Australia builds Cambodian Police Facilities in Battambang Province
by Chhorng Long Heng
Ministry of interior and Australian Embassy to Phnom Penh on 24 August 2010 opened new judicial police facilities at Battambang Police Commission Compound under highly presiding over the ceremony by H.E. Prum Sokha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior and H.E. Ms Margaret Adamson, the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, HE Ms Margaret Adamson said “This new building will provide better working conditions for police officers, enabling them to work in a more effective and efficient manner. It has also been designed to provide better conditions for accused persons, for victims and for the local residents who are working with the police to report and reduce crime”.
She added that the new facilities are part of Australia’s support for better infrastructure through the Cambodia Criminal Justice Assistance Project (CCJAP). Through CCJAP, Australia has provided AU$4million for capital works to improve provincial; police, court and prison buildings in five provinces including Battambang, Prey Veng, Banteay Mean Chey, Kampong Thom and Kampong Cham provinces.
H.E. Prum Sokha, Secretary of State, Ministry of Interior, said “This physical infrastructure is a good example of a strong effort of both governments toward supporting reform in Cambodia. “ Now, with competent police officers and new infrastructure, I strongly believe our police officers will be able to perform their duties more efficiently and professionally to ensure security and safety to our communities and will gain more confidence and trust from communities.” Sokha added.
“This building will enable provincial police commissioner to link important activities to the strategic objectives of Cambodian National Police accordingly and will improve the infrastructure of provincial police in order to expand technical-scientific and development training programs related to the key points of the interview and the trainings in order to support criminal and sexual abuse investigation especially related to women and juveniles”, said General Sar Thet, Provincial Police Commissioner of Battambang Province.
Australia has supported reform across the criminal justice system in Cambodia since 1997. The Cambodia Criminal Justice Assistance Project Phase 3 (2007 – 2012) works with the Royal Government and NGOs and communities to improve prisons, policing, courts, crime prevention and community safety in six provinces. Both sides also strengthen bilateral cooperation with varied fields from health, education to anti-terrorism for security and safety in region and to provide mutual benefits. Under the support from Australia, Cambodia trained more than 550 people, including judges, prosecutors, senior police officers and soldiers, for anti-terrorism law. The Cambodian government considered terrorism act as a cruel crime in the history of humanity, and it makes turmoil in the society especially politically.
The Cambodian government also considered terrorism act as an international matter. Australia is very happy to see the contribution of Cambodia in fighting against the terrorism acts.###
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Chhorng Long Heng: Cambodia to host regional ASEAN seminar on fighting against corruption
Cambodia to host regional ASEAN seminar on fighting against corruption
by Chhorng Long Heng
The Anti-corruption Unit (ACU) of Cambodia announced on 23 August that it will host the regional ASEAN seminar on fighting against corruption late this year.
“Cambodia will host the regional ASEAN seminar on combating corruption late this year,” H.E Om Yenteing, head of ACU said in the seminar on fighting corruption to achieve development.
“To contribute in fighting against corruption, we need clean our staff at the ACU first, we will create a small group to investigate our staff about where they go and eat something with who at where to ensure that they are not making any corruption,” HE Om Yenteing added.
They need to declare their assets in advance before they started working and stop working at ACU, he said, adding that we will have annual polygraph test to assess our officials. He said previously that over 100,000 governmental officials must declare their asset accordance with to the law of anti-corruption which was passed by the national assembly in March. We have to join together to fight against corruption to contribute development and fulfill the commitment of millennium development goals, he stresses.
“We set up the strategies in countering corruption and sooner we will install our website for our agency in collecting the information and post the documents from ACU, and officials could download the documents to fill in forms,” He said, adding that local people could report the information to ACU through the website, they provided exclusive information for us to investigate the cases of corruption related at somewhere or other public officials.
Speaking at the sideline of symposium on fighting against corruption to achieve development, Prof Pil Hwan Oh, chairman of Korean Association for Corruption studies (KACS) said that the purpose of this symposium is to discuss the impact of corruption on economic development on developing countries.
“I hope that this opportunity will be a new beginning for meeting number challenges lying ahead and opens a window for the international cooperating system,” he said, adding that corruption is global as well as diverse and it had become an issue of major political economic significance in recent years in many countries across the globe including a number of developed countries.
He stated that corruption affects policy making process negatively, distorting the allocation of national resources, he said, adding that throughout decrease in investment impact and increase in political instability and transaction costs, corruption began to emerge, giving a negative impact on economic growth. Thus, fighting corruption should be the priori policy for economic development in developing countries particularly.
Honorary Congressman Shin-Bom Lee, the Blue Korea Foundation (BKF) and former member of the national assembly of the republic of Korea said that with the blooming of democracy, South Korea has faced many new challenges, but has successfully overcome them. I am certain that South Korea’s experience of democracy and fight against corruption by reforming the system over the past 20 years was a success story. “I am convinced that Cambodia can achieve far greater success in the future, He added.
The Cambodia- Transparency International of South Korea conducted joint Symposium on “Fighting Corruption to Achieve Development” on August 23 in Phnom Penh with the aim to review corruption issues as a key challenge for economic and social development based on the global understanding that with the existence of a high level of corruption and poor governance, the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved.
The Cambodian advocates in turn shared their experience in fighting corruption, the challenges they face as well as new opportunities in light of recent development and the enabling environment following the adoption of the Anti-Corruption law and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Unit as well as the related institutions.
Transparency International Secretariat presented the Development Pact, a tool that works with political and administrative “champions” keen to demonstrate their commitment to higher benchmarks of integrity and performance on development promises.
The symposium also discussed some key recommendations to all stakeholders in Cambodia and in Korea such as: the government, parliament, civil society organizations, international donors and the media in order to promote integrity and transparency more effectively
“The participants appreciated the government’s commitment to the fight against corruption and wish to form a coalition with the government, the private sector and international stakeholders to take more proactive steps towards reducing corruption and achieving the MDGs, the joint statement from the symposium said, adding that the establishment of integrity system should be promoted through good governance process. The political parties should put democratic interest before party interests through practicing and adhering to democratic principles. “To reduce collusion among politicians and businessmen, transparent policy making and administrative processes are essential.
Strengthen democratic development at local government,” the statement added.
