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Should authorities be blamed on Koh Pich Issue?

December 22, 2010

Inform, Personal Interest/Experience, Uncategorized

[soundcloud width=”100{0a5c1eeb84ccc7c2d601964b33dd4fc73dc6a68f91616e3e53041e90b1033ab3}” height=”81″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=ff7700″ url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8309634″] Should authorities be blamed on Koh Pich Issue by saoyuth

My radio production course assigned me to do a commentary with my friend under a topic “Should authorities be blamed on Koh Pich Issue?”. My friend is on an opposing site that he think that the authorities should be blamed while I am on a supporting side that I have to stat that authorities should not be blamed.

We’ve just finished it as a radio course assignment and we’d like to share this piece with all of you. Cheers,

Relatives blessing for the deceased / by: Dara Saoyuth

Cue/Introduction: Diamond bridge stampede claimed some 350 people’s lives and injured hundreds last month, on the last day of water festival. Critics and a number of people have been complaining about the tragic incident. They put blame on the authorities for the reason that they have not managed the event well. However, some people have the ideas that no one should be blamed for the incident.

Our program is going to have commentary on the topic “Should the government be blamed for the incident?” Our commentators Sun Narin and Dara Saoyuth will express their point of view on the issue.

Sun Narin (Opposing site): I could not imagine how such incident happen on that day? People got jammed on the bridge and could not get out. Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Sen said that “Nobody will be punished for the incident.”

However, Sam Rainsy opposition party Son Chhay pushed the ruling government to identify the people responsible for “organizing the festival and handling the crowd” and wanted them to be fired from the position. This includes Phnom Penh governor, head of the police and interior ministry.

In my opinion, the government at least should take actions with those officials because they are irresponsible for their duty.

Phnom Penh municipality, relevant ministry and police did not perform their work responsibly and carefully. Why didn’t police facilitate the people’s crossing the bridge? There is not a lot of police force deploying at the incident place at that time.

Moreover, the bridge is for the exit only, why people were allowed to get in and out? This is the reason causing the mass deaths. Why didn’t police deal with that problem?

Police could not help the victims urgently when the incident happened, keeping people stuck in the crowdedness more than 2 hours. This caused more people dead because of the suffocation in the stampede.

Finally, the organizing people don’t plan the ceremony well. They are not well-prepared to be ready for the unplanned incident. Comparing to other countries, when there is the some special event like that the government must guarantee that the safety for people. They are very careless about this.

I think this is the mass unprecedented deaths, so all these officials should be taken off from the position as the example for the other people.

Dara Saoyuth (Supporting site): Even though most Cambodians can think only who should be blamed when talking about tragedy on Koh Pich, to me, it is an opportunity to learn rather than focus on blame finding.

During the water festival, truck or big cars were not allowed to enter the city and even tuktuk couldn’t drive along riverside to avoid traffic jam and accident. I dared to say that Phnom Penh authorities were well-planned for the festival.

This year, people moved into the city more than the authority expectation, that in the evening of 22 November 2010, the accident happened. There are many reasons causing stampede including the lack of people morality that they push each other back and forth? Why should only authorities be blamed?

As we can see, immediately after the accident, the authorities were trying to help the victims in many ways.

The government ordered the Ministry of Health to pay much attention to the victims and also some officers to send dead people to their provinces with free of charge. The Phnom Penh Capital Hall also started reporting on the tragedy instantly and kept updating with new announcement related to the incident.

No one wants this to happen and also nothing can be changed. Now we should better find the solution instead of blaming.

One facebooker, Samsokrith Chhaly, urges the public to think of those who died during the Water Festival as heroes because they gave us priceless lesson for next year’s preparation. When development sides establish in Cambodia next time, I’m sure that they will think first about an effective risk management system.

Conclusion by Dara Saoyuth:

After listening to both supporting and opposing sides, do you still think that government should be blamed for the tragedy? If yes, what can you get from that? I know that it is Cambodian habit to accuse each other when something bad happen, but I suggest you to be more positive by considering it as a lesson. Again, no one should be blamed. Critics should take the effective risk management system for considering rather than putting blame.

