A Bridge Too Far For Sokha?: The East German Paradise'

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 Successful People Read The Post 4000 RIEL
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STORY > 2
Joe Freeman
Analysis

ONE year ago this week, Cam-
bodian lawmakers passed a
bill criminalising the denial of
atrocities committed under
the Khmer Rouge regime in
the mid- to late-1970s, when
nearly two million people lost
their lives.
Publicly refusing to recognise,
opposing, denying or challeng-
ing the accepted narrative of
what occurred would cost
offenders up to two years in
prison and as much as $1,000
in fines.
Since then, however, no one
in Cambodia has denied those
atrocities at least not pub-
licly no one has been suc-
cessfuly prosecuted for the
denial, and no one has been
sent to prison or fined. In fact,
no one has said much at all
about the Law on Refusing to
Recognise Crimes Committed
During Democratic Kam-
puchea the title of which
includes the official name of
the Khmer Rouge state.
After passing on June 7 last
year, the legislation faded into
darkness faster than its mete-
oric flight through parliament.
Rubber-stamped in the heat
of the election season, the law
was roundly derided for its
politicised nature and its
potential to limit free speech.
And despite the passage of
time, legal experts cant find
reasons to view the law in any
other terms.
I think the speed by which
the law was passed and the
subsequent absence of prose-
cutions would suggest the law
was intended to be a political
statement, said Christopher
Dearing, legal adviser to the
Documentation Center of
Cambodia (DC-CAM), the
countrys pre-eminent archive
of Khmer Rouge history.
Because of the Holocaust,
Continues on page 4
Exporter
is under
attack in
rice row
Daniel de Carteret
and May Kunmakara
IN DECEMBER 2011, the man-
aging director of Megagreen
Imex Cambodia, Renne Outh,
proudly announced that his
firm had inked a $21 million
deal to be the first to ship Cam-
bodian rice to the Philippines.
Nearly two and a half years on,
not a single Cambodian grain
has reached Manila. Export fig-
ures for the first five months of
2014 show that Megagreen,
once among the top 10 rice
exporters in the country, has
fallen to 48th out of 84.
The failed Philippines deal
marks a pattern of broken
promises, as the agricultural
wholesaler now finds itself
besieged by creditors and law-
suits seeking damages in excess
of $1 million, with flawed
agreements from one end of
the supply chain to the other.
So what went wrong?
The answer, at least in part,
is that for many doing business
with Megagreen, the dealings
have been far from agreeable.
Megagreen owes money to
farmers, millers, a large foreign
investor, one of the regions big-
gest banks and the govern-
ments own agricultural export
business, Green Trade.
In two sale and purchase
documents obtained by the
Post, one for 16,200 square
metres of land in Siem Reaps
Meas Sokchea and Kevin Ponniah
D
EPUTY opposition
leader Kem Sokha
has drawn the ire of
the government
and civil society groups after
accusing Vietnam on Wednes-
day of orchestrating the Koh
Pich bridge stampede that
killed more than 350 people in
2010 as part of a plot to elim-
inate the Khmer race, tradition
and culture.
Government spokesman Phay
Siphan yesterday called the alle-
gations groundless and ridicu-
lous, while Cambodian Center
for Human Rights chairman Ou
Virak said it was irresponsible of
a political leader to propagate
inflammatory conspiracy theo-
ries, especially given that no gov-
ernment officials have yet been
held personally accountable for
the tragedy.
Speaking at a ceremony on
Wednesday to mark the 65th
anniversary of Frances transfer of
the former Kampuchea Krom
provinces to Vietnam, Sokha,
deputy head of the Cambodia
National Rescue Party, lambasted
A bridge too far for Sokha?
Continues on page 4
Continues on page 9
KR denial
law sees
no cases
in 1st year
Environmental activists dressed in animal costumes sit on the road near the Russian Embassy in Phnom Penh yester-
day during a World Environment Day event. HENG CHIVOAN
Animal farm
NATIONAL [PAGE 6]
NEWKID ON THE BRANCH
WORLD [PAGE 12]
LAND OF SMILES
SPORT [PAGE 22]
FOOTBALL VOODOO
New WWF report proles15
new species in the Greater
Mekong region
Thai army wages a happi-
ness campaign, hosting free
festivals across the country
Ghanaian witch doctor claims
responsibility for Ronaldos
knee injury
Inside 12 pages A PHNOM PENH POST SPECIAL REPORT
THE EAST GERMAN PARADISE: 7DAYS
National
2
THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 6, 2014
Kevin Ponniah
AUSTRALIAN opposition par-
ties have accused the govern-
ment there of using its foreign
aid budget to pay Cambodia
to resettle refugees that have
sought asylum in Australia.
Senators from the Labor and
Greens parties interrogated At-
torney-General George Bran-
dis at a hearing on Wednesday,
accusing the government of
using foreign aid as a slush
fund for the refugee scheme,
Fairfax media reported.
According to the Greens,
Australian Foreign Ministry
ofcials have conrmed that a
$370 million increase to cross-
regional programs in the for-
eign aid budget could be used
to pay for the scheme.
The Abbott Government is
staying silent about this mon-
ey for now, but its certainly an
extraordinary coincidence,
Greens Senator Sarah Han-
son-Young said in an email.
Brandis took the questions
on notice at the hearing. Of-
cials with Australia's Depart-
ment of Foreign Affairs and
Trade could not be reached.
Laignee Barron
and Mom Kunthear
AFTER blocking a river for
months, a construction pro-
jects recently installed water
pipes are delivering relief to
only some of Battambangs
drought-stricken fields.
More than 400 farmers in
Bavel district blamed the
Asian Development Bank-
funded bridge for choking the
river since construction began
in December, leaving them to
depend on increasingly capri-
cious rains to water crops. Re-
sponding to complaints this
week, the Ung Sim Sia Con-
struction company installed
four pipes to allow water
through the construction site,
a remedy with mixed results.
The water is now owing
. . . but it is slow, and the water
level is lower due to the dry
season, Bavel commune chief
Sar Sari said.
Saris village is now able to
water planted elds, with the
crop sustaining little or no
damage. But further down-
stream, where a secondary
canal ordinarily delivers water,
the elds remain parched.
I am worried my rice plants
will all die, Sa Soeum, a Sang
Rang village farmer, said. We
do dry cultivation every year,
and we have never had a prob-
lem like this because we can
take water from the creek. But
this year, the water cannot
ow into the creek due to the
bridge construction."
To get water to the far end of
the canal, the provincial de-
partment of water resources
installed two pumps, but dur-
ing a eld visit yesterday, it
noted little benet.
The river is empty, what can
we do? Chan Dararith, chief
of the department ofce, said.
With the river now owing
too little and too late, provin-
cial ofcials advised villagers
farther from the shore to cease
farming until rainy season or
build their own reservoir.
Its impossible for farm-
ers far from the head of the
canal to get water, Oudam
Ponh, deputy director of the
provincial agriculture depart-
ment, said. For Battambang,
I think this is the effect of cli-
mate change.
According to a 2012 report,
since 1997, Cambodia has ob-
served a two-month delay in
the arrival of the wet season,
from April to June. We have
no choice now but to pray for
rain, Dararith said.
The ADB said yesterday it
was continuing to investigate
complaints about the bridge.
Aid to fund refugees
Water ow still weak
after pipe installation
Rally allowed, but contained
Mom Kunthear and Alice Cuddy

H
UNDREDS of envi-
ronmental activists
donning facepaint
and animal cos-
tumes were met with a police
blockade when they gathered
in Phnom Penh yesterday to
mark World Environment Day.
Dressed as a Siamese croco-
dile, 31-year-old Thai Kini said
there was a serious message
behind the costume.
I pretend I am a Siamese
crocodile, because I want to
protect the natural resources
such as forests and wildlife,
he said.
Tim Malay, director of the
Cambodia Youth Network
(CYN), said his group of more
than 200 activists had been
banned from marching from
the Ministry of Environment
to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Instead they were permitted to
hold an event outside the Rus-
sian Embassy.
When activists attempted
to move out of the permitted
area, they were blocked by
forces, including Chamkar-
mon district security guards.
But after a standoff, 10 activ-
ists were permitted to deliver
petitions to the Ministry of En-
vironment, the Ministry of Ag-
riculture, and the Chinese and
Vietnamese embassies.
We delivered the petitions
to the Vietnamese Embassy
and Chinese Embassy, be-
cause these two countries
invest a lot in our country
and their investment impacts
on our natural resources,
Malay said.
Following the event, Licadho
director Naly Pilorge con-
demned the interference of
the authorities.
There can be nothing that
justies intimidating those
taking part in public activities
which promote the protection
of natural resources to secure
a better future for everyone,
she said.
The spokesman for the En-
vironment Ministry, Sao So-
pheap, told the Post that with
or without a petition, [the
government and Ministry of
Environment] will continue
efforts to stop all kinds of il-
legal activities [that harm the
environment].
In Kep province, nearly 1,000
people showed up for an an-
nual government-organised
event, he said.
We are fully aware of the
importance of environmental
sustainability . . . thats why we
organise every year.
But Vann Sophath, land
reform coordinator for the
Cambodian Center for Human
Rights, said widespread de-
forestation due to illegal log-
ging continues to take place
without intervention from
the relevant authorities.
In his own address, Prime
Minister Hun Sen said the gov-
ernment is committed to meet-
ing the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals, which require the
country to meet a target of 60
per cent forest cover by 2015.
An environmental activist gets a tree painted on his face as part of World Environment Day yesterday in
Phnom Penh. HENG CHIVOAN
National
4
KR denial law sees no cases in its rst year
Sokhas conspiracy a bridge too far?
Continued from page 1
laws criminalising genocide
denial are relatively common
in Western Europe. Rwanda
also has measures to punish
those who deny the slaughter
of more than a million Tutsis in
1994, though observers have
decried the way it is used to
silence opposition voices.
Cambodia has never had
such a bill, but Cambodia has
also never had such an election
as it did last year, when the
opposition Cambodia National
Rescue Partys popularity near-
ly toppled long-serving Prime
Minister Hun Sen.
About two months before the
election, on May 20, the ruling
Cambodian Peoples Party went
into smear campaign mode by
releasing an audio recording on
the Council of Ministers web-
site of Kem Sokha describing
the Khmer Rouge torture cen-
tre S-21 in Phnom Penh as an
invention of the Vietnamese.
At that stage of the campaign,
opposition leader Sam Rainsy
had not yet been granted a
royal pardon to return from
self-exile in France, where he
was avoiding prison sentences
on charges of defamation and
for uprooting posts on the bor-
der with Vietnam.
Sokha, his deputy, was bear-
ing the brunt of the mudsling-
ing. While juggling accusations
that he had claimed S-21 was an
elaborate conspiracy, instead of
a hellhole in which nearly 14,000
people were tortured and then
executed, he was also being
forced to deny lurid allegations
that he had a mistress and
engaged in sex with a minor.
Hun Sen used his widely lis-
tened-to speeches to talk about
both issues. In a speech soon
after the recording was posted,
he floated the idea of a geno-
cide denial law. Weeks later, the
Law on Refusing to Recognise
Crimes Committed During
Democratic Kampuchea
passed a CPP-dominated
National Assembly (opposition
members had been kicked out
of parliament after a merger
between two parties formed
what is now known as the Cam-
bodia National Rescue Party).
In addition to the fines and
sentences for individuals, a pro-
viso also allows legal entities to
be held criminally liable if their
representatives are found guilty
of breaking the law wording
that seemed direct right at the
opposition deputy.
Sokha, who declined to com-
ment for this article, has previ-
ously said his words about the
notorious detention centre
were spliced and rearranged.
Chum Mey, the S-21 prison
survivor who sued Sokha for
defamation and led a march
against him, declined to com-
ment yesterday, except to say
that the lawsuit is still on.
I have already filed a com-
plaint with the court. I still
demand him to appear in court
to clarify clearly, and I will take
a recording tape to play for
him. He said that after the elec-
tion he would appear in court
to clarify, and now the election
has finished, so he must appear
in court.
Last year, after Rainsy
returned in July and the CNRP
made huge gains in the polls
later that month, the full-on
attack against Sokha began to
recede. As the focus switched
to allegations of election rig-
ging, and elected opposition
members refused to take their
seats in the National Assembly
in September, the law faded
into legal obscurity.
I think it may be that, for
political reasons, they wanted
to discredit Kem Sokha, said
Sok Sam Oeun, executive direc-
tor of the Cambodian Defend-
ers Project. But as a result, not
so effective. Didnt work.
For Sokha, it represents a time
better left forgotten. He may,
however, find the S-21 record-
ing gaining new life this week,
after comments he allegedly
made at a religious ceremony
on Wednesday in which he
seemed to blame the 2011 Koh
Pich bridge stampede which
killed more than 350 people
on Vietnamese machinations.
For Mey, who sells his mem-
oir on the grounds of S-21, also
known as Tuol Sleng, its appar-
ently a piece of legislation he
doesnt care to highlight,
though his lawsuit against
Sokha and his demand that he
apologise all added some
weight to the momentum
behind the bill.
For ruling party lawmakers
who pushed the legislation
through parliament, its hard
to say what they think of it a
year later.
Cheam Yeap, senior party
lawmaker and National Assem-
bly spokesman, hung up the
phone and did not return a
follow-up call. Chheang Vun,
also a spokesman for the assem-
bly, told a reporter to come to
his office because he doesnt
like interviews over the phone.
However, ignoring doesnt
mean discarding.
Dearing, from DC-CAM, said
that the absence of prosecutions
is good, but the fact that the law
still exists is troubling.
Any laws that regulate
speech carry immense impli-
cations for individual freedom
and consequently democratic
culture, he said. Without
prosecutions, I think the law
still poses great risks.
Sam Oeun of the Cambodian
Defenders Project claims that
the impact on speech is already
being felt.
After the law defined that,
the people are a little bit
scared, so they stopped talking
about that. ADDITIONAL REPORTING
BY MEAS SOKCHEA
the Kingdoms eastern neigh-
bour for trying to destroy
Khmer culture, using the stam-
pede as an apparent example.
The yuon [Vietnamese] have
used the CPP and Hun Sen to
eliminate the Khmer race, tradi-
tion and culture . . . and now
[since 2010] there has been no
water festival . . . They created an
incident to kill Khmers at Koh
Pich, using this [as a] reason to
eliminate our Cambodian Water
Festival tradition, he said.
The Water Festival the King-
doms biggest public event,
which draws millions to the
capitals riverfront each year
has been called off by the gov-
ernment for each of the three
years since the stampede.
The tragedy occurred on the
last day of the 2010 festival and
claimed 353 lives. An official
government investigation into
the incident quickly concluded
that the swaying of the bridge
was what had induced panic,
sparking a stampede on the
overcrowded walkway.
Though Prime Minister Hun
Sen said the disaster was the
worst calamity to befall Cam-
bodia since the rise of the
Khmer Rouge, he also said that
no public officials would be
personally held to account.
When reached yesterday to
clarify his comments, Sokha
explained that given the Water
Festival has stopped being held
since the stampede and that
Vietnam has always assailed
Khmer people and culture,
there could well be a link
between the two.
Thats why I would like us to
think about the problem [related
to the government] stopping the
Water Festival being held. We are
worried in case it could be the
trick [of the Vietnamese] to elim-
inate our traditions, he said.
There were deaths at Koh
Pich with no investigation at all
and no real reason [given] at all
for the incident. There was no
transparent [investigation] so we
could understand why the inci-
dent happened. That is why we
are worried about this point.
I did not accuse [Vietnam]
completely. I just thought
about the history. I guess I did
not say it was the [definitive]
truth . . . I wanted to say that
one country wants to eliminate
the race of another country
[and] they eliminate through
traditions, the same as in Kam-
puchea Krom, he said, refer-
ring to the area in what is now
southern Vietnam that was
signed over by the French in
1949. Khmer Kroms are Khmers
from that geographic area.
CCHR chairman Ou Virak
yesterday said that while there
was no doubt Vietnam had
occupied Cambodia in the
1980s and continues to under-
mine the democratic process
in Cambodia through political
influence, there was no evi-
dence supporting Sokhas
ridiculous theory.
There needs to be some more
responsible leadership in this
country. And [as] always with
the opposition, thats certainly a
bit disappointing, he said.
Certainly, many Cambodi-
an people would love to believe
such juicy conspiracy theories,
its easier to just blame some-
body else, its easier to come
up with these things. I dont
blame the innocent Cambo-
dian people [who believe this],
but I expect more from politi-
cians who are trying to lead
this country.
Preap Kol, executive director
at Transparency International
Cambodia, said Sokhas state-
ment could create confusion as
to who should be held account-
able for the stampede.
I find this particular remark
controversial and unreliable
unless there is a strong evi-
dence to support such claim,
he said in an email.
People have a desire to see
some officials being held
accountable for the tragedy
[that] occurred in Koh Pich but
this statement might even fur-
ther confuse people on who
should have been responsible
for the accident.
Thun Saray, president of
rights group Adhoc, said he did
not agree with Sokhas allega-
tion, calling the stampede a
tragic accident.
The stampede at Koh Pich
was tragic and nobody has
taken responsibility for what
happened. In other countries,
when such an event occurs,
those in charge are held respon-
sible. This has not been the
case here.
Council of Ministers spokes-
man Phay Siphan yesterday
said that Sokha was undermin-
ing his credibility as a political
leader by making such accusa-
tions, which were groundless
and ridiculous.
Its nonsense to say that, to
accuse the government of,
under the pressure of the Viet-
namese, abolishing the culture
of the Water Festival. Its an
abuse of freedom of expres-
sion, he said.
The government launched
an investigation and found
nothing to reveal that anything
like terrorism [occurred at Koh
Pich] . . . It was only a stampede
caused by people panicking.
Siphan added that the CNRP
could request that the National
Assembly review the incident
again after it ends its parlia-
mentary boycott.
Vietnamese Embassy spokes-
man Tran Van Thong said that
Sokhas accusation regarding
Koh Pich was baseless.
We dont understand about
his idea and why he is twisting
[things] like this. He invented
[this] and has accused us with-
out any basis, and we have dif-
ficulty understanding why.
The Council of Ministers will
hold a press conference today to
address allegations made by
opposition leaders regarding the
Khmer Krom and Vietnam on
Wednesday, it said yesterday.
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy
could not be reached for com-
ment yesterday.
Visitors walk around a display of pictures at the Tuol Sleng Genocide
Museum, also known as S-21, in Phnom Penh. HONG MENEA
Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy leader Kem Sokha talks at a Khmer Krom ceremony at
Samaki Rainsy pagoda in Phnom Penhs Meanchey district on Wednesday. HONG MENEA

