By Soy Sophea
Cambodian environment experts are convinced that Cambodia will reach its goal of producing no chlorofluorocarbon halomethane, a greenhouse gas more commonly known
as CFC-12 by 2010.
Khieu Muth, secretary of state at the Ministry of Environment, said during a one-day seminar at Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh on March 7 that Cambodia looked set fair to achieve its target to abolish CFC-12. An 85 percent reduction in the use of CFC-12 must be achieved by 2008, and by 2010 there should be no CFC-12 emitted in any part of the nation. This will bring Cambodia in line with the rest of the world, as according to the Minister “There is no other country currently using it.”
Muth said that between 2002 and 2004, 94 tones of CFC-12 were used in Cambodia, but since a three-year project costing US $ 890,000, funded by the United Nations for Development Program and the Global Environment Fund, this figure has fallen dramatically.
He confirmed that Cambodia had well thought-out contingency plans to ensure smoother implementation of the project. “We have achieved a 22.8 metric ton reduction in consumption of CFCs as a refrigerant, as a result of retrofitting 3,402 cars with ozone
friendly means of air conditioning. This measure alone will allow us to reach our 85 percent reduction goal for 2008—by March 2008, 3,155 cars had been changed their refrigerants.
Nearly 50 participants from relevant parts of the project including Cambodian government officers, customs officers and garage owners took part in the workshop.
Cambodia ratified the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on June 27, 2001. The Vienna Convention was established to protect the ozone layer in 1985. Following this, the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer was introduced in 1997 with the objective of reducing and finally phasing out the use of these substances.
Monday, November 24, 2008
NGOs and Media Urge ECCC not to be Strict with Members of the Press
By Soy Sophea
Local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.
A talk was conducted by OSJI (Open Society Justice Initiative) in Phnom Penh on March 10 about the media’s role in the ECCC. This followed an argument between an ECCC Public Affairs Officer, Peter W. Foster and CTN (Cambodian Television Network)’s news anchor, Soy Sopheap.
According to Soy Sopheap, the argument came about after he pointed a video camera at
Duch, the former Toul Sleng S-21 prison chief during the Pol Pot regime.
The incident occurred when the accused was taken for re-enactments at Cheung Ek killing field. The participants urged the ECCC Public Affairs Office to explain and clarify the rules governing media involvement in the Court. This will help to avoid future disputes and ensure the media and NGOs do not violate the court’s internal rules. These internal rules have been the source of some controversy in the past and have lead to
tense moments at times in relationship between the press, NGOs and the ECCC.
CTN’s Soy Sopheap said that he had done nothing more than attempt to provide real information to the people about the progress of the Extraordinary Chambers. He was
acting on behalf of the victims and all Cambodians in general. He went on to say “What Cambodian people care about now is their land, not the Khmer Rouge trials. So why are you [the ECCC] so strict with us [the media]”
Ek Madra, a Cambodian journalist with 15 years experience, told the half-day discussion that journalists wanted to bring real facts about the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to light in order to inform Cambodians about the process of the court.
“Please don’t be so strict to journalists who work not only to inform the people of Cambodia but people across the world,” Madra said. “The ECCC officers say they would like local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Long Panhavuth, a Programme Officer for the Open Society Justice Initiative, said that the ECCC should behave in a positive way when dealing with the public, as it is considered to be symbolic of judicial reform in Cambodia and elsewhere.
An element of the ideal of impartial justice is transparency. Helen Jarvis, the ECCC’s Chief of Public Affairs, told the Cambodia Weekly a day after the conference that she welcomed the suggestion from the media regarding access to information from the court.
She added, “The ECCC is unlike most courts in Cambodia as it is a great deal more transparent than they are.”
Local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.
A talk was conducted by OSJI (Open Society Justice Initiative) in Phnom Penh on March 10 about the media’s role in the ECCC. This followed an argument between an ECCC Public Affairs Officer, Peter W. Foster and CTN (Cambodian Television Network)’s news anchor, Soy Sopheap.
According to Soy Sopheap, the argument came about after he pointed a video camera at
Duch, the former Toul Sleng S-21 prison chief during the Pol Pot regime.
The incident occurred when the accused was taken for re-enactments at Cheung Ek killing field. The participants urged the ECCC Public Affairs Office to explain and clarify the rules governing media involvement in the Court. This will help to avoid future disputes and ensure the media and NGOs do not violate the court’s internal rules. These internal rules have been the source of some controversy in the past and have lead to
tense moments at times in relationship between the press, NGOs and the ECCC.
CTN’s Soy Sopheap said that he had done nothing more than attempt to provide real information to the people about the progress of the Extraordinary Chambers. He was
acting on behalf of the victims and all Cambodians in general. He went on to say “What Cambodian people care about now is their land, not the Khmer Rouge trials. So why are you [the ECCC] so strict with us [the media]”
Ek Madra, a Cambodian journalist with 15 years experience, told the half-day discussion that journalists wanted to bring real facts about the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to light in order to inform Cambodians about the process of the court.
“Please don’t be so strict to journalists who work not only to inform the people of Cambodia but people across the world,” Madra said. “The ECCC officers say they would like local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Long Panhavuth, a Programme Officer for the Open Society Justice Initiative, said that the ECCC should behave in a positive way when dealing with the public, as it is considered to be symbolic of judicial reform in Cambodia and elsewhere.
An element of the ideal of impartial justice is transparency. Helen Jarvis, the ECCC’s Chief of Public Affairs, told the Cambodia Weekly a day after the conference that she welcomed the suggestion from the media regarding access to information from the court.
She added, “The ECCC is unlike most courts in Cambodia as it is a great deal more transparent than they are.”
Thai Premier Welcomes Cambodia's Preah Vihear Entering
By Soy Sophea
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who paid a two-day official visit to Cambodia on March 3-4, has expressed his heartiest support for the Cambodian government’s efforts to enter Preah
Vihear temple into UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of world heritage sites.
