Many of the 23 men arrested in January's garment strikes find themselves broke and out of a job. With new wage negotiations back on the agenda, some former detainees claim they have been excluded from the garment sector altogether. "When I tell them my name, it seems like they know that I used to be in prison and reply to me that they don't need workers," he says.
Many of the 23 men arrested in January's garment strikes find themselves broke and out of a job. With new wage negotiations back on the agenda, some former detainees claim they have been excluded from the garment sector altogether. "When I tell them my name, it seems like they know that I used to be in prison and reply to me that they don't need workers," he says.
Many of the 23 men arrested in January's garment strikes find themselves broke and out of a job. With new wage negotiations back on the agenda, some former detainees claim they have been excluded from the garment sector altogether. "When I tell them my name, it seems like they know that I used to be in prison and reply to me that they don't need workers," he says.
W HILE the smoke has long cleared on Janu- arys violent garment strikes, for many of the 23 workers and unionists arrested and tried on charges widely considered to be baseless, the ordeal is far from over. Nine months after security forces used deadly violence to end strikes over the minimum wage, many of the men arrested, convicted and released with suspended prison sentences months later find themselves broke and out of a job. With new wage negotiations back on the agenda and unions threatening more large-scale demonstrations if demands arent met some former detainees claim they have been exclud- ed from the garment sector altogether. Twenty-two-year-old Lon San was beaten and arrested on January 2. He says he and his wife, both employees of Sky 9 factory, were only watching the strike action. During the months that he languished in prison, San claims that neither his co-workers nor his bosses attempted to contact him, and he was quietly dis- missed from the factory. Having applied for close to 20 jobs since his release from prison, San says he has been flatly rejected from all of them. Whenever I see phone contacts hanging outside factories saying they need workers I call the contact to ask for a job. But when I tell them my name, it seems like they know that I used to be in prison and reply to me that they dont need workers, he said. Those factories, including my old MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014 Successful People Read The Post 4000 RIEL I S S U E
N U M B E R
2 0 3 1
WITH CLOSURE, QUERIES FROM DONORS GROW NATIONAL PAGE 2 HOW A MOUNTAIN PASS TURNED INTO A GRAVEYARD WORLD PAGE 15 BIG TURNOUT FOR CANONS PHOTOMARATHON LIFESTYLE PAGE 19 Commerce claims that donations not political Hard times for the 23 Many of those arrested in wage protests cant nd work CONTINUED PAGE 2 CONTINUED PAGE 8 STORY > 11 Syrian sunset Kurdish people watch the Syrian town of Kobane from the Turkish border in the southeastern village of Mursitpinar, Sanliurfa province, on Saturday. Turkey is turning a deaf ear to international pressure to take a more pro-active stance in the ght against Islamic State jihadists. AFP Eddie Morton THE Ministry of Commerce has defended its solicitation of dona- tions from private organisations as voluntary, legal and a form of corpo- rate social responsibility. The ministrys response comes after Post Weekend revealed on Sat- urday, through leaked documents, that the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) made a cash contribution to the gov- ernment totalling $5,000 and has been paying membership fees for senior government officials at an exclusive country club. The donation was made in response to a request from the Min- istry of Commerce to oknhas or wealthy businessmen to support troops in Preah Vihear. GMAC, too, has defended the payment and says that it regularly receives requests from all ministries to donate to a range of causes. In an open letter posted on the MoC Facebook page yesterday, Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said that GMACs pay- ment to the government was part of a corporate social responsibility fund, and went exclusively towards assisting troops serving along the Thai border in Preah Vihear. It is really a voluntary donation from partner organizations, and not even remotely related to illegal donations or corruption, the let- ter reads. We would also like to clarify that this type of donation is not detri- mental to the public concern. No exchange of money takes place between the private sector and our Ministry other than in a legal man- ner and we have in cases of informal fee abuse put into place aggressive and bold reform measures at the Ministry. Ratha said via email yesterday that Continued from page 1 factory, rejected my applica- tion because they know I am one of the 23 people who was arrested and detained in pris- on, he said. I cant think of other reasons than that I have a criminal record for why I have not been selected for a job. I think factories might have blacklisted me. Since his imprisonment, San says his financial troubles have sunk to new depths.I have become a housewife: I stay at home to cook and look after the children, but my wife works to support the family. It is really shameful for me, he said. With the income generated by his wifes factory job $130 a month now used to support the couple and Sans 80-year-old grandmother, daily life has become a constant struggle. My rent is $35, plus $15 for utilities, so we dont save much. We dont have enough for spend- ing on food, medicine and travel when only my wife is working, he said. I have no idea how to make a living now. Chea Samnang, an adminis- trative manager at Sky 9 factory, claimed yesterday Sans dismiss- al had nothing to do with his arrest, explaining it was factory policy to dismiss workers who had been absent for more than six days without good reason. He lost communication with us for too long . . . so we deleted his name from our factory. How- ever, he was a temporary worker at the time, he was not a contract worker yet, he said, adding that Sky 9 would consider employing San in the future. But Sans story is echoed by a number of the workers impris- oned in January, who say their demands for $60 more a month the current minimum wage is $100 have left them with nothing. Ros Sophorn, 25, said yester- day that his applications to more than 20 factories since June have also proved futile. Ive applied for jobs with gar- ment factories, but they say my name was rejected because I was detained in the prison and other factories would not accept men because they are afraid they will start protests, he said. I think my name was blacklisted, thats why no factory accepts me. Joel Preston, a consultant with the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC), said it was more than possible that those arrest- ed had been formally blacklisted from factories because of their involvement in the strike, adding that the high-profile nature of the case may have made these workers a target. There was not a drop of evi- dence to suggest theyre guilty of the crimes [for which they were convicted] . . . It was just bad luck; it could have happened to any- one, he said. Wu Menghuor, administrative manager at the Tai Yang factory in Kandal province, said he had no specific policy against employing those arrested in January but, he admitted, the former detainees would likely be discriminated against simply because they were men. Our factory is not the kind to care much about criminal records, but to tell you the truth, even in my factory, we rarely employ men because they are strong and they also think strong, he said. Men like to pro- test, so we dont want many men to work here. Other garment workers arrest- ed in January said a lack of mon- ey had forced them back to their home provinces, where chances of finding factory work are even slimmer. But even for those not in the garment sector, life out of prison has been a struggle. Sokun Sambath Piseth, 32, was working for an NGO when he was arrested. After prison, Piseth landed a short-term job, but has since been unable to find work. I can guess that because I have a criminal record and am still charged by the court, no one will accept me, he said. Piseth has become a central figure among the 23, sharing donations he receives among the group.Sometimes I get $50 or $60 and sometimes I get up to $120 per month from an Austral- ian friend, so I share it with the workers, giving them $5 or $10 each depending on who is in need, he said. They still keep in contact with me because I help support them. But the lack of jobs has also created fractures in the once united group. A number of former detainees told the Post that broken prom- ises of jobs made by union leader Vorn Pov arrested alongside them in January had led to division. I always followed him every- where, hoping to get a job as he promised, but later on he went quiet, so now Ive stopped fol- lowing him as I have no money to pay for gasoline or food, San said. Pov, president of the Inde- pendent Democratic of Informal Economic Association (IDEA), the most high profile of those detained, admitted that most of the 23 are still unemployed but said he could only help them so much. I used to tell them that I will find jobs for them after we get out of prison. I did not make promises, I just told them . . . I am still looking for jobs for them, he said. I cant abandon them because we used to suffer with each other, and I still appeal to any generous people to help them, but it is difficult because they dont want to help us every time. While Pov is still a regular at the countrys protests, many of the others say that if the current calls for a $177 monthly mini- mum wage are taken to the streets, they will be reluctant to join. I am scared that those unions who are involved with demand- ing a higher wage will abandon me again if I have a problem, so I will not join the protests any- more, San said. Piseth said that while he would not join another protest, he has a dream of creating his own NGO to help his former cellmates and those still struggling to survive on current wages. I cant keep my eyes open and see all the workers and poor people have their rights violat- ed, he said. National 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Union leader Vorn Pov communicates with supporters as a prison truck takes him to court during his trial in May. HENG CHIVOAN After prison, the23 are blacklisted Meas Sokchea WORKING groups from the ruling and opposition parties are expected today to finish their work on a draft of the new law on the organisation and function of the National Election Committee, Cam- bodia National Rescue Party working group head Kuoy Bunroeun said yesterday. Bunroeun said that 90 per cent of the provisions in the new law had been agreed upon by both parties, and that the remaining points of con- tention would be passed up, along with the mostly com- pleted draft, to party leader- ship. There are ve or six more points we have not agreed upon yet, Bunroeun said, de- clining to elaborate on what the points were. After party leaders are satis- ed, he added, the law will go on to the National Assemblys legislation commission, which has to approve the bill before it moves to the oor for a gen- eral vote something likely to happen next month. Phak Seangly FOUR Vietnamese women claiming to be working for a Vietnamese company at- tempted to obtain residency papers re- served for Cambodian citizens by bribing authorities in Ratanakkiris Sre Angkrang commune last week, police and an NGO said yesterday. The news comes as the government con- tinues a foreigner census partly intended to crack down on illegal workers. They asked our authority to collude with them to make residential documents, but it is beyond our capacity and we cant do that, said district police chief Phok Borin. The women who were registered as tourists and said they wanted to set up shop selling food in the Kingdom were not ar- rested. People seeking to work in Cambodia must register with the Ministry of Interiors immigration department. Were looking for any ofces who com- mit offences like this, Borin said. According to commune clerk Puch Chin, the four were not tourists but workers for Hoang Anh Andong Meas, a Vietnamese company that holds an economic land concession (ELC) in the area. Chhay Thy, Ratanakkiri coordinator for rights group Adhoc, alleges that 100 to 200 Vietnamese workers stream into Ratanak- kiri every day to work on ELCs. They come here not for tourism, but to work for the more than 10 Vietnamese companies in this province, Thy said. Thy claimed Vietnamese companies let their workers come back after warning them of upcoming inspections, adding that some even attempt to obtain identity cards to become Cambodians. Tourists cannot work in Cambodia, Thy said. It is against the law. Besides destroying our natural resourc- es, the companies are sending a ow of Vietnamese into Cambodia. Police chief Borin, however, said this was the case for only a small minority and that police would arrest fraudulent workers. Since August, police have deported 34 Vietnamese people working illegally in Ratanakkiri, but none of them were work- ing in companies, said Chea Buntheoun, deputy provincial police chief. Finalised version of draft NEC law nearly nished Citizenship bribes offered: police With SMFs closure, donor queries grow Alice Cuddy and Sen David
T HE disgraced Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF) announced early on Saturday morning that it had closed its doors once and for all, leaving long-term supporters with a brief message of gratitude and goodbyes. Its closure came after years of allegations, culminating in a Newsweek report in May that its founder and namesake had lied about her own back-story and those of some of the sup- posed sex-trafcking victims the organisation was created to support. As of September 30, we ofcially ceased all opera- tions, ended all grant fund- ing, and permanently closed our doors, an announcement signed by SMFs former board of directors reads. The decision reected a turnaround from an an- nouncement in June, which said the organisation would be rebranding, renaming and re- launching, but did not address the reasons for this. Following news of its closure, SMFs website was promptly shut down, and its former staffs email accounts cancelled. But with SMF no longer in exis- tence, supporters and donors have been left with a number of unanswered questions. Saturdays statement, which fails to address the fate of those formally in its care, calls on its staff and supporters to direct their support to the many out- standing organisations that are driven by transparency, integrity and service . . . while dedicated to the eradication of trafcking and slavery. But the announcement does not make any reference to where the thousands of dollars donated by its supporters may have gone. On the former foundations social media pages, donors voiced their confusion and contempt. I am appalled that absolute- ly no transparency, account- ability or nancial statements have been supplied by SMF to donors like us, wrote one Fa- cebook user. Another asked: Which of these other outstanding or- ganisations will be given the donations you received prior to this announcement and what measures are you taking to soften the blow to the girls and women this will impact? In its statement in June, SMF pledged that its full 2013 nan- cial audit would be made pub- lic before November 15, and, in an email to the Post in April, the organisation said that its annual report would be made public by the end of summer. Former SMF staff did not respond to requests for com- ment yesterday. Staff at Afesip, a local NGO founded by Mam that lost funding in the wake of the al- legations, declined to com- ment, while representatives of the New Somaly Fund, an or- ganisation created by friends of Mam to raise donations to sustain Afesips work, could not be reached. Other anti-trafcking NGOs voiced concerns yesterday that the closure of such a major or- ganisation could hit the sector hard. I think that when a major organisation closes, it will af- fect small NGOs that will face a greater burden of responsi- bility, said Chan Saron, a case support project manager with Phnom Penh-based NGO Chab Dai. I am very sorry [it has closed] because the founda- tion helped so many trafck- ing victims in Cambodia . . . It is still a big issue. I am very sorry [it has closed] because the foundation helped so many trafficking victims in Cambodia National 3 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Laignee Barron CAMBODIA has the highest prevalence of underweight newborns among nearly 30 countries studied in a new medical report. But the untimely births of too-small infants is attribut- able more to the mothers medical conditions than to frequently scapegoated socio- economic factors, according to the study by Japans Nation- al Center for Child Health and Development. Some 19 per cent of Cambo- dias recorded hospital births re- sulted in infants small for their gestational age or the number of weeks they were carried. The rate was followed by Nepal at 17 per cent, then Palestine and Japan. Afghanistan had the low- est observed prevalence. The premature, underweight births were found to correlate with illnesses aficting the mothers, like pre-eclampsia a high blood pressure condi- tion that can lead to seizures rather than development in- dices. Around 31 per cent of the preterm and too-small babies delivered in Cambodian hos- pitals were born to mothers ill with pre-eclampsia or the more severe form, eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia and eclamp- sia are one of the leading causes of maternal deaths around the world, not just in Cambodia, said Dr Tung Rathavy, director of the National Maternal and Child Health Centre. But while a countrys income level may not be among the risk factors causing premature babies to be born too small, the wealth component certainly has much to do with whether the mother and infant can sur- vive to the babys rst birthday. The quality of neonatal in- tensive care is vital to prevent mortality, the study stays. But in Cambodia, where the maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world at an estimated 206 deaths per 1,000 births, just over half of pregnant women receive the four internationally recom- mended doctor visits. And only nine per cent of women typi- cally see a doctor during their check-up, while almost half did not have requisite tests. If headway is going to be made on infant and maternal deaths, access to and quality of health care for pregnant wom- en has to be improved, said Mu Sochua, former Minister of Womens Affairs and opposition lawmaker. Newborns weigh in at comparably low levels Refugee deal praised, again Vong Sokheng
C AMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen and Australian For- eign Minister Julie Bishop met at the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit in Milan on Friday, doubling down on their support for the refugee deal signed in Cambo- dia last month, despite heavy criticism from human rights groups. Bishop expressed pro- found thanks to Hun Sen for strengthening bilateral co- operation between the two countries, said foreign affairs attach to the prime minis- ter Kao Kim Hourn at a press brieng at the Phnom Penh International Airport. Hun Sen told Bishop the deal was part of Cambodias inter- national obligation as a sig- natory to the United Nations refugee convention and re- lated protocols, stressing that all refugees sent to Cambodia must be volunteers, said Kim Hourn, adding that there was no exact date set for the arrival of the refugees. However, last month, sec- retary of state at the Minis- try of Foreign Affairs, Long Visalo, told reporters that a small group will likely arrive in Phnom Penh by the end of this year or early next year. Sok Phal, director of the In- terior Ministrys department of immigration, said yester- day that a date for refugees to travel to Cambodia has yet to be established. We are waiting for Australia to respond to us, Phal said. Cambodian ofcials are set to depart for the Repub- lic of Nauru to nd refugees who are willing to come to the Kingdom for the ofcially voluntary scheme, although many on the remote Pacic is- land have said they would not take the step. Earlier this month, some refugees sewed their mouths shut in an act of protest over the deal. On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators streamed through Phnom Penh calling for the agreement to be can- celled. They delivered petitions to various governmental institu- tions such as the National As- sembly and protested in front of the Australian Embassy. Hun Sen also met with Thai- lands Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha during the summit, discussing his upcoming visit to the Cambo- dia on October 30. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) speaks to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (left) during a meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh in February this year. AFP No end in sight for boycott Joe Freeman and Taing Vida DEFENCE teams representing former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan in a new trial revolving around genocide charges say their boy- cott of the tribunal will continue indefinitely. The lawyers walked out of court on Friday after their clients read aloud statements con- demning the alleged bias of the judges who sentenced them to life in prison in August, and skewering the flawed rationale behind the verdict. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Phnom Penh a day later, Anta Guisse and Kong Sam Onn, who represent former head of state Khieu Samphan, and Victor Koppe and Son Arun, the law- yers for Brother No. 2 Nuon Chea, elaborated on and reiter- ated their clients wishes. Both teams want fresh faces on the bench, arguing that except for one new judge, all presiding over Case 002/02 which started on Friday were behind the guilty verdict in the first sub- trial, making them biased. Sam- phans team is also demanding time to prepare an appeal. We need to check more close- ly because we have many docu- ments to revise and thousands of reference documents to study, said Sam Onn, Samphans Cambodian lawyer, adding that early 2015 would be the right time to continue the hearing. Anta Guisse, Sam Ongs inter- national counterpart, defended the boycott, dismissing sugges- tions that it was part of a delaying strategy. She also told reporters that she was unaware of what actions the judges could take to force the lawyers back into the courtroom. Ive just fought for the rights of my client, Guisse said. And if I cant be heard for the rights of my client, then I am not here to be just a plant in the courtroom. Victor Koppe, Cheas interna- tional lawyer, said that Cambo- dian law is quite clear about what should happen after a dis- qualification motion against judges has been filed. The judg- es have to step down, he said, until a special panel which has already been formed has reached a decision. A delay of one or two months would not hurt the proceedings, he said. How long this will continue, depends on the Special Bench which will decide on the dis- qualification motion, Koppe said in an email yesterday. Asked when that might occur, tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen said in an email that it would be in due course. Though a management meet- ing is expected to be held on Tuesday to discuss the crisis, if the defence continues to stay away, evidentiary hearings can- not proceed, according to Neth Pheaktra, the Cambodian spokesman for the court. Based on the internal rule, Case 002/02 will be unable to continue if there is no presence of the accused or the defense lawyer. Khieu Samphan (left) and Nuon Chea in court at the Khmer Rouge tribunal in August. ECCC National 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Killer sought Fisherman finds lender dead in canal P OLICE are investigating the murder of a profes- sional money lender after his body was found wrapped in plastic and weighed down with a rock in a Siem Reap town canal, ofcials said yesterday. Duong Sokha, director of the provincial crime unit, said the body of victim Van Virak, 24, had been discovered by a sherman in Aranh Village on Friday. The police found that the victim had stab wounds to the head, he said, adding that a clear motive for the attack had not yet been established. Two shallow holes were also found in the bodys chest, but police concluded they had been made accidentally by the sher- man who found the body. According to statements his family made to police, Virak disappeared at 7pm on October 14 while collecting money. Police said they had little to work with when it came to nding the killer, but said they would follow a number of pos- sibilities.The most likely is that the suspect owed the victim money that he was not able to pay back when the victim went to demand it. KIM SAROM Riverbanks falling in K Cham Pech Sotheary