In brief
Veterans pay missing
A NEW payment system for
retired soldiers in Oddar
Meanchey province has
resulted in late payments for
nearly 50 retirees. Government
officials recently opened
Acleda Bank accounts for
retired soldiers, who used to
pick up pension payments at
the provincial social affairs
department, said Mok
Vanvuthy, 63. But for the past
two months, the department
has failed to deposit his
monthly 570,000 riel ($142.50)
salary, he said. We are poor,
Vanvuthy said, adding that he
knew people who havent been
paid in five months. We need
to receive our salary on time to
support our families. Late
payments are a clerical issue,
according to provincial
veterans affairs director Sen
Kim San. But the new system
is problematic for many of the
former soldiers, said Srey
Naren, a coordinator for rights
group Adhoc. SENDAVID
Workers march halted
FOR the second time this
week, hundreds of garment
workers were blocked
yesterday from marching
from their Por Sen Chey
district factory to the Ministry
of Labour to call for its
intervention after a hefty wage
cut instated last month.
Ocean Garment factory staff
cited insufficient orders as the
reason why workers would
receive only $15 a month
between May 24 and June 26.
Since February, men and
women staffing garment
factories throughout the
country have earned a
minimum wage of $100 per
month. Ocean Garment
workers are demanding full
payment during the month-
long suspension. Negotiations
between workers and factory
staff followed the blocked
march, but no resolution was
reached, said Pav Sina,
president of the Collective
Union of Movement of
Workers, which represents
workers at Ocean Garment.
CHHAY CHANNYDA
Families land worries
A DOZEN families in Kampot
province have said they fear
that their land will be lost to
developers after police turned
up to enforce a court decision
ordering the families to vacate
the area to make way for a
company known as Van
Vanna. Hin Sy, 70, and her
husband Kang Hav owned 1
hectare in Kampong Trach
district before the decision.
But the couple did not register
the land and receive a land
title as required under
Cambodias 2001 Land Law.
The couple says that following
the 12 families rejection of a
$40,000 compensation offer,
more than 30 officials
attempted to evict them from
the land. Brigadier General
Mao Chanmathurith, Kampot
provincial deputy police chief,
said police had backed off
after residents protested.
But in the future, if the court
orders us to detain them, we
will do it, he told the Post.
VONG SOKHENG
National
5
Paid advertisement
Hacker teen
Anonymous
probe sees
fresh arrest
A
17-YEAR-OLD high school
student was charged on
Wednesday with hacking a
government website and encour-
aging others to do the same via a
Facebook page in an ongoing in-
vestigation into online hacktivist
group Anonymous Cambodia.
Chin Neang Leangmeng, a
student at Phnom Penhs Hun
Sen Chak Angre Krom High
School who goes by the moniker
Attacker Fiber, was charged
with an information technology
offence under Cambodian Penal
Code articles 27 and 428, accord-
ing to Seang Sok, vice prosecutor
of Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
He now has been sent to Prey
Sar prison to await his coming
trial, he added.
National Police spokesman
Kirt Chantharith, who said
Neang Leangmeng had con-
fessed to hacking government
websites more than 1,000 times,
offered grudging praise of the
students prowess.
I am really impressed by his
ability and his excellent knowl-
edge of technology skills. He was
young but was able to research
and create his account to attack
the National Polices website, he
said. BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA
Suspects in
dredging
swim away
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
SUSPECTED illegal sand dredg-
ers swam their way to freedom
on Wednesday afternoon when
government officials shut down
their operation in Kandal prov-
inces Lvea Em district.
After receiving complaints
from villagers in the area, a team
from the Ministry of Water
Resources and Meteorologys
sand management committee
discovered four pumps dredg-
ing sand along the Mekong
River, said Chan Yutha, a Water
Resource Ministry spokesman.
The Water Resource Ministry
had not licensed anyone to
dredge sand since last years
national election, Yutha said.
On Wednesday afternoon,
our inspection group ran an
operation to stop the unlawful
pumping of sand from the Kdey
Takoy pagoda.
When officials approached,
men in a boat and a ferry near
the machinery jumped off and
swam away, Yutha said. All
evaded arrest. While unaware
of who was behind the pump-
ing, officials impounded the
boats and dredging equipment,
and are waiting for someone to
claim them.
Kratie land dispute goes on
May Titthara

H
UNDREDS of fam-
ilies from Kratie
provinces Snuol
district who were
promised new plots of land
after a Vietnamese rubber
rm evicted them last month
have complained that provin-
cial ofcials are allowing hun-
dreds of interlopers to stake a
claim instead.
The 405 families were evict-
ed from the districts Khsoem
commune on May 2 and spent
almost four weeks living in a
Phnom Penh pagoda before
accepting a government offer
of a new 750-hectare social
land concession in the same
district on Sunday.
Nguon Vibol, a representa-
tive of the families, said yes-
terday that he intended to le
a complaint to the govern-
ment after discovering that
the authorities responsible
for drawing up the cadastral
list had so far included about
1,040 families.
We recognise only 405 fam-
ilies [claims]. We do not rec-
ognise the other people regis-
tered by the provincial ofcers.
I think the authorities are put-
ting pressure on us, he said.
He added that people not in
the original group of displaced
families did not have a legiti-
mate claim to the land and
should be taken off the list.
The authorities allow any
people to register, so the au-
thorities themselves have to
nd land for those people and
the authorities cannot touch
our land at all, he said.
The families are mostly from
Kampong Cham province
and relocated to their former
site in Snuol district in 2008.
On May 2, Vietnamese rub-
ber company Binh Phuoc II
took over the 2,025-hectare
site, which it plans to turn into
a plantation.
Khan Chamnan, Kratie dep-
uty governor, conrmed that
more families had registered
for the land than the original
405 who were displaced, but
denied that it was the authori-
ties responsibility to ensure
that only those with a legiti-
mate claim were included.
The increase is their prob-
lem. It is not me who bloats
the gures, and I dont call and
bring those people to come
and register, he said.
Chan Soveth, senior inves-
tigator at rights group Adhoc,
said it was difcult enough to
resolve the issue for the fami-
lies who came to Phnom Penh,
so the government should pri-
oritise their requests.
Villagers from Kratie province sit at Samaki Rainsy pagoda in Phnom Penh last month. HONG MENEA
National
6
Thieves put brakes on
moto by shooting driver
TWO suspects hell-bent on
stealing a moto in Phnom
Penhs Prampi Makara district
figured shooting its driver in the
leg would be the easiest way to
slow it down on Wednesday.
According to police, two sisters
were riding home from a party
when two men began following
them and ordered them to
stop. When the women refused,
one of the pursuers shot the
driver in the leg. The moto top-
pled over, and the assailants
grabbed it, along with two
phones and cash, and escaped.
Police are still seeking their
arrest. KOHSANTEPHEAP
Bad service leads to a
raucous dinner time
SLOW service and quick tem-
pers led to an unappetising
altercation in a restaurant in
Phnom Penhs Por Sen Chey
district on Tuesday. Police said
two strangers entered the res-
taurant, one arriving before the
other, and ordered some noo-
dles. When the man who
entered second was served first,
however, it roused the ire of the
man who entered first, prompt-
ing him to hurl things across the
room. A fight ensued, and police
arrived to haul both men away.
KOHSANTEPHEAP
Nosy neighbour lands
thieves in stationhouse
TWO alleged thieves in Banteay
Meancheys Malai district were
arrested on Wednesday after
reportedly being caught red-
handed with the loot from an
afternoons work. Police said
that the men broke into the
home of a woman who had left
for a day of trading in Thailand.
When she returned home to
find her door ajar and money
and jewellery missing, a neigh-
bour told her of the two men
whom he did not dare to stop
and described their faces to
police. Cops tracked the duo
down and dragged them off to
court. DEUMAMPIL
History of abuse leads
to attack on stepfather
A LONG history of spousal
abuse proved too much for a
Poipet town stepson to bear on
Wednesday. According to
police, the man, who had long
watched his stepfather beat his
mother, finally took matters
into his own hands, allegedly
grabbing a knife and stabbing
the stepfather. He tried to flee,
but was apprehended by police,
and reportedly admitted to the
stabbing, saying he couldnt
bear the sight of his mother
being mistreated. DEUMAMPIL
Poor service lands drug
dealer in hospital bed
AN INCENSED addict in Kratie
town didnt take kindly to being
refused service by his local
drug dealer on Wednesday.
Police said officers were patrol-
ling the area when they spied
the man attacking another
man with an axe. The cops
intervened, sending the victim
to hospital and the suspect to
the stationhouse. The suspect
reportedly confessed to the
attack, saying he was angered
when the victim refused to sell
him drugs. DEUMAMPIL
Translated by Sen David
POLICE
BLOTTER
Officer on trial
in hit-and-run
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

A
30-YEAR-OLD police
ofcer who stands
accused of killing two
people while driving
drunk in Russey Keo district
and attempting to ee after-
wards was tried yesterday in
Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
The hearing was cited as a
rare instance of an alleged hit-
and-run by a government em-
ployee making it to trial.
Keth Borey, an ofcer work-
ing with the Ministry of Interior,
was driving on National Road 5
at about 9:30pm on January 7
when he collided with a moto
carrying two people travelling
in the opposite direction, said
judge Chea Sok Heang.
He drove drunk, and was
driving very fast at night time.
He slammed two victims riding
a motorbike the opposite way,
and caused them to die imme-
diately at the scene, he said.
He was charged by the
courts prosecutor with driv-
ing drunk and causing two
people to die.
Lieutenant Colonel Tieng
Chansar, Russey Keo district
police chief, said that villagers
detained Borey as he tried to
leave the scene.
From 2007 to 2012, according
to the most recently available
data from Handicap Interna-
tional, hit-and-runs account-
ed for about 42 per cent of all
fatal crashes. In the same time
period, hit-and-runs rose from
a quarter to more than a third
of overall accidents. Drivers of-
ten ee the scene to avoid mob
violence and prosecution.
I think it is a rare case, said
Ear Chariya, an independent
road safety specialist, who
said the defendant could face
up to three years in prison.
Its very, very difcult to nd
the people who hit and run.
Especially if they are in a posi-
tion with the government.
Families of the victims are
demanding about $10,000
each in compensation.
I had no intention to hit
them, Borey said at the hear-
ing yesterday. I know my mis-
take now. I would like to ask the
court to reduce my sentence,
and reduce the compensation
payment, because I am not able
to make money to pay them.
A verdict is due on June 25. AD-
DITIONAL REPORTING BY JOE FREEMAN
New kid on the branch
A Cambodian tailorbird also known as the orthotomus chaktomuk perches on a branch on the outskirts of
the capital last year. The Cambodian tailorbird, rst sighted in 2009 in Phnom Penh, is featured in a WWF re-
port on newly discovered species in the Greater Mekong region, the organisation said yesterday. The report
proles 15 new discoveries, the conservation group said, adding that during 2012 and 2013 alone, 367 newly
identied species were discovered. Discoveries and classications for Cambodia-specic species include a
new type of skink with iridescent skin, found in the rainforest of the Veun Sai-Siem Pang Conservation Area
in Ratanakkirri province. New species are being discovered in Cambodia every year. Its growing increas-
ingly more and more critical that sustainable development is encouraged if biodiversity in Cambodia and the
Greater Mekong region continues to thrive, said Thomas Gray, manager of WWF-Greater Mekongs species
program. JAMES EATON/BIRDTOUR ASIA
Call for Proposals
Research on Women and Girl
Domestic Workers in Cambodia
The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment
of Women (UN Women) seeks a qualied and independent
institution, including non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) to undertake a research study on women and girl
domestic workers in Cambodia. The detailed Request for
Proposal and ToR are available at:
http://asiapacic.unwomen.org/en/about-us/jobs
Deadlinefor submissions: 30 June 2014 at 5 p.m. local time
Please send your proposal to
cambodiaco.unwomen@unwomen.org
Any inquiries regarding the study proposal, please contact
our UN Women Country Ofce via e-mail at:
vathanak.ieng@unwomen.org.
Please note that this e-mail is only for enquiries. Only
proposals sent to cambodiaco.unwomen@unwomen.org
will be accepted.
Northbridge International School Cambodia
is seeking to employ a Registered Nurse for the
2014-2015 School year, beginning on 28 J uly.
Qualied candidates will have:
An internationally recognized nursing
certication
Bachelors Degree
Three or more years Nursing Experience
A genuine love of working with children
Experience as a school nurse preferred
but not required
Qualied candidates should apply by sending
one pdf document containing a letter of interest
and their CV to: employment@nisc.edu.kh.
Thailand releases loggers
Phak Seangly
FOUR Cambodian nationals
who had been incarcerated in
Thailand for logging and ille-
gally crossing the border were
released on Monday after com-
pleting their prison terms, offi-
cials said yesterday.
Touch Ra, deputy director of
the Chaom-Sa Ngaom interna-
tional border checkpoint in
Oddar Meanchey province,
said two of them were women
54-year-old Yu Sambath and
32-year-old Khub Chenda
who were arrested on March
8, 2013, while trespassing on
Thai territory with a group of
illegal loggers.
They went to find timber.
Some of them dragged and car-
ried the timber back into Cam-
bodia, and some of them cooked
for their husband or relatives
[who were logging], Ra said.
They were charged with
collusion in illegal logging and
jailed, he continued.
According to Ra, between five
and 10 Cambodians are sent
back every month by his Thai
counterpart. Ra said he always
calls their families to collect
them and asks local authorities
to educate them about the ille-
galities of logging Thai wood.
Chhit Chhorn, deputy chief of
the Oddar Meanchey provincial
police stations staff office, said
that two teenagers were also
released on Monday after being
arrested on May 31 for crossing
illegally into Thailand.
We do not know clearly about
their purpose, he said. We just
know they crossed the border
illegally and were arrested.
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
FIVE unexploded ordnance
(UXO) and 80 bullets were dug
out from the drained pond of a
Battambang pagoda yesterday.
Authorities in Sangke districts
Anlong Vil commune spotted
the devices on Wednesday, and
deminers from the Cambodian
Mine Action Centre yesterday
dug through the emptied pond
to nd two anti-tank mines, a
60mm mortar, two DK-82 mor-
tars and 80 MP5K bullets.
Those ordnance were made
in China. They are the legacy of
the [Vietnamese occupation]
after 1979, said Try Panharith,
provincial director of CMAC.
Though they were buried in
the ground for a long time and
the quality is wearing off, they
can still explode, he warned.
The Omony pagoda pond
was drained last year after resi-
dents were concerned it might
contain UXO.
Bbang pagodas pond
held deadly UXO cache
7 THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 6, 2014
Business
Anti-China protesters march in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on May 11. Vietnams premier has vowed to prevent a repeat of riots targeting foreign-owned factories. AFP
Vietnam reassures investors
V
IETNAMS prime
minister pledged
yesterday to step up
economic reforms
and prevent a repeat of riots
targeting foreign-owned fac-
tories, as the country seeks to
reassure nervous investors.
Nguyen Tan Dung said that
the unrest in mid-May, in
which Beijing says that four
Chinese workers lost their
lives, was unprecedented
and unexpected.
I can conrm that there
will not be any more riots,
he said at a business forum
in Hanoi, adding that the
government would ensure
safety and security for for-
eign business and foreigners
working, studying or living
in Vietnam.
Place your condence
and trust in Vietnam, Dung
urged investors.
Since China moved an oil
rig into waters claimed by
Vietnam in early May, rela-
tions between the frequently
quarrelsome communist
neighbours spiralled to their
lowest point in decades.
Taiwanese and South Kore-
an businesses were hit hard-
est by the unrest, which saw
factories vandalised and set
ablaze in parts of south and
central Vietnam.
Dung said some 90 per cent
of affected businesses were
now back to normal, and
promised further assistance
for those that were not.
Authorities have taken
measures to punish perpetra-
tors and prevent this reoccur-
ring, Dung said.
He pledged to accelerate
Vietnams domestic eco-
nomic reforms with a big-
ger role for private rms,
strengthen institutions, in-
crease nancial restructur-
ing, and pursue integration
with the world economy.
The whole economy needs
to be restructured, he said,
adding that many major state-
owned enterprises would be
privatised this year.
The country is negotiating
six different trade deals, from
the Trans-Pacic Partner-
ship to bilateral deals with
the European Union and
South Korea, he said.
The prime minister also
highlighted the governments
recent economic track record,
bringing sky-high ination
under control and steadily
boosting growth in the gross
domestic product.
GDP growth is expected to
be around 5.8 per cent for
2014, followed by 6 per cent
in 2015 and 6.5 per cent a
year for the following four
years, Dung said.
Dung was clearly trying to
encourage businesses, said
one of the forum participants,
Tony Foster, of business law
rm Freshelds Bruckhaus
Deringer. But the one thing
this country really had going
for it was stability and secu-
rity and now thats gone out
the window, he added.
Edmund Malesky, an expert
on Vietnams investment-
fuelled development at Duke
University, said that Dungs
speech with its emphasis
on new FTAs and integration
into the global economy
hinted at a restructuring of
Vietnams foreign policy.
Policy makers see the riots
as an opportunity to rethink
foreign relations, he said,
adding they are looking be-
yond just trade relations with
China. AFP

This week in biz
Big banks receive
loans totalling $105M
THREE of Cambodias largest
nancial institutions were
granted $105 million in loans
during last month alone.
PRASAC, Cambodias largest
micronance institution, last
week signed a loan agreement
worth $20 million with a
German development bank. On
May 19, Amret MFI,
Cambodias second-largest
micronancer, received a $10
million loan from the same
German bank. In the
commercial sector, the ADB
last week gave Acleda a $75
million loan. All three loans
were granted on the condition
that the funds be used to
benet Cambodias small and
midsize enterprises.
Number of Thai punters
drop since army coup
THE number of Thai visitors
placing bets at Cambodian
casinos has fallen since
Thailands military coup. Kim
Ledaro, managing director of
Crown Resorts, which
operates three casino resorts
in Poipet town, said there had
been a 40 per cent decline in
visitors since May 22.
Construction sector
raking in the cash
FOREIGN and domestic
investment in construction
projects skyrocketed in the
first four months of 2014, data
show. Ministry of Land
Management and Urban
Planning data show total
investment in new construc-
tion projects reached more
than $1.4 billion at the end of
April, a fourfold increase
compared with the same
period last year.
Instability delays launch
of new CAA routes
CAMBODIA Angkor Air (CAA)
will delay the launch of its
planned direct flights to
Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore
due to unrest in Vietnam and
Thailand, the airline said on
Wednesday.
USD / JPY
102.6
USD / SGD
1.258
USD /CNY
6.254
USD / HKD
7.7535
USD / THB
32.66
AUD / USD
0.9265
NZD / USD
0.8415
EUR / USD
1.3616
GBP / USD
1.6725
Indicative Exchange Rates as of 4/6/2014. Please contact ANZ Royal Global Markets on 023 999 910 for real time rates.
USD / KHR
4,050
Markets
8
Business
CAMBODIAS insurance indus-
try began in 1990 with just one
state-owned insurer and has
since grown to 11 insurers. The
countrys regulator is attempt-
ing to keep up with the sector
with the introduction of new
rules. The Council of Ministers
last week approved changes to
the countrys insurance laws.
Youk Chamroeunrith, general
manager of Forte Insurance,
which holds 39 per cent of the
Cambodias market share, sat
down with the Posts Chan
Muyhong this week to discuss
the new laws.
What impact will the new laws
have on the industry?
This draft law helps in-
surance companies build a
stronger stand in the market
as well as offering consumer
protection. This new draft
law, I think, has opened up
the exibility for the regulator
[the Ministry of Economy and
Finance] to intervene when
the industry is considered not
healthy by releasing a subde-
cree or announcement in ad-
dition to the existing law.
There are other changes; for
example, we have a glossary of
technical terms which makes
it easier to comprehend
and translate. The process
of nancial auditing is also
clearer, making it easier for
operators to follow. Minimum
investment capital remains at
$5 million. The new draft law
has also included the basic six
principles of insurance indus-
try applied globally.
Why do we need the new draft
law now?
The new draft law comes af-
ter industry insiders demand-
ed a new one when the older
version of the law proved un-
able to keep pace with the in-
dustry. The older law, which
was made in 1995 and was
adopted in 2000, is no longer
reecting the market.
What will the new laws cover?
The law is also about con-
sumer protection. Consumers
are now aware of the rights
they have and how they can
act upon those rights. The
new draft laws also propose
a new department under the
Ministry of Economy and Fi-
nance to act as mediator to
solve complaints from cus-
tomers towards any insurers
who are not willing to pay
claims. The purpose is to cut
costs and make the insurance
companies be responsible to
their customers.
Others might think this as
more restrictive regulation,
but I see it as an advantage for
the industry as this draft law
will help build more public
condence in the industry.
Article 2 of the draft law is
aimed at improving transpar-
ency and ensuring fair compe-
tition. Have these been prob-
lems in the sector before?
Actually, the industry is al-
ready transparent because
almost all of the insurance
companies in Cambodia are
audited by an international
auditing rm. This industry is
almost the second most trans-
parent industry after banking.
Companies that are not trans-
parent about their nancial
reporting will not be able to
get reinsured by companies
abroad.
Regarding the fair competi-
tion, it happened that some
companies said they could
cover the same insurance
product with a lower standard
premium, but when problems
occur they made excuses, say-
ing the claim could be paid
only under some conditions.
This frustrated customers.
Article 8 says contracts and
agreements should be written
in Khmer. Will this be a chal-
lenge for the industry?
Normally, the law in any
country would prioritise their
native language. However, it
is a challenge for the indus-
try because we lack words to
identify certain terminology
used in the industry. We have
based our agreement sample
on those from the UK and
other countries that are more
advanced in the insurance
industry. [This is where] the
glossary is very helpful.
How is the sector changing?
Weve seen life insurers
entering the market and at-
tracting middle-income cli-
ents. People now have more
understanding of the benets
of insurance. We cant project
a certain time for the industry
to reach its peak since it really
depends on the economy.

