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The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 601

“Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, sent a letter with some documents to Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, asking him to check the cutting down of trees and of the forest clearance to claim land ownership, as the report of the president of a Natural Resource Observation and Protection Organization of Cambodia, Mr. Chea Hean, said, in order that Samdech Dekchor takes action according to the law.

“The letter signed by Preah Karuna Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni dated 26 February 2009 to Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, the head of the government, says that he received a letter dated 24 February 2009, as well as some documents from a Natural Resource Observation and Protection Organization of Cambodia, signed by Mr. Chea Hean, asking the King to intervene with Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, regarding collusion of the authorities and of certain officials of the Oral Mountain Animal Refuge, and the authorities in Kiri Sakor district in Koh Kong to cut down trees and to clear forest, to take state land in national natural reserves which are protected by Royal Decree.

“Relating to the letter of the Khmer King, asking Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen to intervene, we could not contact the cabinet of the Prime Minister to know whether this letter has arrived there or not, and whether the King’s letter to Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor was sent while Samdech Dekchor had already left Cambodia to Thailand to attend the 14th ASEAN summit in Hua Hin, and if so, it is expected that Samdech will become aware of this problem only after returning to the country.

“The writer of the letter, Mr. Chea Hean, said on 27 February 2009 that he and his officials are pleased that the letter was sent to Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen. This provides confidence from His Majesty for the report and for some documents which this organization had sent to him, signed on 26 February 2009 and send to Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen, to report to him about the cutting down of trees, and the clearing of forest, to claim land for private ownership, conducted by officials who are directors of the Oral Mountain Animal Refuge in Kompong Speu, and of the Botum Sakor National Park in Kiri Sakor district in Koh Kong.

“It should be recalled that the cutting down of trees in the Oral Mountain Animal Refuge had occurred repeatedly since 2002, with collusion between the director of the Animal Refuge, Mr. Chhun Chhea Heng, and the Oral district police chief, Mr. Dos Sim, as well as district governors and village and commune chiefs. The cutting down of trees in the Botum Sakor National Park, which is protected by Royal Decree, is conducted by the Botum Sakor district police chief, Mr. Touch Sovannarith, who hires citizens to clear forest – and even though the director of the Botum Sakor National Park prohibits it, the activities of the police chief Touch Sovannarith cannot be stopped.” Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #352, 28-2.2.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 28 February 2009

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #127, 28.2.2009

• Sam Rainsy Agrees to Pay Riel 10 Million [approx. US$2,500] to the National Election Committee
• The Government Is Not Afraid of a Withdrawal of the United Nations from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal
• The European Community Promises to Provide Approximately US$50 Million per Year from 2009 to 2012
• Civil Society Organizations: Closing Gambling Sites Makes Some People Unemployed, but the Whole Society Is Better
• [The Minister of Economy and Finance] Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon Met with the Deputy President of the National Assembly of France [Mr. Jean-Marie Le Guen, to strengthen cooperation between both countries]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1885, 28.2.2009

• Rohingya Boat People Will Be Sent Back from Thailand to Burma [said Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva]

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #352, 28-2.2.2009

• The King Sends a Letter to Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen
• Government Official [Mr. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information and government spokesperson] Denies that There Were Serious Human Rights Violations as Claimed in the Report of the US Department of State
• World Federation of Free Trade Unions Invites the Presidents of the Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Visit Greece to Exchange Experiences

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6590, 28-1.2.2009

• [Former Khmer Rouge leader] Khiev Samphan’s Hearing Was Suspended when There Was No Foreign Co-Lawyer Was Present [Mr. Jacques Vergès was absent, because a relative had had a traffic accident in Paris]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.16, #3699, 28-1.2.2009

• The Open Justice Initiative Criticizes the United Nations for Not Taking Action against Corruption at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4833, 28.2.2009

• Between 8,000 and 9,000 People Became Unemployed after the Operation of Slot Machines and of Football Betting [at Cambosix] Was Terminated
• Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Goes to Attend the 14th ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin in Thailand
• Japan International Cooperation Agency Begins a Study for the Construction of a Section of National Road 1 and of the Neak Loeang Bridge
• The IMF Tells Cambodia to Strengthen Commercial Banks [so that they are able to provide loans to other sectors]
  Vietnam and China Reject the Human Rights Reports of the United States

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