WOK IN THE STREET OF PHNOM PENH!
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
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Archive for December 25th, 2008
Cambodia’s oil wealth
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
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Cost of Helmet a Small Price: Expert
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
As many as 90 percent of fatalities in road accidents are caused by head injuries, highlighting the importance of helmets, a safety expert said Thursday.
A helmet might cost $10, but it is worth it, said Sann Socheata, manager of the road safety program for Handicap International Belgium.
"There should be thorough thinking, that is it $10 that can cure one's head if there is an injury by road accident," she said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday urged motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, calling traffic deaths a worse tragedy than AIDS or land mines and reiterating a no-exception helmet law.
Sann Socheata said Thursday that riders who are ticketed by police, who often impose unofficial fines, should obtain a receipt.
A helmet might cost $10, but it is worth it, said Sann Socheata, manager of the road safety program for Handicap International Belgium.
"There should be thorough thinking, that is it $10 that can cure one's head if there is an injury by road accident," she said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday urged motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, calling traffic deaths a worse tragedy than AIDS or land mines and reiterating a no-exception helmet law.
Sann Socheata said Thursday that riders who are ticketed by police, who often impose unofficial fines, should obtain a receipt.
New Thai Government Prompts Border Questions
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
[Editor's note: A new Thai administration was sworn in Monday, including a prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, but a monthslong border dispute centered around the Preah Vihear temple area remains unresolved. VOA Khmer spoke with Cambodian Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan about expectations for Thailand's new government.]
Q. Do you think the new Thai leadership will bring even more obstacles to Cambodia in the process of negotiating the border issue?
A. I would like to tell you that this is the third prime minister following the conflict over the Preah Vihear temple area. What is happening now is that the new Thai prime minister has just made his vows in front of the Thai king, as well as in the Thai parliament. We see a [chance] to practice two goals. One is what we call international relations between Cambodia and Thailand, with an agreement we had already reached in 2000 through a memorandum, saying that we need to resolve the border issue peacefully and legally.Altogether, we had respected this, depending on the treaty and pact in1904 and 1907 between the French republics and Siam at the time. If we look up to now, for Cambodia, the new Thai foreign minister said this is a [situation] between Cambodia and Thailand that continues to need solving. This is not just a Thai but an international obligation.
Q. Near Preah Vihear temple, there is a mountain with a guardhouse built by the late Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok. Now that mountain is controlled by Thai soldiers armed with rifles. The Thais are even building a new road across the mountain. If border negotiations were based on a 1904 and 1907 map, would Cambodia be able to bring back that mountain and some other land that is currently occupied by Thailand?
A. Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong has already stated during discussions that the basis of the treaty and pacts during 1904and 1907 by the French border committee and Siam at the time can be a basic principle to consider. So the negotiation is based on three basic principles, and one is a political principle. That political principle is that the Cambodian party and the Thai counterpart agreed to end the border disputes by setting border demarcation, since we've already agreed on this in a memorandum in 2000. So this is a political solution to the border dispute. Second, because the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple area, as well as border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand, are in a new political situation, the Thais are using this to gain Thai political popularity. So Cambodian land and a Cambodian temple are becoming hostages of internal Thai politics.Prime Minister Hun Sen obeys three principles, and one is that the dispute between Cambodian and Thailand, and the land territory situation, needs to be quickly ended through meetings from the low levels and up to the level of foreign minister.
Q. Has Thailand deployed new soldiers around two contested areas, Eagle Field and the Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak Pagoda?
A. Yes. There was a small number of Thai soldiers there, but Cambodiansoldiers there already pushed them out. They are withdrawing now. Weare waiting for the working group of the joint border committee for Cambodia and Thailand to go to that area to re-examine, so at thattime we can find the exact border that we've already had for the last 100 years.
Q. Do you think the new Thai leadership will bring even more obstacles to Cambodia in the process of negotiating the border issue?
A. I would like to tell you that this is the third prime minister following the conflict over the Preah Vihear temple area. What is happening now is that the new Thai prime minister has just made his vows in front of the Thai king, as well as in the Thai parliament. We see a [chance] to practice two goals. One is what we call international relations between Cambodia and Thailand, with an agreement we had already reached in 2000 through a memorandum, saying that we need to resolve the border issue peacefully and legally.Altogether, we had respected this, depending on the treaty and pact in1904 and 1907 between the French republics and Siam at the time. If we look up to now, for Cambodia, the new Thai foreign minister said this is a [situation] between Cambodia and Thailand that continues to need solving. This is not just a Thai but an international obligation.
