-Cambodian politician has immunity restored
-Cambodian PM: Phnom Penh to have conference center -Ex-chief of Cambodian military forces officially appointed as deputy prime minister -Murder Suspected Cambodian Police Officer Granted Finnish -Unesco official calls for more border talks Cambodian politician has immunity restored PHNOM PENH -- A Cambodian parliamentary committee has restored the immunity of opposition leader Sam Rainsy after he paid a fine of US$2,500 for defaming ruling party leaders, lawmakers said on Wednesday. Although members of parliament have general immunity against prosecution, the National Election Committee (NEC) can fine candidates who violate rules during election campaigns, and it had found that Rainsy defamed leaders of the Cambodian People's Party, including Prime Minister Hun Sen. When his immunity was removed in late February, Rainsy denounced it as a move to silence his criticism of Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier who has been in charge for the last 23 years. Rainsy, leader of the opposition party that carries his name, has been the main challenger to the prime minister's dominance during those years. He served as finance minister under joint Prime Ministers Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen after elections sponsored by the United Nations in 1993. Hun Sen won a landslide victory in an election last July but remains vulnerable in Phnom Penh to Rainsy, who commands support from the capital's educated youth. Cheam Yeap, a ruling party lawmaker, said the permanent committee would not have restored Rainsy's immunity on Tuesday in a closed-door vote if he had not paid the fine. “He could have faced up to a year in jail if he had not paid,” he said. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2009/03/12/199777/Cambodian-politician.htm *Cambodian PM: Phnom Penh to have conference center* PHNOM PENH, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will build a conference hall of international standard in Phnom Penh to host diplomatic events with foreign audiences, national media said on Thursday. "I will use only 15 months to complete it," Chinese-language daily newspaper the Commercial News quoted Prime Minister Hun Sen as telling a graduation ceremony of the Royal University of Phnom Penh here on Wednesday. "Before, we relied on hotels for international events, and it is always difficult to find a place, and sometimes we are forced to hold meetings in Siem Reap," he said. The conference hall would be constructed with government funds next to the new Council of Ministers building, he said, adding that local architects would be tapped to design it. The decision was prompted by plans for Cambodia to host a series of regional conferences in the coming years, including three regional meetings next year and two ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summits in 2012, according to the premier. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/12/content_10995951.htm *Ex-chief of Cambodian military forces officially appointed as deputy prime minister * PHNOM PENH, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Ke Kim Yan, former commander-in-chief of Royal Cambodian Armed forces (RCAF), was officially appointed as the royal government's 10th deputy prime minister with the approval from the National Assembly Thursday. The ten deputy prime ministers have the capacity, experiences and responsibility for their duties, Prime Minister Hun Sen said before the voting. 86 of 87 present members of the 123-seat National Assembly voted to support the approval. Ke Kim Yan was without a position since being removed as RCAF chief by a Royal Decree on Jan. 22. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/12/content_11001950.htm *Murder Suspected Cambodian Police Officer Granted Finnish Asylum * Pom Penh Municipal Court is set to hand down its latest verdict against former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov and five other men Thursday, in connection with the attempted murder of Military Police Chief Sao Sokha in 2003. Heng Pov's wife and his three other children are currently living in Finland, where Heng Pov was granted asylum in 2007 before being abruptly returned to Cambodia by Malaysian authorities. Heng Pov had previously petitioned the court to unfreeze nearly a million dollars in assets held in the bank accounts, to allow him to pay legal costs as well as medical and school fees for his three daughters. Heng Pov, who while in power was a much-feared police boss, is currently serving a total of 58 years in prison for a battery of convictions, including murder, counterfeiting, extortion and kidnapping.Five of the six suspects, some of whom are already serving prison sentences for other crimes, were present in court Tuesday for what was the final hearing before the verdicts are handed down. Heng Pov could face an additional 30 years in prison if convicted of the attempted murder charge. He also faces charges relating to the attempted killing of Koh Santepheap publisher Thong Uy Pang, a case that is expected to reach court later in the year. http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=my&news_id=5296 *Unesco official calls for more border talks* Written by Khouth Sophak Chakrya Thursday, 12 March 2009 THE chairman of UNESCO's executive board expressed support Wednesday for further discussions between the Cambodian and Thai governments related to the dispute over Preah Vihear temple. In a move Thailand opposed, UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage site last July, triggering a troop buildup on both sides of the Thai-Cambodian border. During a meeting at the Council of Ministers, Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yai, who is visiting Cambodia for one week, commended Cambodian officials for their "patience" in ongoing border talks and encouraged them to continue to work towards a peaceful resolution to the dispute, which led to clashes that claimed four lives last October. Because of the temple's designation as a World Heritage site, he said, the talks concern not only Cambodians but people the world over. Deputy Prime Minsiter Sok An said during the meeting that the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces would defend the temple and the border. He also said Cambodian officials would strive to keep negotiations productive and amicable and to strengthen ties with the Thai government. "We are never violent and we never invade other countries," Sok An said. In addition to visiting Preah Vihear, the UNESCO official said he would visit Siem Reap and other provinces during his visit to the Kingdom, which ends on Tuesday next week. He said he was excited to visit many of the Kingdom's "wonderful" temples. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009031224727/National-news/Unesco-official-calls-for-more-border-talks.html --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ The articles and commentaries on this forum reflect only the personal opinion(s) of the poster(s) and not that of any organization or group with which the moderator(s) is (are) affiliated. A forwarded message or event may be posted for informational/educational purposes. Unless specifically stated, no endorsement of the posted opinions/events should be implied. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Angkorian Society" - <http://groups.google.com.au/group/angkoriansociety> -<www.geocities.com/angkorian_society> Keep away from bad deeds, Do good, and Purify the Mind ...This is the teaching of the Buddha..... 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