Relations with Thailand: It wasn’t always like this

Mongkol reminds us of the good old days, when Cambodia and Thailand were not at each other’s throats, and Thais sang the praises of “Beloved Cambodia.”

Merry Christmas, scumbags

Another day, another clueless tourist gets burned.

Way back at the border, the tuktuk drivers tried to tell us that Cambodians are corrupt and we should use their special visa services. We ignored them and went straight to the consulate. Where, we now realise, we got ripped off! To the tune of US$120. Remember those ratbag officials, who insisted we had to pay for the under-12s visas???? Well, yesterday at the hospital I noticed in K9’s passport it said we paid nothing.

If you’re feeling sympathic, don’t.

‘The American War’

Maybe Mr. Rockoff will bring “The American War” for a showing on Cambodian soil?

Thailand diplomacy, cont.

The new Thai government is making calm, soothing noises over Preah Vihear.

Thailand would maintain cooperation with Cambodia over the historic and controversial Hindu temple, new Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said.

“In general, it is our intention to cooperate with Cambodia and the UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation),” the Foreign Minister was quoted by The Nation of Thailand as saying.

“Maintain cooperation” is apparently Thai diplomatic speak for “provoking an armed standoff.” Here in the real world, the word “cooperation” means taking actions to make things better, not worse. Thailand has yet to do anything like that.

My brother’s keeper

A feel-good story for the holidays. And, NGOs do some good sometimes.

Khmer Rouge hotties

Flirting with controversy, The Post prints some Reahu art — a half-naked Khmer Rouge fighter. Watch out for falling pieces of sky.

Self-evident truths

Writing to the editor of The Phnom Penh Post, Michael Hansen makes a smart, although probably quite unpopular, point.

I was concerned to read in the Centre for Social Justice advertisement of December 19 that, once again, the organisation’s executive director apparently holds the view that human rights in Cambodia are a matter relevant only to the Khmer.

There are many people living in Cambodia who are not considered to be Khmer – those of mixed Vietnamese-Cambodian or full Vietnamese parentage, for example – but whose rights deserve as much respect as those of the ethnic majority.

So true, so true. Human rights belong to all humans, not just those who are the right race, color or class. It can’t be said enough.

Supreme Court will hear Chea Vichea case

The Supreme Court will soon have the chance to right a very serious wrong.

Two men convicted of the murder of trade union activist Chea Vichea in Cambodia after a seriously flawed criminal investigation and a grossly unfair trial will have their case heard by the country’s Supreme Court on 31 December.

Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were sentenced to 20 years for Chea Vichea’s murder. However, their detention and trial were plagued with human rights violations, including torture or other ill-treatment and deeply flawed court proceedings that relied on unfounded and inadmissible evidence.

There is little indication on which way the court may rule. The Post has more.

Xmas links

Lighter side:

• Kounila’s Christmas podcast
• Christmas in America under threat from Cambodia
  
• Cambodian Claus glistens with sweat
  

Darker side:

• Bruce calls for blood and money
• 20 more Christmas songs
• Santa Claus Go Home!

Four-letter words

Today’s headline from The Mirror:

The Yuon Authorities Prohibit Vietnam Airlines to Pick Up European Parliament Members from Cambodia to Yuon

Offensive or not?

Why does flickr hate Cambodian culture?

Ing Kantha Pavi ain’t going to like this one bit.

(Hat Tip Jinja)

Pol Pot-era video

Norodom Sihanouk shares a warm embrace with Pol Pot and other rare footage of life under the KR.

Meet the new boss

The economic police have a new chief.

While the Ministry of Interior is replacing economic police officer by appointing the deputy director of the economic police, Mr. Seang Bunleang, to replace Mr. Run Rath Veasna, some officers who want to please their new leader tell merchants along national roads to hurry to bring things to please Mr. Seang Bunleang.

