Fresh News and the Future of the Fourth Estate in Cambodia

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Leadership Skills

Posted in Culture, Economics, Education, Leadership, Politics, Researches, Social

OP-ED: CODASTORY, AUTHORITARIAN TECH

“The slow eradication of the fourth estate by Hun Sen has left a cabal of state-owned, state-run and state-influenced media outlets. Fresh News is a symptom of that environment. ដំណើរកំចាត់យ៉ាងយឺតៗនៃអំណាចទី៤ដោយលោកហ៊ុន-សែនបានរុញច្រានស្ងាត់ៗនូវបណ្តុំពត៌មានអោយទៅជាកម្មសិទ្ធិរបស់រដ្ឋ ចាត់ចែងដោយរដ្ឋ និងរដ្ឋមានឥទ្ធិពលពីលើ។ ហ្វ្រេសនូសគឺជារោគសញ្ញាផុសឡើងក្នុងបរិដ្ឋាននោះ”

Fresh News and the Future of the Fourth Estate in Cambodia

In the Cambodian government’s ongoing war on the media, a website called Fresh News has become one of the country’s most useful sources of political misinformation and propaganda

TEXT BY ANDREW NACHEMSON
VISUALS BY THOMAS CRISTOFOLETTI
22 FEBRUARY, 2019

When leading Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested shortly after midnight in September 2017, most media outlets were taken by surprise. Only Fresh News, a digital news provider with close ties to the government, was on hand to livestream the chaotic scenes which saw Sokha arrested at his home in an operation involving 100 armed police officers.

The arrest marked the culmination of a months-long smear campaign by Fresh News against Sokha, president of the now dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Fresh News had linked Sokha to an American-backed conspiracy to overthrow prime minister Hun Sen’s Cambodia People’s Party, which has led the country for more than three decades.

After Sokha was arrested, Fresh News continued its critical coverage with articles like “Why was Kem Sokha arrested? Listen to his confession of treason!” The story contained a link to a 2013 video of Sokha thanking the US for political support and detailing strategies for democratic change. The government claimed Sokha’s comments qualified as a “red-handed” crime, allowing Sokha to be stripped of his parliamentary immunity.

The rise to prominence of Fresh News as a key player in Cambodia’s authoritarian landscape has arrived amidst an unprecedented crackdown on free press and civil society which has reduced the country’s once-robust media to rubble. The fiercely critical Cambodia Daily was shut down in 2017 over a disputed tax bill, publishing its final edition the day of Sokha’s arrest.

Then, last year, Cambodia’s oldest independent newspaper—the Phnom Penh Post—was bought by new owners with close ties to the government, who have enforced strict censorship guidelines. A slew of independent radio stations have also been shuttered, silencing crucial voices and forcing Radio Free Asia to abandon its operations in the country.

The government’s appreciation of the kind of journalism practiced by Fresh News appears to be considerable—Hun Sen has compared Fresh News to news organizations like Reuters.

Throughout the crackdown on traditional media, the digital-first Fresh News has become one of Hun Sen’s most useful instruments with an outsized influence over political misinformation and propaganda. Launched in 2014 with 20 journalists and described as a “bludgeon” by then-independent newspaper the Phnom Penh Post, Fresh News is now the country’s third most visited local site and has led the war against critics of the Cambodian government by spreading unfounded conspiracy theories, leaking private phone calls between opposition politicians, and even helping to give shape to anti-democratic policies.

The media organization, which now employs 200 people across its online, television, radio, Facebook and YouTube platforms, is regularly granted exclusive interviews with high-ranking government officials, including Hun Sen, who almost never give interviews to other outlets. In Khmer, English, and Chinese, Fresh News has become the state’s third arm in an ongoing campaign of media repression.

The government’s appreciation of the kind of journalism practiced by Fresh News appears to be considerable—Hun Sen has compared Fresh News to news organizations like Reuters. “Fresh News now is not only being watched in the country but also abroad, and we also have a quick information system that is no worse than AFP, UPI, AP or Reuters,” he said in a speech in September 2017, days after Sokha’s arrest.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan told the Phnom Penh Post that Fresh News is “a space for the government to share the news”, and said that the platform receives its information directly from government sources.