A MID a recent spate of riverbank collapses in Kampong Cham province that have so far damaged three proper- ties, authorities are advising the owners of nearly 40 houses to move their structures. Yesterdays collapse in the provinces Kampong Cham commune destroyed the Khyol Tonle restaurant in front of the Mekong Hotel at about 6am, said provincial deputy police chief Khim Kimseng. Nobody was in the restaurant. The collapse left the road cracked . . . [and] authorities have put up barricades to pre- vent trucks from crossing, but small vehicles can, Kimseng said of the road about ve me- tres from the collapsed land. Erosion ruined two uninhab- ited houses along the river in Kang Meas districts Soukong commune on Friday and Sat- urday nights, said district police chief So Sarith, when a block of land about 300 metres in length fell into the river. After hearing about the wash- ing away of two houses and the restaurant, provincial police co- operated with local authorities, warning some families to move their houses and trying to help some affected families recon- struct their homes, said Kam- pong Cham Provincial police chief Pen Roth. The province and Cambo- dian Red Cross may give aid to those people later, Roth said by phone yesterday. Falling land occurs naturally on an annual basis, Sarith said, and is not the result of human intervention like dredging. The collapses are natural disasters, not because of sand dredging, Sarith said. Every year there are bank collapses during the ood season and during receding season. In an effort to avoid others losing their homes, authorities helped move 15 houses from ar- eas in four villages in danger of collapses, Sarith said. They plan on helping residents move 14 more, and have advised about 10 other families to move their houses out of high risk areas. Collapses are occurring be- cause of changes in the water current, said Mao Hank, direc- tor of hydrology and river af- fairs in the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. Two houses and a restaurant were damaged in Kampong Cham town after a riverbank collapsed over the weekend. The collapse was natural and not caused by sand dredging, say authorities. PHOTO SUPPLIED Two killed in boating accident Mom Kunthear THE bodies of two sisters who drowned after their boat col- lided with a Vietnamese fish- ing vessel were recovered at sea on Saturday, according to police. The sisters, Ev Sokbhom, 43, and Ev Sakhorn, 35, went fish- ing near the Vietnamese bor- der in the small hours of Thursday with an unidentified man, said Hanh Kea, police chief of Kampot provinces Kampong Trach district. The boat, which had no lights on, was hit, causing the three to fall overboard. Their boat was so dark, which caused the Vietnamese boat to hit it, Kea said. While the man was saved by the Vietnamese fishermen, the sisters, who could not swim, sank and drowned. Their family did not file a complaint, but were given 300 million dong (almost $15,000) by the owner of the Vietnam- ese boat. Kea said he often told fisher- men to be more careful. Some listened to me and some are still careless with their job. National 5 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Stuart White P LAYING down a urry of social media ru- mours, political analyst Kem Ley yesterday said he had no plan at all to start a new political party, but none- theless equivocated, adding that members of his edgling social accountability network might someday go that route if necessary. We are now in the process of consultation to nd a way to create a sustainable social net- work. Mostly we are aiming to inuence the decision making, not just for government reform and public reform, but also in- traparty reform, Ley said, refer- ring to his newly conceived so- cial network called Khmers for Khmers which plans to monitor the progress of reforms and offer policy advice. However, he continued, if the current ruling and opposition parties both of whom Ley said were too closed off to input continued to ignore civil soci- etys recommendations, some of those within his network might take matters into their own hands and spin off their own party. Maybe the members of the social network will say, If we give them the sh [and they dont take it], then we will take it for our good soup, he said. That possibility, however, was met with resistance in some circles. Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy public affairs head Kem Monovithya warned against splintering Cambodias reform-minded movement. I believe this group overall has good intention, attempting to be a force to pressure CNRP in standing up against the CPP, she said in an email. In real- ity, their actions so far or in the form of a party in the near fu- ture, will benet the CPP more than helping the CNRP or de- mocracy here. Division in op- position has been key to CPPs success for decades. Cambodian actor Sophorn Lary took to Facebook to also call for unity among opposition supporters, posting a video crit- icising unnamed groups who are trying to manipulate how the [Cambodia National Rescue Party] leads the country. Ley, however, brushed aside those concerns as pessimistic, but acknowledged that perhaps a bit of outside pressure would goad the CNRP into becoming a better force for change. The more competition [be- tween parties], the more quality and the more benets for the people, he said. If a good par- ty or new party will come soon, maybe the opposition will try to review its internal rules and be well prepared in the future. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TAING VIDA Pech Sotheary and Laignee Barron NONE of the more than 5,000 independent observers recruited for this years national exams had background checks or their identity verified before they were allowed into testing centres, an official said yesterday. During this years newly re- formed and cleaned-up grade 12 exam, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) was asked to mo- bilise its own armed ofcers, as well thousands of volunteer ob- servers to help patrol the exam sites. For the rst round of the two-day test in August, more than 2,000 volunteer observers joined the ranks. At the second iteration of the high-stakes, diploma-qualifying test last week, more than 3,200 observ- ers signed on to help. The Anti-Corruption Unit did not ask for any background information from the people who wanted to be observers because we had over 3,000 ob- servers so we just selected those who applied, said Ma Soyinda, director of the units education and prevention department. In the rst exam, two indepen- dent observers were dismissed after they were caught trying to take a picture of the exam with their phones, and another two were sent home for disrespect- ing proctors, the ACU said. At the second round, an inde- pendent observer in Siem Reap was dismissed for taking out a smartphone, while another caused trouble in the capital by allegedly bringing unauthor- ised bodyguards along. If we dont clearly know [their] background, I think they should not be trusted to help ensure the exams are corruption-free, said Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association. The lax recruitment methods also resulted in a bungled list of volunteers: the ACU dropped the names of more than 30 reg- istered observers just two days before the tests second round, according to social account- ability group ANSA-EAP. The ACUs selection process for the independent observers was unclear and not transpar- ent, said San Chey, country coordinator for ANSA-EAP. We werent given a satisfactory ex- planation for why the names were dropped since there had been no issues with our observ- ers in the rst round. All [the ACU] told us was that there had been a technical issue and the names were lost. The Ministry of Education yesterday said it had outsourced the observer project to the Inte- rior Ministrys unit. We were not involved in the process, said spokesman Ros Salin, who added that he did not necessarily think a lack of background checks for exam observers was problematic. May Titthara MINISTER of Interior Sar Kheng has summonsed Kampong Thom provincial police ac- counting ofcial Chem Leakhe- na for questioning related to al- legations that he had pocketed more than 30 million riel (about $7,500) in pay raises intended for promoted ofcers, according to a letter obtained on Saturday. The summons comes just days after Sun Chanthy, a Kam- pong Thom provincial council- lor with the Cambodia National Rescue Party, led a letter to the Ministry of Interior and Anti-Corruption Unit calling on them to investigate reports of corruption in the province. The letter, however, was still inadequate, Chanthy said, because it didnt account for wronged ofcers losses, and indicated that only administra- tive not legal action was be- ing taken. Kampong Thom Provincial Police Chief Chou Sam An said yesterday that Leakhena had already been sent to Phnom Penh, and wondered aloud as to what connections the deputy accounting chief had, given that he had already been warned three times about alleged cor- rupt practices. No background checks on exam monitors: ACU Ofcial summonsed for pocketing raises Analyst coy on party rumours Political analyst Kem Ley outside the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh in March. He has played down rumours that he is forming a political party. VIREAKMAI Cybercrime laws status uncertain Sean Teehan A MINISTRY of Commerce offi- cial said in a speech last week that the controversial draft cybercrime law was almost ready to appear before the National Assembly, though another gov- ernment official dismissed this yesterday. At a conference on cyber secu- rity attended by representatives of the public and private sector, including corporate officers from Microsoft, Commerce Min- istry Secretary of State Pan Sora- sak said the draft law was near- ing the final hurdle before being implemented. Cambodia is in the process of finalising ... the cyber law, Sora- sak told the room. It has been reviewed by the Council of Min- isters and its ready to be passed on and to be adopted by the National Assembly. But the secretive draft law, which was leaked to the public in April, has not yet been reviewed by the Council of Min- isters, council spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday. In fact, the council has yet to hold a meeting about the draft or even see a fin- ished version of it, he added. We dont have anything to finalise, Siphan said yesterday when asked about Sorasaks comment. So far, we dont have anything thats official. Sorasak could not be reached for comment yesterday. Siphan directed a Post report- er to Ministry of Interior spokes- man Khieu Sopheak to find out how close the draft was to being passed. Sopheak also could not be reached. When leaked to the public about six months ago, articles that set criminal penalties including several years in prison for online publications that undermined the integrity of any government agencies and con- tent that devalues the moral of family values concerned civil society organisations. Pech Pisey, director of pro- grams for Transparency Interna- tional, who said he thinks the government should be more open regarding the cybercrimes draft, yesterday said they should also have better communication between ministries. Its hard sometimes to make any meaningful dialogue, because they dont seem to know whats going on between minis- tries, Pisey said. ADDITIONALREPORT- ING BY EDDIE MORTON Its hard sometimes to have any meaningful dialogue, because they dont seem to know whats going on between ministries National 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Burglar tries to elevate himself, falls to bottom THIEVES dont get much more audacious than the guy in Poi- pet who carried a ladder up to a womans window and used it to climb in and steal two smartphones over the week- end. It was perhaps of little surprise that the owner caught the man in the act. Her cries for help caused the burglar to panic and fall from his ladder. Neighbours intervened and the suspect was taken away in handcuffs with a bruised body and ego. DEUMAMPIL In police, crooks find an interactive audience THE list of crooks foolish enough to commit their crimes in front of the cops grew a little longer over the weekend. Three men, 30, 29 and 24, were arrested for tar- geting a teenager riding his motorbike home from a bar on Saturday night. The trio made a lunge for the victims necklace, causing him to fall flat on his face. Nearby police, however, ensured the bandits plummeted even further to somewhere near rock-bottom by arresting them and send- ing them to court. KOH SANTEPHEAP Room free for a night, mans possessions not ITS never wise to bite the hand that feeds or the person who gives you a place to crash for the night. A 19-year-old learned this the hard way after he stole money and jewellery from a man who had taken him in for the night when he visited the capital from Kampong Cham on Saturday. After his guest had slept, supped and left, the owner noticed valua- bles missing and called the police. Officers soon caught up with the traveller and sent him to court. KOHSANTEPHEAP Speedsters not adept at keeping low profile PLAYING it cool with the cops was not something three men carrying an illegal firearm in the capital on Saturday thought to do. The trio, 25, 22 and 18, were joyriding on a motorbike and decided to ignore a red light. When patrolling police tried pulling them over, the men upped their pace. The officers were up for the chase, however, and soon caught up with the men and searched them. A gun was found and the three men were arrested and later charged. DEUMAMPIL Vicious beating leaves man seriously injured A SAVAGE attack left a man, 30, seriously injured in Kratie town on Friday night. Police said the victim was walking home in the dark when three men confront- ed him and beat him up. The man collapsed in front of his house and the attackers fled. The victim was taken to hospi- tal. Police are yet to make an arrest. KOHSANTEPHEAP Translated by Sen David POLICE BLOTTER Mekong River Commission The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries mutual benet and the peoples well-being MRC Secretariat is looking for a high calibre Riparian Professional Candidate to ll the position of: Chief Executive Ofcer (CEO) (Re-announcement) Level M-15 The Chief Executive Ofcer (CEO) leads the MRC Secretariat; which has two ofce locations in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to become a world class, nancially secure, professional, international organisation, serving Mekong countries to achieve the Basin Vision. It ensures that the organisation actively works for the implementation of the MRC Mission through all its programmes and activities. The CEO is the strategic, structured, result-oriented, and neutral leader responsible for inspiring the MRC Secretariat and other stakeholders to work together to achieve a vision for a Mekong River Basin that is economically prosperous, socially just and environmentally sound. The CEO position is based at MRC Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The application instructions and job description can be obtained at MRC website http://www.mrcmekong.org/working-with-mrc/employment. Candidates up to the age of 62 years old at the time of job transfer from the incumbent or the Ofce- in-Charge in April 2015 may apply. Women are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notied. Closing date for applications: 31 October 2014 Candidates who submitted applications on the rst round need not re-apply. Only nationals of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam are eligible to apply. An expression of interest should be sent to the National Mekong Committee of the applicants home country as per details below, with a copy to MRC Secretariat addressed to Ms. Pinthong Thipphavongsa at mrcs@mrcmekong.org. An expression of interest for the position should include the followings: 1. Personal Details 2. Curriculum Vitae 3. Candidates statement 4. MRC Personal History Form Please nd detailed expression of interest in the Application Instructions Cambodia National Mekong Committee P.O.Box 623, 364 Monivong Blvd., Sangkat Phsar Doerm Thkouv, Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tel. (855-23) 216 514 Fax. (855-23) 218 506 E-mail: cnmcs@cnmc.gov.kh or khom.sk@gmail.com Lao National Mekong Committee Khunbulom Road, Chantabouly District, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Tel. (856-21) 260 983 Fax. (856-21) 260 984 E-mail: lnmcs@monre.gov.la Thai National Mekong Committee Department of Water Resources 180/3 Rama 6 Road, Soi Phibul Watana Building Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand Tel. (66-2) 271 6165, 271 6620 Fax. (66-2) 298 6605 E-mail: tnmc@dwr.mail.go.th Viet Nam National Mekong Committee 23 Hang Tre, Ha Noi, Viet Nam Tel. (84-4) 825 4785 Fax. (84-4) 825 6929 E-mail: vnmc.personnel@gmail.com Ofcial Announcement The 2015 YSEALI Civil Society Development Fellows Program for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam U.S. Exchange Opportunity for Civil Society Professionals Ages 25-35 Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC), together with the University of Montana and the U.S. Embassy, is seeking English-speaking civil society professionals for a professional development exchange program involving ve-weeks in the U.S. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Civil Society Development Fellows Program is designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, and build sustainable partnerships between emerging leaders from foreign countries and the U.S. 24 successful applicants from Southeast Asia will participate in only one of the following two groups: Group 1: Travels to the U.S.: April 28 June 6, 2015 Group 2: Travels to the U.S.: October 13 November 21, 2015 Program Funding: The U.S. government will cover all participant costs, including international travel; travel and ground transportation in the U.S.; meals; lodging; and cultural allowances. You may be expected to host U.S. participants at your place of work, and the program. The Americans will be at no expense to you or your organization. The recruitment period is October 15 December 1 2014. Applicants must be interestedinlearningto improveskillsandestablishinternational partnerships. For more information and application form please contact to Mr. Chen Sochoeun, email: sochoeun-chen@ccc-cambodia.orgor access to CCC website: http://www.ccc-cam- bodia.org/index.php/2014-01-21-13-32-35/general-announcement/116 Royal celebrations Thousands expected for Kings anniversary S OME 20,000 people, senior government ofcials and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces members among them, are expected to gather in front of the Royal Palace later this month to celebrate the 10th anniversary of King Norodom Sihamonis coronation. Festivities are scheduled to take place on October 28 and 29, Kem Gunawadh, director general of television station TVK recently posted on his Facebook page. In addition to Cambodian citizens, about 40 diplomats from foreign embassies in the capital will also participate in the ceremony. Unlike his father, the late Norodom Sihanouk often cred- ited with achieving Cambodian independence from the French Sihamoni has by and large kept out of the public eye in the decade he has spent as king. Kong Sam Ol, chairman of the National Committee for Organizing National and Inter- national Festivals, and Minister of the Royal Palace could not be reached for comment yesterday. VONGSOKHENG Temple skeleton a mystery Khouth Sophak Chakrya
O FFICIALS are scratching their heads over the ori- gins of a skeleton found at a remote temple in Banteay Meanchey province, with different theories about its provenance competing with each other. The human remains were found under a collapsed pile of rock on Friday morning by a repair team working at the south entrance of Banteay Chhmar temple, which dates to the 12th and 13th century. Ven Som Oun, Banteay Chh- mar commune chief, said the skeletons skull was cracked and the frame positioned face down. Som Oun noted the lack of clothing, as did Bun Rat, a local farmer who said he thought it once belonged to an ancient people, because the skull is big and the shins are big and long [and] especially [because] there are no clothes at all. Mao Sokny, an ofcial with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that Banteay Chhmar has long been a hide- out for insurgents. Nationalists ghting the French sheltered there, as did Khmer Rouge sol- diers up until the mid 1990s. The temple has also been loot- ed extensively. According to my conclu- sion, the skeleton does not be- long to the ancient people, but it is the raiders, since the skull is cracked. This crack might be caused by the rock falling on him while he was digging at the entrance of this temple, Sokny said. Deab Chhun, the governor of Thma Puok district, had his own ideas. He used to help lo- cate bodies of Vietnamese sol- diers who fought the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s and 1980s. When he found them, they still had on their uni- forms. I am not an expert, but I can conclude that it is not the an- cient people skeleton, and it is also not the skeleton of the people who died in the Khmer Rouge war. But it might belong to the Khmer Issarak who died in the war against the French, he said. He said that the skeleton would be kept at Banteay Chh- mar Pagoda to wait for more expert analysis. Human remains found at Banteay Chhmar temple in Banteay Meanchey province on Friday morning. Wildly different theories about the origins of the skeleton are being put forth. NATIONAL POLICE 7 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Business USD / JPY 106.28 USD / SGD 1.2734 USD /CNY 6.1246 USD / HKD 7.7579 USD / THB 32.42 AUD / USD 0.8761 NZD / USD 0.7934 EUR / USD 1.2798 GBP / USD 1.6079 Indicative Exchange Rates as of 17/10/2014. Please contact ANZ Royal Global Markets on 023 999 910 for real time rates. USD / KHR 4,075 Festival to boost Thai tourism 10 per cent Chadamas Chinmaneevong THAILAND hopest to recover lost tourism revenue with the Loy Krathong festival. The event is expected to draw more than 660,000 visitors and gen- erate tourism revenue of at least 650 million baht (about $20 million). Vilaiwan Twichasri, deputy governor for tourism products and business at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the TAT expected tourism revenue and tourist numbers to rise by at least 10 per cent during Loy Krathong this year amid a more stable political environment. Known as Thailands festival of lights, Loy Krathong is cele- brated by floating baskets of candles and flowers on rivers and waterways. It is observed on the full-moon night of the 12th Thai lunar month. This year the holiday falls on November 6. The TAT organised seven fes- tival locations: Nakapirom Park (Bangkok), Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Ayutthaya, Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi. The TAT is counting on Loy Krathong to boost tourism in the fourth quarter after a slump since early this year. The Tourism and Sports Min- istry aims for full-year tourism revenue of 1.85 trillion baht, down from its previous projec- tion of 2 trillion. In the first nine months of this year, internation- al tourist arrivals in Thailand fell by 10 per cent to 17.6 million visitors as tourism revenue slid 7.6 per cent to 807 billion baht. Vilaiwan said River Festival 2014 would attract domestic and international travellers from Asiatique the Riverfront and hotels along the Chao Phraya River. BANGKOK POST Withdrawing money from an Acleda bank ATM last year. In Channy, CEO of Acleda said his rm has yet to face a legitimate cyber security threat. PHA LINA Banks warned of cyber threat Eddie Morton C AMBODIAS nan- cial sector has been urged to act quickly to install stronger cy- ber security protections amid concerns over the countrys ap- petite for counterfeit software. Representatives from the Cambodian government, Mi- crosoft and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headed a three-hour sem- inar on cyber security threats in Phnom Penh on Friday, all calling for increased effort to protect the Kingdoms banking system. The prevalence of pirated software could be a real threat to all institutions in Cambodia, including those in the nancial sector, Astrid Tuminez, Micro- softs regional director of legal and corporate affairs, said. Citing a 2013 study by the In- ternational Data Corporation and the National University of Singapore, which showed 84 per cent of new computers in Thailand were infected with viruses due to counterfeit soft- ware, Tuminez said Cambo- dian corporations risk losing hundreds of thousands of dol- lars if software is not purchased from legitimate suppliers. Fridays message was the second such warning in less than a year. In February, Mi- chael Mudd, secretary-general of the Asia-Pacic Open Com- puting Alliance, said Cam- bodian rms using pirated software were at risk of being blocked from exporting to the US in an effort to combat in- tellectual property theft. But despite the concern, lo- cal banking representatives re- mained condent that the in- dustry was properly protected against viruses and potential cyber security threats. In Channy, CEO of Cambo- dias largest banking rm, Acle- da Bank, said his rm has yet to face a legitimate cyber security threat and that the local nan- cial industry as a whole was adopting international stan- dards to keep customer infor- mation safe. If you use the copy software, you invite the risk, Channay said. But I do not think any bank is using this copy soft- ware. The copy ones have a vi- rus, and if you use that sort of product, you place not only the customer at risk, but also your partner institutions, and the bank itself. According to Channy, Cam- bodias banking industry does not have an industry-wide strat- egy to combat cyber threats. Acleda Bank in December last year spent some $10 million on boosting its security mea- sures including a full rollout of data and transaction encryp- tion software across some 267 branches and ofces in Cam- bodia, Laos and Myanmar. Charles Van, executive vice president of Canadia Bank and acting chairman of the Asso- ciation of Banks in Cambodia, similarly rallied Channys con- dence, saying all registered banking institutions in the King- dom were operating secure, non-counterfeit software. All the banks have to make sure all the info is strictly com- ply with the industry require- ments, he said. You may say the Cambodias banking in- dustry is young, but being so young we can learn the latest technologies very quickly and we do not get hung up on old processes. Business 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Continued from page 1 GMACs $5,000 donation was coupled with donations from MoC staff, other factories and companies, though the spokes- man could not provide a full list of the firms who contributed to supporting the troops in Preah Vihear. The spokesman declined to respond to the revelations that GMAC was paying for senior government officials country club memberships. Pech Pisey, director of pro- grams for Transparency Inter- national in Cambodia, said the donations make clear the close financial ties between Cambo- dias public and private sectors. It is a very common prac- tice that any individual citizen or business can and have the right to donate to anyone, without problems, Pisey said. The MoC is right to claim it is not wrong in the Cambodian context that is a country with no law to punish anyone who donates to the govern- ment, that allows this kind of patronage system, and has clear close networks between government officials and pri- vate organisations. But continuing to allow such a direct donation system poses serious corruption concerns, Pisey added. There is no evidence in the case of GMAC, but such a sys- tem can certainly create an envi- ronment where the business community can use these dona- tions to influence public offi- cials, he said. The patronage system has to have its day. You cannot have a country claiming to be part of the global community while having this network jeopardising government deci- sion making. