A Too Many "Play Safe Game"

Both parties have also confirmed they will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly on September 24, but would join the Assembly the following day

Original and full story by Phnom Penh Post - Opposition-takes-vote-fight-abroad

What's a fascinate and careful planned strategy!

By accepting to take oath on the 25 September 2008 is to recognize the results of election so far then why bother to engineer the "Play Safe Game".

Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mr. Kem Sokha and elected members of SRP and HRP will proceed with their boycott of the swearing-in of the new National Assembly scheduled for 24 September 2008.

At the same time, to step up their opposition to the results of this year's election, Mr. Sam Rainsy and Mr. Kem Sokha decided to jet out last Wednesday on a crusade mission tour of Europe and USA in high hope to convince the foreigners [ I believe that foreigners will not sell themselves to the CPP if we take clear documents to show them] not to sell themselves to the CPP who is accused by SRP and HRP to engineer its landslide victory through the manipulation of voter lists prior to the July 27 poll.

On 2 September 2008, Mr. Sam Rainsy sent a letter to HRH King Norodom Sihamoni - informed his Majesty of his intention that his 26 delegates will refuse to take oath at the same time as the CPP elected representatives scheduled for 24 September 2008, however, want to take oath on the day after the parliamentary opening session [25 September 2008].

At the same time, Mr. Sam Rainsy has another plan on his sleeve, should the case refuse by his Majesty, Mr. Sam Rainsy and his delegates will go to a sacred place in front of the Royal Palace.

Here how this so called "play Safe Game" is being played at this very moment:-

1] Lobby the international community particular those who are signatories of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, is a prime and utmost motive for both Mr. Rainsy and Sokha's trip to Europe and USA, who are obliged under the agreement to assist Cambodia in election process and ensure that it shall be free and fair.

2] Mr. Sam Rainsy is well aware that his crusade would be an uphill battle due to the fact that EU has stated all along that election is failed short of key international standards and it's up to Cambodians whether or not to accept the results.

3] Mr. Sam Rainsy letter to HRH King Norodom Sihamoni is just to be on safe side than sorry should the crusade mission fail.

4] If His Majesty agreed upon Mr. Sam Rainsy's request [take oath the day after National Assembly's 1st session] then he has something to fall onto.

Politic shall not all about play safe game than feel sorry and put their supporters and followers in any kind of awkward position.

Politicians do really speak people's languages - the kind of languages that they think people want to hear but not necessarily reflect or match the great expectations of people who empowered the party want to see.

In the naked eye of million plus people who voted for the party [SRP & HRP], the dead-lock so far seemed to be a serious affairs Cambodia cannot tolerate any longer and desperately need to change for a better and greater democratic and transparent society but deep down it is a case of manipulation in which the followers and supporters of the party failed to see through.

By stepping their opposition to the results of this year's election is to show their supporters and followers, as well as Cambodia people; that SRP and HRP are deadly serious about any type of engineered manipulation for a landslide victory. This [action], of course; is indeed a good deed and in line with democratic principle.

By accepting to take oath on 25 September 2008, the day after the new National Assembly opening session, is said so far to recognize the election results however party is chosen to keep to themselves and not wanting to disclose to their followers and supporters. This [action] is nothing more than the party psychological and egoist game in getting the followers and supporters rally behind the party for now and hope that soon enough people will forget about it.

Word best describe for this particular scenario

What SRP & HRP Talk In Public and Do Behind The Closed Door Is Two Completely Different Affairs

UN Expert Arrives As US Announces It Might Fund The ECCC

Courtesy of Phnom Penh Post
Written by Georgia Wilkins
Wednesday, 27 August 2008

David Tolbert is back in Cambodia, keeping an eye on the Extraordinary Chambers as the US mulls money for the financially troubled court

SPECIAL EXPERT
In April, the UN appointed American lawyer David Tolbert, former deputy prosecutor at the war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia, as “special expert” to the UN secretary general about the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). THE UN's financial expert to the Khmer Rouge tribunal has arrived in Cambodia on what UN officials are calling a "private" visit to meet with donors and ramp up fundraising efforts for the ECCC.

Tolbert, whose previous visits have been to boost donor confidence in the wake of mismanagement claims, began work Monday and is expected to stay a week, UN spokesman Peter Foster said.

Tolbert was hired by the UN secretary general in April to review the world body's operations at the joint tribunal. His arrival comes as the US announced that it was on the "threshold" of making a decision to fund the struggling tribunal.


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HE WILL BE MEETING WITH KEY PEOPLE FROM THE COURT [AND] THE LOCAL DONOR[S].

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"He will be meeting with key people from the court, the local donor community, and will look at donor contributions and the progress made by the court," Foster said.

He described the visit as "strictly technical", however, and said Tolbert was under no jurisdiction from the UN Development Program.

