in Syrian
greatest
escape
CONTINUED PAGE 13
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 Successful People Read The Post 4000 RIEL
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LAND TITLES AT
LAST FOR KRATIE
VILLAGERS
NATIONAL PAGE 3
RUSSIA TO CUT
TARIFFS ON
3,000 PRODUCTS
BUSINESS PAGE 7
US HOPES FALL
ON SERENAS
SHOULDERS
SPORT PAGE 25
Chopper
accident
blamed
on pilot
CONTINUED PAGE 2
Laignee Barron
and Mom Kunthear
G
RADE 12 students
collectively struck
out on this years
high-stakes national
exam, with individual results
reflecting an even more dire
drop than educators expected.
But while data released on
Friday showed that just 25.72
per cent of students received a
passing score on the two-day,
seven-subject exam, more in-
depth statistics posted a day
later on the Education Minis-
trys Facebook page showed
that some provinces fared sig-
nificantly worse than others.
In Kampong Speu, the worst-
performing province, just 16.8
per cent of students achieved a
passing mark of 47 per cent or
higher, according to the minis-
try. In both Battambang and
Kandal, more than 80 per cent
of students failed.
In an unforeseen turn, urban
centres didnt necessarily out-
perform rural schools. Phnom
Penh students managed a pass
rate above the national average,
Breaking down the tests
Some rural students outshine their capital city peers in grade 12 exam
CONTINUED PAGE 2
Members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force drive armoured vehicles in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights near the Quneitra
crossing on Saturday. AFP
Mynardo Macaraig
DOZENS of Filipino UN
peacekeepers performed
the greatest escape from
besieging Syrian rebels,
slipping away under the
cover of night after rebels
rammed their Golan
Heights outpost with armed
trucks, the Philippine mili-
tary said yesterday.
All 75 soldiers serving
with a United Nations
peacekeeping force in the
Middle East flashpoint
zone reached safety after
the rebels, some linked to
al-Qaeda, surrounded
them and demanded their
weapons on Thursday,
military chief General Gre-
gorio Catapang said.
Catapang called it the
greatest escape and
praised the soldiers.
Although they were sur-
rounded and outnumbered
they held their ground, he
told reporters.
However, the fate of 44
UN peacekeepers from Fiji
remained unknown. The
Fijians were taken captive
by rebels just before the
Filipinos were besieged.
The troops are part of a
UN peacekeeping force
that has been stationed in
the Golan Heights since
1974 to monitor a ceasefire
between Israel and Syria.
Everyone is in a safe
position. We left our [old]
position but we brought all
our arms, Lieutenant Colo-
nel Ramon Zagala said.
Philippine President
Benigno Aquinos spokes-
man Herminio Coloma
issued a statement thank-
ing the UN force as well as
Vong Sokheng
AN INQUIRY into the
fatal crash of a Harbin
Z-9 military helicopter in
July has found that the
accident was the result of
human error, Minister of
Defence General Tea Banh
has said.
The ministers comments,
made during a military
training exercise on Satur-
day, came more than a
month after the Chinese-
made Z-9 crashed into an
old sand quarry in Phnom
Penhs Prey Sar commune
on July 14.
Four military officers
including two generals
were killed in the early
morning crash.
I would like to confirm
that there were no [mechan-
ical] problems with the
helicopter, Banh said. The
engine was working well
before the crash.
The crash happened
because the pilot could
not control the helicopter
during takeoff, causing it to
Continued from page 1
33.1 per cent, but were shown
up by Preah Vihear, the top-
scorer, where 39.3 per cent of
students secured a pass, and
Pailin, where 36.4 per cent were
proficient.
Based on where the most
resources are focused or the
teaching quality is the highest,
the provincial cities and the
capital should have done better
than the rural areas, but that
wasnt the case, Education
Minister Hang Chhuon Naron
said. Part of the explanation for
the discrepancy, he added, was
that many more students sat for
the test in Phnom Penh, 16,794,
than in Preah Vihear, 1,555.
Others suggested that the
disparity in score was more
correlated to the urban-rural
wealth disparity.