At the Ministry of Interior yesterday evening, there were announcements to replace many high ranking officials of this ministry, especially anti-drug officials. But what was interesting was the replacement of the position of the director of the Anti-Economic Crimes Police Department of the Ministry of Interior, which is described as a lucrative position. Mr. Seang Bunleang is said to be a brother-in-law of Prime Minister Hun Sen. But the assignment is not made by the Prime Minister. It is an assignment by the Ministry of Interior.

Aid workers

Don’t worry. They’re here to help.

Defining terrorism down

DPA reads the Phnom Penh Post:

A Chinese national was arrested and charged with kidnapping and terrorism offences in Cambodia, national media reported Monday.

Police on Sunday arrested Hour Ming, 33, after he allegedly held hostage Seang Youhour, 34, for 13 hours in his house in the capital Phnom Penh and threatened to set off a bomb if officers tried to raid the building, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

If getting all jacked up on yaba and freaking out makes you a terrorist, then (at least) half  of Sihanoukville’s expat population should be playing cards with Ming. Sure, the story says nothing about yaba. But really, is there any doubt?

The price of palace advisors

Royalty fails to impress KJE.

The appointment of Prince Ranariddh as the King’s chief adviser, on reflection, leads me to conclude that all the royals, the King excepted, are basically a non-productive group of citizens for Cambodia. … In simple words, they are ‘free-loaders’. The appointment of those advisers – and one can only assume that those titles aren’t just honorary – will cost the Palace, which in turn is financed by the national budget, in other words, ‘Is it worth it?’

In purely budgetary terms, the two dozen or so royals who recently left government for positions in the King’s Council doesn’t change much — so “is it worth it?” seems a peculiar framing.

All 28 people were drawing a salary paid by the government before, and they will continue to draw a salary paid by the government in their new positions. While it’s possible — perhaps even likely — that all 28 people will receive salary increases, even if their pay packets tripled, the combined total would still represent a rounding error in terms of the national budget.

The true impact of the royal exodus from government, however, does not hide in the line items of the financial minutiae. The shift portends a complete withdrawal of royalty from national politics. That’s no trivial paper shuffling.

The ruling party has in various degrees pushed for this change since at least 1993. Not only does the exit rid Prime Minister Hun Sen of his political archnemesis and further entrench the CPP monolith at the helm of government, the removal of the monarchy from politics marks a near permanent end to any viable majority opposition force. But that should not cloud the wisdom of the move.

The royals have seldom shown even a modicum of genuine interest in governing. Their history in politics over the last 15 years is punctuated not by the number of their accomplishments but by the magnitude of their scandals. The monarchy should remain above such fray, and the exit of royals from politics would go far in restoring some luster to the crown. Whatever their collective desire to help the country, surely it can be satiated outside elected office.

Pop culture

Behold the awesomeness of Cambodian popular culture.

Apsaras are too sexy for Cambodian culture

A lot of people are unhappy with Reahu.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is preparing to shut down a website showing naked Cambodian Apsara paintings by a group of Cambodian-American artists. “Now we are preparing to shut down the website,” said Ing Kantha Pavi, minister of women affairs, citing its negative effect on Cambodian cultural values. Vann Sophath, deputy director of communication and advocacy at Licadho, said the website should be shut down because it appealed too much to young Cambodians. He said the paintings were modeled on a traditional Apsara but depicted human bodies.

It is perhaps indicative of Cambodia’s recent embrace of democracy that so many officials appointed to defend the constitution often display little understanding of the ideas enshrined in it. (Democracy is designed to protect the minority; the majority never needs protecting.)

If anyone should understand the value of free speech, the deputy director of communication and advocacy at Licadho seems a likely candidate. It is disheartening that Vann Sophath supports censoring Reahu’s illustrations. Yet Vann Sophath is not alone. The comments on Reahu’s web site are so far predominantly pro-censorship too, which is saddening. Intolerance is not the mark of a mighty nation.

Phnom Penh: the beer

From Kompong Chhnang.

I tasted it but I could not yet compare it with Angkor Beer.

That doesn’t sound like a compliment.

Menace to society

Resident Matthew Robinson complains to the PhnomPenh Post about the new menace confronting wealthy foreigners.