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Partys chief whip, Son Chhay, said yester- day that the longstanding prac- tice of soliciting donations cre- ated an unfair playing field for businesses. Of course these sorts of dona- tions are open to corruption. This is happening with a lot of business big and small they do not have to pay tax so they pay in donations and as a result, there is no real free market or fair competition in Cambodia, he said. Chhay said that if the govern- ment wanted to improve on the countrys poor reputation for corruption, it should be focus- ing its efforts on collecting tax revenues rather than soliciting contributions from businesses. It is better for the govern- ment to stop this and apply a higher practice. If they want to clean up corruption truly, they need to have other ways to gen- erate revenue that are more sus- tainable and more effective than just letting companies give donations, Chhay said. Commerce claims that donations not political INDIA said on Saturday that it was freeing diesel prices from government control, marking another step to ease the states grip on the economy and pro- pel reforms by the new pro- business government. Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration also sharply hiked natural gas prices to spur exploration in the fuel- import dependent nation. Huge energy imports contrib- ute to Indias trade decit. The prices of diesel will be market-determined at both the retail and renery gate level for all consumers and move in tandem with inter- national prices, the govern- ment said in statement. The step would benet consum- ers due to greater competition among oil companies and more choices, it added. The decision is providing a llip to investor hopes that the government may take more steps to modernise Indias economy and revive stum- bling growth. However, the jump in natural gas prices will increase the cost of running power stations and fertiliser plants, and will raise cooking gas costs and other prices, po- tentially stoking ination. The government had con- trolled diesel prices using subsidies under a program intended to shield the poor from soaring fuel prices. But domestic fuel prices have now exceeded global rates, allow- ing reners to sell at a prot and setting the stage for de- regulation. Indias central bank governor Raghuram Rajan earlier in the week had urged the govern- ment to seize the opportu- nity of the dramatic global fall in energy prices to end diesel subsidies. The move has been long urged by economists to reduce the giant subsidy bur- den on the government and help it close a gaping scal spending decit. The previ- ous Congress government had launched the process of de- regulating fuel prices by end- ing controls on petrol prices. The fall in Brent crude to its lowest level since late 2010 has created room to sell diesel without subsidies from state- owned fuel companies. Diesel represents more than 40 per cent of Indias fuel. The government has also said it wants to direct subsi- dies more carefully to help the poor. AFP Indian cabinet frees up diesel, gas prices Livestock law near approval Chan Muyhong A DRAFT law on animal health and produc- tion is expected to be approved by the De- cember 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) deadline, government ofcials say. Soun Sothoeun, deputy di- rector of animal health and production at the Ministry of Agriculture, said on Friday that the new law had already been drawn up and is in the Council of Ministers. The law includes better management of livestock pro- duction and health, protections for consumer health and local breeds to ensure a sustainable livestock production in Cam- bodia, he said. It is important that Cambo- dia adopt the law before AEC arrives as import tariffs will be lifted . . . and we improve the health regulations of livestock entering Cambodia. According to Sothoeun, a meeting to discuss and nalize the law will be held this week before being submitted to the Senate for review. But while the law nears nal approval, top in- dustry representatives say they have yet to be consulted on the proposed regulation. Srun Pov, president of the Cambodian Pig Raising Asso- ciation (CPRA), said he was not even aware of the draft law. It is good to have the law, but please make sure the law will help and encourage lo- cal raisers to raise the animals to the expected standard, he said. Dont just come and close down their business when stan- dards arent met. Please explain to us how to do it right. Pov said loosely monitored illegal imports of swine from neighbouring nations had con- tributed to the spread of disease in Cambodian livestock and rendered many local producers bankrupt. Mong Reththy, president and CEO of Mong Reththy group, which owns a pig raising facil- ity in Preah Sihanouk province, backed the call for improved regulation, but he also said he was yet to be consulted on the proposed law. I have long been supportive of the law being established, but they never make it, he said.It will regulate better the import of livestock from outside of the country. Health monitoring of livestock is still limited, causing high risk of infectious disease to our local livestock. Pigs at a Cambodian pig farm in 2011. A draft law on animal health and production is expected to be approved by the December 2015 Asean Economic Community deadline, government ofcials say. HENG CHIVOAN If they want to clean up corruption truly, they need to have other ways to generate revenue Markets 9 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Business Business 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Fixed Deposit Interest Rates Cambodian Financial Institutions On Deposits 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months Asof OCTOBER 17, 2014 USD RIEL USD RIEL USD RIEL PRASAC 5.50% 6.50% 6.50% 7.50% 8.00% 9.75% ABA Bank 3.50% N/A 4.50% N/A 5.50% N/A ACLEDA Bank 2.50% 5.00% 3.75% 6.00% 5.00% 7.00% ANZ Royal Bank 1.35% 3.50% 2.50% 4.00% 3.50% 5.50% Bank of India 2.25% N/A 3.00% N/A 4.00% N/A Cambodia Asia Bank 3.50% N/A 4.50% N/A 5.50% N/A Cambodia Mekong Bank 2.75% N/A 3.25% N/A 3.50% N/A Cambodian Public Bank 1.75% N/A 2.75% N/A 3.50% N/A Canadia Bank 2.50% 5.00% 3.50% 6.00% 4.75% 7.00% Maybank 2.25% N/A 3.25% N/A 4.25% N/A MARUHAN Japan Bank 2.00% 2.00% 3.00% 3.00% 4.50% 4.50% RHB Indochina Bank 2.75% 4.00% 3.50% 5.00% 4.75% 6.00% SBC Bank 3.00% N/A 3.50% N/A 4.50% N/A Union Commercial Bank 3.50% N/A 4.50% N/A 5.50% N/A People wearing traditional costumes plant rice atop a Tokyo buiilding. Rice maintains an important place in Japanese culture. AFP Japans sacred rice farms are rotting from the inside Harumi Ozawa
S HUICHI Yokota may be the future of Japans struggling rice industry. The 38-year-old is about half the age of most growers and he relies on cutting-edge technology to cultivate vast paddy elds that eclipse the bulk of the countrys rice plots. And Yokota doesnt fear opening up to foreign com- petition taboo in a place where rice is a sacred cow that is protected by subsidies and massive tariffs. His farm in Ryugasaki, a community north of Tokyo, has ballooned more than ve-fold in 15 years into an operation spanning 112 hectares almost 30 times bigger than the tiny commercial rice elds commonly found in the area. This is simply the consequence of re- tiring farmers asking me to cultivate their rice paddies for them, Yokota said. I am one of very few full-time farmers in this area, and the people who were retiring didnt have anyone in the family to con- tinue growing rice. But they dont want to sell the land. While many of Japans farmers get by with centuries-old farming methods, Yokota and his colleagues share work- load information and data such as tem- perature and water levels monitored by sensors installed in each paddy on their smartphones. Yokota may be an accidental giant among rice growers, but some are betting that people like him are the best hope for xing an inefcient system, with wider calls for a shake up of Japans cossetted ag- ricultural sector. Prices have tumbled as Japans rice con- sumption has halved in 50 years, and there are fears the sector is rotting from the in- side despite or some say, because of de- cades-old protectionism. Ageing farmers are also facing fresh competition, with the countrys largest supermarket chain Aeon jumping into the rice business. The situation is extremely serious this is the dawn of a very difcult time, said Yoshito Yamada, a 66-year-old farmer in the northeastern city of Kitakata. Whether it is a bed for a piece of raw sh, an essential component of almost every meal, or the key ingredient in mak- ing sake, rice is Japans unparallelled staple food and enjoys a revered status. Hun- dreds of years ago it was a currency, a sym- bol of wealth and power, and a ritual offer- ing that still forms a key part of the native Shinto religion, as well as tradition-bound Sumo wrestling. Nothing gets done here without rice, said Sachiko Goto, head of the Tokyo Sushi Academy, a chef-training school. That reverence has translated into strong protections for tiny plots tended by families who inherited land through generations resulting in a hefty premi- um in stores. Tokyo has for decades sta- bilised prices by controlling supply and penalising over-production to protect farmers a key voter base from vola- tile world markets. This policy, known as gentan and referring to small-scale cultivation, effectively made rice farm- ing a part-time job left to older relatives while younger family members worked in other sectors. But, as with much of the greying na- tion, many farmers are now retiring the average is about 66 years old with few interested in replacing them. That has left some 400,000 hectares of farmland un- used across the country, an area almost twice the size of Tokyo. What needs to be done is encourage older farmers to retire and then gath- er small pieces of land into one big lot for someone capable like Yokota, said Masayoshi Honma, an economics profes- sor at Tokyo University. It is estimated that ditching rice tariffs, which can reach 778 per cent, would see local prices fall by about 341 yen ($3.20) per kilogram, according to Japans agri- cultural ministry. An average ve-kilo- gram bag in a Tokyo supermarket costs between 1,500-2,000 yen, up to three times a comparable bag in Sydney, Bang- kok and Beijing. Despite resistance to change by the powerful agricultural lobby, some older rice farmers such as Yamada blame the subsidy system for a now stagnant sector. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year said he would end production quotas from 2018 and abolish some cash handouts to rice farmers while expanding other pay- ments leading to claims the policy was toothless. Despite his plan to shake up the economy, Abe has avoided taking an axe to rice tariffs that have long been seen as untouchable. The levies have kept imports of foreign rice to a trickle 77 tonnes last year against domestic production of eight million and they remain a key stumbling block in Tokyos trade talks, including the US-led Trans-Pacic Partnership, a proposed 12- nation free-trade bloc. Yokota insists competition might be an opportunity to tap new markets despite. If our supply exceeds domestic con- sumption, then we will bring it overseas, he said. AFP Rob Lever and Sophie Estienne FOR years, the notion of on- demand, anywhere television has been slowly disrupting the traditional pay TV indus- try. Now it seems that stream- ing video has hit a watershed moment. In the past week, HBO an- nounced it would launch a standalone streaming service in 2015 to deliver hit shows like Game of Thrones and Girls, directly to viewers without a cable or satellite subscription. That was followed quickly by CBS, which said it was offering a web-only subscription ser- vice, bypassing the cable, for its shows like NCIS, as well as its archive including Star Trek and Twin Peaks. Over the past few years, on- line services like Netix, Hulu and Amazon have been gaining viewers at the expense of cable and satellite services.But the entry of content powerhouses like HBO (a unit of Time War- ner) and CBS change the land- scape because they bring new and popular shows that had not been available on stream- ing before, said James McQuiv- ey at Forrester Research. It doesnt necessarily can- nibalise the other streaming experiences, but it creates a new focus for the viewer be- cause it has the hit series, and that drives a lot of interest, McQuivey said. Jeffrey McCall, professor of communication at DePauw University, said these develop- ments show the industry is in- creasingly moving toward the on-demand model. Were not there yet, but these announce- ments show we are headed in that direction, McCall said. For CBS and HBO, theres no need to deal with cable companies. When they put their content over the internet, they can reach consumers on their own terms, he added. This means an acceleration in cord cutters in the cable industry and could force the providers to break up the ex- pensive bundles consumers are forced to buy when they want popular channels like HBO or sports channel ESPN, said McCall. Roger Kay at Endpoint Tech- nologies said the new trend is scaring the carriers such as Comcast, the dominant cable provider, which fears the hugely protable cable system will turn into dumb pipes. Theres going to be a recomposition of video con- tent distribution . . . separating the pipe from the content, Kay said. According to the research rm SNL Kagan, US cable and other traditional pay TV rms lost some two million custom- ers in 2013. Roughly 84 per cent of US households subscribe to pay TV, according to Leicht- man Research, but that has been slowly falling since 2010. Leichtman surveys shows 22 per cent of those who move dont get a pay TV subscription at their new residence, with 11 per cent of those without a ca- ble or satellite package saying they can manage with digital services like Netix. McQuivey said one thing holding back the move to on- line TV is the availability of live sports such as NFL football and NBA basketball.As long as people cant get sports any oth- er way, they will keep the ex- isting pay TV model, he said. The pay TV model will decline a little more sharply but it is not going to disappear. However, McQuivey said over time, the industry will adapt to give consumers what they want. They want to watch the best program on the device they want when they want to watch, said McQuivey. AFP With new entrants, streaming TV sees watershed moment 11 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 World Critical moment for HK protests PRO-DEMOCRACY protesters yesterday accused police of using excessive force against them after violent clashes in Hong Kong, as a senior politi- cian said weeks of rallies have reached a critical moment. Dozens of police with riot gear pushed into a crowd of angry demonstrators in the Mong Kok district early yester- day, striking at them repeat- edly with batons. Twenty people were injured in a fourth night of clashes between protesters demand- ing free elections for the semi- autonomous Chinese city, and police trying to restore traffic to the major Mong Kok thor- oughfare they have brought to a standstill. The spike in violence comes after three weeks of largely peaceful pro-democracy ral- lies and road blockades that have paralysed key parts of the Asian financial hub. At a press conference at the Mong Kok camp yesterday, organisers blasted police for a response that left some demon- strators with head wounds, frac- tures and bruising, with others carried away on stretchers. If this goes on, one day there may be someone who loses his life or gets seriously injured then the situation in Hong Kong will get out of control, said activist Lam Cheuk-ting. Police said in a statement they used minimum force as protesters suddenly attempt- ed to charge cordon lines. Talks between student pro- test leaders and government officials are still set to go ahead on Tuesday despite the clashes but with little common ground between the two sides, there are slim hopes of a break- through. China insists that candidates for the 2017 vote for Hong Kongs leader must be approved by a pro-Beijing committee a condition which the protesters dismiss as fake democracy. But Hong Kongs current leader Leung Chun-ying has warned that Chinese authori- ties have no intention of back- ing down. THE GUARDIAN Ukraine, Russia see imminent end to gas war UKRAINE and Russia stood on the verge yesterday of resolving their latest gas war in time to keep the war-scarred nation and EU clients warm through the winter months. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had reached a price deal at high-stakes talks in Milan on Friday that otherwise focused on the six-month pro-Kremlin revolt convulsing the ex- Soviet states separatist east. Two meetings mediated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande as well as a brief exchange on their own marked the two leaders most in-depth dialogue since Poroshenkos May election. The tense day broke up without Putin meeting EU hopes that he would denounce the separatist leadership elec- tion that pro-Russian militants intend to stage on November 2, a week after parliamentary polls in Ukraine. But Poroshenko said the meetings produced the broad outlines of a deal that could see Russia halt the gas supply cutoff it began in June its third in less than 10 years. Kiev had branded the cut a form of economic aggression aimed at punish- ing the new pro-Western leaders for their February ouster of a Kremlin- backed president and a decision to sign a landmark EU trade and political asso- ciation pact. Poroshenko told the nation late Sat- urday that he had made sure in Milan that their homes would stay warm through the bitter winter season a cru- cial promise to make ahead of next Sun- days crunch general election. Ukraine will have gas. Ukraine will have heat, Poroshenko said in a pre- recorded television interview. He said a more detailed protocol agreement due to be completed by Tues- day will see Ukraine meet Russias demand and pay $385 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas for deliveries guaranteed through the end of March. Poroshenko said he and the two Euro- pean leaders had pressed Russia to lower that rate to $325 per 1,000 cubic metres for summer months in which energy demand drops. The Russian side insists on $385 for the whole year, said Poroshenko. The chief spokesman for Russias state-held gas giant Gazprom confirmed that the two sides had found an interim price solution. But he added that Ukraine still dis- puted the amount of money it owed Moscow for unpaid deliveries and that no formal agreement had yet been reached. A new deals signing depends on other factors including the payment of debts, spokesman Sergei Kuprianov told AFP. These will be discussed in Brussels on Tuesday, Kuprianov said. AFP Jihadists take losses in Kobane K URDISH forces in the Syrian town of Ko- bane repulsed a new attempt by Islamic State ghters to cut off the bor- der with Turkey on Saturday as troops battled the jihadists in neighbouring Iraq. It came as the US military said it had unleashed 25 more airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since Friday, hitting Islamic State (IS) jihadists and oil in- frastructure they control. But while Washington said it saw encouraging signs, it warned the raids might not prevent the fall of Kobane, and its priority remained the cam- paign against IS in Iraq. Despite a wave of coali- tion airstrikes, Iraqi forces are struggling to regain and hold ground from jihadists. As ghting raged, Iraqi MPs nally agreed on the choices of defence and interior ministers to spearhead the pushback, in a moved welcomed as a very positive step forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Heavy IS mortar re hit the Syrian side of the border cross- ing with Turkey which is the Kurdish ghters sole avenue for resupply and the only escape route for re- maining civil- ians, Kurdish ofcial Idris Nas- sen told AFP. At least three rounds crashed onto Turkeys side of the bor- der, one of them near a hill where the Turkish army is deployed, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. The jihadists launched a erce attack from the east towards the border gate before being pushed back, Nassen said. IS suffered heavy losses in the ghting and was forced to send in reinforcements, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The jihadists lost 21 of their people to airstrikes and 14 in ground ghting on Friday, the Britain-based monitoring group said. The Kurds lost three of their ghters. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mis- tura warned earlier this month that about 12,000 civil- ians remained in and around Kobane and risked massacre if the jihadists cut off the border. Overnight coalition airstrikes on IS targets elsewhere in Syria killed 10 civilians, said Obser- vatory, which has a network of sources inside the country. Of 15 airstrikes in Syria since Friday, 12 were aimed at degrading and destroying their oil producing, collecting, storage and transportation in- frastructure, the US Central Command said. Three other strikes in Syria hit two IS ght- ing positions near Kobane and a military camp in mainly jiha- dist-held Raqa province. The US commander over- seeing the air war hailed en- couraging signs in the de- fence of Kobane but said the town could still fall and Iraq remained the priority. Iraq is our main effort and it has to be, and the things that were doing right now in Syria are being done primarily to shape the conditions in Iraq, said General Lloyd Austin. In Baghdad, MPs on Saturday approved defence and interior ministers after weeks of delay. Khaled al-Obaidi, a Sunni who was named defence minister, was a senior ofcer in the air force of ousted dictator Sad- dam Hussein. The American secretary of state congratulated Iraqs Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. We had a very positive step forward in Iraq today, said Kerry. These were critical po- sitions to be lled, in order to assist with organising the ef- fort against the IS. On Saturday, Spain an- nounced it would begin train- ing Iraqi forces later this year to battle Islamic State ghters. Iraqi government troops are battling IS on two fronts in the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, and near Tikrit, Saddams hometown. Ramadi is in a shrinking patch of territory in the predominantly Sunni Arab province where forces loyal to the Shiite-led govern- ment still hold ground, and its loss would be a major blow for Baghdad. On Friday and Saturday, 10 airstrikes targeted IS in Iraq, including ve near the strate- gic Mosul Dam, north of Bagh- dad, the US military said. But security in the capital also remains a problem with bomb- ings killing nearly 50 people in the past two days alone. The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously called for increased support for the Baghdad government in the face of the vicious string of suicide, vehicle-borne and other attacks in the capital. The IS jihadists have com- mitted a wave of atrocities in- cluding massacres of minority civilians and captured soldiers, and beheadings of Western aid workers and journalists. Meanwhile, two IS ghters, one just 15, were executed after being captured near Ko- bane by Arab allies of its Kurd- ish defenders, the monitoring group said. AFP A US Air Force B1-B bomber plane ies above the Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, on Saturday. Washington has warned international efforts may not prevent the fall of the city. AFP World 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 NORTH and South Korean troops yesterday briey ex- changed re inside the demilt- arised zone that traverses the divided peninsula, the Souths defence ministry said. It was the second exchange of re across the land border this month, after the two rivals trad- ed heavy machine gun rounds on October 10. There were no reports of any casualties. A defence ministry ofcial said the incident occurred when a South Korean border patrol spotted Northern troops ap- proaching the Military Demar- cation Line that runs through the centre of the DMZ. Verbal warnings were is- sued by loudspeaker and then warning shots were red, the ofcial said. The North Kore- ans then opened re on our troops who returned re, he said, adding that the exchange lasted about 10 minutes. North Korea, heavily sanc- tioned by the United Nations for its missile and nuclear tests, is technically still at war with the South after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. AFP Border re exchanged at Korean DMZ Modis party tightens grip with thumping poll wins P RIME Minister Naren- dra Modis right-wing party snatched elec- tion victory on Sun- day in two key Indian states, tightening its grip on power after storming to government nationally ve months ago. Modis Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading in Maharashtra, of which nancial hub Mumbai is the capital, streaks ahead of its centre-left rival Congress party which has ruled the western state for 15 years. BJP will denitely form the government in Maharashtra, a triumphant BJP state presi- dent Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai, ashing a victory sign, as vote count- ing continued. Celebrations erupted at BJP headquarters in Mumbai, with supporters lighting re crackers, feeding each other sweets, throwing ower pet- als and shouting long live mother India. The BJP also won in north- ern Haryana, which borders New Delhi, handing the once- powerful Congress a humili- ating defeat after its 10-year rule of the state. The defeat was yet another blow for the ailing Congress, whose Gandhi dynasty has produced three prime minis- ters, following its thumping loss to the BJP at the national polls in May. Like the Congress earlier got the mandate, now the BJP got the mandate and will form the government, despondent outgoing Haryana chief min- ister BS Hooda told reporters. Modi, a popular leader and ery orator, campaigned dog- gedly for the elections held last week and the victories are likely to encourage him to push ahead with promised reforms, some of which could prove unpopular. The nationalist leader won in a landslide at national polls on a pledge to revive the ailing economy and clean up endemic corruption, but many of the reforms are yet to be introduced. On the eve of the results, Modis government lifted con- trols on diesel prices, aiming to give market forces greater inuence on the economy, attract investment and cut subsidies. Success for the BJP would also strengthen its power in the national parliaments upper house, crucial for the passing of contentious laws. The BJP currently lacks a ma- jority in that chamber whose composition is based on seats won in regional assemblies. Delhi-based political ana- lyst Samir Saran said the vic- tories allow greater space to Modi to accelerate his re- forms agenda. In many ways the results signify the continuing rejec- tion of the brand of politics on offer from the Congress and its allies at the centre and in the states, Saran, senior fellow at Observer Research Foundation think tank, said. AFP Indian musicians and supporters dance in front of a portrait of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during celebrations outside the BJP party ofce following state elections in Mumbai yesterday. AFP Cyber threat UK threatens web trolls with jail P EOPLE found guilty of internet trolling in the UK could be jailed for up to two years under proposals outlined on Sunday, following a number of high-prole case of abuse on Twitter. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told the Mail on Sun- day newspaper: This is a law to combat cruelty . . . and to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob. There has been increasing concern in Britain about the scourge of internet trolls, who post hate-lled mes- sages on social media, often threatening their targets. The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann are among the most recent vic- tims, and last month a man was jailed for 18 weeks for what prosecutors described as a campaign of hatred against a female lawmaker. These internet trolls are cowards who are poisoning our national life. No one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media, Grayling said. Thats why we are deter- mined to quadruple the cur- rent six-month sentence. AFP World 13 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Catholic officials step back from more open language on gays and divorcees A MAJOR meeting Pope Francis convened to help the Catholic Church improve its outreach to diverse modern families ended Saturday with a summary paper that removed earlier, revolutionary language that cited the value of same- sex and divorced families. Critics of the pope were cele- brating Saturday, with conser- vative Catholics cheering the reafrmation that God prefers the traditional family. The two-week meeting in Rome hadnt been expected to result in changes to traditional doctrine, but the rare sight of cardinals from around the world debating matters such as whether same-sex cou- ples can be called partners oored many Catholics. More liberal Catholics said that it was a victory for the church to even have such conversations, though many expressed disap- pointment with the paper. The language of compromise was eviscerated from Mon- days summary, said Patrick Hornbeck, chair of theology at Fordham University, a Catholic institution. The bishops who were more prophetic and pro- gressive have found themselves drowned out by a chorus of hesitation and concern. Saturdays summary re- ected deep divisions in the worlds largest Christian church as it tries to regain a connection with 21st century families while sticking to its doctrines. Traditional bish- ops had spoken angrily in the past few days against the more open language in Mondays draft document, saying it was a betrayal and heretical. Some said the church could eventu- ally be headed for division. The Synod on the Family was meant to launch a year of discussion and lead to another gathering in 2015, when pos- sible changes to teaching and practice will be made. In a 10-minute speech at the end of the closed meeting, Pope Francis sought to walk a middle line. He said the church can neither throw stones at sinners nor be too accommo- dating to a worldly spirit. He was given a ve-minute stand- ing ovation, according to the Vatican press ofce. Some longtime Vatican- watchers saw reports of bit- ter politics inside the synod as a proxy for feelings about Francis. The pope approved the small group of top clergy which included Washingtons Archbishop Donald Wuerl who on Monday released the mid-meeting summary paper, which said the church must turn respectfully to people in relationships it once labelled disordered, such as unmar- ried couples who live together or same-sex couples who are raising children. The document at times used language that echoed a thera- peutic, self-help style: people must take care of themselves, to know their inner being, and to live in greater harmony with their emotions and sentiments. The backlash from conserva- tives was swift. The message that has gone out is not true, South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier told reporters Tuesday. I certainly hope that this document will be set aside completely and there will be an effort made to present the churchs true teaching and pastoral practice, said Ameri- can Cardinal Raymond Burke, head of the Vaticans high court. AFP The Synod on the Family convened by Pope Francis on Saturday approved a balanced nal document, after several amendments. There was no consensus on a possible opening of the church to the gay and divorced. AFP Iraq PM to visit Iran for talks on fight against IS IRAQI Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is to visit Iran today for talks on Baghdads battle against the Islamic State group, which holds swathes of the country, his office said. The one- day trip is part of Abadis bid to unite the efforts of the region and the world to help Iraq in its war against the terrorist group, it said in a statement issued yesterday.The visit also aims to strengthen cooperation between the two neighbours in the fields of energy, and housing and construction. Iraq is fighting to push back IS, which overran much of the countrys Sunni Arab heartland in a lightning offensive in June. AFP German student dies in plunge in Malaysia A GERMAN student has died after falling into a steep ravine at a waterfall on a popular Malaysian resort island, police said yesterday. The 24-year-old died at the scene on Saturday after slipping while trying to take photos on Langkawi island in the countrys north, said local police chief Harrith Kam Abdullah. It was raining and so it was slippery. He sustained injuries at the back of his head, he said. The man was studying at a university in Kuala Lumpur and had travelled to the island with a group of other students, Harrith added. AFP World 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 NIGERIAS military said Friday it has reached a cease-fire with Boko Haram and that the Islam- ist militant group indicated it is willing to discuss the release of more than 200 schoolgirls it abducted in April. A cease-fire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Jamatu Ahlis Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad, Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh said Friday in an emailed statement, referring to Boko Haram. I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development. Boko Haram, which means Western educa- tion is a sin, has waged a five-year campaign mainly in Nigerias northeast to to impose Islam- ic law in Africas biggest economy and top oil producer. In that time, it has killed more than 13,000 people, President Goodluck Jonathan said last month. The kidnapping of the schoolgirls in the town of Chibok sparked international outrage and pledges of support to find them by countries including the United States and Britain. Boko Haram said the schoolgirls and other people in their captivity are alive and well, Nige- rian government spokesman Mike Omeri said in a separate statement from Abuja, the capital. Clement Nwankwo, executive director of the Abuja-based Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, said the cease-fire announcement may be linked to general elections in February. Jonathan hasnt said whether he will seek re-election as a candi- date of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. This is coming only a few days before the possibility of Jonathan announcing his candi- dature for elections, Nwankwo said by phone from Abuja. So for me, its a question whether this is not propaganda of preparing to announce his candidature an election gimmick. Dominic Simonis, analyst at the UK-based risk advisory company Maplecroft, said the announcement should be treated with caution. THE WASHINGTON POST C OUNTRIES across the world scrambled on Saturday to stem a deadly Ebola out- break that UN ofcials warn is getting worse as New Yorks main JFK airport prepared to screen travel- lers from epidemic-hit West Africa. Aid agency Oxfam said Ebola could become the denitive humanitar- ian disaster of our generation, as US President Barack Obama urged against hysteria in the face of the growing crisis. Oxfam, which works in the two worst-hit countries Liberia and Si- erra Leone on Saturday called for more troops, funding and medical staff to be sent to tackle the West Afri- can epicentre of the epidemic. Chief executive Mark Goldring warned that the world was in the eye of a storm. We cannot allow Ebola to immo- bilise us in fear, but . . . countries that have failed to commit troops, doctors and enough funding are in danger of costing lives, he said. The worst-ever outbreak of the deadly virus has so far killed more than 4,500 people, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but isolated cases have now begun to appear in Europe and the United States. A global appeal The Ebola crisis could become the denitive humanitarian disaster of our generation, a spokesperson for the British-based charity said as it appealed for EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday to do more. Obamas warning about hysteria came a day after the World Bank said the battle against the disease was being lost and as the US president named an Ebola czar to coordinate Washingtons response. In Sierra Leone, Defence Minis- ter Alfred Paolo Conteh was put in charge of the ght against the disease as the death toll there rose to 1,200. In a statement, President Ernest Bai Koroma said the defence minister would with immediate effect head a new national Ebola response centre. A global UN appeal for nearly $1 bil- lion to ght the spread of the disease has so far fallen short, but a spokes- man told AFP more money was com- ing in daily. Out of $988 million requested a month ago, the UN said Saturday $385.9 million had already been given by a slew of governments and agencies, with a further $225.8 mil- lion promised. It has been encouraging to see the amount and the speed with which these amounts have been commit- ted, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UNs humanitarian ofce (OCHA). But the total was still some way off, Laerke said. Nobodys smiling in this crisis, so Im not going to go out and clap my hands and say every- thing is going ne, because its not, he told AFP.
Panic growing As panic and Ebola scares spread, Obama called for pa- tience and perspective. This is a serious disease, but we cant give in to hyste- ria or fear because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need. We have to be guided by the science, Obama said. Friday saw a number of false alarms in the United States as fears grew, including at the Pentagon, where an entrance was closed after a woman vomited in a parking lot. US authorities later found no evidence that she had contracted Ebola. Meanwhile, US media reported on overzealous action taken by some communities, including a group of Mississippi parents who pulled their kids from school because the princi- pal had recently travelled to Zambia a southern African country far from the Ebola crisis in West Africa. The US where a Liberian man died from Ebola on October 8 and two American nurses who treated him have tested positive was not seeing an outbreak or epidemic, Obama stressed. More isolated cases in the country were possible, he conceded. But we know how to wage this ght. The US president played down the idea of a travel ban from West Africa. Trying to seal off an entire region of the world if that were even pos- sible could actually make the situ- ation worse.
Losing the battle Obamas call for calm was in stark contrast to World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim, who warned Friday that we are losing the battle. He blamed a lack of international solidarity in efforts to stem the epidemic. Certain countries are only worried about their own borders, he told re- porters in Paris, as leaders in Wash- ington and beyond grapple for a co- ordinated response to the outbreak. Airports in several countries were taking passengers temperatures in a bid to detect Ebola carriers, although experts have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the checks. France on Saturday started carrying out health checks on Air France passen- gers arriving from Guinea, where the epidemic began in December, while a cabin crew union called for a halt to ights from Conakry altogether. One 40-year-old passenger was taken to a Paris hospital with a sus- pected fever but ofcials later said she was not suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea. Meanwhile, a woman was taken to a military hospital close to Paris on Saturday suffering from abdominal pain and fever, but there was no con- rmation of her condition. The United States, Britain and Can- ada have already launched screen- ings at airports for passengers from Ebola-hit zones. The EU is reviewing the matter. As of October 14, 4,555 people have died from Ebola out of a total of 9,216 cases registered in seven countries, the WHO said. AFP Nurse Nina Pham lies in her hospital bed at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospi- tal in Dallas, Texas. Pham contracted Ebola after treating a patient. AFP Ebola is disaster of our generation Cease-fire with Boko Haram Islamists reached: Nigeria Smuggled ivory seized in Saudi: media AUTHORITIES in Saudi Arabia say they have seized half a tonne of ivory being smuggled from Africa to East Asia. Customs agents at King Kha- led International Airport in Riyadh intercepted the ship- ment, which was in transit, the official SPA news agency said on Saturday. They found 588 pieces of dif- ferent shapes and sizes weigh- ing about 490 kilograms (1,078 pounds) hidden in the luggage of a passenger on a flight from an African country to east Asia, it said, without elaborating. A 1989 ban on the ivory trade has not stopped criminal gangs seeking to exploit a continued demand for tusks in Asia. Poaching of African rhinos is increasing to meet demand from Asia, where the horn has long been used in traditional medicines for a variety of ail- ments, including fever and rheumatism. Thousands of elephants are also killed every year for their tusks, which are prized espe- cially in China for use in decora- tions and trinkets. AFP Honeymoon hitman dies in South Africa A MAN convicted of killing Brit- ish businessman Shrien Dewanis bride has died in a South African prison, officials said Saturday, days after Dewani himself went on trial for her murder. Xolile Mngeni, who was serv- ing a life sentence for shooting Anni Dewani while she was on honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Prosecutors allege the Briton hired Mngeni to kill his wife in a staged hijacking, but the killer was unlikely to have been called as a witness against Dewani because of his illness. One of Mngenis accomplices, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, has already told the Cape Town High Court that Dewanis taxi driver had contacted him and told him there was a husband who want- ed his wife to be killed. Qwabe is serving 25 years for his part in the murder, while the taxi driver, Zola Tongo, was sentenced to 18 years. AFP World 15 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 How a mountain pass turned into a graveyard T HOUSANDS of foreign- ers come to Nepal in Octo- ber with one goal cross a mountain pass in a grueling three-week adventure in the Himala- yas. This week, one of most gorgeous passes in Nepal turned into a grave- yard, claiming the lives of 32 trekkers from several countries. For decades, October has been the best month to trek along the An- napurna Circuit, one of the most popular mountain trails in Nepal and one that requires crossing the Tho- rung La Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. Thats 17,769 feet. On Tuesday, a snowstorm hit sev- eral points along the circuit, killing trekkers and porters who were cross- ing the pass, according to the Nepali Times. Dozens are still missing in whats become one of the deadliest Himalayan incidents in a country that is still recovering from the tragedy of an avalanche that killed 16 Sherpas last spring on Mount Everest. Although trekking the Annapurna Circuit to cross the Thorung La Pass may not be as grueling an adventure as climbing Everest, it is certainly not easy and without risks. Most peo- ple who attempt to cross the pass do not require any training, but the potential for acute altitude sickness remains, and it has killed both foreigners and locals. However, the deaths of so many trekkers on this route was unprecedented, as thou- sands of foreigners usually attempt to trek the circuit in October, which is considered a favorable month for climbing and is not generally known for severe weather that would create dangerous conditions. Weather and the trail along the An- napurna Circuit were clear, with very little snow until Saturday (Kaphle crossed the Thorung La Pass that morning with two friends, and may- be 100 more crossed through that day). But a cyclone that made landfall in India on Sunday changed things overnight. By that time, hundreds of trekkers were already high up in the mountains, with very limited or al- most no access to telephones or news to monitor weather reports. As search-and-rescue missions continue Friday, here is what we know: Number of conrmed killed: 32 Number of bodies recovered: 21 Number of trekkers rescued: 259 Number unaccounted for: 85 Countries whose citizens were killed during the trek: Canada, Nepal, India, Israel, Poland, Slovakia. Based on the latest report out of Kathmandu, 85 of the 345 trek- kers who registered at a checkpoint Monday en route to the two closest camps before the pass Yak Kharka and Thorung Phedi had not made it to the other side. About 100 trekkers were said to have left the nal base camp, also known as High Camp, which provides food and accommo- dation the night before trekkers begin a sharp, three-hour ascent of about 700 meters to cross the pass. We rescued 67 trekkers today, of which 45 were foreigners, said De- vendra Lamichhane, chief district of- cer in Manang, on Thursday. Many trekkers who had already crossed the pass are still said to be missing as Nepals army and private helicopters continue search-and-rescue mis- sions. Some private helicopter com- panies are also leading such missions in other affected districts, where lo- cals and trekkers have been reported missing in the blizzard. According to Captain Siddhartha Gurung of Simrik Airlines, private he- licopters have own to Nar Phu village in Manang, from where bodies were recovered, while search missions con- tinue on the Thorung La Pass, Tilicho Lake and Mount Dhaulagiri. Almost no one is now left exposed outside, but there could be some stranded in tea houses and hotels, he said in an interview. On Friday, the Nepalese army rescued 39 more people who were stranded near the pass after the bliz- zard. Three more bodies were also recovered. Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times, writes that blizzards and ava- lanches in the high Himalayas are not uncommon and can prove disastrous during the post-monsoon season that brings cyclones and typhoons in the Bay of Bengal. THE WASHINGTON POST N EPA L Kathmandu INDIA CHINA Mt. Everest New Delhi 150 0 MILES G an g e s Detail Pokhara N O R T H Besi Sahar Annapurna circuit Manang Muktinath Nar Phu Thorung Pass Annapurna I 26,503 ft. DhauIaghiri I 26,795 ft. Manaslu 26,781 ft. 13,386 ft. 17,769 ft. 11,614 ft. Jomsom 8,924 ft. NEPAL 5 dead CHINA H I M A L A Y A Can take up to three weeks to complete by foot 17 dead 10 dead LARIS KARKLIS AND ANUP KAPHLE/THE WASHINGTON POST World 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Cambodia is invitng applicatons for one positon as TECHNICAL OFFICER Technical Ocer (Applied Epidemiology Training) SSA Contract The World Health Organizaton has been providing technical support to the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia to support the Ministry of Health (MoH) actvites. To strengthen communicable disease surveillance in partcular, Applied Epidemiology Training (AET) and natonal surveillance system in Cambodia. This is a full-tme contract for 12 months beginning as soon as possible with a possibility of extension. The Technical Ocer will be based in Phnom Penh, with support costs being met by WHO. Applicatons from women are encouraged. Deadline for applicatons: 31 October 2014 Terms of reference The signatory will be assigned to work as a Technical Ocer under supervision of the Team Leader of Emerging Disease, Surveillance and Response (ESR) unit and will have the following terms of reference: Applied Epidemiology Training In coordinaton with the Cambodian Applied Epidemiology Training (AET) management team, prepare the annual work a. plan for the program and support AET management team to present it to the Advisory Board for approval Assist in the documentaton and implementaton of course structure changes b. Arrange monthly AET management meetngs and write/distribute the minutes c. Prepare the monthly and annual AET actvity report and submit to AET management team d. Finalize training curriculum and course scheduling with resident advisor and AET management team e. Assist AET Management team in the recruitment and selecton process of trainees f. Translate for non-Khmer speaking AET management team members and lecturers g. Facilitate eld visits by supervisors and outbreak investgatons by trainees or graduates with their supervisors h. Support eld supervisors in supervising AET trainees/monitor supervision actvites and ensure supervision reports are i. submited Maintain AET oce (including database, collecton of training materials, programme summary power point j. presentatons) In collaboraton with AET admin assistant, prepare teaching facilites for teaching and provide other necessary k. administratve support. Those include to prepare DFC requests and submit technical/nancial reports, to liaise with MoH on required approvals for course actvites, ensure that facilitators are aware of teaching schedule and available at required tme/dates Surveillance and Outbreak Join to and support CDC Department for outbreak investgatons as requested l. Assist CDC Department with natonal surveillance actvites m. Other works Translate documents between English and Khmer requested by WHO ESR sta n. Any other dutes in the area of surveillance and response as requested by ESR Team Leader o. Qualicatons required Essental: University degree in health related eld Desirable: Master degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or Communicable disease control Experience and skills Essental: Minimum ve years experience of epidemiology and communicable disease control. Desirable: Knowledge of WHO and Cambodian Ministry of Health Working practces; knowledge and skills in eld epidemiology and communicable disease control including teaching and evaluaton. Other Skills (e.g. IT): Strong IT competency in major sofware programmes. Languages: Essental: Very good command of English and Khmer Languages (Writen and spoken) Salary: Atractve remuneraton package.
