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Vultures rebound in Cambodia; only Asian country with rising population

September 02, 2010
mongabay.com

This 'venue' of vultures (a group of vultures can also be called a 'committee' or a 'wake') in this image includes slender billed (l), white-rumped (m), and red-headed vultures (r), all of which have persisted in Cambodia while other vulture populations in Asia have all but vanished. Photo credit: Hugh Wright. Caption: WCS

The number of threatened vultures in Cambodia is on the rise according to a new survey by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and other members of the Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project.

The annual census found 296 birds among the country's three vulture species: the white-rumped, red-headed, and slender billed. The population of the latter two species were flat since the 2009 tally, but the white-rumped vulture population rose. All three vulture species are listed as “Critically Endangered” by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Cambodia is now the only country in Asia where vulture populations are increasing. WCS explains: Vulture populations in Southeast Asia are primarily threatened by the declining number of large herbivores in the region, but have been largely unaffected by a far greater threat to Asia’s vultures: the veterinary drug diclofenac. Widely used as an anti-inflammatory drug for cattle in South Asia, diclofenac is toxic to vultures, causing death through renal failure and visceral gout to birds that feed on the cattle carcasses and has led to global population declines higher than 99 percent in some vulture species.

WCS says the vulture population in Cambodia is rebounding as a the result of several programs organized by the Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project. Localy commmunities are paid to protect vulture nests, while vulture food sources are supplemented by ‘vulture restaurants,’ feeding stations that also provide an opportunity to see the birds.

“By protecting nests and supplementing food supplies, we are saving some of the world’s largest and most charismatic birds,” stated Dr. Hugo Rainey, WCS technical advisor to the Cambodia Vulture Conservation Project. “Nowhere else in Asia do vultures have such a promising future.”

Still the conservation group is cautious. It says rising pesticide use for agriculture, which is shifting from small-holder to industrial operations, is a new threat.

"There have been increasing numbers of poisoned birds recently," said Song Chansocheat, Ministry of Environment and WCS Vulture Project Manager, in a statement. "Educating people about the risk to wildlife and people from incorrect use of poisons is important."

... Mongabay failed to report another flock of vultures that rebounds in Cambodia

Reunion of Cambodia's flock of Huns (Photo: Koh Santepheap)

Rumours about my sickness are lies : Thaksin

Fri, Sep 03, 2010
The Nation/Asia News Network

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has told a Thai newspaper that he is not sick and has been doing business in Africa.


Thaksin gave a phone-interview to a Thai Rath Online reporter after his lawyer Noppadon Pattama distributed media pictures of Thaksin to disprove rumours he is sick or in critical condition, as some rumours said.

He did not elaborate which country he is in at the moment, saying he travels constantly.

"People lied about me all the time. If you believe those lies, you have to ask yourself if there's something wrong with you," Thaksin replied when asked to comment on speculation about his health.

"Now you hear my voice. Do you think I'm sick?" he asked the reporter.

Asked why he had stopped posting messages on his Twitter page, Thaksin said "I want reconciliation to happen."

He said he had quit his advisory posts with the Cambodian government and the Cambodian prime minister out of annoyance.

In an interview with Thai Rath, Thaksin said he found the two posts "Annoying. People always accused me of this and that."

"In order not to be annoyed any more, I asked Hun Sen if I should quit. I don't want to be annoyed so I can be free. Moreover, I really don't have time for that. I had a position but couldn't do anything for them. I rarely have time to go to Cambodia. So I'd rather quit."

Asked if he would accept the posts again if the Cambodian government wanted to reappoint him, Thaksin replied: "No more. Let me do something else. I'd better do something for myself. They robbed me of half of my wealth, so I had to do it to feed my kids," he said.

Commenting on Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya asking Montenegro to arrest him, Thaksin said he never cared for Kasit.

On his plan to come back to be Thai prime minister, Thaksin said, "I don't have a future in politics. My political future is just being a people's man. That's all and nothing else."

Asked about when he wished to come back to Thailand, Thaksin admitted he wanted to return home "but it's not as important as the country becoming peaceful and its people reconciled".

"I wish people would stop bullying, especially the weak. That's bad. It will cause and reinforce rage in people's minds. I wish people would stop seeing the weak as if they were not Thai people. That's dangerous for the country."

