Monday, April 30, 2012

ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ផ្តើមយុទ្ធនាការដើរហែក្បួន តវ៉ារឿងជម្លោះដីដ៏រ៉ាំរ៉ៃ នៅកណ្តាលក្រុងភ្នំពេញ - កម្ពុជា - RFI

ដោយ លី ម៉េងហួរ
ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ប្រមាណ ៣០០ នាក់ នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃចន្ទ ទី៣០មេសានេះ បានចាប់ផ្តើមយុទ្ធនាការ ដើរហែក្បួន នៅរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ រយៈពេលមួយសប្តាហ៍។ ក្បួនបាតុកម្មរបស់ស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ ទោះបីជាមានកម្លាំងសមត្ថកិច្ច ឈរពាំង រាំងផ្លូវក៏ដោយ តែមិនមានអំពើហិង្សាកើតឡើងទេ។ ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ បានហែក្បួន ដាក់ញត្តិ សុំអន្តរាគមន៍ពីបណ្តាស្ថានទូតប្រទេសមហាអំណាច ស្ថាប័នរដ្ឋសភា ព្រឹទ្ធសភា ព្រមទាំងដាក់ញត្តិទៅកាន់លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុនសែន ដើម្បីកំណត់ព្រំដែននៅបឹងកក់ ដែលត្រូវផ្តល់ឲ្យអ្នកភូមិជាង ១២ ហិកតា និងបញ្ឈប់ការគាបសង្កត់លើពលរដ្ឋ តាមរយៈការប្តឹងផ្តល់ទៅតុលាការ ជាដើម។

សេចក្តីរាយការណ៍របស់ លី ម៉េងហួរ ពីទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ

ស្តាប់ (02:51)

30/04/2012 by លី ម៉េងហួរ

ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ ពាក់អាវយឺត និងមួកកន្តឹប ពណ៌ផ្ទៃមេឃ ដោយមានសរសេរអក្សរពាក្យស្លោក និងលើកបដារូបភាព បង្ហាញពីសកម្មភាពវាយបំផ្លាញផ្ទះសម្បែង បានដង្ហែក្បួនបាតុកម្មដីធ្លី នៅព្រឹកមិញ។ ស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ក៏បានកាន់ទង់ជាតិកម្ពុជា ទង់អាស៊ាន ទង់ជាតិប្រទេសមហាអំណាច សហភាពអឺរ៉ុប និងទង់ជាតិអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ដើរតាមដងផ្លូវជាច្រើន នៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ។ ស្ត្រីសកម្មជនមួយចំនួន បានដាក់ច្រវាក់ដៃ បង្ហាញថា ជាអ្នកទោសដីធ្លី និងពាក់ម៉ាស់គូសសញ្ញាខ្វែង ដែលបង្ហាញពីការបំបិទសិទ្ធិសេរីភាព ក្នុងការនិយាយស្តី។

ក្រុមស្ត្រីប្រមាណ ៣០០ នាក់ បានដើរហែក្បួន ចេញពីតំបន់បឹងកក់ ទៅប្រមូលផ្តុំគ្នានៅមុខសាលារាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ហើយស្រែកទាមទាររកដំណោះស្រាយ លើបញ្ហាដីធ្លីនៅបឹងកក់ ជាពិសេសទាមទារឲ្យអាជ្ញាធរ បោះព្រំប្រទល់ដីទំហំ ១២,៤៤ ហិកតា ដែលលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន បានផ្តល់ឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋរស់នៅបឹងកក់។ ក្បួនបាតុកម្ម បានហែញត្តិ ទៅដាក់នៅស្ថានទូតសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ស្ថានទូតជប៉ុន ទៅកាន់ព្រឹទ្ធសភា និងដាក់នៅផ្ទះលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ដើម្បីសុំអន្តរាគមន៍ រកដំណោះស្រាយលើបញ្ហាដីធ្លីនៅបឹងកក់។ នៅតាមផ្លូវ ត្រូវបានក្រុមប៉ូលិស និងប៉េអឹម ឈររាំង មិនឲ្យស្ត្រីបាតុករ ហែក្បួន ឆ្លងកាត់ផ្លូវធំៗមួយចំនួន។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែមិនមានអំពើហិង្សាកើតឡើងទេ ព្រោះបាតុកម្មរបស់ស្ត្រីសកម្មជនដីធ្លីទាំងនោះ មានច្បាប់ពីសាលាក្រុង។

តំណាងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបឹងកក់ អ្នកស្រី ទេព វន្នី បានឲ្យដឹងថា ស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ ចង់ឲ្យមានការបោះព្រំប្រទល់ដី ១២,៤៤ ហិកតា ដែលប្រមុខរដ្ឋាភិបាល បានផ្តល់ឲ្យប្រជាពលរដ្ឋអភិវឌ្ឍន៍នៅនឹងកន្លែង ព្រមទាំងទាមទារ កុំឲ្យមន្ត្រីអាជ្ញាធរឃុបឃិតជាមួយក្រុមហ៊ុន កាត់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋជាង ៩៤ គ្រួសារចេញពីដីទំហំជាង ១២ ហិកតា ហើយដាក់ឈ្មោះក្រុមហ៊ុនចូលជំនួស។ ក្រុមពលរដ្ឋបឹងកក់ ក៏ចង់បង្ហាញពីស្ថាប័នតុលាការ សព្វថ្ងៃ មិនឯករាជ្យ ត្រូវបានមន្ត្រីពុករលួយមួយចំនួន ឃុបឃិតគ្នា ប្រើប្រាស់ប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការ មកគាបសង្កត់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ។ បញ្ហាដីធ្លី នៅបឹងកក់ កើតឡើងចាប់តាំងពីរដ្ឋាភិបាល សម្រេចប្រគល់ដីទំហំជាង ១៣០ ហិកតា ឲ្យក្រុមហ៊ុន ស៊ូកាគូអ៊ិន អភិវឌ្ឍជាទីក្រុងរណប កាលពីឆ្នាំ២០០៦។

គម្រោងអភិវឌ្ឍន៍នោះ ប៉ះពាល់ដល់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋជាង ៤.០០០ គ្រួសារ។ ប៉ុន្តែមកដល់ពេលនេះ មានពលរដ្ឋបឹងកក់ ដែលសេសសល់ពីការបណ្តេញចេញប្រមាណ ១.០០០ គ្រួសារ ត្រូវបានរដ្ឋាភិបាលសម្រេចកាត់ដី ១២,៤៤ ហិកតា ដើម្បីអភិវឌ្ឍនៅនឹងតំបន់បឹងកក់។ តែបញ្ហានៅតែកើតមាន មិនទាន់ចប់នៅឡើយ៕

ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ផ្តើមយុទ្ធនាការដើរហែក្បួន តវ៉ារឿងជម្លោះដីដ៏រ៉ាំរ៉ៃ នៅកណ្តាលក្រុងភ្នំពេញ - កម្ពុជា - RFI

Who Killed Chea Vichea? (Khmer) on Vimeo

News & Broadcast - Opening Remarks: Opening Press Conference Spring Meetings

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

World Bank President, Robert B. Zoellick

April 19, 2012

Welcome and thanks to all of you for coming.

This marks my last Spring Meetings as the President of the World Bank Group.

So I’d like to begin with a word of thanks:

To the Ministers who have supported us and worked with us;

To our Executive Board, who have labored hard to help our management team to modernize this important multilateral institution;

To the excellent senior management team that I’ve been proud to help build and to lead; and

To the World Bank Group staff in Washington and around the world: They’re motivated, they’re committed, they want to make a difference, they are and a tremendous asset, and drawing the best from now 170 countries.

This has been a pretty busy five years.

I suppose my tenure at the WBG has had three phases:

A turnaround from a time of some trouble;

Quickly moving into faster, more flexible, and large scale support for our client countries across food, fuel, and financial crises -- in financial terms alone, about a quarter of a trillion dollars; and

And the start of the modernization of the World Bank Group for the future.

That ongoing modernization effort will be a large part of my presentation to the Development Committee later this week and my discussions with our Governors.

With the first large recapitalization of the IBRD in over 20 years, and two record-breaking IDA replenishments totaling more than $90 billion, I am pleased to turn over a well-resourced Bank with a AAA rating.

Yet we always need to think ahead about how to mobilize resources -- for the growing interest in IFC and the private sector development; for the poorest; and for the changing needs of our middle income clients, which are still home to three quarters of those living under $2/day.

Our modernization agenda is driven by our focus on clients, listening to their priorities, as opposed to an old top-down approach.

And modernization involves a rigorous focus on results, openness, and accountability.