The students in Phnom
Penh and some of the provin-
cial capitals are from better off
families and have been used to
a system where for years they
could do well by bribing the
proctors, said Chin Chanvea-
sna, executive director of the
NGO Education Partnership.
Its a good message to parents
and students that they cant just
pay to pass anymore.
Education officials for
months predicted a giant drop
in exam scores resulting from
the governments crusade to
stamp out formerly rampant
cheating and corruption dur-
ing the test. Last year, 87 per
cent of students passed.
Continuing an existing trend
of female students outperform-
ing their male counterparts,
29.4 per cent of female students
passed, while just 18.5 per cent
of the larger number of male
candidates did.
With fewer high school stu-
dents passing the exit exam,
which qualifies students for a
diploma and entrance into
higher education, this years
potential body of freshman has
dwindled, with just 23,126 pub-
lic school students able to
qualify for university.
The results will definitely
affect our admissions, said
a staff member from Techno,
a public school and an arm of
the Royal University of Phnom
Penh.
In addition to passing the
national exam, students hop-
ing to nab a spot at Techno also
have to pass the schools quali-
fying exam. But students who
didnt pass the first grade 12
national exam and are throw-
ing their lot in with Octobers
retest wont be able to sit Tech-
nos September entrance test.
Normally, we have 700 to
800 incoming students each
year, but this year well be lucky
to have 300 to 400, the staff
member said. Its a problem
because we wont have enough
money to support our profes-
sors and staff if the class sizes
continue to be smaller.
At University of Puthisastras
Faculty of Health Sciences, stu-
dents also have to pass a col-
lege-specific entrance test, but
the administration is discuss-
ing delaying the exam in order
to be able to recruit enough
students, an administrator at
the school said.
Though universities, parents
and students are all panicking
about this years poor national
exam results, the education
minister insisted that the
reforms are not only positive,
but necessary.
We knew that the education
system needed improvement,
but there wasnt a lot of info on
the subject and province distri-
bution of performance. With
this learning assessment, we
have a clearer idea of what to
focus on, Chhuon Naron said.
Our objective is to produce
more qualified students . . . and
it is in the interests of the uni-
versities also to have quality
learning, not just to serve as a
degree factory for students with
no real ability.
In response to this years
exam results, the ministry plans
on revising the curriculum for
the upcoming school year to
reduce the number of lessons,
as well as increasing school
monitoring to ensure both
teachers and students are com-
ing to class and following the
books. But some say the slew of
reforms is side-stepping a more
important issue.
In order to improve educa-
tion quality, we must not only
have strict examinations . . . but
the most important point the
ministry has to accomplish first
is a reasonable salary for teach-
ers, Cambodian Independent
Teachers Association presi-
dent Rong Chhun said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen last
week announced a pay boost
for teachers to be implemented
from September until April, but
educators warned that the
salaries will still not be on par
with living expenses.
Several education studies
have linked poor learning out-
comes and fewer teaching
hours in Cambodia with low
teacher pay, including an NEP
report last year that listed
teachers salaries as the top
education concern among
parents.
National
2
THE PHNOM PENH POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
The Australian Embassy invites applications from suitably qualied individuals for a
position of Senior Program Manager for the Australian aid program, which is available
now. A competitive salary package is offered, including participation in a performance
management and bonus scheme. The basic monthly salary for the position starts at
USD2,158.
The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for managing aid programs related to
private sector development, infrastructure and agriculture.
Selection Criteria
Very strong English and Khmer communication skills including negotiation, 1.
presentation, brieng and representation. This should include strong experience in
writing and editing English language documents.
Program/project management skills 2.
Strong research and analytical skills, including data collection and presentation 3.
Sound judgement, initiative and problem solving skills 4.
Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to develop good relationships with 5.
internal and external stakeholders and networks
Tertiary qualications in a relevant eld 6.
Applications must include:
Astatement (maximum of 2 pages) addressing all of the selection criteria;
Acurrent resume setting out employment and educational history;
Full contact details; and
Name and contact details of two referees who have recent knowledge of the
applicants work performance.
