Daily Update from Local Newspapers August 17-19

1.                               Politics/Human Rights

Mr. Sam Rainsy Not Intends to Negotiate despite the United Nations Refuses the Present

A high level officer of Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) said that Mr. Sam Rainsy’s letter to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, which request for sending observers to Cambodia so as to deal with irregularities during the election was not success as it needs the request from both political parties.  It means that the United Nations will not interfere in the election dispute if there is no agreement from both parties to make a joint request, said Mr. Yim Sovann, a spokesman for CNRP.  A rejection of the United Nations will require both parties to deal with the election irregularities through negotiation. Anyhow, Mr. Sam Rainsy has no plan to talk with Samdech Hun Sen in order to find the political solutions, yet he needs to meet the people who are the vote owners, because CNRP is the party who wins the election. (Rasmei Kampuchea, 17 August 2013)

2.                 Diplomatic Issue

Australia Grants Aid of Nearly 100 Million USD to Cambodia

For the year 2013-2014, Australia granted official development assistance (ODA) of 97,2 million USD for development in Cambodia on many important sectors, according to website of Australian Embassy to Cambodia. Through ODA, Australia now working closely with Cambodia in order to enhance agricultural production, strengthens law and justice system, health, infrastructure, country development and military cooperation. Besides, Australia also provides scholarships to 50 Cambodian students every year. (Rasmei Kampuchea, 17 August 2013)