This interview has been edited
for length and clarity
New laws ensure better insurance
Youk Chamroeunrith, general manager of Forte Insurance, speaks to the Post in his ofce in Phnom Penh
earlier this week. HONG MENEA

Pouk district, and the other for a rice
mill on which it sits, Megagreen agreed
to buy the assets from Singapore-based
agricultural investment fund Nagath-
om for a combined total of $640,000.
Both contracts are dated March 14,
2012, and signed by Megagreen di-
rectors Outh and Prince Sisowath
Pheanuroth.
According to emails and documen-
tation leaked to the Post, the rice ex-
porter paid just $370,000 of the sale
price and has agreed to several new
deals with Nagathom for the remain-
ing balance in the intervening years.
Globally you give us a delay until
31 December 2012. In this regard, we
consider that the ne of 5% of inter-
est is reasonable. We accept the facts,
reads an email dated October 10, 2012,
from Megagreen director Pheanuroth
to Nagathoms director Erez Shalev.
So we ready to sign the SPA [sale
purchase agreement] at your conve-
nient time knowing that the situa-
tion will be solved entirely before De-
cember, it continues, referring to an
amended agreement for the balance.
But the money never came, the
Siem Reap mill remains unused, and
Nagathom, after more than two years
of go-nowhere negotiations, led a
court claim two months ago. Follow-
ing two hearings, Megagreen has re-
quested more time and the case is set
to resume on June 20.
Headquartered in Phnom Penh,
Megagreen says it has exported to, and
is currently working with, entities in
the European Union, Africa, Australia,
the Middle East and the United States.
The rm launched its rice production
and export business in 2010, the same
year that the government announced
its rice policy, which included the am-
bitious target of 1 million tonnes to be
exported by 2015.
Fuelled by a rising demand from
overseas buyers, and with the sup-
port from the European Unions Ev-
erything But Arms duty-free access
to member states, Cambodian rice
exports have almost doubled in two
years, from 202,000 tonnes exported in
2011 to 379,000 in 2013.
A fattening market, however, means
greater competition, and not everyone
has the ability to keep up, according to
David Van, executive director at rice
exporter Boost Riche Cambodia.
I would say that rice trading is highly
competitive and that many exporters
may not be savvy enough to suspend
their commercial activities, said Vain,
who declined to point the nger at any
single exporter. Therefore, all I would
say is to urge more effort for profes-
sionalism as to how people manage
their corporation.
According to Nagathoms Shalev,
Megagreen hasnt met expectations.
A revised purchase agreement dated
January 9, 2013, was sent to the Na-
gathom director from Megagreens
Outh, with an amended value of $1.2
million for both the Siem Reap land
and the rice mill.
Basically, they told me that in order
for them to pay, they want to inate the
price of the rice mill and the land in or-
der for them to get a higher mortgage
from the bank and in return to be able
to pay for the rice mill, Shalev said.
In what might be the exporters big-
gest creditor, regional banking giant
Maybank are pursuing Megagreen
through the courts for default on a
loan of more than $800,000, according
to documents obtained by the Post.
Maybank have declined to comment
on the details of the case.
And the broken deals do not end
there. Megagreen has suppliers, who
collect their paddy from farmers and
other millers, still awaiting payments
on agreements dating back nearly two
years. The exporter, they say, refuses to
even acknowledge their claims.
I previously sold to him [Rene Outh]
around 200 to 300 tonnes and I always
got paid. Though, on the last deal, 150
tonnes has not been paid since 2012,
said one miller who declined to be
named due to the sensitivity of the
subject. I have not prepared anything
against him yet. I am waiting to see the
response back from him to me.
One mill supplier who is still await-
ing payment on a deal to supply 500
tonnes of paddy says Megareen direc-
tor Outh has cut off contact.
I have tried to meet him face to face
to talk about a resolution, but so far we
have not met, said the supplier from
Kampong Thom province who also
asked not to be named. Before, he told
me that the administrative staff were
in charge, but when I contacted them,
they were not in charge, he said, add-
ing that he was in discussions with his
partner as to how to pursue the nearly
$20,000 that is allegedly still owed.
The state-owned agricultural pro-
ducer and exporter Green Trade con-
rmed that they have also led a legal
suit against Megagreen, but said they
are currently negotiating an out-of-
court settlement and declined to pro-
vide the size of the claim.
With more than 20 years industry ex-
perience, Kim Savuth, president of the
leading rice exporter Khmer Food, said
broken promises from a few exporters
were hurting the industry.
Some exporters are just going to sign
the big deal with buyers, however, in
fact, they just sign it and drop it. It gives
a bad image to the whole industry, he
said, declining to name any specic
exporter. They sign and then throw it
into the bin thats a really bad image
to our country as we are already well-
known for our rice quality.
For more than a month, Megagreen
has declined to comment to the Post,
but in the experience of foreign inves-
tor Nagathom, the inability of the rice
exporter to hold a promise means the
damage has spilled beyond the repu-
tation of one of Cambodias primary
industries into the economy at large.
It is either, I will not make business
in Cambodia at all that is my conclu-
sion right now and what I am trying
to do is to basically sell all the assets
and move out to other countries,
Shalev said. The other option is to
join with a very strong local partner,
that maybe, will be able to take you
through the roots, that will protect
you from such events, but who can
count on this local partner [not be-
coming] another Megagreen?
9
Business
Exporter is
under attack
in rice row
The interior of a rice milling plant in 2010. The plant was closed after a failed deal left
it without nance. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Markets
10
Business
Successful People Read The Post.
Job Announcement
The Phnom Penh Post is an independent media company in Cambodia
and is seeking qualied candidates to ll the position of reporter as
follows:
Lifestyle Sub-editor: 1 position
Job requirements:
Bachelors degree in journalism or an equivalent degree -
At least 2 (two) years experience in Media -
Knowledge of media law and professional ethics -
Those who specialize in certain area such as tourism, travel, -
entertainment and leisure news are highly welcomed.
Very good in Khmer and English, Speaking and Writing -
Computer literacy (must be able to type Khmer Unicode well) -
Available to work in a high pressure environment -
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and CV to the
human resource ofce of The Phnom Penh Post at the below address:
Post Media Co. Ltd, #888, Floor 8, Building F, Phnom Penh Center,
Corner of Sothearos and Preah Sihanouk boulevards, Sangkat Tonle
Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh or through email address:
jobs@phnompenhpost.com; Tel: 023 214 311 or Fax: 023 214 318
Deadline: June 10, 2014
Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
May Kunmakara
THE governments tax rev-
enue increased for the rst
ve months of the year, but
despite recent reforms, the
growth rate is at a slower pace
than for the corresponding
period last year.
According to data from Gen-
eral Department of Taxation
(GDT) released on Wednesday,
the state collected about $443
million in taxes from January
to May, compared with $394
million over the same period
last year.
Between January and May
of the year, the tax revenue in-
creased in all sectors, accord-
ing to GDTs statement, which
shows that revenue from taxes
on salaries rose 19.2 per cent,
those from company income
went up about 20 per cent and
VAT revenue increased nearly
6 per cent.
But the overall increase of
about 12.5 per cent represents
a deceleration compared with
the 20 per cent rise in 2013
from 2012 in the same period.
Srey Chanthy, an indepen-
dent economist said slowed
growth of tax revenue comes
down to the enforcement, or
lack thereof, of proper tax rates
on the border, introduced by
the government last year. Un-
rest in Thailand, leading to less
imports, also played a role.
Since the government or-
dered the reform with the de-
partment, we have slow pro-
gress of the revenue as many
traders delay their imports
due to higher costs. And the
situation in Thailand recently
also affects the revenue be-
cause we import both raw and
nished products from Thai-
land, he said.
Chanthy added that a lack
of resources in the tax depart-
ment also plays a role.
The capabilities of our of-
cers are still poor. The new
head of the department has to
clean up his institution, make
paper work easier to comply
with, improve his ofcers ca-
pability and try to modernise
all payment via electronic
system or the banks, this will
make the revenue much bet-
ter, he said.
Meanwhile Kong Vibol,
Head of GDT said in the state-
ment he was encouraging tax-
ation ofcers to continue en-
forcing the law and adhere to
a professional code of ethics
in order to improve the work
efciency.
Tax revenue rises
but at slower pace
HK tycoon brothers
in court for bribery
A
PROSECUTOR told
a corruption trial
yesterday that Hong
Kong property ty-
coons Thomas and Raymond
Kwok bribed a high-ranking
ofcial to be their eyes and
ears in the government.
The billionaire brothers,
who jointly chair develop-
ment giant Sun Hung Kai
Properties, were arrested
along with former chief sec-
retary Rafael Hui in a major
swoop by graft investigators
two years ago.
David Perry, opening for
the prosecution, said that the
Kwoks, aged 62 and 60, made
secret payments to Hui,
who held the second-highest
position in Hong Kongs gov-
ernment from June 2005 to
June 2007.
Hui, who was later on the
citys top advisory body the Ex-
ecutive Council, is accused of
misconduct in ofce involving
bribes amounting to HK$34
million (US$4.38 million).
Perry said the payments had
been made through a series of
complicated transactions in-
volving middlemen.
One payment, amounting to
HK$8.5 million, was made to
Hui in the four days leading up
to his appointment as the citys
chief secretary for Administra-
tion in 2005, Perry said.
Why would such success-
ful businessmen pay millions
of dollars in that way to a man
to be appointed to ofce of
chief secretary and who was
a member of executive coun-
cil? Perry asked.
It was a bribe, he told the
nine-member jury panel.
Other defendants in the
blockbuster trial are Sun Hung
Kai director Thomas Chan,
and Francis Kwan, the former
nonexecutive director of in-
vestment company New Envi-
ronmental Energy Holdings.
All ve have pleaded not
guilty to the charges.
Sun Hung Kai is the biggest
property developer by market
capitalisation and owns some
of the citys most recognisable
real estate including the 118-
oor International Commerce
Centre. AFP
Raymond Kwok, co-chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, arrives at
the High Court in Hong Kong on May 8. BLOOMBERG
Subway workers strike