So our initiatives for open information, open data, and open access to knowledge may turn out to be the most important legacy of the past five years.

These steps are key to democratizing development.

And these steps lay the foundation for expanding social accountability, fighting corruption, and building better governance.

Last year I proposed that the World Bank and others should recognize that investments in civil society and good governance are as vital as investments in roads, factories, and clinics.

So I’ll be pleased to announce later today the formation of a new Global Partnership for Social Accountability that will provide support to civil society organizations in their work on social accountability.

Now much of what you’ll hear over the next few days will deal with the ongoing shock waves of the financial crisis – issues of macroeconomic stability, fiscal and monetary policies.

That’s certainly important.

But it’s not enough.

Countries – both developing and developed – need to focus on structural reforms that will be the drivers of future growth. Otherwise, the world will keep stumbling along.

The WBG will be emphasizing that structural growth agenda.

Structural reforms and changing growth models fit with our recent major reports – such as China 2030 and the Golden Growth Report that looked at Europe.

You will also encounter structural growth in our priorities for:

Infrastructure, especially Public Private Partnerships;

Social Safety Nets, to protect human capital in a volatile and uncertain world;

Gender, so that countries gain the growth opportunities from empowering all their people;

And financial inclusion, including at these meetings, a first of its kind measurement of access to financial services, showing that three quarters of the 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 /day are shut out of access to banking.

Developing countries have provided two thirdsof global growth over the past five years.

These are no longer charity cases; they are vital to the world economy.

But of course they face huge challenges, too.

So it’s the WBG’s aim to keep focusing the world’s economic leaders growth, not just stability; on human safety nets, not just financial safety nets; and on modernizing multilateralism so that all 188 of our shareholders can work together for their common interest.

Finally, I had an opportunity to talk to Jim Kim after his selection as my successor.

We will have a chance to meet shortly after the Spring Meetings on the transition.

I think he’ll do a great job.

I wish him and all others associated with the World Bank Group every success.

I am pleased to take your questions.

News & Broadcast - Opening Remarks: Opening Press Conference Spring Meetings

The Trap of Saving Cambodia Trailer on Vimeo

The Trap of Saving Cambodia Trailer

by Tim Sorel Plus 3 months ago

Follow Add to… Stats Download

Loading more stuff…

News & Broadcast - The Global Partnership for Social Accountability: A New Mechanism to Support Civil Society Organizations

Press Release No:2012/406/WBI

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2012 –The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved in principle the creation of a Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA). The GPSA is a new mechanism to scale up and support social accountability by beneficiary groups and civil society organizations (CSOs) in developing countries. The Bank’s Board will review operational details of the proposed Partnership in June.

“The Bank understands now more than ever that citizen voice and the engagement of project beneficiaries are crucial for lasting development results,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “This new dedicated partnership will support critical work on social accountability, including beneficiary monitoring and oversight of projects and programs. I hope this new Partnership can become an integral part of the Bank Group’s work going forward.”

The Bank plans to invest $20 million in seed money to create the Partnership and will work with others to raise additional funds. As well as investing in projects to boost social accountability, the Partnership will also focus on exchanging knowledge of best practice.

In a speech at the Peterson Institute for International Economics a year ago, Mr. Zoellick spoke of the need for a new social contract to improve domestic accountability and constructive engagement between citizens and their governments. He announced that the Bank would explore with its shareholders means to support CSOs working on social accountability. The GPSA is a direct result of that pledge.

The scope of the GPSA is global, and over 20 potential partners—including foundations, think tanks, governments and bilateral organizations--have provided input to its design, along with more than 1,300 representatives of civil society organizations from 60 countries, who have participated in consultations on the proposed Partnership.

Current World Bank-supported social accountability work includes: CheckMySchool.org, an interactive map of basic public education information in the Philippines to support citizen oversight of the education sector; the use of community scorecards to help reduce child mortality in Uganda, and public participation in local budgeting in the Democratic Republic of Congo so citizens can have a say where their money is going. The GPSA can help to scale this up.

The World Bank has long acknowledged the important role of civil society and has worked with CSOs for several decades. In 1983, the Bank established the Small Grants Program (later known as the Civil Society Fund, or CSF) to provide direct support to CSOs. In recent years, the CSF has annually supported 350 to 400 CSOs in more than 55 countries. Additional World Bank funding for CSOs, directly and through governmental channels, has also increased steadily over the past decade, totaling an estimated $645 million during FY08-10.