By: Dara Saoyuth & Sun Narin

22/12/2010

Photos in the aftermath of Koh Pich accident (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
The first time to Koh Pich after a tragedy (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Water Festival Ends in Tragedy (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Telling the story of a tragedy (saoyuth.wordpress.com)

KON appears on WEEKEND issue of The Cambodia Daily

December 13, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

1 Comment

An article about the magazine, KON: The Cinema of Cambodia, appears on WEEKEND issue of the Cambodia Daily newspaper issue 665 published on December 11-12, 2010. Though it’s months after the magazine launching, still, I feel happy to see more and more people start to write about it.

Let’s check the original article below:

KON on The Cambodia Daily Newspaper

Dara Saoyuth

13/12/2010

KON Magazine Launching (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
KON appears on 7D of the Phnom Penh Post newspaper (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Launch of “Kon. The Cinema of Cambodia” (http://southeastasiancinema.wordpress.com/)

Getting work done

December 8, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

A girl is testing some tools during a seminar

Most students strongly agree that a university education is crucial for their future. After graduating from high school, they enter university to pursue their studies by choosing majors, or subjects, they prefer such as law, information technology, economics, management and so forth. They pay some school fees for their bachelor’s degree over a four-year period.

Those who cannot afford to go to a university or are not interested in getting an education at a higher level are able to attend vocational training, which is traditionally non-academic and focuses on a particular skill, such as sewing or making technical repairs.

There are vocational training centres throughout the country, teaching people how to repair motors, electronics, hairdressing and make-up, clothing and cooking.

Kong Kolline, a master craftsman and also a trainer at the Socheat Beauty School where students’ studíes include steaming, styling hair, skin polishing and nail decorating, said her students were a mix of people from the countryside and those who live in the city.

“They cannot catch up with school lessons and some think they only have to spend a little time doing vocational training and they can earn a living by opening their own business,” said Kong Kolline.

This idea was echoed by Chhun Chhea, 26, who came to Phnom Penh from Takeo province to learn how to become a mechanic and fix cars. Chhun Chhea said he had spent one year at university and he stopped to learn how to repair cars and then started working in this field after studying for one year.

“I quit studying at university because I didn’t have enough money and my brain seems not to be designed for studying,” said Chhun Chhea, who explained that he faced some challenges because he had never had to use his mechanical skills before, but he had adjusted and now loved this job.

He said that after getting vocational training it was easy to earn good money, not like working in an administrative office job where people earned little money.

“I just repair a small part which doesn’t take long and I get $5 to $6 or more than that,” he said, adding that completing a university course takes a long time, but people who join the workforce also have to learn new skills, and he is now on his way to opening his own garage.

The Vimean Tep Technical School opened more than 20 years ago and has more than 200 students now studying there. It is a vocational training center in Phnom Penh where students can learn skills that include how to repair cars, motors, phones, televisions, radios, electronics and air-conditioners.

Chab Siphat, a director and trainer at Vimean Tep Technical School, said the number of students studying at his school keeps increasing because people see that their graduates are getting jobs. “Vocational subjects are easy to earn money from, take little time, cost less money and can help you earn a living for life, the same as those who go to study at university,” said Chab Siphat, who added that those who cannot read or write can still learn skills, although it gets hard for them to remember things if they cannot write things down or read.

At Vimean Tep Technical School, students can learn how to repair motors by spending only US$120, or they can spend $350 and learn how to repair telephones.

Lao Heum, the director of the department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, said vocational training is a good way to reduce unemployment and poverty in the country because vocational training enables youth to gain enough ability and capacity to enter the work force.

“We need only one or two engineers if we want to construct a building, while we cannot hire only one or two construction workers or technicians to build it, so we need a lot of vocational workers in the country,” said Lao Heum.

According to the Labor and Social Trends in Cambodia 2010 report from the National Institute of Statistics, with support from the International Labour Organisation, the Kingdom “desperately requires” skilled labour – such as mechanics, electrical technicians and workers in the hospitality industry – that is where the bulk of employment is being created.

