Two officials sacked over land ‘graft’

How about this land thief, when will he be sacked?

Monday, 03 September 2012
Kim Sarom
The Phnom Penh Post

Kampong Chhnang authorities had sacked the Teuk Phos district governor and police chief after subordinate officers accused them of conspiring to sell almost 300 hectares of state-owned forest land to a private company, provincial officials said yesterday.

According to a Kampong Chhnang official who declined to be named, Ou Sakhorn and Kem Sareth, the governor and police chief of Teuk Phos respectively, were dismissed after multiple subordinates alleged that Sakhorn had used their names to divvy up and sell land in Thnol Keng and Preach Chruov villages, then pocket the proceeds.

But provincial police commissioner Ath Khem denied the dismissal stemmed from the graft accusations, saying that it was simply a routine “rotation for government officials”.

Suy Sem's land-grabbing case - Op-Ed by Anonymous

Children uncover ancient Buddha statues

A shrine set up to display six statues found in a pond in Kampong Chhnang province. Photograph: supplied

Monday, 20 August 2012
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

Six ancient, bronze Buddha statues potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were discovered by a band of unlikely archaeologists in Kampong Chhnang over the weekend, authorities said yesterday.

A group of young boys playing in a pond near their houses in Kampong Leng district chanced upon strange metallic objects in a pile of excavated earth from a freshly dug waterhole.

“The children were swimming in the new pond nearby their houses,and when they left the pond, one boy saw a metal object in the [pile of earth] nearby. The boys thought that maybe it was a piece of metal that they could sell to a collector,” Kampong Leng district Governor Moan Eangly said yesterday.

The children dug through the dirt and found six Buddha statues thought likely to be from the 11th and 12th centuries – three in sitting poses and three standing. Guessing the significance of the find, they opted not to pawn the loot and instead take them to their parents.

Farmers fear deal has strings

Villagers from Kampong Chhnang’s Lorpeang Village, pictured last year, have recently been granted permission to farm land that has been disputed since 2007 with the KDC company. Photograph: Derek Stout/Phnom Penh Post

CPP Land Thief Chea Kheng, the wife of CPP minister Suy Sem (Photo:Mondulkeo, RFA)

Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Forty Kampong Chhnang villagers embroiled in a long-running land dispute with KDC International, a company owned by the wife of a senior CPP official, farmed contested land without interference on Monday, prompting some to wonder if they were being coaxed to vote for the ruling party in the coming commune elections.

Villagers were confused as to why no one barred them from the land, which is claimed by KDC and its owner Chea Kheng, wife of CPP-affiliated Industry, Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem.

However, village representative Reach Seima suspects the new accommodation is simply because “it’s time to vote”.

“When we entered, the guard told us to bring more villagers to [farm] on this land,” he said. “We wondered is that a trick of the company? [The CPP] are good to us because they don’t want to lose votes.”

Small victory for villagers

Villagers embroiled in a land dispute with the KDC company at their homes in Kampong Chhnang province in September last year. (Photo by Drek Stout)

Suy Sem (front row) sitting next to Chea Kheng, his wife

Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

The Kampong Chhnang provincial court yesterday ordered the KDC company to produce proof of ownership for 105 land titles in the Kampong Tralach district, the subject of a land dispute that dates back to 2007.

Long Lun, attorney for 70-year-old Chat Batt from the Lorpeang village, who claims KDC unlawfully grabbed her land without payment, said yesterday he welcomed the court’s decision, which will force the company to prove their debated ownership of the land.

“The court also requested cadastral officials to file all relevant land measurements,” the attorney said.

In 2007, Lorpeang villagers claim that the KDC company, owned by Chea Kheng, wife of the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem, took more than 500 hectares of their farmland with no payment or agreement. The company insists the land was purchased properly.

MV factory pressured workers to work on the International Women's Day

http://www.box.com/s/aiqcqo4p35xy9sx45ixe

Chea Mony sued over strike

Free Trade Union president Chea Mony speaks to disgruntled factory workers during a protest outside the Medtec factory in Kampong Cham province last month. Heng Chivoan

Monday, 05 March 2012
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

Kampong Chhnang Provincial Court has summonsed Free Trade Union president Chea Mony and two of his officers to answer incitement charges at the court tomorrow relating to his alleged involvement in a mass strike at a garment factory last year, officials said yesterday.

M&V garment factory bosses lodged a complaint with authorities accusing Chea Mony of incitement and property damage incurred when more than 3,000 of the factory’s workers went on strike last October demanding the company deliver on eight points for improved working conditions.

