The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 550
“An international workshop on military simulation and disaster preparedness planning was held on 6 March 2008 at Le Royal Hotel, presided over by H.E. Nhim Vanda, the First Deputy President of the National Committee for Disaster Management, representing the Royal Government of Cambodia, with the participation of ambassadors from other countries, representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, and 200 participants from 24 countries.
“The international workshop on military simulation and disaster preparedness planning was held for one day on 6 March 2008 in order to share experiences and find ways to reduce difficulties caused by disasters in a spirit of cooperation, good relations, and mutual respect, especially whenever disasters strike anywhere in the countries represented.
“In his address at the workshop, H.E. Nhim Vanda, a Senior Minister and representative of the Cambodian government, expressed his warm welcome to the multi-national planning team that strengthened the organization of the workshop today. On behalf of the National Committee for Disaster Management and the Royal Government of Cambodia led by Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen, the senior minister expressed his deep appreciation and thanks to the presence of the [US] Pacific Regional Military Commander, who is fulfilling his mission in close cooperation with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, increasing the capacity of the work of disaster management and emergency aid. Cambodia is one of the ASEAN countries that suffer from natural disasters, especially floods and drought.
“H.E. Nhim Vanda stated that Cambodia has many experiences in response to flood disasters which happen every year along the Mekong River. The disasters cause damage to many people’s lives and to public infrastructure, and obstruct socio-economic development and poverty reduction in Cambodia. With its effort to reduce disasters, Cambodia is focusing on disaster preparedness planning to ensure people’s livelihood, mostly in areas which rely on agriculture.
“H.E Nhim Vanda, the Senior Minister, said that to respond to the impact of disasters, the Royal Government of Cambodia set up the National Committee for Disaster Management in 1995. The roles and duties of the National Committee for Disaster Management are to take preventive measures to reduce disasters, such as providing emergency aid to disaster victims in a timely and effective manner.
“The National Committee for Disaster Management not only plays a coordinating role to respond to disasters in the country, but it also assumes the responsibility for coordinating efforts for response at regional and international levels. Therefore, the National Committee for Disaster Management not only builds a disaster response plan in the country, but also assists the ASEAN Secretariat in building mechanisms and procedures of ASEAN for regional cooperation for the work of disaster management. The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response was signed in Vientiane in Laos on 26 July 2005. After receiving approval and ratification from the supreme legislative organization [the National Assembly], the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia signed the Royal Decree promulgating the agreement on 15 February 2008.
“During the workshop, H.E Nhim Vanda confirmed that the workshop is not only important for the Kingdom of Cambodia, but also for the participating relevant organizations. The workshop will provide opportunities for government officials from 24 countries in order to build relations in a spirit of cooperation and respect, in particular in times when disasters are occurring anywhere in those countries.
“With the participation from important humanitarian organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, H.E the Senior Minister said, ‘We will further increase the awareness about our respective systems and we will expand significant relations with each other.’
“The roles of ASEAN were prepared before and after signing the ASEAN agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response through the mechanism of National Committees for Disaster Management, and by discussing to organize an ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) and by building a Standby Arrangement and Standard Operating Procedures (SASOP) for regional preparedness and coordination to respond to emergency aid. These efforts will help to improve the possibility of ASEAN to support each other in times of disasters.
“Therefore, the efforts for international cooperation in times of big disasters will be increased. As the population across the globe has been on the increase, many people have been victimized by disasters, in particular when they are forced to live in regions where they did not reside before. When a nation is progressing, the impact of disasters on the infrastructure is on the increase. The disasters which before had little impacts on some regions are now having a broader impact. The globalization affects the whole world, particularly the economy.
“H.E Nhim Vanda, the Senior Minister, confirmed that international large-scale response to the Tsunami and the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004, and to other earthquakes in 2004, are indicators of international future cooperation to respond to disasters.
“’This workshop provides opportunities to all participants to improve the understanding about and the development of mechanism to respond and to work together in times of disasters in future.’
“’Again, on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, I would like to thank the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the [US] Pacific Regional Military Commander for having recognized the key roles of the National Committee for Disaster Management in controlling and responding to emergencies in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Likewise, I would like to thank the participants from humanitarian organizations, from the ASEAN Secretariat, and other participants from 24 countries for their efforts to improve the multi-national cooperation in times of disasters.’ H.E. Nhim Vanda, the Senior Minister, confirmed, ‘I believe that the work and the results which have been achieved at the meeting will contribute to saving many people’s lives in times of disasters in future. Most important is the cooperation and the trust with each other. The workshop will bring fruitful results.’” Raksmei Angkor, Vol.15, #1287, 7.3.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 7 March 2008
Chuoy Khmer, Vol.2, #59, 7.3.2008
- Criminal Heng Pov, former Phnom Penh Police Chief, Requests that His Hearing Be Televised [he has been convicted to serve 40 years in jail; his lawyer could not confirm when the next hearing will be held]
Deum Tnot, Vol.1, #13, 7.3.2008
- CAMCONTROL Continues to Bring More Revenue to the Government than Planned [the plan was Riel 20 billion – approx. US$5.15 million – but CAMCONTROL earned 35.25% more]
- US Ambassador to Cambodia: Assistance from the US Will Not Become Debt [he drew the attention that a loan is something Cambodia has to pay back, but assistance from the US will not become a loan requiring to be paid back. He added that China often gives loans]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1586, 7.3.2008
- Ieng Sary and Nuon Chea [former Khmer Rouge leaders] Seem to Take Turns Going to Hospital [they are getting older and older]
- 21 Families Express Their Concerns as Ek Phnom Authorities [Battambang] Take Their Land to Build Market [villagers claim to have lived there since 1979]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6290, 7.3.2008
- One American Man Is Arrested for Taking Cambodian and Vietnamese Underage Girls [12 and 16 years old] to Guesthouse
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.15, #1287, 7.3.2008
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4533, 6.3.2008
- Sam Rainsy Praises Samdech Hun Sen for His Courage to Announce to Step Down if He Loses the Election
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Said Agriculture Is a Strong Economic Growth Engine [the garment sector can be affected if the number of buyer in the US and Europe decreases, tourism can be affected by diseases like bird flu, or by terrorism – but agriculture provides food security]
- Samdech Hun Sen Appeals to Have Peace and Security Protected for the Sake of Tourism [at the close of a tourism sector conference, he said two million tourists came to visit Cambodia in 2007 and brought US$1.4 billion to Cambodia]
- Societe Concessionaire des Aeroports Receives US$5 Million Loan from World Bank to Improve Keng Kang Airport [in Sihanoukville, so it becomes an international airport]
Sakal, Vol.15, #3188, 7.3.2008
- Thai Prime Minister Samak Is Interested in Cambodian Market Due to Thai Economic Reasons
