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Monday, September 21, 2009
Cambodia plans to export chopsticks to Japan early next year to meet the demands of Japanese markets.
Chan Sophal, president of Green Field Cambodia, says he's signed an agreement with a Japanese company to produce and export chopsticks.
Mr Sophal says the factory in Kompong Speu province, about 120 kilometres west of the capital Phnom Penh, will produce 100,000 pairs of chopsticks a day.
Cambodia's Commerce Ministry says the government is reviewing other export possibilities to Japan.
San Phiruna, director of multilateral relations department of the Commerce Ministry, says the Japanese market will be Cambodia's ''next destination'' because Japan has given Cambodia duty-free and quota-free export status.
Veera: Accusations against Cambodia.Hard-liners vow to 'maintain the rage'
21/09/2009
KING-OUA LAOHONG and PRADIT RUANGDIT
Bangkok Post
The People's Alliance for Democracy has called off its protest to force Cambodians out of a disputed area near Preah Vihear temple, but is vowing to return should the government fail to ensure Thai sovereignty in the area.
Veera Somkwamkid, who led the protest in Si Sa Ket near the border with Cambodia, was allowed yesterday to read a protest statement at Pha Mor E Daeng inside Khao Phra Viharn National Park, which is close to the 4.6 square kilometres of disputed territory and stairway leading to the ruins of the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.
The permission followed Saturday's clash between PAD supporters and Si Sa Ket residents which left many injured. The movement demanded in its statement that Cambodian soldiers and villagers leave the disputed zone
Cambodians, along with their belongings, pile up on a pickup truck driven in the capital Phnom Penh's outskirts, Cambodia, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Thousands of Cambodians head homes in the countryside to celebrate the traditional Pchum Ben festival for the dead. The celebrations run from Sept. 18 to 20. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian people drive motorbikes on a busy street in the capital Phnom Penh's outskirts in Cambodia, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Thousands of Cambodians head homes in the countryside to celebrate the traditional Pchum Ben festival for the dead. The celebrations run from Sept. 18 to 20. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodians, along with their belongings, pile up on a pickup truck in the capital Phnom Penh's outskirts in Cambodia, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Thousands of Cambodians head homes in the countryside to celebrate the traditional Pchum Ben festival for the dead. The celebrations run from Sept. 18 to 20. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith
Click on the photo to zoom in200 Cambodians held a Pchum Ben ceremony at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak
Cambodian monks and Buddhist laypeople held a Buddhist ceremony at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak. (Photo: Keo Nimol, RFA)20 September 2009
Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Two hundred Khmer tourists and Buddhist laypeople have held a Pchum Ben ceremony at Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak on Saturday the 19th of September, even though the military situations in the areas are still tense.
Thai troops occupied Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak on 15th July 2008, a week after Unesco inscribed the temple as a world heritage site. Ten Thai troops remained at the pagoda ever since.
Ven. Chan Thero, the abbott of Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak pagoda, said due to tense military situations the numbers of ceremony participants have significantly dropped to less than previous years. "But the conditions now are better than before because our troops have helped the monks a lot so when we hold any ceremony we face less obstacles than before. In short, the conditions are much better than before because, before, the roads to the temple are very bad, but now the roads are much better", he said.
21/09/2009
BangkokPost.com
Yellow-shirt protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed with Si Sa Ket villagers on Saturday as they were trying to enter the disputed border area. The clash resulted in scores of injuries from both sides.
Second Army Region commander Wiboonsak Neephan will coordinate with the police, provincial governors and other agencies to prevent this type of incident from happening again, Gen Prawit said.
"The government, particularly the security units, will make sure the country will not lose its sovereignty. Everything must be done in line with procedures," said the defence minister.
He said it would not be necessary to deploy more troops at the disputed border near the ancient temple at the moment.
"Cambodia understands the situation in Thailand, and both governments have always been closely working together," he said.
Gen Prawit said he supported the idea of invoking the Internal Security Act during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Hua Hin and Cha-am next month, but it must not affect local people in the areas.
He said he had discussed this with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs.
"I would like the red-shirt protesters not to gather when the summit is being held as it is an international event," he said