As if youths who ride powerful motorbikes at high speeds on their back wheels on public roads are not bad enough, now we must all put up with a new assault on our peace and quiet: jet skis on the Tonle Sap.

[...]

I’m not such a grump to seek a total ban on those who want to indulge in this pointless, wasteful, selfish pastime.

But, Your Excellency, Governor of Phnom Penh, please limit their activities to five kilometres up the Tonle Sap, well away from citizens and tourists seeking to enjoy your beautiful and peaceful city.

Right. Don’t ban them. Just move them up the river to where the poor brown people live and annoy them, and leave the  wealthy foreigners to dine in peace. Thank you.

Dangkor bans kite flying

Behold the awesomeness of governmental jack-assery.

THE skies over Dangkor district will be free of kites following an announcement by aviation authorities Thursday that kite-flying posed a risk to airplane safety and would henceforth be banned in the area. The height of new buildings will also be restricted to nine metres. …

Kroch Phan, governor of Dangkao district, said Thursday that authorities would confiscate any kites seen in the no-fly zone.

“We have sent letters to 18 communes in the district announcing our plans to ban people flying kites,” he said.

“We are also banning fireworks and kite sellers from operating in this district, and if we see anyone flying a kite, we will confiscate the kite and keep it in our office.” …

“This is a good decision by the authorities to ban kites because they pose a threat to airplanes, and we will help them by checking around every day and immediately stopping anyone that goes against their order,” said Born Sam Auth, police chief of Dangkor district.

Idiots. Fire them both immediately.

Svay Ken, age 76, dies

Cambodian artist Svay Ken passed away Thursday after a long illness. He was 76.

Ruckus at the ECCC

VIA Elena: The shouting match that erupted at the court the other day is on YouTube. Contrary to the assertions of VOA, Theary Seng played no part.

The felon who would be king

Ranariddh has a new job.

IN a characteristic reversal of fate, the mercurial Prince Norodom Ranariddh has been appointed King Norodom Sihamoni’s top adviser, said Royal Palace Cabinet member Oum Daravuth.

The King  appointed his half-brother Ranariddh as Chief of High Advisers to the King, a post equivalent to prime minister, in a royal decree signed on November 1 that was delivered to the Prince on December 6, according to Oum Daravuth, who recently received a copy.

Even before former monarch Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in 2004 there had been talk of a Ranariddh ascendancy. In the wake of Sihanouk’s retirement, rumors spread of an elaborate conspiracy masterminded by Hun Sen whereby the obscure Norodom Sihamoni would be chosen to replace Sihanouk, allowing Ranariddh to go on and crap out in the 2008 elections, renounce politics forever, and then replace his half-brother Sihamoni — who never wanted to be king anyway — on the throne.

It was a crafty little deal. Hun Sen could rid himself of the royals, and Ranariddh could keep his place at the center of the universe.

Sources close to the cosmopolitan King Sihamoni say he has increasingly expressed frustration with the restrictions on his life as monarch.

One recent visitor to the Palace said the King leaned over in a private moment and told him, “Je suis prisonnier” (I am a prisoner).

Real estate markets collapses

The real estate bubble has not just popped; the real estate market has vanished.

Lon Sinnara, deputy director of Cambodia Estate Agents, said buying and selling activity had declined to zero and the company was now supported solely by its rental business.

Now fat-cat property speculators no longer have cash to burn, and the market in luxury cars is feeling it. Oh, the misery.

Dispute grows at KRT, and other court news

According to the latest news from the ECCC (pdf here), the court’s foreign and Cambodian co-prosecutors disagree over whether to investigate more people.

This disagreement rests upon the appropriateness of opening new judicial investigations into crimes committed in various locations throughout Cambodia by certain persons considered to be senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge or persons most responsible for crimes under that regime. The Office of the Administration has since seized the Pre-Trial Chamber of this disagreement for adjudication. It has also forwarded the case files to the Pre-Trial Chamber.