Interested applicants are required to send a CV. Please bring the printed CV with three references to WHO Representatve Oce before the deadline or via e-mail: Postmaster.CAM@wpro.who.int. Please indicate Technical Ocer (Applied Epidemiology Training) on the subject of your applicaton. Smoking is not allowed in WHO premises. Only candidates under serious consideraton will be contacted for test and/or interview. The mission of WHO is the atainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. For additonal informaton please contact the WHO oce in Phnom Penh located at 177-179 Pasteur Street, by email under Postmaster.CAM@wpro.who.int, or by telephone under (023)216610 ext #81001. Deep space snowball has close shave with Mars A COMET the size of a small mountain was scheduled to skim past Mars, and NASA hopes its spacecraft will be able to photograph the once-in-a- million-years encounter. The comet, known as Siding Spring (C/2013 A1), is set to hurtle past Mars at a close distance of about 141,600 kilometres. The closest pass was ex- pected to happen yesterday at 18:27 GMT. Astronomers do not expect it will come any where near colliding with Mars, but they do hope it will be close enough to reveal clues about the ori- gins of the solar system. That is because the comet is be- lieved to have originated billions of years ago in the Oort Cloud, a distant region of space at the outskirts of the solar system. Comets such as C/2013 A1 are essentially dirty icy snowballs with rocks and dust embedded in frozen gasses, said Dan Brown, an astrono- my expert at Nottingham Trent Uni- versity. It is on its rst run towards the center of our solar system and its material is virtually unchanged by the rays of the sun and can give us an insight to the material composition of our early solar system 4.6 billion years ago. The comet is ying through space at a breakneck speed of 122,400 miles per hour. Another interesting thing about the comet, about a mile wide in diametre, is that it is only about as solid as a pile of talcum powder. NASA has maneuvered its Mars orbiters to the far side so they wont be damaged by the comets high-speed debris. Even as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey and MAVEN have been repositioned to avoid hazardous dust, scientists hope they will be able to capture a trove of data about the yby for Earthlings to study. NASAs two rovers, Curiosity and Opportunity, will turn their cameras skyward and send back pictures of the comets pass in the coming days, weeks and months, the US space agency said. The orbiters will keep a close eye on the show, said Rebecca Johnson, editor of StarDate magazine. Theyll study the comet itself, which is a small chunk of ice and rock. Theyll also study the cloud of gas and dust around the comet, as well as its long tail, she said.And theyll mea- sure how the gas and dust interact with the Martian atmosphere. The comet has travelled more than one million years to make its rst pass by Mars, and will not return for an- other million years, after it completes its next long loop around the sun. The comet was discovered by Rob- ert McNaught at Australias Siding Spring Observatory in January 2013. Its yby of Mars is not likely to be visible to sky watchers on Earth. But the encounter is of great inter- est to scientists, particularly since there are so many spacecraft on and around Mars to record it. As it zips toward the sun, it gives scientists a chance to see a relic from the distant past a snowball that pre- serves the same ingredients that gave birth to our own world, said John- son. AFP Above, an artists concept illustration by NASA depicts the Comet Siding Spring (2013 A1) and Mars. AFP Fears are growing that children in Europe falling prey to traffickers THOUSANDS of migrant chil- dren are disappearing after ar- riving in mainland Europe, trig- gering concerns that they are falling prey to child trafcking and forced labour. Of some 12,164 unaccom- panied minors who arrived in Italy from north Africa this year, about one-third have vanished from foster homes and government shelters with the authorities warning they are likely to face sexual and labour exploitation if left un- protected. Hundreds of children, main- ly from Egypt, Eritrea and So- malia, are arriving on Italys shores every month. In Cata- nia, on the eastern coast of Sicily, local NGOs say that Eri- trean children have begun to be kidnapped from parks and train stations. Most of the Eritrean children refuse to be identied by the au- thorities on arrival in the coun- try because the Dublin Con- vention doesnt allow them to claim asylum in other countries if they have been registered in Italy, says Elvira Iovino, direc- tor of Centro Astalli, a migrants shelter in Catania. Under Italian law, children arriving in the country without their family should come under the care of the state; they should rst be housed in emergency shelters, then moved to foster homes. In the Sicilian town of Au- gusta, which has been the land- ing point for more than 4,000 of the 12,164 migrant children who have arrived in Italy so far this year, local authorities say they simply cant cope with the numbers of children for whom they are becoming responsible. Recently we had 1,500 people arriving at our port in one night 250 of these were children, says Francesco Puglisi, the commissioner in Augusta responsible for im- migration. Here we just dont have the structures to give the right protection to such large numbers. Conditions at the Scuola Verde rst aid centre, Augustas only emergency shelter for migrant children has the fa- cilities to support 20 children, but there are as many as 150 housed there. Minors who were supposed to be relocated after 48 hours are at the centre four or ve months later. According to migrant rights activists, many children who escape, or are lured out of emer- gency shelters or foster homes by the promise of employment, end up working in conditions of forced labour, packing boxes of tomatoes in basements or greenhouses in Sicily. Others head for cities and towns across Italy. The Guard- ian followed the trail of mi- grant children from Sicily to Rome, where young Egyptian teenagers were found work- ing for a few euros an hour at the train station and fruit and vegetable markets. Some said they were told by their trafckers where to nd work to pay off their debts before they left for Europe; others received instructions on their arrival in Sicily. Mariella Chiaramonte, chief of the police station in Tivoli, near Rome, says, There is a connection between those who trafc the children to Italy and those who employ them at the markets, so we are plan- ning an investigation to estab- lish these links. THE GUARDIAN Four of a group of 71 African refugees arrested in Spain in June 2004. AFP 17 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 World MINISTRY OF INTERIOR CAMBODIA COMMUNITY JUSTICE ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP (CCJAP) INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) The Cambodia Community Justce Assistance Partnership (CCJAP) contnues the support that Australia has provided over the 1. past 17 years in the criminal justce sector in Cambodia; the assistance has moved from being donor-driven and insttutonally focused to an increasingly community oriented and locally owned and administered program of support to provide communites with equitable access to justce. Goal: Prosperous, safe and secure communites in Cambodia Purpose: Contribute to building safer communites and reducing overcrowding in prisons End-of-program outcomes: OCM1. The justce system is managed for more eectve pre-trial arrangements, use of non-custodial sentencing and improved prisons OCM2. Women, youth and children are safer and communites have less crime OCM3. Communites, police, courts and prisons use evidence to support management In supportng the CNP to increasingly use the informaton to support management and provide the evidence for policy and budget strategic plans, the Natonal Management Board (NMB) has approved through its 2014-2015 work plan the provision of network security protecton equipment to protect crime data system. We invite sealed bids from eligible bidders for the provision of Network Security Equipment and Lightning Protecton system 2. for 25 Provincial Police Commissariats (PPCS) and General Commissariat of Natonal Police (GCNP). The sealed bids are divided into two categories: Network Security Equipment to connect DPLC between 25 PPCs and GCNP A. Lightning Protecton system B. Lightning Enterprise ESE System NFC for GCNP: 2 units a. Lightning Protecton Classic Rod for 25 PPCs: 25 units b. Product Protect Power AC Atack from Lightning: 2 units for GCNP and 25 units for PPCs c. Note: All item supplies are to be provided with exempton from all taxes. Procurement Method will be conducted through Natonal Compettve Bidding (NCB) procedures consistent with: 3. Royal Government of Cambodia: Procurement Manual for Externally Financed Projects/Programs in Cambodia, September 2005 and, Government of Australia: Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. Interested qualied eligible bidders are invited to obtain a copy of the bidding documents free-of-charge from the following 4. email address: maosochan@ccjap.org by submitng an applicaton and providing electronic copy of their current company legal certcaton (Ministry of commerce; Ministry of Economic and Finance; Ministry of Posts and Telecommunicatons and Patent year 2013 and 2014), there shall be no other conditon for obtaining the bidding documents. To be considered eligible applicants must: 5. Be a legally consttuted rm - copies of original documents dening the consttuton or legal status, place of registraton, and principle place of business shall be submited with the bid (for Network Security Equipment) Not be under any notce of disbarment issued by the Government, The ADB, World Bank or other projects. Bids must be delivered to the address given below at or before 6. 14:30 hours on 04 November 2014. Late bids will be rejected. Bids will be opened in public immediately thereafer at the address given below in the presence of the Bidders representatves and the projects beneciaries. Bidders representatves who choose to atend shall be allowed to be present in person. All bids must be accompanied by a bid securing declaraton, as described in the bidding documents, any bid not accompanied 7. by one will be rejected as non-compliant. The bidding process is as follows: 8. Start of bid document distributon: 08:00 hrs, 20 October 2014 Deadline for Submission: 14:30 hrs, 04 November 2014 Please indicate if you wish to bid for Network Security Equipment or Lightning Protecton system. 9. The address referred to above where properly sealed and stamped bid must be addressed is as follow: 10. To: Lt.Gen. Kirth Chantharith Deputy Commissioner General of Natonal Police, as Project Director; Chairman of Procurement Commitee; Ministry of Interior, Address:CCJAP Oce, 2 nd oor of the Department of Local Administraton (DOLA building) Norodom Boulevard, Phone & Fax: 023 726 207, Email: maosochan@ccjap.org For more informaton, please contact 012 300 610/ 012 203 368 11. Going, going ... Rare white rhino dies in Kenya O NE of the last northern white rhinos on the planet has died in a reserve in Kenya, leaving the sub-species on the verge of extinction. The male, called Suni, was probably the last male capable of breeding, accord- ing to Dvur Kralove zoo in the Czech Republic, where the rhino was born in 1980. There are only six of the rare rhinos left, having been hunted by poachers in Africa for their horns. The Czech zoo is the only one in the world to have succeeded in breeding the sub-species in captivity. Suni who is thought to have died from natural causes was one of two males and two females from Dvur Kralove zoo reintroduced into the wild in Kenya in 2009, in an operation dubbed the last chance of survival. AFP A new chance for climate deal A MONTH after world leaders pledged to curb the threat of cli- mate change, their words will be put to the test when talks for a new global pact resume in Bonn this week. Negotiators will gather from today, tasked with ironing out differences over how to save Earth from potentially cata- strophic climate damage. The six-day meeting must lay the groundwork for the annual round of ministerial-level UN talks in Lima in December. In turn, the Lima forum has to pave the way to a pact in Paris in December 2015, unit- ing 195 nations, rich and poor. Theres so much that needs to be done . . . if were to remain on track for an ambitious agree- ment in Paris which meets the needs of those countries most vulnerable to climate change, Ronny Jumeau, spokesman for the Alliance of Small Island States told AFP. A special summit in New York in September, called by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, marked the biggest climate gathering since Copenhagen in 2009. Heads of state and govern- ment queued to renew vows to seal the 2015 deal. Taking effect from 2020, the accord would seek to limit glob- al warming to 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels and channel hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to poor states. The UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that on current trends, the plan- et could be up to 4.8 C warmer by 2100 and sea levels up to 82 centimetres higher. Conict, hunger, oods and homelessness would be the likely result, and risks of con- ict amplify as nations joust over resources. Another scientic team, the Global Carbon Project, report- ed in September that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels and cement pro- duction grew by 2.3 per cent in 2013 to a record 36 billion tonnes. It predicted a 2.5 per cent rise for 2014. Yet nations have squabbled for more than two decades over how to share emissions curbs, which requires a costly shift away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy use. The New York meeting has revived political interest in this process. But, say analysts, many technicalities, some nightmar- ishly complex, remain. What will be the pacts status under international law? How will it be binding? Will there be sanctions for countries who fail to meet their targets? And who will monitor compliance and measure if the global ef- fort is falling short? The German talks will be the rst chance to discuss a rough 22-page outline drawn up by working group leaders and dis- tributed for scrutiny in July. In Bonn, we will start un- derstanding where everybody stands, what are the potential obstacles, and what are the points people agree on, said Seyni Nafo, an African bloc spokesman. The meeting must also start narrowing down what data countries must provide when submitting emissions pledges, including whether they should include nancing commit- ments. The goal is to have these pledges on the table by the end of 2015s rst quarter. Countries are working on their contributions right now and they need to know what information has to be con- tained in what they put for- ward, said Alden Meyer of the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists. But the topic will likely see negotiators return to a sore point: whether rich countries should have tougher targets because of their longer history of burning fossil fuels. Developed nations point the nger in turn at fast-growing emerging giants, especially China, the worlds largest car- bon emitter. It accounted for 28 per cent of fossil-fuel CO2 emissions in 2013, and India for another 7 per cent. According to the Global Car- bon Project, in 1990, 62 per cent of global emissions came from rich countries and 34 per cent in developing countries; in 2013, 58 per cent of emissions came from developing econo- mies, and 36 per cent rich ones. And then there is the question of climate aid, a test of good faith for developing countries. Rich nations promised in 2009 to help channel up to $100 bil- lion per year by 2020. It looks like international momentum to deliver is - nally building, said Jumeau, adding: We call on the world to ensure the opportunity is not lost in Lima and the road to Paris. AFP A dried up bed of the Po River, which ows 652 kilometres eastward across northern Italy, from Monviso in the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic Sea near Venice. AFP Opinion 18 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 EDITORIALPERSONNEL Publisher Chris Dawe Editor-in-Chief ChadWilliams ManagingEditor ShaneWorrell Editor-in-Chief Post Khmer Kay Kimsong ManagingEditorPost Khmer SamRith Chief of Staff CheangSokha DeputyChief of Staff Chhay Channyda National NewsEditor JoeFreeman National Assignment Editor Stuart White Digital MediaDirector DavidBoyle DeputyNewsEditor VongSokheng BusinessEditorPost English Daniel deCarteret BusinessEditorPost Khmer May Kunmakara PropertyEditor Pisei Hin ForeignNewsEditor JoeCurtin SportsEditor DanRiley PictureEditor Scott Howes LifestyleEditor Poppy McPherson DeputyHeadof LifestyleDesk PanSimala Chief Sub-editor Michael Philips Sub-editors Laignee Barron, Alice Cuddy, Erin Hale, Will Jackson, Eddie Morton, Bennett Murray, Kevin Ponniah, Daniel Pye, Charles Rollet, Sean Teehan, SamWheeler Reporters KhouthSophakChakrya, SenDavid, Hor Kim- say, ButhReaksmey Kongkea, MomKunthear, KimSarom, PhakSeangly, Meas Sokchea, Pech Sotheary, ChhimSreyneang, May Titthara Photographers HengChivoan, PhaLina, HongMenea, Vireak Mai, CharlottePert, SrengMengSrun WebEditor LeangPhannara Webmasters UongRatana, HorngPengly SIEMREAPBUREAU BureauChief Peter Olszewski OfceManager ThikSkaline DistributionManager SengSech Reporters ThikKaliyann, NicolaSullivan PRODUCTION&PRINTING Headof DesktopPublishing NhimSokphyrak DesktopPublishing SuonSavatdy, ChumSokunthy, AimValinda, DanhBorath GRAPHICDESIGNER TepThoeunThyda, Hasoh, Borin, Meng HEADOFFICE Post Media Co, Ltd. 888, Building F, 8th oor, PhnomPenh Center, Cnr Sothearos &Sihanouk Blvd, Chamkarmon, PhnomPenh, Cambodia Tel: 023 214 311, 0214 311-017 Fax: 023 214 318 SIEMREAP No 629, Street 6 DangkumCommune Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Chief ExecutiveOfcer Chris Dawe SALESDEPARTMENT National SalesDirector BoromChea Account Directors ChapNarith Post KhmerSalesManager TounChanreaksmey Digital SalesManager Soy Sontery CIRCULATION&DISTRIBUTION CirculationDirector SopheaKalvinHeng CirculationSupervisor Rithy DistributionManager Meas Thy ADMINISTRATION HRManager PichSocheat HRExecutive NeangSopheap AssistantstoHRManager Lay Sopanha Financial Director HeangTangmeng Chief Accountant SrenVicheka Treasurers SokSophorn, YonSovannara, CheamSopheak ITManager SengNak, VongOun TOCONTACTUS newsroom@phnompenhpost.com advertising@phnompenhpost.com subscription@phnompenhpost.com webmaster@phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com Post MediaCo, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associated logos or devices and the contents of this publica- tion may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com J OKO Widodo hasnt even been sworn in as Indonesias president yet, and already hes a failure. No, Im not betting against the young outsider who, Barack Obama- style, rode a wave of excitement and voter enthusiasm to the top job in the worlds fourth-most populous nation. Regional leaders and inves- tors alike want Widodo to succeed in raising the living standards of his 250 million citizens, 26 per cent of whom are under 15. But its worth tempering wildly inflated expecta- tions for the incoming president, given how determined his opposi- tion appears to be. No one would understand Widodos dilemma better than the US presi- dent to whom hes often compared. The parallels with Obama are strik- ing. Both are self-made men from modest upbringings. Both energised a new, wired generation of voters with their charisma and common- man appeal. Each has had to over- come mean-spirited smear cam- paigns: Obama for allegedly being a Muslim, Widodo for allegedly not being one. And like Obama when he was inaugurated in 2009, the relative- ly inexperienced Widodo confronts grave doubts about whether he has the strength and the skill to trans- form Indonesias status quo. The evidence thus far is worrying. The man Widodo defeated in the July elections former Suharto-era general Prabowo Subianto at first refused to concede. Ever since, hes seemed bent on undercutting Wido- do in any way he can. Subianto has cobbled together a coalition in par- liament that outnumbers the presi- dents supporters. Even before todays presidential inauguration, the legislature changed rules to allow that opposition coalition to dominate key leadership positions. In the most striking blow, legislators voted to overturn the system of direct local elections established after the fall of Suharto in 1998 the very reform that allowed a maverick like Widodo, a former furniture salesman, to become a small-town mayor and then governor of Jakarta before running for president. Subiantos petulance brings to mind Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. In 2010, McCon- nell flatly declared that his partys priority would be to hold Obama to one term. That meant scuttling the presidents every priority, no matter how punitive the consequences for the American people. In Indonesia, many in the opposi- tion are driven as well by fears that Widodos reforms and anti-graft efforts might threaten the perks and privileges theyve traditionally enjoyed. Much of the Suharto-era system remained intact even after the dictators ouster and is reassert- ing its power now. Or, as the Econo- mist magazine put it in a recent headline: The Empire Strikes Back. Prabowo histrionics could have their uses. Much as Obama often suc- ceeds by stepping back and letting the Republicans trip over their own ideo- logical militancy, the popular Widodo might want to let his enemies score some own goals. The reversal of direct elections, and earlier efforts to make it harder to pursue corruption charges against parliament members, are highly unpopular with voters. His style is far more appealing to Indonesians, and Prabowo is wear- ing out his welcome as a sore loser and spoiler, says Jeff Kingston, head of Asian studies at the Tokyo campus of Temple University. The new presi- dent, in Kingstons words, may just need to get out of Prabowos way as he alienates voters. Above all, Wido- do needs to stick to his guns. Nobel laureate Paul Krugman is probably right that history will be kind to Obama, who overhauled health care, avoided a full-blown depres- sion and put climate change firmly on Washingtons agenda. Widodos popularity doesnt just stem from his down-to-earth per- sonality but from his track record of delivering results. He needs to achieve more such victories as quickly as possible. Logical places to focus include: eliminating the struc- tural inefficiencies that fan infla- tion; cutting red tape; attacking graft; making Indonesia a bigger link in Asias supply chain by reducing trade barriers and increasing manu- facturing jobs; and setting a time- line to scrap subsidies that are over- whelming the budget. Widodo has promised to put experts and techno- crats in charge of these reforms rather than political hacks, and he should keep his word. Granted, that wont be easy not with even allies like former presi- dent Megawati Soekarnoputri, Widodos own party head, interfer- ing with cabinet picks. But Widodos five-year term will decide whether Indonesia marches forward toward a brighter future or lurches backward. He should pay heed to Obamas example as he sets out. BLOOMBERG The Indonesian Obama President-elect Joko Widodo (centre) and defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto walk together for a meeting in Jakarta last week. AFP William Pesek is a Bloomberg View col- umnist based in Tokyo. Comment William Pesek Bennett Murray
