Cambodia rejects landmine beauty contest

August 2, 2009 -
The Age

The Cambodian government has urged the cancellation of a beauty pageant in which landmine victims will compete to win a prosthetic leg, organisers say.

In the Miss Landmine Cambodia contest, 20 competitors from around the country are due to appear in a photo exhibition opening on Friday in Phnom Penh, followed by an internet voting campaign to select the best candidate.

But in a letter to organisers, the Ministry of Social Affairs has called on them to cancel the contest - although the Cambodian Mine Action Authority said in 2007 it fully supported the event.

"The ministry asks the people who organise this contest to stop this action ... for protecting ... the honour and dignity of people with disabilities," the letter said in English.

But Norwegian pageant director Morten Traavik said the contest, which offers as the top prize a custom-made prosthetic leg, would increase awareness about the victims of landmines.

"I have asked to meet the Cambodian officials to clear up our misunderstanding, and I hope once they know about our project details, they will welcome this," he said.

He explained that the pageant aimed "to raise awareness of what landmines have done to the people", adding that it would be a "big shame" if people could not see the exhibition.

The first Miss Landmine contest was held in Angola last year, drawing protests from rights activists who viewed it as exploitative and racist.

Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily mined countries, along with Afghanistan and Angola.

Hundreds of people are killed or maimed every year by the millions of landmines and other unexploded ordnance still littering the countryside after decades of conflict.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen cancelled a Miss Cambodia beauty pageant in 2006, saying he would not allow such a contest until poverty in Cambodia was reduced by more than half.

Cambodia rejects landmine beauty contest

August 2, 2009 -
The Age

The Cambodian government has urged the cancellation of a beauty pageant in which landmine victims will compete to win a prosthetic leg, organisers say.

In the Miss Landmine Cambodia contest, 20 competitors from around the country are due to appear in a photo exhibition opening on Friday in Phnom Penh, followed by an internet voting campaign to select the best candidate.

But in a letter to organisers, the Ministry of Social Affairs has called on them to cancel the contest - although the Cambodian Mine Action Authority said in 2007 it fully supported the event.

"The ministry asks the people who organise this contest to stop this action ... for protecting ... the honour and dignity of people with disabilities," the letter said in English.

But Norwegian pageant director Morten Traavik said the contest, which offers as the top prize a custom-made prosthetic leg, would increase awareness about the victims of landmines.

"I have asked to meet the Cambodian officials to clear up our misunderstanding, and I hope once they know about our project details, they will welcome this," he said.

He explained that the pageant aimed "to raise awareness of what landmines have done to the people", adding that it would be a "big shame" if people could not see the exhibition.

The first Miss Landmine contest was held in Angola last year, drawing protests from rights activists who viewed it as exploitative and racist.

Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily mined countries, along with Afghanistan and Angola.

Hundreds of people are killed or maimed every year by the millions of landmines and other unexploded ordnance still littering the countryside after decades of conflict.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen cancelled a Miss Cambodia beauty pageant in 2006, saying he would not allow such a contest until poverty in Cambodia was reduced by more than half.

Cambodia rejects landmine beauty contest

August 2, 2009 -
The Age

The Cambodian government has urged the cancellation of a beauty pageant in which landmine victims will compete to win a prosthetic leg, organisers say.

In the Miss Landmine Cambodia contest, 20 competitors from around the country are due to appear in a photo exhibition opening on Friday in Phnom Penh, followed by an internet voting campaign to select the best candidate.

But in a letter to organisers, the Ministry of Social Affairs has called on them to cancel the contest - although the Cambodian Mine Action Authority said in 2007 it fully supported the event.

"The ministry asks the people who organise this contest to stop this action ... for protecting ... the honour and dignity of people with disabilities," the letter said in English.

But Norwegian pageant director Morten Traavik said the contest, which offers as the top prize a custom-made prosthetic leg, would increase awareness about the victims of landmines.

"I have asked to meet the Cambodian officials to clear up our misunderstanding, and I hope once they know about our project details, they will welcome this," he said.

He explained that the pageant aimed "to raise awareness of what landmines have done to the people", adding that it would be a "big shame" if people could not see the exhibition.

The first Miss Landmine contest was held in Angola last year, drawing protests from rights activists who viewed it as exploitative and racist.

Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily mined countries, along with Afghanistan and Angola.

Hundreds of people are killed or maimed every year by the millions of landmines and other unexploded ordnance still littering the countryside after decades of conflict.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen cancelled a Miss Cambodia beauty pageant in 2006, saying he would not allow such a contest until poverty in Cambodia was reduced by more than half.

Thailand opposed oil concessionaires awarded to Total off the coast of Sihanoukville

The yellow areas are the areas awarded to Total which are described as "Thailand-Cambodia Claim Area Blocks".