The executive, legislative and judiciary should promote and guarantee freedom of expression and access to information, particularly with regard to public services; Promote transparent revenue, budget and procurement processes; Citizens should be encouraged to submit complaints on corruption issues. Encourage greater religious involvement such as ethical and moral values to enhance social integrity. Focus on both preventing and fighting corruption through raising public awareness, integrating Develop a comprehensive anti corruption strategy with focus on education on integrity at schools, it stresses. ###
by Chhorng Long Heng
The Anti-corruption Unit (ACU) of Cambodia announced on 23 August that it will host the regional ASEAN seminar on fighting against corruption late this year.
“Cambodia will host the regional ASEAN seminar on combating corruption late this year,” H.E Om Yenteing, head of ACU said in the seminar on fighting corruption to achieve development.
“To contribute in fighting against corruption, we need clean our staff at the ACU first, we will create a small group to investigate our staff about where they go and eat something with who at where to ensure that they are not making any corruption,” HE Om Yenteing added.
They need to declare their assets in advance before they started working and stop working at ACU, he said, adding that we will have annual polygraph test to assess our officials. He said previously that over 100,000 governmental officials must declare their asset accordance with to the law of anti-corruption which was passed by the national assembly in March. We have to join together to fight against corruption to contribute development and fulfill the commitment of millennium development goals, he stresses.
“We set up the strategies in countering corruption and sooner we will install our website for our agency in collecting the information and post the documents from ACU, and officials could download the documents to fill in forms,” He said, adding that local people could report the information to ACU through the website, they provided exclusive information for us to investigate the cases of corruption related at somewhere or other public officials.
Speaking at the sideline of symposium on fighting against corruption to achieve development, Prof Pil Hwan Oh, chairman of Korean Association for Corruption studies (KACS) said that the purpose of this symposium is to discuss the impact of corruption on economic development on developing countries.
“I hope that this opportunity will be a new beginning for meeting number challenges lying ahead and opens a window for the international cooperating system,” he said, adding that corruption is global as well as diverse and it had become an issue of major political economic significance in recent years in many countries across the globe including a number of developed countries.
He stated that corruption affects policy making process negatively, distorting the allocation of national resources, he said, adding that throughout decrease in investment impact and increase in political instability and transaction costs, corruption began to emerge, giving a negative impact on economic growth. Thus, fighting corruption should be the priori policy for economic development in developing countries particularly.
Honorary Congressman Shin-Bom Lee, the Blue Korea Foundation (BKF) and former member of the national assembly of the republic of Korea said that with the blooming of democracy, South Korea has faced many new challenges, but has successfully overcome them. I am certain that South Korea’s experience of democracy and fight against corruption by reforming the system over the past 20 years was a success story. “I am convinced that Cambodia can achieve far greater success in the future, He added.
The Cambodia- Transparency International of South Korea conducted joint Symposium on “Fighting Corruption to Achieve Development” on August 23 in Phnom Penh with the aim to review corruption issues as a key challenge for economic and social development based on the global understanding that with the existence of a high level of corruption and poor governance, the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved.
The Cambodian advocates in turn shared their experience in fighting corruption, the challenges they face as well as new opportunities in light of recent development and the enabling environment following the adoption of the Anti-Corruption law and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Unit as well as the related institutions.
Transparency International Secretariat presented the Development Pact, a tool that works with political and administrative “champions” keen to demonstrate their commitment to higher benchmarks of integrity and performance on development promises.
The symposium also discussed some key recommendations to all stakeholders in Cambodia and in Korea such as: the government, parliament, civil society organizations, international donors and the media in order to promote integrity and transparency more effectively
“The participants appreciated the government’s commitment to the fight against corruption and wish to form a coalition with the government, the private sector and international stakeholders to take more proactive steps towards reducing corruption and achieving the MDGs, the joint statement from the symposium said, adding that the establishment of integrity system should be promoted through good governance process. The political parties should put democratic interest before party interests through practicing and adhering to democratic principles. “To reduce collusion among politicians and businessmen, transparent policy making and administrative processes are essential.
Strengthen democratic development at local government,” the statement added.
The executive, legislative and judiciary should promote and guarantee freedom of expression and access to information, particularly with regard to public services; Promote transparent revenue, budget and procurement processes; Citizens should be encouraged to submit complaints on corruption issues. Encourage greater religious involvement such as ethical and moral values to enhance social integrity. Focus on both preventing and fighting corruption through raising public awareness, integrating Develop a comprehensive anti corruption strategy with focus on education on integrity at schools, it stresses. ###
Chhorng Long Heng: Mekong River commission officially opens permanent office in Phnom Penh
Mekong River Commission Secretariat officially opens permanent office in Phnom Penh
The Mekong River Commission secretariat on August 26 officially opened permanent and arm office in Phnom Penh after long discussion among the members of countries, and other stakeholders in a move to facilitate the management of the various programs related the river.
“This secretariat is the operational arm of the MRC and responsible for implementing MRC decisions on cooperation for the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin,”H.E. Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources and meteorology, member of the MRC council of Cambodia and Chairman of Cambodian National Mekong Committee said in the ceremony of opening the permanent office of MRC in Phnom Penh.
“We mark this major formative step in the life of the Mekong River Commission secretariat. The journey to get here today, to the agreement on a permanent co-hosted solution to the location of the MRC, has been a long one,” he noted.
“I am confident that decision to locate it in two capitals cities, Phnom Penh of Cambodia and Vientiane of Lao PRD on the banks of the Mekong is a good one,” he said, adding that both cities and countries will benefit from hosting such an important inter-governmental organization. He highlighted that and all four member countries benefit from the capacity building benefits that the organization brings to the region to help us build our own national expertise. In this respect the needs of Cambodia and Lao PRD are proportionately more than other countries and we look forward to working closely with MRC to narrow the gap.
“The real beneficiaries of MRC’s work will be every people who gain from better management of the Mekong’s impressive water resources, those people living in the basin that depend on it for their livelihoods,” He stresses. By establishing permanent seats for MRC’s various programs in both Phnom Penh and Vientiane, we have moved on from the previous 5-yearly rotation of the headquarters, which in this day and age is seen to be inefficient and disruptive.
“Hence, with an approach that embraces modern technology, we hope that the co-hosting arrangement will lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness for the MRC in the long term, he said, adding that The cross-cutting nature of the MRC’s work and its ability to take an integrated and sustainable approach to water resources development remains a key priority, although it is also important to recognize that some of the MRC’s work has strong geographical linkages.
He added that although floods do occur upstream in both the Mekong mainstream and it tributary rivers, Cambodia and the Mekong delta in Vietnam are historically more likely to face regular annual flooding than the northern part of the basin, which is why the MRC located its regional flood management and mitigation center in Phnom Penh several years ago.
