដុះ និងដឹកជញ្ជូនវត្ថុធាតុដើមទៅប្រទេសដទៃ ដោយមិនមានការអភិវឌ្ឍន៏ដល់អ្នកភូមិមូលដ្ឋាន ទាល់តែសោះ។ ក្នុងន័យនេះ រដ្ឋាភិបាលមានការខាតបង់ច្រើន ដោយសារកិច្ចសហប្រត្តិបត្តិការណ៏ជាមួយ រដ្ឋាភិបាលចិន ក្នុងដីទំហំមួយហិកតា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាអាចទទួលបានប្រាក់ឈ្នួលប្រមាណជា១០ ទៅ ២០ ដុល្លារតែប៉ុណ្ណោះពីក្រុមហ៊ុនចិន ប៉ុន្តែប្រសិនបើអ្នកភូមិដាំដុះនៅលើដីវិញ យ៉ាងហោចណាស់ក៏ទទួលបាន ប្រាក់ពី២៥០ ទៅ៣០០ដុល្លារ ក្នុងដីទំហំមួយហិកតា។

បន្ទាប់ពីប្រធានាធិបតីចិនមកទស្សនកិច្ចនៅកម្ពុជា អ្នកភូមិនៅតាមជនបទមានការភ័យខ្លាចនឹងការបាត់បង់ដី ស្រែចំការ ពីព្រោះអាចនឹងមានគំរោងវិនិយោគជាច្រើនដែលនឹងត្រូវចុះហត្ថលេខាយល់យោគគ្នារវាងសមភាគីកម្ពុជា និងចិន ជាមិនខានឡើយ។ ស្ថានភាពនេះអ្នកភូមិបានជួបប្រទះរួចមកហើយ ដូចជានៅកោះកុង មណ្ឌលគិរី ក្រចេះ ស្ទឹងត្រែង និងនៅតាមបណ្តាខេត្តនានាផ្សេងទៀត ដែលត្រូវបានបានបង់ដីផ្ទះ ដីស្រែ ចំការដោយសារក្រុមហ៊ុនវិនិយោគរបស់ចិន ចំណែកការអភិវឌ្ឋន៏នៅតំបន់នោះ មិនទាន់ឃើញមានអ្វីទាំង អស់ រួមទាំងផ្លូវគមនាគមន៏ ទឹក ភ្លើង ជាដើម។

The criminals - By Chao Prach-nha

Nearly 15 Percent of Cambodia Under Land Concession: Report

Nearly 200 families were moved here from the city, following a forced eviction at Borei Keila, a Phnom Penh neighborhood slated for development by the company Phan Imex. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer)

Friday, 23 March 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“Economic land concessions help destroy Cambodia’s forests, prevent state revenue and leave villagers poor.”

Cambodia has 2.3 million hectares of land under concessions, a new report by the rights group Adhoc says.

The concessions, which would represent about 14.7 percent of Cambodia’s total land mass, were given to 225 national and international companies, the Adhoc report says.

Government officials rejected the findings, but such concessions to private companies have been at the heart of increased landlessness in recent years and present a nettling challenge for public officials.

“Economic land concessions help destroy Cambodia’s forests, prevent state revenue and leave villagers poor,” said Son Chhay, a lawmaker with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.

China to Gamblers: Come to Cambodia

Chinese development at Botum Sakor National  Park

3/21/2012
Forbes

Pity the poor Chinese gambler. Barred from making legal bets in his own officially straight-laced country, he undergoes much trouble and expense to indulge his habit anywhere he can, from the new casinos of Macau and Singapore to Las Vegas, where a tiny band of baccarat players from the Mainland accounted for 42 percent of all table betting last year.

But if developers have their way, gamblers from China could soon enjoy a new East Asian haven where controls are few, the regime’s entirely on their side, and they have a free hand to displace locals and even bulldoze government nature preserves: Cambodia.

In the most recent deal, the Cambodian government sold off more than 130 square miles of a national park to a Chinese developer, Tianjin Union Development Group, which promises “extravagant feasting and revelry” and has already cut a 40-mile road through virgin forest that’s habitat to endangered tigers and elephants, and sent the people who lived in these lands for generations off packing.