Q. Near Preah Vihear temple, there is a mountain with a guardhouse built by the late Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok. Now that mountain is controlled by Thai soldiers armed with rifles. The Thais are even building a new road across the mountain. If border negotiations were based on a 1904 and 1907 map, would Cambodia be able to bring back that mountain and some other land that is currently occupied by Thailand?
A. Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong has already stated during discussions that the basis of the treaty and pacts during 1904and 1907 by the French border committee and Siam at the time can be a basic principle to consider. So the negotiation is based on three basic principles, and one is a political principle. That political principle is that the Cambodian party and the Thai counterpart agreed to end the border disputes by setting border demarcation, since we've already agreed on this in a memorandum in 2000. So this is a political solution to the border dispute. Second, because the dispute over the Preah Vihear temple area, as well as border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand, are in a new political situation, the Thais are using this to gain Thai political popularity. So Cambodian land and a Cambodian temple are becoming hostages of internal Thai politics.Prime Minister Hun Sen obeys three principles, and one is that the dispute between Cambodian and Thailand, and the land territory situation, needs to be quickly ended through meetings from the low levels and up to the level of foreign minister.
Q. Has Thailand deployed new soldiers around two contested areas, Eagle Field and the Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak Pagoda?
A. Yes. There was a small number of Thai soldiers there, but Cambodiansoldiers there already pushed them out. They are withdrawing now. Weare waiting for the working group of the joint border committee for Cambodia and Thailand to go to that area to re-examine, so at thattime we can find the exact border that we've already had for the last 100 years.
Thailand, Cambodial to cooperate on Preah Vihear: Kasit
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
December 26, 2008
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
A return to Thai ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple is not an option, new Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday. But Thailand would maintain cooperation with Cambodia over the historic and controversial Hindu temple, he said.
The Preah Vihear case would be handled in line with the 1904 and 1907 Siam-Franco treaties, the 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on boundary demarcation, he said.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia but the surrounding land - and access to it - have remained in dispute.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajava said in June - while he was opposition leader and in debate with former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama - that the ICJ had decided only the ruined temple building belonged to Cambodia. The piece of land on which the temple sat was Thailand's.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demanded recently the foreign ministry recall ownership of the 11th century Khmer sanctuary.
Its call was unlikely to succeed as the foreign ministry has been examining boundary demarcation and provisional arrangements for the area.
The new minister Kasit, an active member of the PAD before taking the office, said he would not change previous foreign ministry resolutions with Phnom Penh.
Vasin Teeravechyan would retain his position as co-chair of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary, Kasit said.
"In general, it is our intention to cooperate with Cambodia and the Unesco (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation), he told reporters.
The minister said Thailand should have a representative in the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) to protect and develop Cambodia's Preah Vihear.
However, Thailand would have a problem in taking up this position since the PAD opposed the idea, saying it meant recognition of Cambodia's sovereignty over the temple.
"We have to weigh between presence and absence in the ICC," said the ministry's Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul.
With a representative in the body, Thailand would have access to the temple's administration, he said. But, by the same token, Thailand could also be outvoted.
However, Thailand's national world heritage committee would make the final decision on the ICC, Virasakdi said, noting the foreign ministry would send a representative to the committee.
Kasit said his previously provocative stance in the PAD over the Preah Vihear conflict would not jeopardise relations with Cambodia as its leaders, notably Prime Minister Hun Sen, were familiar with him since they worked together on the Paris Accord on Peace in Cambodia in 1989.
Hun Sen was the first to send congratulations to Prime Minister Abhisit, he said.
The Preah Vihear case would be handled in line with the 1904 and 1907 Siam-Franco treaties, the 1962 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling and the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding on boundary demarcation, he said.
The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia but the surrounding land - and access to it - have remained in dispute.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajava said in June - while he was opposition leader and in debate with former foreign minister Noppadon Pattama - that the ICJ had decided only the ruined temple building belonged to Cambodia. The piece of land on which the temple sat was Thailand's.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demanded recently the foreign ministry recall ownership of the 11th century Khmer sanctuary.