The event to decide the matter will be held in June this year in Canada. The Thai Premier told his counterpart Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during an official dialog at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) that Thailand backed Cambodia’s plans for her only Preah Vihear but would not extend similar support in relation to a controversial border issue, according to the Cambodian Government’s Spokesman Khieu Kanharith.
Khieu Kanharith, who is also the Information Minister, told reporters at a press conference on March 3 that the Thai Premier Samak confirmed that his government backed Cambodia in entering the controversial temple to the world heritage list, explaining that according to the Thai Premier, “Thailand has no objections…”
Last year, the MoFAIC Minister Hor Namhong asked the Thai government for support for Cambodia’s re-submission of a proposal to enter Preah Vihear temple to UNESCO’s world heritage list this year. The Minister Hor Namhong said Phnom Penh was ready to declare that the procedure would not affect the border demarcation.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who paid a two-day official visit to Cambodia on March 3-4, has expressed his heartiest support for the Cambodian government’s efforts to enter Preah
Vihear temple into UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of world heritage sites.
The event to decide the matter will be held in June this year in Canada. The Thai Premier told his counterpart Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during an official dialog at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) that Thailand backed Cambodia’s plans for her only Preah Vihear but would not extend similar support in relation to a controversial border issue, according to the Cambodian Government’s Spokesman Khieu Kanharith.
Khieu Kanharith, who is also the Information Minister, told reporters at a press conference on March 3 that the Thai Premier Samak confirmed that his government backed Cambodia in entering the controversial temple to the world heritage list, explaining that according to the Thai Premier, “Thailand has no objections…”
Last year, the MoFAIC Minister Hor Namhong asked the Thai government for support for Cambodia’s re-submission of a proposal to enter Preah Vihear temple to UNESCO’s world heritage list this year. The Minister Hor Namhong said Phnom Penh was ready to declare that the procedure would not affect the border demarcation.
Language Centers in Flats nearby Bak Touk High School Still Popular
By Soy Sophea
Just about 50 meters from street 169, along the street next to the southern fence of the Bak Touk High School, many flats have the learning schedules for foreign languages pasted outside their doors. These flats have been leased to provide classes for foreign language study.
Leaning on a mirrored book closet in front of his English classroom, a middle aged man was chatting to his colleagues while he took a rest after teaching many hours of English.
Looking into his classroom, Lim Hong sighed and said that today not so many students came to study English in his class, but he said he always welcomes students from everywhere over the country.
Lim Hong is an English teacher who has leased a flat in the same location for over twenty years in which to teach English. Even though there are many English centers established near his classroom, he still has many students studying English in his class.
Hong, who specializes in English grammar and English newspaper texts said that students who came to study and practice English in his class were generally university students and employed people.
“Here students spend only 1,000 riel per hour for English study. It is cheaper compared to others,” he said. “They come to study English here in detail because their study at university does not go into the same depth.”
He boasted that, “Teachers at other English centers or universities are not as good as we are, because students pay a monthly fee. Teachers don’t care about the students after the money has been paid.” he added. “If we adopted the same attitude, we could not compete
with other English training centers.”
He said he was proud that he had taught thousands of students, some of them becoming English teachers. He added that students who studied English in his class would not get any recognized certificates, but they could speak, listen, read and write as well, if not better, than the ones who trained at other language centers recognized by the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports.
However, he advised students that they had to study hard at home; otherwise their English would not improve even though they had learnt English in his class.
He said, “Here, they spend only one or two hours per day, which is insufficient if real improvement is to be made. Their time here must be augmented by study at home.”
Chuon Sopheak, 32, a student taking English classes nearby Bak Touk High School, said that he now spent his lunch break learning English. He pays 1,000 riel per hour for English classes translating newspapers from English to Khmer.
“I have studied here for nearly 10 years,” Sopheak said, “But I almost forgot it all because I work in a field which is not related to English language use and now I want to be reminded of it again.”
“It is a good place to study for me because teachers always take care of students and do explain in more detail,” he added.
Not only Sopheak, but also 16-year-old Seang Piseth a young man from Phnom Penh is interested in studying English over there. The thin, tall and pale student said that “Students studying here, study hard.” Pesith advised to his friends who attend other centers to study hard, otherwise their English would not improve. “It depends on students
themselves. If they do not study hard, they will achieve nothing.”
Besides English, Bak Touk also has other foreign language training centers dealing in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French, Korean and many more. Its reputation as a language
training area began in 1992 during the UNTAC (United Nation Transitional Authority in Cambodia) period. So far, hundreds of thousands of students who are mostly poor and come from provinces have been trained in foreign languages there.
Thiv Nora, who used to study English from 1995 to 2000, said that it was a good place for either students or poorly paid working people to learn to improve their foreign languages. The 28-year-old working man realized that students who paid a lot of money
at expensive classes would achieve nothing if they didn’t study in their own time. He recommended patience and practice as a route to success.
Prak Soyean, who is a manager of the ASEAN Mixture School located near Bak Touk High School, also expressed positive thoughts about these schools and their ability to cater for a wide variety of learners and their needs.
Soyean, who monitors teachers at his schools, said that, “I cannot hope to challenge the other high visibility language centers, but I care about my students and always try to give them the best value for money.”
Just about 50 meters from street 169, along the street next to the southern fence of the Bak Touk High School, many flats have the learning schedules for foreign languages pasted outside their doors. These flats have been leased to provide classes for foreign language study.
Leaning on a mirrored book closet in front of his English classroom, a middle aged man was chatting to his colleagues while he took a rest after teaching many hours of English.
Looking into his classroom, Lim Hong sighed and said that today not so many students came to study English in his class, but he said he always welcomes students from everywhere over the country.
Lim Hong is an English teacher who has leased a flat in the same location for over twenty years in which to teach English. Even though there are many English centers established near his classroom, he still has many students studying English in his class.
Hong, who specializes in English grammar and English newspaper texts said that students who came to study and practice English in his class were generally university students and employed people.
“Here students spend only 1,000 riel per hour for English study. It is cheaper compared to others,” he said. “They come to study English here in detail because their study at university does not go into the same depth.”