M&V factory 4 administration chief Yin Nak said the October strike was contrary to legal procedure.

“The union exploited workers and tried to trick me at the negotiation table when the company and union were negotiating at Kampong Chhnang’s Labour Department,” Yin Nak said, adding the company had suffered a great loss of revenue due to the October strike.

COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Ampil Tuek, Kampong Tralach, Kampong Chhnang province

Dear all,

COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Ampil Tuek commune, Kampong Tralach district, Kampong Chhnang province was held on December 12, 2011.

Please see the attached document for details.

FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralization and governance, please feel free to visit our website:

www.comfrel.org

Best regards,

COMFREL


http://www.box.com/s/5haqub797azkefjgnmnm

CITA's seminar in Kampong Chhnang

http://www.box.com/s/t43tncn124l038hd8vp7

Disagreements at the MV garment factory

សេចក្តីជូនដំណឹង

កម្មករកម្មការិនី​អឹមវ៉េ ខេត្តកំពុងឆ្នាំង បានធ្វើ ការ រាយការណ៍ ដែលពួកគេ មិនសុខចិត្ត ចំពោះ ក្រុមហ៊ុន មិនបាន អនុវត្ត នូវកិច្ច ព្រមព្រៀងគ្នា នៅពេលចរចា នៅមន្ទីខេត្ត កំពុងឆ្នាំង ដឹកនាំ ដោយ លោកពៅ ស៊ីថា។

ការមិនសុខចិត្តរបស់កម្មករមានៈ
-​ ភាគីរោងចក្រ បានសន្យា និងព្រមព្រៀង ចេញតម្លៃឡូតិ៍ ជូនកម្មករ នៅឡើយទេ ពីព្រោះ តំលៃឡូតិ៍ នេះមាន សារៈសំខាន បំផុតចំពោះ កម្មករកម្មការិនី ធ្វើការ ក្នុងរោងចក្រ។
- រោងចក្រ ឲ្យកម្មករ កម្មការិនី ចូលធ្វើការ ម្តងម្កាល ដោយមិនមាន កំនត់កាល បរិច្ឆេទ ត្រឹមត្រូវ ជូន កម្មករ កម្មការិនី។
ក្រុមហ៊ុន អឹមវ៉េ បានបំពាន នូវអី្វ ដែលបាន ព្រមព្រៀង ហើយមិន អនុវត្ត ចំពោះ កម្មករ កម្មការិនី។

សូម បញ្ជាក់ ថានៅ ថ្ងៃទី23 ធ្នូ 2011 នេះ តំណាង កម្មករ កម្មការិនី រោងចក្រអឹមវ៉េ និងមន្រ្តី សហជីព សេរី កម្មករ នឹងទៅ សវនាការ នៅក្រុម ប្រឹក្សា អាជ្ញាកណ្តាល។

ពត៌មានបន្ថែមសូមទំនាក់ទំនងអ្នកស្រី មាស សុខខេង 078 311​ 506
តំណាងសហជីពសេរី និងកម្មការិនី សូត្រ វណ្ណា 097 8099529
អរគុណ

Kampong Chhnang city still under flood water

All Photos: Koh Santepheap News

Theary Seng's Conversati​on with 11-year-ol​d Sina at Kampong Chhnang Airport Constructi​on Execution Site, 9 Oct. 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSI1w6BSCbg

Struggle of Workers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHmYReTD4M8

12 October 2011

By Mu Sochua

The following day, the Arbitration Council ordered the 5,000 workers to go back to work and ordered the employer to stop of firing workers till a solution is found.

In the meantime, the provincial court ordered workers to stop all strike and authorized the employer to fire 15 representatives of the workers.

The Free Trade Union filed a letter of compliant with the Supreme Council of Magistracy against the procedures taken by the provincial court.

More strike will follow as workers will stand together till their demands are met.

Viet fishermen in Kampong Chhnang - Op-Ed and Photo by Anonynmous

Media alert. Press Conference on August 15, 2011 at 8:30AM at ADHOC on “The Costs of Subject-ma​tter of Civil Action and Poverty of Villagers Living in Lor Peang Village, Taches Commune, Kampong Tralach District, Kampong Chhnang Province

Kingdom of Cambodia

Nation Religion King

---------------

Press Release

Phnom Penh, 14 August 2011

We, the representatives of 51 family villagers living in Lor Peang village, Taches commune, Kampong Tralach district, Kampong Chhnang province, who are affected by a long-lasting land dispute with KDC International Company which is owned by H.E. Mrs. Chea Kheng, would like to inform and invite the members of the local and international media on “The Costs of Subject-matter of Civil Action and Poverty of Villagers Living in Lor Peang Village, Taches Commune, Kampong Tralach District, Kampong Chhnang Province”.