Contacts:

In Washington: Rachel Winter Jones, (202) 458 4720 rjones1@worldbank.org

For Broadcast Requests: Natalia Cieslik, (202) 458-9369, ncieslik@worldbank.org

For more information, please visit: www.worldbank.org/gpsa

Visit us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worldbank

Be updated via Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/worldbank

For our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/worldbank

News & Broadcast - The Global Partnership for Social Accountability: A New Mechanism to Support Civil Society Organizations

BBC News - UN's Ban Ki-moon urges Burma to unite on path to change

Ban Ki-moon: "The path of change is still fragile and uncertain but it is indeed too narrow to turn back"

Burma: Battle for Democracy

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Burma's president and its opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to work as partners on a path to change.

Mr Ban, in a historic address to parliament, said the path was "too narrow to turn back" and praised both leaders for their courage and vision.
Mr Ban has met President Thein Sein and will later hold talks with Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
She earlier said her party had yielded in a row over the MPs' oath of office.
Mr Ban last visited Burma in 2009, but was then denied access to Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
'Vibrant political climate' In his speech to parliament, Mr Ban praised the "vision, leadership and courage" of President Thein Sein and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
He said: "Burma can meet the challenge of reconciliation and development, but it will take full determination and common leadership and partnership."
Saying the country had reached a critical point, Mr Ban added: "The path to change is fragile and uncertain but it is too narrow to turn back."
He called on the parties in Burma to "summon the political will to make lasting change" and to look beyond political differences to address the larger interests of the nation.

Reform in Burma

7 Nov 2010: First polls in 20 years
13 Nov: Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest
30 Mar 2011: Transfer of power to new government complete
19 Aug: Aung San Suu Kyi meets President Thein Sein
12 Oct: More than 200 political prisoners freed
13 Oct: New labour laws allowing unions passed
17 Nov: Burma granted Asean chair in 2014
23 Dec: NLD registers as political party
12 Jan 2012: Karen ceasefire signed
13 Jan: Highest-profile political prisoners freed
1 April: NLD wins 43 out of 45 seats in polls, generally seen as fair
23 April: EU suspends most sanctions for a year

Timeline: Reforms in Burma

"Elections and open government must be matched with a healthy and vibrant political climate," he said.

Mr Ban said much more work needed to be done to achieve peace with ethnic minorities, particularly the Kachin people.
He said expectations were very high among the people of Burma.
"They expect this parliament to not only advance reform but to accelerate the pace of change," Mr Ban said.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey, in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, says the parliamentarians sat quietly and respectfully as Mr Ban delivered key messages in a speech broadcast live on television.
She says this was a very significant moment - as Mr Ban became the first foreigner to address Burma's fledgling parliament.
His trip is the latest high-profile diplomatic visit to the once-isolated nation since a reformist government took office a year ago.
Mr Ban left frustrated after his last visit on the invitation of former junta strongman Gen Than Shwe, describing it as a "very difficult mission".
On Tuesday he will meet Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who led her pro-democracy NLD party to win 43 seats in by-elections on 1 April. She was in detention during his last visit but was released 15 months later.
On Monday, she said a dispute over the wording of the legislative oath had been resolved and her party's MPs would attend the legislature for the first time on Wednesday.
The NLD had objected to the words "safeguard the constitution".
But Ms Aung San Suu Kyi said the NLD had agreed to the oath.
She said: "Some people might ask, given that we didn't accept the wording of 'safeguard' in the beginning, why we accept now. The reason we accept it, firstly is the desire of the people. Our voters voted for us because they want to see us in parliament."

Aung San Suu Kyi, Rangoon, 16 April 2012

Aung San Suu Kyi said a row over a parliamentary oath had been resolved

She added: "We are not giving up, we are just yielding to the aspirations of the people."
One of the key points of Mr Ban's speech to parliament was the issue of ethnic tension.
The resurgence of fighting between the Burmese army and Kachin rebels has displaced tens of thousands of people, says our correspondent, Rachel Harvey, who is travelling with Mr Ban in Burma. But the UN has struggled to get the access it needs to be able to help them.
Mr Ban is also due to visit the northern Shan State, one of the world's biggest opium-growing regions, where the UN has started a poppy eradication programme.
On Sunday, he also paid his respects at the tomb of the late Burmese diplomat U Thant, who was UN secretary general from 1961 to 1971.
The current UN chief's visit to Burma is the latest in a series of high-level visits by foreign leaders.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced in Burma on Saturday that the EU would open an embassy-level office in the country.
Earlier this week, it suspended non-military sanctions against Burma for a year in recognition of "historic changes".
In his speech on Monday, Mr Ban said: "I urge the international community to go even further in lifting, suspending, or easing trade restrictions and other sanctions."