C AMBODIAS edgling ama- teur photography scene came out in full force for the fourth annual Canon Pho- toMarathon. With 800 participants using their digital cameras to try to capture the best photos of the bunch, the Koh Pich Building G auditorium was packed last evening with hopefuls anticipating the results. Jessica Lim, the Asian Coordina- tor for the Angkor Photo Festival and PhotoMarathon jurist, said she was impressed by the turnout. Its great to see so many Cambodi- ans who are so interested in photog- raphy that they are willing to spend their entire Sunday on this, she said, adding that the queue for registration began at 6:30am. The contest, which was divided into three rounds, each with a different theme, began at 9am. Upon learn- ing the theme, which was kept secret prior to the start, the participants had three hours to nd the single best shot they could around the city. After submitting their favourite picture, they were told of the next theme and went out yet again. The rules required that all photos be taken on the day of the competition and that the photos be untouched with digital software memory cards meta-data was analysed to ensure compliance. Kong Sangvar Cesare, a 24-year- old business manager at Askap Gold Investment, decided to partner with two of his friends to nd the best image to represent hope, the nal theme. So far we have found two pictures one of owers oating on the sur- face of water with the reection of sunshine, and one of a smile, but we captured only half of the mouth, he said outside the Koh Pich auditorium as the competition approached its end. Phat Sopheak, a 28-year-old project organiser at the election watchdog NGO Comfrel, was also contemplat- ing which picture to submit after re- turning from his three-hour shoot. When they told the topic, I thought of one man or woman looking into the picture, and the picture showing development, he said, adding that he did not nd quite the right shot for his vision. The three themes, which also in- cluded generations and expres- sions of Phnom Penh, were intended to be open-ended to allow for maxi- mum creative exibility, said Tan Li- wen, Regional Marketing Manager for I-Click Canon, which organised the contest. We asked participants to be cre- ative and we also asked participants to take time after they had taken the pictures to come back early to go through all their pictures and choose the best, she said. The contest was divided into the open group for adults and the student group for minors, with the youngest participant only nine years old. In addition to camera kit prizes, the top three adult winners of each theme will attend a photo clinic at next months Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap where they will com- pete yet again for the chance to at- tend a Canon photo clinic in Japan next January. Lim, who returned to the festival for the third time to judge, said she has noticed an improvement from past years. I feel like more people are trying to do more candid photos now, which is a nice change, she said, adding that she also noticed an increase in photo quality throughout the day of the competition. Jerry Thai, a local professional pho- tographer who also served as a judge, said that he hopes his country will continue to improve its photography skills for next years competition. He said: I would say that right now Cambodia is growing photography in terms of technical skills but in terms of artistic [technique] it is go- ing up but still not enough. Hopefully next year, everything will be much better. Ultimately, said Liwen, the contest is all about promoting the craft with- in the Kingdom. All along we have been very persis- tant in wanting to promote photogra- phy culture in Cambodia, she said. The open category winners for the Phnom Penh Expression theme were Patrick Kooijman in rst place, Arik S. Mintorogo in second place and Jake Akitch Almeida in third place, while the student winners were Veal Chan- raksmey in rst place, Chhunka Da- vid in second place and Chan Mony Odom in third place. The open category winners for the Generation theme were Sun Vandy in rst place, Vong Sopheak in sec- ond place and Heng Chhengngarv in third place, while the student winners were Chhunka David in rst place, Nun Sonisa in second place and Lay Bunleng in third place. The open category winners for the Hope theme were Sao Siha in rst place, Leng Sodina in second place and Si Eng Hai in third place, while the student winners were Veal Chan- raksmey in rst place, Heng Puthyrak in second place and Chet Bomey in third place. 19 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Lifestyle Big turnout for Canons photo contest The rst place photo of the Generations theme. SUN VANDY The rst place photo of the Expressions of Phnom Penh theme. PATRICK KOOIJMAN In Japan, new sakes promoted to young drinkers THIS years sake brewing season has begun, and newly harvested rice is being shipped across Japan. Although Japanese sake has a deep-rooted image as a drink for middle-aged and elderly men, new varieties have appeared on the market in recent years, with sparkling sake and sake cocktails especially popular among young people and women. There are just over 1,700 sake brewer- ies in the nation, each producing a distinctive product. Domestic ship- ments of sake have been on the decline, down 60 per cent since 1993. However, the popularity of sake among women and young people has been gradually rising. According to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministrys household expenditure survey in 2013, spending on sake has increased 90 per cent from 2011 in households with at least two people and in which the head of the household is in his or her 20s. Among households in which the head of the household is in his or her 30s, spending increased 20 per cent from 2011. A sake-tasting event exclusively for women was held in Tokyo on Septem- ber 27. About 1,000 participants vis- ited the booths of the 25 sake brewer- ies and enjoyed tasting their products. Tatsuya Kawagoe, a famous chef of Italian cuisine, presented cooking recipes at the festive event that go well with sake. The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association has also held seminars for women since 2005. Participants learn the history of sake and brewing meth- ods, and can also visit breweries to observe the production processes and taste sake. The association has sometimes had to choose participants by lottery because applicants exceeded capac- ity. A conspicuous number of the par- ticipants were in their 30s, it said. Sake breweries are also offering fashionable products that are easier to drink, including sparkling sake. Many of the new products are sweet, and their alcoholic content is lower than that of conventional sake, which is generally about 15 per cent. Takara Shuzo Co released sparkling sake in autumn 2013 across the nation. A 300-mililitre bottle of the brand, called is priced at about 475 yen, or about $4.50, not including consump- tion tax. The brands alcoholic content is 5 percent, the same level as that of beer. Company officials said the sparkling sake has a strong acidic flavour, and so is suitable as an aperitif or to drink together with chocolates and other rich sweets. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN A sake-tasting event on September 27 in Tokyo. New varieties of sake are being pro- moted to appeal to younger drinkers. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN Kotaro Numata
R EASONABLY priced guesthouses in Tokyo have been attracting travellers from over- seas since Tokyo won the bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Such accommodations are popular among foreign visi- tors as they provide a relax- ing atmosphere where it is easy to communicate with other travel- lers as well as locals, a l t h o u g h s h a r e d rooms, lava- tories and shower facili- ties are the norm. Guesthouse toco. in the Shitaya dis- trict in Tokyo, opened four years ago in a renovated 90-year-ol d t r adi t i onal private house. A Japanese- style garden outside the veranda of the wooden house creates the at- mosphere of Japans good old days. Though guests must share rooms, lavatories and show- er facilities, the cost is afford- able, starting from 2,700 yen (about $25) per night. As the living room includes a mini- bar that opens at 7pm every night, guests can enjoy chat- ting with other guests and Japanese locals who visit the bar lounge. Guesthouse owner Takuya Kirimura, 29, said: About 80 per cent of our guests are foreigners. Talking with local residents who come to drink at the bar provides a source of pleasure for them. Another popular guest- house is Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel in the Nishi-Asakusa district of Tokyo. As the renovated building was formerly a love hotel constructed during the economic bubble years, the guesthouse has inten- tionally maintained some rooms with their amorous atmosphere. The cost of such rooms, which are pop- ular among tourists, starts from 2,200 yen (about $20) per person. G e n e r a l manager Ma- sahiko Mago- me, 32, said: [Not only guests, but] most of our staff are back- packers who go travelling on holidays. Thats why we can be a little out of the box in the services we offer to guests. One of the guests, Chris- tian Curz, 30, a graphic de- signer from Mexico, said with a smile that the guest- house is reasonable and unique with friendly staff members, adding that he plans to tell his friends and family members about the charming accommodation in Tokyo. Such guesthouses, which many locals have not heard of, may give foreign travelers a chance to know the real Tokyo. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN Travel THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 20 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE FROM PHNOM PENH TO PHNOM PENH Flighs Days Dep Arrival Flighs Days Dep Arrival PHNOMPENH- BANGKOK BANGKOK- PHNOMPENH K6 720 Daily 12:05 01:10 K6 721 Daily 02:25 03:30 PG 930 Daily 13:20 14:30 PG 939 Daily 11:20 12:30 PG 938 Daily 06:20 07:30 PG 931 Daily 08:10 09:25 PG 932 Daily 10:15 11:25 TG 580 Daily 07:55 09:05 TG 581 Daily 10:05 11:10 PG 933 Daily 13:20 14:30 PG 934 Daily 15:20 16:30 FD 606 Daily 15:00 16:20 FD 607 Daily 17:05 18:15 PG 935 Daily 17:10 18:20 PG 936 Daily 19:10 20:20 TG 584 Daily 18:25 19:40 TG 585 Daily 20:40 21:45 PG 937 Daily 21:20 22:30 PHNOMPENH- BEIJING BEIJING- PHNOMPENH CZ 324 Daily 08:00 16:05 CZ 323 Daily 14:30 20:50 PHNOMPENH- DOHA( ViaHCMC) DOHA- PHNOMPENH( ViaHCMC) QR 965 Daily 16:30 23:05 QR 964 Daily 01:00 15:05 PHNOMPENH- GUANGZHOU GUANGZHOU- PHNOMPENH CZ 324 Daily 08:00 11:40 CZ 6059 2.4.7 12:00 13:45 CZ 6060 2.4.7 14:45 18:10 CZ 323 Daily 19:05 20:50 PHNOMPENH- HANOI HANOI - PHNOMPENH VN 840 Daily 17:30 20:35 VN 841 Daily 09:40 13:00 PHNOMPENH- HOCHI MINHCITY HOCHI MINHCITY- PHNOMPENH QR 965 Daily 16:30 17:30 QR 964 Daily 14:05 15:05 VN 841 Daily 14:00 14:45 VN 920 Daily 15:50 16:30 VN 3856 Daily 19:20 20:05 VN 3857 Daily 18:00 18:45 PHNOMPENH- HONGKONG HONGKONG- PHNOMPENH KA 207 1.2.4.7 11:25 15:05 KA 208 1.2.4.6.7 08:50 10:25 KA 207 6 11:45 22:25 KA 206 3.5.7 14:30 16:05 KA 209 1 18:30 22:05 KA 206 1 15:25 17:00 KA 209 3.5.7 17:25 21:00 KA 206 2 15:50 17:25 KA 205 2 19:00 22:35 - - - - PHNOMPENH- INCHEON INCHEON- PHNOMPENH KE 690 Daily 23:40 06:40 KE 689 Daily 18:30 22:20 OZ 740 Daily 23:50 06:50 OZ 739 Daily 19:10 22:50 PHNOMPENH- KUALALUMPUR KUALALUMPUR- PHNOMPENH AK 1473 Daily 08:35 11:20 AK 1474 Daily 15:15 16:00 MH 755 Daily 11:10 14:00 MH 754 Daily 09:30 10:20 MH 763 Daily 17:10 20:00 MH 762 Daily 3:20 4:10 PHNOMPENH- PARIS PHNOMPENH- PARIS AF 273 2 20:05 06:05 AF 273 2 20:05 06:05 PHNOMPENH- SHANGHAI SHANGHAI - PHNOMPENH FM 833 2.3.4.5.7 19:50 23:05 FM 833 2.3.4.5.7 19:30 22:40 PHNOMPENH- SINGAPORE SINGAPORE-PHNOMPENH MI 601 1.3.5.6.7 09:30 12:30 MI 602 1.3.5.6.7 07:40 08:40 MI 622 2.4 12:20 15:20 MI 622 2.4 08:40 11:25 3K 594 1234..7 15:25 18:20 3K 593 Daily 13:30 14:40 3K 594 ....56. 15:25 18:10 - - - - MI 607 Daily 18:10 21:10 MI 608 Daily 16:20 17:15 2817 1.3 16:40 19:40 2816 1.3 15:00 15:50 2817 2.4.5 09:10 12:00 2816 2.4.5 07:20 08:10 2817 6 14:50 17:50 2816 6 13:00 14:00 2817 7 13:20 16:10 2816 7 11:30 12:30 PHNOMPENH-TAIPEI TAIPEI - PHNOMPENH CI 862 Daily 10:50 15:20 CI 861 Daily 07:30 09:50 BR 266 Daily 12:45 17:05 BR 265 Daily 09:10 11:35 PHNOMPENH- VIENTIANE VIENTIANE- PHNOMPENH VN 840 Daily 17:30 18:50 VN 841 Daily 11:30 13:00 QV 920 Daily 17:50 19:10 QV 921 Daily 11:45 13:15 PHNOMPENH- YANGON YANGON- SIEMREAP 8M 402 1.3.6 13:30 14:55 8M 401 1.3.6 08:20 10:45 SIEMREAP- PHNOMPENH 8M 401 1.3.6 11:45 12:30 SIEMREAP- BANGKOK BANGKOK- SIEMREAP Flighs Days Dep Arrival Flighs Days Dep Arrival K6 700 Daily 12:50 2:00 K6 701 Daily 02:55 04:05 PG 924 Daily 09:45 11:00 PG 903 Daily 08:00 09:10 PG 906 Daily 12:20 13:35 PG 905 Daily 10:35 11:45 PG 914 Daily 15:50 17:00 PG 913 Daily 14:05 15:15 PG 908 Daily 19:05 20:10 PG 907 Daily 17:20 18:15 PG 910 Daily 20:30 21:45 PG 909 Daily 18:45 19:55 SIEMREAP- GUANGZHOU GUANGZHOU- SIEMREAP CZ 3054 2.4.6 11:25 15:35 CZ 3053 2.4.6 08:45 10:30 CZ 3054 1.3.5.7 19:25 23:20 CZ 3053 1.3.5.7 16:35 18:30 SIEMREAP-HANOI HANOI - SIEMREAP K6 850 Daily 06:50 08:30 K6 851 Daily 19:30 21:15 VN 868 1.2.3.5.6 12:40 15:35 VN 843 Daily 15:25 17:10 VN 842 Daily 18:05 19:45 VN 845 Daily 17:05 18:50 VN 844 Daily 19:45 21:25 VN 845 Daily 17:45 19:30 VN 800 Daily 21:00 22:40 VN 801 Daily 18:20 20:00 SIEMREAP-HOCHI MINHCITY HOCHI MINHCITY-SIEMREAP VN 3818 Daily 11:10 12:30 VN 3809 Daily 09:15 10:35 VN 826 Daily 13:30 14:40 VN 827 Daily 11:35 12:35 VN 3820 Daily 17:45 18:45 VN 3821 Daily 15:55 16:55 VN 828 Daily 18:20 19:20 VN 829 Daily 16:20 17:40 VN 3822 Daily 21:35 22:35 VN 3823 Daily 19:45 20:45 SIEMREAP- INCHEON INCHEON- SIEMREAP KE 688 Daily 23:15 06:10 KE 687 Daily 18:30 22:15 OZ 738 Daily 23:40 07:10 OZ 737 Daily 19:20 22:40 SIEMREAP- KUALALUMPUR KUALALUMPUR- SIEMREAP AK 281 Daily 08:35 11:35 AK 280 Daily 06:50 07:50 MH 765 3.5.7 14:15 17:25 MH 764 3.5.7 12:10 13:15 FLY DIRECT TOMYANMARMONDAY, WEDNESDAY &SATURDAY YANGON- PHNOMPENH PHNOM PENH - YANGON FLY DIRECT TOSIEMREAPMONDAY, WEDNESDAY &SATURDAY SIEMREAP- YANGON YANGON - SIEM REAP #90+92+94Eo, St. 217, Sk. Orussey4, Kh. 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Tel 023 881 178 | Fax 023 886 677 | www.maiair.com REGULAR SHIPPING LINES SCHEDULES CALLING PORT ROTATION LINE CALLING SCHEDULES FREEQUENCY ROTATIONPORTS RCL (12calls/moth) 1 Wed, 08:00 - Thu 16:00 1 Call/week SIN-SHV-SGZ-SIN 2 Thu, 14:00 - Fri 22:00 1 Call/week HKG-SHV-SGZ-HKG (HPH-TXGKEL) 3 Fri, 20:00 - Sat 23:59 1 Call/week SIN-SHV-SGZ-SIN MEARSK (MCC) (4 calls/moth) 1 Th, 08:00 - 20:00 1 Call/week SGN-SHV-LZP-SGN - HKG-OSA-TYO-KOB - BUS-SGH-YAT-SGN - SIN-SHV-TPP-SIN 2 Fri, 22:00- Sun 00:01 1 Call/week SITC (BEN LINE (4 calls/onth) Sun 09:00-23:00 1 Call/week HCM-SHV-LZP-HCM- NBO-SGH-OSA-KOB- BUS-SGH-HGK-CHM ITL (ACL) (4 calls/month) Sat 06:00 - Sun 08:00 1 Call/week SGZ-SHV-SIN-SGZ APL (4 calls/month) Fri, 08:00 - Sun, 06:00 1 call/week SIN-SHV-SIN COTS (2 calls/month) Irregula 2 calls/month BBK-SHV-BKK-(LZP) 34 call/month BUS= Busan, Korea HKG= HongKong kao=Kaoshiung, Taiwan ROC Kob= Kebe, Japan KUN= Kuantan, Malaysia LZP= Leam Chabang, Thailand NBO= Ningbo, China OSA= Osaka, Japan SGN= Saigon, Vietnam SGZ= Songkhla, Thailand SHV= Sihanoukville Port Cambodia SIN= Singapore TPP= TanjungPelapas, Malaysia TYO= Tokyo, Japan TXG= Taichung, Taiwan YAT= Yantian, China YOK= Yokohama, Japan AIRLINES Air Asia (AK) Room T6, PP International Airport. Tel: 023 6666 555 Fax: 023 890 071 www.airasia.com Cambodia Angkor Air (K6) PP Ofce, #206A, Preah Norodom Blvd, Tonle Bassac +855 23 6666 786, 788, 789, +855 23 21 25 64 Fax:+855 23-22 41 64 www.cambodiaangkorair.com E: helpdesk@angkor-air.com Qatar Airways (Newaddress) VattanacCapital Tower, Level7, No.66, PreahMonivongBlvd, Sangkat wat Phnom, KhanDaun Penh. PP, P: (023) 963800. E: pnhres@kh.qatarairways.com MyanmarAirwaysInternational #90+92+94Eo, St. 217, Sk. Orussey4, Kh. 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. T:023 881 178 | F:023 886 677 www.maiair.com Dragon Air (KA) #168, Monireth, PP Tel: 023 424 300 Fax: 023 424 304 www.dragonair.com/kh Tiger airways G. oor, Regency square, Suare, Suite #68/79, St.205, Sk Chamkarmorn, PP Tel: (855) 95 969 888 (855) 23 5515 888/5525888 E: info@cambodiaairlines.net
Koreanair (KE) Room.F3-R03, Intelligent Ofce Center, Monivong Blvd,PP Tel: (855) 23 224 047-9 www.koreanair.com Cebu Pacic (5J) Phnom Penh: No. 333B Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 219161 SiemReap: No. 50,Sivatha Blvd. Tel: 063 965487 E-mail: cebuair@ptm-travel.com www.cebupacicair.com SilkAir (MI) Regency C,Unit 2-4, Tumnorb Teuk, Chamkarmorn Phnom Penh Tel:023 988 629 www.silkair.com AIRLINES CODE COLOUR CODE 2817 - 16 Tigerairways KA - Dragon Air 1 Monday 5J - CEBU Airways. MH - Malaysia Airlines 2 Tuesday AK - Air Asia MI - SilkAir 3 Wednesday BR - EVA Airways OZ - Asiana Airlines 4 Thursday CI - China Airlines PG - Bangkok Airways 5 Friday CZ - China Southern QR - Qatar Airways 6 Saturday FD - Thai Air Asia QV - Lao Airlines 7 Sunday FM - Shanghai Air SQ - Singapore Airlines K6- Cambodia Angkor Air TG - Thai Airways | VN - Vietnam Airlines This ight schedule information is updated about once a month. Further information, please contact direct to airline or a travel agent for ight schedule information. SIEMREAP- MANILA MANILA- SIEMREAP 5J 258 2.4.7 22:30 02:11 5J 257 2.4.7 19:45 21:30 SIEMREAP- SINGAPORE SINGAPORE- SIEMREAP MI 633 1, 6, 7 16:35 22:15 MI 633 1, 6, 7 14:35 15:45 MI 622 2.4 10:40 15:20 MI 622 2.4 08:40 09:50 MI 630 5 12:25 15:40 MI 616 7 10:40 11:50 MI 615 7 12:45 16:05 MI 636 3, 2 13:55 17:40 MI 636 3, 2 18:30 21:35 MI 630 5 07:55 11:35 MI 617 5 18:35 21:55 MI 618 5 16:35 17:45 3K 598 .2....7 15:35 18:40 3K 597 .2....7 13:45 14:50 3K 598 ...4... 15:35 18:30 3K 597 ...4... 13:45 14:50 SIEMREAP- VIENTIANE VIENTIANE- SIEMREAP QV 522 2.4.5.7 10:05 13:00 QV 512 2.4.5.7 06:30 09:25 SIEMREAP- YANGON YANGON- SIEMREAP 8M 402 1. 5 20:15 21:25 8M 401 1. 5 17:05 19:15 PREAHSIHANOUK- SIEMREAP SIEMREAP- PREAHSIHANOUK Flighs Days Dep Arrival Flighs Days Dep Arrival K6 130 1-3-5 12:55 13:55 K6 131 1-3-5 11:20 12:20 Guesthouse toco. in Tokyo is located in a traditional 90-year-old house, and offers dorm rooms for visitors. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN Guesthouses in Tokyo draw foreign visitors Getting there Getting to Tokyo from Phnom Penh is tricky, but your best bet is to y Drag- on Air to Hong Kong, and connect via Cathay Pacic. China Eastern also offers cheap ights with a layover in Shanghai. Staying there toco. Price: 2700 yen a night. Email: toco@backpackersja- pan.co.jp. Website: http:// backpackersjapan.co.jp. Sh- itaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo. Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel Price: Start- ing from 2200 yen per per- son. Email: world@khaosan- tokyo.com. Website: www. khaosan-tokyo.com. Nishi Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Entertainment 21 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Thinking caps Saturdays solution Saturdays solution LEGEND CINEMA ANNABELLE A couple begin to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. City Mall: 9:25am, 1:30pm, 3:35pm, 7:40pm Tuol Kork: 9:15am, 11:05am, 1:20pm, 3:25pm, 7:30pm Meanchey: 9:20am, 11:40am, 1:30pm, 3:25pm, 9:45pm THE GOOD LIE Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas, where their encounter with employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives. City Mall: 4:10pm, 9:15pm Tuol Kork: 9:45pm Meanchey: 6:50pm THE EQUALIZER A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he cant stand idly by he has to help her. Starring Denzel Washington. City Mall: 6:25pm Tuol Kork: 9:35pm Meanchey: 9:05pm THE MAZE RUNNER Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning theyre all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow runners for a shot at escape. City Mall: 11:05am Tuol Kork: 1:10pm, 7:35pm Meanchey: 1:45pm THE PACT II A woman who is plagued by nightmares involving a serial killer learns her dreams have a horrifying connection to the real world. City Mall: 9:45pm Tuol Kork: 11:25am Meanchey: 11:25am, 7:40pm NOW SHOWING Zumba @ Rose Garden Dance tness based on samba, salsa, merengue, martial arts and belly dancing. Ideal for cardiovascular tness and weight loss. The fee is $10. Rose Garden Clubhouse, Building B, Floor 5B, Norodom Boulevard. 6pm Pizza @ Show Box The Katy Peri Peri Peri Chicken and Pizza chefs serve their wood-red pizza from their mobile kitchen in front of Show Box. Reggae music will be played all night. Show Box, #11 Street 330. 6pm Open Mic @ Slur Bar Graham Cain, the musical comedian, hosts an open mic night for any customer who wishes to perform. A free drink will be given to every performer. Slur Bar, #28 Street 172. 9:15pm Adults Ballet @ Central School of Ballet The class is structured to provide students with a rm foundation in technique, and is intended for those who danced when they were younger or are experienced in another genre. Central School of Ballet Phnom Penh, #10 Street 183. 7:15pm ACROSS 1 Sugar bowl marchers 5 Data is displayed on it 10 Canyon edges 14 Plane reservation 15 ___ only (sans pictures) 16 Correct copy 17 One way to send stuff 20 Dazed and confused 21 Air raid alert 22 Drivers license datum 23 Fluorescent-lamp filler 25 Stars and Stripes land 27 Certain grad 30 Seance visitor 33 Snake in the grass, metaphorically 34 Letters on some police jackets 37 Music selections 39 Understood 43 Nest with a view 44 Use some sense? 45 Tire-pressure letters 46 Emulate Spielberg 48 Marching together perfectly 51 Tokyo, once 52 Dote on too much 54 Paranormal ability 57 Cause of many yawns 59 Birth-related 63 Build things to last 66 Fishing need 67 Enjoyed enthusiastically 68 Annoying smell 69 Harvard rival 70 Reveals, as ones soul 71 Enthusiastic volunteers cry DOWN 1 On the ocean 2 Bank-tellers call 3 Lights out music 4 Place for waders 5 Interstate sign 6 Rene of Hollywood 7 Introduce to the mix 8 Waterfront walk 9 Hide out indefinitely 10 Run the engine 11 April 13, e.g. 12 Boggy area 13 Mythological river 18 Make, as money 19 As originally placed 24 Long, deep cut 26 Jack-in-the-pulpits family 27 Coloraturas piece 28 Removed, as a tattoo 29 Early development sites? 30 Eyelid irritation 31 Lacking skill 32 Poke fun at 35 Float through the air 36 Was a consumer? 38 Cut with small strokes 40 Green land 41 Pulled dandelions 42 Bit of this and a bit of that 47 Discussion, briefly 49 1492 ship of note 50 A way to ski 52 Not as iffy 53 Arouse, as interest 54 Cable sports award 55 Colonnade for Zeno 56 Gloomy atmosphere 58 __ creature was stirring ... 60 Rip or neap 61 Physics class topic 62 Apollo played it 64 Word between an old and new name 65 ___ and downs WELL REPRESENTED TV PICKS Danish ballet dancer Johan Christensen. Classes in Phnom Penh are for experienced students. BLOOMBERG Angelina Jolie stars in Tomb Raider. BLOOMBERG