He boasted that, “Teachers at other English centers or universities are not as good as we are, because students pay a monthly fee. Teachers don’t care about the students after the money has been paid.” he added. “If we adopted the same attitude, we could not compete
with other English training centers.”
He said he was proud that he had taught thousands of students, some of them becoming English teachers. He added that students who studied English in his class would not get any recognized certificates, but they could speak, listen, read and write as well, if not better, than the ones who trained at other language centers recognized by the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports.
However, he advised students that they had to study hard at home; otherwise their English would not improve even though they had learnt English in his class.
He said, “Here, they spend only one or two hours per day, which is insufficient if real improvement is to be made. Their time here must be augmented by study at home.”
Chuon Sopheak, 32, a student taking English classes nearby Bak Touk High School, said that he now spent his lunch break learning English. He pays 1,000 riel per hour for English classes translating newspapers from English to Khmer.
“I have studied here for nearly 10 years,” Sopheak said, “But I almost forgot it all because I work in a field which is not related to English language use and now I want to be reminded of it again.”
“It is a good place to study for me because teachers always take care of students and do explain in more detail,” he added.
Not only Sopheak, but also 16-year-old Seang Piseth a young man from Phnom Penh is interested in studying English over there. The thin, tall and pale student said that “Students studying here, study hard.” Pesith advised to his friends who attend other centers to study hard, otherwise their English would not improve. “It depends on students
themselves. If they do not study hard, they will achieve nothing.”
Besides English, Bak Touk also has other foreign language training centers dealing in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, French, Korean and many more. Its reputation as a language
training area began in 1992 during the UNTAC (United Nation Transitional Authority in Cambodia) period. So far, hundreds of thousands of students who are mostly poor and come from provinces have been trained in foreign languages there.
Thiv Nora, who used to study English from 1995 to 2000, said that it was a good place for either students or poorly paid working people to learn to improve their foreign languages. The 28-year-old working man realized that students who paid a lot of money
at expensive classes would achieve nothing if they didn’t study in their own time. He recommended patience and practice as a route to success.
Prak Soyean, who is a manager of the ASEAN Mixture School located near Bak Touk High School, also expressed positive thoughts about these schools and their ability to cater for a wide variety of learners and their needs.
Soyean, who monitors teachers at his schools, said that, “I cannot hope to challenge the other high visibility language centers, but I care about my students and always try to give them the best value for money.”
Job Market Still Limited in Cambodia
By Soy Sophea
Cambodian officials, youth association officers and lecturers worry about Cambodia’s
future development if the younger generation continues to find work in services or industries in which they have little experience and no educational background.
The problem has been exercising minds in the highest ranks of government in Cambodia.
The Prime Minister Hun Sen advised students during a diploma distribution ceremony to students at the Phnom Penh Royal University on March 5 that in the free market, work was hard to find. “If students do not study hard, they will not get a decent job,” said the Prime Minister. “You [the students] have to be skilled and talented; otherwise you will experience trouble finding work.”
Chea Se, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, said the country would not develop smoothly if the students found jobs for which they had not been trained. He recognized that this trend dated back to the 1980s when he was young.
The Under Secretary of State for Education said, “I have been concerned about this for many years and yet the situation has remained the same. Our society will not develop along rational lines if our human resources are trained for one task, but performing another,” he added.
Mak Sarath, head of the Youth Council of Cambodia, agreed that there was no choice for Cambodian youth. He raised the example of medical students who were unable to find work in hospitals and consequently found employment as accountants or marketers/distributors.
Sarath said, “They [students] have no choice to work in the field that they have learnt.”
Commenting on this issue, a foreign English teacher, who asked not to be named, voiced concern for Cambodian students and their permanent employability when they found jobs away from their fields of study.
The teacher added that students in this category could only hope to command low wages.
The Under Secretary of State for Education Chea Se explained that this phenomenon was a result of the needs of students to support their families.
He pointed out that there are a limited number of subjects studied at universities that may guarantee immediate employment in a closely related field, such as engineering and education. However, other fields are not so relevant to Cambodia’s current job market needs, even though the student may study marketing, business, or accounting.
Under current conditions, only one in ten students is employed, said Mak Sarath, quoting a recent Youth Star of Cambodia report. And the job that one student got is in a different
fi eld of study.
Bun Reoun, who studies general English at diploma level, said that he had lost confidence since he found a job away from his study subject. He added that he had just dropped his third-year bachelor decree in management to work as a shoe designer
for a Pilipino factory in Phnom Penh.
He said he regretted that he chose to work away from his study subject, adding that there was no choice as he wanted money to maintain his study. However, he said everything
had changed, with no real job, no real money and no more study.
He said, “I am now unemployed. I need money to continue my study, so I do not mind whatever job I do.”
A 25-year-old Student Chan Sotra looked happier because he had managed to find a job related to his study background. Sotra, who holds a bachelor decree in tourism management, said that he was lucky to get a job related to his study background at the university.
He added that he had started working as a tour operator with a local tour company since he was a third-year college student. Sotra said, “I am very happy with my job and my study.”
He added that, “We should work with what we have studied. Even though we might get a lower salary in the beginning, we will get higher pay later on.”
He added that working within the study field is more enjoyable and has provided him with much experience. Working as tour operator, he has traveled extensively in the Asia
Pacific region, Thailand, Laos PDR, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.
Cambodian officials, youth association officers and lecturers worry about Cambodia’s
future development if the younger generation continues to find work in services or industries in which they have little experience and no educational background.
The problem has been exercising minds in the highest ranks of government in Cambodia.
The Prime Minister Hun Sen advised students during a diploma distribution ceremony to students at the Phnom Penh Royal University on March 5 that in the free market, work was hard to find. “If students do not study hard, they will not get a decent job,” said the Prime Minister. “You [the students] have to be skilled and talented; otherwise you will experience trouble finding work.”
Chea Se, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, said the country would not develop smoothly if the students found jobs for which they had not been trained. He recognized that this trend dated back to the 1980s when he was young.
The Under Secretary of State for Education said, “I have been concerned about this for many years and yet the situation has remained the same. Our society will not develop along rational lines if our human resources are trained for one task, but performing another,” he added.
