Cambodia to host ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting in May

PHNOM PENH, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host an ASEAN-EU foreign ministers' meeting from May 4 to 6 to push forward the cooperation between the two regional bodies, Chinese-language daily newspaper the Commercial News said on Monday.Representatives from over 40 countries will join the meeting to be held in tourism province of Siem Reap to find ways to strengthen the friendly cooperative ties between the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the EU (European Union), the paper quoted Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh as saying here on Sunday upon his return from the 14 ASEAN Summit in Thailand.

The United States will also send delegates to the meeting, he added.

Meanwhile on the same occasion, Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told reporters that the ASEAN and the EU are now preparing to sign an agreement of friendly cooperation.

He didn't give details of the agreement.

Cambodia used to maintain good trade relationship with the EU, which was the second largest importer of its garment products.

22 unacceptable attacks against journalists in Cambodia

22 attacks conducted against journalists in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-two cases of violence against journalists were recorded in the second half of 2008 and the first two months of 2009 in Cambodia, said English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post on Monday.These included cases in which journalists were detained and cases in which threats or accusations were made against them "by individuals, groups, authorities and court institutions," the paper quoted a press release from the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) as saying.

Meanwhile, the CCJ decried unprofessional behavior on the part of some journalists, who accepted bribes or used unethical means to advance the aims of the groups that they supported.

The press release also urged the Ministry of Information to use more discretion in issuing press cards.

"Some media pass holders are not journalists," said CCJ secretary general Prach Sim.

Over 300 newspapers are registered with the ministry, but only 10 are publishing daily and 30 can get printed on regular basis.

Only 4 parties to join local election of Cambodia in May

PHNOM PENH, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Only 4 political parties became eligible to participate in the local election of Cambodia in May, as the registration process has come to its end, said English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post on Monday.They are the major ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the major opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and the opposition Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), the paper quoted Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee (NEC), as saying.

The 4 parties have registered themselves with NEC for the election in accordance with relevant regulations, while dozens of other small parties haven't responded yet, he added.

On May 17, Cambodia will hold the polling for positions of district, provincial and municipal councils as part of the government's drive to transfer more decision-making powers to the local level.

NEC has set altogether 193 temporary offices all over the country to serve the process, and the government plans to deploy 27,133 police force nationwide to guarantee safety and order.

Resolution of border dispute near for Cambodia, Thailand

PHNOM PENH, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to resolve their long-running border dispute by using a memorandum of understanding signed in 2000, said English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post on Monday.Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed to do so during their meeting on Friday, the paper quoted Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as saying here on Sunday upon his return from the 14 ASEAN Summit in Thailand.

"I think if Thailand has a clear stance and is willing to use the 2000 MoU, there will be no further difficulties in the future," he said, adding that "we decided to resolve the (border) issue peacefully."

The MoU states that the Joint Border Committee (JBC) of the two countries should use maps drafted in 1904 and 1907, which was ratified by Siam (as Thailand was then known) and France, Cambodia's former colonial power, to delineate the common border.

Tension between Thailand and Cambodia ratcheted higher in 2008, when troops from both countries clashed near the Preah Vihear temple at the border area and soldiers on both sides died in their fighting in October. An uneasy peace was restored days later.

Another blow to rights record

DECISION NOT TO INDICT SIX OFFICERS FOR KRUE SE MOSQUE ATTACK ANGERS JUSTICE GROUP

The Working Group on Justice for Peace has condemed a decision by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) not to charge six security officers with the murder of 32 people in 2004 at the Krue Se mosque.

The OAG decided against indicting them on Feb 10.

It has now informed the working group, led by Angkhana Neelaphaijit, wife of the missing Muslim lawyer Somchai, of its decision.

Mrs Angkhana's working group cited an International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) report to express concern that no legal action had been taken against security authorities.

They are accused of serious human rights violations and extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers and suspected insurgent militants in the deep South.

The ICCPR said in a recent report on Thailand's human rights situation that state authorities violated the human rights of criminal suspects. The report said that victims of human rights violations in this country would not receive any assistance from the state.

Pol Sgt-Maj Adinan Kasetkala, SM1 Decha Phalaharn, SM1 Choosak Darunpim, Sgt Chidchai Ontoh, Pvt Surachai Silanan and Col Manas Kongpan are among those accused of being involved in the killing of 32 suspected insurgents during the April 28, 2004, military attack at Pattani's Krue Se mosque.

The working group also cited a report by an independent panel which investigated the Krue Se mosque case, headed by Sujinda Yongsunthorn.

The report said the attack by security authorities on suspected insurgents at the mosque was inappropriate, as they could have used non-violent means to end the confrontation.

The government is in the process of reviewing its handling of the violence in the South.

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