“Most young people in Cambodia are studying majors such as accounting and management, which is also good, but if more and more people go into these fields, finding jobs will become more and more difficult,” said Tun Sophorn, a National Coordinator for Cambodia at the International Labour Organisation.

“I want the media as well as the relevant institutions to help broadcast the fact that parents should guide their children to study skills according to the marketplace and not just follow one another so they will not face problems in finding a job,” said Lao Heum.

By: Dara Saoyuth and Touch YinVannith

This article was published on Lift, Issue 48 published on December 08, 2010

You can also read the article on Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

Related Articles:

Seminar on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
The Value of Trade and Technical Schools to Students Eager to Start Their Careers (otctech.wordpress.com)

Chance for all Cambodian women

December 8, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

I’ve just received an e-mail which later found it’s very useful and interesting, especially for Cambodian women.

Let’s find out about the Indradevi Award!

Please feel free to pass it on.

For more information, CLICK HERE to go to its official website!

Indradevi Hope Award_English

Indradevi Hope Award_Khmer

Dara Saoyuth

08/12/2010

យុវជនកំពុងប្រើប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ីនធឺណិតដើម្បីផ្សព្វផ្សាយសំឡេងរបស់ពួកគេទៅកាន់ពិភពលោកទាំងមូល

December 2, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIFT, Personal Interest/Experience

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

Image via CrunchBase

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លី ទីណេត ជាជនជាតិខ្មែរម្នាក់ទៀតដែលកំពុងតែបន្តការសិក្សាផ្នែកសេដ្ឋ កិច្ច ជនបទ និងសង្គមវិទ្យា នៅក្នុងប្រទេសវៀតណាម បានឱ្យដឹងថាគាត់ទទួលព័ត៌មានពីព្រឹតិ្តការណ៍ដ៏សោកសៅនេះតាមរយៈ គេហទំព័រ www.khmerlive.tv ដែលបានធ្វើការផ្សាយផ្ទាល់ក្នុងរយៈពេលបីថ្ងៃនៃព្រះរាជពិធី បុណ្យអុំទូក។ បន្ទាប់ពីទទួលដឹងព័ត៌មាននេះលី ទីណេតក៏បានផ្លាស់ប្តូររូបសម្គាល់ខ្លួននៅក្នុង Facebook ហើយក៏បានសសេរជាសារខ្លីៗទាក់ទងនឹងព្រឹត្តិការណ៍កោះពេជ្រដាក់ នៅ លើផ្ទាំង Facebook របស់គាត់ផងដែរ។

លី ទីណេត បានឱ្យដឹងថា៖ «ខ្ញុំធ្វើការផ្លាស់ប្តូររូបភាពក៏ដូចជាសរសេរអ្វីផ្សេងៗទាំង នេះ គឺចង់ចូលរួមរំលែកទុក្ខជាមួយនឹងក្រុមគ្រួសារជនរងគ្រោះ នឹងដើម្បីបង្ហាញថាប្រជាជនខ្មែរតែងតែចេះជួយគ្នា និងយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ចំពោះគ្នានៅពេលដែលមានរឿងហេតុអាក្រក់កើត ឡើងម្តងៗ»។

ក្រៅពី Facebook អ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាអាចរកឃើញអត្ថបទជាច្រើន ត្រូវបានសរសេរឡើងដោយជនជាតិខ្មែរ និងបង្ហាញនៅលើប្លុកផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនរបស់ពួកគេក្នុងទម្រង់ផ្សេងៗ គ្នា។ ចំពោះអ្នកមួយចំនួន ពួកគេគ្រាន់តែអានព័ត៌មានដែលធ្វើការចុះផ្សាយតាមរយៈស្ថាប័នពត៌ មានផ្សេងៗរួចធ្វើការសង្ខេបព័ត៌មានទាំងនោះសម្រាប់ដាក់ក្នុង ប្លុករបស់ពួកគេតែម្តង។ ចំណែកអ្នកខ្លះបានព្យាយាមបង្ហាញនូវទស្សនៈ ក៏ដូចជាការប៉ាន់ស្មានទៅលើអ្វីដែលបានកើតឡើងចំពោះព្រឹត្តិ ការណ៍នេះ។

ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋ ជាម្ចាស់ប្លុកឈ្មោះ កំណត់ហេតុពិសិដ្ឋ (http://mpsinfor.wordpress.com ) ហើយលោកបានសរសេរអត្ថបទចំនួនពីរផ្សេងៗគ្នាទាក់ទងនឹង ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍កើតឡើងនៅកោះពេជ្រ។ ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋ បានឱ្យដឹងថាគាត់ចូលចិត្តសរសេរប្លុកដោយសារតែ ប្លុកចំពោះគាត់គឺសម្រាប់ជាកំណត់ហេតុផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនផង និងអាចមានជាប្រយោជន៍ដល់អ្នកដទៃដែលបានអានផងដែរ។ នៅក្នុងអត្ថបទទាំងពីររបស់គាត់ ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋ បញ្ចេញនូវទស្សនផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនដើម្បីបង្ហាញនូវការបារម្ភ និងដើម្បីជួយឱ្យអ្នកដែលបានអានគិតឡើងវិញនូវរាល់ពាក្យចចាម អារាម ផ្សេងៗដែលទាក់ទងនឹងសោកនាដកម្ម។

ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋមានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំគិតថាអ្វីដែលបានកើតឡើងនៅកោះពេជ្រមិនមែនជារឿងធម្មតា នោះទេ ព្រោះមនុស្សម្នានៅតែបន្តកាន់ទុក្ខចំពោះអ្នកដែលបានស្លាប់បាត់ បង់ជីវិត»។ លោកបន្តថាគាត់មិនចង់ឱ្យអ្នកដែលនៅរស់រានមានជីវិតកាន់តែមាន ការភ័យខ្លាចជាមួយនឹងពាក្យចចាមអារាមផ្សេងៗនោះទេ ហេតុនេះទើបគាត់សរសេរទាក់ទងពីកត្តាទាំងអស់នេះដាក់ ក្នុងប្លុករបស់គាត់។ អត្ថបទភាគច្រើនរបស់ ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋ ត្រូវបានសរសេរជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស ប៉ុន្តែសម្រាប់រឿងទាំងពីរនេះត្រូវបានសរសេរជាភាសារខ្មែរដោយមាន បកប្រែជាភាសាអង់គ្លេសនៅពីខាងក្រោម។

ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋបានឱ្យដឹងថា៖ «ខ្ញុំព្យាយាមសរសេររឿងទាំងនេះជាពីរភាសា គឺដើម្បីឱ្យអ្នកទស្សនាទាំងជនបរទេស ទាំងជនជាតិខ្មែរអាចអានបាន។ បុរសអាយុ ២៦ឆ្នាំរូបនេះបានបន្តថា ចំពោះអ្នកដែលមិនមានពុម្ពអក្សរយូនីកូដ ពួកគាត់ក៏អាចអានជាភាសាអង់គ្លេសបានដែរ។

ទាក់ទងនឹងការដែលថាតើ អត្ថបទទាំងអស់នេះនឹងត្រូវបាន ផ្សព្វផ្សាយទៅដល់អ្នកទស្សនា បានច្រើនប៉ុណ្ណានោះ ម៉ៅ ពិសិដ្ឋ បានឱ្យដឹងថាគាត់មិនធានាថាវាអាចទៅដល់មនុស្សច្រើននោះទេ តែបើតាមស្ថិតិក្នុងប្លុករបស់គាត់បញ្ជាក់ថាវាបានទៅដល់មនុស្ស ច្រើនគួរសមដែរ ហើយបើយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ក៏ពាក់កណ្តាលនៃ មិត្តភក្តិរបស់គាត់ជាង៧០០នាក់នៅក្នុងFacebook បានអានអំពីវាដែរ ព្រោះ តែគាត់បានចែករំលែកវានៅក្នុង Facebook ផងដែរ។