Date: Monday 15 August 2011 at 8:30 am

Place: ADHOC Central Office, Phnom Penh

Address: #1, Street 158, Sangkat Boeung Raing, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh

The Press Conference is organized with the objective to inform and make a request to Kampong Thom Provincial Court to strongly consider the current status of poverty of the villagers who cannot afford to pay the costs of subject-matter of civil action. Through this conference, the villagers are expected to be given humanitarian assistance and financial support from various generous people so that they can claim back their lands from the long-lasting dispute with a private KDC International company.

Pleased be informed on this important issue. Your presence in this conference is very important for us and our lives.

More information, please contact:

Mr. Reach Seima Tel: 078 310 336
Mr. Pheng Rom Tel: 097 463 599 6
__________________________
Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
Address: # 9E0, St. 330, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kong III,
Khan. Chamcar Morn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 218 759, Tel: (855) 23 301 415, 305 609
E-mail: chrac@forum.org.kh or chracsecretariat@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.chrac.org

COMFREL Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Remote Areas; Phlov Tuk, Kampong Leaeng, Kampong Chhnang province

Dear all,

COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Phlov Tuk commune, Kampong Leaeng district, Kampong Chhnang province was held on July 21, 2011.

Please see the attached document for details.

FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralisation and governance, please feel free to visit our website : 

www.comfrel.org

Best regards,

COMFREL


http://www.box.net/shared/143i24hdor1okamxcb5o

COMFREL Press Release the Result of Workshop on Voter's Voice in Remote Areas; Krang Skear, Teuk Push, Kg Chhnang Province

Dear all,

COMFREL is please to release its press release on the result of workshop on voter's voice in remote areas; Krang Skear, Teuk Push, Kampong Chhnang province held on July 07, 2011.

Please see the attached document for details.

FYI : If you need releases or articles related to workshop on voter's voices, elections reforms, democracy/political reforms, decentralisation and governance, please feel free to visit our website : www.comfrel.org

Best regards,

COMFREL

http://www.box.net/shared/rrqaqyqz4ffrdrxmazxx

Abandoned airfield is key site in war crimes trial

Jun 22, 2011
By Robert Carmichael
DPA

Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia - Few aircraft have bothered the parallel concrete runways at Kampong Chhnang airfield in the three decades since they were laid, and the buildings that dot its perimeter are frequented by chickens rather than passengers.

The only sounds at the end of the 2,400-metre-long main runway are the chatter of birds and the breeze pushing through spiky sugar palm trees that dot the central plain 100 kilometres north-west of Phnom Penh.

It is a peaceful scene, and one that is hard to reconcile with its history. Kampong Chhnang airfield is one of six sites investigated by the UN-backed war crimes tribunal in the trial of the surviving leaders of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge government.

The initial hearing is scheduled for June 27.

Cambodian airfield key crime site in pending trial of Khmer Rouge lead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-7pK3RNtZ4&feature=player_embedded

June 22, 2011
ABC Radio Australia

Next week, the international war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh will begin its second trial, that of the surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge movement.

As part of the case against them, the UN-backed tribunal investigated six sites where people were compelled to perform forced labour.

One of those is a largely abandoned airfield in central Cambodia outside the provincial capital of Kampong Chhnang, from where Robert Carmichael reports.

Presenter: Robert Carmichael

Speakers: Youk Chhang, director of Documentation Center of Cambodia; Kun Nath, soldier based at Kampong Chhnang airfield

Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)

SFX: WILDTRACK: AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY

CARMICHAEL: I am standing at the end of a runway nearly two and a half kilometres long and 60 metres wide. Ahead of me the rectangular blocks of poured concrete stretch away into a mirage under the hot sun.

This is Kampong Chhnang airfield in central Cambodia, a place where many thousands of Khmer Rouge army personnel were ordered to work, and where an unknown number died.

On Monday the four surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge movement will stand trial in Phnom Penh at the UN-backed court. They face a string of charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for their alleged roles in the deaths of around two million people during their government's rule between 1975 and 1979.

They deny the charges.

KR aiport in Kampong Chhnang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-7pK3RNtZ4&feature=channel_video_title