Its call was unlikely to succeed as the foreign ministry has been examining boundary demarcation and provisional arrangements for the area.
The new minister Kasit, an active member of the PAD before taking the office, said he would not change previous foreign ministry resolutions with Phnom Penh.
Vasin Teeravechyan would retain his position as co-chair of the Thai-Cambodia Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary, Kasit said.
"In general, it is our intention to cooperate with Cambodia and the Unesco (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation), he told reporters.
The minister said Thailand should have a representative in the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) to protect and develop Cambodia's Preah Vihear.
However, Thailand would have a problem in taking up this position since the PAD opposed the idea, saying it meant recognition of Cambodia's sovereignty over the temple.
"We have to weigh between presence and absence in the ICC," said the ministry's Permanent Secretary Virasakdi Futrakul.
With a representative in the body, Thailand would have access to the temple's administration, he said. But, by the same token, Thailand could also be outvoted.
However, Thailand's national world heritage committee would make the final decision on the ICC, Virasakdi said, noting the foreign ministry would send a representative to the committee.
Kasit said his previously provocative stance in the PAD over the Preah Vihear conflict would not jeopardise relations with Cambodia as its leaders, notably Prime Minister Hun Sen, were familiar with him since they worked together on the Paris Accord on Peace in Cambodia in 1989.
Hun Sen was the first to send congratulations to Prime Minister Abhisit, he said.
In Thailand 388 victims of Tsunami still unidentified
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Bangkok, 26 December, (Asiantribune.com): In Thailand, Director Nitinai Sornsongkram of the Thai Tsunami Victim Identification and Repatriation Centre in southern Phangnga province said 388 bodies of ...
BBC reporter faces jail in Thailand
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Thai police have been urged to drop complaints against a BBC reporter accused of slandering the country's king. BBC correspondent Jonathan Head has been accused of insulting the monarchy, a crime pu...
After-Christmas And Clearance Sales - What You Need To Know
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Hi All, There is some good information about this article thought I want to share it with you for those who like to shop for bargains. I got the article on line. It is just something to keep in mind.
After-Christmas, Year-End, and Clearance sales are a great time get some good deals, but you can also end up with a purchase disaster. This is where the consumer needs to shop smart. Don't just grab the newspaper AD and run down to your local consumer electronics retailer without arming yourself with useful knowledge and tools to get the most from your dollar.
This is the time of year when retailers try to do several things: Sell any overstock still taking up too much shelf space, sell items that are soon to be on the clearance list, turnaround gift returns/exchanges (both opened and unopened), sell through old display models, and sell old product that has been to service.
Overstock Items
This is where the consumer can get a good deal, depending on how desperate the store is to clear out shelf space. Overstock items are usually those loss leaders, such as those famous $30 DVD players, $199 27-inch Televisions, and $249 budget home theater packages that are still new and in sealed boxes. Here you know that they haven't been opened, returned, or used.
These may not always be the best known name-brand models, but can be a good value, as long as they are available. These items are usually the first to go in an after-Christmas sale, so get to the store early the day after Christmas for the best chance of grabbing one of these products.
Soon-To-Be-Clearance Items
This is my favorite bargain-sale category. Here is the "scoop". Every January, the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is held in Las Vegas in which all the consumer electronics manufacturers from around the World unveil their products for the coming year.
These products start to hit shelves in February and continue into the Spring and Summer. Needless to say, buyers from the big consumer electronics retail chains to small regional and home town independents flock to this show in order to place orders for new products.
However, in order to beat the competition in placing these products on store shelves, the retailers must clear out current products targeted for replacement from their warehouses and stores as quickly as possible.
This is where the consumer can benefit. If a retailer made the "mistake" of over-estimating the demand for a particular AV receiver, for instance, and has lots of stock left by February, it will be more difficult to move the older model as its competitors, who didn't over order stock on the old model, sell the newer model when it arrives.
So, in order to "get rid" of the currently overstocked model, retailers will often place notice of a significant price drop on the older model.