Afull job description of the position can be obtained from the Australian Embassys
website http://www.cambodia.embassy.gov.au
The position will be recruited on a 12 month renewable contract that includes a 3
month probationary period. If the employee remains in the role for at least 2 years the
contract will automatically revert to an ongoing, permanent contact in accordance with
Cambodian Labour Law.
Applications should be emailed to Sinal.Pou@dfat.gov.au or mailed to the following
address:
Operations Manager (Development Cooperation)
AustralianEmbassy
No 16B, National Assembly Street, Phnom Penh
Ref: Senior Program Manager for the Australian aid program
Applications close 5:00pm Friday 12 September 2014
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY
JOB VACANCY SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Fatal chopper
crash blamed
on pilot error
Continued from page 1
y off and hit the cliff.
Banh added that the investi-
gation had closed, but gave no
hint that the detailed ndings
would be made public.
The process of the investiga-
tion into the helicopter crash is
completely nished and there
was no big problem. I have al-
ready done my report, he said.
We regret the deaths and we
dont want to place the blame
on [the crew].
But if they were really skill-
ful the incident would not have
happened.
Four bodies were recovered
from the crash site and a fth
man managed to survive by
falling from the Z-9 seconds
before it struck the side of a
40-metre cliff face surrounding
the quarry in Dangkor district.
Khieu Chhen, deputy direc-
tor of Banhs cabinet, said he
was not aware of the report.
The Z-9 was one of 12 bought
with a $195 million loan from
China last year. Ofcials said
in July that the day of the crash
was the rst time the Z-9s had
been used to train new pilots.
The four dead were Ouk Bun-
naha, a brigadier general who
commanded the Air Forces he-
licopter unit; Brigadier General
Eang Vannarith; and trainee
pilots Thorn Vandy and Kham
Bunnan.
Contrary to the ndings of the
inquiry, Major General Hul Sam
Oun, commander of the 99th
Infantry Battalion, told the Post
in July that the initial investiga-
tion had concluded primarily
that the reason of the crash is
because of engine failure.
Banh could not be reached
yesterday for further comment.
Amateur footage of the crash
that aired on state broadcaster
CNC at the time showed the Z-9
attempting to land before surg-
ing forward into the quarry.
Other ofcials as well as Banh
had at the time suggested that
strong winds might have played
a part in the inability of the pilot
to control the craft.
Chan Sambo, the sole sur-
vivor of the crash, reportedly
told a hospital staffer that he
had told visiting senior military
ofcers that the Z-9 suffered
mechanical problems shortly
after takeoff.
The wreckage of a Z-9 military helicopter is loaded onto a truck after it
crashed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh in July. HENG CHIVOAN
Students check their nal exam results at Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh last week. Only a quarter of
the countrys grade 12 students passed. HENG CHIVOAN
Breaking
down the
results
[W]e wont have enough money
to support our professors and
staff if the class sizes continue
to be smaller
National
3
THE PHNOM PENH POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
May Titthara
TWO monks who invited scores
of provincial land rights pro-
testers into their pagoda in the
capital have been threatened
with defrocking, the pagodas
chief monk said yesterday.
Meas Sokhorn alleged that
Veng Seng, deputy chief monk
in Russey Keos Chroy Chang-
va commune, and another
ofcial had called him to a
meeting to tell him that two
monks living at his pagoda,
Manh Sokreal and Nob Vanny,
would be defrocked.
The authorities, when the
Buddhist [holiday] period
ends, they will defrock the two
monks, he said.
In the past two weeks, land
protesters have poured into
the capital, seeking govern-
ment intervention in their
disputes.
A letter signed by Seng and
dated August 17 calls for pa-
godas across Russey Keo dis-
trict to tell any people staying
there to return to their homes
to allow preparations for this
months Pchum Ben festival
to take place, as per Buddhist
traditions.
But Sokhorn told the Post
that he had no plans to turn
anyone away from the pagoda.