Thaksin denied his pictures taken with Nelson Mandela were faked.

"I can guarantee they were taken last Friday around 2pm," Thaksin said, adding that at 4pm he went on to meet and take pictures with Winnie Mandela at the house where she welcomed Nelson Mandela after 27 years in jail.

Associated Press said the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg confirmed the visit took place last Friday.

"It was not a meeting, it was a courtesy call," spokesman Sello Hatang said. He said he did not know what they discussed.

Thai Rath Online said it would today publish the second part of the interview in which Thaksin speaks his mind about what happened behind the September 19, 2006 coup.

On beggars and corruption in Cambodia: There is only one of the former and none of the latter

A reader by the initial of KJE claimed:

Things in Cambodia are not as bad as KI Media and outsiders make out. That old woman is the only beggar in PP. Everyone else is working in well paid, well respected jobs, with compassionate, understanding bosses. Just ask me, I've been in Cambodia for 20 years and I've never seen any sign of corruption, not even from the police!

Let's see:

Please note: Per reader KJE, the disabled soldiers seen begging in Phnom Penh on the photo above are not really begging, in fact they are parading in Phnom Penh to show off their victory over the enemies, is it not? As for corruption in Cambodia, there is none whatsoever, the new Anti-Corruption Unit that was recently set up is only for street decoration (which is the truth) and any claims of corruption by PM Hun Xen are pure lies. Now, will KJE please let Mr. Hun Xen know that he is lying all along? We urge you!

By the way, KJE, sweet dream, deary!

No more stealth tactics by city police

THURSDAY, 02 SEPTEMBER 2010 15:01
CHHAY CHANNYDA
THE PHNOMPENHPOST

Photo by: Pha Lina

An officer stops a motorist as another peers around the corner on Russian Federation Boulevard yesterday.

P

HNOM Penh’s top cop has ordered his officers to stop hiding behind trees during crackdowns on traffic violations. 

Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth said yesterday that he had ordered traffic police to lead by example in teaching drivers respect. 

“It is important that traffic police keep safety on the road. Make sure that people respect you and the law,” Touch Naruth said yesterday as he relayed a message given during his Tuesday meeting. “Don’t just stand under trees and jump out to crack down on drivers without helmets or mirrors. It’s dangerous for you and drivers on the roads.”

Touch Naruth said traffic police should man checkpoints stationed at main intersections. Instead, he said, many officers spend an inordinate amount of time behind trees hoping to spot potential violations.

But Touch Naruth also criticised motorists who try to evade traffic police by pulling abrupt U-turns and speeding off in the opposite direction – dangerous manoeuvres that he said are likely to cause accidents.

Traffic police have also been instructed not to chase drivers fleeing potential fines, since many drivers are not suspected of crimes but are merely visitors from outside the capital who do not know the laws.

“You can chase them if they are criminals. If they do not wear helmets and you cannot fine them because they escaped you, let them be. Later, they will respect the law,” he said.

However, it appears not everyone agrees with the police chief’s strategy. Him Yan, director of the public order department at the Interior Ministry, said hiding behind trees is “an unavoidable strategy”.

“This strategy is to make people cease their bad habits,” Him Yan said. He said other countries also employ such measures to enforce the law.

But Long Chy, a 34-year-old motorbike-taxi driver, said that he blamed police for causing traffic accidents when trying to surprise rule-breakers.

“Police activities are much more anarchic than regular people’s,” he said.

Thailand sends a 15-member military delegation to Cambodia to discuss border issue

By Khmerization
Source: everyday.com

A source from the Cambodian Ministry of Defence said a Thai delegation comprising 15 senior military officers is due to arrive in Phnom Penh today for border talks with Cambodian defence officials, reports everyday.com.

The source said the topics of discussion shall include talks on border resolution and mechanism to find that solution. The source said that the delegation, led by Lt-Gen. Nipat Thonglek, head of directorate of border affairs, will spend 2 days inCambodia, including a meeting with Defence Minister Tea Banh (pictured), before heading back to Thailand on 3rd September.

Cambodian defence analysts believe the Thai delegation to Cambodia is a Thai attempt to test Cambodia's stance on bilateral negotiation rather than the multilateral approach favoured and called for by Cambodia. It is a Thai attempt to show its efforts and willingness to resolve the border issues so as to contain the conflict from being referred to multilateral level.

