The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 582
“The US Chargé d’Affairs to Cambodia said that some organizations do not follow their organizations’ policies, but they include politics into their agenda.
“As the fourth term Royal Government plans to discuss legislation to control non-government organizations, to be adopted early during this new term, and responding to questions by journalists, how the laws to control non-government organization might affect civil society and non-government organizations, Ms. Piper Campbell, the US Chargé d’Affairs to Cambodia, stated during a medical visit to treat people’s sickness at Srae Cham Leu Village, Ou Chrov / Prey Nub / Sihanoukville, that different countries have different ways to control non-government organizations, because not all non-government organizations work well. The creation of laws to control non-government organizations is not a simple problem; the government must use words properly to create controlling legislation to make the life of some organizations easier, as they do important work in Cambodia.
“She added that we are here to see how this legislation will be applied. She said also that it is important that Cambodia must have laws to control non-government organizations, because there are also some organizations that include politics into their agenda and go against their organization’s policies.
Note:
Please compare the related discussion on 4 October 2008, especially the statement by Mr. Thun Saray., the director of the human rights NGO ADHOC”
“Mr. Thun Saray said that civil society organizations never cause trouble, but they help the society and the poor. Are civil society organizations afraid of such a law? No. This was the response that Mr. Thun Saray gave immediately. He clarified that if that law aims to facilitate our work, there is no problem, but if that law aims at limiting the activities of civil society organizations, there are two points to be worried about. The first relates to the finance of non-government organizations if they were administered by the government. This point might be a major obstacle for the activities of civil society, if the government would try to create any trouble. The second point relates to the prohibition for civil society to be involved in politics – but it is not clearly stated what political activities are. Mr. Thun Saray worries that this point might be used to stop the activities of any organization. He raised as an example that an organization, which does activities to strengthen democracy or human rights, might be accused to be involved in politics.”
“She continued to say that some organizations do not show what their positions and intention are. During a previous event, she had met leaders of the Cham community and told the Cham leaders that they should ask where the aid, that is provided to them, comes from. The former US Ambassador, Mr. Joseph A. Mussomeli, had said that there is no aid without something in return; so the recipients should ask themselves what they have to do after receiving money. If that aid relates to any obligation that they should not do, they should not accept the aid.
“Regarding the question by journalists which organization did not follow their own policies, she responded that previously, some non government organizations with extremist tendencies planned to set bombs at the British Embassy, but after this was discovered, the government closed those organizations and expelled their foreign staff from Cambodia who was involved in this case.
“When journalists asked about the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, Ms. Piper Campbell, the US Chargé d’Affairs to Cambodia, pointed out that the port visits by the US navy do not relate to the dispute between both countries. As for the previous port visits by the navy of other countries, like China, France, Russia, and Australia, it was not to take Cambodia into any conflict, but she appreciated that Cambodia has good relations with those countries, which led to port visits by the navy of those countries.
“She went on to say that the visit of the Destroyer USS Mustin to Cambodia was the third US naval visit, while 54 ships of the same type are fulfilling their mission in different parts of the world. The visit by the US navy is a sign of the commitment to strengthen the relations of the United States with Cambodia and with the Cambodian people, and in future, such visits by the navy will become regular events.
“The sailors of the navy have done various types of humanitarian work, like repairing schools, and providing medical treatment for citizens in Sihanoukville.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1767, 14.10.2008
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Chakraval, Vol.16, #2818, 14.10.2008
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The Yuon [Vietnamese] Who Dredge Sand Are More Powerful Than the Kien Svay District Authorities, Motivating Citizens and Travelers to Criticize the Authorities to Be Incompetent [every day, sand dredging starts from 3:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., disturbing the residents and making the road muddy and difficult to travel]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1767, 14.10.2008
- US Chargé d’Affairs: Some NGOs Include Politics into Their Agenda
- Municipal Police Cry for the Municipal Governor to Help Solve the Flood Problem – Water Levels at Their Office Is up to Their Knees [already more than two weeks – Phnom Penh]
- Massage Shop Owner Wrestled a Woman’s Head to Choke Her [because she had contradicted him – while he is her boss – Kandal]
- Russia Fired Three Intercontinental Missiles Successfully
Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #116, 14.10.2008
- [Minister of Foreign Affairs] Hor Namhong: If Thai Troops Cross the Canal to the Intry Field into Khmer Territory, There Will Be an Armed Conflict
- The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Plans to Arrest Two More Suspects [in 2010, but their names are not disclosed by the tribunal]
- [A 28-year-old female] Owner of a Noodle Soup Restaurant, the Phnom Penh Thmey Restaurant, Was Gunned down [reason is not known – Daun Penh, Phnom Penh]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6472, 14.10.2008
- Samdech Euv [the Father King]: Those Who Are against former Thai prime ministers] Samak and Thaksin Have Got Defeated by Another Competition [because the new Thai prime minister is the husband of the beautiful youngest sister of Thaksin Shinawatra]
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3587, 14.10.2008
- European Community Will Announce the Final Report of their Observer Mission of the [July 2008] Parliamentary Elections
- Some of the Donors from the International Community Might Be Lost [for Cambodia] because of Corrupt Leaders and Officials [the international community of donor countries plans to meet on 28 October 2008 to decide on further aid to Cambodia]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4715, 14.10.2008
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[Prime Minister] Samdech Dekchor: The Intry Field Will Become a Life and Death Battle Field If Thailand Does Not Retract Their Troops [said he after meeting Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Sompong Amornvivat on 13 October 2008]
30 Percent of the Residents at the Preah Vihear Temple [corresponding to more than 100 of the 319 families] Left Their Homes [being afraid that armed conflict between both countries might break out] - The Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia: Approximately 30 Percent of Workers Do Not Yet Have Identification Cards
- [Thai Prime Minister] Somchai Wongsawat: To Resign and to Dissolve the National Assembly Cannot Solve the Turmoil [12 October 2008]
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3424, 14.10.2008
- Price Sirivudh Affirmed about Members of the Royal Family to Stop Entering Politics [he announced during his press conference at the Le Royal Hotel on 13 October 2008 that he leaves politics, adding that to enter politics or not is the right of members of the Royal Family]