in Sao Paulo before WC
SUBWAY workers in Sao Paulo
went on strike yesterday, one
week before the World Cup
opens in the Brazilian mega-
city, where protests against
government spending on the
tournament erupted a year
ago. The Sao Paulo metro is
the main transport link to the
economic capitals World Cup
host stadium, and the
indefinite strike could pose a
massive logistical headache
for organizers. The strike will
affect 4.5 million daily
passengers and could unleash
commuter chaos in the
sprawling city of 20 million
people, which was already hit
by a paralysing bus drivers
strike last month. AFP
Factory orders buoy
Germanys economy
THE outlook for the German
economy, Europes biggest, is
looking brighter for the
second quarter following an
unexpected jump in
industrial orders, data
showed yesterday. Industrial
or factory orders a key
measure of demand for
German-made goods were
up 3.1 per cent in April
compared with the level in
March, the statistics office
Destatis said in a statement.
In particular, orders from the
eurozone rose significantly by
9.9 per cent. AFP
11
Business
International commodities
Energy
Agriculture
Markets
800
875
950
1025
1100
500
550
600
650
700
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
18000
19750
21500
23250
25000
2000
2250
2500
2750
3000
14000
14500
15000
15500
16000
8000
8300
8600
8900
9200
Thailand Vietnam
Singapore Malaysia
Hong Kong China
Japan Taiwan
Thai Set 50 Index, Jun 4
FTSE Straits Times Index, Jun 4 FTSE BursaMalaysiaKLCI, Jun 4
Hang Seng Index, Jun 4 CSI 300 Index, Jun 4
Nikkei 225, Jun 4 Taiwan Taiex Index, Jun 4
Ho Chi Minh Stock Index, Jun 4
15,079.37
2,150.60 23,103.38
1,867.85 3,277.90
552.68 979.82
9,140.72
1600
1725
1850
1975
2100
5500
5875
6250
6625
7000
900
1050
1200
1350
1500
3500
3875
4250
4625
5000
20000
21250
22500
23750
25000
28000
28500
29000
29500
30000
4500
4875
5250
5625
6000
4500
4750
5000
5250
5500
South Korea Philippines
Laos Indonesia
India Pakistan
Australia New Zealand
KOSPI Index, Jun 4 PSEI - Philippine Se Idx, Jun 4
Laos Composite Index, Jun 4 Jakarta Composite Index, Jun 4
BSE Sensex 30 Index, Jun 4 Karachi 100 Index, Jun 4
S&P/ASX 200 Index, Jun 4 NZX 50 Index, Jun 4
5,436.88
29,640.18 24,872.42
4,927.49 1,286.06
6,772.44 1,995.48
5,159.49
Item Unit Base Average (%)
Gasoline R 5250 5450 3.81 %
Diesel R 5100 5200 1.96 %
Petroleum R 5500 5500 0.00 %
Gas Chi 86000 76000 -11.63 %
Charcoal Baht 1200 1300 8.33 %
Energy
Construction equipment
Rice 1 R/Kg 2800 2780 -0.71 %
Rice 2 R/Kg 2200 2280 3.64 %
Paddy R/Kg 1800 1840 2.22 %
Peanuts R/Kg 8000 8100 1.25 %
Maize 2 R/Kg 2000 2080 4.00 %
Cashew nut R/Kg 4000 4220 5.50 %
Pepper R/Kg 40000 24000 -40.00 %
Beef R/Kg 33000 33600 1.82 %
Pork R/Kg 17000 18200 7.06 %
Mud Fish R/Kg 12000 12400 3.33 %
Chicken R/Kg 18000 20800 15.56 %
Duck R/Kg 13000 13100 0.77 %
Steel 12 R/Kg 3000 3100 3.33 %
Cement R/Sac 19000 19500 2.63 %
Food -Cereals -Vegetables - Fruits
Cambodian commodities
(Base rate taken on January 1, 2012)
COMMODITY UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE TIME(ET)
Crude Oil (WTI) USD/bbl. 102.24 -0.4 -0.39% 3:45:33
Crude Oil (Brent) USD/bbl. 108.13 -0.27 -0.25% 3:44:41
NYMEX Natural Gas USD/MMBtu 4.67 0.03 0.65% 3:41:56
RBOBGasoline USd/gal. 293.05 -0.47 -0.16% 3:43:29
NYMEX Heating Oil USd/gal. 284.88 0.07 0.02% 3:45:00
ICEGasoil USD/MT 882.5 -3.5 -0.40% 3:44:26
COMMODITY UNITS PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE TIME(ET)
CBOT Rough Rice USD/cwt 14.19 -0.04 -0.28% 3:36:10
CME Lumber USD/tbf 308.9 1.1 0.36% 0:48:59
Laura Mannering
A
NEW generation of wearable
technology is promising not
only to log data about users
health but to predict and
avert crises from drivers falling
asleep at the wheel to runners wearing
themselves out in a marathon.
But there are concerns over the
accuracy of the personal informa-
tion collected by the burgeoning
range of smart wristbands, watches
and clothing and how companies
might use that data.
Wearable technology is the fastest
growing category at this years Com-
putex, Asias largest tech trade show
which kicked off in Taiwan on Tues-
day, with health-tracking a dominant
theme. Market tracker IDC predicted
in April that sales of wearable tech
items would triple this year to 19 mil-
lion units worldwide, growing to 111.9
million by 2018.
At Taiwanese smartwear company
AiQs Computex stand this week, a
muscular mannequin showed off a
lycra cycling top. Stainless steel fibres
in the fabric and electrodes in the
sleeves sense heart rate and other vital
signs as well as calories burned, send-
ing the data to a Bluetooth clip which
can transmit it to a phone, tablet or
other smart device.
The technology will appeal to sports
fans, but it is Taiwans bus drivers who
will be the first to benefit, when com-
panies ask them to wear smart shirts
later this year in a move that could
prevent accidents.
We will provide a shirt which can
monitor the drivers in case they are
falling asleep, or in case any vital signs
are not OK, and it will provide a signal
or a warning to the bus company, AiQ
vice president Steve Huang said.
The clothing was trialled for a year
on discharged hospital patients to
track their condition and it received
positive feedback from wearers, he
added. But analysts and consumers
still have reservations about wheth-
er smartwear can really tell us the
truth about our bodies.
Current sensors are not very accu-
rate, but there will be improve-
ments, Daniel Matte of market
research firm Canalys said.
Samsung unveiled a new digital
health technology platform last week
that uses sensors to track a range of
body functions such as heart rate and
blood pressure. And Apple also
launched its Health app this week,
with speculation mounting it will
move into hardware later this year.
But while tech firms jump on the
health-monitoring bandwagon, there
are questions over how the data from
the new devices will be handled.
There is a massive opportunity
to analyse and monetise the
large amounts of data that wearable
sensors and platforms will gener-
ate. Privacy is always a concern,
Matte continued.
Huang acknowledged the tension
between the potential commercial
benefit for smartwear firms and the
risk of invading users privacy.
There will be a lot of legal and
moral issues, he said.
Tech companies are also emphasis-
ing the potential benefits of analysis
to help users make sense of their data,
and the possibility of linking up with
experts who can give feedback.
Maybe we will cooperate with
some medical [institutions] like hos-
pitals to improve this kind of product
and to do something to really help
people this has been talked about at
Sonostar, said Paula Luh at the Tai-
wanese firms stand.
Sonostar was showing its new
brightly coloured SmartFit trackers
silicone wristbands with a pop-out
coin-sized sensor which is battery-
powered and designed to be worn all
day, monitoring everything from steps
taken to sleep patterns.
The device has one years memory
storage, said Luh, who added that
users privacy would be protected
through a registering and sign-in
procedure to access their personal
data online.
Smart wearables could also be set
to re-educate athletes away from a no
pain no gain approach, with one new
device at Computex claiming to be
able to measure stamina so that it
can warn racers when they might be
pushing too hard.
We detect the current flowing
through your heart . . . then we use our
algorithm and transfer the raw infor-
mation into stamina, said Kuo Hsin-
fu of Taiwanese startup Bomdic,
which makes the clip-on Bluetooth
GoMore device. We are doing eve-
rything that other sports apps can do,
but more. AFP
Wear tech and health meet
A man introduces a jogging smart cloth designed by Taiwan Textile Research Institute
(TTRI) during the Computex tech show in Taipei on June 4. AFP
World
Canadian
cop killer
spurs huge
manhunt
SCORES of Canadian police
were scouring the woods in
the eastern province of New
Brunswick early yesterday,
hunting for a man believed to
have shot dead three officers
and wounded two others.
Residents were told to lock
themselves up inside their
homes in Moncton, the prov-
inces largest city as police
searched for the alleged shoot-
er, 24-year-old Justin Bourque,
who was described as armed
and dangerous.
Stay home, stay safe. If you
cannot get home, seek out a
friend or family and remain
there until you are advised
otherwise, Moncton Mayor
LeBlanc said. The Royal Cana-
dian Mounted Police (RCMP)
told residents to stay inside
and barricade their doors.
The RCMP police released a
photo of the suspect dressed
in military fatigues and carry-
ing two firearms. He was said
to be hiding in a wooded area
north of Moncton.
It was those guns that he
confronted police with in a
street in Moncton on Wednes-
day night around 7:30pm (0130
GMT), killing three officers and
wounding two. The wounded
cops were in stable condition,
said Dhany Charest, a surgeon
in the city of 70,000.
Initially, a third person was
reported wounded but it later
turned out this was in an unre-
lated incident.
On what appears to be his
Facebook page, the suspect
posted extracts from a song by
American heavy metal band
Megadeth just before the
shooting. He took letters from
the refrain of the song and
spelled out the letters of free-
dom and ultimately wrote:
this spells out FREEDOM, it
means nothing to me.
The exact circumstances of
the shooting were not clear.
Local media said the shooter
opened fire in cold blood in a
residential area of the city.
Damien Theriault, spokes-
man for the RCMP, said
authorities wanted to end the
manhunt as soon as possible.
He gave no details on the
shooting spree.
On Wednesday night TV foot-
age showed police with guns in
their hands and taking refuge
behind cars as they encircled a
wooded area where the sus-
pect may have taken refuge.
Canada prides itself on being
largely free of the gun violence
that regularly plagues cities in
the neighbouring US.
Provincial premier David
Alward said: I was shocked
and saddened to learn of
tonights tragic situation in
Moncton. On behalf of all New
Brunswickers, I would like to
extend my thoughts and
prayers to those affected, he
added. AFP
Junta out to bring happiness
G7 warns Russia to curb Ukraine unrest
A
RE you in need of a pick-me-
up? How about a free haircut
or hot meal? A dance show
by women in PVC miniskirts?
Perhaps a chance to pet a pony?
All this and more is now available
to you courtesy of the Royal Thai Ar-
mys Happiness campaign, which is
staging free festivals across Bangkok to
bring back happiness to the public
following last months military coup.
A bizarre combination of an army-
controlled street party and a music
festival, the parties have been tak-
ing place in parks and squares, where
the public is showered with free food
and drink and given an opportunity
to watch the army sing and dance
and take seles next to soldiers.
The campaign is by order of General
Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took control
of Thailand two weeks ago in a coup
that has been condemned nationally
and internationally. About 300 people
have been detained since the army
seized power on May 22, among them
academics, journalists, activists, poli-
ticians and human rights defenders.
Those protesting against the coup
have held ash mobs in shopping
malls, holding up banners liken-
ing junta-ruled Thailand to George
Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four and
ashing three-ngered Hunger Games
salutes to show resistance.
The army has cracked down on
anti-coup protesters, banning the
three-ngered salute and arresting a
motorcycle-taxi driver on Wednesday
for distributing anti-coup leaets, lo-
cal media reported.
But Prayuth has said the coup should
be celebrated as an opportunity for
Thais to feel good after a long stretch
of political in-ghting left the country
deeply divided. The Thai people, like
me, have probably not been happy for
nine years, he said last month. But
since May 22, there is happiness.
The junta, which calls itself the
National Council for Peace and Or-
der, (NCPO) has been circulating the
theme of happiness extensively
since overthrowing the democrati-
cally elected government. It has plans
for a new happiness index to deter-
mine how people feel after the coup,
while Prayuth is delivering a weekly
TV and radio program called Return-
ing Happiness to the People, to discuss
the juntas decisions and plans.
At Victory Monument, the very site
where demonstrators were until a few
days ago, the army on Wednesday set
up trucks, loudspeakers, a stage and
even a petting zoo complete with
bales of hay, horses, a cowboy man-
nequin and a ceramic teepee.
Nearby there was a sele stand in
front of a giant banner reading HAP-
PINESS, allowing the public to take
pictures of themselves with soldiers in
riot gear and wraparound sunglasses.
Oh, hes so handsome, take my pic-
ture! shouted one young woman as
she queued for a photo.
The coup has prompted a sele-
craze of sorts, with the trending Twit-
ter hashtag Show me a hot soldier
morphing into photos of Thai people
in fancy dress, then even of newly-
weds posing with soldiers or next to
army trucks.
My heart feels good like this, be-
cause before [the coup] people were
acting sick in the head, said Lieuten-
ant Pipat Boonrungruang, manning
the crowd. This is fun and it makes
people smile.
At the main stage, a surreal mix of
propaganda and performance was
taking place. The crowd went wild as
young male soldiers drummed hel-
mets and metal food plates in a Thai
military version of Stomp, throwing
red roses and money at the stage, fol-
lowed by a dance show with women
in PVC miniskirts and glittering belts.
Does this make me happy? Yes,
said Farida Lee, 40, who was taking
pictures of the dancers. It makes the
nation happy, sure. Without the army
we would have had more ghting,
more problems, more people killed.
This is a good thing. Prayuth is good.
As for the free haircuts, oddly they
were nowhere to be found. No, no
haircuts today, said a soldier watch-
ing the show, Im truly sorry.
Meanwhile, Thailands anti-graft
body yesterday launched an assets
probe into deposed premier Yingluck
Shinawatra in relation to a bungled
rice subsidy scheme that sparked
widespread anger.
Yingluck was ousted in a contro-
versial court ruling last month, two
weeks before a May 22 military coup.
Her elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra
a divisive former premier had $1.4
billion conscated by a court in 2010.
In addition to Yingluck two former
commerce ministers and their depu-
ties also face investigations by the
National Anti-Corruption Commis-
sion (NACC).
The NACC has agreed to set up a
sub-committee for an assets probe
against ministers involved in the rice
scheme subsidy under Yingluck Shi-
nawatras government, the body said
in a statement. If they are found to
have proted from the scheme they
could have their assets seized, an
NACC ofcial said.
The rice subsidy paid farmers up to
50 per cent above market rates for the
grain. Some estimates say it cost the
Thai public nances $4.6-6 billion a
year. THE GUARDIAN/AFP
WORLD leaders urged Vladi-
mir Putin on Wednesday to
stop destabilising Ukraine
or face further sanctions as
they met without the Russian
president for the rst time
since the 1990s.
Putin reached out a hand
despite being banned from
the Group of Seven summit
following Russias annexa-
tion of Crimea in March, say-
ing that he was ready to meet
Ukraines president-elect.
But G7 leaders said that
while they still hoped for
constructive talks with Pu-
tin on the sidelines of D-Day
commemorations in France
this week, Moscow could face
further punitive measures.
In a joint communique after
their summit they said Putin
must recognise the results of
Ukraines May 25 presidential
election, won by Petro Po-
roshenko, stem destabilisa-
tion in the east of the country,
and pull Russian troops back
from the border.
Actions to destabilise east-
ern Ukraine are unacceptable
and must stop, the group
said. We stand ready to inten-
sify targeted sanctions and to
implement signicant addi-
tional restrictive measures to
impose further costs on Rus-
sia should events so require.
US President Barack Obama
earlier hit out at Russias dark
tactics in Ukraine in a hawk-
ish speech in Warsaw which
harked back to some of the
darkest days of the Cold War,
Obama has shown no signs
of wanting a meeting with Pu-
tin despite the fact that both
will be in Normandy Friday
to mark the 70th anniversary
of the D-Day landings that
helped end World War II.
Other G7 leaders whose
economies are more exposed
to Russia than Washington
took a softer tone, wielding
the stick of sanctions while
dangling the carrot of a thaw.
German Chancellor Angela
Merkel said European leaders
would take stock of Russian
actions at a summit towards
the end of June and reect
which further sanctions are
necessary.
But Merkel, who is due to
meet Putin in France, said
that the the main thing is to
be constructive and that fur-
ther sanctions would take ef-
fect only if there had been no
progress whatsoever.
French President Francois
Hollande who is scheduled
to have separate dinners
with both Putin and Obama
agreed that dialogue
and de-escalation must be
encouraged.
British Prime Minister Da-
vid Cameron said he would
be taking a similar message to
Putin when he met him yes-
terday. Putin hinted that he
could meet both Poroshenko
and even Obama, saying I
dont plan to avoid anyone.
But he taunted the United
States and waved away al-
legations of Russian military
meddling in eastern Ukraine.
Proof? Lets see it! he said.
The entire world remem-
bers the US secretary of state
demonstrating the evidence
of Iraqs weapons of mass
destruction, waving around
some test tube with washing
powder in the UN Security
Council.
The worst East-West crisis
in decades dominated the G7
talks, a summit due to have
been hosted by Putin in the
Black Sea resort of Sochi but
switched to Brussels in the
anger that followed Moscows
wresting of Crimea.
Obama earlier prom-
ised years of US support for
Ukraine and for former com-
munist NATO states, plus a
$1 billion fund for new mili-
tary rotations throughout
Eastern Europe. AFP
Thai soldiers dance with residents at a military event organised to return happiness to the people at Victory Monument, the site of
recent anti-coup rallies in Bangkok, on Wednesday. AFP
World
13
HUNDREDS of people may
have been killed in a suspect-
ed Boko Haram attack on four
villages in northeast Nigeria, a
local lawmaker and residents
said yesterday.
Gunmen in military uni-
form struck Goshe, Attagara,
Agapalwa and Aganjara in the
Gwoza district of Borno state
late on Tuesday, razing homes,
churches and mosques, and
killing residents who tried to
ee the violence.
Some community leaders
put the death toll in the at-
tacks as high as 400 to 500,
although there was no inde-
pendent verication of the
claim because of poor com-
munications and difculties
for the emergency services in
accessing the area.
If conrmed, the attack
would be one of the deadli-
est in the Islamists ve-year
insurgency and top the more
than 300 who were killed on
May 5 when militant ghters
laid siege to the nearby town
of Gamboru Ngala.
The killings are massive but
nobody can give a toll because
nobody has been able to go to
that place because the insur-
gents are still there. They have
taken over the whole area,
legislator Peter Biye said.
There are bodies littered
over the whole area and peo-
ple have ed, added Biye,
who represents Gwoza in
Nigerias lower chamber of
parliament the House of Rep-
resentatives.
Reports from the remote
region near the border with
Cameroon said that the insur-
gents continued their attack
throughout Wednesday, steal-
ing livestock and food and
burning property.
Hundreds of dead bod-
ies are lying there . . . because
there is nobody that will bury
them, said one community
leader in Attagara, who re-
quested anonymity.
The community leader said
the area was facing a grave
humanitarian crisis while
others called for relief agen-
cies to be allowed in to enable
the dead to be buried.
The Nigerian army has in-
sisted it has the extremists on
the run. But while Boko Haram
has in large part been pushed
out of cities in the northeast,
they have been seizing villages
in the semi-arid region where
they once held sway, boldly
staking their claim by hoisting
their ags and making large
swaths of Nigeria no-go re-
gions for the military. AFP
Hundreds feared dead
in Boko Haram raids
Nine get death penalty in Xinjiang
C
HINA has sentenced
nine people to death
on terrorism-related
charges in its ethni-
cally divided western region
of Xinjiang, state media said
yesterday, as authorities
crack down following sev-
eral deadly attacks.
Multiple courts in Xinjiang
sentenced 81 suspects on var-
ious terror-related charges,
state-broadcaster CCTV said.
In the past year Xinjiang
home to the mostly Muslim
Uighur minority has seen
an increase in violent clash-
es, which Beijing blames on
organised terrorist groups
seeking independence for
the region.
Critics say Beijing exag-
gerates the terror threat in
Xinjiang to justify hardline
measures, and point to eco-
nomic inequality and cultural
and religious repression of
Uighurs as causes of unrest.
Also yesterday, 29 people de-
scribed as terrorist suspects
were detained in Xinjiangs
capital Urumqi on charges in-
cluding inciting separatism
and gathering mobs to disturb
order in a public place, the
state-run Xinjiang Net said.
The 29 cases were pro-
cessed according to new
rules calling on state pros-
ecutors to complete terror-
related investigations within
24 hours, the report said.
China last month vowed a
year-long campaign against
terrorism, after attackers in
Urumqi killed 39 people in a
suicide raid on a marketplace.
Authorities in Xinjiang last
week sentenced 55 people for
offences including terrorism
at a mass sentencing in a sta-
dium attended by about 7,000
people. Hundreds of others
are reported to have been de-
tained in recent weeks.
Rights groups have ex-
pressed concerns about
whether terror suspects in
the region are granted fair tri-
als, given the common use of
forced confessions in the Chi-
nese legal system.
Meanwhile, the leader of
Tibets exiled government
accused China yesterday
of blanket repression in his
homeland and warned that
resentment over its rule was
growing as he launched a new
campaign for autonomy.
Speaking as he and other
senior exiles, including the
Dalai Lama, renewed their
push for a Middle way of
peaceful autonomy within
China, Lobsang Sangay called
for more international help
for the Tibetan cause. The
Dalai Lama, who is the spiri-
tual leader of the Tibetans,
said there was no shortage of
commitment from the exiled
leadership but added that
patience was needed to pro-
duce results.
There is total repression
and total discrimination in
Tibet, Sangay, the Tibetan
government-in-exiles prime
minister, said.
All this repression is making
Tibetans more resentful of the
Chinese governments policies
and towards the Chinese gov-
ernment and various forms of
protests are taking place.
Sangay took over as the po-
litical leader of the Tibetan
cause in 2011 when the Dalai
Lama a Nobel prize-winner
long accused by China of be-
ing a dangerous separatist
pared back his roles.
But Beijing has continued
to resist calls by US President
Barack Obama and other
Western leaders to resume
talks with Tibetan ofcials on
autonomy that broke down
four years ago.
China has governed Tibet
since 1951, a year after invad-
ing, and considers the Hima-
layan region an integral part
of its territory which has pros-
pered under its rule. AFP
Fifty-ve people are sentenced on terrorism offences in a Xinjiang
stadium attended by about 7,000 people on May 28. AFP
World
15
Diplomatic affairs
Consulates
reveal odd
requests

S
INGAPORE yesterday
urged its globetrotting
citizens to avoid misusing
consular services abroad, reveal-
ing odd requests, including one
man who demanded help to get a
refund for bad sex.
Foreign Minister K Shanmugam
said the number of overseas
trips made by Singaporeans had
surged to seven million in 2013,
compared with 3.6 million a
decade ago.
We handled over 3,000 con-
sular cases last year. Many cases
are genuine. But sometimes we
do get odd requests, he said in a
Facebook post. In one instance,
Shanmugam said a Singaporean
sought Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) intervention for a refund
after he had gotten illegal sexual
services in a foreign country.
He wasnt satised with what
he had gotten. We had to tell him
that MFA could not help!
Shanmugam said the ministry
also declined to intervene when a
man demanded an investigation
over alleged racial discrimination
while overseas.
The man had claimed he
received a smaller piece of KFC
chicken compared to what the
locals had. AFP

Libyas top court to rule
on new government
LIBYAS supreme court is to
issue a ruling next week on the
legality of Ahmed Miitigs
controversial election last
month as interim prime
minister, a court official said
yesterday. Outgoing premier
Abdullah al-Thani announced
last week he would ask for a
court ruling on the election
before handing over power. On
Tuesday he said he was
prepared to do so. The verdict
. . . will be issued on Monday,
the court official said. AFP
Guineas ebola death

