Vol. 11, No. 493, Thursday, 8.2.2007
“It had been reported from the Council of Ministers that information from the Ministry of Commerce about the International Labor Organization [ILO] drew an angry reaction from the Prime Minister towards that organization. The ILO demanded a clarification from the government in response to the information that the Prime Minister had alleged that the ILO extorted money from factories in exchange for preparing good reports.
“Now, when the government could not explain the problem, it pushed the ILO to directly meet with the Ministry of Commerce.
“According to the Council of Ministers, the ILO had met with officials of the Ministry of Commerce concerning the allegation that the ILO had extorted money from factories. However, Cham Prasidh, the Minister of Commerce, refused to answer reporters’ question about the meeting.
“According to the Council of Ministers, in the past there were demonstrations in factories, stating that some members of the Ministry of Commerce extorted money from garment factories. However, now news had been leaked that the ILO was the actor who extorted money from factories instead. Did this not seem to be suspicious?
“The Geneva-based ILO was waiting for a report from the government about the accusation by Hun Sen in the 11th Government and Private Sector Forum, against officials of the ILO. Now, there was no explanation from the government yet, but the government had sent this organization to meet with the Ministry of Commerce, as the expert institution in charge.
“Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, Chief Technical Adviser of the Better Factories Cambodia program of the ILO, and a senior ILO official, met with officials of the Ministry of Commerce. Basically, he claimed, ‘The government had ensured us that there would be full support for our work in Cambodia.’ But there were now accusations, claiming that there was the suspicion that the ILO had extorted money from factories.
“However, in this meeting, the Ministry of Commerce responded diplomatically, claiming that what Hun Sen had just intended to say was that there may be evil people, working for the ILO, and that corruption was generally widespread in Cambodia.
“Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesperson and Minister of Information, claimed that the prime minister had not alleged that the ILO was bad, but that there were some evil people working in this organization. However, the Geneva-based ILO wanted that the government explains what the Prime Minister had said.
“Now, Hun Sen referred this case directly to Cham Prasidh, the Minister of Commerce, because he was to report for the government on this case of the ILO allegedly extorting money from factories.
“According to some factory managers, some factories had problems with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Labor, but they did not dare to openly speak about those problems to the government during the Government and Private Sector Forum, because they were afraid that the government would be vindicative with the factories.
“A factory manager said that, in fact, those who extorted money from factories were mostly from the ministries in charge, but they laid the blame on an international organization instead. Like with the recent corruption case related to the textile quota, which made the US cut the quota, and as a result some of the factories could not bear it and had to close down. But the ministry in charge did not recognize their own mistakes. On the contrary, they blamed workers for conducting many strikes and demonstrations, saying that this caused some factories to close down. In fact, the factories could have solved these problems with the workers, and they did not want the workers to conduct strikes or demonstrations, but government officials frequently extorted money, and the factories could not meet the workers’ request, causing strikes and demonstrations.” Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3083, 8.2.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Chakraval, Vol.15, #2648, 8.2.2007
- An Attorney Appointed to Defend a Penal Case Does Not Take on Responsibilities in the Same Way as Attorneys Who Provide Services on their Own [attorneys and court officials often disregard their duties and responsibilities, even though an announcement had been made to inform attorneys and court officials about a trial of criminal offenders, and especially of minors, as the law requires defense attorneys to be appointed]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1264, 8.2.2007
- [The Price of] Gasoline Jumps up from Riel 8,000 to Riel 9,000 per Liter in Pailin [Pailin was running short of fuel for the two days of 5 and 6 February]
- Teaching Law Awareness to Officials of the Police and of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in order to Prepare Them to Participate in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal [police officials and 121 soldiers will participate in short term trainings on criminal law, the law of war, on compiling documents, on video and voice recording, and on international humanitarian laws, and the police’s responsibilities]
Khmer Mekong, Vol.5, #235, 8-9.2.2007
- The US Embassy in Phnom Penh Now Also Handling Applications For Immigration Visas
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5961, 8.2.2007
- The Government and Members of Civil Society Hold a First Meeting on the Draft Law to Establish a [new] Human Rights Institution at National Level
- Dutch Delegate Meets and Discusses the Implementation of Land Management and Administration Projects
- In 2007 [the Ministry of Tourism] Expects that the number of tourists will increase to 2 million and the Tourism Sector Will Create Jobs for 25,000 People
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3083, 8.2.2007
- The Report of the Ministry of Commerce Is Different from that of the ILO
- Sar Kheng Encourages the Consolidation of Democracy in Cambodia, but the Activities of Some Officials at the Lower Levels Are Not Different From Totalitarian Regimes [local officials of the ruling party are imposing threats and coercion on innocent people to support their party in the upcoming commune council elections]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4206, 8.2.2007
- The Royal Government of Cambodia Signs an Air Transport Agreement with Switzerland
- Almost 30% of the Land of Ethnic Minority Communities in Ratanakiri Is Lost [according to a study by the NGO Forum on Cambodia, as a result of land rights violations by rich and powerful actors]
Reach Seima, Vol.2, #147, 8.2.2007
- [Princess] Norodom Vacheara Supports the Father King 80 Percent, that the Members of the Royal Family Should Quit Politics
- Suy Sem: One Cannot Take Women As Leaders Because They Have No Knowledge [Suy Sem, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, suggests that women receive more education and training]
- Members of the Pnong Ethnic Minority of Two Villages in Ou Ya Dav District [Ratanakiri] Lodge a Complaint Against Mrs. Keat Kolney To Mr. Hun Sen [ethnic minority land of 500 hectares was grabbed by Minister of Economy and Finance Mr. Keat Chhon’s younger sister in 2004]
- In 2006, More than US$1 billion Revenue from Tourism
Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.14, #2964, 8.2.2007
- [Princess] Vacheara Supports Proposal… Because She Wants the Position of Red Cross Chair
- The World Bank Assesses Suspension of Three Projects [Land Management and Administration Project, and the Provincial and Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project]