BBC News - UN's Ban Ki-moon urges Burma to unite on path to change

Malaysia: Police Brutality at BERSIH 3.0 Rally Condemned; Government Urged to Establish Independent Oversight Body for Police « FORUM-ASIA

Monday, 30 April 2012 Thematics: Freedom of assembly and association

(30 April 2012, Bangkok) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has condemned the Malaysian government for its heavy-handed reaction to the BERSIH 3.0 rally, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 28 April 2012 to demand for electoral reforms in the country, and urged the government to establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to check the escalating abuses of power by the police without any further delay.

The regional human rights group also called on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) to swiftly conduct a full public inquiry into the violence that occurred during the rally.

FORUM-ASIA had earlier, on 27 April 2012, warned of the likelihood of a harsh crackdown on the rally, and urged the Malaysian government to allow the rally to proceed without disruptions. However, FORUM-ASIA’s call, as well as others’, including that of international human rights groups, was ignored by the government, and the rally, which started out peacefully, was met with excessive police violence, including the use of teargas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. 572 individuals were subsequently arrested by the police. At least nine journalists were also allegedly assaulted by the police while covering the rally.

“Time and again, the Malaysian government has demonstrated its total disregard for international human rights standards on peaceful assemblies. FORUM-ASIA strongly condemns the unwarranted use of disproportionate force, including the deployment of water cannons and teargas, and the mass arrests during the BERSIH 3.0 rally,” said Yap Swee Seng, FORUM-ASIA’s executive director.

FORUM-ASIA also slammed the government for shirking its responsibility over the violence that occurred at the rally, with the Deputy Prime Minister putting the blame on the organisers for the violence, and the Prime Minister claiming that the police had done well by acting against the protesters for breaching police barricades at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square).

“The alleged breach of police barricades by some protestors cannot in any way justify the manner in which the police used force disproportionately against the crowds. The police should not have restricted the organisers from holding its proposed peaceful sit-in protest at Dataran Merdeka in the first place,” said Yap.

Yap added, “Furthermore, it is wholly irresponsible for the Prime Minister to claim that the police was victimised by the protestors and was thus prompted to act, when the fact is that even journalists who were merely there on duty to report on the event were also assaulted and had their equipments confiscated.”

“The excessive use of force by the police at the rally on Saturday plainly illustrates the need for an independent oversight body to monitor and check abuses committed by the police. These violations are very serious and have been committed in a repeated fashion by the police,” said Yap, referring to similar crackdowns on previous assemblies in recent years, including the 9 July 2011 rally, also organised by BERSIH, which saw more than 1,500 individuals arrested.

“The government cannot offer any more excuses, and must immediately establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as was recommended by the Royal Commission on the Police way back in 2005, without any further delay,” said Yap.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), who deployed monitors to the rally, has also been urged by FORUM-ASIA to immediately come up with a strong position against the crackdown by the government, as well as to investigate the allegations of violence both by the police as well as some of those who purportedly participated in the rally.

FORUM-ASIA further reiterated its position that the newly-enacted Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, which was bulldozed through the Parliament without any form of public consultation, including with civil society, does not conform with international human rights standards on peaceful assemblies.

“The various threats and harassment by the government leading up to the BERSIH 3.0 rally, as well as the disproportionate use of force by the police – most of which were under the ambit of the Peaceful Assembly Act – are reasons enough to call for the repeal of the repressive new law,” said Yap.

“In addition to our call for SUHAKAM to hold a public inquiry on this rally, the Commission should also look into the Peaceful Assembly Act’s non-conformity with international human rights standards, and further campaign for its repeal,” added Yap.

For inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Yap Swee Seng, FORUM-ASIA, Executive Director, +66818689178, yap@forum-asia.org
Mr. John Liu, FORUM-ASIA, East Asia Programme Officer, +66802828610, johnliu@forum-asia.org

Please click here to download the PDF file.