បើទោះបីជាព័ត៌មានដែលចេញមកពីបណ្តាញសង្គមទាំងអស់នេះត្រូវ បាន គេចាត់ទុកថាជាព័ត៌មានក្រៅផ្លូវការដោយសារតែមិនមានអ្នកត្រួត ពិនិត្យមុនពេលបោះពុម្ព យ៉ាងហោចណាស់ក៏វាបានផ្តល់នូវព័ត៌មាននិងសាវតានៃរឿងទៅដល់ អ្នកដែលមិនទាន់បានដឹងសោះពីព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ណាមួយនោះដែរ៕

By: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 47 published on December 02, 2010

You can also read the article on Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

Telling the story of a tragedy

December 2, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIFT, Personal Interest/Experience

Relatives blessing for the deceased / by: Dara Saoyuth

Having come to Phnom Penh to pursue higher education from my home in the province, it is rare that I have a few days off to visit my family. So, rather than joining the millions of people who came to Phnom Penh, I made the opposite trip and went home for the festival weekend.

I was sound asleep in my parents’ house, enjoying the comforts of familiar places, when my parents woke me up. I was rather annoyed, seeing that it was 2am, but once I understood what they were telling me, questions began to come to my mind, which was having an impossible time accepting that hundreds of people have actually died on the Koh Pich bridge.

Most of the questions involved the status of my friends still in the city and I frantically dialed numbers and sent out messages to find out if people were okay. Some of my friends had a similar reaction to mine upon being woken up – annoyed – but it was worth it to me to hear their voices.

I left the province at 7am, with few of my initial questions answered. As soon as I finished my lunch upon my return to the city, I hurriedly put my camera, recorder, notebook and a bottle of water into my backpack and rushed to the Phnom Penh Post office. I was asked by my editor to help another reporter, who was from America, to shoot a documentary about the event. After being so far away from the event earlier in the day, I was anxious to find out what really happened in my nation.

The Cambodian -Russian Friendship Hospital was teeming with crowds of victims’ relatives as we arrived. I immediately became overwhelmed by sadness, but this was the truth I wanted to see. For those involved in the stampede, desperation was the only emotion there was in the days after the stampede. We spent almost an hour walking around the hospital and nothing like tiredness even crossed my mind. I was too filled with sympathy and pity to consider anything else.

There were two big boards with victims’ photos stuck on either side. Some people burst into tears when they saw photos of their relatives lying dead. I couldn’t imagine. My friends and family were okay but I was still barely able to look at the rows of photos.

I talked with a girl who was among the many family members roaming the halls and tending to their kin. I talked to a girl who said her aunt was still alive in a nearby room, but was unable to move any part of her body. She said a few more words, but then stopped. As her eyes filled with tears, I couldn’t bear to ask any more questions or push her to talk more. My heart truly ached for her and all the others in her situation.

The fact that I was carrying a camera bag and a tripod, along with a fixed camera hanging around my neck, didn’t exactly make me inconspicuous; and as I walked by, I heard people whisper that another foreign journalist was there to cover their tragedy. I was proud that I looked like a professional to these people, but I also felt like I should put down all of this stuff and help calm people who were crying, carry coffins into the truck, or care for those still suffering. This was the first time I had been assigned a story like this, and it made me realise how difficult it must be for journalists to balance their duty to tell the story of terrible events and help the desperate people around them.

I wanted to separate my job that day from my feelings, but I simply couldn’t. This is my country and these were fellow Cambodians suffering around me. I kept imagining how terrible it would feel just to find out that someone I know was among the people who died that night on the bridge. If it was someone I truly loved I can’t imagine how bad it would hurt.

I arrived home with an overwhelming sense of sadness hanging on me. I called my friends who also helped report the story and they were also unable to shake the depression and fear that the day’s events had inspired. I thought about how the water festival has always been a happy time for Cambodian people, and whether that would ever be true again.

By: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 47 published on December 02, 2010

You can also read the article on Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

Water Festival Ends in Tragedy (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Photos in the aftermath of Koh Pich accident (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Cambodia stampede: ‘Bodies stacked upon bodies’ in Phnom Penh tragedy (guardian.co.uk)

Watching a new Cambodian film, Kiles

November 14, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform, LIFT, Personal Interest/Experience

2 Comments

If you read LIFT issue 44, you’ll know what a reporter wrote for this week in what’s new section. No wonder, it’s a review of a Cambodian drama film, Kiles (literally translate as Passion), written by Mao Ayuth, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Information.