The success of Fresh News can also be viewed in the light of criticism of investigative journalism in a number of other countries across the world. Just as President Donald Trump has described CNN as “fake news” while giving access to broadcasters like Fox News, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called news website Rappler Inc. a “fake news outlet”, Hun Sen has asked local and international journalists to tackle “fake news” under the pretext of preserving national security. “Even the countries that claim to respect freedom of speech are concerned about cybercrimes,” he said recently. “Some countries which are regarded as [fathers of democracy] have laws to prevent and punish fake news [perpetrators].”

Exclusives and Leaks

Pro-government since its launch, Fresh News took on a more active role in the summer of 2017, seemingly anticipating or even precipitating the government’s shift towards authoritarianism. Prior to Sokha’s arrest, the government shut down the National Democratic Institute, a US-funded pro-democracy organization that Fresh News claimed was also part of the plot to initiate a “color revolution” to topple the government like those in Eastern Europe and the Arab Spring. NDI was closed and its three foreign staff expelled, a decision that the government justified with materials leaked to Fresh News.

In January, three high-profile Cambodian activists were charged with “breach of trust” in a case widely seen as politically motivated. The men first found out about the charges against them when the court documents were published on Fresh News.

The documents originated from a meeting between NDI and the CNRP during which the groups discussed election campaign strategies. In its defense, NDI claimed they held similar training sessions with multiple parties, including Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Further evidence of Fresh News’s close ties with the government emerged when the platform released photographs of all three foreign NDI staff, taken during their exit from Cambodia at Phnom Penh International Airport. USAID released a statement condemning the “deeply disappointing” decision, while a number of US Senators, including John McCain, also denounced the move.

The document leak was part of a pattern. In contrast to other Cambodian media, Fresh News benefits from exclusive and regular access to government documents, including court summonses and arrest warrants which are made available to the public on the platform. In January, three high-profile Cambodian activists were charged with “breach of trust” in a case widely seen as politically motivated. The men first found out about the charges against them when the court documents were published on Fresh News.

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Cambodia has slip to the bottom of world justice index

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Leadership Skills

Posted in Culture, Economics, Education, Leadership, Politics, Researches, Social

គំរោងយុត្តិធម៌ពិភពលោកបានរកឃើញចំណាត់ថ្នាក់យុត្តិធម៌និងនីតិរដ្ឋរបស់កម្ពុជាធ្លាក់ចុះខ្លាំងឆ្នាំ២០១៨គឺ១១២ក្នុងចំណោមប្រទេសទាំង១១៣។ ប្រទេសវេណេស៊ូអេឡាធ្លាក់ទាបបំផុតគឺ១១៣នៅពេលដែលកម្ពុជាបានត្រឹមវាយលុកយកឯកទកម្មទីពីរទាបបំផុតបន្ទាប់ពីប្រទេសវេណេស៊ូអេឡា។ ក្នុងចំណោមសុចនាករទាំងនោះ យុត្តិធម៌សុីវិល(civil justice)គឺមានកំរិតទាបបំផុត។

Cambodia

Op-Ed and Original Source for Reference: Key Page, PDF File, Interactive Page

Region: East Asia & Pacific
Income Group: Lower Middle

Overall Score	Regional Rank	Income Rank	Global Rank
0.32	15/15	30/30	112/113

Score Change	Rank Change
0.00

Factor Trend	Factor Score	Regional Rank	Income Rank	Global Rank
	Constraints on Government Powers		0.32	15/15	30/30	110/113
	Absence of Corruption		0.25	15/15	30/30	113/113
	Open Government		0.23	15/15	30/30	113/113
	Fundamental Rights		0.38	13/15	27/30	104/113
	Order and Security		0.66	14/15	18/30	81/113
	Regulatory Enforcement		0.27	15/15	30/30	112/113
	Civil Justice		0.20	15/15	30/30	113/113
	Criminal Justice		0.27	15/15	28/30	110/113