The authorities want the
people to leave the pagoda
before Pchum Ben. How can I
do that? The pagoda is a place
that people depend on when
they are suffering, he said. If
I do not allow them to stay, I
am not a monk.
Sokhorn added that he was
not acting politically, but in
the name of Buddhism.
My students and I do not
participate in politics. They
already have politicians and
what I am doing is following
the Buddhas advice, he said.
Neither Seng nor the two
monks could be reached for
comment yesterday.
The case is the latest in
which action has allegedly
been taken against monks for
their political activities.
Last month, armed police
raided the Wat Neak Vorn pa-
goda in Tuol Kork district after
some of its monks attended
an opposition demonstration
that descended into violence at
Freedom Park, while a week ago
more than 100 monks turned
out to protest at Sansam Kosal
pagoda in Meanchey district
after a Khmer Krom monk who
took part in recent protests out-
side the Vietnamese Embassy
was called to a meeting with
district religious authorities.
Monks face defrocking
after protesters pour in
Deal finally ends Kratie row
Pech Sotheary
U
NDER growing pres-
sure from Prime
Minister Hun Sen,
the government on
Saturday offered ofcial land
titles to hundreds of Kratie
villagers, putting an end to
their long-running dispute
with a South Korean agricul-
tural company.
Im Chhun Lim, minister of
land management, urban plan-
ning and construction, said that
following further inspection of
the land in Snuol commune
and its disputed ownership,
his ministry found that Hori-
zon Agriculture Development
Company had failed to meet the
conditions of its economic land
concession by not adequately
cultivating the land.
The company has not com-
plied with the announcement,
so the lands have to be seized
back, Chhun Lim said.
He added that 361 land
certicates, covering a total
of 1,562.75 hectares of land,
would be awarded to 324 fami-
lies in the communes Krong
and Thpong villages.
He advised residents to col-
lect the certicates from Kratie
Provincial Hall on Wednesday,
adding that those who could
not make this date could col-
lect the certicates from the
provincial land management,
urban planning and construc-
tion department.
The announcement was
made at Phnom Penhs Sa-
maki Rainsey pagoda, where
hundreds of the villag-
ers had been staying while
seeking intervention. It came
less than two weeks after
Hun Sen warned ofcials that
he had no patience left for
inaction on land disputes.
In a strongly worded speech
last month, the premier called
on ofcials to stop being lazy
and instead seek solutions.
Suon Vicheka, a representa-
tive of the villagers, welcomed
the decision on Saturday, add-
ing that villagers would return
to their homes so that they
could collect their ofcial titles.
Vicheka added that a further
51 families in a dispute with Ho-
rizon Agriculture Development
over 66 plots of land would also
return home to await a solution,
as promised by Chhun Lim.
Chan Soveth, senior inves-
tigator at rights group Adhoc,
urged the government to con-
tinue to act on disputes.
It is time for the two parties
to create a new government
which can end land disputes . . .
since land disputes are the root
of social problems.
Kratie villagers march along a road near the prime ministers house in Phnom Penh last month during a
demonstration over a long-running land dispute. VIREAK MAI
National
4
THE PHNOM PENH POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
PIC BACKGROUND
PIC is an independent, non-partsan organizaton that helps to support and enhance the capacity and improve the
performance of the Cambodian parliament. PIC provides the Parliament of Cambodia with expertse; organizes
workshops, seminars and training; and assists in development of management and procedural tools, capturing
best practces and lessons learned.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Legal Trainer will design and deliver a course in Legal Analysis and Procedure. The course will aim at
measurable improvements in the legal abilites of Parliamentary secretariat sta in the undertaking of their day-
to-day tasks. Following the delivery of an inital period of training, a follow up programme and ongoing mentoring
sessions will ensure that skills are being applied.
This is not an introductory course in law and does not cover legal theory. It is aimed to be directly related to the
legal skills required of secretariat sta, and is for sta who have existng legal knowledge and training. This is
proposed as a three-month course, with two classes per week, followed by an on-the-job mentoring programme.