Mak Sarath, head of the Youth Council of Cambodia, agreed that there was no choice for Cambodian youth. He raised the example of medical students who were unable to find work in hospitals and consequently found employment as accountants or marketers/distributors.
Sarath said, “They [students] have no choice to work in the field that they have learnt.”
Commenting on this issue, a foreign English teacher, who asked not to be named, voiced concern for Cambodian students and their permanent employability when they found jobs away from their fields of study.
The teacher added that students in this category could only hope to command low wages.
The Under Secretary of State for Education Chea Se explained that this phenomenon was a result of the needs of students to support their families.
He pointed out that there are a limited number of subjects studied at universities that may guarantee immediate employment in a closely related field, such as engineering and education. However, other fields are not so relevant to Cambodia’s current job market needs, even though the student may study marketing, business, or accounting.
Under current conditions, only one in ten students is employed, said Mak Sarath, quoting a recent Youth Star of Cambodia report. And the job that one student got is in a different
fi eld of study.
Bun Reoun, who studies general English at diploma level, said that he had lost confidence since he found a job away from his study subject. He added that he had just dropped his third-year bachelor decree in management to work as a shoe designer
for a Pilipino factory in Phnom Penh.
He said he regretted that he chose to work away from his study subject, adding that there was no choice as he wanted money to maintain his study. However, he said everything
had changed, with no real job, no real money and no more study.
He said, “I am now unemployed. I need money to continue my study, so I do not mind whatever job I do.”
A 25-year-old Student Chan Sotra looked happier because he had managed to find a job related to his study background. Sotra, who holds a bachelor decree in tourism management, said that he was lucky to get a job related to his study background at the university.
He added that he had started working as a tour operator with a local tour company since he was a third-year college student. Sotra said, “I am very happy with my job and my study.”
He added that, “We should work with what we have studied. Even though we might get a lower salary in the beginning, we will get higher pay later on.”
He added that working within the study field is more enjoyable and has provided him with much experience. Working as tour operator, he has traveled extensively in the Asia
Pacific region, Thailand, Laos PDR, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.
Information Minister Appeals to Print Media Owners to Help Their Resellers
By Soy Sophea
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith on March 11, urged all presidents of media associations in the kingdom to find a workable method to help news vendors.
In a statement following discussions with news merchants, the Information Minister said that Hok Bunnath, Chairwoman of the Newspaper Resellers Association asked for his
intervention to encourage publishers to help news vendors make more profit. He added that the profit vendors earned was not much.
Pen Samithy, Editor-in-Chief of a Khmer language newspaper, said that his publication could not cut prices. According to him, news publishers are also facing difficulties as a result of inflation. He added that in his opinion, the solution lay in increasing the price of newsprint to around 1000 riel per copy. Beyond this advice, he was unable to help them.
Samithy, who is also the President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists, said that increasing the price meant that he could share profits with the vendors, but he could not say when the increase would be made.
“We need to talk to other newspaper owners to make sure we are all reading from the same page,” he said.
A 45-year-old Ty Sodany started her career selling newspapers and magazines in 1993. She said she could make about 100 riel per newspaper sold at 700 riel and 500 riel per copy from local magazine sales.
Sodany, whose newsstand is located next to Wat Lanka near the Independence Monument, added that, copy from local magazine sales. Sodany, whose newsstand is located next to Wat Lanka near the Independence Monument, added that, profit we make and the ever rising prices.” She was therefore eager to agree with Pen Samithy’s idea to increase the price of newsprint.
Soy Sopheap, another newspaper publisher agreed with the vendors. He suggested that the leading daily newspapers which get more income from advertisement should be the first to consider to the vendors’ welfare.
Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith on March 11, urged all presidents of media associations in the kingdom to find a workable method to help news vendors.
In a statement following discussions with news merchants, the Information Minister said that Hok Bunnath, Chairwoman of the Newspaper Resellers Association asked for his
intervention to encourage publishers to help news vendors make more profit. He added that the profit vendors earned was not much.
Pen Samithy, Editor-in-Chief of a Khmer language newspaper, said that his publication could not cut prices. According to him, news publishers are also facing difficulties as a result of inflation. He added that in his opinion, the solution lay in increasing the price of newsprint to around 1000 riel per copy. Beyond this advice, he was unable to help them.
Samithy, who is also the President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists, said that increasing the price meant that he could share profits with the vendors, but he could not say when the increase would be made.
“We need to talk to other newspaper owners to make sure we are all reading from the same page,” he said.
A 45-year-old Ty Sodany started her career selling newspapers and magazines in 1993. She said she could make about 100 riel per newspaper sold at 700 riel and 500 riel per copy from local magazine sales.
Sodany, whose newsstand is located next to Wat Lanka near the Independence Monument, added that, copy from local magazine sales. Sodany, whose newsstand is located next to Wat Lanka near the Independence Monument, added that, profit we make and the ever rising prices.” She was therefore eager to agree with Pen Samithy’s idea to increase the price of newsprint.
Soy Sopheap, another newspaper publisher agreed with the vendors. He suggested that the leading daily newspapers which get more income from advertisement should be the first to consider to the vendors’ welfare.
Hun Sen: Tourism Boom in Cambodia not Because of Exhibition
By Soy Sophea
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on March 5 recommended that the Ministry of
Tourism not spend money on an exhibition abroad which would waste hundreds of thousands of US dollars.
Making his remarks at the closing of a two-day annual tourism assessment forum at the Chaktomuk Theatre in Phnom Penh last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that he had
rejected a Tourism Ministry proposal which recommended spending more than one hundred thousand $US to participate in a tourism exhibition in Italy over the next few months.
“I said “NO” to the useless expenditure over the exhibition as it wastes our money,” the Premier Hun Sen said. The Prime Minister recommended that the way to enhance tourism
was to organize warm hospitality for the arrivals, and to ensure that everything was priced reasonably.
“If you don’t have national security and safety, no one will visit your [country],” he said. “However, you also have to have warm and well-prepared hospitality.”
