asianews

stice at last for grandma Hai, 79, in dam compo case By The Nation

Published on September 23, 2009

Justice at last for grandma Hai, 79, in dam compo case

After three decades of calling for a fair deal, grandma Hai Khanjanthra has been compensated for land expropriated for a dam project in Ubon Ratchathani.
Ads by Google
Travel Agency in Thailand
Hotels, Trips, Flights, Visas,Tours Save money, Get Our Best Deals Rate
www.greenhousebkk.com

Thailand Travel Deals
Exclusive Deals on Thailand Hotels Bangkok, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya
amazingthailand.tourismthailand.org

Thailand Retirement visa
100% Success Record! Learn How Sukhumvit 39 BTS Phromphong BKK
www.tilalegal.com/retirement-visa

The Cabinet yesterday decided to pay Bt1,208,153 to the 79-year-old resident of Na Tal district, along with Bt2,389,142 to Sua Phankham and Bt1,350,922 to Fong Khanjanthra, who were also affected by the construction of the Huay Laha Dam project.

The money came from an emergency budget, paid at the request of the Interior Ministry.

Hai said she was thankful for the government's payment, although the amount was not enough compared to the damage done - the loss of 61 rai of farmland, both to water inundation and lack of fertilisers to grow rice since 1977. Hai also expressed thanks to members of the Forum of the Poor who urged previous governments to resolve her case.

"The money is not enough ... but I am not going to demand more. I am glad that this government listens to poor people's grievances, the past governments did not care about poor people," she said.

Hai said she would give some money to her children and grandchildren for their career projects,"so that their careers and their ways of life are better," she said.

Phet, Hai's daughter, said the payment was a good sign for all poor people, and urged the government to compensate the many people affected by dam projects, including those living near Pak Mool and Rasi Salai districts, in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket provinces.

Police, army ready for PAD temple protest

FIFTY riot police officers and dogs have been deployed at the border close to Preah Vihear temple to ensure that a planned demonstration by Thai protesters this weekend does not infringe on Cambodian territory, police officials have said.

The yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has announced it will hold a rally at Preah Vihear temple Saturday, after filing a petition accusing the Thai government of negligence in allowing Cambodia to “encroach” on the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area around the ruins.

“We hope that there will not be a problem if the Thai protesters rally on their own territory, and our riot police officers are just preparing in case any incident occurs,” Phnom Penh Municipal Police spokesman Kirt Chantha-rith said Wednesday. “We hope that the Thai authorities will do their job well and prevent the protesters from intruding on Cambodian territory.”

As preparations for the protest gathered pace, Ministry of Defence spokesman Chhum Socheat said that he had received a military report from the border alleging that Thais living near by were being offered 1,000 baht (US$29.69) to join the PAD rally.

The protest is an echo of similar demonstrations last year that triggered a yearlong military standoff at the border. Last July, three Thai demonstrators jumped over the border fence into Cambodian territory and were arrested by Cambodian border guards, triggering the Thai movement into disputed areas around the temple.

“There are some concerns that the Thai protests could lead to violence and reignite armed conflict between the Cambodian and Thai militaries,” said Koy Kuong, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bun Vanna, deputy chief of staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Brigade 8, which is stationed at the temple, said that border troops are ready to counterattack if there is an intrusion.

However, in the wake of August 24’s joint declaration marking an official end to hostilities at Preah Vihear, Thai officials have also pledged to prevent PAD protestors from jeopardising the current detente.

On Thursday, the Bangkok Post quoted Lieutenant General Wibulsak Neepan of the Thai army as saying Thai troops would be deployed from the Thai side to prevent the protesters from entering the disputed area.

Myanmar, Thai men detained in S'Ville

Men say owners kept them at sea for two years

TWO Thai and one Myanmarese fishermen have been arrested in Preah Sihanouk province on suspicion of illegally entering Cambodian waters after escaping from a Thai boat on which, they said, they were mistreated.

Provincial police Chief Tak Vanntha said Thursday that the men were on Phuluvai Island when found by naval police on September 1.

The Thai fishermen were identified as Aphiwadd Khavivong, 25, from Thailand’s Ayutthaya province, and Manop Kesaro, 57, from Samutprakan province. The third man, Nai Yawaddy, 25, is a citizen of Myanmar.

The men said they were working on a Thai fishing boat but decided to abandon ship and swim to the island due to poor onboard working conditions and mistreatment.

“Our passports and identity cards were taken by the fishing boat owner, and they forced us to work from 16 to 18 hours a day. The boat did not dock for about two years,” Aphiwadd Khavivong told police last week.

The men are being detained at the provincial police station and have been supplied with food and medicine while awaiting a decision from the police regarding their return to their respective home countries.

“This is a fine act of humanitarianism done by our police,” said Ny Chakrya, head investigation officer at the local rights group Adhoc.
“We should contact their ambassadors in Cambodia so we can send them back home.”

Cambodian Relief Fund dinner on Friday [25 Sept. 2009]

Douglas Mendel (Center)

Sunday, September 20, 2009
DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORT (Colorado, USA)

The Douglas Mendel Cambodian Relief Fund invites you to join us for an evening of dining and mingling with friends old and new at Foodhedz in the Frisco on Friday from 5-9 p.m. This fundraiser benefits fire stations and children's organizations in Cambodia. A portion of the nights proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit. Cambodian handicrafts including pashmina and silk scarves and beautiful silk and cotton purses will also be for sale.

Cambodia marks International Day of Peace

(All Photos: DAP)

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 300 people from schools, universities, pogodas and NGOs as well as other international and social groups gathered in downtown of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh Monday to mark the International Day of Peace.

The "peace biking" celebration to mark Peace Day started from National Assembly to Wat Phnom and finally stopped in front of the Royal Palace. And before the end of the event, all marchers prayed at the famous spiritual sanctuary of Dorng Keu in front of the Royal Palace to beg for peace for all people around the world and at the same time, the Khmer Buddhist monks chanted Dharma for peace and non-violence for this day.

"We also appealed to our leader and world leaders to support and respect the peace principles in solving the conflict matters even in internal affairs or with neighboring countries," said a joint statement from the event organizer.

Prok Vanny, representative of the event organizer for the peace working group in Cambodia said that "today we all celebrated the world peace day. And we want to raise awareness for peace for all people and spread peace message for all Cambodians."

"We also want to contribute in building and keeping peace in Khmer society as whole, and also building peace for lovely world and peace for all," she added.

"We have to cooperate each other to work for peace, and our message for this year is that we have to strengthen peace ideas, and reduce the tension, solve the conflict with peace deal, terminate all violence and disputes in the whole world. And today is the day of no violence, and stop all armed clashes in the world."

The International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002. the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

Copyright © 2009 asianews | Designed by Free CSS Templates | Blogger Templates by TeknoMobi