After reading the review, I was so eager to watch the film. Fortunately, I received a free ticket from one of my friends, so Saturday afternoon was my second time I went to lux cinema watching films.

I don’t remember my first time in this cinema, but for this time, one thing I’ve noticed is that most of the audiences are teenagers who mostly walk in with their partners and some were still wearing school uniforms as if they were entering classroom. Before the film started, I was on my seat trying to fathom out the reason why there are small number of adults in the theater. Unfortunately, the film had started before I could find the answer, so let me give you a floor to come up with the answer to my doubt.

Below is the original review of the film written by Tet Chan, a LIFT reporter. Cheers,

Kiles poster

Perhaps you have heard stories about life in Cambodia during French colonization. Maybe you are even an expert on the period, but I’m certainly not. Hoping to learn more about postWorld War II Cambodia, I went with my friends to see Kiles, the newest movie to hit Cambodia’s theatres, and the first production by the Cambodia Film Commission, a government- funded initiative meant to raise the standard of Cambodian film.

The sounds of chanting plays over the opening scene as an old rich man named Kiles is lying in bed, lonely and weak. It doesn’t look like he has long to live, but, as luck would have it, the frail fellow recovers and returns to live with his four wives and countless servants.

The news keeps getting better for the geezer when one of these servants reads his palm and tells him that his fifth wife will be a beautiful young woman. Kiles isn’t a man to wait around for fortune to find him, so he tells his future-seeing househelp to track down someone who owes him money and demand that they give him their daughter’s hand in marriage to clear their debt.

The unfortunate and indebted man who the servant finds conveniently has a beautiful daughter named Teuy. Her devoted boyfriend Plok is a cremator, and he has been taking the golden coins from the mouths of corpses to save for their wedding. When the servant comes knocking he has 99 of the 100 coins needed to get engaged.

Close doesn’t cut it for Teuy’s father, who predictably agrees to marry her off to erase his debts.

It’s not long before old man Kiles and young beauty Teuy are preparing to be married. I’m not a movie-spoiler, so I’m not gonna tell you what happens next. I’ll say that it’s not as predictable as the plot I described thus far.

In some ways the movie seemed to sugggest it would be a sad love story, but that’s not how it was recieved. My friends and I laughed with the rest of the audience during much of the movie, especially a series of scenes showing Plok trying to commit suicide, once by taking a bowl, filling it with water and immersing his head in an attempt to drown. His efforts are so obviously futile that moviegoers don’t have to worry about his pending death. Plok isn’t a complete coward though, in another scene he puts his life on the line to steal his woman from the decrepit dude who stole her away … I’ll let you find out what happens when you see the movie. Feel free to thank me later.

While some of the scenes were silly, others were quite beautiful; with music and gorgeous Cambodian scenery that made me feel a bit of nationalistic pride while being entertained. It was refreshing to see a Cambodian movie with decent acting and voices that are actually recorded during production.

I was quite happy with my decision to spend an hour and half immersed in scenes and stories from Cambodia’s past. You too will have a new perspective on our history, and although some parts of the plot and character development were a bit thin, I walked out of the theatre optimistic about the future of Cambodian film.

Kiles is a unique type of filem in Cambodia these days. It was enjoyable to watch.

“I was happy having spent 90 minutes immersed in scenes from Cambodia’s past.”

14/11/2010

You can also read the article in LIFT, the Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

57th anniversary of Cambodian Independence

November 9, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

It’s another holiday for us! Does anyone know the reason why today is the day-off?

Yes, we know!

Today is the 57^th anniversary of Cambodian independence and it’s the special day that all Cambodians will never forget.

Independent Monument during daytime / by: Dara Saoyuth

Cambodia was under protectorate of France from 1863 to 1953 and King Norodom Sihanouk, father of the nation, played an important role in gaining independent for Cambodia. On this day in 1953, he declared the country has independent from French colonial.

