Imaging Our Mekong - News from the Mekong

Preah Vihear Tiff the Latest in Testy Cambodia-Thai Ties

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:35:16 -0500

By Andrew Nette

PHNOM PENH, Jul 24 (Newsmekong) - The armed standoff between Cambodia and Thailand over ownership of the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear is the latest chapter in the neighbouring countries’ troubled relationship.

Temple Row May Sour ASEAN Spirit

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:32:44 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Jul 18 (IPS) - Amornchai Sirisai has been a regular visitor to the Thai-Cambodian border, close to where a 10th century Hindu temple sits atop a steep cliff. But it is not tourism that brings the Thai national to the ancient site.

CAMBODIA: Locals, Lawyers Prepare for Battle over Land

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:11:35 -0500

By Andrew Nette

RATANAKIRI, Cambodia, Jul 10 (IPS) - In thick forest in the north-east Cambodian province of Ratanakiri, a team of lawyers uses a global positioning satellite handset to mark the location of traditional spirit forests and gravesites belonging to local Jarai villagers.

Landgrabbing Hounds Cambodia’s Ethnic Groups

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:17 -0500

By Andrew Nette

RATANAKIRI, Cambodia, Jun 27 (Newsmekong) - The wording of the two-page document in Dam Chanthy’s hands may be vague and legalistic, but the meaning is crystal clear. It details yet another land concession covering nearly 7,000 hectares that a company wants to plant with rubber and acacia trees.

China Quake Shakes Dam Ambitions

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:37:49 -0500

By Antoaneta Bezlova

DUJIANGYAN, China, Jun 25 (IPS) - China's deadly earthquake appears to have shifted more than just tectonic plates here in picturesque Sichuan province in the country’s south-west.

ASIA: Jatropha May Ease Mekong Countries’ Fuel, Food Needs

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:29:52 -0500

By Prime Sarmiento

MANILA, Jun 25 (Newsmekong) - The jatropha plant is not yet a household word, but experts say it can help economies in the Mekong region cope with both energy and food self-sufficiency needs at a time of surging fuel prices.

CAMBODIA: Wave of Dam Projects Calls for New Approaches

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:16:49 -0500

By Andrew Nette

PHNOM PENH, Jun 9 (IPS) - An explosion of dam building projects along the Sekong River in Laos, the Mekong river’s largest tributary, is prompting Cambodian and foreign experts to warn of significant downstream impacts and call for new approaches to governing the cross-border issues that arise from the use of the Mekong’s water resources.

BURMA: ASEAN Steps in Where Others May Not Tread

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:00:11 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, May 31 (IPS) - Four weeks after Cyclone Nargis swept through the populous Irrawaddy Delta in Burma, a regional effort to help the victims is slowly grinding into motion.

CAMBODIA: Resource Curse or Blessing?

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:52:05 -0500

By Andrew Nette

PHNOM PENH, May 28 (IPS) - Cambodia is facing a natural resource boom, but donors and non-government organisations (NGOs) warn that this potential windfall could be squandered without measures to improve financial transparency, promote better governance and curb corruption.

Burmese Workers’ Death Shocking, But Far from New

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:29:30 -0500

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Apr 12 (IPS) - The death by suffocation of 54 Burmese migrant workers who were being transported in an enclosed container truck in southern Thailand was a shocking tragedy, but one that did not surprise labour rights activists.

Troubled Waters Surround Cambodia’s Fisheries

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:48:50 -0500

By Andrew Nette

KANDAL, Cambodia, Apr 9 (IPS) - Im Vandang, a former solider turned fisherman, is not sure why there are less fish in the Mekong River, but he knows the situation is getting serious.

CAMBODIA: Concerns Rise with Planned Lao Dam on Mekong

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:10:17 -0500

By Andrew Nette

PHNOM PENH, Mar 28 (IPS Asia-Pacific) - The Lao government’s decision earlier this year to press ahead with plans to build the Don Sahong dam on the mainstream of the Mekong River in southern Laos is causing major concern in Cambodia and internationally.

Cambodia's Dam Experiment Picks Up

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:12:01 -0500

Andrew Nette

PHNOM PENH, Mar 21 (IPS Asia Pacific) - For the government, it represents great economic opportunities. But for non-government organisations and the communities they work, it will come with major social and environmental impacts. Whatever the case, Cambodia is on the threshold of a major experiment with hydropower development.

Mekong River Commission Remiss - Activists

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:57:51 -0600

Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Nov 14 (IPS Asia-Pacific) - The campaign to save South-east Asia's largest waterway from being blocked by a series of massive dams picked up pace this week, with activists accusing a regional river authority of abandoning its mission to protect the Mekong River.

MEDIA: 'Bloggers Have a Social Responsibility' (Q&A)

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:28:32 -0500

Once referred to as the 'most hacked blogger of Malaysia', Jeremiah Foo moves around in the music, publishing and computer industry circles -- yes, all of those. He co-founded the eMuse Network, a pioneer in