The prime minister also pointed out the importance of the visa on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports and other border checkpoints with the neighboring nations—Thailand, Vietnam and Laos PDR.
Moeun Son, who is a chairman with the Tourism Enterprise of Cambodia, agreed with Hun Sen’s recommendation. However, he also voiced concern over increasing prices, which are much greater than for other tourist traps in the region. He said it costs double to buy a package tour to Cambodia compared to Malaysia or Thailand.
“Cambodia’s tour package price is much too expensive,” he said. “Tourists spend a lot of money on airport taxes before their holiday has even begun.”
Moeun Son, who also runs his own tourism business, said that big investors in the tourism industry in Cambodia have been considering raising the price of airport taxes. “They do not so much care for Cambodia’s future tourism,” he added. “They want to earn a lot of money now without any concern for future visitors.”
The Cambodian Premier also appealed to all involved in the tourism business to spend less on promotions and pay more attention to their services and hospitality.
Son Vichet, a ticket sales officer for a local tour company, said that even though arrivals had increased by more than two million, his ticket sales remained at about 10 to 15 per day. He said that the government should control prices for tourism services if they wanted to develop a sustainable tourist industry in the kingdom. “The Government should involve itself in prices, especially airport tax and transportation fee charges,” he said.
According to Tourism Ministry statistics, Cambodia’s tourism industry continued to grow in 2007, with 2,015,128 international visitors—an 18.5 percent increase compared to the 2006 figure of 1,700,041. Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat arrivals increased with 1,120,586 visitors last year representing a 55.61 percent, while Phnom Penh and other destinations
saw 894,542 more visitors, a 44.39 percent increase over previous years.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on March 5 recommended that the Ministry of
Tourism not spend money on an exhibition abroad which would waste hundreds of thousands of US dollars.
Making his remarks at the closing of a two-day annual tourism assessment forum at the Chaktomuk Theatre in Phnom Penh last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that he had
rejected a Tourism Ministry proposal which recommended spending more than one hundred thousand $US to participate in a tourism exhibition in Italy over the next few months.
“I said “NO” to the useless expenditure over the exhibition as it wastes our money,” the Premier Hun Sen said. The Prime Minister recommended that the way to enhance tourism
was to organize warm hospitality for the arrivals, and to ensure that everything was priced reasonably.
“If you don’t have national security and safety, no one will visit your [country],” he said. “However, you also have to have warm and well-prepared hospitality.”
The prime minister also pointed out the importance of the visa on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports and other border checkpoints with the neighboring nations—Thailand, Vietnam and Laos PDR.
Moeun Son, who is a chairman with the Tourism Enterprise of Cambodia, agreed with Hun Sen’s recommendation. However, he also voiced concern over increasing prices, which are much greater than for other tourist traps in the region. He said it costs double to buy a package tour to Cambodia compared to Malaysia or Thailand.
“Cambodia’s tour package price is much too expensive,” he said. “Tourists spend a lot of money on airport taxes before their holiday has even begun.”
Moeun Son, who also runs his own tourism business, said that big investors in the tourism industry in Cambodia have been considering raising the price of airport taxes. “They do not so much care for Cambodia’s future tourism,” he added. “They want to earn a lot of money now without any concern for future visitors.”
The Cambodian Premier also appealed to all involved in the tourism business to spend less on promotions and pay more attention to their services and hospitality.
Son Vichet, a ticket sales officer for a local tour company, said that even though arrivals had increased by more than two million, his ticket sales remained at about 10 to 15 per day. He said that the government should control prices for tourism services if they wanted to develop a sustainable tourist industry in the kingdom. “The Government should involve itself in prices, especially airport tax and transportation fee charges,” he said.
According to Tourism Ministry statistics, Cambodia’s tourism industry continued to grow in 2007, with 2,015,128 international visitors—an 18.5 percent increase compared to the 2006 figure of 1,700,041. Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat arrivals increased with 1,120,586 visitors last year representing a 55.61 percent, while Phnom Penh and other destinations
saw 894,542 more visitors, a 44.39 percent increase over previous years.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Cambodian Economy Grows at 6.5 % in 2008: 4.75% predicted in 2009
BY SOY SOPHEA
The global slowdown will probably mean lower foreign investment in Cambodia and its economic growth is likely to slow to 6.5 percent this year and 4.8 percent in 2009, according to David G. Cowen, Deputy Division Chief of Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Cowen said garment exports and tourist arrivals are slowing, reflecting a rapid downturn in the economies of key trading partners, as well as illustrating the strain on Cambodia’s competitiveness. This is due in part to the strength of both the riel and U.S. dollar, operating in a situation of tighter global liquidity conditions.
“We see that the external conditions will continue to be very challenging. We are expecting foreign investment to be lower next year and that is one of the reasons we are forecasting a lower growth rate in the construction sector,” he said during a press conference at the end of a visit in Cambodia from October 23 to November 7.
Following several years of very strong performance, Cambodia’s economy faces a number of challenging headwinds, the IMF noted that after a robust start, growth momentum eased over the course of 2008, and more recently, the economy has began to experience adverse effects as the implications of global financial stress are felt.
“These factors are expected to lead to an easing in growth to 6.5 percent in Cambodia, slowing to 4.75 percent as 2009 progresses.” he said at the press conference on November 7, in Phnom Penh.
Cowen, who met with Cambodian economy officials, private sector delegates, donors, NGOs, and Labor unions, as well as the National Bank of Cambodia, said that Cambodia had attracted around $750 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2008 but the figure was likely to be 25 to 30 percent lower next year.
Garments brought in $3.8 billion last year and the country attracted 2.1 million tourists, helped by the return of relative political stability.
Hang Chuon Naron, Secretary General at the Ministry of Economic and Finance, said that the economic growth forecast in 2008 was produced by his ministry with all cooperation form the IMF.
“We have predicted economic growth would stand at 7 percent in early this year, but this figure has been revised down to 6.5 percent due to the global financial crisis. The Royal Government of Cambodia has accepted the forecast,” he told the Cambodia Weekly by telephone after IMF released the statement during the press conference on November 7.
