NEWSLETTER

KAS CAMBODIA OFFICE

The following articles are a composition of 21st EDITION June 2012 last two weeks’ (05.06.-18.06.) press re- leases in Cambodia. They give a review on JANINA KANDT current developments in the country. Content

 Page 1 CPP: LANDSLIDE VICTORY CPP: LANDSLIDE VICTORY The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) which won  Page 2 the commune elections on the 3rd of June, OPPOSITION: PARTIES PLAN had, according to Koul Panha, head of the TO MERGE Committee for Free and Fair Elections (COM- GOVERNMENTAL BAN ON FREL), used public servants and security forces BROADCASTS in campaigning. Also, the state-run and pro-  Page 3 CPP media had contributed to the parties’ suc- ECONOMIC LAND CONCES- cess in the election. The CPP won about 1,592 SIONS out of 1,633 commune chief positions. Ou Vi- JAPAN INTENSIFIES INVEST- rak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human MENT IN CAMBODIA Source: Asia News in Context1 Rights stated that Cambodia still had a long  Page 4 way to go before it could ensure credible elections. He added that the low turnout which HUMAN TRAFFICKING: NUM- was less than 60 per cent would indicate that people would trust the election process less. BERS ALARMING One necessary condition for fair and free election would be the independence of the National CHINA TO FUND RAILWAY- Election Committee (NEC) that serves as election monitor. PROJECT

 Page 5 Further Reading: HUN SEN JOINED G20 SUM- ‘Unequal’ Tactics Led to CPP Election Win, Monitors Say: MIT http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Unequal-Tactics-Led-to-CPP-Election-Win- NAMHONG MEETS CLINTON Monitors-Say-158200055.html  Page 6 Strongman of Cambodia: ASEAN REGIONAL INTEGRA- http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/06/hun-sen TION COULD HIT CAMBODIA Only Half of Voters Went to Polls: Monitors:

http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Only-Half-of-Voters-Went-to-Polls-Monitors-

157523565.html

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NEWSLETTER KAS OPPOSITION: PARTIES PLAN TO MERGE CAMBODIA OFFICE Ahead of next year’s national elections Kem 21st EDITION | JUNE 2012 Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party (HRP), said he would attempt to merge with JANINA KANDT the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) in order to form a single opposition. Sam Rainsy, leader of the www.kas.de main opposition SRP, who is currently in exile www.kas.de/kambodscha in France, stated in a letter on Tuesday, 5th of June, that the democratic parties should join together to defeat the “dictatorial leadership” in Cambodia – referring to the CPP that just Source: khmer life info2 won most of the seats in the commune elec- tions. Currently discussions are going on if the SRP and the HRP have sufficient common ground to join together.

Further Reading: Opposition party eyes merger in Manila: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012060756654/National-news/srp-eyes- merger-meet-in-manila.html Human Rights Party President Pushes for Joining of Opposition: http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Human-Rights-Party-President-Pushes-for- Joining-of-Opposition-157529265.html

GOVERNMENTAL BAN ON BROADCASTS On Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of June, the day of the com- mune election, the Ministry of Information had banned broad- casts of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). Ac- cording to San Putheary, chief of the audio-visual department at the ministry, the ban was made to maintain a ‘quiet atmos- pehere’. Michael Lynton, presiding governor of the Broadcast- ing Board of Governors (BBG), stated that this action would run contrary to the principles of free and fair elections. News

Source: Engaged Buddhism3 programs should be encouraged rather than denied, as they would shape a well-educated citizenry. VOA and RFA serve as a platform for the full spectrum of political opinions in Cambodia and provide information on fundamental election issues.

Further Reading: Government Defends Ban on US Broadcasts During Elections: http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Government-Defends-Ban-on-US- Broadcasts-During-Election-157009215.html BBG Decries Cambodian Government Cancellation of VOA, RFA Coverage During National Election: http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/BBG-Decries-Cambodian-Government- Cancellation-of-VOA-RFA-Coverage-During-National-Election-157199245.html

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NEWSLETTER KAS ECONOMIC LAND CONCESSIONS CAMBODIA OFFICE On the 7th of May Prime Minister Hun Sen had 21st EDITION | JUNE 2012 signed a document to ban land concessions, but despite this order the Cambodian govern- JANINA KANDT ment had granted more than 21,000 hectares of land to private companies to build rubber www.kas.de plantations in three provinces. Naly Pilorge, www.kas.de/kambodscha director of the rights group LICADHO stated that even if the words ‘economic land conces- sions’ were not used in the grant, he interpret- ed this action as a breach of the Prime Minis- Source: KI-Media4 ters promises.

Further Reading: Critics dismiss Hun Sen’s pledge as empty promises: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061556819/National-news/critics-dismiss- hun-sens-pledge-as-empty-promises.html Three Huge Land Grants to Companies Despite Hun Sen Ban: http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/Three-Huge-Land-Grants-to-Companies- Despite-Hun-Sen-Ban-159070735.html

JAPAN INTENSIFIES INVESTMENT IN CAMBODIA In the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2009 Cambodia’s econo- my slowed down, but Japan started to intensify its investment in the country’s private sector. Now Japan is not only Cambodia’s biggest aid donor, but also an important investor, with a total in- vestment of $70m in 2011. Doho Kiyotaka, Representative for the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), names as one reason for this increase that Japanese investors, especially manufacturers, were searching for alternatives to China and Vietnam as labor wages were raising. Another reason is Cambodia’s improving infra- structure and its advantageous location in the center of the Me-

