Day: October 26, 2022

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Cambodian Senate President Meets CPV General Secretary

Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, President of the Senate of Cambodia and Vice President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) paid in Hanoi, Vietnam yesterday afternoon a courtesy call on H.E. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), H.E. Nguyen Phu Trong praised the significance and results of the visit of the Cambodia Senate leader, saying that it contributes to deepening the Vietnam-Cambodia relations.
He affirmed that the Vietnam-Cambodia relations, as well as the ties of the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, are important to the prosperous development and the enhanced international position of each country, stressing that the three countries should unite and help each other both materially and spiritually, and share experience to common development.
The CPV leader outlines major orientations for promoting bilateral relations, particularly the mechanism of high-level meetings between the two Parties, Governments, legislatures, ministries, sectors, mass organisations and localities.
He pledged that Vietnam will do its best to, together with Cambodia, preserve and develop the relations between the two Parties and countries, as well as the ties among the three Parties and countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, to a new level, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.
Samdech Say Chhum congratulated Vietnam on its great and comprehensive achievements, including containing the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining a high economic growth rate, and improving living conditions.
He expressed joy at the development of the Cambodia-Vietnam relationship in all aspects, and thanked the Party, State, army and people of Vietnam for fighting alongside Cambodia against their common enemy and helping the Cambodian people escape the Pol Pot genocidal disaster as well as develop the country at present.
The Cambodian Senate President informed the Vietnamese Party leader on the outcomes of his talks with the Vietnamese National Assembly, the situation in Cambodia recently and the successful organisation of the commune elections in which the CPP made a great victory, along with major orientations of the CPP in the time ahead.
He affirmed that Cambodia will work together with Vietnam to protect, preserve, foster and pass down to future generations the good relationship between the two countries, underlining the importance of the ties between the two Parties and countries, as well as the bonds between the three Parties and countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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2.2 Million Cambodian Children Exposed to High Heatwave Frequency

Cambodia is one of the countries currently affected, with 2.2 million children – or 37.1 percent of the total child population – exposed to high heatwave frequency, pointed out a UNICEF’s press release issued yesterday.
During a year in which heatwaves in both the southern and northern hemispheres broke records, a new UNICEF report entitled “The Coldest Year Of The Rest Of Their Lives: Protecting Children From The Escalating Impacts Of Heatwaves” highlights the already extensive impact of heatwaves on children and reveals that, even at lower levels of global heating, in just three decades, more regular heatwaves are unavoidable for children everywhere.
Heatwaves are especially damaging to children, as they are less able to regulate their body temperature compared to adults. The more heatwaves children are exposed to, the greater the chance of health problems including chronic respiratory conditions, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Babies and young children are at the greatest risk of heat-related mortality. Heatwaves can also affect children’s environments, their safety, nutrition and access to water, and their education and future livelihood.
The report estimates that by 2050, all of the world’s 2.02 billion children are expected to be exposed to high heatwave frequency, regardless of whether the world achieves a ‘low greenhouse gas emission scenario’ with an estimated 1.7 degrees of warming in 2050 or a ‘very high greenhouse gas emission scenario’ with an estimated 2.4 degrees of warming in 2050. Nearly half of all children in Africa and Asia will face sustained exposure to extreme high temperatures.
The report finds that 23 countries, including Cambodia, fall into the highest category for child exposure to extreme high temperatures. This will rise to 33 countries by 2050 under the low emissions scenario and 36 countries under the very high emissions scenario.
In Cambodia, even if the world keeps warming at 1.7 degrees or lower, that will still mean that 100 percent of children will be exposed to more than 4.5 heatwaves a year and that 55.7 percent will experience extreme high temperatures where more than 83 days a year exceed 35°C.
If warming rises to 2.4 degrees then not only will 100 percent of Cambodian children be exposed to more than 4.5 heatwaves a year but over 87.2 percent of them will experience extreme high temperatures. That would make Cambodia the 21st most affected country on the planet. A research report released in 2021 by UNICEF had already found that Cambodia is one of the 50 countries most at risk of the impacts of climate change.
“Climate change is already endangering the lives and wellbeing of Cambodian children, but this report shows that in the future Cambodia will be one of the most adversely affected countries in the world,” said Dr. Anirban Chatterjee, UNICEF Cambodia’s Acting Representative.
“We are therefore working closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia to address the challenges of climate change and protect the environment. A key pillar of this work is collaboration with key line Ministries to assess hazards and build climate resilient services and systems, while also ensuring that young people are at the centre of the response. We are also working with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to ensure children learn about climate change and how they can take positive action to protect their communities from the impact of climate change and environmental degradation,” Dr. Anirban Chatterjee added.
The research findings underscore the urgent need to adapt the services children rely on as the unavoidable impacts of global heating unfold. Cambodia has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, but greater focus is needed towards continued mitigation efforts, to prevent the worst impacts of more harmful heatwaves and higher extreme temperatures.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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ASEAN, EU Reiterate Commitment for Human Rights Promotion and Protection

