All the News Without Fear or Favor The Cambodia daily Volume 65 Issue 65 Monday, September 26, 2016 2,000 riel/50 cents Minister Tells UN ‘Perfect Democracy’ Not Realistic By colin meyn the cambodIa daIly Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn defended the government before the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Saturday, saying that the ruling party was being held to unrealistic expectations of a “per- fect democracy” while the opposi- tion was “committing very serious crimes.” Delivering his first major ad- dress to the U.N., the new foreign minister was the latest govern- ment official to hit back at claims that the CPP is attempting to crip- ple the opposition and other critics ahead of local elections next year Pring Samrang/Reuters and national elections in 2018. A man dries unhusked rice on a road in front of his home in Kompong Thom province on Saturday. The Rural “International institutions and Development Bank says the rice sector has stabilized after government intervention last week to halt Western parliamentarians have plummeting prices. (Related story page 5) pointed the finger sometimes and tried to lay blame. I am here before you not as an accused party; I am speaking to you as a country that is Timber Trader Blasts Journalists for Snitching often judged negatively, and even By aun PheaP had tipped off military police to a re- ing incense above her head. more often it is misunderstood and the cambodIa daIly cent timber run. “I am making a business for a lit- not recognized, particularly in the A wealthy timber trader in “All journalists are witnesses for tle bit of money and I share it with Western world,” he said. Stung Treng province berated a my business because they receive people,” an angry Ms. Samneang “In the West, some NGOs, group of local journalists on Friday money from me,” Ms. Samneang, says. “If they receive word from some media and some govern- for reporting her illicit logging ac- widely known as “Yeay Proeung,” me, do not mistreat me. If they mis- ments often describe our weak- tivities to officials despite being tells the group of about 10 reporters treat me, they will die from their nesses as crimes of the state,” Mr. paid bribes to stay quiet. in a video that was posted to Face- car overturning.” Sokhonn said, lamenting the dem- Heng Samneang, who has repeat- book over the weekend. Ms. Samneang declined to com- ocratic standards outlined in the edly escaped punishment despite Despite accepting money for their ment on the meeting when con- 1991 Paris Peace Agreements. being linked to numerous cases of il- allegiance, however, the journalists tacted yesterday. Continued on page 6 legal logging, called a meeting in had compromised their integrity by Ros Saly, a reporter in the prov - Siem Bok district Friday morning to alerting officials to her illegal activi- ince for Koh Santepheap newspaper denounce journalists she believed ties, she explains while waving burn- Continued on page 2 Clinton, Trump in Dead Heat in Election Race By Dan Balz the Republican nominee still facing survey’s 4.5 percentage-point mar- anD Scott clement doubts about his qualifications and gin of sampling error. the waShIngton PoSt temperament. The findings underscore how U.S. presidential candidates In a two-way matchup between much the presidential contest has Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the major-party nominees, Clinton tightened in recent weeks, after were due to meet yesterday eve ning tops Trump by 49 percent to 47 Clinton emerged from the two na- for their first debate in a virtual dead percent among likely voters, and tional conventions with a clear lead heat in the race for the White House, the two are tied at 46 percent and with Trump on the defensive. Philippines Tells World Not to according to a new Washington among all registered voters. Clin- Early this month, Clinton led Interfere in Duterte's Drug War Post-ABC News poll, with the Dem- ton’s two-point edge among likely Trump by five points among likely Page 7 ocratic nominee’s August advantage voters, in both the four-way and voters. In early August, she led by cambodiadaily.com erased after recent difficulties and two-way ballot tests, is within the Continued on page 2 មានដំណឹងបែែសមែួលជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅខាងក្នុង The Daily Newspaper of Record Since 1993 2 The Cambodia daily monday, SePtembeR 26, 2016 ANd AlSo NEWSMAKERS Mad Scientists Get Top Honors n lONDON - Pottermania may be alive and well thanks to upcoming Harry ReuteRS ing tested.” Potter spinoff film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and a hit london