Hun Sen wary but still ready for Thai talks

By The Nation
Published on September 2, 2010

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) said yesterday the recent thaw with Thailand following resumption of diplomatic relations would not help solve the border conflict as long as Thai troops were stationed in the area near the Preah Vihear temple, claimed by both countries.

"I am not satisfied nor am I smiling while you are shaking my hand and at the same time you step on my foot," he was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

However, Hun Sen expressed his readiness to hold talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The two leaders are expected to meet at several upcoming events, such as the Asia-Europe Meeting to be held in Brussels in early October, the Asean Summit in Vietnam in late October, or the leaders' meeting at the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in Cambodia in November.

The Cambodian leader said outside mediation was not necessary for just bilateral talks covering issues of common interest. However, if no way out was found for the border problem, a third party was a real need. Hun Sen added that Cambodia could not wait for too long, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Hun Sen also urged the Thai Parliament to approve agreements made by the foreign ministers of the two countries in order to help solve the border problem.

He said parliamentary approval for the three agreed minutes would pave the way for the two governments to resume their talks and for the border dispute to be solved. The agreements referred to the setting up of a joint committee to look into the redeployment of the armed forces, real action on troop redeployment at the area near Keo Sikhakiri Svarak temple and Preah Vihear, and the joint de-mining of the areas.

Regarding fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation as his economic adviser, Hun Sen said his status had nothing to do with the border conflict.

Som Niyeay Phorng - Op-Ed by Angkor Borei News

Click on the article in Khmer to zoom in

Caged chicken farming in Koh Kong province to prevent infectious diseases

Video and Report by Mom Sophon, Radio Free Asia

Passport confiscated from Editor-in-chief of Prey Nokor News

01 September 2010
By Taing Sarada
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Venerable Thach Preichea Koeun, Editor-in-chief of the Prey Nokor News

Ven. Thach Preichea Koeun, the editor-in-chief of the Prey Nokor News and a monk native from Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) who resides at Wat Ang Ta Minh Pagoda, Dangkao district, Phnom Penh city, indicated that, on 29 August, the abbot of the pagoda confiscated his passport as well as his monk ID.

Ven. Thach Preichea Koeun indicated that the measure taken by the abbot was done based on the request made by the Phnom Penh city police.

He also indicated that on 26 August, Kim Van Chheng, a high-ranking official from the ministry of Interior and a personal adviser to Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior, called him and asked him to write a letter promising to stop writing or publishing the Prey Nokor News because Kim Van Chheng accused the newspaper of publishing anti-government articles.

Ven. Thach Preichea Koeun expressed his fear and his great concerns over this issue: “I am fearful and concerned because my documents [ID] and passport were confiscated by the abbot already! I don’t have the right to go anywhere! My newspaper received the proper authorization from the ministry of Information, but they accuse the newspaper of all sorts of things!”

He added also the Prey Nokor News received proper authorization from the ministry of Information.

Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh city police commissioner, declined to comment on the confiscation of the venerable’s ID and passport.

Ven. Thach Preichea Koeun indicated that in April, the Phnom Penh police force surrounded his monk residence at Wat Botumvatei Pagoda because he asked kids to distribute the Prey Nokor News to the public free of charge, but, the authority accused him of distributing political leaflets instead. He was later chased out of Wat Botumvatei Pagoda by the abbot.

Secret titanium mine threatens Cambodia's most untouched forest

September 01, 2010
Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com 

Cardamom Mountain Range waterfall popular with ecotourists. Photo courtesy of the Wildlife Alliance.

Map of the mining area. Click image to enlarge.

American tourists on birdwatching tour led from Chi Phat

Spoonbills in flight photographed from helicopter. Photos courtesy of the Wildlife Alliance.

Forest Cover Statistics

Khmer burial jars (300-500 years old) in one of 12 known archaeological sites in the Cardamoms. Photo courtesy of the Wildlife Alliance.

Map of the mining area. Click image to enlarge.