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2017-2018 Score

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2016 Score

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Cambodia

Country

East Asia & Pacific

Country

Lower Middle

Constraints on Government Powers
1.1	Limits by legislature	0.41
1.2	Limits by judiciary	0.25
1.3	Independent auditing	0.23
1.4	Sanctions for official misconduct	0.30
1.5	Non-governmental checks	0.33
1.6	Lawful transition of power	0.39

Absence of Corruption
2.1	In the executive branch	0.28
2.2	In the judiciary	0.15
2.3	In the police/military	0.25
2.4	In the legislature	0.31

Open Government
3.1	Publicized laws & gov’t data	0.20
3.2	Right to information	0.20
3.3	Civic participation	0.35
3.4	Complaint mechanisms	0.17

Fundamental Rights
4.1	No discrimination	0.39
4.2	Right to life & security	0.33
4.3	Due process of law	0.29
4.4	Freedom of expression	0.33
4.5	Freedom of religion	0.51
4.6	Right to privacy	0.29
4.7	Freedom of association	0.45
4.8	Labor rights	0.44

Order and Security
5.1	Absence of crime	0.81
5.2	Absence of civil conflict	1.00
5.3	Absence of violent redress	0.17

Regulatory Enforcement
6.1	Effective regulatory enforcement	0.25
6.2	No improper influence	0.21
6.3	No unreasonable delay	0.47
6.4	Respect for due process	0.15
6.5	No expropriation w/out adequate compensation	0.26

Civil Justice
7.1	Accessibility & affordability	0.30
7.2	No discrimination	0.22
7.3	No corruption	0.11
7.4	No improper gov’t influence	0.17
7.5	No unreasonable delay	0.17
7.6	Effective enforcement	0.07
7.7	Impartial & effective ADRs	0.35

Criminal Justice
8.1	Effective investigations	0.35
8.2	Timely & effective adjudication	0.38
8.3	Effective correctional system	0.24
8.4	No discrimination	0.24
8.5	No corruption	0.18
8.6	No improper gov’t influence	0.20
8.7	Due process of law	0.29

ភាពឯកោរបស់ហ៊ុនសែន បុណ្យមាឃបូជានិងការចាប់ផ្សឹកព្រះសង្ឃហោ សុខុន

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Leadership Skills

Posted in Researches

សប្តាហ៍នេះជាដើមខែនៃបុណ្យមាឃបូជា ជាបុណ្យសំខាន់សម្រាប់អ្នកកាន់ព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា។ មាឃបូជាត្រូវបានពុទ្ធបរិស័ទចាត់ទុកថាជាថ្ងៃបុណ្យរំលឹកដល់ព្រះធម៍នៅពេលដែលវិសាខបូជារំលឹកដល់ព្រះពុទ្ធ និងអាសាឍបូជារំលឹកដល់ព្រះសង្ឃ។

តែអ្វីដែលធ្វើអោយពុទ្ធបរិស័ទទូទាំងប្រទេសនិងជុំវិញពិភពលោកភ្ញាក់ផ្អើលនៅពេលនេះគឺការចាប់ផ្សឹកព្រះតេជគុណហោ-សុខុនទាំងយប់អាធ្រាតថ្ងៃទី១៣ខែកុម្ភៈឆ្នាំ២០១៩នេះនៅវត្តបទុមវតី រាជធានីភ្នំពេញ។ សូមបញ្ជាក់ថាព្រះតេជគុណហោ-សុខុនជាព្រះចៅអធិការវត្តច្បារអំពៅមានទស្សនទានព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនាផ្សាភ្ជាប់សង្គមដ៏ខ្លាំងក្លា ហើយរមែងកោតសរសើរមន្ត្រីជាច្រើនក្នុងជួររដ្ឋាភិបាលមានលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីហ៊ុន-សែនជាដើម។ ជាពិសេសជាងនេះទៅទៀតនោះ ព្រះសង្ឃអង្គនេះហ៊ានចេញមុខតវ៉ានិងប្តឹងលោកខឹម-វាសនា មេដឹកនាំបក្សសម្ព័ន្ធដើម្បីលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យដែលរមែងប្រើវោហាសាស្ត្រអសុរសវាយប្រហារប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ ព្រះសង្ឃ និងប្រទេសជាតិខ្លួនឯង តែរមែងគេចផុតពីសំណាញ់ច្បាប់។