9:55am TOMB RAIDER: Video game adventuress Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts. HBO 11:35am THE SOUND OF MUSIC: A woman leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower during the early days of the Third Reich. HBO 1:45pm 2 GUNS: A DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer find themselves on the run after a botched attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. HBO 5:40pm DADDY DAY CARE: Two men get laid off and have to become stay-at-home dads when they cant find jobs. This inspires them to open their own day-care centre. HBO The Hard Rock Caf marked its e n t r a n c e into the King- dom with a grand opening at its Siem Reap outlet complete with VIP guests and a red-car- pet ceremony. Located along the Siem Reap River in the newly opened Kings Road Vil- lage in an old colo- nial building, it is the newest restaurant in a company that in- cludes 190 venues across 58 countries. It was originally founded in London in 1971 by American expatriates Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton. It is currently headquar- tered in Orlando, Florida, in the United States. For the opening ceremony Ms Hun Kim Leng gave a speech before destroying an old guitar to ofcially christen the new restaurant. The guests danced to live guitar music and ate American food before re- ceiving free T-shirts to take home. Photos by Chhim Sreyneang. Lifestyle THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 22 Sontery and Engly Social Life Team Grand Marnier Cocktail Party Grand Opening @ Hard Rock Cafe Angkor Go On energy vodka @ Maison Saint Tropez Zeus Club guests Lim Sok, Kalyaney Nou and the Grand Mariner Cocktail Ambassador Adam Devermann. Adam Devermann with guests tasting the Grand Marnier Cocktail at FOX restaurant On October 16, Maison Saint Tro- pez introduced the imported Go On drink from France. Marketed as an alcoholic en- ergy drink, Go On con- tains vodka, g u a r a n a , g i n s e n g and ginger. Many guests took photographs with models dressed in the all- white uniforms of the French brand. Photos by Hong Menea. Long Chorn; Khorl Pisey, sales consultant at BMW; and Damien Gonon, co-owner of Coanna Inc Khun Barang, area manager at Tous Les Tours Brand; Kim, assistant director at CBM; Ngo Meng- hourng; and Kim Sung Leang Chiva, J-Hong and Richard Kouch Nating, Chheng, Chansey Ke, Sapor Rendall and Kouy Chandanich Vayuk, Joseph and Vichet Chan Sinet and Chhom Sovannaron Ngo Menghourng and Kim, assistant director at CBM Sina Vann Lasszlo Fulop, senior consultant of retail services at CBRE; Bearring Phang, chief executive ofcer at Word Wide Investment Group Co, Ltd; Dick Wong; and Kelvin Tan. Hun Kimleang, the principle owner of Hard Rock Caf Angkor THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Chhim Sreyneang Social Life Manager Lifestyle 23 Grand Marnier Cocktail Party Marion Poutrel and Flore Hutchins Guitar destroying ceremony Aurore Bonnet; Benjamin Le Grand, general man- ager at Hard Rock Cafe; and Arnaos Guerpillow Guest enjoying the Grand Marnier cocktail at Mango Mango Grand Mariner featured its orange-avoured cognac liqueur in the presence of brand am- bassador Adam Devermann. During the night, guests had a chance to taste the original Grand Marnier Cocktail made by the brands cocktail expert. Flying all the way from New York, Devermann spent two days in Cambodia for the Grand Mariner cocktail competi- tion at Zeus Club, Mango Mango and FOX before continuing his trip to Shanghai, Aus- tralia and New Zealand. Cocktails at the party included Grand O, Grand Cosmopolitan, Grand Mojito, and Grand B52. Guests were also allowed to make their cocktails. Founded in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle in France, Grand Mariner is made of cognac brandy, orange bitters and sugar. Cocktail competition at Zeus club Adam Devermann teaching how to make cocktails with the Grand Marnier at Fox restaurant Shinya Miki and Murata Yoko Mech Vothy, Salan Pisey, Mech Dyna and Saov Sopanha Asia Initiative Corporation (AIC) members Rithy, Rami Sharaf and Eloi Courcouy Special guests with the owner of Hard Rock Cambodia Julie Chung, Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the United States of America Em Socheat, Heng Dany, Chheng Srey Veasna and In Sopheary 24 Sport THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Rossi triumphs at Phillip Island I TALIAN legend Valentino Rossi won his rst Australian Mo- toGP in nine years after world champion Marc Marquez crashed out while holding a big lead at Phillip Island yesterday. Rossi, one of the sports greats with nine world championships across all classes, swept to the front when Marquez came off his bike on the 19th lap, to beat home teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Brit- ains Bradley Smith in an all-Yama- ha podium. It was a popular victory for the 35-year-old Italian, who celebrat- ed his 250th premier-class race with his 82nd victory at one of his favourite tracks. It was Rossis sixth premier-class win at Phillip Island and his rst since 2005 to extend his phenom- enal record to 15 podium nishes in 18 trips to Australia. Marquez, who clinched back-to- back world titles last weekend in Japan, had looked set comfortably to win his rst MotoGP at Phillip Island with a massive four-second advantage on his dominant Repsol Honda bike. But the Spanish ace lost control of his front wheel on lap 19 of the 27-lap race at the bottom of Lukey Heights and crashed out unharmed, leaving Rossi to take over and go on to win by 10.836 seconds. When I saw Marc crash it was a surprise, and to finish first at Phil- lip Island after my last victory here in 2005 is a great achievement, Rossi said. I love this track and Ive won the two most important world cham- pionships of my career in 2001 and 2004. I won again here in 2005 but I have done a lot of podiums since then and never won. Rossis victory pushed him to an eight-point lead over Lorenzo in the ght for second place in the world championship standings behind Marquez, with two races remaining at Sepang and Valencia. I was focused on the second place in the championship and I am able to gain some points over Jorge, but its so close with two rac- es to the end, Rossi said. Marquezs Spanish Repsol Hon- da teammate Dani Pedrosa retired from the race on lap seven after his bike was hit in the rear by Andrea Iannone, resulting in a buckled rear wheel rim. He finished with zero points. Pedrosa, currently trailing Rossi by 25 points in fourth spot, looks to have lost his chance of nishing second overall. Rossi came off the third row of the grid his worst qualifying position since 12th at Assen in late June and diced with Lorenzo for second spot as Marquez extended his lead with every lap. But the race took a dramatic turn when Marquez, looking set for his 12th GP triumph this season, lost his front wheel and tumbled onto the trackside grass, his race over. As I had no pressure on me I tried a different approach, pushing hard from the start to try to open the larg- est gap possible, Marquez said. We were having a good race, right up until the crash. It was a pity that I went down at a time that I was not riding on the limit or faster than the lap before. Last years winner Lorenzo was critical of his Bridgestone tyres and said he was lucky to nish the race. Its a fantastic result for Yamaha, its been a long time, but to be hon- est Im very disappointed because you work hard for the best set-up of the bike. But sometimes you get this type of tyres that are a complete di- saster, he said. Over the last few laps it was a dra- ma just to stay on the bike in the fast corners. But I managed to nish the race and I was very lucky, its proba- bly been my luckiest second place. It was Smiths rst podium nish in two seasons of MotoGP. Fellow Briton Cal Crutchlow crashed out on his Ducati while in second place on the nal lap. AFP Yamaha team MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy celebrates winning the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island yesterday in his 250th premier-class race. AFP Kim hosts dinner for Asiad stars NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-Un hosted a banquet for athletes who won gold medals at the recent Asian Games in South Korea, state media said yesterday, marking his third public appearance in a week after an extended absence. Kim praised the medallists for proving the validity and vital- ity of the partys plan for build- ing a sports powerhouse, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. North Korea took 11 gold medals, 11 silver and 14 bronze in its best Asian Games per- formance since 1990, held in the South Korean city of Incheon from September 19 to October 4. Kim is known to be a big sports fan, showering the coun- trys star athletes with lavish cars, awards and houses. He is also reportedly a huge follower of basketball and espe- cially of the Chicago Bulls former Bulls player Dennis Rodman has made several con- troversial trips to North Korea to visit Kim, whom he calls a personal friend. The celebratory banquet, believed to have been held on Saturday, was also attended by Kims wife as well as senior military, party and government officials, KCNA said. Pictures published by state media yesterday showed a smil- ing Kim, a black cane in his left hand, posing and talking with players from the womens foot- ball team. Kim resurfaced earlier this week after dropping out of the public eye for nearly six weeks an unexplained absence that triggered frenzied speculation about his health and his grip on power. Photographs from his first appearance, believed to have been last Monday, showed him using a walking stick, backing up reports that his disappear- ance was the result of a leg injury or condition. On Friday, the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun ran front page pictures of Kim, aided by the same cane, inspect- ing two high-rise apartment complexes built for faculty members of a university spe- cialising in nuclear research. The Kim dynasty has ruled the isolated, Stalinist country for more than six decades with an iron fist and pervasive per- sonality cult. Since assuming power after the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in 2011, Kim Jong-Un has cut a very public figure, with state media showing him engaged in a seemingly endless series of field guidance trips across the country. South Korea said on Thursday it would pay more than 70 per- cent of the $700,000 costs incurred by North Korea when it took part in the Games in Incheon. The issue of subsidising the Norths presence at the Games became problematic ahead of the event, when Seoul proposed breaking with its custom of supporting visiting sports teams from the North. In the end, an understanding was reached that the South would foot part of the bill, though not all of it as in the past. AFP North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un smiles as he inspects a newly-built housing complex in Pyongyang last Tuesday. AFP PERCY Harvin, who scored a touchdown in Seattles Super Bowl victory eight months ago, was traded Saturday to the New York Jets for a future NFL Draft pick. The deal came on the heels of multiple reports of con- icts involving Harvin in recent months, one of them with former Seattle receiver Golden Tate that left the ex- Seahawk with a black eye. Harvin and Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin were involved in a pre-season incident in August that ended with a cut on Baldwins chin. And Harvin apparently decided not to re-enter the game when asked in the fourth quarter of a 30-23 loss to Dallas last weekend, hav- ing nished the game with three catches for zero yards. Although this was an ex- tremely difcult decision, we are constantly evaluating our team and believe at this time that this is in our best interest to move the team forward, Seahawks general manager John Schneider said. We thank Percy for his efforts that contributed to a Super Bowl 48 victory and wish him well. Harvin returned the sec- ond-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in a 43-8 triumph over Denver in last Februarys championship matchup in suburban New York at the same stadium that Harvins Jets call home. The Seahawks, 3-2, ob- tained Harvin from Minne- sota in 2013 but he under- went hip surgery and played only one regular-season game before joining Seattles playoff run. In ve games this sea- son, Harvin made 22 recep- tions for 133 yards and ran 11 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. The Jets, 1-5, released vet- eran receiver David Nelson to make room for Harvin on the roster. Percy is a versatile, dy- namic player who has been productive on offence and special teams, Jets general manager John Idzik said. We are excited about adding him. AFP Seahawks deal their Super Bowl hero Harvin to Jets Australian Scott Hend wins Hong Kong Open in playoff AUSTRALIAS Scott Hend won the $1.3 million Hong Kong Open yesterday, overcoming a valiant effort by Filipino Angelo Que in a playoff for the biggest title of Hends career to date. The 41-year-old held his nerve on the first extra hole, sinking a five-footer for par and his first European Tour victory as Que could only manage a bogey. Hend, who has five Asian Tour wins to his name, collected a winners cheque of $216,660 and will now head to nearby Macau where he is defending the title he won there last year. AFP India mulls serious action as Windies abandon tour Indias cricket chiefs could take serious action against the West Indies, including possibly refusing to play a return series, for abandoning their tour because of an internal payment dispute, a top official said on Saturday. The West Indies cut short the tour of India on Friday even though a fifth one-day international, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still remained to be played. What has happened is very disappointing and calls for serious action, Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] secretary Sanjay Patel told AFP. We want to take adequate measures to ensure such a thing is not repeated. AFP San Francisco Giants headed to the World Series again TRAVIS Ishikawas walk-off ninth- inning blast lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 6-3 win over St Louis on Thursday and into baseballs World Series. Ishikawas three-run homer gave San Francisco the victory in the best-of-seven National League final four games to one. The Giants will go to the Kansas City Royals for game one of the World Series on Tuesday. AFP Sport THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 25 Federer, Nadal tackle extremes in Switzerland H OME hero Roger Federer and ailing Rafael Nadal will be working to com- pletely different agendas when the Swiss Indoors begins today. The event, which Basel-born Feder- er has won ve times, marks the pen- ultimate week of the points race to the World Tour Finals in London, be- ginning in just over three weeks. The 33-year-old Federer is among those already qualied, along with Novak Djokovic, Nadal, Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka and US Open champion Marin Cilic. Federer, who has played the last eight nals at the St Jakobshalle he stands 37-3 at home looks to close in on the year-end number one ranking held by Djokovic. Nadal, meanwhile, will be desper- ately seeking some reassurance. The nine-time French Open winner has not played in Federers backyard for a decade and missed last year with fatigue after signing a three-year ap- pearance fee contract in 2012 which he has yet to start honouring. Even with an appendix that will re- quire surgery in the coming weeks, the 28-year-old Spaniard looks determined to at least make an at- tempt at an appearance for Swiss fans as he searches for his rst win in the city after losses in 2003 and 2004. Nadals camp says they will decide with doctors after Basel whether or not the world number three should play Paris or go for surgery on his painful appendix which he has been treating with antibiotics. Basel will be crucial in shak- ing out the race for the remaining places in the eld at the eight-man World Tour Finals showpiece. Federer begins in the first round against Luxembourg veteran Gilles Muller while Nadal takes on a qualifier. Third seed Wawrinka starts against Mikhail Kukushkin of Ka- zakhstan who was a seminalist in Moscow on Saturday. Milos Raonic takes the fourth seeding with the Canadian hop- ing to have recovered from illness which compromised his last two events, in Shanghai and Moscow. He plays American Steve Johnson. Fellow year-end contender Grig- or Dimitrov is seeded fth ahead of Ernests Gulbis, number seven David Gofn and eighth seed Ivo Karlovic. Russian chief may appeal ban Russias sports minister said on Sat- urday that Russian Tennis Federation chief Shamil Tarpischev may appeal against the one-year ban imposed on him for making derogatory remarks against Serena and Venus Williams. The ban and ne of $25,000 was an- nounced on Friday by the Womens Tennis Association (WTA) after Tarp- ishchev had referred to the tennis greats as the Williams brothers. The WTA decision to ban him is upsetting, sports minister Vi- taly Mutko was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying. Tarpishchev is an authority in the world of tennis. And Im very sorry about this incident. But we also need to understand whether his words were interpreted correctly and possibly to try to miti- gate the WTA verdict. Tarpishchev meanwhile refused to make any comments on the case de- spite calls for him to make a public apology to the sisters. The WTA sanction folowed re- marks he made to a Russian televi- sion chat show and which were seen as questioning the gender of the Williams sisters. AFP Roger Federer is looking for his sixth title at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament. AFP 26 THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 Sport Gafurov chokes out Lisita in KL Dan Riley R USSIAN kickboxing champi- on Marat Gafurov lived up to his nickname of Cobra with a venomous victory over top Australian featherweight Rob Lisita in the main event of ONE FC: Roar of Tigers at a packed out Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. In the opening round, Gafurov landed a kick to the head which stag- gered Lisita and sent him tumbling to the ground. The Russian immediate- ly swarmed his opponent, taking the Australians back and locking in a rear naked choke that forced Lisita to tap out at one minute eight seconds. Gafurov extended his win streak to ten bouts while Ruthless Rob Lisita dropped to 14 wins and seven losses. In an intense battle of talented light- weights, hometown hero Peter Da- vis grounded and pounded Vaughn Donayre of the Philippines in the rst round to pick up the TKO win. Davis (9-3) and Donayre (7-3) wast- ed no time with a torrid exchange of strikes at the center of the cage. When the ght hit the ground, the Malaysian caught his rival in a guillo- tine choke that almost ended things early, but Donayre escaped. However, he wound up underneath Davis, who rained down a slew of strikes from full mount, causing a halt to the contest. Malaysias Ev Ting (8-2) added a headkick knockout to his stellar re- cord with a triumph over Filipino Edward Kelly (5-2), winning in the second round of their featherweight matchup. After an uneventful rst round that was spent primarily with both ght- ers tangled and pressed up against the cage wall, Ting abandoned his grappling strategy to turn to