Monday, 23.6.2008: Both the National Assembly and the Senate of Cambodia Consider how to Implement the Legislature Assistance Project Supported by the United Nations Development Program

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 566

“Phnom Penh: The Permanent Committees of the National Assembly and the Senate, and the Board of the Council of the Legislature Assistance Project supported by the United Nations Development Program [UNDP] held a meeting on 20 June 2008 at the Senate to consider the monitoring of the implementation of the Legislature Assistance Project supported by UNDP.

“Samdech Sisowath Chivanmonirak, the First Vice-Chairperson of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said that now, the Cambodian Senate starts to implement a three-year Legislature Assistance Project (2008 to 2010), which had been agreed upon officially by the Cambodian National Assembly and UNDP on 15 June 2007.

“He said that the Legislature Assistance Project was designed to support the strengthening and the increase of the capacity of nine departments in order to implement their duties more effectively: representation, legislation, and oversight. This project also focuses on strengthening the capacity of the General Secretariats of both parliaments to be able to provide their services more effectively to the members of the two parliamentary bodies.

“Mr. Um Sarith, the Secretary-General of the Senate and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Technical Coordinating Secretariat, said that for the Legislature Assistance Project, both parliaments have mutually agreed to create a Technical Coordinating Secretariat to coordinate the work between the project development partners and the legislative institutions. This secretariat has begun its activities already since January 2008, based on a joint decision of the National Assembly and the Senate, numbered 017 P.R, dated 22 January 2008, and the secretariat is located at the National Assembly.

“Also Mr. Leng Peng Long, the Secretary-General of the National Assembly and the Head of the Technical Coordinating Secretariat, presented an action plan that will be implemented from July to December 2008.

“Mr. Leng Peng Long presented the action plan of the Legislature Assistance Project supported by UNDP for the implementation in the second quarter of 2008, in which he stressed two potential goals which are planed to be implemented: 1. Strengthening and broadening expert committees to fulfill relevant work more efficiently (in drafting laws and in monitoring law enforcement, and the position of representatives), 2. Strengthening the Capacity of officials of the General Secretariats of the parliaments to provide effective services to the parliaments, as well as to develop the Technical Coordinating Program.

“Mr. Nguon Nhel, the First Deputy President of the National Assembly, stated that the National Assembly of Cambodia totally supports the strategic framework of the program and finds that this strategic framework requires support in the technical sector from potential development partners, targeting to promote the capability of drafting legislation, the monitoring of law enforcement by legislative institutions, and also of monitoring the position of representatives, as well as promoting the capability of officials of both General Secretariats through training.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4622, 22-23.6.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 23 June 2008

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1674, 23.6.2008

• Cambodian Officials [of the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy] Hope that the Price of Electricity in Cambodia Might Decline [after two big hydro-electric plants in Koh Kong will have been constructed and start to operate in 2014]
• Youth Aged 20-24 Are Facing AIDS Infection [because of the increase of entertainment places making it easy for them to meet each other – according to Dr. Var Chivorn, acting executive director of the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC)]
• Robbers Shot Man and His Son [in-Law] into the Stomachs and Took US$20,000 and a Short Gun [21 June 2008 – Phnom Penh]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #183, 22-24.6.2008

• Siem [Thai] Senate Asked UNESCO to Delay the Listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site [according to a Thai newspaper – because the problem of the surrounding territory of 4.6 square kilometer of the contested land, which has not been given to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, has not been solved, and the listing might affect the territorial integrity of Thailand, which requires an agreement by parliament. See also the related Editorial of The Mirror of 22.6.2008]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6378, 23.6.2008

• Thai Demonstrators Arrived at the Preah Vihear Temple; They Raised Banners and Shouted for Thirty Minutes while the Cambodian Side Was Quiet [22 June 2008]
• Temporary Result of the Distribution of Voter’s Information Cards Announced [on 20 June – from 5-19 June 2008, 5,789,807 voter’s information cards out of a total of 8,125,529 were distributed]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3493, 23.6.2008

• [Prime Minister] Hun Sen Asserted that the Cambodian People’s Party Has Lots of Money [because party officials are owners of hotels and companies]

Rasmei Angkor, Vol.11, #1326, 23.6.2008

• Two royal family members [Prince Norodom Sirivudh and Princess Norodom Vacheara] Announced Officially to No Longer Enter Politics

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4622, 22-23.6.2008

• Both the National Assembly and the Senate of Cambodia Consider how to Implement the Legislature Assistance Project Supported by the United Nations Development Program
• Samdech Krom Preah Might Not Be Able to Return to Take Part in the Election Campaigning or to Stand as a Parliamentarian if His Guilt Is Confirmed
• Customs Officers of Cambodia and of Laos Sign Cooperation Agreement
• Thai Prime Minister Rejected [on 21 June 2008] to Resign, while the Chief of the Army Suggested to Dissolve the Assembly [and have new elections]
• Japanese Company [Genepax] Produces Cars Run by Water [last week, this company showed its car that can run by every kind of water – rain water, river water, or salt water – with the 80 km/h and this company has asked for cooperation agreements with other car producing companies – but it has not disclosed any substantive information about the energy creating process]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3340, 22-23.6.2008

• Officials of Khmer Rouge Tribunal Were Disappointed during the Meeting when Donor Countries Did Not Provide Sufficient Aid [21 June 2008 – according to the estimation, approximately US$10 million more is needed]
• Many Workers Might Give Up the Opportunity to Vote, because Traveling Costs [to their home places of registration] Are High

Have a look at the last editorial – it is almost frightening to see to which extent there are strong emotions, disregarding related legal documents.

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