An appointment for the US?
Tolbert, who couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday, was appointed after Kao Kim Hourn, a secretary of state with the Foreign Ministry, told the UN in January that Washington wanted an advisory role in the tribunal and would consider helping fund the court if given the post.

Kao Kim Hourn later retracted his statement, but the US embassy said that they were likely to meet with Tolbert, although were not sure when.

"We expect there will be an opportunity to speak with the Secretary General's advisor about his activities and the importance to donors of ensuring that advancement of administrative reforms in the ECCC match the judicial progress observed to date," said embassy spokesman John Johnson in an email Tuesday.

Outgoing US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said Monday that he thought the corruption issue "will be resolved ... and ultimately [the tribunal] will get funding".

Allegations that Cambodian staff were kicking back a portion of their salaries to higher officials are being reviewed by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds have been frozen by the UNDP in the meantime.

The court has repeatedly faced bankruptcy and still faces a more than US$40 million shortfall.

US to fund Khmer Rouge trial Article from: Agence France-Presse

Article from: Agence France-Presse

From correspondents in Phnom Penh
August 25, 2008 08:13pm

THE United States will give its first donation to Cambodia's cash-strapped Khmer Rouge genocide trial as soon as the UN-backed court resolves corruption allegations, the US ambassador said today.

The tribunal faces a funding shortfall of more than $US40 million ($46.1 million). Officials travelled to New York in June to petition UN members for more funds.

"The United States government is right now on the threshold of making its decision to directly fund the tribunal,'' outgoing Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli told reporters at his farewell press conference at the US embassy.

"I think in Washington now everyone is very much looking forward to finding funding to help directly assist the tribunal if we can just work this last thing out,'' he said.

The Khmer Rouge tribunal this month launched a new ethics monitor to grapple with ongoing claims of corruption within the court after the UN Development Program made fresh allegations of kickbacks on the Cambodian side of the court, forcing international donors to withhold funding for July.

International backers have appeared hesitant to pledge more money to the process after earlier allegations of political interference and mismanagement, including that Cambodian staff paid money in exchange for their jobs.

But tribunal officials have said the allegations last year were "unspecific, unsourced and unsubstantiated.''

The court is preparing for its first trial against Kaing Guek Eav, who ran a notorious torture centre in Phnom Penh.

He is expected in the dock in October, once the court has dealt with the prosecution's appeal of his indictment, which it said failed to present a "full and truthful account'' of his crimes.

In all, five top Khmer Rouge leaders are now facing charges before the tribunal for crimes committed by the regime.

Up to two million people died of starvation, overwork and execution as the communist Khmer Rouge dismantled modern Cambodian society in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia during its 1975-1979 rule.

US troops to pull out of Iraq by 2011: negotiator

Courtesy of ABC, Australia

Negotiators have finalised a deal which will see the complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by 2011, ending an eight-year occupation, the top Iraqi heading the team said.

Under the 27-point deal all US combat troops will be withdrawn from Iraqi cities by next June, negotiator Mohammed al-Haj Hammoud said.

The agreement has already been approved by US President George W Bush and now needs to be endorsed by Iraqi leaders, he added.

Iraq and the US had agreed to "withdraw the US troops from Iraq by end of 2011," Mr Hammoud said.

"The combat troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 2009. Both the parties have agreed on this.

"The negotiators' job is done. Now it is up to the leaders."

The security pact will decide the future of US forces in Iraq once the present UN mandate, which provides the legal framework for the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, expires in December.

Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had agreed last November to formalise such an agreement by July 31.

The arrangement was delayed due to strong opposition from Iraqi leaders over key issues such as when US combat troops would withdraw from Iraq, how many bases Washington would retain and whether American troops would be immune from Iraqi laws.

Mr Hammoud said all issues had been addressed in the deal.

He added however that there was a possibility that US troops could leave before 2011 or remain beyond the target date.

"There is a provision that says the withdrawal could be done even before 2011 or extended beyond 2011 depending on the [security] situation," he said.

Mr Hammoud said that even if the withdrawal does take place by 2011, some US troops could remain "to train Iraqi security forces".

He said the issue of how many bases the US would retain in Iraq depended on the number of troops left behind for training purposes.

A number of committees would also look into offences committed by American troops in Iraq.
The immunity offered to American soldiers currently in Iraq had been one of the main sticking points in the negotiations which began in February.

In a surprise one-day visit to Iraq on Thursday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the two countries were "very, very close" to finalising the agreement but had not yet clinched the deal.

On Thursday Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, however, went a step further and said the text of the deal was ready.

"We are very close, we have a text, but not the final agreement. Everything has been addressed," Mr Zebari said.

The deal has drawn sharp criticism from Iraq's political factions, especially from the anti-American group of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Dr Rice said that the US had been very "flexible" in the negotiations.

"The US has gone very far in this agreement, it is a very advanced agreement," she said.