toll rises above 200
MORE than 200 people have
died from the highly contagious
ebola virus in Guinea, making it
one of the worst-ever outbreaks
of the disease, the WHO said on
Wednesday. The agency said it
so far had registered 328
confirmed or suspected cases
of ebola in Guinea, including 208
deaths, with 21 deaths
registered between May 29 and
June 1. Neighbouring Sierra
Leone and Liberia were also
increasingly affected, said WHO,
which described West Africas
first-ever outbreak of the deadly
haemorrhagic fever as one of
the most challenging since the
virus was first identified in 1976
in what is now the DR Congo.
Two hundred and eighty people
died in that outbreak, the
deadliest on record. AFP
Assad wins non-election
S
YRIAN President
Bashar al-Assad has
won a new seven-year
term with nearly 90 per
cent of the vote, but Washing-
ton said the non-election
changed nothing and activ-
ists said it would spell only
more war.
Tens of thousands took to
the streets in government-
held areas even before the
results were announced on
Wednesday evening, waving
portraits of Assad and the of-
cial Syrian ag.
Celebratory gunre erupted
in the capital and in loyalist
areas across Syria. At least 10
people were killed as the bul-
lets fell back to earth, accord-
ing to the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights.
In opposition-held areas
where no election was held on
Tuesday, activists reacted with
the Arab Spring slogan of 2011
that has been the rally cry of
their uprising: The people
want the fall of the regime.
Pro-government newspa-
pers all carried front-page
photographs of the re-elected
president. Images of Assad in
suit and tie, or more rarely mil-
itary uniform, lled the pro-
gramming of state television.
The ruling Baath partys
newspaper vowed that Syrians
would show the same stead-
fastness against rebel attack in
rebuilding their country that
they displayed on polling day.
After the historic vote, Syri-
ans will accomplish a military,
political and social mission,
as well as the reconstruction
of the country, by defying the
mortars that are launched ev-
ery day by the terrorists, Al-
Baath said in an editorial.
Some 11.6 million of the 15.8
million eligible voters turned
out in government-held areas,
according to ofcial gures,
despite attacks that killed 24
people on polling day, accord-
ing to the Observatory.
Critics charged that many of
those who voted did so more
out of fear than commitment
to Assad, whose family has
ruled Syria with a rod of iron
for four decades.
Russia earlier called for the
speedy appointment of a new
UN envoy to resume peace ef-
forts after Lakhdar Brahimi,
who brokered two rounds of
abortive talks between the
government and the opposi-
tion earlier this year, stepped
down over the weekend say-
ing his mediation had reached
a stalemate.
Brahimi had infuriated Da-
mascus by criticising Tues-
days election as an obstacle
to his peace efforts.
But Moscow has in turn
angered the West by vetoing
four draft UN Security Coun-
cil resolutions in defence of
its Damascus ally.
Opposition activists ac-
knowledged wearily that the
election was likely to prolong
the conict that has devas-
tated their country. Speak-
ing from Turkey, an activist
who spent nearly two years
trapped under army siege in
Syrias third city, Homs, said
he believed in a peaceful so-
lution, but that Assads win
made the prospects remoter
than ever.
Sadly the election means
that the ghting and blood-
shed will also continue, and
no one knows for how long,
while the refugees will stay in
the camps, said the activist
who identied himself only
as Thaer.
The truth is that, even
though everyone wants a po-
litical solution, that cannot
happen with Assad in power
. . . The war will continue, and
the Syrians will continue to
kill each other. AFP
A young woman celebrates in Damascus after Bashar al-Assad was
announced the winner of Syrias presidential poll on Wednesday. AFP
Japan bans child sexual abuse
material but cartoons still legal
Pies the limit for Chinas Xi lookalike
JAPAN edged closer to banning the possession
of child pornography on Wednesday, the last
major developed country to do so, but pedo-
philia portrayed in the countrys popular man-
ga comics will be exempt.
Under current laws, only the production and
distribution of child pornography are banned,
a situation that campaigners say is damaging to
children. On Wednesday the lower-house Com-
mittee on Judicial Affairs unanimously decided
to expand the scope of the legislation.
A new bill, agreed upon by the ruling coalition
and three opposition parties, will be submitted
to the main chamber shortly, a parliament offi-
cial said. The legislation is expected to be quick-
ly passed and sent to the upper house before the
current parliament session ends on June 22.
A revised law would ban possession of pho-
tographs and videos depicting real children,
but would exclude manga comics and ani-
me video, following calls to protect freedom
of expression. The primary reason [for the new
rule] is to protect the rights of real children.
So-called manga, anime and computer graph-
ics are outside its scope, said an official at the
legislative bureau of the house.
The move comes after the Tokyo metropoli-
tan government last month said it was banning
sales to children of a manga depicting incestu-
ous relationships. Little Sisters Paradise! 2,
which was published in April, was set to be
classified as an unhealthy publication that
must be kept out of childrens reach.
The draft law that moved through committee
on Wednesday says anyone who possesses
child pornography for the purpose of satisfying
his/her sexual interest could be punished with
imprisonment of up to one year, or fines of up
to one million yen ($9,800).
In order to encourage disposal of material,
the penalties would be delayed for one year
after the revised law comes into force. Those
who were sent child porn materials by others
without asking would be exempt but keeping
them and looking at them repeatedly could be
penalised. AFP
BUSINESS is booming for one
meat-pie vendor in central
China, but it is the traders
uncanny likeness to President
Xi Jinping that sets him apart
from the competition.
Photos posted online by the
state-run China Youth Net-
work show throngs of young
people surrounding and tak-
ing photos of the man, Shao
Jianhua, who runs the stall in
the city of Changsha in
Hunan province.
Shao, who opened his no-
frills operation in 2009 after
moving to Changsha from east
Chinas Hangzhou, told the
website that his busiest time is
when students from nearby
Hunan University are just get-
ting out of class.
When business is at its
peak, I make 1,600 pies a day,
he said.
Xi was not mentioned by
name in any of the state-run
media reports, but users of
Chinas popular online social
networks were quick to note
the likeness, with some yes-
terday joking that Shao was
the presidents long-lost
brother.
Others joked that the dop-
pelganger was actually Xi in
disguise. The head of Chinas
ruling Communist Party has
sought to burnish his public
image since taking office in
2012 by carrying his own
umbrella, showing off his foot-
ball skills and eating steamed
buns at a Beijing restaurant.
Is he going incognito, to
observe the peoples condi-
tion? asked one user of Sina
Weibo, a Chinese version of
Twitter.
Last year, a report by a Hong
Kong newspaper that Xi had
taken a taxi in Beijing spread
like wildfire on the web. Chi-
nas official Xinhua news agen-
cy quickly denied the report,
and keyword searches using
the words Jinping and taxi
were soon blocked from social
media sites.
Xi is not the only leader who
has a street vendor lookalike.
In March, photos circulated
of a skewered-meat vendor in
the northeastern Chinese city
of Shenyang who bore a strik-
ing resemblance to North
Korean leader Kim Jong-un,
drawing thousands of com-
ments online. AFP
Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
An internatonal Christan child focused humanitarian
organizaton working with the poor and oppressed to
promote human transformaton and fullness of life
for every child
Position: Senior Campaign Manager for Nutrition 1.
Location: Phnom Penh
Closing Date: 13 Jun 2014
General Description
To lead in the delivery of the Child Health Now campaign at the
national level, and manage the Child Health Now (CHN) campaign
staff team.This position will work closely with colleagues involved
on the issue of nutrition and child health both within World
Vision and with other external partners (NGOs, civil society,
and Government). To leverage World Visions iinstitutional
expertise, nationally and internationally to inuence the national
governments response on nutrition and develop advocacy
campaign activities to mobilise the public (especially youth) and
bring about improved policy implementation.
Requirements:
Masters degree, preferably in Public Health, Politics/Governance 1.
or Development
At least 5 years professional experience in managing advocacy 2.
activities including research, lobbying, campaign development
and implementation.
Demonstrated experience in successful project management 3.
including staff management, nancial management, project
design and implementation, reporting and analysis.
II. Position: Program Ofcer
General Description
To ensure adequate resources and quality programming for the
projects under the assigned portfolio.
The position is accountable for the following:
Assist in analyzing donor landscape and provide advice to the 1.
program quality team on the acquisition process of external
and internal (Government, PNS, Foundation, etc) resources to
strengthen WVCs programs/projects
Competently manage a portfolio of projects and programs 2.
funded by one or more Support Ofces
Work closely with program staff in program design, proposal 3.
development, and reporting on Donor aligned tools and
processes and best practices
Requirements:
Bachelor degree in relevant discipline such as development 1.
studies, education, health, economics, management, agriculture,
etc.
Demonstrated knowledge of programming, funding, and 2.
nancial management standards
At least 1 year experience in assisting in developing project 3.
/ program design, assisting in writing proposals, and working
with a donor relations position
Fully able to embrace organizational values and possess a high 4.
level of commitment towards the mission of WVC.
III. Position: Event Management Consultant for
National Youth Festival
General Description
The Event Management Consultant will be responsible for:
Managing the National Youth Festival (NYF) preparation -
process to ensure the NYF purposes and contents are clear
and get relevant jobs properly done to be ready for the NYF
Assisting to develop and manage contributions of external -
partners
Managing the event day and ensure people involved play their -
roles well from the beginning until the end of the NYF.
Ensuring expected outcomes and purposes of the NYF are -
met and youth receive greater benets from it.
Leading in a reection session to collect all lessons learned -
or to identify strengths and weaknesses for improving in the
next NYF.
Requirements: Potential consultant is required to possess the
following qualications:
Advanced university degree or equivalent experience in -
related elds competence
At least ve years experience in managing large events and -
project teams
At least ve years experience working on youth or NGO -
related projects in Cambodia or elsewhere
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills -
Experience working with multi-media and suppliers. -
Our Cambodia Ofce seeks energetic, result driven, change-oriented, creative and proactive service-minded Cambodians to join us.
Position (I&II)
Interested applicants should obtain an application form from WVC ofce or download from WVC Website and
submit a cover letter, Personal CV, and ONLY photocopies of relevant formal Education certicates such as High
School certicate, university degree, etc. : HR Department,World Vision Cambodia # 20, St.71, Sangkat Tonle Basak,
Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh, P.O Box. 479 Tel: 023 216 052.
Position (III)
Interested applicants should submit their CV and cover letter to the HR Department,World Vision Cambodia.
Short-listed candidates will then receive the Joint Evaluation TOR to which shortlisted candidates will send a brief
application outlining their proposed budget, schedule, and methodology.
Website: www.worldvision.org.kh Email to: cam_recruitment@wvi.org.
GO GREEN! SAVE THE TREES!
SUBMIT ONLY PHOTOCOPIES OF UNIVERSITY DEGREES OR EQUIVALENTS ONLY with your application.
DO NOT submit photocopies of other certicates.
S
EVENTY years to the day that
the rst planes set off for the
invasion of France, veterans
gathered in Normandy yes-
terday to remember the dead and be
honoured for risking their lives on
D-Day. The ags are up, the medals
have been polished and the veterans
have arrived: Normandy is ready to
deliver an emotional salute to the
heroes of D-Day.
Hundreds of the men who took
part in the decisive day of World War
II began gathering on Wednesday
along Frances northern coastline
ahead of the 70th anniversary of
the longest day. For all but a few of
them, it will be a nal pilgrimage to
the beaches of Normandy.
For Charles Wilson, it is his rst in
the seven decades since he drove a
tank onto Utah Beach (as it was code-
named) on June 6, 1944.I had to fall
on my knees down on the beach, the
resident of Carlisle, Kentucky, said. I
was so humbled.
I had a part [in D-Day] and I am
so proud of this part, he said. But
I never decided to go. They took me
out of school and made me go.
The playing down of their contri-
bution to history seems to be a uni-
versal characteristic among D-Day
vets. But as they near the end of their
lives, many seem more willing than
ever to speak frankly of the terror
they experienced on the day itself.
I was as terried as everybody
else. Scared stiff, 98-year-old Brit-
ish veteran Ken Scott said. There
was nowhere to hide.
For many, D-Day began with a leap
into pitch darkness out of planes y-
ing so low there was barely enough
time for their parachutes to open
before they thumped into the sandy
soil of northern France.
Thousands more splashed onto
beaches only to see their closest
friends cut down before them by
German machine gun re.
The youngest of the veterans
are now approaching their 90th
birthdays, and few of them will be
around for the 80th anniversary of
the biggest amphibious assault in
human history.
More than 400 memorial events
are planned this week, although bad
weather forced some to be cancelled
on Wednesday, including a planned
parachute drop from vintage planes
including four Dakota transporters
which took part in D-Day.
The main June 6 international cer-
emony of remembrance is taking
place on the beach at Ouistreham
and will be attended by an A-list col-
lection of world leaders headed by
Britains Queen Elizabeth II and US
President Barack Obama, as well as
9,000 invited guests.
Of the 156,000-plus troops who
waded or parachuted onto French
soil on June 6, 1944, nearly 4,500
would be dead by the end of the day.
Yesterday, a otilla of ships was
to set off from Britains main naval
port of Portsmouth in commemora-
tion of the nearly 7,000 vessels that
took part in the invasion. Weather
permitting, the same day was also to
see a mass parachute drop at Ran-
ville the rst village to be liberated,
a vigil at Pegasus Bridge and mid-
night reworks along the coast.
Jokes mask painful memories
Here we are at the start of a new
Normandy invasion! Don Sheppard
announced over the loudspeaker as
the coach carrying British D-Day vet-
erans pulled out of the rain-soaked
car park. The objective is Brussels
to sort out the European Parliament,
the 94-year-old joked, prompting
cheers from the passengers as they
settled down for the daylong drive
to France.
The veterans, many of them in
their 90s, were among hundreds
from around the world assembling
on Wednesday in northern France.
Scores of dignitaries are attend-
ing the commemorative events,
but for those who fought in France,
it is above all an opportunity to lay
wreaths for fallen comrades and re-
member together, most likely for the
last time.
As they sipped their coffee on the
ferry from Dover to Calais, Shep-
pard and his friend Ron Spencer, 90,
played a comedy double act, pok-
ing fun at each other and laughing
at how they drank too much at a D-
Day event last week.
But Spencer admitted that the trip
to France had brought back a night-
mare that he used to have after the
war, which causes him to wake up
screaming. Although he cannot re-
call the details, he said there was
plenty to draw on from his memories
of landing with the Royal Artillery on
Gold Beach. It wasnt what you did,
it was what you saw, he said.
Spencer deected any further
questions about his experiences
with jokes, but added: Any man
who said he wasnt scared when we
landed was lying. It was terrifying.
Wearing smart jackets adorned
with medals and the badge of the
Normandy Veterans Association
(NVA), the elderly travellers were an
unmissable sight on the cross-Chan-
nel ferry.
Two young female British soldiers
stopped one of the veterans for a
photograph, while another was ap-
proached by a German passenger.
Are you going over for D-Day? the
German man asked. Thank you. We
dont know what would have hap-
pened if Hitler had continued.
As chairman of the Essex branch
of the NVA, Sheppard organised the
journey like a military operation,
complete with rations and well-
timed rest stops, and planned out a
full schedule for the six-day trip.
Two of his granddaughters were
among the party, 10-year-old Molly
having secured a week off from
school with the promise to make a
presentation about D-Day to her
year group when she returned.
Staring out the window as the
coach neared its destination, Bob
Stevens pointed out the town names
he recognised from 70 years ago,
after he landed on Juno Beach as a
Royal Engineer attached to the Ca-
nadian army.
I see all the signposts and it
brings back memories. Although
it was nothing like this it was all
hedgerows, the 92-year-old said.
Stevens landed on June 7, miss-
ing the horror of that rst day when
men were gunned down as they
stepped out of the water, but still
risking sniper re and mines. There
were bodies in the water and when
we landed they were stacking them
up on the beach. Horrible, he said.
A few seats in front, Walter Nobby
Clark could not see the view as he is
almost blind, but he listened keenly
to the chatter around him.
Now 88, he was a navy signalman
on D-Day on a frigate that escorted
troop ships to the Normandy shores.
I watched them go up the beach-
es through my binoculars, thinking:
Poor devils, he recalled.
When he returned a few days later,
however, his ship was hit by a tor-
pedo from a German E-boat.
There was a big bang and a white
streak comes towards you. Theres
nothing you can do except hang on
to something, Clark said.
He sustained a head injury but was
saved after being picked up out of the
water and taken to a nearby ship.
Fifty years later, he met a man who
had been on that ship Len Hobbs,
now a member of the Southend
NVA, and a fellow passenger on the
coach to France. This is the chap
that saved my life, Clark said, smil-
ing broadly at his companion, and
passing him a sweet. AFP
World
Veterans take centre stage on D-Day
Last of the original Navajo code talkers dies at 93
CHESTER Nez, the last of 29
Navajo Indians who helped
create a code used during
World War II and never bro-
ken by the Axis Powers, died
on Wednesday. He was 93.
Flags will be own at half-
mast until June 8 on the
tribes territory in the eastern
United States.
The power of our lan-
guage was shared with the
world during World War II
when the Original 29 Navajo
Code Talkers stepped forward
for service, Navajo Nation
president Ben Shelly said in
a statement.
He said Nezs passing in
his sleep during the morning
hours closes another chapter
in the annals of Navajo.
Nez and the 28 other Na-
vajos were recruited by the
Marine Corps in May 1942
to create a code for commu-
nications on the battleeld
based on their complex trib-
al language, which is tonal
and unwritten.
He later participated in
the wars Pacic Battles in
Guadalcanal, Guam, Peleliu
and Bougainville.
Nezs death sadly marks
the end of an era in our coun-
trys and Marine Corps histo-
ry, Marine Corps spokesman
Colonel David Lapan said.
The Navajo code talkers
made invaluable contribu-
tions to the war effort in the
Pacic theatre during World
War II, he added, hailing
their heroic actions.
Last year, Nez said: I was
very proud to say that the Jap-
anese did everything in their
power to break that code but
they never did.
A total of 400 Navajo Indi-
ans took part in the Pacic
Wars as code talkers.
Other Native Americans
from the Choctaw, Coman-
che and Seminole tribes took
part in combat against the
Germans and the Japanese,
transmitting coded messages
in their native language.
Due to the lack of equivalent
terms in their native tongue,
certain words had to be sub-
stituted, such as plane for
bird and bomber for
pregnant bird.
The Navajo code would at-
tribute an Indian word for
each letter of the alphabet. So
moasi, which means cat,
would serve to designate the
letter c.
The code was classied until
the 1980s because the US mili-
tary long hoped it could reuse
it in a future conict. AFP
British World War II veterans visit the war cemetery of Ranville, northwestern France, on Wednesday, two days before the start of
commemorations marking 70 years since D-Day. AFP
American troops approach Utah Beach in a landing craft on this day in 1944 as Allied
forces stormed the Normandy beaches. AFP
(Left) Chester Nez performs a traditional blessing beside John Kerry
in Albuquerque on October 26, 2004; (right) Corporal Henry Bahe Jr
(left) and Private First Class George H Kirk operate a portable radio
behind the frontlines in the South Pacic in December 1943. AFP
Opinion
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I
N JANUARY, the government
engaged in a violent crackdown
on growing labour and opposition
protests in and around Phnom
Penh, resulting in the death of five
people. Military forces and police also
beat up protesters, and arrested 23 of
them over the course of two days.
Those arrested, including four promi-
nent human rights defenders, are now
known as the 23. The violence and
arbitrary nature of their arrests, their
five-month detention and the recent
court verdicts finding them guilty illus-
trate the intolerance of the govern-
ment towards anyone threatening its
economic interests or its legitimacy.
Last Friday, judges announced the
23 had all been found guilty of acts of
violence and related charges, and
sentenced them to between one and
four and a half years imprisonment.
However, all sentences were sus-
pended and the 23 were released the
same day, in part due to growing
pressure from international brands,
international unions and interna-
tional and local civil society. Brands
such as H&M, Gap and Levi Strauss
are important buyers for Cambodian
factories and represent crucial eco-
nomic interests, with the garment
industrys exports exceeding $4
billion in the first nine months of
2013 alone.
While it was heart-warming to see
the mothers, fathers, wives and friends
of the 23 cry with relief after learning
that their loved ones would be set free
and reunited with their families, their
release should not overshadow the
core issue that these verdicts represent
and that is symptomatic of Cambo-
dias judiciary: a lack of independence
used by the government as a tool to
suppress opposition voices.
The conviction comes after an obvi-
ously biased trial. Violations of the 23s
right to a fair trial were seen at every
stage of the process, from the impuni-
ty with which security forces killed
and injured protesters in January to
the very courtroom in which a judge
took on the role of prosecutor. During
the five days of trials, no incriminato-
ry evidence was presented and the
defendants rights to a fair trial were
repeatedly violated. Judges turned
into prosecutors, blatantly assuming
the guilt of defendants, qualifying
protesters as gangsters, preventing
defence lawyers from presenting evi-
dence and censoring defendants tes-
timonies. In light of the conduct of the
hearing, there was no doubt regarding
the political nature of the case: the 23
were in jail to set an example and to
dissuade workers from protesting
against an industry from which gov-
ernment officials and members of the
elite greatly benefit.
The only thing the 23 could be
found guilty of is having exercised
their freedom of assembly, guaran-
teed by the constitution. Today they
are free, but they remain guilty in the
eyes of the court. The verdict illus-
trates that despite a lack of evidence,
the judiciary could not openly dis-
miss the arrests made by security
forces and instead handed down sus-
pended sentences. The suspended
sentences also now represent a con-
stant threat hanging over their heads,
while the five months they spent in
prison stand as a reminder to anyone
who protests of the risks they are tak-
ing. The happiness of seeing them
free should not divert Cambodians or
the international community from
the reality of this verdict.
It is no secret that the judiciary in
Cambodia is not independent and is
partial to the interests of the elite and
the government. It is not a tool for
justice but rather a tool to suppress
dissident voices. The governments
control of the judiciary will be further
reinforced, as only a few weeks ahead
of the verdict, the National Assembly
adopted three laws reforming
the judiciary.
The laws, which had been gathering
dust for years, were rushed through a
one-party assembly and adopted after
only two days, despite repeated calls
for consultation by the UN and civil
society. Leaked drafts of the laws
revealed that they will not reform the
judiciary in a manner that would
strengthen its independence as we
had all hoped. Instead, they will rein-
force the influence of the executive
branch over the judicial and grant
direct powers to the Ministry of Justice
over the judiciary to advance and pro-
mote judges and prosecutors, control
expenses and discipline judges.
If the judiciary were truly independ-
ent, the security forces responsible for
beating up and arbitrarily arresting
the 23 would be investigated as well.
However, while the 23 stood trial and
were convicted, not one military or
police officer has been investigated or
even simply questioned about the
violence in January. The 23 are now
free, but justice remains prisoner to
the political manipulations and
intimidations of the ruling party.
Comment
Chak Sopheap
When justice is a prisoner
Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association president Vorn Pov speaks from inside a police truck as it enters Phnom Penh Municipal Court last month. HENG CHIVOAN
Chak Sopheap is the executive director of the
Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 6, 2014 18
1BR APARTMENT FOR RENT
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:Yim@sunnyresidentrealty.com
WWW.Sunnyresidentrealty.com
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massive balcony, big bathroom
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BRAND NEW 2BR APARTMENT
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wi,,cable TV, garbage collection
Tel:089 36 32 06,
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:$700/m on st 456 near Russian
market,free wi,cable TV, garbage
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:$600/m in BKK1 free wi,cable
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parking,1kitchen,1 living
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MODERN FURNISHED
Apartment for rent Located near
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:$250/m free wi,cable TV garbage
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Tel:089 36 32 06,
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2BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR
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-$1050/month 2Bedroom, 2Bath
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BIG TERRACE APARTMENT
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$550/Month 2Bedroom, 2Bath
1Living room and Nice Kitchen
Tel: 012 939 958 or 077 777 697
SWIMMING POOL APARTMENT
for Rent: Good Location BKK1 Area
$1200/month for 2Bedroom 2Bath
Tel: 077 777 697 or 012 939 958
777 697
SERVICE APARTMENT FOR
Rent: BKk1: $700/Month Incl
Cleaning
Service, Internet, TV Cable fee
1Living room, 1Bedrooms, 2Bath
Fully Furnished, 1Car Park Space
Tel: 077 777 697 or 012 939 958
RENT STYLISH OFFICE SPACE
440sqm to 1,300sqm, from 5$/sqm
Parking, 24hsecurity, elevator Spacious
5 meter high ceilings Lots of plants
& light + 60 sqm large balcony
Great view over Phnom Penh
012 869 111 yellow-tower.com
Price $300-$350/m, nice units fully
furnished1bedroom, air- conditioner,
water heater, fridge, furniture, TV,
gas stove, dining room, balcony ,
freeinternet TVcable&maintenance,
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Location: #33, Road 178, Sangkat
Chey Chum Neah, Khan Daun
Penh, Phnom Penh (Near the
National Museum and River side).
Tel: 012 916 276 / 069 916 276
Email: limhyros@gmail.com
NICE BIG TERRACE
apartment for rent spacious 3
beds - en-suit, available in BKKI
area, fully furnished big balcony,
huge balcony, western kitchen.
Price : $ 1300 per month.
Tel: 012 503 356
WESTERN APARTMENT FOR
rent 01-02 bed with bath, furnished,
clean, western kitchen, big living
room, big parking, brand new, and
safe Rent: $500-800 /m Location:
Near Russian Market
Tel: 012 503 356
BRAND NEW APARTMENT FOR
rent 01-02-3bedwithbath, furnished,
room, big parking, and safe Rent:
$1200-2000-4000 /m Location: BKKI
Tel: 012 879 231
NICE VILLA IN BKKI FOR RENT
07 bed with bath located in BKKI,
Basic furnished, clean, western
kitchen, big living room, big
balcony on the top.
Rent: $3500 /m Tel: 012 879 231
WESTERN APARTMENT
for rent
01-02 bed with bath, furnished,
room, big parking, and safe
Rent: $900-1300 /m Location:
BKKI Tel: 012 503 356
LARGE APARTMENT FOR RENT
Beautiful 3 spacious bedrooms
located in BKKI area, big living
room open to the large balcony,
airyandplentyof light, fullyfurnished.
Price : 2000/m. 012 879 231
WESTERN ROOFTOP POOL
Apartment for Rent LocatedinBKKI,
01&02&03bed, roof toppool andgym,
openlivingroom, fully andmodern
furnished, westernkitchen, nicebalcony,
safety area, goodconditionfor living.
Price: US1,200-US$1,800-$2,000/m
Tel: 092232623/081230000
www.towncityrealestate.com
MODERN APARTMENT FOR
Rent Located in BKKI, 01-02
bedrooms, Large living room, fully
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Price: US$1,200-US$1,400/month
Tel: 092 23 26 23/081 23 00 00
WESTERN ROOFTOP POOL
Apartment for Rent Located in
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open living room, fully and modern
furnished, western kitchen, nice
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/081 23 00 00