Similarly, the proportion of people that rely on the vast Mekong Fishery for their main source of protein is higher in the southern part of the basin, than further north, hence the MRC’s fisheries programs has joined the flood management and mitigation program in Phnom Penh.
“The agriculture and irrigation program, drought management program, information and knowledge management program and navigation program have already relocated to Phnom Penh or will have completed their move by the end of this year,” He emphasized.
He added that that The office of the chide executive officer and heads of corporate services sections, together with director of two divisions will remain in the office of secretariat in Vientiane along with other programs that are related to long term basin –wide planning, such as the basin development plan program, the Mekong integrated water resources management project, the initiative on sustainable hydropower, the environment program and climate change adaptation initiative. Now, that question of the location of the MRC has been decided, the organization can concentrate wholly on the key development opportunities and challenges facing basin.
“The decision on the location of any international organization can be politically sensitive, he stresses. “But this decision-which we commemorate today with this official opening means that Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam-the four countries of the MRC will be a stronger position to implement the 1995 Mekong Agreement, he added. It means better joint management of the shared water resources of the basin, and inevitably –increased prosperity through sustainable development of the economic potential of the river while protecting its vital environment resources.
He noted in 2008, we opened the regional flood management and mitigation center here and see now the benefits of other programs joining it under the umbrella of the office of the secretariat in Phnom Penh. On behalf of the government of Cambodia as the host country, we are committed with our readiness to help facilitate towards the smooth operation of the office of the secretariat in Phnom Penh.
Mr.Jeremy Bird, Chief Executive Officer of The Mekong River Commission Secretariat said that one year after the signing of 1995 Mekong agreement, the MRC council agreed that the secretariat was to be moved between Phnom Penh and Vientiane every five years. Although this original co-hosting agreement was designed to try and balance the role of Cambodia and Lao PDR-that together make up the majority of the land area in the lower basin- it was a compromise in the absence of consensus on the location of secretariat between the two candidates cities.
“Let me first express my gratitude to the government of Cambodia and the Cambodian national Mekong Committee secretariat for graciously hosting this important event, for hosting the office of the MRC secretariats here as well as for their long term commitment to institutional and logistical support the MRC,” He said.
“The MRC secretariat now officially has two permanent offices, one in Vientiane and the other here at these premises-formerly the home of the MRC’s existing regional flood management and mitigation center built with the assistance of the government of Japan which remains a key part of the office of secretariat in Phnom Penh, Bird said, adding that so I am pleased to celebrate the end of this long process and at the same time we are planning a new ear for the organization in implementing the Hua Hin Declaration agreed at the first MRC Summit.
“I trust that you will continue to render your assistance and support to the MRC as we strengthen the organization and keep their spirit of the 1995 Mekong Agreement alive,” Bird added.
Mr.Bird noted that the MRC has been very fortunate to have received significant support from development partners throughout this process and over past years in general. With the opening of this Phnom Penh Office we can now look forward to focusing fully on the serious and important work of helping the people of the Mekong Basin to cope with the pressing challenges ahead, and in developing methods and systems to address them.
Besides political dimension, all member countries were anxious that this was a decision based on careful consideration of the linkages between programs and geographical areas and its inter-programs synergies. “it was decision that ensured the MRC will be able to fulfill its mandate most efficiently, effectively and in the best interests of a board range of stakeholders-not just those that work with and in the secretariat, but development partners, our dialogue partners, government line ministries and of course those that rely on the river system for their live livelihood and day –to-day survival,” he stresses.
“I also wish to thank member countries and dialogue partners for their support. I am pleased that so many representatives are present today to mark the fulfillment of article 29 of the 1995 Mekong Agreement in relation to our permanent locations,” Bird said, adding that indeed, it took November last year for a final decision to be made by the governments of the four member committees, Cambodia, Lao PRD, Thailand, and Vietnam. As to just how the permanent solution for location of MRC was to take shape. Secretariat moved from its previous headquarters in Bangkok on the days of the interim Mekong Committee to Phnom Penh in 1998 and first “rotating” move from Phnom Penh to Vientiane took place in 2004.
Khy Lim, communication officer for MRC told the SEAW that if there was relocation, meaning complete move to Phnom Penh, it would cost the MRC around one million for building and extra expenses for human resource, shipment, equipment and other costs.
The cost could be more than one million US dollar,” he added.
###
The Mekong River Commission secretariat on August 26 officially opened permanent and arm office in Phnom Penh after long discussion among the members of countries, and other stakeholders in a move to facilitate the management of the various programs related the river.
“This secretariat is the operational arm of the MRC and responsible for implementing MRC decisions on cooperation for the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin,”H.E. Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources and meteorology, member of the MRC council of Cambodia and Chairman of Cambodian National Mekong Committee said in the ceremony of opening the permanent office of MRC in Phnom Penh.
“We mark this major formative step in the life of the Mekong River Commission secretariat. The journey to get here today, to the agreement on a permanent co-hosted solution to the location of the MRC, has been a long one,” he noted.
“I am confident that decision to locate it in two capitals cities, Phnom Penh of Cambodia and Vientiane of Lao PRD on the banks of the Mekong is a good one,” he said, adding that both cities and countries will benefit from hosting such an important inter-governmental organization. He highlighted that and all four member countries benefit from the capacity building benefits that the organization brings to the region to help us build our own national expertise. In this respect the needs of Cambodia and Lao PRD are proportionately more than other countries and we look forward to working closely with MRC to narrow the gap.
“The real beneficiaries of MRC’s work will be every people who gain from better management of the Mekong’s impressive water resources, those people living in the basin that depend on it for their livelihoods,” He stresses. By establishing permanent seats for MRC’s various programs in both Phnom Penh and Vientiane, we have moved on from the previous 5-yearly rotation of the headquarters, which in this day and age is seen to be inefficient and disruptive.
“Hence, with an approach that embraces modern technology, we hope that the co-hosting arrangement will lead to greater efficiency and effectiveness for the MRC in the long term, he said, adding that The cross-cutting nature of the MRC’s work and its ability to take an integrated and sustainable approach to water resources development remains a key priority, although it is also important to recognize that some of the MRC’s work has strong geographical linkages.
He added that although floods do occur upstream in both the Mekong mainstream and it tributary rivers, Cambodia and the Mekong delta in Vietnam are historically more likely to face regular annual flooding than the northern part of the basin, which is why the MRC located its regional flood management and mitigation center in Phnom Penh several years ago.
Similarly, the proportion of people that rely on the vast Mekong Fishery for their main source of protein is higher in the southern part of the basin, than further north, hence the MRC’s fisheries programs has joined the flood management and mitigation program in Phnom Penh.