សារចុងក្រោយដែលអាចនាំទៅរកការចាប់ផ្សឹកនេះគឺការដែលព្រះតេជគុណហោ-សុខុនអានអត្ថបទឡាយតាមហ្វេសប៊ុកសរសើរដល់លោកស-ខេងប្រៀបប្រដូចទៅនឹងផ្កាយសំណាងរបស់កម្ពុជាដែលអាចស្រោចស្រង់ប្រទេសជាតិពីវិបត្តិបច្ចុប្បន្ន។ អ្នកដែលទៅសួរនាំលោកដល់វត្តអំពីសុន្ទរកថានេះគឺលោកជា-សុផារ៉ានិងអភិបាលរាជធានីភ្នំពេញខួង-ស្រេងដែលគេស្គាល់ថាជាមនុស្សស្និទនឹងលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីហ៊ុន-សែន។

ការផ្សឹកព្រះសង្ឃហោ-សុខុនគឺប្រផ្នូលនៃការបែកបាក់ដែលមិនអាចផ្សះផ្សាវិញបាន

ជារឿយៗ លោកស-ខេងត្រូវបានមហាជនស្គាល់តាមរយៈភាពមុឺងម៉ាត់ក្នុងការគោរពច្បាប់និងមានចំណេះដឹងខ្ពស់ខាងដឹកនាំប្រទេសតាមនីតិរដ្ឋ ដែលផ្ទុយពីលោកហ៊ុន-សែនដែលរមែងបត់បែននិងជាន់ឈ្លីលើច្បាប់ក្នុងន័យរក្សាអំណាចក្នុងមោទនភាពនយោបាយឈ្នះៗរបស់ខ្លួន។ អ្នកទាំងពីរមានទស្សនៈដឹកនាំប្រទេសជាតិខុសគ្នាឆ្ងាយណាស់រាប់ចាប់តាំងពីលោកជា-សុីមមកម្លេះ។ មហាជនយល់ថាលោកស-ខេងប្រៀបបាននឹងទឹកត្រជាក់ដែលត្រីទាំងឡាយរមែងមកស្នាក់អាស្រ័យ។ ចំណែងលោកហ៊ុន-សែនប្រៀបបាននឹងភ្លើងដែលរមែងឆាបឆេះជារៀងរហូត។ ជាលទ្ធផល មកដល់ថ្ងៃនេះលោកស-ខេងប្រមូលបានអំណាចទន់និងប្រជាប្រីយភាពខ្ពស់ក្នុងជួរថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា នៅពេលដែលលោកហ៊ុន-សែនបានប្រឹងកៀរគរកំលាំងប្រដាប់អាវុធមកដាក់ខាងខ្លួនបានស្ទើទាំងស្រុងទាំងកំឡាំងយោធានិងប៉ូលីស។ លោកហ៊ុន-សែនមិនគ្រាន់តែស្ងប់ចិត្តជាមួយកំឡាំងប្រដាប់អាវុធ ទាំងកំឡាំងអង្គរក្សទាំង៦០០០ពាន់នាក់ដែលស្វាមីភក្តិចំពោះខ្លួននិងកំឡាំងយោធាជាតិដែលមានកូនច្បងរបស់ខ្លួនជាមេបញ្ជាការថ្មីថ្មោងនោះទេ លោកហ៊ុន-សែនបានប្រឹងកៀរគរច្បាមយកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាតិទាំងមូលមកដាក់ក្រោមចំណុះរបស់ខ្លួនផងដែរ។ តាមសារវីដេអូឃ្លឹបរបស់ព្រះសង្ឃហោ-សុខុន ព្រះអង្គសរសើរដល់គុណសម្បត្តិរបស់លោកស-ខេងចំៗតែម្តង ដែលជារឿយៗលោកស-ខេងមិនហ៊ានទទួលយកជាសាធារណៈទេ។ ការកោតសរសើរនេះកើតឡើងមិនប៉ុន្មានថ្ងៃក្រោយការលេចធ្លាយឯកសារអ្នកស្រឡាញ់ស្នេហាគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាវាយប្រហារខ្លាំងៗទៅលើលោកហ៊ុន-សែនដែលបានដឹកនាំប្រទេសកាន់តែផ្តាច់ការនិងគ្មានហេតុផលខ្លាំងឡើងៗក្នុងពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន។