Although the mining consortium, United Khmer Group, has been drawing up plans to build a massive titanium mine in a Cambodian protected forest for three years, the development did not become public knowledge until rural villagers came face-to-face with bulldozers and trucks building access roads. Reaction against the secret mine was swift as environmentalists feared for the impacts on wildlife and the rivers, local villagers saw a looming threat to their burgeoning eco-tourism trade, and Cambodian newspapers began to question statements by the mining corporation. While the government has suspended the roadwork to look more closely at the mining plans, Cambodians wait in uncertainty over the fate of one of most isolated and intact ecosystems in Southeast Asia: the Cardamom Mountains.

Spreading over some 2 million hectares (5 million acres) the Cardamom Mountains contain a startling biodiversity, including some 250 bird species, half of those recorded in Cambodia. Rare species such as Malayan sun bears, Indochinese tigers, pileated gibbons, and Siamese crocodiles inhabit the region. The largest population of Asian elephants in Cambodia, numbering about a hundred individuals, also roams this region. 

If built, the titanium mine will stretch some 15,000 to 20,000 hectares (37,000 to 50,000 acres) of the Cardamom Mountains. Construction of the pit will require deforestation and burial of vast amounts of waste; such waste often results in the destruction or pollution of important waterways.

Michael Zwirn, head of Wildlife Alliance's US operations, described the impact to wildlife in the region as "very serious", adding that the mine would particularly imperil freshwater species, such as the Siamese crocodile, which is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. In addition, the mine will sit right in the middle of an elephant migration route, endangering a quarter of Cambodia's wild elephants.

For locals the announcement of a mine in their backyard could not come at a worse time. The village of Chi Phat has spent years developing sustainable eco-tourism in the region. Many of the locals have left off poaching and logging for tourism and their efforts had begun to pay off: Lonely Planet, one of the most recognized travel guide companies in the world, named the area, known also as the Koh Kong Conservation Corridor, among the "World’s Top 10 Regions for 2010".

Villagers are currently working with Wildlife Alliance on a new lodge to attract even more tourists to the once little-visited site. The conservation organization has spent over half a million US dollars to build an eco-tourism base in the area.

According to Zwirn, the town of Chi Phat is "almost universally opposed to the mine" since "communities have staked their economic development on environmentally friendly tourism". Seven hundred and sixty-six villagers, including the village chief, have already signed a petition against the mine for Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen.

In face of opposition it has become increasingly unclear as to the status of the mine. Zwirn says that in Cambodian "ministries have sent very contradictory signals".

"It's not clear who's making some of these decisions, and it's not even clear what some of these decisions are. It's not clear how the process is being made."

Zwirn adds that a significant portion of the government appears to oppose the mine, but that may not be enough to stop it. According to reports the mine was initially approved by the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy, yet the ultimate decision rests with the Ministry of Commerce.

"This is a perfect example of unplanned and uncoordinated development," Suwanna Gauntlett, CEO of Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement.

Not only the government, but the mining corporation has also faced criticism. The CEO of United Khmer Group, Chea Chet, stated that the mine would raise revenues of 2,500 US dollars a ton. However, the Phnom Penh Post, which calls Chet's assertion "frankly absurd", reports that titanium has been selling for less than a third that amount.

"Even if the ultimate revenues are far less than they promised they are still making money," Zwirn explains. No matter what profits the company makes it's not certain those funds would stay in Cambodia: Zwirn says that the project is being backed by Vietnamese and Chinese interests, but the company has refused to disclose the names of the private investors involved in the project.

In addition, questions have been raised as to the amount of ilmenite, which is the mineral mined for titanium production, in the area. Chea Chet has stated that United Khmer Group expects to pull up 120 million tonnes. Yet, Wildlife Alliance counters that the area was explored by another mining company, Omsaura, which estimated that only 2.5 million tonnes would be available, about 2 percent of Chet's claim.

Zwrin says that the company is playing "classic bait and switch". By "vastly overstating the [expected] revenues" United Khmer Group is using visions of riches to pressure the government for approval.

Conservationists fear that if this titanium mine is approved it will open the door to a variety of industrial projects in the region ultimately devastating one of Southeast Asia's last pristine forests. The Phnom Penh Post reports that if the titanium mine is successfully approved, China is planning three to four more mines covering 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) in the Cardamom Mountains.