“The agriculture and irrigation program, drought management program, information and knowledge management program and navigation program have already relocated to Phnom Penh or will have completed their move by the end of this year,” He emphasized.
He added that that The office of the chide executive officer and heads of corporate services sections, together with director of two divisions will remain in the office of secretariat in Vientiane along with other programs that are related to long term basin –wide planning, such as the basin development plan program, the Mekong integrated water resources management project, the initiative on sustainable hydropower, the environment program and climate change adaptation initiative. Now, that question of the location of the MRC has been decided, the organization can concentrate wholly on the key development opportunities and challenges facing basin.
“The decision on the location of any international organization can be politically sensitive, he stresses. “But this decision-which we commemorate today with this official opening means that Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam-the four countries of the MRC will be a stronger position to implement the 1995 Mekong Agreement, he added. It means better joint management of the shared water resources of the basin, and inevitably –increased prosperity through sustainable development of the economic potential of the river while protecting its vital environment resources.
He noted in 2008, we opened the regional flood management and mitigation center here and see now the benefits of other programs joining it under the umbrella of the office of the secretariat in Phnom Penh. On behalf of the government of Cambodia as the host country, we are committed with our readiness to help facilitate towards the smooth operation of the office of the secretariat in Phnom Penh.
Mr.Jeremy Bird, Chief Executive Officer of The Mekong River Commission Secretariat said that one year after the signing of 1995 Mekong agreement, the MRC council agreed that the secretariat was to be moved between Phnom Penh and Vientiane every five years. Although this original co-hosting agreement was designed to try and balance the role of Cambodia and Lao PDR-that together make up the majority of the land area in the lower basin- it was a compromise in the absence of consensus on the location of secretariat between the two candidates cities.
“Let me first express my gratitude to the government of Cambodia and the Cambodian national Mekong Committee secretariat for graciously hosting this important event, for hosting the office of the MRC secretariats here as well as for their long term commitment to institutional and logistical support the MRC,” He said.
“The MRC secretariat now officially has two permanent offices, one in Vientiane and the other here at these premises-formerly the home of the MRC’s existing regional flood management and mitigation center built with the assistance of the government of Japan which remains a key part of the office of secretariat in Phnom Penh, Bird said, adding that so I am pleased to celebrate the end of this long process and at the same time we are planning a new ear for the organization in implementing the Hua Hin Declaration agreed at the first MRC Summit.
“I trust that you will continue to render your assistance and support to the MRC as we strengthen the organization and keep their spirit of the 1995 Mekong Agreement alive,” Bird added.
Mr.Bird noted that the MRC has been very fortunate to have received significant support from development partners throughout this process and over past years in general. With the opening of this Phnom Penh Office we can now look forward to focusing fully on the serious and important work of helping the people of the Mekong Basin to cope with the pressing challenges ahead, and in developing methods and systems to address them.
Besides political dimension, all member countries were anxious that this was a decision based on careful consideration of the linkages between programs and geographical areas and its inter-programs synergies. “it was decision that ensured the MRC will be able to fulfill its mandate most efficiently, effectively and in the best interests of a board range of stakeholders-not just those that work with and in the secretariat, but development partners, our dialogue partners, government line ministries and of course those that rely on the river system for their live livelihood and day –to-day survival,” he stresses.
“I also wish to thank member countries and dialogue partners for their support. I am pleased that so many representatives are present today to mark the fulfillment of article 29 of the 1995 Mekong Agreement in relation to our permanent locations,” Bird said, adding that indeed, it took November last year for a final decision to be made by the governments of the four member committees, Cambodia, Lao PRD, Thailand, and Vietnam. As to just how the permanent solution for location of MRC was to take shape. Secretariat moved from its previous headquarters in Bangkok on the days of the interim Mekong Committee to Phnom Penh in 1998 and first “rotating” move from Phnom Penh to Vientiane took place in 2004.
Khy Lim, communication officer for MRC told the SEAW that if there was relocation, meaning complete move to Phnom Penh, it would cost the MRC around one million for building and extra expenses for human resource, shipment, equipment and other costs.
The cost could be more than one million US dollar,” he added.
###
Cambodia promotes culture of reading and writing
Cambodia promotes Culture of Reading and Writing
by Chhorng Long Heng,
Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Australian Embassy to Phnom Penh on August 26 cooperated to conduct the opening of a Public Forum on Reading and Writing, held at National Library of Cambodia under Theme of the “open up their world through reading” to promote culture of reading and appreciate good writing among more Cambodians after they have paid much attention on the entertainment programs.
“ Reading is an easy and inexpensive way to expand one’s knowledge of one’s own and others’ cultures,” Australian Ambassador H.E. Margaret Adamson to Cambodia said in opening remark of the ceremony. She added that today’s donation of books will provide Cambodian students and researchers with direct access to Australian society and culture.
“I hope that through the books and resources in the National Library, Cambodians will discover more about the riches of their own cultural heritage, as well as that of other countries,” she said.
She added that Australia is continuing its long-standing support for national library that is one core of Cambodia ’s national cultural institutions. In the event, Ms Adamson also presented the National Library of Cambodia with a collection of books on contemporary aspects of Australia, including its biodiversity, climate change, media, literature, history, indigenous art and politics. We the readers can find new knowledge, new perspectives and new horizons. We become open to new ideas and new ways of seeing that we did not have before, she added.
“We the readers support the flourishing of the creative thinking and imagination of writers, poets and playwrights for collective enrichment of our minds,’ she stresses.
Australia ’s donation also included a complete record in hard copy and CD-ROM of all the Khmer language materials held in the National Library of Australia. The National Library of Australia houses one of the world’s largest and most actively developed research collections of Asian materials.
One of its rarest and most valuable holdings is a complete Khmer language translation of the Tripitaka, or Buddhist scriptures. The Public Forum also included displays of rare materials held by the National Library of Cambodia, as well as displays by Cambodian publishers, booksellers and other organizations involved in the promotion of reading and writing.
H.E. Thai Noraksatya, secretary of state for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said “ Reading and writing are core pillars to achieve academic success, increasing confidence in self-expression, which leads to continuous self-development.
“Today’s event is a mechanism for students, readers and researchers from all spheres to understand the importance of reading and writing.” He said., adding that the government has always supported in fields of reading and writing in the country and encouraged the people to dos so to strengthen the ability of human resources in literature areas for developing the country.