Source: Southeas Asia kong region. Globe5

Further Reading: More than building birdges: http://www.sea-globe.com/FOCUS-ASEAN-Business/more-than-building-bridges.htm l Cambodia’s trade with Japan reaches 207 mln USD in first 5 months: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2012-06/16/c_131657246.htm

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NEWSLETTER KAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING: NUMBERS ALARMING CAMBODIA OFFICE The International Labour Organization (ILO) has published 21st EDITION | JUNE 2012 data that shows that the number of ‘slaves’ would be be- tween 10 and 30 million worldwide – the highest number in JANINA KANDT history. According to the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime reports, human trafficking would be the fastest- www.kas.de growing criminal enterprise in the world. Also Cambodia is www.kas.de/kambodscha affected by human trafficking, beating, starving and sex- ually abusing employees. Especially people from the rural areas can easily be kidnapped – the chance that the victim could be identified and that the crime would be properly Source: UNODC6 investigated would be very low. Poverty and a low level of education would be reasons why people from remote areas easily agree to take a job in an- other country with the promise to earn a lot of money, but in fact are trafficked, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

Further Reading: UNODC on human trafficking and migrant smuggling: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/index.html Human trafficking must be stopped: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061556817/National-news/human- trafficking-must-be-stopped.html ILO Publications: http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/lang--en/index.htm

CHINA TO FUND RAILWAYPROJECT A 250-kilometre long rail line between Cambo- dia and Vietnam might be funded by the Chi- nese government. Cambodian government offi- cials stated that the loans given by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the development bank that originally was in talks to fund the project, would be too complicated. Va Sim Sorya, director general at the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation said that the country would not need to meet the requirements Source: doaaraku7 tagged to ADB loans, but instead get the US$600 million loan from the Chinese government as China would not have so many condi- tions. But while the ADB loans would have a 1.32 per cent rate annually, China held the highest rates compared to other institutions and countries with 1.83 per cent per year.

Further Reading: China may fund Cambodia-Vietnam rail: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012061356758/Business/china-to-fund- cambodia-rail.html

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NEWSLETTER KAS HUN SEN JOINED G20 SUMMIT CAMBODIA OFFICE On Saturday 16th of June, Prime Minister Hun 21st EDITION | JUNE 2012 Sen left together with Foreign Minister Hor Namhong for the two-day G20 summit in Mexi- JANINA KANDT co. This summits’ main focus lies on the world economy and the establishment of a framework www.kas.de for stable and balanced growth. According to www.kas.de/kambodscha the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hun Sen will deliver a speech on food and fuel prices, global finance and re- sources. Source: thetimes-tribune8

Further Reading: G20 Leader’s –summit inaugurated: http://www.g20.org/ Hun Sen leaves for G-20 summit in Mexico: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=NDdiM2UyNTgwY mNiNDIyYTEzYjcyNjM0OGQzNGYz

NAMHONG MEETS CLINTON On Tuesday 12th of June Hillary Clinton Secre- tary of State and Foreign Minister Hor Nam- hong met in Washington to talk about the up- coming conference of the Association of South- east Asian Nations (ASEAN) that Cambodia will host. The US wants to engage more actively in the Asia-Pacific and therefore will join. Issues of discussion were also addressing Cambodia’s domestic politics: against the background that in May 13 Cambodian women were sent to Source: daylife9 prison for protesting against forced eviction the United States urged Cambodia to release them. Furthermore, Clinton emphasized the im- portance of ‘appropriate participation across the political spectrum’ for the 2013 elections. Hor Namhong, also invited President Barack Obama to take part in the ASEAN summit in November this year.

Further Reading: Clinton will attend ASEAN meet in Cambodia: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=YTNlYmEwOWZjZ mU5ODEwZTI4ZDE3OTBmNGU3YTRj US urges fair elections in Cambodia, stops short of calling for return of opposition leader:

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NEWSLETTER KAS http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-urges-fair-elections-in- CAMBODIA OFFICE cambodia-stops-short-of-calling-for-return-of-opposition- 21st EDITION | JUNE 2012 leader/2012/06/13/gJQArGcZaV_story.html Clinton Discusses Boeng Kak Prisoners With Hor Namhong: JANINA KANDT http://www.opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news-source/the-cambodia-daily/clinton- discusses-boeng-kak-prisoners-with-hor-namhong/ www.kas.de www.kas.de/kambodscha ASEAN REGIONAL INTEGRATION COULD HIT CAMBODIA The Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(ASEAN) plans to integrate the region’s econo- mies by 2015 which entails that import tariffs

could be lifted. But especially for poorer nations like Cambodia it could be difficult to compete

with stronger economies. Curtis Hundley, Chief

of Party for USAID’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Strengthening Project said that the

implementation of a free trade area would only be advantageous for those countries that can

meet export requirements. Nina Bandstrup, Source: wikipedia10 Country Representative for the FAO in Phnom Penh, added that Cambodia would have to increase investment in agriculture to ensure bet- ter access to information, capital and modern technologies for Cambodian farmers.

Further Reading: Export appetite: http://www.sea-globe.com/FOCUS-ASEAN-Business/export-appetite.html

Impressum

KONRAD-ADENAUER-STIFTUNG CAMBODIA OFFICE

House No. 4, Street 462 Khan Charmkar Mon P.O. Box 944 Phnom Penh Kambodscha

Tel. +855 (0)23 99 68 61 Fax +855 (0)23 21 33 64 [email protected]

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