Koh Kong intervention sought [-Maybe it's time to burn down the Chinese development?]

A man stands near a construction base for a Chinese company at Botum Sakor National Park in Koh Kong province last month. (Reuters)

Friday, 09 March 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

The provincial office of rights group Licadho has called on Koh Kong provincial politicians to help more than 1,000 families being forcibly evicted to make way for a sprawling gambling resort and other development, representative said yesterday.

More than 130 families, from three villages in Kiri Sakor and Botum Sakor districts in Koh Kong province, had filed complaints to Licadho between April and December last year, asking for intervention after staff from Chinese company Tianjin Union Development Group and military police allegedly tried to force them off their land.

“We would like to ask the company to stop taking military police to burn down villagers’ homes, to stop forcing and threatening villagers – let them live on their land,” the letter says.

The Chinese are destroying Cambodia's environment ... thanks to Hun Xen

Chinese firms increase investment in Cambodia at cost of environment

Fri Mar 09 2012
Reuters

It was once the unspoiled jungle home for tigers, elephants, bears and gibbons. But today Botum Sakor National Park in southwest Cambodia is fast disappearing to accommodate a much less endangered species: the Chinese gambler.

“This was all forest once,” says Chut Wutty, director of the Natural Resource Protection Group, an environmental watchdog based in the capital, Phnom Penh, gesturing across a near-treeless landscape.

“But then the government sold the land to rich men.”

He means Tianjin Union Development Group, a real-estate company from northern China, which is transforming 340 sq km of Botum Sakor into a city-sized gambling resort for “extravagant feasting and revelry,” its website says. A 64-km highway, now almost complete, will cut a four-lane swathe through mostly virgin forest.

Kingdom’s arable land all but gone

A map created by the rights group Licadho shows economic land concessions and mining concessions in Cambodia. Map Supplied

Thursday, 01 March 2012
May Titthara and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

If the government continues to grant economic land and mining concessions at the current rate, there will be no more arable land left in the country to give away within one year, a researcher from the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights said yesterday.

Pointing to the vast increase in economic land concessions granted last year alone, which rights group Adhoc places at about 800,000 hectares, Ouch Leng, the head of the CCHR’s land reform program, said only 300,000 hectares of unclaimed arable land remained.

“The government can grant licenses for one more year because the remaining arable land is only 386,294 hectares,” he said.

Oil deal: Thaksin to visit Cambodia

August 17, 2011
THE NATION

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will visit Cambodia late this week to meet with leaders and investors in Phnom Penh, notably on an oil-and-gas concession in the Gulf of Thailand where claims overlap, a Pheu Thai Party source said yesterday.

Thaksin, who is expected to be in the country for two days from August 19 on Friday and Saturday, will take some foreign investors to meet and play golf with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Defence Minister Tea Banh to make the business deal, the source said.

Many Pheu Thai MPs are preparing to greet Thaksin while he is in Cambodia, the source said.

Thaksin will help negotiate with Cambodia on a plan for joint development of a petroleum venture in the Gulf of Thailand where both countries claim the rights. He wants state-run PTT to have a stake in the oil-and-gas concession or enter a joint venture with Cambodia, the source said.

Forest on the auction block - រដ្ឋ​កាត់​ដី​ជម្រក​សត្វ​ព្រៃ​បឹងពែរ​ជិត​១​សែន​ហិកតា

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:02
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Almost 30,000 hectares of a wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces have been reclassified as state private land for agricultural development, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups.

Four sub-decrees signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on July 22 reclassify land in the Kulen Promptep sanctuary, paving the way for its development.

They cover 12,820 hectares in Preah Vihear and Siem Reap provinces and 15,450 hectares in Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng district.

Thuk Kreun Vutha, secretary of state at the Ministry of Environment, said the government had conducted environmental impact assessments and deemed wildlife would not be affected.

“Now, this wildlife sanctuary has no more wildlife. It is eroded land,” he said.