Bhikkhu Ho Sokhon was forcefully disrobed in the night of Feb. 13, 2019

លោកហ៊ុន-សែនហាក់ដូចជាជឿក្នុងខ្លួនថាពេលណាខ្លួនក្តោបក្តាប់ទាំងស្រុងនូវកងកំឡាំងប្រដាប់អាវុធនិងសេដ្ឋកិច្ចបានគឺគ្មាននរណាផ្តួលរំលំលោកបានទេ!

ការសន្និដ្ឋានបែបនេះកើតឡើងនៅពេលដែលលោកហ៊ុន-សែនរើខ្លួនចេញរួចពីបាតុកម្មមហាជនរាប់លាននាក់ដឹកនាំដោយគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១៣ប្រឆាំងនឹងលទ្ធផលបោះឆ្នោត។ ពេលនោះលោកហ៊ុន-សែនរុញកូនអុកទៅក្នុងក្រឡា៥យ៉ាងគឺ

១. ប្រូម៉ូតខ្លួនឯងតាមបណ្តាញសង្គមហ្វេសប៊ុកដើម្បីយកប្រៀបលើសម-រង្សុី និងយល់ព្រមតាមសំណើររបស់គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិតាមចំណុចណាដែលខ្លួនបានប្រៀប។

២.ពង្រីកកំឡាំងអសន្តិសុខខ្លួនឯងដែលគាត់ហៅថាក្រុមបាតដៃទី៣ឬក្រុមប្រជាការពារដោយមានលោកហុឹង-ប៊ុនហៀងជាមេដឹកនាំក្នុងការដឹកនាំកំចាត់នៅក្រៅសំណាញ់ច្បាប់ទាំងក្រុមប្រឆាំងនិងក្រុមរដ្ឋាភិបាល។

៣. បង្កើនថាមពលនិងសព្វាវុធដល់ក្រុមអង្គរក្សផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន កំណែរទម្រង់កងយោធពលខេមរភូមិន្ទនិងប៉ូលីសដោយដាក់មនុស្សសំខាន់ៗដែលទុកចិត្តមានកូនៗនិងសាច់ញាតិជាដើម។

៤.្ ពង្រឹងនិងពង្រីកអំណាចក្រៅច្បាប់របស់ខ្លួនដើម្បីធ្វើអោយប្រាកដថាស្ថាប័នព្រះមហាក្សត្រ រដ្ឋសភា តុលាការ និងមន្ត្រីរាជការសុីវិលមានមនុស្សដែលស្មោះស្ម័គ្រខ្លួន ហើយពួកគេអាចធ្វើសកម្មភាពបានគ្រប់ពេលវេលាទាំងល្មើសច្បាប់ក៏អាចធ្វើបានដោយគ្មានទោសទណ្ឌ។

៥. ប្រគល់ដងខ្លួនមួយកំណាត់អោយទៅវៀតណាមនិងមួយកំណាត់ទៀតអោយទៅចិនដើម្បីអោយមានការគាំទ្រគំរោងបន្តអំណាចរបស់ខ្លួននិងការធ្វើសន្តតិវង្សមូបនីយកម្ម។

ជាលទ្ធផលលោកហ៊ុន-សែនធ្វើបានសម្រេចក្នុងរយៈពេល៣ឆ្នាំនេះដោយរំលាយគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិនិងដកបក្សដ៏ខ្លាំងក្លានេះចេញពីសៃវេណបោះឆ្នោតប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និងបោះឆ្នោតលែងសើចក្តោបក្តាប់យកកៅអីសភាទាំង១២៥មកកាន់កាប់។