The Secretary General continued to say that Cambodian economic growth for 2009 is expected to grow at 4.45 percent. However, he said that the next year’s economic forecast is merely a prediction. “Practically, it will either increase or decrease, depending on the performance of the big players in the global economy.”
However, Naron said that a reversal in these factors in the second half of 2008, led by lower oil prices, should result in a decline in headline inflation from a peak of about 26 percent in May to around 15.50 percent by year’s end. With domestic demand pressures projected to ease, inflation should continue trending downward next year.
Cowen added that the external current account deficit (including official transfers) is estimated to have widened significantly in 2008, to 12.25 percent of GDP, reflecting the impact of higher oil prices and strong imports fueled by domestic demand.
He continued to say that given strong inflows in the first half of 2008, gross international reserves rose to about $2.2 billion at end of September 2008. For 2009, the current account inflows account for around eight percent of GDP because the impact of lower oil prices slowing import demand more than offsets weaker garment exports and tourism.
However, the visiting mission also commended the authorities for maintaining a policy of steady budget implementation, particularly through the election period.
Fiscal policy discussions centered on the appropriate response to the projected slowdown in economic activity in Cambodia. The mission considered that, given weakening growth prospects and a projected reduction in inflation pressures, some countercyclical easing of fiscal policy would be warranted in 2009.
The National Bank of Cambodia responded appropriately by doubling the reserve requirement on foreign currency bank deposits to 16 percent in June. The mission emphasized that firm enforcement of prudential regulation would help to safeguard Cambodia’s banking system.
In its latest forecast for world economic growth, IMF sharply revised its growth projections downward, saying that “global activity is slowing quickly.”
“Prospects for global growth have deteriorated over the past month, as financial sector de-leveraging has continued and producer and consumer confidence have fallen,” according to an IMF World Economic Outlook report, published on November 6.
IMF also said that world growth is projected to slow from five percent in 2007 to 3.75 percent in 2008 and just over two percent in 2009, with the downturn led by the underperformance of advanced economies.
The global slowdown will probably mean lower foreign investment in Cambodia and its economic growth is likely to slow to 6.5 percent this year and 4.8 percent in 2009, according to David G. Cowen, Deputy Division Chief of Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Cowen said garment exports and tourist arrivals are slowing, reflecting a rapid downturn in the economies of key trading partners, as well as illustrating the strain on Cambodia’s competitiveness. This is due in part to the strength of both the riel and U.S. dollar, operating in a situation of tighter global liquidity conditions.
“We see that the external conditions will continue to be very challenging. We are expecting foreign investment to be lower next year and that is one of the reasons we are forecasting a lower growth rate in the construction sector,” he said during a press conference at the end of a visit in Cambodia from October 23 to November 7.
Following several years of very strong performance, Cambodia’s economy faces a number of challenging headwinds, the IMF noted that after a robust start, growth momentum eased over the course of 2008, and more recently, the economy has began to experience adverse effects as the implications of global financial stress are felt.
“These factors are expected to lead to an easing in growth to 6.5 percent in Cambodia, slowing to 4.75 percent as 2009 progresses.” he said at the press conference on November 7, in Phnom Penh.
Cowen, who met with Cambodian economy officials, private sector delegates, donors, NGOs, and Labor unions, as well as the National Bank of Cambodia, said that Cambodia had attracted around $750 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2008 but the figure was likely to be 25 to 30 percent lower next year.
Garments brought in $3.8 billion last year and the country attracted 2.1 million tourists, helped by the return of relative political stability.
Hang Chuon Naron, Secretary General at the Ministry of Economic and Finance, said that the economic growth forecast in 2008 was produced by his ministry with all cooperation form the IMF.
“We have predicted economic growth would stand at 7 percent in early this year, but this figure has been revised down to 6.5 percent due to the global financial crisis. The Royal Government of Cambodia has accepted the forecast,” he told the Cambodia Weekly by telephone after IMF released the statement during the press conference on November 7.
The Secretary General continued to say that Cambodian economic growth for 2009 is expected to grow at 4.45 percent. However, he said that the next year’s economic forecast is merely a prediction. “Practically, it will either increase or decrease, depending on the performance of the big players in the global economy.”
However, Naron said that a reversal in these factors in the second half of 2008, led by lower oil prices, should result in a decline in headline inflation from a peak of about 26 percent in May to around 15.50 percent by year’s end. With domestic demand pressures projected to ease, inflation should continue trending downward next year.
Cowen added that the external current account deficit (including official transfers) is estimated to have widened significantly in 2008, to 12.25 percent of GDP, reflecting the impact of higher oil prices and strong imports fueled by domestic demand.
He continued to say that given strong inflows in the first half of 2008, gross international reserves rose to about $2.2 billion at end of September 2008. For 2009, the current account inflows account for around eight percent of GDP because the impact of lower oil prices slowing import demand more than offsets weaker garment exports and tourism.
However, the visiting mission also commended the authorities for maintaining a policy of steady budget implementation, particularly through the election period.
Fiscal policy discussions centered on the appropriate response to the projected slowdown in economic activity in Cambodia. The mission considered that, given weakening growth prospects and a projected reduction in inflation pressures, some countercyclical easing of fiscal policy would be warranted in 2009.
The National Bank of Cambodia responded appropriately by doubling the reserve requirement on foreign currency bank deposits to 16 percent in June. The mission emphasized that firm enforcement of prudential regulation would help to safeguard Cambodia’s banking system.
In its latest forecast for world economic growth, IMF sharply revised its growth projections downward, saying that “global activity is slowing quickly.”
“Prospects for global growth have deteriorated over the past month, as financial sector de-leveraging has continued and producer and consumer confidence have fallen,” according to an IMF World Economic Outlook report, published on November 6.
IMF also said that world growth is projected to slow from five percent in 2007 to 3.75 percent in 2008 and just over two percent in 2009, with the downturn led by the underperformance of advanced economies.