MODERN DESIGN APARTMENT
for Rent LocatedinRoseCondo, 12th
oor, 03 bed, open & large living
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modern kitchen, lots of light, nice
balcony, nice pool & gym, very
good condition for living. $1,800 /m
Tel: 092 23 26 23/081 23 00 00
BRAND NEW MODERN
Apartment for Rent Tonle Basac
01-02beds&Penthouse, real modern
interior designed, large living room,
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modernKitchen, roof toppool &gym,
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/081 23 00 00
WESTERN APARTMENT FOR
Rent Located in BKKI, 1-2-3
bedrooms, large living room, fully
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WESTERN SWIMMING POOL
Apartment for Rent Located in Wat
Phnom, 01&02&03 beds, very big
pool and gym, open living room,
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for Rent Located a long riverside,
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/081 23 00 00

RENOVATED-MODERN DESIGN
Apt For Rent On the riverside, 01
bed, large living room, fully &
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river view and on the high oor,
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00

MODERN DESIGN APT FOR
Rent North of Olumpic Market, 02
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best location for residence.
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00
MODERN DESIGN APT FOR
Rent Near Russian Market, 01-02
bedrooms, open living room, fully
kitchen, very safe and quiet, the
best location for residence.
Price: US$600-US$1,050/month
Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00
BRAND NEW MODERN VILLA
For Rent In Bassak Garden City, 05
bed, large living room, very modern
designed, some furniture, western
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Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00
WESTERN VILLA FOR RENT
In BKKI area, 03 bedrooms, large
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very nice balcony, big parking, very
quiet & safe. The best location for
residence or ofce.Price: $3,500/m
Tel: 092 23 26 23/ 081 23 00 00
New Classes Opening July 1st For
Playschool to 1st Grade! Age 2-6
Free Registration June Only
Register Today! At # 17, 19, 90
and now 15 St.360, BKK3
TEL: 023 222 292 / 023 222 293
HOME OF ENGLISH INTERNATIONAL
IS EXPANDING AGAIN!
I hitherto known as Mercy Joseph Kollamparambil
holder of passport No: Z 2734512 employed as teacher
in International School of Phnom Penh residing at No:
13, Street No: 282 Phnom Penh have changed the name
of my minor daughter DewooTressaSabu holder of
passport No: K9665169, aged 15 years and she shall
hereafter be known as Charlotte Theresa Sebastian.
Change of name
THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 6, 2014 19
Travel
20
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE
FROM PHNOM PENH TO PHNOM PENH
Flighs Days Dep Arrival Flighs Days Dep Arrival
PHNOMPENH- BANGKOK BANGKOK- PHNOMPENH
K6 720 Daily 12:05 01:10 K6 721 Daily 02:25 03:30
PG 938 Daily 06:40 08:15 PG 931 Daily 07:55 09:05
PG 932 Daily 09:55 11:10 TG 580 Daily 07:55 09:05
TG 581 Daily 10:05 11:10 PG 933 Daily 13:30 14:40
PG 934 Daily 15:30 16:40 FD 3616 Daily 15:15 16:20
FD 3617 Daily 17:05 18:15 PG 935 Daily 17:30 18:40
PG 936 Daily 19:30 20:40 TG 584 Daily 18:25 19:40
TG 585 Daily 20:40 21:45 PG 937 Daily 20:15 21:50
PHNOMPENH- BEIJING BEIJING- PHNOMPENH
CZ 324 Daily 08:00 16:05 CZ 323 Daily 14:30 20:50
PHNOMPENH- DOHA( ViaHCMC) DOHA- PHNOMPENH( ViaHCMC)
QR 965 Daily 16:30 23:05 QR 964 Daily 01:00 15:05
PHNOMPENH- GUANGZHOU GUANGZHOU- PHNOMPENH
CZ 324 Daily 08:00 11:40 CZ 6059 2.4.7 12:00 13:45
CZ 6060 2.4.7 14:45 18:10 CZ 323 Daily 19:05 20:50
PHNOMPENH- HANOI HANOI - PHNOMPENH
VN 840 Daily 17:30 20:35 VN 841 Daily 09:40 13:00
PHNOMPENH- HOCHI MINHCITY HOCHI MINHCITY- PHNOMPENH
QR 965 Daily 16:30 17:30 QR 964 Daily 14:05 15:05
VN 841 Daily 14:00 14:45 VN 920 Daily 15:50 16:30
VN 3856 Daily 19:20 20:05 VN 3857 Daily 18:00 18:45
PHNOMPENH- HONGKONG HONGKONG- PHNOMPENH
KA 207 1.2.4.7 11:25 15:05 KA 208 1.2.4.6.7 08:50 10:25
KA 207 6 11:45 22:25 KA 206 3.5.7 14:30 16:05
KA 209 1 18:30 22:05 KA 206 1 15:25 17:00
KA 209 3.5.7 17:25 21:00 KA 206 2 15:50 17:25
KA 205 2 19:00 22:35 - - - -
PHNOMPENH- INCHEON INCHEON- PHNOMPENH
KE 690 Daily 23:40 06:40 KE 689 Daily 18:30 22:20
OZ 740 Daily 23:50 06:50 OZ 739 Daily 19:10 22:50
PHNOMPENH- KUALALUMPUR KUALALUMPUR- PHNOMPENH
AK 1473 Daily 08:35 11:20 AK 1474 Daily 15:15 16:00
MH 755 Daily 11:10 14:00 MH 754 Daily 09:30 10:20
MH 763 Daily 17:10 20:00 MH 762 Daily 3:20 4:10
PHNOMPENH- PARIS PHNOMPENH- PARIS
AF 273 2 20:05 06:05 AF 273 2 20:05 06:05
PHNOMPENH- SHANGHAI SHANGHAI - PHNOMPENH
FM 833 2.3.4.5.7 19:50 23:05 FM 833 2.3.4.5.7 19:30 22:40
PHNOMPENH- SINGAPORE SINGAPORE-PHNOMPENH
MI 601 1.3.5.6.7 09:30 12:30 MI 602 1.3.5.6.7 07:40 08:40
MI 622 2.4 12:20 15:20 MI 622 2.4 08:40 11:25
3K 594 1234..7 15:25 18:20 3K 593 Daily 13:30 14:40
3K 594 ....56. 15:25 18:10 - - - -
MI 607 Daily 18:10 21:10 MI 608 Daily 16:20 17:15
2817 1.3 16:40 19:40 2816 1.3 15:00 15:50
2817 2.4.5 09:10 12:00 2816 2.4.5 07:20 08:10
2817 6 14:50 17:50 2816 6 13:00 14:00
2817 7 13:20 16:10 2816 7 11:30 12:30
PHNOMPENH-TAIPEI TAIPEI - PHNOMPENH
BR 266 Daily 12:45 17:05 BR 265 Daily 09:10 11:35
PHNOMPENH- VIENTIANE VIENTIANE- PHNOMPENH
VN 840 Daily 17:30 18:50 VN 841 Daily 11:30 13:00
QV 920 Daily 17:50 19:10 QV 921 Daily 11:45 13:15
PHNOMPENH- YANGON YANGON- SIEMREAP
8M 402 1.3.6 13:30 14:55 8M 401 1.3.6 08:20 10:45
SIEMREAP- PHNOMPENH
8M 401 1.3.6 11:45 12:30
SIEMREAP- BANGKOK BANGKOK- SIEMREAP
K6 700 Daily 12:50 2:00 K6 701 Daily 02:55 04:05
PG 924 Daily 09:45 11:10 PG 903 Daily 08:00 09:00
PG 906 Daily 13:15 14:40 PG 905 Daily 11:35 12:45
PG 914 Daily 15:20 16:45 PG 913 Daily 13:35 14:35
PG 908 Daily 18:50 20:15 PG 907 Daily 17:00 18:10
PG 910 Daily 20:30 21:55 PG 909 Daily 18:45 19:55
SIEMREAP- GUANGZHOU GUANGZHOU- SIEMREAP
CZ 3054 2.4.6 11:25 15:35 CZ 3053 2.4.6 08:45 10:30
CZ 3054 1.3.5.7 19:25 23:20 CZ 3053 1.3.5.7 16:35 18:30
SIEMREAP-HANOI HANOI - SIEMREAP
K6 850 Daily 06:50 08:30 K6 851 Daily 19:30 21:15
VN 868 1.2.3.5.6 12:40 15:35 VN 843 Daily 15:25 17:10
VN 842 Daily 18:05 19:45 VN 845 Daily 17:05 18:50
VN 844 Daily 19:45 21:25 VN 845 Daily 17:45 19:30
VN 800 Daily 21:00 22:40 VN 801 Daily 18:20 20:00
SIEMREAP-HOCHI MINHCITY HOCHI MINHCITY-SIEMREAP
VN 3818 Daily 11:10 12:30 VN 3809 Daily 09:15 10:35
VN 826 Daily 13:30 14:40 VN 827 Daily 11:35 12:35
VN 3820 Daily 17:45 18:45 VN 3821 Daily 15:55 16:55
VN 828 Daily 18:20 19:20 VN 829 Daily 16:20 17:40
VN 3822 Daily 21:35 22:35 VN 3823 Daily 19:45 20:45
SIEMREAP- INCHEON INCHEON- SIEMREAP
KE 688 Daily 23:15 06:10 KE 687 Daily 18:30 22:15
OZ 738 Daily 23:40 07:10 OZ 737 Daily 19:20 22:40
SIEMREAP- KUALALUMPUR KUALALUMPUR- SIEMREAP
AK 281 Daily 08:35 11:35 AK 280 Daily 06:50 07:50
MH 765 3.5.7 14:15 17:25 MH 764 3.5.7 12:10 13:15
SIEMREAP- MANILA MANILA- SIEMREAP
5J 258 2.4.7 22:30 02:11 5J 257 2.4.7 19:45 21:30
FLY DIRECT TOMYANMARMONDAY, WEDNESDAY &SATURDAY
YANGON- PHNOMPENH PHNOM PENH - YANGON
FLY DIRECT TOSIEMREAPMONDAY, WEDNESDAY &SATURDAY
SIEMREAP- YANGON YANGON - SIEM REAP
#90+92+94Eo, St. 217, Sk. Orussey4, Kh. 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Tel 023 881 178 | Fax 023 886 677 | www.maiair.com
REGULAR SHIPPING LINES SCHEDULES
CALLING PORT ROTATION
LINE CALLING SCHEDULES FREEQUENCY ROTATIONPORTS
RCL
(12calls/moth)
1 Wed, 08:00 - Thu 16:00 1 Call/week SIN-SHV-SGZ-SIN
2 Thu, 14:00 - Fri 22:00 1 Call/week
HKG-SHV-SGZ-HKG
(HPH-TXGKEL)
3 Fri, 20:00 - Sat 23:59 1 Call/week SIN-SHV-SGZ-SIN
MEARSK (MCC)
(4 calls/moth)
1 Th, 08:00 - 20:00 1 Call/week
SGN-SHV-LZP-SGN
- HKG-OSA-TYO-KOB
- BUS-SGH-YAT-SGN
- SIN-SHV-TPP-SIN
2 Fri, 22:00- Sun 00:01 1 Call/week
SITC (BEN LINE
(4 calls/onth)
Sun 09:00-23:00 1 Call/week
HCM-SHV-LZP-HCM-
NBO-SGH-OSA-KOB-
BUS-SGH-HGK-CHM
ITL (ACL)
(4 calls/month)
Sat 06:00 - Sun 08:00 1 Call/week SGZ-SHV-SIN-SGZ
APL
(4 calls/month)
Fri, 08:00 - Sun, 06:00 1 call/week SIN-SHV-SIN
COTS
(2 calls/month)
Irregula 2 calls/month BBK-SHV-BKK-(LZP)
34 call/month
BUS= Busan, Korea
HKG= HongKong
kao=Kaoshiung, Taiwan ROC
Kob= Kebe, Japan
KUN= Kuantan, Malaysia
LZP= Leam Chabang, Thailand
NBO= Ningbo, China
OSA= Osaka, Japan
SGN= Saigon, Vietnam
SGZ= Songkhla, Thailand
SHV= Sihanoukville Port Cambodia
SIN= Singapore
TPP= TanjungPelapas, Malaysia
TYO= Tokyo, Japan
TXG= Taichung, Taiwan
YAT= Yantian, China
YOK= Yokohama, Japan
AIRLINES
Air Asia (AK)
Room T6, PP International
Airport. Tel: 023 6666 555
Fax: 023 890 071
www.airasia.com
Cambodia Angkor Air (K6)
PP Ofce, #90+92+94Eo,
St.217, Sk.Orussey4, Kh.
7Makara, 023 881 178 /77-
718-333. Fax:+855 23-886-677
www.cambodiaangkorair.com
E: mai@royalaviationexpert.com
Qatar Airways (Newaddress)
VattanacCapital Tower, Level7,
No.66, PreahMonivongBlvd,
Sangkat wat Phnom, KhanDaun
Penh. PP, P: (023) 963800.
E: pnhres@kh.qatarairways.com
MyanmarAirwaysInternational
#90+92+94Eo, St. 217,
Sk. Orussey4, Kh. 7 Makara,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
T:023 881 178 | F:023 886 677
www.maiair.com
Dragon Air (KA)
#168, Monireth, PP
Tel: 023 424 300
Fax: 023 424 304
www.dragonair.com/kh
Tiger airways
G. oor, Regency square,
Suare, Suite #68/79, St.205,
Sk Chamkarmorn, PP
Tel: (855) 95 969 888
(855) 23 5515 888/5525888
E: info@cambodiaairlines.net