ប៉ុន្តែផលកម្មនៃគំរោងអធម៍នេះបានរួមរឹតលោកហ៊ុន-សែនទៅវិញ៖

១. ក្លាយជារដ្ឋាភិបាលមិនស្របច្បាប់ឬខ្វះធម្មានុរូបពិតប្រាកដ

២. កាន់តែពង្រឹងកំឡាំងទ័ពនិងកំឡាំងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ក្រុមមេដឹកនាំគ្រាក់ៗនិងសមាជិកបក្សកាន់តែមានសមានចិត្តដល់លោកស-ខេង

៣. អុីយូ សហរដ្ឋអេមរិក អូស្ត្រាលី កាណាដា និងអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ នឹងមានវិធានការណ៌ខ្លាំងក្លាជាបន្តបន្ទាប់លើភាពឆ្គាំឆ្គងរបស់លោកហ៊ុន-សែន

៤. លោកត្រាំទៅជួបប្រជុំលោកគីម-ចុងអ៊ុននៅវៀតណាមខាងមុខនេះនឹងជាសញ្ញាថាវៀតណាមយកអាមេរិកជាបង្អែកក្នុងន័យធ្វើតុល្យភាពអំណាចជាមួយចិនក៏ដូចជាអាចនឹងប្រគល់ដងខ្លួនមួយចំហៀងនោះអោយមកហ៊ុន-សែនវិញ។ និង

៥. ពេលបច្ចឹមប្រទេសផ្តាច់កិច្ចអនុគ្រោះពន្ធពីកម្ពុជា ចិនជាអ្នកបាត់បងចំណូលច្រើនជាងគេពីព្រោះរោងចក្រកាត់ដេរជាង៦០០នៅកម្ពុជា ចិនជាអ្នកផ្គត់ផ្គង់វត្ថុធាតុដើម ហើយម្ចាស់រោងចក្រភាគច្រើនគឺជាជនជាតិចិន។

ហ៊ុន-សែននឹងក្លាយជាជនឯកាបន្តិចម្តងៗ មិនខុសពីភ្លើងបើឆេះសន្ធរសន្ធៅនៅកន្លែងណា មហាជននាំគ្នារត់ចេញពីកន្លែងនោះ។

ការផ្សឹកព្រះសង្ឃហោ-សុខុនគឺជាការជាន់ឈ្លីព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនាដែលអាចនាំទៅរកការមួរម៉ៅក្តៅក្រហាយដល់ពុទ្ធសាសនិកជនខ្មែរ

ព្រះសង្ឃដែលមានអបត្តិបរាជិក៤ ទើបអាចផ្សឹកបាន។ ព្រះសង្ឃហោ-សុខុនដែលជាអ្នកគាំទ្រគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាយ៉ាងប្តូរផ្តាច់ ព្រះអង្គគ្រាន់តែទេសនាវែកញែកតាមរយៈការច្របាច់បញ្ចូលគ្នារវាងធម៍និងសង្គម ឬគ្រាន់តែជាការសរសើរនិងនិន្ទាតាមទស្សនគតិផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន មិនអាចខុសវិន័យរហូតដល់មានការចាប់ផ្សឹកនោះទេ។ ប្រការនេះជាការជាន់ឈ្លឺព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនាយ៉ាងកំរោល។ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមានវត្តប្រហែលជាង៤០០០វត្ត និងមានព្រះសង្ឃប្រហែលជាង៦០០០០អង្គ។ ក្នុងចំណោមប្រជាពលរដ្ឋជាង១៥លាននាក់ ៩៨ភាគរយជាអ្នកជឿនិងប្រតិបត្តិព្រះពុទ្ធសាសនា។

ការប្រកាសវិលត្រឡប់ចូលកម្ពុជាវិញរបស់លោកសម-រង្សុីធ្វើអោយហ៊ុន-សែនឆ្លេរឆ្លារកាន់តែខ្លាំងឡើងៗ

