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LOLEI
TRAVEL (CAMBODIA) Office:
N°91, str. 141, Sangkat Beoung Prolit Kh 7 Makara. 12252 Phnom Penh. Mail:
P.O. Box: 1395, 12202 Phnom Penh. Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel./Fax (855 23) 21 00 89, Mobile: (855
12) 80 60 33, E-Mail: [email protected] Newsletter Cambodia, May 2000
PHNOM PENH One
Tourist Dead in Ferry Accident on Tonle Sap River
Cambodia Daily, 27th
April 00 A
Taiwanese tourist drowned Wednesday morning when an overloaded ferry returning
from Siem Reap sank in the Tonle Sap River near Kompong Chhnang town,
officials and witnesses said. It
was the second incident in a month involving the popular ferry service to and
from Siem Reap. In March, masked gunman hijacked a boat, beat passengers and
stole thousands of dollars in cash and goods. A
government official vowed a full investigation, including why the ferry was
overloaded. In
all, 59 people were rescued from the ferry on Wednesday. One Taiwanese man
drowned, but has not yet been identified, according to Sou Phiri, governor of
Kompong Chhnang. The
ferry from Siem Reap had crossed the lake and had entered the adjoining river
that leads to Phnom Penh when it was apparently swamped by a wave. Sou Phiri
said it sank about 10 km from Kompong Chhnang town, about 100 km north of the
capital. A
ticket seller for Royal ferry, who asked not be named, said the boat hit a
tree stump in the water shortly after 10 am and sank almost immediately. The
boat owner went to the scene of the accident at 2 pm. German
tourist Peter Fonzen, 49, was riding on the boat’s roof when suddenly
passengers from the cabin started pouring out soaking wet. He said the ferry
was under water in a matter of minutes. “It
lurched to one side, then the other, and into the water,’ Fonzen said. “it
happened very quickly. Everyone was screaming.” Fonzen
was able to pull a woman from the fast-sinking cabin of the boat, but the
Taiwanese man was apparently unable to escape. “We’re
very, very lucky this happened where it did, on the river close to a bank,”
he said. “if it happened out on the lake ..who knows how many would
survive.” Cambodia’s
Ministry of Tourism scrambled to respond to their second public relations
nightmare in a month. Tourism
Minister Veng Sereyvuth said the sinking of the boat was unfortunate, but
emphasized that violence was not involved like in the hijacking. “It’s
unfortunate because tourism has picked up, but I don’t think this will have
a long-term effect,” Veng Sereyvuth said. After
the hijacking, which resulted in several arrests, Tourism Ministry officials
met with boat owners, Interior Ministry officials and others to discuss
security issues. Veng Sereyvuth said another such meeting is necessary to talk
about passenger’s safety. “We
have to revise all these procedures,” he said. “The whole thing has to be
looked at carefully, from improving security to forming more regulations to
ensure passenger safety.” Sambo
Chey, secretary of state for Tourism, called Wednesday’s news “very
shocking.” “Let
me just say that we are very regretful to hear this news…Our condolences are
with the family of the deceased.” He
said the government would investigate reports of overloading. The Royal’s
capacity was 50 people, but witnesses and authorities said 60 passengers were
packed aboard, plus luggage. The ferry company declined comment on reports of
overloading. “We
have had people on occasion complain that often the boats are taking on more
than they are supposed,” Sambo Chey said. PHNOM PENH Siem
Reap Boat Capacity Limits are Enforced
Cambodia Daily, 2th
May 00 In the wake of highly
publicized incidents involving tourist boats in Siem Reap, police are cracking
down on overcrowding. Police confirmed Monday that
a boat owned by Chann Na Speed Boat was stopped Friday as it was about to
leave the dock in Siem Reap for the 7 am trip to Phnom Penh. The boat, with a capacity of
55 passengers, carried 75 people. Police also said it was not equipped with
