S Koreas held in rape of 18-year-old woman

Three South Korean tour guides were arrested in Siem Reap town yesterday over the rape of an 18-year-old woman in a karaoke parlor late Tuesday evening, police said.

The suspects, Lee Dae-young, 36, Kim Jan-sup, 47, and Seo Jeanjung, 54-all of whom work as tour guides for a Korean tour company in Siem Reap town had gone to Dream World Karaoke on Tuesday day evening and invited four of the parlor’s hostesses to joint them in a private room.

The group, which included an 18-year-old hostess, drank alcohol for three hours until the teenager fell unconscious, at which point the men asked the other three women to leave the room, said Sun Bunthorng, bureau chief for the provincial department of the anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection police.

After the hostesses left, the men locked the door and Mr Dae-young then allegedly raped the 18-year-old woman, the police chief said.

The manager of Dream World Karaoke eventually gained access to the room using a spare key and found Mr Dae-young in the act of raping the unconscious woman, he said, adding that police arrived on the scene shortly after and arrested Mr Dae-young for rape and his two friends for attempted rape.

“It is the first time that Korean men [have attempted to] gang rape a woman inside a karaoke room,” Mr Bunthorng said.

“The three men are in police custody and will be sent to Siem Reap provincial Court”.

Siem Reap provincial penal police chief Ou Em confirmed yesterday that the men were in police custody and said the victim had been sent to a clinic for treatment. (sourced by Cambodia Daily News)

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Police on alert a head of S Korean president’s visit

Police officials have heightened security in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for today’s arrival of South Korean President Lee Myung-back, authorities said. The South Korean delegation arrives at 10 am and will leave on Friday.

Cambodia military police officials cooperation with the South Korean president’s bodyguard for a week to coordination and ensure safety, said Pong Savrith, Phnom Penh deputy military police chief. Military policemen will be stationed at all major intersections throughout the capital during the South Korean president’s two day visit...

Ou Em, penal police chief in Siem Reap province, said police would also be present at every major intersection when the president visits the city on Friday to see Angkor Wat and other temples in the complex.

Ministry fo Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuy Kuong said the Korean delegation did not confirm how many people would be accompanying the president during the visit. (sourced by Cambodia Daily news)

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Ketsana to dampen festival

Organisers of this year’s Water Festival celebration have predicted lower-than-usual attendance in the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana, which has hobbled transport, drained incomes and shifted priorities for thousands of Cambodians.

Ngem Chhorn, chief of Svay village in Sandan commune, Kampong Thom province, said this year’s festival would not be as important for him and his people because they are busy replanting farms devastated by last month’s typhoon.

“Half of the people in my village travel to the Water Festival every year, but this year they may just not have the feeling to join in,” adding that in addition to worries about rice fields, his fellow villagers don’t have the money to travel...

The National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) announced its first official assessment of Typhoon Ketsana’s impact on Cambodia.

Some 36 people were killed by Ketsana, which also caused an estimated US$41 million in damages, according to NCDM data.

Kampong Thom took the heaviest toll, with 20 dead and nearly 20,000 hectares of rice fields damaged or destroyed.

Sao Heouy, 35, a villager in Krasang village, Sandan commune, Kampong Thom province, said the promise she made to bring her children to the capital this year would have to be broken.

“I am very upset and pity my children because they were very happy when I told them about the Water Festival, but now they are disappointed,” Sao Heouy said.

The Water Festival, which this year takes place from November 1 to 3, regularly draws more than 2 million visitors to the capital.

Chea Sokhom, permanent vice president and secretary general of the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals, said he could not predict the exact scale of this year’s shortfall, but he said it could be substantial.

He said last year’s attendence was bolstered by the fact that the festival coincided with the 575th anniversary of the founding of Phnom Penh, as well as the 55th anniversary of Cambodian independence.

Chea Sokhom said that one indicator of a less-than-bumper attendance was a drop in the number of teams entering the dragon boat races. He said registration had fallen from 424 teams last year to 384 this year, as of the October 19 registration deadline, but that officials have decided to extend the deadline to Sunday.

Chea Sokhom added that the final number might be closer to 390.

He suggested that Ketsana could impact more than just the number of rowers this year.

With water levels much higher in rivers across the Kingdom, racers could face greater danger than in years past, which have seen their share of tragedy.

In 2007, five Singaporean racers drowned when their 22-crew member dragon boat capsized during that year’s all-ASEAN festival races.

Police managed to pull the remaining crew members from the river. An unidentified Cambodian racer also drowned the same day.

Chea Sokhom said he had advised racers to be particularly cautious during this year’s competition.

“We do not want to turn a happy time into a tragedy,” he said.