The ministry would like to thank to the Australian embassy’s contribution and support for works of culture, and literature in the country. At the same time, we also thanked to the UNESCO to Cambodia that always supported the fields of education as well as promoting culture of reading and writing in the country. He added that the ministry also has supported the national library to compile documents for researching and studying for learners. The ministry urged and encouraged the national institutions, NGOs and international partners to open more libraries for children and teenagers to promote reading and writing.
“The ministry also organized the annual competition of composition, writers, and authors, poet to promote the literature,” He said, adding that reading is culture of collecting new ideas and writings culture of producing ideas with experiences and own knowledge from reading and see real society in daily life. The reading is absorbing the ideas to develop readers themselves to get the prosperity in life.
In the debate forum, Ms Khlot Vibolla, director of the national library of Cambodia noted that number of readers is still limited number in the library. “Young learners do not like to read and write and they like entertaining,” she said, adding that that is also our concern in literature. “I hope this precious event will contribute strengthening the power of reading and writing in the country and tie the relationship between institutions and other institutions as well as exchanging the experiences and cooperation, culture of professionals. It will encourage young generation to read and write more,”she added.
She added that now, the national library has over 120,000 books written in Khmer English, French and other documents including magazines, newspapers, electronic documents, CD-Rom and Audio and they are available for readers and researchers.
Sok Heng, a student of University of Cambodia said today is globalization and IT time, we surf on internet for study work like assignments at school without going to library. We do not have enough time to read and do homework, he said. We like reading topic that needs for school and personal understanding only, he added.
According to census in 2008, number of Cambodian population is 14,494,293 in 2008 and the literacy rate of stood 73.6% among total population and people’s age in 15 and over can read and write and male literacy rate is 84.7% and female: 64.1%. Cambodian government and development partners is trying to help education system in the country and build schools near communities being easy for people to send their children to schools. ###
###
by Chhorng Long Heng,
Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia and Australian Embassy to Phnom Penh on August 26 cooperated to conduct the opening of a Public Forum on Reading and Writing, held at National Library of Cambodia under Theme of the “open up their world through reading” to promote culture of reading and appreciate good writing among more Cambodians after they have paid much attention on the entertainment programs.
“ Reading is an easy and inexpensive way to expand one’s knowledge of one’s own and others’ cultures,” Australian Ambassador H.E. Margaret Adamson to Cambodia said in opening remark of the ceremony. She added that today’s donation of books will provide Cambodian students and researchers with direct access to Australian society and culture.
“I hope that through the books and resources in the National Library, Cambodians will discover more about the riches of their own cultural heritage, as well as that of other countries,” she said.
She added that Australia is continuing its long-standing support for national library that is one core of Cambodia ’s national cultural institutions. In the event, Ms Adamson also presented the National Library of Cambodia with a collection of books on contemporary aspects of Australia, including its biodiversity, climate change, media, literature, history, indigenous art and politics. We the readers can find new knowledge, new perspectives and new horizons. We become open to new ideas and new ways of seeing that we did not have before, she added.
“We the readers support the flourishing of the creative thinking and imagination of writers, poets and playwrights for collective enrichment of our minds,’ she stresses.
Australia ’s donation also included a complete record in hard copy and CD-ROM of all the Khmer language materials held in the National Library of Australia. The National Library of Australia houses one of the world’s largest and most actively developed research collections of Asian materials.
One of its rarest and most valuable holdings is a complete Khmer language translation of the Tripitaka, or Buddhist scriptures. The Public Forum also included displays of rare materials held by the National Library of Cambodia, as well as displays by Cambodian publishers, booksellers and other organizations involved in the promotion of reading and writing.
H.E. Thai Noraksatya, secretary of state for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said “ Reading and writing are core pillars to achieve academic success, increasing confidence in self-expression, which leads to continuous self-development.
“Today’s event is a mechanism for students, readers and researchers from all spheres to understand the importance of reading and writing.” He said., adding that the government has always supported in fields of reading and writing in the country and encouraged the people to dos so to strengthen the ability of human resources in literature areas for developing the country.
The ministry would like to thank to the Australian embassy’s contribution and support for works of culture, and literature in the country. At the same time, we also thanked to the UNESCO to Cambodia that always supported the fields of education as well as promoting culture of reading and writing in the country. He added that the ministry also has supported the national library to compile documents for researching and studying for learners. The ministry urged and encouraged the national institutions, NGOs and international partners to open more libraries for children and teenagers to promote reading and writing.
“The ministry also organized the annual competition of composition, writers, and authors, poet to promote the literature,” He said, adding that reading is culture of collecting new ideas and writings culture of producing ideas with experiences and own knowledge from reading and see real society in daily life. The reading is absorbing the ideas to develop readers themselves to get the prosperity in life.
In the debate forum, Ms Khlot Vibolla, director of the national library of Cambodia noted that number of readers is still limited number in the library. “Young learners do not like to read and write and they like entertaining,” she said, adding that that is also our concern in literature. “I hope this precious event will contribute strengthening the power of reading and writing in the country and tie the relationship between institutions and other institutions as well as exchanging the experiences and cooperation, culture of professionals. It will encourage young generation to read and write more,”she added.
She added that now, the national library has over 120,000 books written in Khmer English, French and other documents including magazines, newspapers, electronic documents, CD-Rom and Audio and they are available for readers and researchers.
Sok Heng, a student of University of Cambodia said today is globalization and IT time, we surf on internet for study work like assignments at school without going to library. We do not have enough time to read and do homework, he said. We like reading topic that needs for school and personal understanding only, he added.
According to census in 2008, number of Cambodian population is 14,494,293 in 2008 and the literacy rate of stood 73.6% among total population and people’s age in 15 and over can read and write and male literacy rate is 84.7% and female: 64.1%. Cambodian government and development partners is trying to help education system in the country and build schools near communities being easy for people to send their children to schools. ###
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Long Heng: Cambodia launches officially national labor migration policy
Cambodia launches officially national labor migration policy
The ministry of labor and vocational training of Cambodia on 10 August officially launched labor migration policy to strengthen effective management of labor forces that have been sent to work abroad, and promote migration’s positive development outcomes after the growth of labor forces in the country. Currently Cambodia ’s population includes a large proportion of young and they are entering the labor forces at a rate of about 250,000 persons per annum.
“The paper document of national migration labor policy for Cambodian workers is a new chronology and a turning point for our labor forces that sometimes has faced with negative matters at working abroad. I considered the paper as new measures for labor management more effectively,” H.E Vong Sauth, minister of labor and vocational training (MoLVT) said in his opening remark of launching of the national migration policy in Phnom Penh .