The duraton of the contract will be ve months, accountng for planning and preparaton of materials and follow
up acton. Final details of tming of the course and frequency of sessions will be determined following needs
assessments.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Legal Trainer will undertake the following dutes:
Collaboratvely design the capacity assessment tool for sta atending the course and produce a capacity
needs report in advance of curriculum design.
Meet together with the atendees and their supervisors to determine the current level of capacity, workplace
dutes, desired improvements and nal course content.
Design a contextualised curriculum, modules and material to meet needs in this area, adoptng a varied,
interactve and practcal approach.
Deliver the course alongside other designated resource persons, with language needs taken into account.
Set assessment standards, implement a nal assessment and monitor the performance of trainees during
the course.
Design a follow up mechanism to check on the applicaton of skills once the inital period of training is
complete.
Produce a nal evaluaton report.
Deliverables:
Pre-course capacity assessment
Training curriculum
Follow up mechanism
Final evaluaton report
The Legal Trainer will have the following qualicatons and experience:
Graduate and post-graduate qualicatons in Law
A minimum of 7 years relevant professional experience
Experience in designing and administering training courses ,developing training material and assessing
progress of students
Experience working in civil law/Cambodian jurisdictons
Strong understanding of the legal system in Cambodia, and of parliaments role in that system
Experience working with parliament is an advantage
Fluency in spoken and writen English; Khmer and French an advantage
Interested applicants should email a cover leter and rsum to admin@pic.org.kh with Legal Trainer in
the subject line. The applicaton deadline is September 15
th
2014. PIC is an equal opportunity employer. Only
short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Parliamentary Insttute of Cambodia (PIC)
Employment Opportunity
Legal Trainer
Bloody romance
Police ofcial
succumbs to
stab wounds
A
DEPUTY police chief
who was allegedly
stabbed by one of his
wives died on Saturday, said
Hy Narin, Meanchey district
police chief, yesterday.
For this case, police have
filed a lawsuit and forwarded
it to the court, and police are
searching for the suspect to
send her to court, but until
now the authorities have not
found her, Narin said.
According to the local
commune chief, on August
19, Seng Nayheak, a garment
factory worker for Kingdeer
(Cambodia) Knitting Co in
Kandal, stabbed her husband,
Chhor Bohin, in the sto-
mach and thigh following an
argument at Bohins house in
Meanchey district.
Bleeding profusely, Bohin
was sent to Calmette Hospital
by neighbours and relatives,
while Nayheak allegedly
escaped. Villagers said Bohin
and Nayheak lived with each
other for many years but had
no children.
Bohin was known to have
three wives one a greengro-
cer and the other two garment
workers. KHOUTHSOPHAKCHAKRYA
Workers
injured in
truck crash
Mom Kunthear
NEARLY 40 garment workers
suffered minor injuries in Kan-
dal province on Saturday
morning when the truck car-
rying them to their factory col-
lided with a vehicle going in
the opposite direction, offi-
cials said.
Police arrested the driver,
whom they said was speeding.
The driver of the other vehicle
a livestock truck was injured
and is seeking compensation.
Men Chanrith, police chief of
Kandal Stung district, where
the accident occurred, said yes-
terday that 38 workers were
aboard the truck travelling
from Takeo province to Kam-
pong Speu. Chanrith is over-
seeing negotiations between
the drivers.
The traffic accident caused
by the garment truck occurs
often almost every year
because the drivers drive fast
in order to arrive at the factory
on time, he said.
According to data from the
governments National Social
Security Fund, 67 garment and
footwear workers were killed
during commutes to factories
in 2013, up from 49 in 2012.
CNRP official to skip court
Meas Sokchea
F
ORMER parliamentary
candidate and opposi-
tion information chief
Meach Sovannara
said yesterday that he would
not appear in court today for
questioning related to charges
stemming from a violent op-
position protest in July.
Speaking to the Post from
abroad, Sovannara said he was
on a mission to South Korea,
Singapore and Thailand, and
would therefore be unable to
attend. Whats more, he added,
the court summons was invalid
because it listed his name, age
and title incorrectly.