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Boats race on Takhmao river

THE 2009 Traditional International Standard Boat Racing Championship launches on the Takhmao river today, in the annual event organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Federation of Cambodian Boat Racing. Daily races continue until October 26, with teams allowed a day’s practice for the competition Tuesday.

Boeung Kimtor, deputy director of the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the ministry and boat federation member, told the Post that there are also the competitions in canoeing and kayaking.

Traditional International Standard Boats are divided in two crew size categories, 12 persons and 22 persons, for both men and women. Races are competed over 500 metres and 1,000 metres...

According to Boeung Kimtor, 29 boats will be in s year competitions including seven from Kampong Chhnang, six from Phnom Penh, five from Kandal, five from Prey Veng, three from Battambang, one from Kampot, and Phnom Penh teams Moeun Neak Meanchey and Russei Keo.

Canoeing and Kayaking events feature single and double races, with 22 athletes participating – 10 from Chroy Changvar, 10 from the Navy, two from Kampot province and two from Kandal province.

Boeung Kimtor showed his enthusiasm at the increasing number of boats competing from year to year. He also noted that all boats had come through qualifiers in their regions. “We need the qualify for our national competition,” he said.

This sports official also attempted to clarify the ministry’s policy of cash prizes for winning boats after complaints from large teams last year. “Normally, the champions will get 150,000 riels [US$36] per person. For a boat of 22 persons, we will multiply by 22 [US$794], but not over,” he confirmed.

However, Boeung Kimtor expressed his regret that traditional international standard boat racing will not be included in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, after the two previous tournaments in Thailand and Vietnam had included the event.

According to the Cambodian official, hosts Laos have declined to organise races, as they do not have a team to compete.

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Police officer fatally shot in minor traffic dispute

A Phnom Penh traffic police officer died after being shot during a minor traffic altercation on Saturday in Takeo province, Bait district police chief Ngan Sarry said yesterday.

On An, 42, was at his mother’s home in Takeo province’s Champei commune to celebrated the Kathin Buddist ceremony when two motorcycles with five or six passengers stopped in front of the police officer’s car.

Mr Sarry said one of the motorcycles stopped so a passenger could pick up a flip-flop that dropped to the ground but while he was stopped one of the passengers kicked Mr An’s car twice...

“The victim got angry, followed them and asked why they kicked his car but when he opened the door one of the men shot him once with a pistol,” Mr Sarry said.

“This case happened because of a small dispute; it should have not been a big issue like this.” Ouch Sokhon, Chamkar Mon district chief, said yesterday that he was aware of the incident but since the killing had happened in Takeo, the would let local authorities handle it. (sourced by Cambodia Dialy News)

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Man, 24, is shot dead in scuffle with burglars

A 24-year old man was shot dead on Sunday night when he confronted a group of four male burglars, one of whom was masked, who broke into his house and stole donation collected for the current Kathin Buddhist festival, police said.

At about 8:30 pm, Thon Sithoeun confronted and fought the robbers, who carried an AK-47 rifle, in his home in Tbong Khmum district’s Chirou II commune, according to district police chief Ang Huot...

“The victim was shot dead when he tried to fight the robbers. He grabbed a robber by the neck. If he had a knife or a weapon he properly would have killed the robbers” said Mr Hout.

Mr. Sithoeun was shot twice and died at the provincial hospital, he said, adding that the robbers stoles over $2,500, jewelry and other properly. Police have yet to make any arrests, he said. (sourced by Cambodia Dail news)

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I wanna be a supermodel

Who wants to be Cambodia’s next top model? Never mind the lack of soul-sucking judges and product placements – the hundreds of people on hand at NagaWorld Hotel and Casino last Friday could have been watching another spinoff of Tyra Banks’s hit reality series.

Techno music blared as 20 hopeful supermodels strutted their stuff on the catwalk hoping to attract one of six contracts from IPlanet to model their products.

Hundreds of Phnom Penh’s most fashionable folks gathered to cheer on the city’s sexiest specimens...

A VIP ticket to the event cost $100, including dinner and a seat in front of the stage, but most people opted for a more affordable $1 general admission ticket.

IPlanet, a software development company based in the US, didn’t let just anyone take the glamorous walk down the casino’s catwalk.

Out of over 2,000 applicants for the contest, they chose only a select few between the ages of 16 and 25.

Women in the contest also had to be taller than 1.65 metres and men 1.75 metres, effectively eliminating most of the city’s population.

Adding to the reality show vibe, TV3 was on hand to make a live broadcast of the event that was also sponsored by Spy Company, Systema Company, Shokubutsu Company, NagaWorld, Cindy Beauty Salon, Star magazine and LG.

And while Cambodia’s flyest fashionistas were the main attraction, the event also featured the country’s hottest threads.

“The contest is to select newest supermodel in Cambodia,” said Bunkert Ang Am Nuay Siri, the general manager of IPlanet.