Border Conflict Talks
Boy Sophea
The Cambodian and Thai Prime Ministers agreed during a meeting in Beijing October 24 that their nations will avoid any more armed clashes over a border dispute, according
to foreign ministers from both nations.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat discussed the issue during bilateral talks on the sidelines of a 43-nation Asian-European summit in China’s capital, Beijing.
“Both sides have to advise their troops not to have confrontations any longer,” Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat told reporters as he summarized agreements made between the two leaders.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, made similar remarks and described the atmosphere of the talks as “very good, very friendly.”
“We are moving rapidly along the right track, not only to solve the problem of the borders between our two countries but also to improve our neighborliness and cooperation,” Hor Namhong said.
He added, “What happened between us we have to solve peacefully and amicably, for the sake of the neighborliness that has characterized our relations in the past,” On Friday October 24, Thai military commanders insisted that talks with their Cambodian counterparts were easing border tensions after deadly clashes last week, but refused to back down from front line positions.
The senior military officials, whose talks began over a round of golf a day earlier, met to defuse the border dispute near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which erupted into a fire fight on October 15 that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead.
The Thai commanders, led by Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, said there was a “friendly atmosphere” with the Cambodians but insisted Thailand’s soldiers would stand firm. “The Thai side strongly reiterates that the position of our troop deployments is clearly inside Thai territory,” said a statement from Thai commanders released as
the Friday meetings began.
The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation, with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area.
The Cambodian and Thai Prime Ministers agreed during a meeting in Beijing October 24 that their nations will avoid any more armed clashes over a border dispute, according
to foreign ministers from both nations.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat discussed the issue during bilateral talks on the sidelines of a 43-nation Asian-European summit in China’s capital, Beijing.
“Both sides have to advise their troops not to have confrontations any longer,” Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat told reporters as he summarized agreements made between the two leaders.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, made similar remarks and described the atmosphere of the talks as “very good, very friendly.”
“We are moving rapidly along the right track, not only to solve the problem of the borders between our two countries but also to improve our neighborliness and cooperation,” Hor Namhong said.
He added, “What happened between us we have to solve peacefully and amicably, for the sake of the neighborliness that has characterized our relations in the past,” On Friday October 24, Thai military commanders insisted that talks with their Cambodian counterparts were easing border tensions after deadly clashes last week, but refused to back down from front line positions.
The senior military officials, whose talks began over a round of golf a day earlier, met to defuse the border dispute near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which erupted into a fire fight on October 15 that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead.
The Thai commanders, led by Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, said there was a “friendly atmosphere” with the Cambodians but insisted Thailand’s soldiers would stand firm. “The Thai side strongly reiterates that the position of our troop deployments is clearly inside Thai territory,” said a statement from Thai commanders released as
the Friday meetings began.
The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation, with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area.
CSC Provides Surgery Service for Children in Cambodia
By Soy Sophea
Dr. Jim Gollogly, Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), said his plan is to help Cambodian children for the next 20 years if the Cambodian Ministry of Health will extend a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cover the period. He noted that his centre is currently in the third mandate of a 5-year extension.
He said that his centre is located in Kien Kleang hospital, Russei Keo district of Phnom Penh. It is recognized as the peak organization in Cambodia providing a range of specialized rehabilitation surgical services, medical training and support directly to the people of Cambodia.
Dr. Gollogly said that CSC aims to improve the quality of life for Cambodian children in need by providing rehabilitative surgery and general rehabilitation programs. He added that a central role of this mission is a program to train local surgeons and health workers, focusing on the development of sustainable health services. He added that CSC provides a wide range of surgical services, encompassing facial reconstruction, orthopedic surgery, eye surgery, and plastic & burns surgery.
Dr. Gollogly’s concept is to help Cambodian people and he has been doing so ever since he first came here in 1992 on a mission with American Red Cross. He recalled that during the first mission in Cambodia he found a worrying situation wherein the basics of surgical procedures were largely forgotten.
He remembered the early cases where people were saved from living with the stigma of a disease that was, with the proper care and attention, completely curable. The establishment of his center here in Cambodia gave these people the opportunity to receive care and to resume life free from the blight society so readily imposes on those who carry a physical “blemish”.
“I was shocking to see Cambodian people in rural areas suffering from curable diseases,” he said. “I had to do something for them.”
According to a report available on the CSC website, around 500 million or 12% of the world's population suffer from some form of disability. Disabilities bring misery, reduce economic status, destroy social integration and cause untold suffering through stigmatization and marginalization from society.
In the last 30 years international agencies have made great efforts to assist with health-care in developing countries, focusing on the principles of 'primary health care'; e.g. sanitation, clean water, Maternal Child Health (MCH). However, surgery has been considerably under-emphasized as 'too sophisticated and expensive' for widespread impact.
Dr, Gollogly said that CSC's experience shows that safe, simple surgery is easy to organize, costs a reasonable average of $100 per operation, and is highly effective. The results of successful surgery are beneficial to the patient, gratifying to the surgeon and the technology, whilst perhaps not as advanced as the latest magnetic resonance imagers is practical and dependable.
The costs are sustainable by all developing countries and are similar to the costs for medical treatment of chronic disease. “Our donors are always pleased to sponsor us when the see the cost per operation reasonable and the outcome so successful.”
Dr. Jim added that salaries for employees are not too high and donors are always welcome to contribute to help keep the running expenses under control as it sets about the important business of treating up to 5,000 patients per year.
Kim Yinna, with eight years of nursing experience upon which to base the title Chief of Nursing at CSC, said his centre demonstrates the huge benefits to be gained in promoting simple, safe rehabilitation surgery to developing countries by organizing treatment and training programs. He added that CSC is one of very few organizations promoting this doctrine, and stands almost alone in turning the fine sentiments into practical healthcare for the poor.
“I am happy to be a member of this team as we all contribute to the welfare of our countrymen and women. I have the highest regard for Centers such as these who provide the gift of health freely to those who cannot afford to pay. We provide a full service and the last thing we want our young patients and their parents to worry about is food and accommodation during their hospital visits, so we are able to help them here too.