Source: Koh Santepheap newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has led a delegation to the 6th border talks with Thailand in Bangkok from 4-6 August. According to official sources, the talks will be centred on the delimitation and demarcation of the general borders between the two countries.

But unofficial sources said that the agenda of the meeting will be focused more on the oil concessionaires recently awarded to the French company, Total, which was said to be opposed by the Thai government.

The Koh Santepheap newspaper reported that a Thai website has reported that a group of Thai "yellow shirt" activists had lodged a letter of complaint against the oil concessionaires awarded to Total by saying that the areas awarded to Total are located in the Thai territorial waters. The letter stated that the concessionaires awarded to Total by the Cambodian government is illegal which will eventually cause diplomatic frictions between Thailand and France, including the impact on trades and businesses between the two countries.

Ms. Vimol Kitchob, spokeswoman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the website as saying that the areas awarded to Total by the Cambodian government used to called "overlapping areas", but the two governments later agreed to stop using the words "overlapping areas" because she said there is no part of the areas that was "overlapped". The website quoted the Thai spokeswoman as saying that the areas are "undelimited areas"- meaning that the areas have not been decided to which countries they belong.

Thailand opposed oil concessionaires awarded to Total off the coast of Sihanoukville

The yellow areas are the areas awarded to Total which are described as "Thailand-Cambodia Claim Area Blocks".

Source: Koh Santepheap newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has led a delegation to the 6th border talks with Thailand in Bangkok from 4-6 August. According to official sources, the talks will be centred on the delimitation and demarcation of the general borders between the two countries.

But unofficial sources said that the agenda of the meeting will be focused more on the oil concessionaires recently awarded to the French company, Total, which was said to be opposed by the Thai government.

The Koh Santepheap newspaper reported that a Thai website has reported that a group of Thai "yellow shirt" activists had lodged a letter of complaint against the oil concessionaires awarded to Total by saying that the areas awarded to Total are located in the Thai territorial waters. The letter stated that the concessionaires awarded to Total by the Cambodian government is illegal which will eventually cause diplomatic frictions between Thailand and France, including the impact on trades and businesses between the two countries.

Ms. Vimol Kitchob, spokeswoman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the website as saying that the areas awarded to Total by the Cambodian government used to called "overlapping areas", but the two governments later agreed to stop using the words "overlapping areas" because she said there is no part of the areas that was "overlapped". The website quoted the Thai spokeswoman as saying that the areas are "undelimited areas"- meaning that the areas have not been decided to which countries they belong.

Thailand opposed oil concessionaires awarded to Total off the coast of Sihanoukville

The yellow areas are the areas awarded to Total which are described as "Thailand-Cambodia Claim Area Blocks".

Source: Koh Santepheap newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has led a delegation to the 6th border talks with Thailand in Bangkok from 4-6 August. According to official sources, the talks will be centred on the delimitation and demarcation of the general borders between the two countries.

But unofficial sources said that the agenda of the meeting will be focused more on the oil concessionaires recently awarded to the French company, Total, which was said to be opposed by the Thai government.

The Koh Santepheap newspaper reported that a Thai website has reported that a group of Thai "yellow shirt" activists had lodged a letter of complaint against the oil concessionaires awarded to Total by saying that the areas awarded to Total are located in the Thai territorial waters. The letter stated that the concessionaires awarded to Total by the Cambodian government is illegal which will eventually cause diplomatic frictions between Thailand and France, including the impact on trades and businesses between the two countries.

Ms. Vimol Kitchob, spokeswoman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the website as saying that the areas awarded to Total by the Cambodian government used to called "overlapping areas", but the two governments later agreed to stop using the words "overlapping areas" because she said there is no part of the areas that was "overlapped". The website quoted the Thai spokeswoman as saying that the areas are "undelimited areas"- meaning that the areas have not been decided to which countries they belong.

Samlaut Uprising might be repeated as peasants faced land confiscations

Samlaut residents showing Radio Free Asia reporter the lands in dispute.

Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization

Sources from Samlaut on 30th July said that many Samluat peasants in western parts of Battambang province are facing losing thousands of hectares of their lands to a private development company.

Sources said a private company, Rath Sambath, is planning to develop on 5,200 hectares of farm lands the peasants claimed they owned since the Khmer Rouge still control the areas in the 1980s and 1990s.
One peasant said: "At that time, Cambodia was still at civil war, we have not achieved peace yet. But after 1993, after the peace talks (between the government and the Khmer Rouge), we came to clear the lands, some were killed, some have their limbs blown off (by landmines) in these areas."

According to the map of the Rath Sambath concessionaires, it was indicated that in 2002 the 5,200 hectares of lands were areas covered with thick forests. But according to the on-the-spot survey report, the concessionaires had covered 946 hectares of lands owned by peasants from 200 families in three communes.

