Peacekeeping Exercises Open Amid Concerns

Multiple peacekeeping exercises that include troops from 26 countries began today and will carry through the end of the month. (Photo: AP)

“This is the first time in the history of the Cambodian military that we have hosted multi-national exercise training.”

Cambodia opened a massive peacekeeping exercise Tuesday that is supported by the US. But Human Rights Watch says the choice of Cambodia for the operation, Angkor Sentinel, undermines US human rights diplomacy.

Multiple peacekeeping exercises that include troops from 26 countries began today and will carry through the end of the month as part of a global peacekeeping initiative supported by the US.

“For the Pentagon and State Department to permit abusive Cambodian military units to host a high-profile regional peacekeeping exercise is outrageous,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “The United States undermines its protests against the Cambodian government for rampant rights abuses like forced evictions when it showers international attention and funds on military units involved in grabbing land and other human rights violations.”

However, Cambodian military officials welcomed the exercises, which will include more than 1,000 troops from countries as diverse as China, India, the US, Tonga and Brunei and are aimed at improving the abilities of those countries to conduct UN operations together.

“This is the first time in the history of the Cambodian military that we have hosted multi-national exercise training,” said Nem Sowath, a three-star general and chairman of the exchange subcommittee.

The training will include command post exercises at a hotel in Phnom Penh followed by field training exercises in Kampong Speu province.

Courts Suffer from Political Strueture:Legal Experts

“They know what the problem is, because their choice in daily life is to be corrupt and commit injustices, or abandon their lives and their families.”

Cambodia’s judicial system remains a political structure with little hope for reform unless the leadership and the system changes, leading democracy advocates said Thursday.
“If the leader wants to hold the position of leader, there needs to be a change to his policy regarding the court system in providing independence to the courts,” said Seng Theary, head of the Center for Justice and Reconciliation, as a guest on “Hello VOA.” “Otherwise, we as citizens need to mobilize to express a peaceful voice and our right to vote.”
The courts have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as they’ve shouldered criticism for political bias and corruption. Rights groups say many people have lost faith in the judiciary, where decisions often lean toward the rich or powerful.
A change in structure is needed, Seng Theary said.
“The leader now, he does not have the willingness to reform the court system, because the court system is a political tool,” she said. “So why would he need to reform it?”
Seng Theary, who is also a lawyer, said the judges she meets are good people but are limited in the work they can do, even if they want things to change.
“They know what the problem is, because their choice in daily life is to be corrupt and commit injustices, or abandon their lives and their families,” she said.
Am Sam Ath, a rights monitor for Licadho who also joined “Hello VOA” Thursday, said judges and prosecutors are appointed by royal decree, but they are nominated by the government, so they can be fired, putting them under political pressure.
“So when they work as appointed from power in politics…what do they consider?” he said. “That’s why we now see the court system under pressure of politicians, and that’s why it’s very hard to drag the court to independence.”

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Hun Sen recuperated from swine flu

A senior Cambodian government official said that Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured), who along with 5 cabinet ministers had contracted AH1N1 virus during a cabinet meeting on 25th June, has fully recovered, reports Deum Ampil.

The official said Mr. Hun Sen is able to start work at his home office. However, his doctors said his condition is still under strict surveillance and cares until the symptom disappears before his is allowed to appear publicly.

It is not sure if the other 5 cabinet ministers have also fully recovered or not.

"Neuk Khoeunh Pravattisastr Rung-roeung" a Poem in Khmer by Ung Thavary