strik- ing and launched a quick head kick that hit the mark, dropping Kelly in a single shot. Ting condently walked away as referee Yuji Shimada jumped in to intervene. Malaysias Ann Osman (2-1) con- tinued her winning ways as she de- feated Aya Saeid Saber (2-5) of Egypt in the rst round, sending the crowd into frenzied cheers. Osman shot and scored on a take- down after sizing up her strawweight opponent, and once on the ground she effortlessly transitioned from side control into full mount, pour- ing down a barrage of punches and elbows from top position. With her unstoppable ground and pound, Os- man was awarded the victory via ref- eree stoppage. Bashir Ahmad (3-1), widely con- sidered the father of Pakistani MMA, came out of the gates looking to strike as he took the ght straight to Thai featherweight Tanaphong Khunhankaew (5-4). When the ght hit the oor, Bashir overpowered Khunhankaew after surviving a failed submission attempt. He worked to take the Thais back after which he sunk in a deep rear naked choke, forcing the tap out. Former Lumpinee champion De- jdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichokes near-awless technique was on full display as he needed less than two rounds to dispose of Malaysian Saiful Merican. When the ght began, the two Muay Thai specialists surprisingly spent most of their time grinding it out on the mat as Merican scored on multiple takedown attempts. In the second round, Amnuaysirichoke put the pressure on the Malaysian with his striking, winding up in full mount after a furious scramble. Moments later, he expertly transitioned into an armbar, leaving Merican no choice but to tap out. Singaporean Stephen Langdown scored an impressive TKO victory over Malaysias Raymond Tan, bat- tering the local ghter with a series of well-placed strikes, capped off with a vicious kick to the head in round one. The referee jumped in to stop the ght, much to the dismay of the home fans. Anatpong Bunrad of Thailand made quick work of Marc Marcel- linus in round one, dropping the Malaysian with a front kick straight to the abdomen. Bunrad followed up with a swift kick to the head as the referee immediately stepped in to call a halt to the action, awarding Bunrad the knockout. Egyptian boxer Hisham Hiba opened the show with a victory over Barbod of Iran, winning by referee stoppage in the second round. The two ghters kicked off ONE FC: Roar of Tigers with an even display of striking and grappling. As soon as the second stanza began, Hiba picked up the pace with his boxing and was able to trip his opposite number onto the canvas, unleashing a barrage of strikes on a defenseless Barbod and causing the referee to call an end to their bout. Marat Gafurov (left) is announced as the winner of his bout against Rob Lisita at ONE FC: Roar of Tigers in Kuala Lumpur. ONEFC.COM Golovkin KOs Rubio to keep title WORLD Boxing Association middleweight world cham- pion Gennady Golovkin stopped Mexicos Marco Anto- nio Rubio in the second round on Saturday at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles to keep his title, taking his 18th con- secutive knockout triumph in emphatic fashion. The unbeaten 32-year-old from Kazakhstan, a 2004 Olym- pic silver medalist, improved to 31-0 with 28 knockouts, the lat- est coming 79 seconds into the second round and extending a streak of victories inside the distance that began in 2008. I loved this fight, Golovkin said. I dont like dancing. I like to fight. This was a true fight. He didnt step back. Golovkin, defending his world title for a 12th time, landed an uppercut to stun Rubio and fin- ished off the fight with a power- ful overhand left. Rubio tried to rise, but referee Jack Reiss counted him out before he made it back onto his feet. Golovkin could be looking at a unification showdown against the winner of an expected fight between World Boxing Council champion Miguel Cotto and Saul Canelo Alvarez. I want to fight everybody, Golovkin said. I think Cotto next. Next year. Next fight. Rubio had failed to make weight for the fight, the 34-year- old Mexican tipping the scales 1.8 pounds over the 160-pound middleweight limit. As a result, Rubio was not fighting for the title, but could have dethroned Golovkin and had the title vacated. Rubio fell to 59-7 with one draw. Walters KOs Donaire for title In the co-main event on Sat- urday, undefeated Jamaican Nicholas Walters knocked out Filipino star Nonito Donaire with one second remaining in the sixth round to win the World Boxing Association featherweight title. Walters landed a powerful overhand right to the left tem- ple that sent the champion crumpling to the canvas, and referee Raul Caiz counted out Donaire at 2:59 of the sixth round. I invited him in and then I caught him with that powerful shot, Walters said. It was tough work. Hes a super world champion. He caught me [with] a few shots early. Donaire, who had never been knocked down in his career, was sent to the canvas for the first time in the third round before being sent down for good. He knocked the [hell] out of me, Donaire said. I was at my best. I never trained this hard. He came out as tough as I thought he would be. Walters, three years younger than Donaire at 28, improved to 25-0 with his 21st career stoppage inside the distance in his first world title bout. Donaire, who fell to 33-3, said he needed to re-evaluate his career plans, potentially look- ing to a lower weight class, after being unable to cope with the superior size of Walters, who also opened a cut over the champions right eye. Ive got to go back to the drawing board, Donaire said. I just cant compete with guys like Walters. He was overwhelm- ing. I couldnt match his size and his power. Donaire had won titles at 112, 118 and 122 pounds (50.8, 53.5 and 55.3 kilograms) and was defending for the first time the WBA crown he won in May at Macau over South African Simpiwe Vetyeka. Donaire was able to land a left hook that stung Walters just before the end of the second round. I got a little bit too confi- dent, Walters said. He caught me with a very good shot. Boom. I recuperated from the shot just by walking to the corner. I came out and I knew I had a job to do and I went out and got that job done. The Caribbean fighter answered by inflicting Donaires first career knockdown with 30 seconds remaining in the third round, slamming a right upper- cut into the champions chin. Walters opened a cut over the right eye of Donaire in the fourth round and used his superior reach to effectively jab and keep the Asian fighter at a distance until the final punch. AFP Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan punches Marco Antonio Rubio of Mexico in the second round of their WBC Interim Middleweight title bout. AFP UNBEATEN world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr is being sued by two boxing brothers involved in sparring sessions shown in a television real- ity show, according to court documents. The documents posted on- line by Las Vegas television station KTNV show that Sharif Rahman and his older brother Hasim Rahman Jr are suing Mayweather, his edgling pro- motional company and cable telecaster Showtime over the TV show designed to promote Mayweathers last ght against Marcos Maidana. The brothers sons of former heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman claim battery, false impris- onment and negligent hir- ing and supervision, and say they never consented to be included in the All Access shows telecast by Showtime prior to the September 13 Maidana bout. The lawsuit, led last Thurs- day in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, claims that Mayweather forced 18-year- old Sharif Rahman to spar against Britains Donovan Cameron for several rounds lasting ve to seven minutes each, and that when Rahman asked for shorter rounds the request was denied. When he tried to leave the ring, Mayweather respond- ed by telling Mr Cameron and others that if Sharif left the ring to beat his ass out- side the ring, the plaintiffs claim. Sharif feared for his safety and was forced to con- tinue to ght. Hasim Rahman Jr, arriving later at the gym, then fought Cameron in a session that lasted 31 minutes without a break, with Mayweather and others betting on the out- come. The All Access programs had already caught the at- tention of Nevada boxing authorities. The Nevada State Athletic Commission called May- weather, who was licensed as a promoter in the state earlier this year, to explain what ap- peared to be potentially un- safe practices. They voiced concern about the apparent 31-minute spar- ring session, but Mayweather told the commission that nei- ther the ghts nor the betting were real just as All Access scenes that showed people smoking marijuana at his home were staged to portray a lifestyle that would drum up sales for the pay-per-view Maidana ght. The commission accepted that explanation and no fur- ther action was taken. AFP Rahman brothers sue Floyd Mayweather Jr Football THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 27 Eights great for Koeman as Saints march to rout SOUTHAMPTON manager Ronald Koeman said he was in shock after his side continued their outstanding start to the season with an 8-0 thrashing of Sunderland at St Marys. Prior to the campaign, many pundits predicted the Saints would struggle after manager Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham Hotspur while key players such as Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers also moved to rival Premier League clubs. But Koeman has done more than stop the rot, with this victory leaving Southampton third in the table, with only champions Manchester City and leaders Chelsea above them in the standings. Graziano Pelles double, as well as goals from Jack Cork, Dusan Tadic, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, plus two Sunderland own-goals, saw Southampton to their biggest- ever victory in English top- flight football. AFP Clasico is not decisive, says Barca boss Enrique BARCELONA coach Luis Enrique has said his sides meeting with Real Madrid next weekend is too early to play a decisive role in the La Liga title race. The Catalans go into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu with a four-point lead over Madrid after seeing off Eibar 3-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Xavi, Neymar and Lionel Messi. However, Madrid are also full of confidence having struck 32 times in winning their last seven games in all competitions, including a 5-0 thrashing of Levante on Saturday. The ideal scenario would be that Madrid had no points and we had the points we have, said Enrique. There is such a long way to go it will not be decisive. AFP Cambodias Khoun Laboravy (centre) tries to shoot past Myanmar keeper Thiha Si Thu as Win Min Htut appeals for offside during their 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup qualier in Vientiane. KEMSOVANNA Myanmar end Cambodias Suzuki Cup qualification bid H S Manjunath
C AMBODIAS spirited campaign in the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup qual- ifying rounds came to a disappointing end follow- ing a 1-0 defeat by Myanmar on Saturday at the New Laos Stadium in Vientiane. A sensational 3-2 win from two goals down over East Timor last Thursday had kept the Kingdoms chances alive, but their second defeat in three games meant that todays nal xture against Brunei is only of academic interest. Midelder Kyaw Ko Kos penalty in the 42nd minute clinched the argument in fa- vour of Myanmar, who are assured of a place in next months showpiece along with Laos, who defeated Timor Leste 2-0 in Saturdays second xture for their third straight win. Myanmar and Laos face off in the nal game of the com- petition to decide the leader of the group, the winner of which will join Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in Group B, while the runner-up will move to Group A in the company of Vietnam, Philip- pines and Indonesia. The 10th edition of the Su- zuki Cup is being jointly host- ed by Vietnam and defending champions Singapore from November 22 to December 20 at two venues in Hanoi and two in Kallang. Myanmar were rather slow into their stride even as Cam- bodia snatched the early ini- tiative with Rous Samoeun, Khun Laboravy and Ngoy Srin having a crack at the goal. The tide turned Myanmars way just before half time when Cambodian defender Sok Sovan was penalised for handling the ball. Kyaw calm- ly went down the centre with his spot kick as goalkeeper Sou Yaty dived to his left. Though Cambodia kept plugging away for an equal- iser, Myanmar were asserting more control in the second session and it took a great effort by Sou Yaty to deprive substitute Tin Win Aung of a score deep into injury time after having stoutly defended attempts by Win Min Htut and Kyaw. Coach Raddy Avramovic, who won the Suzuki Cup three times with Singapore (in 2004, 2007 and 2012) before taking up the Myanmar job, said after the match that he was relieved that the missed chances by his players did not come back to haunt the team. I was expecting the game to be tough because this Cam- bodian side had been playing a different style. In the end we were lucky to do what we needed to get this result, said the coach. In the face of another fruit- less campaign during his term at the helm of Cambodian football, coach Lee Tae-hoon tempered his frustration with a praise for the sides valiant effort. We went all out to win against a team that has never missed a qualication beat and has more depth and ex- perience. We will continue to take steps for improvement, said the South Korean in his post match comments. Cambodias only qualica- tion success was in 2008 dur- ing Prak Sovannaras reign as the national head coach. Van Gaal eager for rst United away success MANCHESTER United manager Louis van Gaal believes his teams away form is better than their record suggests as they look for a first win on the road at West Bromwich Albion tonight. United have taken just two points from their opening three Premier League games away from Old Trafford this season and threw away a two-goal lead to lose 5-3 at Leicester on their last trip almost a month ago. But Van Gaal, whose side have recov- ered from a poor start to the season to climb to fifth place in the table ahead of last nights matches, claims the points they have amassed on their travels are not a true reflection of the way they have performed. We played very good at Leicester City, the Dutchman said. We gave it away by certain circumstances you can remember that. But the other matches, we played two draws and we could have also won those matches, Van Gaal added. We were the better team, we created chances but we didnt score, he said. So we have to wait and see if that ten- dency is going through. When it is not, OK it is not, but we have to wait and see if that is true. We start on Monday against West Brom- wich Albion with a victory I hope. United have also dropped points away from home this season at Sunder- land and Burnley, and may not find it straight-forward at the Hawthorns, even though Albion are in sight of the relega- tion zone. Difficult West Brom The Midlands club beat Burnley 4-0 in their most recent home game and their only defeat in four matches was a 2-1 loss at Liverpool just before the international break. I think West Brom are very difficult to beat, especially at their home, Van Gaal added. They are dangerous oppo- nents. But no opponent in the Premier League is easy to beat. We have to start with a victory after the international break because we have won the last two games. But West Brom did that too [recent- ly], so they also want to win the match. It wont be easy. United have been helped lately by an easing of their injury problems. After missing up to 10 players at various stages in the early weeks of the season, only Antonio Valencia (ham- string), Jonny Evans (ankle), Paddy McNair (hamstring) and Jesse Lingard (knee) are unavailable for Mondays match, along with captain Wayne Rooney, who will be serving the sec- ond of a three-match ban. Meanwhile, West Brom boss Alan Irvine has said only an offer well in excess of 15 million ($24 million) would be enough to persuade them to sell Saido Berahino. The 21-year-old forward has starred for club and country so far this sea- son with five goals for the Baggies in addition to reaching double figures for Englands U21s en route to quali- fication for next years European Championship. Several of Englands elite clubs have been linked with Berahino Totten- ham Hotspur being the latest and Albion have by no means discouraged bids after Irvine recently admitted they would be prepared to cash in if the price was right. But he said: I would be absolutely astonished if anyone could sign Saido from us for 15 million. It doesnt sound a lot. You look at some of the fees going around in the transfer market thats just been, every- body seems to start at 7 million. Ross McCormack went for 11 mil- lion from one Championship club [Leeds] to another [Fulham]. To me, 15 million doesnt sound like a lot of money for a talented, young, English player. Chris Brunt (groin) has not trained since returning from Northern Ireland duty but is expected to be passed fit, however Silvestre Varela (groin) remains sidelined and Claudio Yacob will miss the game for personal reasons. Tonights game kicks off at 2am Cam- bodian time. AFP English Premier League Man City 4 Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2 Hull 2 Burnley 1 West Ham 3 Crystal Palace 1 Chelsea 2 Everton 3 Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 1 Leicester 0 Spanish La Liga Athl Bilbao 1 Celta de Vigo 1 Cordoba 1 Malaga 2 On Friday Granada 0 Rayo Vallecano 1 German Bundesliga FC Kln 2 Bor Dortmund 1 Mainz 2 Augsburg 1 Bayern Munich 6 W Bremen 0 Hannover 0 Bor Mgladbach 3 Freiburg 1 Wolfsburg 2 Stuttgart 3 Bayer Leverkusen 3 Schalke 2 Hertha Berlin 0 Italian Serie A Roma 3 Chievo 0 Sassuolo 1 Juventus 1 French Ligue 1 Lorient 0 St Etienne 1 Lille 1 Guingamp 2 Metz 0 Rennes 0 Monaco 2 Evian TG 0 Nantes 1 Reims 1 Nice 0 Bastia 1 On Friday Lens 1 Paris SG 3 SATURDAYS RESULTS Spanish La Liga Real Sociedad v Getafe 1:45am Italian Serie A Genoa v Empoli 1:45am TONIGHTS FIXTURES THE PHNOM PENH POST OCTOBER 20, 2014 28 Sport Tissue roller A skateboader performs on a sculpture installed for the Urban Art Festival Arte Core at the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art on Saturday. The rst edition of Art Core will display street culture expressions such as grafti, music and skateboading. AFP Desperate search for new coach of Wallabies after McKenzie exits T HE hunt was under way for a new Wallabies coach yester- day after the sensational res- ignation of Ewen McKenzie in the wake of a heartbreaking 29-28 loss to the All Blacks in Brisbane. McKenzie dropped his bomb- shell shortly after Malakai Fekitoas last-gasp converted try clinched the game for New Zealand in the nal Bledisloe Cup Test. McKenzies unexpected exit adds to the turmoil engulng Australian rugby in the fall-out over the Kurtley Beale text scandal, and comes just days before the Wallabies depart on their European tour. Australian Rugby Union chief Bill Pulver has the pressing task of nd- ing a replacement for McKenzie, with Super Rugby-winning coach Michael Cheika and former Springbok World Cup-winning mentor Jake White linked with the job. Ive got a lot of work to do in the next couple of days, Pulver told a press conference in Brisbane yes- terday. The great challenge weve got is the team leaves on Friday. I would love to think weve a chance to nd somebody that can actually get on the plane with them. Pulver said if that was not possible then an interim coach would be ap- pointed to get the Wallabies through their ve-match tour in Europe against the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England next month. Ive got a list of options in mind and Ive got a lot of work to do [but] I did not expect Ewen McKenzie to re- sign yesterday, Pulver said. I found out about it at 10am. Id had no conversations with any other coaches about this prospect. At this point, I dont even know who can get on a plane on Friday. So next step for the rest of this day is trying to understand where we sit in terms of the options weve got and trying to make some progress. Players respect Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper denied reports that McKenzie was forced out because of a lack of sup- port from the playing group. I dont think he lost the respect of the players to be honest, Hooper told the media conference. Last nights game showed that he didnt lose the respect of the players. He really showed what hes worth in the back end of the week. We played for him, we played for every- one in the staff, we played for every- one as a group, so he didnt lose the respect of the players. Hooper said he respected McKen- zies decision to abruptly walk out after he was forced to deny specu- lation last week of an intimate rela- tionship with former team business manager Di Patston, at the centre of disciplinary proceedings facing Beale. Beale has been suspended fol- lowing an on-ight argument with Patston and claims that he sent of- fensive text messages about her. She has since quit the Wallabies set-up. You have to respect his decision as an individual. So hes got his rea- sons for that and we respect those, Hooper said. After the game to come in and nish like that and it was a blow to hear about Ewen McKenzies depar- ture after the match but we respect his decision as an individual. On behalf of the players, he has done a lot for the players, so we wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution. As a group, were united and we are looking forward to the ve-week tour that we have coming up this Friday. AFP Australian Rugby Union coach Ewen McKenzie reacts after his team lost against New Zealand in their Bledisloe Cup rugby match in Brisbane on Saturday. AFP
Terrorist Police Kidnapped Magic Bus Lady, Constable Andrew Bell ,Pc11662 Made the Phone Call “We Have the Lady in the Car ,This is the Last Time You Will Hear From Me on This Matter.” and Now 4 Months Have Passed