Koreanair (KE)
Room.F3-R03, Intelligent Ofce
Center, Monivong Blvd,PP
Tel: (855) 23 224 047-9
www.koreanair.com
Cebu Pacic (5J)
Phnom Penh: No. 333B
Monivong Blvd. Tel: 023 219161
SiemReap: No. 50,Sivatha Blvd.
Tel: 063 965487
E-mail: cebuair@ptm-travel.com
www.cebupacicair.com
SilkAir (MI)
Regency C,Unit 2-4, Tumnorb
Teuk, Chamkarmorn
Phnom Penh
Tel:023 988 629
www.silkair.com
AIRLINES CODE COLOUR CODE
2817 - 16 Tigerairways KA - Dragon Air 1 Monday
5J - CEBU Airways. MH - Malaysia Airlines 2 Tuesday
AK - Air Asia MI - SilkAir 3 Wednesday
BR - EVA Airways OZ - Asiana Airlines 4 Thursday
CI - China Airlines PG - Bangkok Airways 5 Friday
CZ - China Southern QR - Qatar Airways 6 Saturday
FD - Thai Air Asia QV - Lao Airlines 7 Sunday
FM - Shanghai Air SQ - Singapore Airlines
K6- Cambodia Angkor Air TG - Thai Airways | VN - Vietnam Airlines
This ight schedule information is updated about once a month. Further information,
please contact direct to airline or a travel agent for ight schedule information.
SIEMREAP- SINGAPORE SINGAPORE- SIEMREAP
MI 633 1, 6, 7 16:35 22:15 MI 633 1, 6, 7 14:35 15:45
MI 622 2.4 10:40 15:20 MI 622 2.4 08:40 09:50
MI 630 5 12:25 15:40 MI 616 7 10:40 11:50
MI 615 7 12:45 16:05 MI 636 3, 2 13:55 17:40
MI 636 3, 2 18:30 21:35 MI 630 5 07:55 11:35
MI 617 5 18:35 21:55 MI 618 5 16:35 17:45
3K 598 .2....7 15:35 18:40 3K 597 .2....7 13:45 14:50
3K 598 ...4... 15:35 18:30 3K 597 ...4... 13:45 14:50
SIEMREAP- VIENTIANE VIENTIANE- SIEMREAP
QV 522 2.4.5.7 10:05 13:00 QV 512 2.4.5.7 06:30 09:25
SIEMREAP- YANGON YANGON- SIEMREAP
8M 402 1. 5 20:15 21:25 8M 401 1. 5 17:05 19:15
PREAHSIHANOUK- SIEMREAP SIEMREAP- PREAHSIHANOUK
K6 130 1-3-5 12:55 13:55 K6 131 1-3-5 11:20 12:20
Peerawat Jariyasombat
T
HE 6.3-magnitude
quake that shook
Chiang Rai, Thailands
northernmost prov-
ince, in early May caused su-
percial damage in areas close
to the epicentre, but alarmist
reports recommending that
tourists avoid the place can be
completely ignored. Chiang
Rai remains in good shape with
venues that attract culture-
vultures and art acionados
continuing to fascinate and a
privately owned park about to
expand its facilities.
Graphic images of the worst
after-effects of the temblor
were widely circulated on so-
cial media, giving an exagger-
ated impression of the extent
of the destruction. After roam-
ing around Chiang Rai recent-
ly, I can assure you that the
damage has been minimal. In
fact, if I hadnt known about
the quake in advance, I prob-
ably wouldnt have noticed
anything out of the ordinary.
I headed to the far north, to
Mae Salong, a large commu-
nity built on the slopes of the
doi (mountain) of the same
name in Mae Fah Luang dis-
trict. It was here that soldiers
of the anti-communist Kuo-
mintang army sought refuge
after their defeat by the forces
of Mao Zedong in 1949. Their
descendants, now mostly Thai
citizens, still live here in the
highlands famous for tea plan-
tations, many of which now
open their gates to welcome
visitors in search of tranquil-
lity and picturesque scenery.
In the main market here it
was business as usual, with nu-
merous stalls offering dried tea
and tea products of all kinds,
exotic dried fruit and import-
ed foodstuffs used in Chinese
cuisine. The only difference
was that the place wasnt as
jam-packed as I remembered
it from my last visit many
potential visitors seem to have
been scared off by news of the
quake with the result that
this fascinating bazaar was a
breeze to walk around and I
was even able to nd a parking
space very close by.
The rst venue I checked
out was Baandam Museum,
the brainchild of another well-
known national artist, Thawan
Duchanee. Using parts from a
wide array of animals skin,
bone, teeth and handmade
wooden tools from the locality,
he has fashioned an impres-
sive collection of works, fea-
turing his own idiosyncratic
take on the tribal look blended
with traditional Lanna style.
Doy Din Daeng, meaning
red clay hill, is one of the best
spots in Chiang Rai to nd high-
quality ceramic art. Trained in
Karatsu, on the Japanese island
of Kyushu, as well as in his na-
tive Thailand, Somluk Panti-
boon, yet another national
artist who has chosen to live in
these parts, set up this pottery
studio back in 1991 to develop
his own moulding, glazing
and kiln-baking techniques.
His contemporary ceramic art
reects nature and his impres-
sions of the life that surrounds
him here in Chiang Rai.
For those seeking an escape
into lush natural surroundings,
Singha Park, a short drive from
downtown Chiang Rai, is an in-
teresting option. Once a farm
growing barley for beer, it has
now been converted into a rec-
reational space boasting elds
planted with owers, sweeping
meadows, a small zoo, a res-
taurant, hydroponic vegetable
farms and even a coffee shop.
Very soon, the park will be at-
tracting even more energetic
holidaymakers when the man-
agement opens additional bike
routes, a rock-climbing tower
plus a series of zip-lines to take
the adventurous on thrilling
rides over a local tea planta-
tion. BANGKOK POST
Chiang Rais
postquake lull
is on your side
Tea elds in Chiang Rai. Reports of the devastation caused by a quake in
Chiang Rai have been greatly exaggerated. BLOOMBERG
Sport
THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 6 2014 21

49ers and Kaepernick
reach 6-year extension
THE 49ers inked star signal-
caller Colin Kaepernick to a
six-year contract extension on
Wednesday that will keep him
in San Francisco through the
2020 NFL season. The deal
will pay Kaepernick up to
US$126 million, with $61
million guaranteed, according
to NFL.com. The final year of
the young stars rookie
contract was to pay him some
$1 million in 2014. Colins
hard work and dedication have
played an integral role in the
recent success of the 49ers
organisation, said general
manager Trent Baalke. AFP
Major League legend
Zimmer dies aged 83
DON Zimmer, who spent 12
seasons in Major League
Baseball as a player and more
than four decades as a
manager, coach and advisor,
died on Wednesday at the age
of 83. The Tampa Bay Rays said
Zimmer, who had heart
surgery in April, died in hospital
in Dunedin, Florida. Zimmer
was in his 11th season with the
Rays as a senior advisor and
wore 66 on his uniform the
number of years he spent in
baseball. MLB commissioner
Bud Selig called Zimmer one
of our games most universally
beloved figures. AFP
Fiji back Tikoirotuma
signs for Harlequins
A FIJI international back Aseli
Tikoirotuma has signed for
Harlequins on a two-year
contract, the English
Premiership side announced
yesterday. Aseli is one of the
most exciting backs in world
rugby, and we are delighted
that he has signed for us, said
Harlequins rugby director
Conor OShea. He comes
from a winning culture at the
Chiefs, is equally at home on
the wing or at centre, and I am
sure will fit seamlessly into the
way we play here and add to
the quality we already have.
Tikoirotuma, 27, will join
Harlequins in August when his
contract with Waikato-based
New Zealand team the Chiefs
expires. He has played a key
role in the Chiefs Super Rugby
successes in the past two
seasons, scoring 11 tries in 33
games, and made his debut
for Fiji last year. AFP
Rugbys new-look Pacific

Nations Cup set to start
A REVAMPED Pacific Nations
Cup kicks off this weekend
with Samoa taking on
neighbouring Tonga and Japan
on the road against last years
surprise package Canada. The
tournament has undergone
major changes in recent years
as the International Rugby
Board seeks to address
complaints that Tier 2 nations
do not play enough competitive
matches, leaving them
disadvantaged at the Rugby
World Cup. This year it has
been split into two conferences
for the first time Pool A
featuring the Pacific island
nations of Fiji, Samoa and
Tonga, while Pool B comprises
Japan, Canada and the United
States. AFP
All Blacks talk up England
T
HE All Blacks have gone to
great lengths to build up Eng-
land as a feared enemy, shut-
ting out talk of tomorrows rst
Test being a lop-sided affair as injuries
continued to plague both sides.
Scrum-half Danny Care, one of the
few experienced players in the Eng-
land line up, was the latest casualty, in-
juring a shoulder in training and need-
ing to pass a tness test today if he is to
take the eld.
England can ill-afford to lose the
47-Test veteran after naming a Test
side with a combined total of just 367
caps, compared to an impressive 968
in the All Blacks.
The All Blacks have lost Kieran Read
and Julian Savea to injury but have
depth to call on while Englands prob-
lems are compounded by having sev-
eral players unavailable because they
were involved in last weeks Premier-
ship decider.
But while the odds are heavily
stacked in the All Blacks favour, their
coach, Steve Hansen, still has vivid
memories of when a similarly weak-
ened French side toured New Zealand
ve years ago.
They were branded France C and
written off in all quarters yet still man-
aged to win the rst Test 27-22.
While England have been written
off by the local betting agency, and
the All Blacks have not lost at Eden
Park since 1994, Hansen refuses to
underestimate them.
Theres been a lot of talk in the me-
dia about this being a poor England
side, but when you go through them
theyve all played internationals in the
last 12 months, Hansen said.
There are not that many changes
from the last time we played them
and that was a great contest.
Id imagine theyll look to drive us a
lot in the lineouts, look to come up the
middle of the park and use switches
and try and see if weve got our short-
side defence sorted out, and maybe
turn us around a wee bit too if its wet.
While paying his respects to Eng-
land, Hansen has named a formidable
starting 15 with Dane Coles preferred
at hooker over Keven Mealamu, while
strongman Jerome Kaino replaces
Read to play his rst Test since the 2011
World Cup nal victory over France.
Aaron Cruden remains the rst-
choice y-half over Beauden Barrett,
and with an eye to the future, Hansen
named three uncapped players on
the bench lock Patrick Tuipulotu,
scrum-half TJ Perenara and centre
Malakai Fekitoa.
France chase rst win in 24 years
The Wallabies and France eld re-
vamped sides with new captains as Les
Bleus bid for their rst win in Australia
in 24 years in Brisbane tomorrow.
Australia coach Ewen McKenzie
tossed aside reputations and went
for form in choosing a new halves
combination of Bernard Foley and
Nic White and installing Stephen
Moore as his new captain. McKenzie,
a former Queensland coach, dumped
Queensland Reds captain James Hor-
will to the replacements bench and
could nd no room for 55-Test Reds
scrum-half Will Genia in his 23-man
match day squad.
His French counterpart Phillipe
Saint-Andre made some surprises
of his own, leaving out regular skip-
per Thierry Dusautoir and naming
y-half Frederic Michalak for his rst
Test in a year and despite not having
played rugby in a month.
Saint-Andre preferred to let Du-
sautoir recover from surgery for torn
biceps rather than risk him in the
rst of three internationals against
the Australians.
Veteran prop Nicolas Mas will cap-
tain the French in Brisbane.
The loss of 2011 IRB player of the
year Dusautoir means Les Bleus are
without half a dozen of their top names
with Saint-Andre resting four players
involved in last weekends Top 14 nal
between Toulon and Castres.
He has also put Remi Lamerat and
Brice Dulin on the bench.
Saint-Andre was on the wing when
France last won Down Under, beat-
ing the Wallabies 28-19 in the dead
rubber of a three-Test series in Syd-
ney in 1990.
We know it will be a tough contest
but we dont have any pressure. The
pressure is on the Australia side, we
just enjoy the moment on Saturday,
he said. AFP
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday June 7
New Zealand v England 2:35pm
Australia v France 5pm
South Africa v World XV 10pm
Sunday June 8
Argentina v Ireland 1:40am
USA v Scotland 7:30am
Englands Brad Barritt (centre) runs into tackles from New Zealands Maa Nonu (left) and
Conrad Smith during their international match at Twickenham on December 1, 2012. AFP
Kings beat Rangers in overtime in Stanley Cup opener
JUSTIN Williams netted the
overtime winner on Wednes-
day, giving the Los Angeles
Kings a 3-2 win over the New
York Rangers in game one of
the Stanley Cup finals.
The Kings battled back from
an early two-goal deficit, and
Williams sealed the win 4:35
into overtime to give the Kings
a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven
NHL championship series.
Rangers defenseman Dan
Girardi tried to stick-handle
his way out of his zone on the
right wing, but didnt control
the puck.
Mike Richards turned
around and pushed the puck
forward to Williams, who was
left alone in the slot.
He beat Rangers goalie Hen-
rik Lundqvist for his first over-
time goal in a playoff game.
Richards made a great play
getting the puck out, Williams
said. We screwed up a three-
on-two royally. Fortunately for
us, one of their D men was fol-
lowing, I was sitting in front of
the net with the puck, I was
able to make a shot.
Lundqvist took a tough loss
after stopping 40-of-43 shots
including all 20 he faced in
the third period.
His opposite number Jonath-
an Quick made 25 saves for the
Kings, who host game two
tomorrow night.
The two teams were tied at
2-2 after two periods and nei-
ther scored in the third.
Drew Doughty netted the
equaliser for the Kings at 6:36
of the second on a shot from
the left circle, which hit the net
after going through the crook
of Lundqvists arm.
Kyle Clifford netted the
Kings first goal when he redi-
rected a Jeff Carter centreing
pass with 2:27 left in the
first period.
The well-rested Rangers, who
completed their Eastern Con-
ference finals win over Mon-
treal last Thursday, had taken a
2-0 lead with goals from Benoit
Pouliot Carl Hagelin.
Williams, who notched his
second game-winning goal of
this post-season, said the
Kings were able to draw on the
knowledge that they had
erased an early deficit in their
game seven Western Confer-
ence finals win over Chicago
on Sunday.
But it would be better not to
put themselves in the hole.
Its a great result of the
hockey game for us, definitely,
but we have a lot of things to
clean up, he said.
Doughty agreed that the
Kings couldnt afford the kind
of sluggish start they made
Wednesday.
Thats not the way we want
to start games, he said.
Showed a lot of character to
come back. Were happy about
that. Were not happy about the
start, but were happy we
showed the confidence to come
back and win the game still.
Los Angeles are seeking to
add a second Stanley Cup
crown to the one they captured
in 2012.
Clifford, who also came up
big on defence and contrib-
uted an assist, scored his first
goal of the playoffs at 17:33 of
the first, after forcing a turno-
ver in the Rangers zone by New
York center Derek Stepan.
Doughtys goal also involved
Clifford, who sent Williams
into the right side of the Rang-
ers zone with a long pass. Wil-
liams curved back and fed
Doughty the puck with a
backhand pass.
Doughty put the puck
through his legs to avoid the
outstretched stick of Rangers
forward Derek Dorsett and
beat Lundqvist.
Pouliot opened the scoring
on a breakaway at 13:21 of the
first period.
Hagelin made it 2-0 for the
Rangers when he scored a
shorthanded goal at 15:03.
I liked the way we played in
the first two periods, said
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault.
They definitely took it to us in
the third and they were able to
get a bounce on the winning
goal and put it in the back of
the net. AFP
Justin Williams of the Los Angeles Kings scores the game-winning goal in overtime of game one against the
New York Rangers in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final series on Wednesday. AFP
Pacic Nations Cup
Samoa v Tonga 8am
Canada v Japan 8am
SUNDAYS FIXTURES
Football
Ghanas most inuential witch doctor has claimed he is responsible for Portugal
superstar Cristiano Ronaldos knee injury in the build-up to the World Cup. AFP
Ghanaian witch doctor
claims Ronaldo injury
G
HANAS most inuential
witch doctor has claimed
he is responsible for the
knee injury that is threat-
ening Cristiano Ronaldos partici-
pation at the World Cup.
Nana Kwaku Bonsam whose
name translates literally as Devil
of Wednesday predicted in Feb-
ruary that the Real Madrid for-
ward would be forced to miss this
summers tournament in Brazil
with injury. A statement from the
Portuguese FA on Wednesday con-
rmed that Ronaldo is suffering
from tendinosis in his left knee as
well as nursing a muscle problem
in his left thigh, which caused him
to miss the 0-0 draw with Greece at
the weekend.
Ghana are set to meet Portugal
in their nal match of Group G in
Brasilia on June 26 and Bonsam
claims to have conjured a special
powder from his gods, mixed with
several leaves and concoctions that
have been placed around an image
and caricature of the former Man-
chester United player.
I know what Cristiano Ronaldos
injury is about, Im working on him,
Bonsam, who serves at the Kooo
Ko shrine, said in an interview with
the Kumasi-based Angel FM.
I am very serious about it. Last
week, I went around looking for
four dogs and I got them to be used
in manufacturing a special spirit
called Kahwiri Kapam.
I said it four months ago that
I will work on Cristiano Ronaldo
seriously and rule him out of the
World Cup or at least prevent him
from playing against Ghana and
the best thing I can do is to keep
him out though injury.
This injury can never be cured
by any medic. They can never see
what is causing the injury because
it is spiritual. Today, it is his knee,
tomorrow it is his thigh, next day it
is something else.
Oxlade-Chamberlain injury scare
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains hopes
of representing England at the
World Cup are hanging in the bal-
ance after the Arsenal winger sus-
tained suspected ligament damage
to his right knee in the draw with
Ecuador.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, making his
rst appearance since April 20 after
his involvement in the run-in to the
domestic campaign was hampered
by a groin complaint, and one
of Englands best performers on
Wednesday in Miami, was injured
in a second-half tackle with Carlos
Gruezo and limped gingerly from
the turf for treatment.
He departed the stadium in clear
discomfort and was to undergo
a scan yesterday to ascertain the
extent of the damage. If the medi-
cal assessments rule him out, Roy
Hodgson can call up a replacement
into his squad for the tournament.
Jack Wilshere and Luke Shaw suf-
fered cramp in the 2-2 draw, which
saw Raheem Sterling and Ecua-
dors Antonio Valencia sent off 11
minutes from time, though it is
Oxlade-Chamberlain who remains
the concern.
Van Persie injury taints win
Robin van Persie handed the Neth-
erlands a tness worry ahead of the
World Cup after the Manchester
United striker picked up a groin
problem in Wednesdays 2-0 friendly
win over Wales in Amsterdam.
Van Persie appeared to be in pain
and held his groin when he left the
pitch at half-time and Dutch coach
Louis van Gaal took no risks over
the tness of his star striker as the
30-year-old was immediately re-
placed by Jeremain Lens.
However, Van Gaal, whose 23-
man squad ew out to Rio de Jani-
ero yesterday, is hopeful that the
problem will be nothing serious.
It looks a slight injury, but it is
not for nothing that you go off,
said the coach.
He has to wait until the doctor
sees him. It was better that you
dont risk a bigger injury by playing
him in the second half as it was not
the most important match.
I hope he is okay for [the open-
ing World Cup game on June 13
against] Spain. His action for the as-
sist for the rst goal was fantastic.
THE GUARDIAN / AFP
Wednesdays Results
International Friendlies
Gibraltar 1 Malta 0
Algeria 2 Romania 1
Hungary 1 Albania 0
Italy 1 Luxembourg 1
Iceland 1 Estonia 0
Argentina 3 Trinidad and Tobago 0
Uruguay 2 Slovenia 0
Chile 2 Northern Ireland 0
El Salvador 1 Ivory Coast 2
Weekend Fixtures
International Friendlies
Friday June 6
Russia v Morocco 9pm
Poland v Lithuania 10:30pm
Saturday June 7
Germany v Armenia 1:45am
Brazil v Serbia 2am
Colombia v Jordan 6am
Croatia v Australia 6am
Japan v Zambia 6:30am
Costa Rica v Rep of Ireland 7am
Greece v Bolivia 7am
Mexico v Portugal 7:30am
Sunday June 8
Estonia v Tajikistan 12am
Hungary v Kazakhstan 1:30am
Argentina v Slovenia 1:45am
Belgium v Tunisia 1:45am
El Salvador v Spain 3am
England v Honduras 3:45am
USA v Nigeria 5am
Monday June 9
San Marino v Albania 1:30am
France v Jamaica 2am
Trinidad and Tobago v Iran 3am
Fury as FIFA nds a eld of dreams in Zibo, China
IMAGES of a beaming FIFA
president Sepp Blatter and a
small blue certificate in the
Chinese city of Zibo proclaim
it as the birthplace of football,
to the fury of English experts.
A map in Zibos Qi State His-
tory Museum shows a thin line
stretching from China to
Egypt, then to Greece, Rome
and France, before finishing in
England, commonly known as
the home of football after the
rules were codified there in the
19th century.
The track represents the
path of footballs develop-
ment, according to the muse-
um, with the certificate
signed by Blatter honouring
China as the cradle of the ear-
liest forms of football.
But international experts are
sceptical of such claims, point-
ing to a tenuous link between
the ancient Chinese game of
cuju and the modern sport,
and questioning FIFAs
motives.
Despite its long supposed
footballing history Chinas
national team failed to qualify
for the World Cup in Brazil
later this month.
China has only appeared at
one final tournament, in 2002,
when they lost all three of their
group matches and went out
without even scoring a goal.
But millions of fans will be
watching the tournament and
in Zibo the modern city on
the site of the ancient Qi states
capital Linzi football is
booming.
Statues of cuju players stand
on street corners and posters
on bus shelters depict the
supposed forebear of the
modern game.
I really like Sepp Blatter,
beams Zhu Shuju, vice director
at the separate Zibo Football
Museum, which pays homage
to the sports history and gives
huge prominence to Blatter
and other FIFA officials.
He is very popular here, she
added, surrounded by images
of Blatter and with a video of
his speech confirming Zibos
status continuously looping in
the background.
Zibo has invited Brazilian
superstar Pele to open a new
multi-million dollar museum
later this year.
Different types of cuju existed
in ancient China, but the com-
petitive game still played today
involves keeping a leather ball
stuffed with feathers off the
ground without using arms or
hands, before heading or kick-
ing it though a hole above head
height.
A gladiatorial version with
much physical contact emerged
in the Warring States period
which unified China almost
2,500 years ago, and was popu-
lar with soldiers exercising their
legs after days on horseback.
But experts outside China
believe there are huge differ-
ences between cuju and mod-
ern football.
I find it absurd to suggest
ancient Chinese had compa-
rable mentalities as football
enthusiasts today, Ellis Cash-
more, professor of culture,
media and sport at Britains
Staffordshire University told
AFP via email. So the link is
tenuous.
Historians say other ball
sports existed around the
same time as cuju emerged,
including a Greek game known
as episkyros.
An ancient stone carving at
the Acropolis Museum in Ath-
ens shows a naked Greek ath-
lete balancing a ball on his
thigh, and some say episkyros
evolved into a game played by
the Romans, called harpas-
tum, which was then trans-
ported to Britain.
There the modern game was
born when the Football Asso-
ciation rules, drawing on a
public school mob game, were
written by Ebenezer Cobb
Morley in 1863, and have since
changed very little.
For British historian Tom
Holland, football began in the
19th century.
Im afraid I dont know any-
thing about the classical origins
of football, for the simple rea-
son they dont exist, he said.
Kicking something around
is an obvious human activity,
he added. That various peo-
ples, in various parts of the
world, may or may not have
engaged in such activities, does
not prove that they were the
originators of football.
British football author Jonath-
an Wilson agreed, saying that
the 1863 rules were then spread
across the world by British sail-
ors and traders.
At no point did they come
upon a local form of football
that needed to be eradicated
before the British game could
take root, he said.
Rather foreign cultures took
on those laws and interpreted
them in their own way.
Eyebrows were raised when
FIFA came out in support of
Chinas claims.
Blatter sees his brief to
make football the richest sport
in history and he has already
achieved that, said Cashmore,
whose book Footballs Dark
Side explores corruption in the
game.
But to maintain its com-
mercial dominance, he needs
to keep conquering new ter-
ritories. China is obvious: huge
territory, an economy thats
been growing like a blur and a
population that has already
shown enthusiasm for the
sport. AFP
A Chinese TV presenter is pictured pointing to an image of FIFA president
Sepp Blatter holding a traditional Chinese Cuju ball (left) and a regular
football at the Linzi Football Museum. AFP
23
Football