Other Items on Malaysia

Other Items on East Asia Country Programme

Malaysia: Police Brutality at BERSIH 3.0 Rally Condemned; Government Urged to Establish Independent Oversight Body for Police « FORUM-ASIA

HUn Sen-keep his promise?35% of forest left unfficial report

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPk0HKZINA4&feature=related

Cambodian soldier said hurt in Thai border clash

April 29, 2012
Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia says its troops exchanged fire with Thai security forces along their border in their first publicly acknowledged clash since repeated combat there ended a year ago.

The deputy military commander of Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, Lt. Col. Men Ly, says Cambodian troops on patrol Sunday were attacked by Thai forces. He says one Cambodian soldier was wounded in a 10-minute exchange of rifle fire and grenades.

Thai Army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd says Thai security forces inside Thai territory returned fire after illegal loggers from Cambodia shot at them and fled.

Seventeen soldiers and a civilian died in skirmishes early last year related to conflicting claims over border territory, but Thailand has also complained about cross-border log poaching.

Huge rally raises question on Malaysia poll timing

Monday, April 30, 2012

Protesters encounter Malaysian police, not in photo, during a rally to demand for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. At least 25,000 demonstrators had swamped Malaysia's largest city in one of the Southeast Asian nation's biggest street rallies in the past decade. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

A protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by Malaysian police during a rally to demand for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. Malaysian police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water Saturday at thousands of demonstrators demanding an overhaul in electoral policies they call biased ahead of national polls expected soon. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

Protesters overturn a police car during a rally to demand for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. Police unleashed tear gas and chemical-laced water at thousands of demonstrators who staged one of Malaysia's largest street rallies in years, demanding fair rules for national elections expected soon. (AP Photo)

A lone protester stands in front of a line of police in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. Thousands of people gathered near Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square to seek sweeping changes in polling regulations to curb fears of fraud in elections that many speculate will be held in June. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Protesters lie down on a major intersection in the central business district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. Thousands of people gathered near Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square to seek sweeping changes in polling regulations to curb fears of fraud in elections that many speculate will be held in June. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Protesters walk on a street during a rally to demand for electoral reforms in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 28, 2012. Thousands of people gathered near Kuala Lumpur's Independence Square to seek sweeping changes in polling regulations to curb fears of fraud in elections that many speculate will be held in June. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

04/29/2012
By EILEEN NG
Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A massive street rally demanding electoral reforms in Malaysia raised questions Sunday about whether the long-ruling coalition government will delay calling elections in the face of such a strong show of force by the opposition.

Police used tear gas and chemical-laced water Saturday against some 50,000 people and arrested more than 450 at the demonstration. Officials said three demonstrators and 20 police were injured, and all those arrested were released by Sunday.

The rally was held to pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition — which has been in power for 55 years — to overhaul what the opposition and civil groups call biased electoral policies before the next polls are held.

Elections do not need to be held until mid-2013, but speculation had previously been rife that Najib may dissolve Parliament next month and seek a new mandate in June.

However, the protests — the second mass rally in 10 months — could rattle Najib's confidence and prompt him to delay calling polls, especially since the last election delivered the biggest opposition gains in Parliament ever.

"The rally is a way for many Malaysians to show that they are no longer suppressed. It has whipped up anti-government sentiment, and this could encourage Najib to call for later elections," said Ooi Kee Beng of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

The country's largest English newspaper, The Star, said in an opinion piece Sunday that the more likely time for polls would be in the first week of September.

While the rally had reinforced anti-government vote in urban areas, it may not tip the scale in favor of the opposition, said James Chin, political science lecturer with Monash University in Malaysia. Najib's battleground will be in rural areas, which account for about two-thirds of Parliamentary seats, he said.

National police spokesman Ramli Yoosuf said Sunday that 471 people were arrested but all have been released. It was not immediately clear if they would be charged later with any offense. Ramli also said the crowd size, earlier estimated at 25,000, doubled to near 50,000 at its peak.

Demonstrators wearing yellow T-shirts, waving banners and chanting slogans poured into downtown Kuala Lumpur, massing near a public square that police had sealed off with barbed wire and barricades.

"A lot of things are not done right and people are getting fed up. We have to take a stand and do something for our future generation," businesswoman Kimberley Yang, a mother of three, said before the crackdown.

Najib's popularity dipped after a similar rally last July by some 20,000 people was dispersed by tear gas.

He has since instituted a raft of reforms intended to build support — including overhauling decades-old security laws — and agreed to new electoral regulations that include using indelible ink to cast ballot to curb multiple voting.