ក្នុងវ័យជរានិងមានជំងឺប្រចាំរាងកាយទៀត លោកហ៊ុន-សែនកំពុងប្រឈមបញ្ហាសព្វបែបយ៉ាង ទាំងផ្ទៃក្នុងបក្ស ទាំងការបាត់បង់សំលេងគាំទ្រពីប្រជាជននិងអន្តរជាតិ និងការត្រឡប់មកប្រទេសកម្ពុជាវិញរបស់លោកសម-រង្សុី។ ត្រូវកត់ចំណាំថាគំរោងវិលត្រឡប់មកប្រទេសវិញរបស់លោកសម-រង្សុីនឹងអាចមិនខុសគ្នាពីការប្រកាសជាប្រធានាធិបតីស្តីទីរបស់លោកជួន កៃដូ នៃប្រទេសវេណាស៊ូអេឡាទេ។ លោកសម-សង្សុីនឹងត្រូវប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមកទទួលស្វាគមន៍រាប់លាននាក់ដូចកំឡុងឆ្នាំង២០១៣ អន្តរជាតិជាពិសេសប្រទេសលោកសេរីនិងអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិមិនអាចមិនអើរពើរ នឹងអមដំណើរលោកសម-រង្សុីនិងគណៈប្រតិភូរបស់គាត់ផងដែរ។

Greeting crowd to welcome Sam Rainsy from abroad lining up from Airport to Phnom Penh city: this photo is at the Cabinet of Minister or House of PM Hun Sen in that Time.

Cambodia: EU launches procedure to temporarily suspend trade preferences

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Leadership Skills

Posted in Researches

Op-Ed: European Commission – Press release

Comment: នីតិវិធីដកកិច្ចអនុគ្រោះពន្ធEBAនេះគឺចាប់ផ្តើមមានឥទ្ធិពលតាំងពីសារព្រមានដំបូងរបស់លោកស្រីម៉ាលស្ត្រមម្លេះពីព្រោះជាចិត្តសាស្ត្រពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ពាណិជ្ជករមានការអល់អែកក្នុងការបន្តាក់ទុននិងពង្រីកទុនរបស់ខ្លួននៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជារួចទៅហើយ។ ពាក្យពេជ្រតំណាងអោយសហគមអុឺរ៉ុបគឺអាចយកជាការបាននិងមិនមែនជាប្រជាភិថុតិដូចទំលាប់មេដឹកនាំខ្មែរបានធ្វើកន្លងមកនោះទេ។ ពាណិជ្ជករមានភាពមុឺងម៉ាត់ណាស់ចំពោះបញ្ហានេះ។ អ្វីដែលអាភ័ព្វនោះគឺលោកហ៊ុន-សែនដែលបានធ្វើនយោបាយប្រជាសាកលនិយមឬប្រជាភិថុតិជាមួយកម្មករកន្លងមក កំពុងរុញច្រានអោយកម្មករកាត់ដេរខ្មែរជិតមួយលាននាក់ធ្លាក់ខ្លួនក្រដើម្បីដោះដូរជាមួយនឹងការរក្សាអំណាចរបស់បុរសខ្លាំងកម្ពុជាតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ជាការកត់សំគាល់ លោកហ៊ុន-សែនកំពុងតែស្ថិតនៅឯកោឯកាម្នាក់ឯងបន្តិចម្តងៗ។ គាត់ឯកោឯកាពីសមាជិកអ្នកស្រឡាញ់ជាតិពិតប្រាកដក្នុងជួរគណបក្សរបស់គាត់ គាត់ឯកោឯកាពីសហគមអន្តរជាតិមានសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកជាដើម គាត់ឯកោឯកាពីប្រទេសជិតខាងរបស់កម្ពុជាមានថៃនិងវៀតណាមក៏ដូចជាសមាគមអាស៊ានជាដើម។ល។និង។ល។

Cambodia: EU launches procedure to temporarily suspend trade preferences

Brussels, 11 February 2019

The EU has today started the process that could lead to the temporary suspension of Cambodia’s preferential access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade scheme. EBA preferences can be removed if beneficiary countries fail to respect core human rights and labour rights.