The BBC explains:

The filing of an official “statement of disagreement” suggests the tribunal may have a serious problem. Five former Khmer Rouge leaders are in custody awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. And international co-prosecutor Robert Petit believes several more people should be investigated. But he has been unable to convince his Cambodian colleague, Chea Leang. And asking the judges to intervene indicates that any attempts to reach a compromise have failed.

In other KRT developments, Theary Seng is raising hell, and Duch has been charged with two more crimes — murder and torture — in addition to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

UPDATE: Elena as more, but nothing about Ms. Seng.

Life photos

VIA Alison: Life photos from the halcyon days and beyond.

Rat photos banned

John Vink reports on the wacky state of media censorship.

The Phnom Penh Post is not allowed to show pictures of people collecting nice fat countryside rats (which are considered a delicacy during hard times), whereas some of those pictures were published in the daily before. The Asian Globe cannot show some pictures of opposition party leader Sam Rainsy. And Ka-set.info cannot show the slideshows of evicted people marching to Phnom Penh to appeal to the Prime Minister, as well as the funeral of Khem Sambo I talked about here. Because ‘this is too political’ they say. Both stories were widely published in the Cambodian press and by Ka-set.info at the time …

Ka-set, via the French Cultural Centre, had submitted a selection of photos to be shown during last week’s Photo Phnom Penh exhibition in the park at Wat Botum. The Department of Cinema asked the online newspaper to remove from the series a few images the department did not like. Ka-set declined. As Mr Vink argues, such capricious censorship makes matters worse for the government, not better.

But one really wonders what is the use of being an ostrich? Who invented those weird animals? Why is it that people think that by putting their head in the sand the embarassing situation they are in will just disappear? It is just embarassing them even more. It is losing face twice.

No word yet as to whether or when the slideshow will be made available online.

CORRECTION: It was the Department of Cinema, not the Ministry of Information, that requested the changes. The post has been corrected accordingly.

Sihanouk death watch

King Father Norodom Sihanouk says the end is near.

MUCH-loved King Father Norodom Sihanouk has announced that his health is deteriorating and suggested that his final days are not far away.

In a letter dated December 1, but posted on his website Saturday, the former monarch said his “eminent Chinese doctors” were giving him frequent check-ups and had recommended he be hospitalised. …

“I have been helped through two very serious cases of cancer and lived to an advanced age, 87 years,” he wrote.

His Chinese doctor, he said, “does not dare talk about my death, but it is not so far away. I told him it will happen (soon), and that I prefer to die in my residence than at the hospital”.

Make of this what you will.

Fighting the law of the gun

IRIN says that government and NGO leaders have agreed to form an independent human rights body to help tackle Cambodia’s “law of the gun.”

Cambodian activists and government leaders convened on 6-7 December to draw up a framework for an independent rights body, the first of its kind, as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations vies for a stronger human rights role.

Representatives from government, the UN and NGOs agreed that a national human rights institution (NHRI) outside government influence was needed to conform to the Paris Principles, rights standards adopted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in 1991.

That the government concedes a human rights body is even necessary is not an insignificant admission. Most obviously, the CPP now commands near total control of the parliament. With that majority power comes majority responsibility for failure. As such, the move to convene a credible human rights body is likely a genuine government attempt to gain control over the human rights conversation.

Less obviously — and arguably even more importantly — the mere promise of independence marks a significant departure from historic trends. The establishment of the NHRI represents but the government’s second commitment — the first was the ECCC — to anything labeled free from political interference. In decades past talk of independent bodies likely would have been labeled as treason and branded as efforts to undermine the government’s authority and the Kingdom’s sovereignty. No longer.

Realists, of course, will hold little illusions that the NHRI will be truly free from government influence. But with the E-triple-C as the benchmark, there’s no reason to think  that the new human rights body will be less independent than the court, and perhaps even a little more. Similarly, with two “independent” bodies now formed, creating a third and a fourth should be that much easier, with each one yet another step toward real autonomy.

That’s progress. Small, incremental, and long overdue, but progress nonetheless.