Friday, 8.8.2008: Cambodia Asks the US Embassy to Create an Office for the Enforcement of the Anti-Drug Law in Cambodia

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 572

“Phnom Penh: The National Authority for Combating Drugs has asked the US Embassy to create an office for the enforcement of the anti-drug law in Cambodia, in order to train the Cambodian anti-drugs authorities in different skills, and in order to help them to combat drugs worldwide.

“Mr. Lour Ramin, the secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, said, ‘Previously, we had asked the US embassy to create an office for the enforcement of the anti-drug law and to combat drugs in Cambodia. However, this request has not received a response from the US Embassy in Cambodia.’ Although there is no response from the US embassy, Mr. Lour Ramin said, ‘Before, the National Authority for Combating Drugs has cooperated well with the US anti-drug office in Bangkok, Thailand, to implement the laws, as well as in other sections related to combat drugs.’

“Mr. Lour Ramin explained, ‘The creation of an US anti-drug office in Cambodia would not only benefits Cambodia, but also the United States would gain advantages; both sides would benefit, because drugs relate to international border crossing crimes, and drugs target the United States as one big drug market in the word. Therefore, the United States has also an obligation to combat drugs.’ Mr. Lour Ramin added, ‘Because Cambodia does not have much experience and human resources in this work, we need help from the United States in the field of techniques, human resources, and other fields, and we need international cooperation.’

“The interest for an US administrative office to combat drugs in Cambodia by anti-drug officials of Cambodia was acknowledged by the US Embassy, but there is no official letter from the government of Cambodia. Mr. John Johnson, the new spokesperson of the US Embassy in Cambodia, explained to Khmer Sthapana clearly in Khmer on Thursday, ‘We have not received an official request from the government of Cambodia for the creation of an US anti-drug office in Cambodia. However, we have cooperated well with the anti-drug office in Bangkok. Therefore, if there are drug related activities in Cambodia, the office in Bangkok will intervene.’

“Mr. Lour Ramin reported about the drug situation in Cambodia nowadays, ‘We see that drug problems in Cambodia decline after the election. However, it does not mean that criminals stop their actions, because there are still places related to drugs; the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent still continue to grow drug plants and produce drugs, so drugs continue to appear. As long as there is drug production, the authorities still continue to combat drugs and will never disregard them.’” Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #68, 8.8.2008

The Golden Triangle is one of Asia’s two main illicit opium-producing areas. It is an area of around 350,000 square kilometers that overlaps the mountains of four countries of Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.

The Golden Crescent is the name given to Asia’s principal area of illicit opium production, located at the crossroads of Central, South, and Western Asia. This space overlaps three nations, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, whose mountainous peripheries define the crescent.

Source: Wikipedia

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 8 August 2008

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1714, 8.8.2008

• An Opposition Party [the Sam Rainsy Party] Seeks Proof of Irregularities during the Election [it has announced that if any citizens report irregularities with proof to the party, they will be awarded Riel 200,000 or approx. US$50]
• Mr. Bush’s Visit to Thailand Focused Mainly on the Problems of [the military junta in] Burma
• France Rejects the Accusation [by Rwanda] to Have Colluded to Commit Genocide in Rwanda [which killed approximately 800,000 people]

Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #217, 8.8.2008

• [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian, Phnom Penh] Son Chhay Requested [Minister of Foreign Affairs] Hor Namhong to Set a Definite Date for the Removal of Siamese [Thai] Troops from Khmer Territory

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #68, 8.8.2008

• Cambodia Asks the US Embassy to Create an Office for the Enforcement of the Anti-Drug Law in Cambodia
• The Situation at the Ta Moan Temple Gets Better [because the Thai side agreed to withdraw its troops from the temple], while the Situation at the Preah Vihear Temple Region Remains Unchanged
• The Import of Thai Fruits into Cambodia through the Poipet International Border Crossing Point Continues as Normal [but at a slightly lower level than before]
• The Collection of Taxes on Vehicles Will Start Next Week [after a postponement of several months, as Cambodia was busy with the election]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6418, 8.8.2008

• The Cambodian Human Rights Center Condemns the Hitting of a Journalist [of Koh Santepheap in Sihanoukville, by the Stung Hav Military Police Commander] as an Attack on the Freedom of Expression
• Income from Taxes in July Is More Than Riel 2,500,000,000 [approx. US$625,000 – according to the Customs and Excise Department]
• Price of Fuel in Cambodia Drops Very Slowly [premium quality fuel is Riel 5,750 – approx. US$1.43 per liter; regular quality fuel is Riel 5,650 – approx. US$1.41; and diesel is Riel 5,850 – US$1.46 – all three prices dropped only by Riel 100] while the Price of Fuel on the World Market Declines Continually [on the New York market, oil costs US$118.85 per barrel]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4662, 8.8.2008

• The Import of Textile Products from Cambodia Ranks 13th [1.7%] on the United States Market [the first rank is China with 40.2%, Vietnam ranks 9th with 2.8%;, and Thailand has 1.8%]
• The Preah Vihear Temple Issue Was Included in the [History] Test of the High School Diploma Examinations in 2008
• A Meeting Was Held to Count All Disasters for the Period of Six Months of 2008 [there were 37 storms which destroyed nearly 400 houses, while in the field of agriculture, some provinces are facing drought, and the brown hopper insect [momeach tnot] is damaging rice plants in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3379, 8.8.2008

• [More than 1,000 Garment] Workers of W&D Factory Have Held Strikes [sine 7 August 2008] to Demand a 5% Allowance [Phnom Penh]

Click here to have a look at the last editorial – where we try to provide our readers with important information which all publications in Cambodia – as far as we can see – are not providing; but the international community knows more – we wonder how long the Cambodian public can be held uninformed.

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