The document also will avoid the right violence such labor exploitation, human trafficking and liberty for workers,” he said, adding that the paper document is very important for other operation in fields of labor migration and will provide the benefits for local labor forces in right defense and it is historical event for us that have such a policy for migration.
The document will be a comprehensive policy for labor employment and it will implement effectively soon with all stakeholders through this action plan in conformity with poverty reduction policy. Furthermore, it also will improve the social matters in the country, unemployment rate, reduce illegal migration labor, eliminate children labor exploitation, sexual abuse, and spread of AIDS/HIV and family violence and local workers are not blind and dark anymore for working abroad,” he stresses.
The minister added: “The ministry wants ensure labor recruitment in legal processing and send local workers to work abroad in legal term to avoid social disorders and reputation of the country and the ministry will track for our workers to get skill before they go and returns. The processing of recruitment need to be followed up to match with this policy,”
“The ministry also is preparing a new sub-decree and it will be released to implement for sending local workers to foreign countries and compose the book for local workers who want to work abroad as guideline for them to better understand about the legal procedures and situation of countries that they want to go. All these things, we want our local worker to avoid cheating through illegal migration workers,” he highlighted.
Seng Sakada, director general of labor department of labor ministry said that government policy needs the recruitment agencies to keep cash deposits of 100,000 dollars in bank as measure to prevent any cheating processing. Currently we have 62 legal labor agencies that permitted from the ministry in recruiting the local workers to work in Malaysia , South Korea , and Japan , and Thailand .
“Number of Cambodian workers in Malaysia has 16,580, 10284 workers in Thailand , 97 people in Japan , and South Korea about 8,777 workers. Our workers were sent to work in these countries legally and in average they earned about 800 US dollars per month in overall. For sixth month of this year, Malaysia gets 6474 new workers from Cambodia ,” Seng said, noting at the same time, we could not count for illegal Khmer workers in Thailand through entering border crossing illegally and to other countries. Cambodia government permitted workers to serve in the countries include Thailand , Malaysia , South Korea and Japan . "And we need to expand more for labor market and we plan to send more workers to other countries in future when the MoU are inked soon we will send to Qatar , and Kuwait , Singapore and Arabic Saudi," he noted.
"Local workers also send the money for helping their family and their family’s living condition also is better,” he said, adding that this is a fact of poverty reduction. We need our workers to learn new skills when they returned and integrate in society. They could work with the skill that they learn foreign countries,” Seng stresses.
Ministry said unemployment levels provide another measure of labor market performance in Cambodia . Survey reports in 2000, 2001, and 2004 showed rather low unemployment rates 2.5, 1.8 and 0.8 per cent respectively. As did the 2008 census, unemployment rate stood about 1.7 per cent. Among the unemployed, female workers were predictably harder hit, with an unemployment rate of about 1.8 per cent compared with 1.5 per cent among men.
In 2010, the labor force from 15-24 years, there are about 3.540,428 people seeking jobs including 1,740,589 female. And in 2020, about 3,253, 722 people will seek jobs including 1,607, 965 female. In 2008, census recorded that youth population at 2.8 million and in 2010 projected to reach 3.5 million increasing at an annual growth rate of 4.3 per cent. Seng said that government needs to respond to the challenge posed by the increasing number of youth seeking jobs.
###
The ministry of labor and vocational training of Cambodia on 10 August officially launched labor migration policy to strengthen effective management of labor forces that have been sent to work abroad, and promote migration’s positive development outcomes after the growth of labor forces in the country. Currently Cambodia ’s population includes a large proportion of young and they are entering the labor forces at a rate of about 250,000 persons per annum.
“The paper document of national migration labor policy for Cambodian workers is a new chronology and a turning point for our labor forces that sometimes has faced with negative matters at working abroad. I considered the paper as new measures for labor management more effectively,” H.E Vong Sauth, minister of labor and vocational training (MoLVT) said in his opening remark of launching of the national migration policy in Phnom Penh .
The document also will avoid the right violence such labor exploitation, human trafficking and liberty for workers,” he said, adding that the paper document is very important for other operation in fields of labor migration and will provide the benefits for local labor forces in right defense and it is historical event for us that have such a policy for migration.
The document will be a comprehensive policy for labor employment and it will implement effectively soon with all stakeholders through this action plan in conformity with poverty reduction policy. Furthermore, it also will improve the social matters in the country, unemployment rate, reduce illegal migration labor, eliminate children labor exploitation, sexual abuse, and spread of AIDS/HIV and family violence and local workers are not blind and dark anymore for working abroad,” he stresses.
The minister added: “The ministry wants ensure labor recruitment in legal processing and send local workers to work abroad in legal term to avoid social disorders and reputation of the country and the ministry will track for our workers to get skill before they go and returns. The processing of recruitment need to be followed up to match with this policy,”
“The ministry also is preparing a new sub-decree and it will be released to implement for sending local workers to foreign countries and compose the book for local workers who want to work abroad as guideline for them to better understand about the legal procedures and situation of countries that they want to go. All these things, we want our local worker to avoid cheating through illegal migration workers,” he highlighted.
Seng Sakada, director general of labor department of labor ministry said that government policy needs the recruitment agencies to keep cash deposits of 100,000 dollars in bank as measure to prevent any cheating processing. Currently we have 62 legal labor agencies that permitted from the ministry in recruiting the local workers to work in Malaysia , South Korea , and Japan , and Thailand .
“Number of Cambodian workers in Malaysia has 16,580, 10284 workers in Thailand , 97 people in Japan , and South Korea about 8,777 workers. Our workers were sent to work in these countries legally and in average they earned about 800 US dollars per month in overall. For sixth month of this year, Malaysia gets 6474 new workers from Cambodia ,” Seng said, noting at the same time, we could not count for illegal Khmer workers in Thailand through entering border crossing illegally and to other countries. Cambodia government permitted workers to serve in the countries include Thailand , Malaysia , South Korea and Japan . "And we need to expand more for labor market and we plan to send more workers to other countries in future when the MoU are inked soon we will send to Qatar , and Kuwait , Singapore and Arabic Saudi," he noted.
"Local workers also send the money for helping their family and their family’s living condition also is better,” he said, adding that this is a fact of poverty reduction. We need our workers to learn new skills when they returned and integrate in society. They could work with the skill that they learn foreign countries,” Seng stresses.