enough live preservers, and that the crew could not produce the proper
license. The boat was allowed to leave
at 10:30 am after 20 passengers were removed and additional life preservers
were located. Police said they only let the boat go without the license
because a number of passengers had air-planes to catch in Phnom Penh. A Taiwanese tourist drowned
April 27 when a Royal boat coming back from Siem Reap sank near Kompong
Chhnang, about 100 km north from Phnom Penh. That boat was authorized to carry
50 passengers, but witnesses said it carried 60. Overcrowding is not the only
problem faced by Siem Reap boats. On March 22, seven men hijacked a Chann Na
boat as it travelled from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap; 90 passengers were robbed
of thousands of dollars in money and valuables. Tourism officials, aware the
incidents generated negative headlines around the world, vowed to increase
security and seek tough new regulations on the Siem Reap boats. Ros Sarath, first deputy
police chief in Siem Reap, says police have resumed enforcing existing
regulations. “We just began this serious crackdown on overloading after the
repeated incidents,” he said. “We won’t be negligent from now on.” He said police had previously
been strict, but had been told by unidentified higher-ups, who were connected
to the boating companies, to look the other way on the overcrowding issue. “But now, we will no longer
[do that],” he said. Nuon Bophal, provincial
police chief, said his agency thinks the regulations should be even more
strict. He said he will suggest that a police officer ride aboard each boat to
guarantee its safety. Nam Tum, first deputy
governor of Siem Reap, said he is issuing new safety regulations, transferring
responsibility for enforcement in collaboration with police. “We must not allow the boat
overcrowding and overloading, and [we must] make them respect the standards”
of the public works department, he said. Those who persist in
violating the standards will first be warned; then fined from 3-5 million riel
($789-$1,316); and finally, lose their license, he said. PHNOM PENHNew Airline Approved, But Still Myst-erious Cambodia Daily 8th
May 00 Travel agents and tourism
officials were wondering Sunday if a new airline approved by the government
will operate as planned. The investment proposal of
Royal Khmer Airlines was approved earlier this year by the Council of
Ministers, and the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation issued it an airline
operator certificate last month, Civil Aviation’s Operation Director Kao
Sivoeurn said Sunday. But few government officials and industry
representatives on Sunday said they knew much about the proposed airline. “Concerning its
organisation, aircraft, flight destinations and marketing, they need to study
more before operating flight services,” Kao Sivoeurn said. “We’re not
sure when they will be able to start operation.” It was just a few days ago
that Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly criticized national carrier Royal Air
Cambodge for tardiness and unreliability. And tycoon Teng Bunma, one of the
most influential businessmen in Cambodia, also has made public his lack of
confidence in the national carrier. Kao Sivoeurn said Royal Khmer
Airlines has a local managing director but the civil aviation secretariat does
not know the planned airline’s primary owner or investor details. He said he
also did not know the routs it plans or what kind of planes it will use. Soy Sokhan, government
advisor on civil aviation and tourism, said Sunday that the government had
approved Royal Khmer Airlines to operate domestic and international flight
services, but he said he did not have information about its management plan or
financial resources. “Capital? I have no idea
about it,” Soy Sokhan said. Tourism officials welcomed an
addition into the flight marked. “We have the open-sky policy, and we are
promoting more attractive tourism, “said Tourism Minister Veng Sereyvuth.