“But at the same time it is to promote Khmer designers’ works, from modern clothes to Khmer traditional clothes made from silk by Cambodians.”
The selection committee, looking for a fresh face, did not open the contest to Cambodia’s current entertainment celebrities, but rather hope that a future star has been born.

“The condition of the winners is to understand how to present themselves as the presenters or brand ambassadors of the products by their modelling and presence in fashion photos,” said Bunkert Ang.

After three hours of turns on the catwalk, Cambodia’s newest supermodels were chosen. Three men and three women walked away with a one-way ticket to modeltown.

The winners at the end of the night were Chhun Hang Jour from the men and Yann Kumpha from the women.

Other fellas who made the cut were Ho Po Seng and Chan Ratanak Sambo. Doung Pheaktra and Ly Sopha Linda rounded out the lucky ladies. (Sourced by Phnom Penh Post website)

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Panel assesses Ketsana’s toll

THE National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) presented its first assessment of Typhoon Ketsana’s overall toll on Cambodia on Friday, reporting that the storm killed 36 people and caused an estimated US$41 million in damages.

Keo Vy, communications officer for the NCDM, said Friday’s dollar figure was certain to rise.

“The $41 million referred to the destruction of rice fields, houses and domestic animals only,” he said. “Damage to the irrigation system and the education sector has not been added yet … so the cost of the damage would be more than this.”...

According to figures cited by Bun Narith, deputy secretary general of the NCDM, 27,993 hectares of rice were damaged and hundreds of houses were destroyed. In addition, tens of thousands of residents have been displaced and are badly in need of food.

Bun Narith noted that, of the 11 provinces affected by the typhoon, Kampong Thom was the hardest-hit, losing 19,389 hectares of rice worth US$17 million. Twenty of the 36 deaths occurred there as well.

Nhem Vanda, first deputy chairman of the NCDM, said he hoped the new data on Cambodia’s reconstruction needs would make foreign donors more responsive. He said many countries wanted to help Cambodia, but that first “they need a precise report” about the damage sustained.

“So we will submit our official report to the government so [that] the government can find … foreign donors,” he said.

Also last week, Phnom Penh was host to a Mekong Regional Forum meeting on establishing a law that would make it easier for regional countries to integrate their responses to disasters and epidemics.

Nhem Vanda said legal barriers had hampered cross-border efforts in the past.

“Previously, we have responded and intervened, but we do not have a law for such operations yet,” he said.

“That is why, even though we have been successful in some tasks, our [international] operations have not always been good enough.”

Victoria Barton, Asia-Pacific programme coordinator for the International Federation of the Red Cross, said such a law should be a high priority because regional countries are “facing many problems caused by disasters and the spread of diseases”. She added that their challenges were compounded by the difficulty they faced obtaining foreign aid. (Sited from Phnom Penh Site)

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Google editions platform to launch for electronic-Books

Google is launching a new service for book seller next year called Google Edition, which will let readers buy books and read them anywhere on gadgets ranging from cell phones to possibly e-book devices.

It’s the first foray into charging for books for the Mountain Views California-based company, which began its Google Books program in 2004.

Tom Turvey, head of Google Book Search’s publisher partnership program, said the price per book would be set by their publishers and would start with between 400,000 to 600,000 books next year...

“It will be browser-based access” Turvey said yesterday at the 61st Frankfurt Book Fair. “The way the e-book market will evolve is by accessing the book from anywhere, form an access point of view and also from a geographical point of view.”

Google will collect 55 percent of the profits, Turvey said, giving a “vast majority” of that to retailers, and the rest will go to the publisher.

“Google Edition allows retail partners to sell the books, especially those who haven’t invested in a digital platform,” he said. “We expect the majority will go to retail partners not go Google. We are a whole seller, a book distributor.”

H added that Google Editions will be the first time the company will try to monetize their books project. The transactions must be simple he said, and one possibility will be suing the already existing transaction platform Google Checkout.

Electronic books are gaining in popularity, led in part by devices like Amazone.com ‘s Kindle and rival Sony’s new Reader Pocket Edition.

In 2008, US e-book sales totaled $113million-up 68 percents from 2007 but still a fraction of the estimated $24.3 billion spent on all books, according to the Association of American Publishers.

Sony’s e-Book Store includes more than 100,000 books, as well as a million free public-domain books available from Google through its Google Books project. The Kindle Store currently has more than 330,000 available titles.

The Kindle can only download books from Amazon’s online store, while Sony’s Readers can display texts sold in the “epub” format-an open standard supported by the International Digital Publishing Forum that numerous publishers use to make e-books. (Sited from Cambodia Dialy News)

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The garden at riverside in Cambodia

The garden from Ounalom pagoda to in front of Royal Palace was built ready to welcome to all people to participate in Water Festival Ceremony recently.

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