play, but actor Daniel raDcliffesays he has no interest in revisit- Scientific research into how poly- The prizes will be awarded on ing his role as the boy wizard. Asked about speculation that there could be ester pants affect the sex life of rats, Thursday by a group of actual Nobel a movie version of the london play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” what it’s like for a human to live like Prize winners, and are intended to Radcliffe, 27, said no one had contacted him about a new film. “Nobody has a badger and how different the world honor accomplishments in science said anything to me about...revitalizing the films, so I don’t know,” Radcliffe looks when viewed through your and humanities that make one told reporters in london on Friday. “It’s not something I think I’d be inter- legs will be honored at this year’s Ig laugh, then think. ested in, and also if they do it now I feel they should just cast the people from Nobel spoof awards. “The prizes are for something the play,” said Radcliffe, who was just 11 years old when he was cast as Pot- The group also mocked Volk- pretty unusual,” said the awards’ ter. Radcliffe was in london to open a three-day entertainment festival of swagen, lauding it for engineering host. “Almost any other kind of films and family activities, including screenings of his two most recent indie its vehicles to produce fewer emis- award is for the best or worst. Best or movies “Swiss Army Man” and “Imperium.”(Reuters) sions “whenever the cars are be- worst is irrelevant to us.” ments from her,” he said. lieve her. ists that were paid off to keep their Snitching... Ieng Vandy, provincial military “I don’t think that Yeay Proeung mouths shut. police commander, confirmed Mr. gives monthly payments to police, “Journalists who receive monthly continueD from Page 1 Saly’s account of Thursday eve - because I have never received the payments from Yeay Proeung al- who was at the meeting, said it was ning’s events, but said the case had money—not even $1,” he said. ways keep silent,” he said. It was oth- called by Ms. Samneang after local been handed to the Forestry Ad- And while authorities were aware er reporters who were not on the authorities stopped five of her wood- ministration’s Stung Treng canton- of her illegal activity, he said, “our au- take that “always reported her to au- packed vans from crossing into Viet- ment and declined to comment thorities do not guard for 24/7 to thorities to stop her vehicles from nam on Thursday night. further. stop wood transportation,” and had transporting wood.” Having been alerted that provin- Forestry administration officials therefore been unable to stop what One journalist, Kim Sreng of the cial military police were preparing to could not be reached. They said ear- he suspected were late-night hauls Doeum Ampil News website, said block the vans’ path between Kratie lier this month that the business- across the border. that while he did not receive regular and Tbong Khmum provinces on woman was being investigated after Earlier this year, the govern- payments from the businesswom - National Road 7, Ms. Samneang told a raid of her warehouse revealed ment put a blanket ban on the ex- an, she had offered him between the drivers to cancel the trip, Mr. Saly piles of illegally harvested wood. port of timber to Vietnam in an ef- 50,000 and 100,000 riel ($12.50 and said. When they arrived back at her However, they said neither she nor fort to curb illegal logging. How - $25) during sporadic meetings in warehouse in Siem Bok district, offi- her employees were questioned or ever, Vietnamese customs data the past. cers were there to meet them, lead- detained in that case, refusing to ex- shows that plenty of luxury timber Mr. Saly, the journalist that attend- ing her to blame journalists for plain why. is still getting through—more ed the meeting, also admitted to ac- telling authorities, he said. Deputy provincial police chief than $85 million worth during the cepting money from Ms. Sam- “Yeay Proeung is a timber trader Nou Hour said Ms. Samneang had first half of the year. neang, but declined to say how in Stung Treng province, and every told his officers in the past that she According to Hou Sam Ol, pro - much. journalist and authority has known had paid off higher-ranking offi- vincial coordinator for rights group “If I tell you, it will seem as if I have how she makes a living for a long cials to allow her to continue oper- Adhoc, Ms. Samneang had built up cut off my testicles for a dog to eat,” time because they get monthly pay- ations. But he said he did not be- a network of at least 20 local journal- he said.