I will not flee. I respect the
law, and I will go to clarify [the
matter] when the court [sum-
monses me] properly according
to the procedure of the law,
Sovannara said. In other coun-
tries, when someone is sum-
monsed with a misspelled name
and the wrong age, he will not
appear for clarification.
Sovannara said his lawyer,
Chan Chen, would submit to
questioning by investigating
judge Keo Mony on his behalf.
Mony issued a summons on
August 12 ordering Sovannara
to answer questions regarding
a Cambodia National Rescue
Party protest on July 15 during
which demonstrators turned
on the notoriously violent
Daun Penh district security
guards, injuring several. A
handful of opposition leaders
were arrested and charged in
the aftermath of the demon-
stration, a move that the oppo-
sition and civil society decried
as politically motivated.
Though most of the others
arrested are now covered by
parliamentary immunity,
Sovannara, who ran unsuccess-
fully for a seat in Banteay
Meanchey, is not.
Chen, Sovannaras lawyer, said
he and his client had planned to
appear together but that if
Sovannara was unable, he would
appear alone on his behalf. He
also maintained that his client
would not flee the charges,
because he was innocent.
I understand that my client
did not do anything wrong; he
is an honest citizen, Chen
said. He [was present at] the
incident, but based on the
video, he did not do anything
illegal. So I [am not] worried
that there will be any arrest,
and I hope the judge will offer
justice for him.
Investigating judge Mony
declined to comment.
Protesters attack a member of the Daun Penh security force with makeshift weapons near Phnom Penhs
Freedom Park in July after a demonstration turned violent. VIREAK MAI
National
5
THE PHNOM PENH POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
National
6
THE PHNOM PENH POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
Theatregoers treated
to unexpected live show
TWO robbers scored their 15
seconds of fame on Saturday
when they foolishly put on a
show literally in front of an
audience. A crowd was gath-
ered outside a cinema in the
capitals Chamkarmon district
when two men snatched a
purse from a woman. Security
guards were among those who
witnessed the robbery and
quickly pounced, detaining the
pair until police arrived. In a
rather predictable final scene,
the robbers admitted to com-
mitting similar acts before.
KAMPUCHEATHMEY
Dancing pickpocket fails
to waltz away after heist
SOME slick moves on the
dance floor resulted in a man
losing his wallet in a Siha-
noukville nightclub on Satur-
day. Police said a 30-year-old
man was arrested for pick-
pocketing a fellow patron as
they strutted their stuff. The
suspect had one move too
many for the unsuspecting vic-
tim, who soon noticed his wal-
let was gone and shouted for
help. Security intervened by
briefly sending the beats-per-
minute counter off the charts
before police arrived. KAM-
PUCHEA THMEY
Illegal lotto leader finds
that the fuzz always win
LUCK ran out on Saturday for a
Kampong Cham town man
who had struck it rich running
an illegal lottery ring out of his
house. After suspecting that
the numbers of visitors to the
house just didnt amount to
anything legal, police raided
the place. Upon seeing the
game was up, customers took
a punt on making a dash for it
and successfully shook their
would-be captors. Lady Luck
was not so generous to the
owner, who was arrested and
sent to court. DEUMAMPIL
Sword-wielding gang
cuts evenings fun short
AFTER a boozy night out at a
shady club in the capitals Sen
Sok district, three men encoun-
tered some even shadier char-
acters on their way home.
According to police, the trio was
driving in a not-so-straight line
home when they were con-
fronted by a gang demanding
they relinquish their motorbike.
Showing he meant business,
one of the suspects waved a
sword at the trio, before a brawl
broke out. The thugs had the
better of the scrap, escaping
with the clubbers motorbike.
KOHSANTEPHEAP
Little packet of meth
leads to a lot of trouble
ANOTHER police raid netted
more alleged small-time deal-
ers in Siem Reap town on Sat-
urday. Acting on a tip-off, the
cops stormed into a rental
room and emerged with a
small package of yama. It was
all the evidence they needed to
arrest two women. A confes-
sion soon followed and they
now are bound for court.
DEUMAMPIL
Translated by Sen David
POLICE
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