A human rights investigator from the human rights group Adhoc, who investigated the case on the ground, said: "First, there must be a re-evaluation of the areas. Secondly, we appeal to the company not call any more meetings to intimidate (to coerce people to accept the comapnay's terms). Thirdly, I notice that the concession agreements (with the governent) are surrounded with secrecy, especially in regard to the documentations."

Radio Free Asia is unable to seek comments from provincial officials or representatives from Rath Sambath company.

Many analysts are of the view that this land dispute might lead to a repeat of the Samlaut Uprising when the Samlaut peasants launched a peasant rebellion in 1967 after provincial and government officials forcibly confiscated their lands. Thousands of Samlaut residents were brutally killed in the government crackdowns. Many people fled to a near by mountain called Phnom Vay Chap and set up a guerrilla base to oppose the government. Khmer Rouge leaders later claimed that the Samlaut Uprising was the cornerstone of their peasant revolution that brought them to powers in 1975.

Samlaut Uprising might be repeated as peasants faced land confiscations

Samlaut residents showing Radio Free Asia reporter the lands in dispute.

Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization

Sources from Samlaut on 30th July said that many Samluat peasants in western parts of Battambang province are facing losing thousands of hectares of their lands to a private development company.

Sources said a private company, Rath Sambath, is planning to develop on 5,200 hectares of farm lands the peasants claimed they owned since the Khmer Rouge still control the areas in the 1980s and 1990s.
One peasant said: "At that time, Cambodia was still at civil war, we have not achieved peace yet. But after 1993, after the peace talks (between the government and the Khmer Rouge), we came to clear the lands, some were killed, some have their limbs blown off (by landmines) in these areas."

According to the map of the Rath Sambath concessionaires, it was indicated that in 2002 the 5,200 hectares of lands were areas covered with thick forests. But according to the on-the-spot survey report, the concessionaires had covered 946 hectares of lands owned by peasants from 200 families in three communes.

A human rights investigator from the human rights group Adhoc, who investigated the case on the ground, said: "First, there must be a re-evaluation of the areas. Secondly, we appeal to the company not call any more meetings to intimidate (to coerce people to accept the comapnay's terms). Thirdly, I notice that the concession agreements (with the governent) are surrounded with secrecy, especially in regard to the documentations."

Radio Free Asia is unable to seek comments from provincial officials or representatives from Rath Sambath company.

Many analysts are of the view that this land dispute might lead to a repeat of the Samlaut Uprising when the Samlaut peasants launched a peasant rebellion in 1967 after provincial and government officials forcibly confiscated their lands. Thousands of Samlaut residents were brutally killed in the government crackdowns. Many people fled to a near by mountain called Phnom Vay Chap and set up a guerrilla base to oppose the government. Khmer Rouge leaders later claimed that the Samlaut Uprising was the cornerstone of their peasant revolution that brought them to powers in 1975.

Samlaut Uprising might be repeated as peasants faced land confiscations

Samlaut residents showing Radio Free Asia reporter the lands in dispute.

Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization

Sources from Samlaut on 30th July said that many Samluat peasants in western parts of Battambang province are facing losing thousands of hectares of their lands to a private development company.

Sources said a private company, Rath Sambath, is planning to develop on 5,200 hectares of farm lands the peasants claimed they owned since the Khmer Rouge still control the areas in the 1980s and 1990s.
One peasant said: "At that time, Cambodia was still at civil war, we have not achieved peace yet. But after 1993, after the peace talks (between the government and the Khmer Rouge), we came to clear the lands, some were killed, some have their limbs blown off (by landmines) in these areas."

According to the map of the Rath Sambath concessionaires, it was indicated that in 2002 the 5,200 hectares of lands were areas covered with thick forests. But according to the on-the-spot survey report, the concessionaires had covered 946 hectares of lands owned by peasants from 200 families in three communes.

A human rights investigator from the human rights group Adhoc, who investigated the case on the ground, said: "First, there must be a re-evaluation of the areas. Secondly, we appeal to the company not call any more meetings to intimidate (to coerce people to accept the comapnay's terms). Thirdly, I notice that the concession agreements (with the governent) are surrounded with secrecy, especially in regard to the documentations."

Radio Free Asia is unable to seek comments from provincial officials or representatives from Rath Sambath company.

Many analysts are of the view that this land dispute might lead to a repeat of the Samlaut Uprising when the Samlaut peasants launched a peasant rebellion in 1967 after provincial and government officials forcibly confiscated their lands. Thousands of Samlaut residents were brutally killed in the government crackdowns. Many people fled to a near by mountain called Phnom Vay Chap and set up a guerrilla base to oppose the government. Khmer Rouge leaders later claimed that the Samlaut Uprising was the cornerstone of their peasant revolution that brought them to powers in 1975.