“Sure, sure, it’s encouraging.” But Tith Chan Tha, deputy
chief for the ministry’s marketing, was cautions. “If it’s true, it’s
good news, because it would lead to competition, better services and more
gateways to Cambodia,” he said. Travel Agents share that
caution. A Cambodian agent said Royal Khmer Airlines has appeared on the
flight ticketing system since last month, but no flights are available to
book. “We don’t know if it’s a real airline or not.” she said, asking
to not be identified. Thach Ouk, commercial
director from Royal Air Cambodge, said Sunday the airline is “not
professional” and its management and operation are sketchy. “Royal Khmer Airlines is
not officially recognized yet. There [seems to be] no staff,” Thach Ouk
commented, adding that he unsuccessfully attempted to reach the airline by
telephone. He said Royal Khmer Airlines
had apparently contacted Shanghai Airlines in China, which Royal Air Cambodge
is beginning to cooperate with. SIEM REAP Logging Damages Historical Siem Reap Canal Cambodia Daily, 9th
May 00 DEUTSCHE PRESSE AGENTUR Until last year, the Stung Siem Reap was a deep canal running through the
heart of one of Cambodia’s most popular tourist towns. Now the river is dotted with sandbars and slows to just a trickle in some
parts of town. This picturesque and historic canal-dug centuries ago by the ancient
Angkor empire-is drying up because of erosion caused by logging, officials
say. It is an example in Cambodia of the dangers of unchecked logging that
environmentalists have been warning of for years. The damage is spoiling a popular strolling site for tourists who come to
see the world-famous Angkor temples nearby. More importantly, it endangers the
livelihoods of thousands who depend on the fishing waters for food. Although Cambodians refer to the Stung Siem Reap as a river, the part
that runs through town is actually a canal built as part of the extensive
irrigation system of the 9th to 15th century Angkor
empire. Environmental officials say the problem in the canal is caused by illegal
logging on the nearby Phnom Kulen mountain. “The river source has been destroyed by those who have power,” said
Chhay Samith, chief of conservation for the Ministry of Environment. When the forests in nearby Phnom Kulen mountain were cut down, he
explained, soil no longer contained by roots eroded into the river. The
sediment flowed down the mountain and into the Stung Siem Reap, filling it up
and drying it out. For the past five years, the once-pristine forest of Phnom Kulen have
been logged by unknown people, according to the environmental watchdog Global
Witness. After decades of being held by Khmer Rouge guerrillas, Phnom Kulen has
been mostly under control of Royal Cambodian Army Force Region 4 for the past
few years. In June 1998, a 2,400-hectare concession was granted to Military Region 4
in Phnom Kulen, which had been designated by royal decree in 1993 as a
protected area. David Ashwell from Global Witness said the river damage is exactly the
type of problem that the watchdog has been warning of for years. “It’s so predictable, really,” he said. The group has warned that
if Cambodia does not curb the unchecked logging of the past five years, the
country’s forests essentially will be “logged out” within three years. The long-term results of that could affect another primary national
resource-the huge Tonle Sap lake that supplies most of the country’s fish,
the food source which makes up more than 60 percent of Cambodian’s protein
intake. The drying up this year of the Stung Siem Reap could be a foretaste of
environmental damage to come. Ashwell said that while the coming rainy season will likely refill the
canal, it will also bring more sediment, making the problem potentially worse
next year. Officials are undecided about what to do about the river. Vann Moulyvann,
head of Apsara commission that oversees the temples, said the canal must be
dredged if it is to flow again, an endeavour that could cost up to $3 million. He said he has forwarded a request to the government, but so far nothing
has been done. PHNOM PENH Chinese Airline Starting Flights to Shanghai Cambodia Daily,
22th May 00 Shanghai Airlines has started service between Shanghai and Phnom Penh,
industry officials said Sunday. The inaugural flight by Shanghai Airlines arrived Friday, carrying a
special delegation from China. A regular weekly commercial flight is scheduled
to start on Tuesday, said Jimmy Gao, secretary-general for the Chinese Chamber
of Commerce in Cambodia. “Cambodia is a great potential for the Chinese market,” said Gao, who
is temporarily representing the airline. He noted that the Chinese government
recently selected Cambodia as one of 10 “preferable destinations for Chinese
citizens.” Shanghai Airlines was established as a domestic commercial carrier in
1985. Phnom Penh is its first international route, Gao said, and it is now
studying the Siem Reap route. “I think Cambodia is ready to receive millions of tourists. We are
looking for a long-term business here,” he said. Initially, the Chinese carrier will fly on Tuesday and later will add