Endangered species found in the Cardamom Mountains according to the IUCN Red List: 

• Asian elephant (Elephas maximums): Endangered
• Banteng (Bos javanicus): Endangered
• Burmese python (Python molurus): Near Threatened
• Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa): Vulnerable
• Dhole (Cuon alpinus): Endangered
• Frog-faced softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii): Endangered
• Gaur (Bos gaurus): Vulnerable
• Green peafowl (Pavo muticus): Endangered
• Indochinese tiger ( Panthera tigris corbetti): Endangered
• Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus): Vulnerable
• Pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus): Endangered
• Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis): Critically Endangered
• Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata): Vulnerable
• Southwest Chinese serow (Capricornis sumatraensis): Near Threatened

NGOs ready a slew of graft complaints

THURSDAY, 02 SEPTEMBER 2010 15:02
MEAS SOKCHEA
THE PHNOMPENHPOST
T

HE Kingdom’s newly formed Anticorruption Unit potentially faces a busy start, as two local organisations are preparing to file more than 50 corruption complaints to the body this month. 

A group of 14 ACU officials were sworn in Tuesday during a ceremony at the Appeal Court. 

During the ceremony, the officials took an oath stating that they were willing to face death by lightning strikes and car accidents, and suffer other grisly fates if they failed to faithfully discharge their duties. 

Local NGO representatives said yesterday that they had filed or were preparing to file complaints ranging from allegations of widespread illegal logging to irregularities in the collection of traffic fines.

---

I don’t have any concern. If I work to serve the national interest, I will die with closed eyes.

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Chea Hean, director of the National Resource and Wildlife Preservation Organisation, a national watchdog, said he lodged a complaint on Monday accusing 241 officials of involvement in the illegal timber trade in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district.

“I have the documents,” he said. “The perpetrators have confessed in front of me, and I have recorded that they have paid some money to the officials stationed in the region.” 

Those in his sights, Chea Hean said, include Oral district forestry officials, park rangers, district governor Chem Sarim and district police chief Dos Sim. He said he also plans to file a complaint alleging similar operations in Koh Kong province later this month. 

“I don’t have any concern. If I work to serve the national interest, I will die with closed eyes,” Chea Hean said. “I dare to face to all kinds of danger.” 

Chem Sarim and Dos Sim could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Also yesterday, a local representative of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, a regional organisation, said he had received more than 50 complaints in 10 provinces related to the alleged levying of illegal fines by traffic police. 

San Chey, the organisation’s Cambodia-based network fellow, said he would forward them on to the ACU next week.

San Chey said many of the complaints accused traffic police of levying fines that were greater than those prescribed in the Land Traffic Law. 

“Based on the swearing-in of the 14 [ACU] officials I think that they can find justice for the people,” San Chey said. “It is time to eliminate corruption in Cambodia.” 

ACU chairman Om Yentieng said he welcomed all complaints lodged to the body, but could not guarantee that every complaint filed would be pursued by the body.

“All complaints will be received and looked at,” he said. “We do not deny anyone’s complaint.... We must have a look because they have trusted us enough to lodge a complaint with us.” 

Om Yentieng said that the ACU would choose whether or not to investigate particular complaints based on their merit. 

Chan Soveth, a senior investigator for local human rights group Adhoc, said that as long as ACU officials are members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party it would be impossible to eliminate corruption in the Kingdom. “ACU officials must not be controlled by the party. [They] must be independent, neutral. But those officials have not announced their withdrawal from the party,” Chan Soveth said.

Chheng Sophoan, 23 Banking student “I think that it is hopeless because corruption is a very big problem. We must cooperate. We must especially take action at the top first. If the leaders are not corrupt, the lower officials will also not be corrupt. I think only about 30 percent of corruption can be eliminated successfully because the rule of law in Cambodia is not as strong as in other countries.”	Vong Vanna, 22  Student of Khmer literature  “I think that they created this law and it can be effective. Cambodia has a lot of corruption, so sometimes the law might be effective, but corruption cannot be totally eliminated. I have only a 75 percent belief this will work because the corruption takes place in secret.”	Pich Chea, 45, Tuk-tuk driver  “If leaders have the will to eliminate corruption they can do it, but if they don’t have the will, they won’t be able to. For example, traffic police often levy fines over the legal limits of the traffic law. This is one example of corruption.”