The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 533
“Phnom Penh: The Cambodian Prime Minister appealed to all countries around the world, including to the United States of America, to participate in the Ottawa Convention.
“Samdech Akak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen [a royal title recently given to him] said the US has not signed lots of treaties; we appeal to the US for completing all tasks which are related to the security of the world. Samdech Hun Sen said, ‘I want all countries to take part in these activities. If some do, but some do not – it cannot work; therefore this appeal.’
“Samdech Hun Sen said at a conference on present mine action strategy in Cambodia in Phnom Penh on 6 November that mine issues in Cambodia are still very big. According to the treaty conditions, Cambodia can ask to prolong the validity of the treaty for another ten years. Samdech said that Cambodia will show the reasons for the request for prolonging the validity of the treaty, and report the willingness of the Royal Government of Cambodia, as well as the great struggle of all national and international cooperating organizations and their projects to the eighth assembly [related to the Ottawa Convention] which will be held from 18-22 November.
“Cambodia signed the Ottawa ‘Convention On The Prohibition Of The Use, Stockpiling, Production And Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines And On Their Destruction’ on 3 December 1997; and the treaty became valid in Cambodia in 2000; after Cambodia had provided the ratification documents according to international law; Cambodia has the duty to clear the mines, during 10 years, by 2010.
“Samdech Prime Minister said at a brief press conference after a meeting of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority that Cambodia needs more time, because lots of mines are buried in the ground and in dense forests; however, even if Cambodia would clear all mines by 2020, if any other country where there is war, even until 2020, or in another until 2030 or 2040, they may still not be cleared of mines, because more mines are deployed every day, but not being demined.
“A chronic war for three decades made Cambodia face huge mine problems; according to a report by the Cambodian Red Cross, mines and unexploded ordnance have made approximately 63,000 Cambodian people lose their lives or be disabled.
“According to a report of the general secretary of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, Samdech Prime Minister noticed the progress of the efforts of all operations, including by development partners, cooperating in clearing mines and unexploded ordnance, especially the results within the last 18 months. Samdech Hun Sen said that the data of casualties from 2000 to 2005 is 846 per year on the average; that amount dropped to 450 in 2006 and 2007, the casualties also declined to 290 during the nine months in 2007, which had been 373 last year.
“In the operation of clearing mines and unexploded ordnance by the Cambodian Mine Action Center, the following organizations and countries take part: the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces, the Halo Trust and the Mine Advisory Group; the donors for this work are Japan, England, Germany, Canada, the European Union, UNDP, and a number of development partners, including Australia, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the USA, UNICEF, Norwegian People’s Aid, CARE, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Mine Action Service, and the Centre for International Cooperation in Health and Development.
“Samdech Prime Minister’s speech stated that in 2006 the Royal Government of Cambodia provided $800,000 for mine clearance, and in 2007 the amount of money was increased to $1.2 million. Samdech said that in 2008 the Royal Government of Cambodia will check the increasing needs.
“Samdech also asked the engineering unit of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to include funds spent on demining at the sites of the construction of roads and bridges at the borders from now on, because here it is possible to show the real expense of these activities, which is not small.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1486, 7.11.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Deum Ampil, Vol.2, #42, 7-13.11.2007
- Samdech Euv [the Father King]: Keo Puth Rasmey [Funcinpec president] and Princess Arun Rasmey Support Norodom Ranariddh 100 Percent
- Funcinpec Wants to Ask for Removal of Samdech Sirivudh and Princess Vacheara from Their Parliamentary Positions [because they have opposed Funcinpec since the reform on 18 October 2006]
- America Has [only] 15 Ministers for a Population of More Than 301 Million
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1486, 7.11.2007
- Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Calls for Other Countries to Participate in Ottawa Treaty Activities
- Mr. Sar Kheng: The Green Book Is Very Important for Centralization and Deconcentration Reforms
- Young Man Arrested by Officials Four Hours after Raping Girl [14-year-old – Krouch Chhmar, Kompong Cham]
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.1, #52, 7.11.2007
- Mr. Sam Rainsy Criticizes Ministry of Interior for Plan to Change Rankings of Some Provinces and Towns after 2008 Election
- Ms. Mu Sochua [deputy secretary-general of Sam Rainsy Party] Considers Deletion of Hundreds of Thousands of Voters’ Names to Be Illegal Removal of Citizens’ Rights
- Government Led by the Cambodian People’s Party Cannot Reduce Gasoline Price
Khmer Mekong, Vol.5, #309, 7-9.11.2007
- Pursat: It Is Very Unfair, a Piece of Land Was Bought from the Court Nearly Ten Years Ago, but a House Is Not Allowed to Be Built on the Land [with so many reasons]
- US Provides $13 Million to Prevent AIDS [in Cambodia]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6186, 7.11.2007
- Delegation of Cambodian Assembly Will Visit Former Kampuchea Krom Land This Month
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3305, 7.11.2007
- Human Rights Violations Increase When 2008 Election Approaches
- If Hun Sen Government Does Not Reduce Gasoline Price, Sam Rainsy Party Will Lead People to Demonstrate
- Gasoline Price Skyrockets; Wives and Children of High Ranking Officials Are Well Off because They Have Gasoline Companies
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4430, 7.11.2007
- Green Book [information about commune and subdistrict council services] Is Announced by Ministry of Interior for Official Use
- US Prepares to Help Cambodia in Strengthening Capacity for Disaster Relief
- Many Modern Motorcycles Still Imported Illegally through Special Corridors [Thma Puok, Banteay Meanchey]
- Anti-Tank Mine Destroys One Excavator [Svay Leu, Siem Reap]
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #545, 7.11.2007
- Military Lieutenant General [Un Den] Relies on Hun Sen, He Brings a Smuggled Car from Thailand to Phnom Penh
- Im Soursdey [president of the National Election Committee] Decides to Delete 56 Names of Yuon [Vietnamese] Nationals in Roka Kaong Muoy Commune from Voter List for the First Time [Mukh Kampul, Kandal]
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