Alibaba buys half stake
in Chinas Evergrande
E-COMMERCE giant Alibaba
said yesterday it will pay
US$192 million for a 50 per
cent stake in Chinas top
football club, in a frenzy of deal-
making before a multi-billion
dollar share offer in the United
States. Alibaba will pay 1.2
billion yuan for the stake in
Asian champions Guangzhou
Evergrande, with property
developer and existing
shareholder Evergrande Group
holding the remainder,
according to an Alibaba
statement and company
officials. Evergrande, who won
both the Chinese Super League
and the AFC Champions
League titles in 2013, said it
had introduced Alibaba as a
strategic investor. AFP
Liverpool agree deal
for Can with Leverkusen
LIVERPOOLS productive start to
the summer transfer window
has continued after the club
agreed a deal in principle for the
9.75 million (US$16.4 million)
signing of Emre Can from Bayer
Leverkusen. The 20-year-old
midfielder is the second deal
Liverpool have agreed this
week, following the capture of
Rickie Lambert for an initial 4.5
million from Southampton on
Monday, and the transfer is
expected to be finalised on July
1 once documentation has been
completed. Liverpool triggered a
12 million (US$16.3 million)
release clause in Cans
Leverkusen contract over a
week ago. The Germany U21
international, of Turkish
descent, scored four goals in 39
appearances for Leverkusen
following his move from Bayern
Munich last year and played an
influential role in the teams
fourth-placed finish in the
Bundesliga. THEGUARDIAN
United make Strootman
a target for January
LOUIS van Gaal has made
Kevin Strootman a 30 million
(US$50.2 million) January
target for Manchester United
and the midfielder would be
open to the move should Roma
consider it, although there is
yet to be any official contact
between the clubs. The
Dutchman is recovering from a
serious knee injury that has
ruled him out of van Gaals
Holland squad for the World
Cup in Brazil, with the 24-year-
old not expected to play again
until the autumn. While
Strootman is content at Roma
and has four years left on the
contract he signed, he is aware
of van Gaals interest, with the
manager having selected him
regularly for the national
squad. THEGUARDIAN
Brazil go up in last FIFA
rankings before WC
BRAZIL move up to third in the
last FIFA rankings released
before the World Cup starts in
one week. Reigning world
champions Spain remain top of
the rankings, released
yesterday, followed by Germany
with Brazil moving ahead of
Portugal, who drop to fourth.
Argentina move up two spots to
fifth with England up one place
to join the top 10. Greece fell to
12th and France dropped one
place to 17th. Croatia who play
Brazil in the opening World Cup
match on June 12 move up two
places to 18th. AFP
Costa set for Chelsea move
DIEGO Costa has completed a
medical examination at Chel-
sea and is poised to seal his
32 million (US$53.6 million)
transfer from Atletico Madrid.
The Brazil-born striker, who is
a part of the Spain squad pre-
paring for the World Cup
finals, has been identified by
Jose Mourinho as being what
Chelsea need to win the Pre-
mier League title.
Chelsea were four points
short of champions Manches-
ter City, and their challenge
came in spite of the lack of
goals from their centre-for-
wards. Samuel Etoo, Fernando
Torres and Demba Ba contrib-
uted a total of 19 in the league,
with Etoo scoring nine of
them. Mourinho would
bemoan the shortfall at vari-
ous junctures of his first sea-
son back at Chelsea.
He believes that the powerful
and ruthless Costa can make
the difference. The 25-year-old
is fresh from his break-out sea-
son, in which he scored 27 goals
in 34 league starts for Atletico,
plus eight in nine in the Cham-
pions League, as his club won
La Liga and were beaten by
their city rivals, Real, in the
European Cup final.
One of Costas Champions
League goals came from the
penalty spot against Chelsea in
the semi-final second leg at
Stamford Bridge, which his
team won 3-1 to progress by the
same scoreline on aggregate. It
was Costas first season in the
Champions League.
Chelsea were impressed with
him before they saw him up
close against them, despite his
relative toils over the second
half of the season. He had
scored 23 of his goals in all
competitions by December 21,
with the other 12 coming over
the five months that followed.
He struggled a little towards
the end of the season with
injury. Previously, he had nev-
er scored more than 10 league
goals in a season.
Chelsea have paid the buyout
clause in Costas contract he
shares the same agent as Mour-
inho, Jorge Mendes and the
club are pushing ahead with the
rest of their business. It is pos-
sible that they will have further
dealings with Atletico, as they
have an interest in the clubs
Brazilian left-back, Filipe Luis,
and their Portuguese midfield-
er, Tiago, who played for Chel-
sea in 2004/05, during Mour-
inhos first spell at the Bridge.
The club need a left-back to
replace the departing Ashley
Cole and another midfielder to
replace Frank Lampard. Tiago
is available on a Bosman free
transfer and he and Luis would
help smooth Costas integration
in London. THE GUARDIAN
Atletico Madrids Diego Costa (right) vies with Chelseas Cesar Azpilicueta
during their UEFA Champions League semi-nal rst leg on April 22. AFP
ENGLISH Premier League
clubs made more than $5
billion in 2013/14 and are
stretching their wealth gap
over European rivals even
though the Bundesliga re-
mains the most protable
championship, a study re-
leased yesterday said.
Sky-high wages the aver-
age Premier League player
earns more than 1.6 million
(US$2.7 million) a year have
eaten into Premier League
protability. But the Deloitte
Annual Review of Football
Finance saw no end to the
leagues growing riches.
The leagues combined reve-
nues for 2013/14 will increase
by almost a third to hit 3.2
billion, said Dan Jones of De-
loittes sports business group.
The audit and consulting
rm called the leagues -
nancial performance phe-
nomenal in the global eco-
nomic climate.
Premier League revenues
will reach about 4 billion for
2014/15 as extra broadcasting
money pours into the English
game, predicted Deloitte se-
nior sports business consul-
tant Austin Houlihan.
The review gave exact g-
ures only for 2012/13 when
the Premier League made 2.9
billion (US$3.9 billion), while
the German league earned
2 billion, Spain 1.9 billion,
Italy 1.7 billion and France
1.3 billion.
The big ve leagues togeth-
er saw revenues grow 5 per
cent in 2012/13 to 9.8 bil-
lion, now representing almost
half of the overall size of the
European football market of
19.9 billion.
Wages for Wayne Rooney
and the army of other Premier
League stars accounted for
2.1 billion, or 71 per cent, of
the English revenues, mean-
ing that the leagues prot-
ability fell to 3 per cent.
In Germany, wages ac-
counted for just 1 billion, or
51 per cent of revenues.
The review said that while
Premier League clubs made
about 100 million in prot
for 2012/13, Bundesliga rivals
reported about 280 million
in prot.
Manchester United, Man-
chester City and Liverpool
accounted for most of the
English growth in revenue.
In Germany, Bayern Munich
and Borussia Dortmund gen-
erated 80 per cent of new rev-
enues, said the review.
The power of the Premier
League is seen in the fact that
more than 100 players from
English clubs were named in
provisional squads for coun-
tries at the World Cup. AFP
Premier League stretches
wealth gap over Euro rivals
Naga Corp, Boeung Ket face
off in high stakes MCL battle
H S Manjunath

S
TAKES are high in tomorrows
plum contest at the Olympic
Stadium between Naga Corp
and Boeung Ket Rubber Field,
two teams on a hot trail to catch up
with the freewheeling Metfone C-
League leaders Phnom Penh Crown.
If Wednesdays winning performanc-
es by Naga and Boeung Ket are any in-
dication, both carry a lot of positives
into this needle clash along with some
serious anxieties to sort out too.
The importance of this meeting 15
weeks into the league season cannot
be overemphasised. It is quite obvi-
ous that the sides hate to lose more
than they love to win.
If Naga coach Prak Sovannara util-
ised his teams trip to Singapore last
week as part of a healing process to
create oneness from a side that was
tending to be individualistic, he got
it partly right in that 3-1 win over Ki-
rivong Sok Sen Chey on a rain-soaked
pitch on Wednesday.
Still of great concern to the former
national coach was a below par rst
half. He was quite happy with the end
game in which his players, having left
it late, rallied back in the last 20 min-
utes to take control after trailing by a
goal all that time.
Naga have a grudging loss during
the rst half of the season to settle
with Boeung Ket and unless the 2009
champions hit the straps hard enough
and come up with formations that are
effective, the Rubbermen may prove a
tough bunch to contain.
Twice in the last few weeks, Boe-
ung Ket have had to deal with own
goal disasters, including the one
midweek against Svay Rieng that
piled so much pressure on the team.
The 2012 champions got going past
the hour mark and made up for the
lost time to eventually secure an
uplifting 2-1 victory.
The Boeung Ket camp clearly feel
that the momentum is with the side,
though the goalless draw against Po-
lice in the previous encounter still
rankles.
Mutual respect is what both sides
have for each other when it comes to
professed strengths but at the same
time a great rivalry plays out be-
tween these two sides whenever they
share the pitch.
What follows this high prole meet-
ing is a tussle for survival when Ki-
rivong Sok Sen Chey and Western
University face off.
With the sword of demotion hang-
ing over their heads, Western with a
win could suck in the visitors from
Takeo to the drop zone ght. At the
same time Kirivong, whose erratic
form this season has no recent paral-
lels, can at least feel safe for a while if
they were to grab three points.
Away at the Old Stadium tomorrow,
TriAsia will put Svay Riengs resolve to
a serious test. It may need a bloom-
ing miracle for Svay Rieng to come
up with a successful defence of their
2013 title triumph from the stage they
are now in, but hope springs eternal
and Svay Rieng are not yet ready to
give up the chase.
Tomorrows second xture at the
Old Stadium features a contest be-
tween two mid-table teams vying for
elevation Ministry of National De-
fence and Asia Europe University.
On Sunday at the Olympic Stadium,
league leaders Phnom Penh Crown
will be looking for another three-
point cushion when they meet Build
Bright United, who pulled a rabbit out
of their hat the last time the two met
in the Hun Sen Cup quarter-nals.
Crowns 5-0 drubbing of the Univer-
sity-backed side in the rst round of
the league should dispel any fears of
another BBU utter.
In the weekends concluding kick
off, National Police Commissary, who
did well to hold Boeung Ket to a goal-
less stalemate last week, may be look-
ing for a quick kill when they meet
Albirex Niigata.
The rst foreign franchise to make
Cambodias top tier have struggled
through the season so far and have
just one win and a draw to show from
more than a dozen games.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday June 7
At the Old Stadium
Tri Asia v Svay Rieng 1:30pm
MND v AEU 3:45pm
At the Olympic Stadium
Naga v Boeung Ket 3:30pm
Kirivong v Western Uni 6pm
Sunday June 8
BBU v PP Crown 3:30pm
Police v Albirex Niigata 6pm
Boeung Kets Chan Vathanaka (left) takes on Naga Corps Tieng Tiny during their MCL
match at the Olympic Stadium on February 15. SRENG MENG SRUN
Sport
Britains Andy Murray celebrates his victory over Frances Gael Monls
at the end of their French Open quarternal in Paris. AFP
Mission impossible for Murray?
ANDY Murray will today
attempt to become the first
British man in 77 years to reach
the French Open final but
eight-time champion Rafael
Nadal is standing in his way.
Bunny Austin was the last
Briton to get to the mens
championship match in 1937
while Fred Perry was the coun-
trys last winner in Paris two
years earlier.
But Murray is making a
habit out of shredding the
history books his Wimble-
don triumph last year ended
Britains 77-year wait for a
mens title winner.
The 27-year-old lost to Nadal
at the same stage in Paris in
2011 without winning a set.
In fact, Murray, who has 5-14
career record against Nadal,
has lost all of his five meetings
on clay with the Spaniard.
Nadal, in turn, has eight titles
in Paris, has won 64 matches
against just one defeat and is
attempting to become the first
man to win five Roland Garros
crowns in succession.
Despite the facts and figures
stacking up against him, Mur-
ray believes he has the mental
and physical weapons to shat-
ter the Nadal legend.
Unlike his loss in 2011, Mur-
ray is now a two-time Grand
Slam title winner himself and
his confidence is buoyed by
having taken a set off Nadal in
Rome last month.
I obviously know how to win
these tournaments now; back
then I didnt. I was trying
extremely hard, but I had never
done it, said Murray who has
has yet to win a claycourt title
and has never made the final
on the sports most challenging
and wearying surface.
But he believes that there are
cracks, albeit small ones, in the
famed Nadal armour that can
be exploited and he saw enough
in Rome to justify his confi-
dence.
I definitely learned some
things in that match. It was
quite clear in my head, as well,
what was working and what
wasnt, he said.
It was obviously different
conditions here and a different
court, different balls. When we
played in Rome it was extreme-
ly cold and wet. I have been
told its meant to be 25 or 26
degrees on Friday.
The weather could play a cru-
cial role with Nadal preferring
warm, sunny weather which
allows him to dictate the pace
of the game and the ball.
Nadal has defied the critics
who wondered whether he
would make it this far after he
suffered his worst season on
European clay losing three
times in a decade.
He is wary of the threat posed
by Murray.
Im not impressed by the
way hes playing on clay. I am
not answering in a bad way. Im
saying in a good way. He can
play very well on all the sur-
faces. Hes a candidate to win
Roland Garros, said the
28-year-old Spaniard.
Todays second semifinal sees
world number two Novak
Djokovic, who needs a French
Open title to become just the
eighth man to complete the
career Grand Slam, take on out-
spoken Latvian Ernests Gulbis,
who will be playing in his first
semifinal at a major.
Djokovic is playing in his
fourth successive French Open
semifinal, having been runner-
up to Nadal in 2012.
Gulbis, seeded 18, has a 1-4
losing record against Djokovic,
whom he trained with in his
youth at the Niki Pilic academy
in Munich.
The 25-year-old, so long the
sports enfant terrible, has
finally matched up hard work
to his undoubted talent and
reached the semifinals by
knocking out fourth-seeded
Roger Federer and then sixth-
seeded Tomas Berdych.
In 2014, only Nadal has won
more matches than the contro-
versial big-hitter from Riga.
He plays really well. He has
a huge serve that, if it goes in,
it can give him a lot of advan-
tage, said Djokovic.
He knows how to move, how
to anticipate. Hes definitely
going to be aggressive and
going to go for his shots against
me. Thats his style. AFP
Hamilton eyes return to front
L
EWIS Hamilton will seek to
regain the lead in this years
drivers world champion-
ship this weekend when he
returns to one of his favourite cir-
cuits for Sundays Canadian Grand
Prix.
The 29-year-old Briton, who this
week declared he had made his
peace with Mercedes teammate
and world title rival Nico Rosberg
following a tempestuous weekend
in Monte Carlo, claimed his maid-
en Formula One pole and victory in
the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.
He added further victories in 2010
and 2012 and nished third at the
tight and demanding Circuit Gilles
Villeneuve last year, conrmation
that his fast reexive and instinctive
driving is well suited to the bumpy
and unforgiving street track.
According to Hamilton, his long
friendship with German Rosberg
has not been damaged seriously by
their fall-out at the Monaco Grand
Prix, where the Englishman sug-
gested his teammate had deliber-
ately gone off-track in qualifying to
gain an unfair advantage.
In a brief statement on Twitter, he
said: Weve been friends a long time
and as friends we have our ups and
downs. Today we spoke and were
cool, still friends . . . No problem.
Since Monaco, where Rosberg
ended a run of four Hamilton victo-
ries with his second successive tri-
umph on home soil, or asphalt, the
Mercedes team have worked hard
to control mounting speculation
about the drivers rivalry.
In particular, the team has played
down suggestions that it has turned
into a feud to compare with the
often-acrimonious in-team battles
of Frenchman Alain Prost and Bra-
zilian Ayrton Senna, at McLaren, in
the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Mercedes know they have the car
to beat and that they should win
both the drivers and the construc-
tors championships this year, end-
ing the Red Bull supremacy and the
reign of defending four-time cham-
pion Sebastian Vettel of Germany.
Vettel, and his team, know they
are at the forefront of the chasing
pack, but have conceded that after
an encouraging weekend in Mo-
naco, where Australian Daniel Ric-
ciardo nished third behind Ros-
berg and Hamilton, they are likely
to struggle in Canada.
Red Bull team chief Christian
Horner said: I think Montreal is
going to be a challenging race for us
and it will be interesting to see how
we fare. Renault are working hard
behind the scenes, and we were
much, much closer.
It was the rst time we raced
Mercedes this year and Dans
pace, particularly in the last third,
showed he was the quickest car on
the track. We took some condence
from that.
But now we go from one extreme
to the other Monaco is all about
handling characteristics, but the
next one, Montreal, is all about
straight-line performance. So, it is
going to be very interesting to see
how we cope.
Rosberg leads the drivers title
race with 122 points ahead of Mer-
cedes teammate Hamilton on 118
and third-placed Spaniard Fernan-
do Alonso of Ferrari on 61, with Ric-
ciardo fourth on 54.
The race gets under way at 1am
Cambodian time on Sunday night.
AFP
Mercedes British driver Lewis Hamilton races in qualifying for the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in June 2013. AFP

A Bridge Too Far For Sokha?: The East German Paradise'

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