Courtesy: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/cambodia/

Launching the temporary withdrawal procedure does not entail an immediate removal of tariff preferences, which would be the option of last resort. Instead, it kicks off a period of intensive monitoring and engagement. The aim of the Commission’s action remains to improve the situation for the people on the ground.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini said: “Over the last eighteen months, we have seen the deterioration of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia. In February 2018, the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers made clear how seriously the EU views these developments. In recent months, the Cambodian authorities have taken a number of positive steps, including the release of political figures, civil society activists and journalists and addressing some of the restrictions on civil society and trade union activities.However, without more conclusive action from the government, the situation on the ground calls Cambodia’s participation in the EBA scheme into question. As the European Union, we are committed to a partnership with Cambodia that delivers for the Cambodian people. Our support for democracy and human rights in the country is at the heart of this partnership.”

EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: “It should be clear that today’s move is neither a final decision nor the end of the process. But the clock is now officially ticking and we need to see real action soon. We now go into a monitoring and evaluation process in which we are ready to engage fully with the Cambodian authorities and work with them to find a way forward. When we say that the EU’s trade policy is based on values, these are not just empty words. We are proud to be one of the world’s most open markets for least developed countries and the evidence shows that exporting to the EU Single Market can give a huge boost to their economies. Nevertheless, in return we ask that these countries respect certain core principles. Our engagement with the situation in Cambodia has led us to conclude that there are severe deficiencies when it comes to human rights and labour rights in Cambodia that the government needs to tackle if it wants to keep its country’s privileged access to our market.”

Following a period of enhanced engagement, including a fact-finding mission to Cambodia in July 2018 and subsequent bilateral meetings at the highest level, the Commission has concluded that there is evidence of serious and systematic violations of core human rights and labour rights in Cambodia, in particular of the rights to political participation as well as of the freedoms of assembly, expression and association. These findings add to the longstanding EU concerns about the lack of workers’ rights and disputes linked to economic land concessions in the country.

Today’s decision will be published in the EU Official Journal on 12 February, kicking off a process that aims to arrive at a situation in which Cambodia is in line with its obligations under the core UN and ILO Conventions:

– a six-month period of intensive monitoring and engagement with the Cambodian authorities;

– followed by another three-month period for the EU to produce a report based on the findings;

– after a total of twelve months, the Commission will conclude the procedure with a final decision on whether or not to withdraw tariff preferences; it is also at this stage that the Commission will decide the scope and duration of the withdrawal. Any withdrawal would come into effect after a further six-month period.

High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioner Malmström launched the internal process to initiate this procedure on 4 October 2018. Member States gave their approval to the Commission proposal to launch the withdrawal procedure at the end of January 2019.

Background

The Everything But Arms arrangement is one arm of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which allows vulnerable developing countries to pay fewer or no duties on exports to the EU, giving them vital access to the EU market and contributing to their growth. The EBA scheme unilaterally grants duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union for all products (except arms and ammunition) for the world’s Least Developed Countries, as defined by the United Nations. The GSP Regulation provides that trade preferences may be suspended in case of “serious and systematic violation of principles” laid down in the human rights and labour rights Conventions listed in Annex VIII of the Regulation.

Exports of textiles and footwear, prepared foodstuffs and vegetable products (rice) and bicycles represented 97% of Cambodia’s overall exports to the EU in 2018. Out of the total exports of € 4.9bn, 99% (€ 4.8bn) were eligible to EBA preferential duties.

For More Information

MEMO: EU triggers procedure to temporarily suspend trade preferences for Cambodia

Trade relations with Cambodia

Generalised Scheme of Preferences

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EU starts process to hit Cambodia with trade sanctions

Op-Ed: Reuters

BRUSSELS, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The European Union started on Monday an 18-month process to end Cambodia’s preferential trade access to the bloc over its record on human and labour rights and democracy.

The European Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the 28-member EU, said that its decision would be published in the EU official journal on Feb. 12, triggering a countdown that would run until August 2020.

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