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms at their 4th Policy Dialogue on Human Rights, held in the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia, from Oct. 24 to 26.
According to a joint press release AKP received this evening, the dialogue covered a broad range of human rights issues including how to better ensure protection of children’s rights, rights of migrant workers and trafficking in persons, freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of religion or belief, the rights of persons with disabilities, environment and climate change, women’s rights and gender equality and social inclusion, as well as the protection of human rights while countering violent extremism.
While recognising that many challenges persist, the dialogue was an opportunity to take stock of key milestones of progress, for instance in the area of business and human rights in ASEAN. It was also an opportunity to discuss crisis situations worldwide and their human rights ramifications, including in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Myanmar, for which the EU raised particular concern.
As strong advocates of multilateralism, the EU and ASEAN both stressed that multilateral and regional cooperation underpinned by the principles of the UN Charter, ASEAN Charter, ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the AHRD, EU treaties, and international human rights law are essential to overcome the current global challenges.
The EU and ASEAN identified concrete steps to advance the promotion and protection of human rights, in line with their existing strategic partnership. Notably, the parties planned formalising cooperation in early 2023, in order to further strengthen the capacity of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and explore collaboration in the areas of, among others, child’s rights, children’s access to justice, enhanced youth participation, migrant worker’s social protection, business and human rights, freedom of expression, strengthened gender mainstreaming, Women, Peace and Security, human rights approach in countering violent extremism, which are identified as regional priorities by ASEAN.
The dialogue was preceded by a consultation with the representatives of civil society, youth and academia from Southeast Asia and Europe in the 2nd ASEAN-EU Civil Society Forum which provided pertinent recommendations to the dialogue.
The 4h ASEAN-EU Policy Dialogue on Human Rights also engaged National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from ASEAN and the EU and shared best practices on ensuring access to justice as well as the prospects for human rights cooperation between regional and national human rights mechanisms.
While in Jakarta, bilateral meetings were also conducted between the EU delegation and some representatives of AICHR, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) and the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW).
The dialogue was co-hosted by Ms. Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to AICHR and Mr. Chin Malin, Alternate Representative of Cambodia to AICHR who co-chaired the dialogue with Mr. Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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Cambodia, the 5th Runner Up of Miss Grand International 2022

Pich Votey Saravody, Miss Grand Cambodia, has been named the 5th runner up of Miss Grand International 2022, at the final round held in Indonesia on Oct. 25.
This is the first time for Cambodia for being among the top ten finalists of Miss Grand International.
“Thank you all for your support. Cambodia can now make it. I’m very happy to be able to bring pride to the nation,” said enthusiastically Pich Votey Saravody after receiving the crown.
Isabella Menin from Brazil was crowned Miss Grand International 2022, while Misses Grand Thailand, Indonesia, Venezuela, and Czech Republic are the four runners up, respectively.
Miss Grand International 2022 is the 10th edition of Miss Grand International pageant. It attracted 68 contestants from different countries and territories.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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Hun Sen threatens to dissolve Candlelight Party over connection to Sam Rainsy

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday threatened to dissolve the opposition Candlelight Party if it does not clarify its stand on alleged insulting comments about King Norodom Sihamoni by exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy.
Sam Rainsy, co-founder of the now banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, fled to France in 2015 to avoid arrest for various charges.
On Monday, he posted a comment on Facebook that in 2005, Hun Sen forced the king to support a “treasonous act” – a reference to signing a border treaty with Vietnam – otherwise he would abolish monarchy. Sam Rainsy also blamed Hun Sen for using the king to shield his dictatorship.
“The king today has no national conscience, not even a little,” Sam Rainsy said in the video. “After Hun Sen, the king of Cambodia betrayed the nation, because we supplemented others, betrayed the nation completely, because we cut off Khmer territory to foreigners.”
On Wedneday, Hun Sen responded by demanding the Candlelight Party make its stance on Sam Rainsy clear.
“Is Sam Rainsy right or wrong? I want the Candlelight Party to clarify its stand on Sam Rainsy’s statement claiming the King has no conscience. The party’s leaders need to clarify before our compatriots,” Hun Sen told a crowd at a public gathering in Kampong Chhnang province.
Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, also urged party activists to join his ruling party, saying the Candlelight Party is at risk of being dissolved.
In 2017, Cambodia’s Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP, a move that allowed Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party to capture every seat in the National Assembly in 2018 general elections.
“It isn’t a small story, and [it’s] not a joke,” Hun Sen said. “The Candlelight Party members must immediately defect to avoid any problem [because Sam Rainsy’s supporters in the party] want to topple the government and monarchy.”
On Tuesday, Cambodia’s Ministry of Justice alleged that Sam Rainsy had seriously insulted the king and ordered Phnom Penh Municipal Court to take immediate and strict legal action against him, though he has been sentenced to life in prison and permanently barred from engaging in politics.
Hun Sen recently tried to convince party activists to condemn Sam Rainsy for supposedly insulting the king, calling on party vice presidents Thach Setha and Son Chhay to issue a statement.
The prime minister also said he learned of a phone conversation between CNRP co-vice president Eng Chhai Eang and Candlelight Party officials about setting up the party’s network in Ratanakiri province. The prime minister told the crowd that political parties can’t work with “convicts” in accordance with the law.
“With this, I want to tell you [the Candlelight Party] that you are facing any issue for yourself, so what you should do is to clarify your stand over Sam Rainsy’s comment. Is it right or wrong? I want an affirmation from you,” said Hun Sen.
He went on to say that he has a problem with the Candlelight Party because the party was founded by Sam Rainsy.
Senior Candlelight Party officials said they have no connection to Sam Rainsy. Thach Setha, who also serves as the party’s spokesman, said the Candlelight Party acted in accordance with the law and has a leadership structure that has nothing to do with Sam Rainsy.
He said the party would issue a statement on its stand, but would not condemn Sam Rainsy as a person.
“We work independently, we have full sovereignty of our party, we do not accept orders from anyone,” Thach Setha said. “We will make a statement but not name a specific person, and [condemn] all of those who insult the king. Those who abuse the constitution, we will also condemn. We fight to protect Cambodia and the throne.”
Political analyst Em Sovannara said the country’s leaders should not compromise national interest with political conflict, and that Cambodia has no law prohibiting citizens or politicians from talking to “convicts.”
“Yes, if we talk about communication, it is not illegal,” he said. “Any person has the right to communicate, the accused, the convict or the prisoner. The politician has the right to communicate.”

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