In 1958, the Independence Monument, a 20-meter tall, red-stone structure standing in the city center at the intersection of Norodom and Sihanouk Blvd., was inaugurated to commemorate the declaration of Cambodia’s independent from French colonial. It’s shaped is like a lotus and it was built in the Angkorian style. It consists of five levels with a hundred snake heads.

Independent Monument during daytime / by: Dara Saoyuth

Independent monument in nighttime / by: Dara Saoyuth

Source: 1. Microsoft Student 2009 DVD

2. Cambodia Picture House Website

by: Dara Saoyuth

09/11/2010

Nokia press launch N8 & C7 in Cambodia

November 3, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

The Nokia N8 has just been launched in Cambodia last Thursday (28 October, 2010) and now it’s available in any mobile shop in Phnom Penh and in some provinces in the kingdom. The Nokia N8 comes with large 3.5 inches touch screen with resolution of 640 x 320 pixels and is available in five colors including dark grey, silver white, green, blue and orange. I surfed the internet this morning and saw the price of Nokia N8 in a phone shop in Phnom Penh, HAKSE, is $530.

I’m very lucky to be invited to join the launching event at Himawari hotel organized by Nokia International (Cambodia) and Phibious (Cambodia) Ltd. In the launching event, William Hamilton-Whyte, General Manager of Nokia Indochina, mentioned that Nokia N8 is very suitable for businessmen whose jobs need them to travel to many places to do any presentation. “With Nokia N8, we can do our slide presentation, show video from phone with good quality, and do something more than this,” said William Hamilton-Whyte.

Below are some photos taken at the event. Enjoy!

[slideshow]

Also read: Reputation with NOKIA Symbian^3 N8 & C7

by: Dara Saoyuth

03/11/2010

After BarCamp Phnom Penh [3]

September 28, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform, Personal Interest/Experience

Though it finished two days ago, I do still remember well about BarCamp Phnom Penh [3], an open technology conference which everyone has chance to express and share their knowledge in any topic related to technology.

This year marks the 3rd time of BarCamp celebration in Cambodia, but it is the first time for me to join as a volunteer for the event. Coming from different places is not a problem since they share the same interest of getting and sharing information.

I missed people who had been working together in organizing the event since one month before 25th-26th September, 2010. We are all getting to know each other clearly when we work and have meal together for three days (one day before the event and two days in the event).

So far, I have added some of those who have facebook account and hopefully those who not yet have the account can create it soon so that we are able to keep in touch together.

Below are volunteer names in BarCamp Phnom Penh [3] that I can find. If anyone cannot see their name, please let me know by any mean for example by email (dara_saoyuth@yahoo.com) so that I will update it as soon as possible.

1. Chea Raksmy 2. Chea Sideith 3. Cheng Bunkheang 4. Chhan Putheary 5. Chhon Meily 6. Dara Saoyuth 7. Vireak Heng 8. Sokchannaroath 9. Khe Longsean 10. Khuoch Khemrath 11. Khuoch Khemren 12. Koam Tivea 13. Long Chanveasna 14. Ly YouY 15. Moung Vandy 16. moung Vathanak 17. Neang Maneth 18. Pen Pichdaro 19. Phay Paty 20. Phoan Putheary 21. Samnang Vitheavy 22. Sath Sokun 23. Sok Eng 24. Soy Somnoup 25. Sroeung Setharoth 26. Sun Narin 27. Tang Khyhay 28. Thon Daravuth 29. Ung Rithpornsak 30. Veng Rachana 31. Voeun Sopheap 32. Vorn Sophea

Tag - Asia

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Getting work done

Chance for all Cambodian women

Telling the story of a tragedy

Watching a new Cambodian film, Kiles

57th anniversary of Cambodian Independence

Nokia press launch N8 & C7 in Cambodia

After BarCamp Phnom Penh [3]

To see some photo from the event click the link below:

1. BarCamp Phnom Penh [3] first day

2. BarCamp Phnom Penh [3] second day

3. Volunteers take their certificates

To see some articles related to the event click the link below:

1. Why BarCamp in Phnom Penh by Tharum Bun

2. BarCamp Phnom Penh 2010 by Vutha