Ministry said unemployment levels provide another measure of labor market performance in Cambodia . Survey reports in 2000, 2001, and 2004 showed rather low unemployment rates 2.5, 1.8 and 0.8 per cent respectively. As did the 2008 census, unemployment rate stood about 1.7 per cent. Among the unemployed, female workers were predictably harder hit, with an unemployment rate of about 1.8 per cent compared with 1.5 per cent among men.
In 2010, the labor force from 15-24 years, there are about 3.540,428 people seeking jobs including 1,740,589 female. And in 2020, about 3,253, 722 people will seek jobs including 1,607, 965 female. In 2008, census recorded that youth population at 2.8 million and in 2010 projected to reach 3.5 million increasing at an annual growth rate of 4.3 per cent. Seng said that government needs to respond to the challenge posed by the increasing number of youth seeking jobs.
###
Long Heng: Cambodia protects Tonle Sap lake, largest fresh water lake in ASEAN
Government takes action to protect Tonle Sap Lake
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen on August 12 appealed to local authorities to save the Tonle Sap , the largest fresh lake in southeast east region, which is suffering from activities of local people through destroying flooded forest and building basin reservoirs to store water for planting rice crops during dry season.
“I call on local authorities and people to join actively to take actions in protection, and conservation of our great fresh lake,” he told the closing ceremony of working group of measures and protection of Tonle Sap Lake .
He added that some parts of Tonle Sap are affecting from the nature and activities of people. And our Tonle Sap Lake needs to save immediately because it has been destroyed and reached to disaster one day if we don’t have proper measures in protection of this lake.
“We got many negative impacts on Tonle Sap through the building of reservoir for storing water illegally for growing rice and it will cut off the natural trends of fish and make fish have difficulties in seeking shelters to lay egg and spawning, and hybrid,” he said, adding that fish will lay egg different manners of nature that will affect our fish products. And number of fish will decrease its products.
He stresses, “The illegal destroying of flooded forest in Tonel Sap occurred anarchically and building reservoir for storing water for growing rice in dry season will make the level of water of Tonle Sap lowered. It will be shallower and shallower. The next generation will blame us if we do not act this time,”he said, adding the government will face the blame in history.
He noted , “All these things are affecting the environment of Tonle Sap as whole. And currently too many floating structures on Tonel Sap lake adversely have affected to the nature of lake,”.
“Actually, the disaster and threats for Tonle Sap need the government to take action aggressively and urgently to protect the sustainability of environment of the lake. And it needs people and local authorities to join in hands to save our lake,” he said. 6 provinces around Tonle Sap including Battambang, Pursat, Siem Reap, Kompong Thom, and Kompong Chhang, Banteay Mean Chey provinces has been suffering from the illegal activities in grabbing land with small and large scale as well as to cut off flooded forests which is shelter for fish and protection the ecological system of environment of lake. H.E Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources said from 2005-2010, over 48,170 hectares of flooded forest of lake was destroyed and that acts is led to disaster immediately and it affected subsequently to social, economic and ecological systems, fish products in the lake,’ he said, adding that in July this year the government issued directives to destroy illegal basins around Tonle Sap lake.
According to the order, the ministry of water resources and meteorology destroyed 120, 54 square km of basin, facilitate 10 reservoirs, destroyed 35 basins, and 47, 40 square km of canal, and the ministry planted 167 posts of protection areas. From 1970- 2010, over 354,175 hectares of flooded forest in Tonle Sap lake was damaged and ruined. In average each year about 9,000 hectares of flooded forests destroyed.
Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chay Ly said event that in dry season, Tonle Sap covered with size of 27,000 Square km with depth pf 1-2 m and in rainy season it enlarged to 160,000 square km with depth of 9m. Over one million people around provinces are fishermen and they depend on fish product to support living condition. Over four million people of Cambodians are supported their living conditions form Tonel Sap lake. This lake is biggest freshwater lake in the region. It provided 75 per cent of fish product in the country, benefiting about 230,000 tons of fish products in each year. It is the habitat for more than 200 species of fish, 42 types of reptiles, 225 species of birds and 46 kinds of mammals. ###
Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen on August 12 appealed to local authorities to save the Tonle Sap , the largest fresh lake in southeast east region, which is suffering from activities of local people through destroying flooded forest and building basin reservoirs to store water for planting rice crops during dry season.
“I call on local authorities and people to join actively to take actions in protection, and conservation of our great fresh lake,” he told the closing ceremony of working group of measures and protection of Tonle Sap Lake .
He added that some parts of Tonle Sap are affecting from the nature and activities of people. And our Tonle Sap Lake needs to save immediately because it has been destroyed and reached to disaster one day if we don’t have proper measures in protection of this lake.
“We got many negative impacts on Tonle Sap through the building of reservoir for storing water illegally for growing rice and it will cut off the natural trends of fish and make fish have difficulties in seeking shelters to lay egg and spawning, and hybrid,” he said, adding that fish will lay egg different manners of nature that will affect our fish products. And number of fish will decrease its products.
He stresses, “The illegal destroying of flooded forest in Tonel Sap occurred anarchically and building reservoir for storing water for growing rice in dry season will make the level of water of Tonle Sap lowered. It will be shallower and shallower. The next generation will blame us if we do not act this time,”he said, adding the government will face the blame in history.
He noted , “All these things are affecting the environment of Tonle Sap as whole. And currently too many floating structures on Tonel Sap lake adversely have affected to the nature of lake,”.
“Actually, the disaster and threats for Tonle Sap need the government to take action aggressively and urgently to protect the sustainability of environment of the lake. And it needs people and local authorities to join in hands to save our lake,” he said. 6 provinces around Tonle Sap including Battambang, Pursat, Siem Reap, Kompong Thom, and Kompong Chhang, Banteay Mean Chey provinces has been suffering from the illegal activities in grabbing land with small and large scale as well as to cut off flooded forests which is shelter for fish and protection the ecological system of environment of lake. H.E Lim Kean Hor, minister of water resources said from 2005-2010, over 48,170 hectares of flooded forest of lake was destroyed and that acts is led to disaster immediately and it affected subsequently to social, economic and ecological systems, fish products in the lake,’ he said, adding that in July this year the government issued directives to destroy illegal basins around Tonle Sap lake.
According to the order, the ministry of water resources and meteorology destroyed 120, 54 square km of basin, facilitate 10 reservoirs, destroyed 35 basins, and 47, 40 square km of canal, and the ministry planted 167 posts of protection areas. From 1970- 2010, over 354,175 hectares of flooded forest in Tonle Sap lake was damaged and ruined. In average each year about 9,000 hectares of flooded forests destroyed.
Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chay Ly said event that in dry season, Tonle Sap covered with size of 27,000 Square km with depth pf 1-2 m and in rainy season it enlarged to 160,000 square km with depth of 9m. Over one million people around provinces are fishermen and they depend on fish product to support living condition. Over four million people of Cambodians are supported their living conditions form Tonel Sap lake. This lake is biggest freshwater lake in the region. It provided 75 per cent of fish product in the country, benefiting about 230,000 tons of fish products in each year. It is the habitat for more than 200 species of fish, 42 types of reptiles, 225 species of birds and 46 kinds of mammals. ###
Long Heng: Police Authorities burns down 19 tons of expired medicines
Police Authorities burns down 19 tons of expired medicines
Cambodian Police Authorities on August 9 fired down 19 tons of fake, expired and illegal medicine which confiscated recently in a move to strengthen the law enforcement of medicine management of health ministry and join to prevent local people’s health from fake medicines.
These medicines are expired, fake and illegal medicines in total 19 tons with 280 kg and composed of 25 kinds of medicines which imported illegally from foreign countries. And these fake medicines will destroy our local people’s health if they buy for treatment of illness. Therefore we destroyed them today,” Seang Bun Leang, police chief combating economic crimes said in the ceremony of destroying expired medicines at laboratory of waste drug and it was participated from the court’s prosecutors, senior officials of health ministry and stakeholders as witness of destroying the medicines after confiscating.
“We has cooperated with competent authorities and reach to arrest the criminal and confiscated these drugs from illegally importing from regional countries,” Bun Leang said, adding that we have cracked down timely on the illegal medicines that could affect our local people’s health and these medicine do not have quality and fake drugs. He added that the police arrested a criminal who is the mastermind of importing these illegal and fake medicines and the court already jailed that man.
“We have taken 7 months to investigate and reach to arrest these fake medicines and the criminal, he said, adding that even though he did not reveal the price of the fake medicines if it was sold to local markets.
He also appealed local medicine dealers to import legal drugs and do it by law, and follow the law of health ministry. Pharmacist should join to care our local people’s health but sometimes the medicine sellers are careless with local people’s health and the focused on money earnings. This is not the first time that our police authorities have confiscated these kinds of the medicines,” Bun Leang said.
Recently our police also confiscated the 500 boxes illegal cosmetics products and fake make-up which transported illegally. “All those products are cosmetics products branded name in USA and South Korea but actually they all are fake products,” Bun Leng said. He added that those products had not granted the permission licensing from health ministry and it could damage local people’s health, face and skin complex if they used them,” he added.
In July 2010, France provided 123, 5 00 Euro to fight against illegal and fake medicines in Cambodia and the project is starting to implement to investigate the fake and expired medicine in contribution of seeking dangers and where the medicine came from, help training the experts.
The signing ceremony of one of two conventions was inked at Cambodia ’s foreign ministry between H.E. Sun Saphoeun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Jean-François Desmazières, Ambassador of France in Cambodia . Those fake medicine has affected health’s local people and others and the project is under the framework of Mekong river Cooperation including Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia in combating illegal and fake drugs in region,” Jean said at that time.
The fund will be used to train experts, promote law enforcement, and inspired the inter-ministry,’ he noted. Cambodia is working with other countries to fight against illegal and fake drugs. Cambodia is one of country working hard in relating with fake malaria drug that is core of treatment because those malaria drugs are accustomed with medicine. Infected people of malaria are not cured properly because the medicine is weaker with disease after people used expired, fake medicine in treatment.
Cambodian government and partners like the WHO have spent millions of dollars tackling the problem in an area like Pailin in fighting malaria and fake medicines.
###
Cambodian Police Authorities on August 9 fired down 19 tons of fake, expired and illegal medicine which confiscated recently in a move to strengthen the law enforcement of medicine management of health ministry and join to prevent local people’s health from fake medicines.
These medicines are expired, fake and illegal medicines in total 19 tons with 280 kg and composed of 25 kinds of medicines which imported illegally from foreign countries. And these fake medicines will destroy our local people’s health if they buy for treatment of illness. Therefore we destroyed them today,” Seang Bun Leang, police chief combating economic crimes said in the ceremony of destroying expired medicines at laboratory of waste drug and it was participated from the court’s prosecutors, senior officials of health ministry and stakeholders as witness of destroying the medicines after confiscating.
“We has cooperated with competent authorities and reach to arrest the criminal and confiscated these drugs from illegally importing from regional countries,” Bun Leang said, adding that we have cracked down timely on the illegal medicines that could affect our local people’s health and these medicine do not have quality and fake drugs. He added that the police arrested a criminal who is the mastermind of importing these illegal and fake medicines and the court already jailed that man.
“We have taken 7 months to investigate and reach to arrest these fake medicines and the criminal, he said, adding that even though he did not reveal the price of the fake medicines if it was sold to local markets.
He also appealed local medicine dealers to import legal drugs and do it by law, and follow the law of health ministry. Pharmacist should join to care our local people’s health but sometimes the medicine sellers are careless with local people’s health and the focused on money earnings. This is not the first time that our police authorities have confiscated these kinds of the medicines,” Bun Leang said.
Recently our police also confiscated the 500 boxes illegal cosmetics products and fake make-up which transported illegally. “All those products are cosmetics products branded name in USA and South Korea but actually they all are fake products,” Bun Leng said. He added that those products had not granted the permission licensing from health ministry and it could damage local people’s health, face and skin complex if they used them,” he added.
In July 2010, France provided 123, 5 00 Euro to fight against illegal and fake medicines in Cambodia and the project is starting to implement to investigate the fake and expired medicine in contribution of seeking dangers and where the medicine came from, help training the experts.
The signing ceremony of one of two conventions was inked at Cambodia ’s foreign ministry between H.E. Sun Saphoeun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Jean-François Desmazières, Ambassador of France in Cambodia . Those fake medicine has affected health’s local people and others and the project is under the framework of Mekong river Cooperation including Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia in combating illegal and fake drugs in region,” Jean said at that time.
The fund will be used to train experts, promote law enforcement, and inspired the inter-ministry,’ he noted. Cambodia is working with other countries to fight against illegal and fake drugs. Cambodia is one of country working hard in relating with fake malaria drug that is core of treatment because those malaria drugs are accustomed with medicine. Infected people of malaria are not cured properly because the medicine is weaker with disease after people used expired, fake medicine in treatment.
Cambodian government and partners like the WHO have spent millions of dollars tackling the problem in an area like Pailin in fighting malaria and fake medicines.
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