He continued, “Our work is inspired by the desire to help the less fortunate members of our community. This desire is not unique to the Khmer soul, but is rather a quality of human dignity. Therefore foreign doctors travel to visit us on a regular basis and we are there to provide a suitable environment for them to operate in.”
Emma Levy, Relations Officer at the Children’s Surgical Center, said that it provides general and eye surgery freely to everyone, with non-emergency priority given to those who would find it difficult to pay for treatment otherwise. She too spoke of the pleasure she experienced in this work.
Thong Phoeurng, 70, grand mother to a 20-year-old female patient who has been hospitalized in the centre for 5 months, said that she would have had no hope in finding a cure for her grandchild, had the center not provided free care and accommodation on a daily basis.
“I have stayed and looked after my grand child for 5 months without paying anything,” she said. Her grand child was a victim of a traffic accident in Kampong Chham province.
She said the shattered joints in her right leg were being rebuilt in a process known as anthroplasty and there are high hopes that the young lady will walk again as gracefully as any youth, with perhaps the faintest hint of a limp to show for her traumatic ordeal.
Moul Mon, 55, other patient of the centre, whose right leg was broken in a fall from a palm tree last year, said that he had recently had an operation on the bones. Previously, he held out little hope of ever being able to walk again; but having gratefully handed responsibility for his care over to the center, he was confident that he would be as hale and hearty as ever and was looking forward to climbing more palm trees with a little more care next time.
Dr. Jim Gollogly, Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), said his plan is to help Cambodian children for the next 20 years if the Cambodian Ministry of Health will extend a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cover the period. He noted that his centre is currently in the third mandate of a 5-year extension.
He said that his centre is located in Kien Kleang hospital, Russei Keo district of Phnom Penh. It is recognized as the peak organization in Cambodia providing a range of specialized rehabilitation surgical services, medical training and support directly to the people of Cambodia.
Dr. Gollogly said that CSC aims to improve the quality of life for Cambodian children in need by providing rehabilitative surgery and general rehabilitation programs. He added that a central role of this mission is a program to train local surgeons and health workers, focusing on the development of sustainable health services. He added that CSC provides a wide range of surgical services, encompassing facial reconstruction, orthopedic surgery, eye surgery, and plastic & burns surgery.
Dr. Gollogly’s concept is to help Cambodian people and he has been doing so ever since he first came here in 1992 on a mission with American Red Cross. He recalled that during the first mission in Cambodia he found a worrying situation wherein the basics of surgical procedures were largely forgotten.
He remembered the early cases where people were saved from living with the stigma of a disease that was, with the proper care and attention, completely curable. The establishment of his center here in Cambodia gave these people the opportunity to receive care and to resume life free from the blight society so readily imposes on those who carry a physical “blemish”.
“I was shocking to see Cambodian people in rural areas suffering from curable diseases,” he said. “I had to do something for them.”
According to a report available on the CSC website, around 500 million or 12% of the world's population suffer from some form of disability. Disabilities bring misery, reduce economic status, destroy social integration and cause untold suffering through stigmatization and marginalization from society.
In the last 30 years international agencies have made great efforts to assist with health-care in developing countries, focusing on the principles of 'primary health care'; e.g. sanitation, clean water, Maternal Child Health (MCH). However, surgery has been considerably under-emphasized as 'too sophisticated and expensive' for widespread impact.
Dr, Gollogly said that CSC's experience shows that safe, simple surgery is easy to organize, costs a reasonable average of $100 per operation, and is highly effective. The results of successful surgery are beneficial to the patient, gratifying to the surgeon and the technology, whilst perhaps not as advanced as the latest magnetic resonance imagers is practical and dependable.
The costs are sustainable by all developing countries and are similar to the costs for medical treatment of chronic disease. “Our donors are always pleased to sponsor us when the see the cost per operation reasonable and the outcome so successful.”
Dr. Jim added that salaries for employees are not too high and donors are always welcome to contribute to help keep the running expenses under control as it sets about the important business of treating up to 5,000 patients per year.
Kim Yinna, with eight years of nursing experience upon which to base the title Chief of Nursing at CSC, said his centre demonstrates the huge benefits to be gained in promoting simple, safe rehabilitation surgery to developing countries by organizing treatment and training programs. He added that CSC is one of very few organizations promoting this doctrine, and stands almost alone in turning the fine sentiments into practical healthcare for the poor.
“I am happy to be a member of this team as we all contribute to the welfare of our countrymen and women. I have the highest regard for Centers such as these who provide the gift of health freely to those who cannot afford to pay. We provide a full service and the last thing we want our young patients and their parents to worry about is food and accommodation during their hospital visits, so we are able to help them here too.
He continued, “Our work is inspired by the desire to help the less fortunate members of our community. This desire is not unique to the Khmer soul, but is rather a quality of human dignity. Therefore foreign doctors travel to visit us on a regular basis and we are there to provide a suitable environment for them to operate in.”
Emma Levy, Relations Officer at the Children’s Surgical Center, said that it provides general and eye surgery freely to everyone, with non-emergency priority given to those who would find it difficult to pay for treatment otherwise. She too spoke of the pleasure she experienced in this work.
Thong Phoeurng, 70, grand mother to a 20-year-old female patient who has been hospitalized in the centre for 5 months, said that she would have had no hope in finding a cure for her grandchild, had the center not provided free care and accommodation on a daily basis.
“I have stayed and looked after my grand child for 5 months without paying anything,” she said. Her grand child was a victim of a traffic accident in Kampong Chham province.
She said the shattered joints in her right leg were being rebuilt in a process known as anthroplasty and there are high hopes that the young lady will walk again as gracefully as any youth, with perhaps the faintest hint of a limp to show for her traumatic ordeal.
Moul Mon, 55, other patient of the centre, whose right leg was broken in a fall from a palm tree last year, said that he had recently had an operation on the bones. Previously, he held out little hope of ever being able to walk again; but having gratefully handed responsibility for his care over to the center, he was confident that he would be as hale and hearty as ever and was looking forward to climbing more palm trees with a little more care next time.
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