flights on Fridays, Gao said. Boeing 737 aircraft will carry as many as 134
passengers. The fare will be approximately $300 one-way and $500 round-trip. The airline is the second carrier to fly the route. Royal Air Cambodge
started twice-weekly services on April 9, said Thach Ouk, RAC’s commercial
director. Mainland China was the leading source of visitors to Cambodia in 1999,
accounting 30,000 people, according to government figures. Prime Minister Hun Sen early this month granted China “a most favoured
nation: status in Cambodian tourism, which would allow them to use their own
currency (Yuan) at tourist sites. PHNOM PENH Airports Among Projects for Private Sector Business News,
22th May 00 Preah Vihear is among six
locations being offered to private sector to develop airports on a
build-operate-transfer basis. It is also potentially the
most lucrative of the sites because it will open up a local route to the
ancient Preah Vihear temple, which attracts more visitors than the Angkor
complex. But since there is no
reliable land or airlink between points within Cambodia and the 10th
century temple more than 700 meter high on the Dangkrek range, visitors now
make the journey from Thailand. Analysts say that a potential
investor could ask the government to limit entry from the Thai side to its
nationals as a condition for taking on the project. This would require foreign
visitors to make the trip through a Cambodian entry point, ideal candidates
being Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Such an arrangement would
also please the tour industry in the capital, which says incomes have dwindled
since Siem Reap was opened to international flights under an open skies
policy. Other airports offered in the
privatisation drive at Koh Kong, Battambang, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri and
Rattanakiri. Two other regional airports
projects are also likely to be reoffered. Kang Keng in Sihanoukville,
which was given to Malaysia-owned company, Ariston, several years ago. The
project is in limbo and most likely will be abandoned because it is part of a
larger deal which is unlikely to take of. Kompong Chhnang, contracted
to Dragon Gold, also of Malaysia. Insider say that the project is likely to
become subject of a legal suit between the government and Dragon Gold. The
sides accusing each other for the delay. PHNOM PENH $90 Million Upgrade Slated for Road to Preah Vihear Cambodia Daily,
24th May 00 A Cambodian company plans to
spend $90 million widening and improving a stretch of road from Siem Reap town
through Anlong Veng to the Thai border in Preah Vihear. Project Management
Consultant-International Trade Investment plans to begin the project in
November, said Kieu Kokass, the firm’s executive director. The construction will be done
by Sun Asia Royal Co over four years. The current narrow dirt road from Siem
Reap to Preah Vihear will be replaced with a wider stone road, capable of
carrying heavy truck traffic, he said. The Ministry of Public Works
and Transport is working with the two companies on the project. No tolls will
be charged along the road. Kieu Kokass said his company
is hoping the new road will attract tourists to the nearly 200 temples in
northern Cambodia which have been off-limits to most visitors because of poor
access. The company also wants to
start rice and fruit growing operations near the Thai border, with the produce
exported to Thailand. The company will be asking the government to give it
concession land for the agriculture operation. Khy Taing Lim, minister of
Public Works and Transport, said the government will be giving the company
land along the road, but declined to outline details of the agreement. He said
the interests of PMC-ITI also will be given priority as the area between Siem
Reap and the Thai border develops. “The government pays
nothing for this road,” Khy Taing Lim said. Kieu Kokass said private
banks and businesses have agreed to fund the project with long-term,
low-interest loans. Sun Asia Royal is required to
make a $9 million deposit – 10 percent of the project cost – as a bond on
the construction. The money will be returned when the road is finished.
PHNOM PENH Officials Going to Expo Cambodia Daily, 30th
May 00 The government is sending a
culture, tourism and investments delegation to a world exposition in Germany.
About 45 million people are anticipated to attend the Hannover Expo 2000, a
massive exposition lasting from June 1 to October 31. The delegation will be
led by Ministry of Tourism cabinet director So Mara and will display exhibits
and video discs promoting the country’s traditions, historical sites, and
other tourist attractions. The exhibit will include a replica of an ancient
wooden house, an ox cart, Khmer wedding costumes and traditional musical
instruments. The delegation was sponsored
by the German government for about $450,000, according to the statement. Phnom Penh, 30th
May, 2000 Peter Lietz
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