However, many consumers don't react well to the word "clearance", which gives the connotation that the product may be, in some way, inferior to a newer model (that may or may not be the case in reality). Therefore, the promotion for the old model often carries an AD notice of a "Price Drop", "Instant Discount", or "Instant Rebate" or even "Special Purchase". Also, an additional indicator of a clearance item is in the fine print; check for the phrases "While Supplies Last" and/or "No Rainchecks".
If you are bargain hunting, this could end up being a great deal. The retailer gets rid of a product that will soon be discontinued and the consumer gets a great price.
If you don't need the latest and greatest, and the "clearance" product has everything you really need, this could work out well. The key is to make sure the product meets your needs by checking out the features ahead of time on either the manufacturer's or store's website, if possible.
Proceed to page 2: After-Christmas and Clearance Sales - Buying Returns/Exchanges - by clicking the link below right.
Here is the Link if you want to check out further. http://hometheater.about.com/cs/beforeyoubuy/a/aaafterxmasa.htm
After-Christmas, Year-End, and Clearance sales are a great time get some good deals, but you can also end up with a purchase disaster. This is where the consumer needs to shop smart. Don't just grab the newspaper AD and run down to your local consumer electronics retailer without arming yourself with useful knowledge and tools to get the most from your dollar.
This is the time of year when retailers try to do several things: Sell any overstock still taking up too much shelf space, sell items that are soon to be on the clearance list, turnaround gift returns/exchanges (both opened and unopened), sell through old display models, and sell old product that has been to service.
Overstock Items
This is where the consumer can get a good deal, depending on how desperate the store is to clear out shelf space. Overstock items are usually those loss leaders, such as those famous $30 DVD players, $199 27-inch Televisions, and $249 budget home theater packages that are still new and in sealed boxes. Here you know that they haven't been opened, returned, or used.
These may not always be the best known name-brand models, but can be a good value, as long as they are available. These items are usually the first to go in an after-Christmas sale, so get to the store early the day after Christmas for the best chance of grabbing one of these products.
Soon-To-Be-Clearance Items
This is my favorite bargain-sale category. Here is the "scoop". Every January, the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is held in Las Vegas in which all the consumer electronics manufacturers from around the World unveil their products for the coming year.
These products start to hit shelves in February and continue into the Spring and Summer. Needless to say, buyers from the big consumer electronics retail chains to small regional and home town independents flock to this show in order to place orders for new products.
However, in order to beat the competition in placing these products on store shelves, the retailers must clear out current products targeted for replacement from their warehouses and stores as quickly as possible.
This is where the consumer can benefit. If a retailer made the "mistake" of over-estimating the demand for a particular AV receiver, for instance, and has lots of stock left by February, it will be more difficult to move the older model as its competitors, who didn't over order stock on the old model, sell the newer model when it arrives.
So, in order to "get rid" of the currently overstocked model, retailers will often place notice of a significant price drop on the older model.
However, many consumers don't react well to the word "clearance", which gives the connotation that the product may be, in some way, inferior to a newer model (that may or may not be the case in reality). Therefore, the promotion for the old model often carries an AD notice of a "Price Drop", "Instant Discount", or "Instant Rebate" or even "Special Purchase". Also, an additional indicator of a clearance item is in the fine print; check for the phrases "While Supplies Last" and/or "No Rainchecks".
If you are bargain hunting, this could end up being a great deal. The retailer gets rid of a product that will soon be discontinued and the consumer gets a great price.
If you don't need the latest and greatest, and the "clearance" product has everything you really need, this could work out well. The key is to make sure the product meets your needs by checking out the features ahead of time on either the manufacturer's or store's website, if possible.
Proceed to page 2: After-Christmas and Clearance Sales - Buying Returns/Exchanges - by clicking the link below right.
Here is the Link if you want to check out further. http://hometheater.about.com/cs/beforeyoubuy/a/aaafterxmasa.htm
Traffic crashes shoot up in Hanoi after soccer win over Thailand
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Traffic accidents went up by 30 percent in Hanoi Wednesday night after a Vietnamese football victory over rival Thailand triggered wild celebrations across the city, a doctor from Bach Mai hospital said Thursday.
Hanoi traffic accidents rise after football victory over Thailand
Thursday, December 25th, 2008
Hanoi - Traffic accidents went up by 30 per cent in Hanoi on Wednesday night, a doctor from Bach Mai Hospital said Thursday, after a Vietnamese football victory over rival Thailand triggered wild cele...