Former Khmer Rouge prison commander, Kaing Guek Eav (C), sits in the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Feb. 17, 2009.

Will the long-awaited trial of Khmer Rouge leaders ease Cambodians' trauma, or stir painful memories?

PHNOM PENH—A Cambodian psychiatrist has testified at the trial of a confessed Khmer Rouge torturer that up to 40 percent of Cambodians suffer psychological trouble as a result of the faction’s brutal four-year rule.
“According to research conducted after the Khmer Rouge period, two out of five Cambodians have [suffered] mental problems and psychosocial crises. This figure is high—up to 40 percent” of the population, Chhim Sotheara said.
Studies this year also found that some 14 percent of Cambodians aged 18 and older have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chhim Sotheara testified at the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, who commanded a Khmer Rouge torture center when the group was in power from 1975-79.
“During the Khmer Rouge regime, people were trained not to trust each other. This has continued among Cambodians today,” said Chhim Sotheara, of the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization, which promotes community mental health programs,
He added that Duch’s trial offers a chance for Khmer Rouge victims to heal through the administration of justice.
Painful memoriesThe Journal of the American Medical Association this month published new research by experts at the University of North Carolina that found most Cambodians feared the tribunal would stir up painful memories.
Those who most wanted revenge were also likely to suffer PTSD, they wrote.
Some 87.2 percent of Cambodians 35 or older believed trying Khmer Rouge leaders would stir painful memories, they found, adding, "Now that the trials have begun, longitudinal research is needed to determine the impact of the trials on Cambodians' mental health."
Duch is the first of five senior Khmer Rouge figures scheduled to face long-delayed trials and the only one to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. His trial, which started in March, is expected to finish before the end of the year.
He could face life imprisonment. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Original reporting by Leng Maly for RFA’s Khmer service. Translated by Sothea Thai. Khmer service director: Sos Kem. Executive producer: Susan Lavery. Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.
Copyright © 1998-2009 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.

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Phnom Penh has a grace and beauty not found in other Asian capitals. This vibrant Cambodian city has a rich and varied French Colonial heritage including villas, churches and boulevards.
Between the granting of independence and the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, a new golden era of architecture emerged, driven by French-educated Khmer architects. This was characterised by a fusion of Bauhaus, European post-modern architecture, and traditional elements from Angkor.

Fortunately enlightened developers are preserving and refurbishing these timeless buildings to offer a mix of heritage, modernity and sumptuous amenity.


DSR Asset Management Ltd have a new release of 1 - 2 bedroom apartments for sale in French Colonial Phnom Penh competitively priced from £29,000 - £90,000. The refurbishment has been carried out to very high standard.

David Redfern of DSR said “After a little over a year of developing these units in Phnom Penh, we are very relaxed that at each interval demand has easily outstripped supply - both in terms of the sales and rentals.”

Phnom Penh is serviced by a modern international airport, and the city is experiencing massive growth as it is being discovered by a wider global audience.

The apartments can be fully-managed to produce hassle-free income from letting and there is a queue of customers for flats like these.

”All of the units developed so far are tenanted, and the developer and management company have a waiting list of expats ready to rent those that will be completed and hitting the rental market this quarter.

This is a great position to be in and demonstrates that the market is very hungry for high quality, stylish, well located accommodation like French Colonial,” said David

In the sought after riverside French Quarter demand for property of this type far exceeds supply and capital growth is running at an astonishing 17-20% per annum.

For more infomation on Property Cambodia and other overseas property investments

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Gap year travellers in Cambodia and Thailand may welcome the news that the troops of the former country have partially pulled back from a conflict area along the country’s border, reports Reuters.

The cause of the dispute is the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which both countries have attempted to lay claim to over the years.

Fresh break outs of fighting over the last year have claimed seven lives in the area and prompted the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office to advise against British nationals visiting it.

However, the new developments have been described by General Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Cambodia’s armed forces, as a step in the right direction.

The news provider quotes him as saying: "This shows the positive position of Cambodia, that we want to live in peace, and is something the two nations will benefit from."

Border issues have been on the Cambodian agenda of late – it was announced earlier this month that more points of entry would be opened between the country and its eastern neighbour Vietnam.

From: http://www.i-to-i.com

With an aim to keep good social order in the Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh Municipality has advised relevant authorities to crack down and trace both male and female Cambodian gangsters including those are under 16 years of age.

Touch Narouth, chief of Phnom Penh Police said on Thursday that until recently, his authorities had arrested more than 200 young Cambodian gangsters and they were educated before being released.

In a meeting held Wednesday, the Governor Kep Chutema, advised all local competent authorities including the police and the court in Phnom Penh to help curb with gangsters so as to reduce the social disorder and to avoid their disturbance to all residents in the capital.

He said Phnom Penh must be a safe and clean place for both local and foreigners as it is the heart of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Among the new orders, he also stressed that young girl who is under 16 years old must be banned from entering into night clubs, karoke, bars, guest houses or hotels after 8 p.m., especially to those who are not accompanied by their parents.

According to Kep Chutema, most of the young Cambodian gangsters are the children of the powerful and rich people.

In June this year, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a directive asking his relevant authorities across the nation to warm up their efforts and prevention against the juvenile groups who are involved in public disturbances and drug use.

Keat Chantharith, spokesman of the National Police said the police has recorded the name list of about 7,000 delinquents around the country and each or in group of the individuals are being targeted. 　

Source: Xinhua

PHNOM PENH, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Cambodia began a partial withdrawal of troops from its disputed border with Thailand on Thursday, a move likely to ease tensions between the two over a 900-year-old Hindu temple.

"This shows the positive position of Cambodia, that we want to live in peace, and is something the two nations will benefit from," said General Chea Dara, deputy commander in chief of Cambodia's armed forces.

"At the same time, we still have enough troops to defend our own territory," he told Reuters by telephone from the border.

The regional commander on the Thai side of the border said there were no plans to follow suit.

"There will be no withdrawal from this side," Major-General Chawalit Chunprasan told Reuters.

The Preah Vihear temple, which is perched on an escarpment that forms a natural border between the two Southeast Asian neighbours, has for decades been a source of tension and nationalist fervour.

The two countries have been embroiled in a series of standoffs over the temple in the past year, resulting in border skirmishes that claimed the lives of seven troops.

Thailand is challenging a United Nations decision to make the temple a world heritage site under Cambodia's sole jurisdiction.

Cambodia was awarded Preah Vihear in a 1962 international court ruling, but the court did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the ruins.

Thailand wants joint development and supervision of the temple, which could one day become a lucrative tourist site.

The two countries are also in dispute over parts of the Gulf of Thailand, where oil and gas deposits have been found.

Military representatives from both sides agreed on Monday to exercise restraint at the border. The Cambodian pull-back is due to end on Sunday.

(For a Q+A on the Preah Vihear temple dispute, click [ID:nBKK227352]). (Reporting by Ek Madra in Phnom Penh and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok; Editing by Martin Petty)


From: http://www.reuters.com