Any deal would first have to be ratified by the Iraqi parliament and the veto-wielding presidency council.

The White House said on Thursday (local time) that US lawmakers would not be asked to approve the pact.

"It's not a treaty, so it would not require Senate ratification or anything like that," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters at Mr Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

With 144,000 American troops currently in Iraq, the issue is politically sensitive in Washington as the November US presidential election draws nearer.
- AFP

McCain stumbles over number of homes

Courtesy of ABC, Australia

Posted Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:37am AEST

Updated Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:15am AEST

"Now think about that. If you don't know how many houses you have, then it is not surprising that you might think the economy was fundamentally strong.

"But if you are like me and you've got one house, or you are like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so they don't lose their home, you might have a different perspective."

For a man painting himself as an ordinary guy who knows how people are hurting because of the economic downturn, it was a giant stumble by the White House contender.

John McCain's presidential campaign is in damage control after he was unable to remember how many houses he and his wife own.

It comes just days after the Republican White House hopeful cracked a joke that being rich in the US meant earning at least $5 million.

His Democratic rival, Barack Obama, has been quick to exploit the blunders, as opinion polls show the economy is still the number one concern of American voters.

With the US economy teetering on the brink of recession and housing foreclosures skyrocketing, Senator McCain was asked by The Politico newspaper how many houses he and his wife Cindy own.

Unable to answer, Senator McCain deflected to the question to his advisers.

"I think, I'll have my staff get to you. I can't tell about that," he said.

The McCain campaign told The Politico that Senator McCain and his wife have "at least four" homes in three states - Arizona, California and Virginia.

It was a green light for Senator Obama to take a jab at Senator McCain's views on the US economy.

"So they asked his staff and he said at least four," Senator Obama said.

"Now think about that. If you don't know how many houses you have, then it is not surprising that you might think the economy was fundamentally strong.

"But if you are like me and you've got one house, or you are like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so they don't lose their home, you might have a different perspective."

Senator Obama and his wife have one house, the family home in Chicago which they bought in 2005 for more than $US1.5 million.

A McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers has returned fire, quoted as saying "it's a frickin' mansion, he doesn't tell people that".

Senator McCain and his heiress wife Cindy actually have seven homes, plenty of fodder for a new Obama attack ad.

The ad paints McCain as out of touch with America's economic problems.

"Then again on the same day when asked how many houses he owns, McCain lost track. He couldn't remember," the ad says.

"Well, it is seven. Seven houses and here's one house America can't afford to let John McCain move into," it continues, showing the White House.

Senator McCain has not helped dispel this image.

At a weekend faith forum he made a careless comment when Pastor Rick Warren asked him to define the threshold for considering someone as rich.

"How about $5 million," he said, adding, "I'm sure that comment will be distorted".

The point is, both presidential candidates are far better off than most Americans.

Senator Obama earned $US4 million last year, mostly thanks to royalties from his two books, and Senator McCain's tax returns show he earned $US400,000.

His wife Cindy has not disclosed hers, but as the sole heiress to her father's beer distributorship she is worth an estimated $US100 million.

Based on a report by Kim Landers for AM, on August 22.

Anonymous - Khmer Abroad, USA's comment

Sir or Madam @ 6:35 AM,

You have wasting way too much of your valuable time trying to make comment about someone else opinion. My suggestion is, rather, for you to write your own formal piece of opinion and post it on the public forum and lets the public chew on it.

It is indeed, politic. And it is a National General Election. If we were to really looking at the big picture, I would agree with Mr. Justin.

Reading your "psychobabbling" comment bored me like a child sucking on pacifier and eyes rolling ready to go to sleep.

Khmer abroad, USA.
10:36 AM [click here for original comment]

Above is the comment by an anonymous "Khmer Abroad, USA" in response to my personal view/comment on Justin Sok's Letter [click here for original and full story:], posted on KI-media dated July 1st, 2008.

First of all, my due respect for Mr./Mrs anonymous "Khmer Abroad, USA" [my presumption on the person is a male rather than female] for being such a gentleman/lady by addressing an unknown person to him/her as Sir/Madam. This is shown the true and real value of Khmer's moral and culture.

Let get back into the discussed subject.

Firstly, I personally don't think that I have wasted much of my valuable time in commenting on a person or people's opinion.

Secondly, as suggested by the my website ID [mediawatch-newstopia], I would simply make a comment accordingly based on facts and truths rather than fictions and/or a one face coin and I don't think that I am "Psychobabbler" as been suggested by Dear anonymous "Khmer Abroad, USA".

Finally, I strongly believed that my comments[s] might/may offend a person or people who are supporters of SRP, who are residing abroad in aprticular in USA - most of them are taking a different views and approaches to the internal affairs of our beloeved motherland. But this is facts and truths that we ought to accept, if one misled then other person would simply critic and pinpoint out on that particular misleading point[s], isn't it the way to go?.