But activists said the measures were inadequate, alleging that the Election Commission is biased and that voter registration lists are tainted with fraudulent names. They also sought longer election campaigning periods and changes to ensure citizens living abroad can vote.

Saturday's demonstration remained peaceful for several hours, until a small group appeared to suddenly breach the police barriers. Authorities responded by firing tear gas and water laced with stinging chemicals.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said police acted "with utmost restraint," but opposition leaders and rights groups said the excessive use of tear gas and heavy-handed tactics were unjustified.

Malaysia's Bar Council, which deployed 80 monitors during the rally, said police fired tear gas directly at the crowd in a way that appeared to be designed to attack them, rather than letting them disperse quickly.

It said its teams also witnessed several acts of police brutality, such as assault of arrested persons.

Najib has accused opposition activists of trying to create disorder to sully the government's image.

"They are not concerned about fair and clean elections. It's all about politics and taking over (the government), he was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.

The National Front, which has governed Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, suffered its worst performance in 2008 elections, when it lost more than a third of Parliament's seats amid public complaints about corruption and racial discrimination.

Statement
សាររំលែកទុក្ខ
It is with great dismay and deep sorrow that civil society organizations learnt about the death of environmental activist, Mr. Chun Vutty. Mr. Vutty was shot dead on the Thursday, 26.April 2012 around 12. 30 pm in the MondulSeima District in the Province of Koh Kong.

Mr. Vutty was the founder and director of the Natural Resource Protection Group (NRPG) and an outspoken activist strongly engaged in the protection of the forests of Cambodia against illegal logging. He was a dedicated supporter of various community networks, NGOs, Associations and local Communities struggling to protect Cambodia´s natural resources throughout the country. He was our good friend and partner.

Owing to his tireless efforts to counteract illegal logging, Mr. Vutty received threats in the past. As members of civil society in Cambodia we condemn in the strongest terms any form of violence used against citizens and activists. In this tragic episode a member of the military police was also killed. We call upon all relevant authorities to immediately investigate the circumstances of their deaths in a comprehensive and transparent manner and bring the perpetrator to trial.

At this time, Civil Society mourns the death of Mr.Vutty.We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Vuttys family, friends and colleagues. At this sad time we also remember the bereaved family of the military police officer
His heroic efforts to protect Cambodian Forests will be remembered by and will always inspire Cambodian citizens and Civil Society.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Chithh Sam Ath, Executive Director of the NGO Forum on Cambodia, Tel: 012 928 585, email: samath@ngoforum.org.kh
Mr. Suon Sareth, Executive Secretary of the Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), Tel: 092 344 357, email: chrac_2006@yahoo.com
Mr. Vorn Pao, President of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economic Association (IDEA), Tel: 012 534 796, email: ideacambodia@gmail.com
Mr. Seng Sokheng, Community Peace Building Network (CPN), Tel: 092 324668, email: seng.sokheng@mail.com

Free Mrs. Yorm Bopha! Apply the Rule of Laws!

Monday, April 30, 2012

ក្រុមស្ត្រីបឹងកក់ផ្តើមយុទ្ធនាការដើរហែក្បួន តវ៉ារឿងជម្លោះដីដ៏រ៉ាំរ៉ៃ នៅកណ្តាលក្រុងភ្នំពេញ - កម្ពុជា - RFI

Who Killed Chea Vichea? (Khmer) on Vimeo

News & Broadcast - Opening Remarks: Opening Press Conference Spring Meetings

The Trap of Saving Cambodia Trailer on Vimeo

The Trap of Saving Cambodia Trailer

Loading more stuff…

Loading videos…

Sponsored Links

Keyboard Shortcuts

News & Broadcast - The Global Partnership for Social Accountability: A New Mechanism to Support Civil Society Organizations

BBC News - UN's Ban Ki-moon urges Burma to unite on path to change

Burma: Battle for Democracy

Reform in Burma

Malaysia: Police Brutality at BERSIH 3.0 Rally Condemned; Government Urged to Establish Independent Oversight Body for Police « FORUM-ASIA

Other Items on Malaysia

Other Items on East Asia Country Programme

HUn Sen-keep his promise?35% of forest left unfficial report

HUn Sen-keep his promise?35% of forest left unfficial report

Cambodian soldier said hurt in Thai border clash

Huge rally raises question on Malaysia poll timing

Monday, April 30, 2012

Popular Posts