Im Sokthy

Do you believe the real estate price will rise after the July national election? Today, people are hesitate to buy houses and land. Land sale and buying action is more active compared to house business transaction. The silence of this booming business in Cambodia in this few recent years has made people, analysts and traders expressed different concerns. Some argue that the fall of real estate price in Vietnam is an example of growing and then down. If it is up and then it will be down. The price fall in Vietnam will migrate to Cambodia and if so, the real estate price in Cambodia will fall as well.

The fall in price of real estate in Vietnam is due to economic slowdown in recent years. And Cambodia’s economy is growing, even a decrease of GDP growth in 2007. Higher inflation is making problems and putting another challenge to Cambodia’s economy. Garment and textile industry of Cambodia is confronting with high competition. Many garment factories closed their operation and garment workers went to their rural homeland, as a result of the close of factory and they can not afford with high price in Phnom Penh. If economy is going to fall and nothing improved, what will happen with real estate business transaction?

The down of real estate in Vietnam will encourage investment in Cambodia. This is still a doubt. In recent year, Vietnam trade with Cambodia is remarkably increasing and Vietnam tourists to Cambodia is also high in recent months. If so, how can the fall of real estate price in Vietnam migrate to Cambodia.

Political stability after national election will build trust and attract more investment in Cambodia. Domestic investment is also up at this present time. It is predicted that every thing will come normal and political climate and speculation of economic growth will make high price of real estate. But it is to acknowledged that prediction will not be always true all the time.

Every time, I go to Vihear Sour commune, I have to take boat to across the Mekong river. There are many cars, motors and people in the boat. At Svay At ferry, there are three boats which do not make passengers to wait long time. Unlike, a new ferry nearby called Prek Tamak ferry, there is only a big one and people need to wait. Sometime, they have to wait about one or more than one hour until they can across the river. It takes time and make passengers spent more money.

Usually, when I go there, I prefer the small boat at Svay Ath ferry, rather than the big one at Prek Tamak ferry. Beautiful there is nice.

In the near future, may be in mid-2009, we can across the river through a bridge, called Prek Tamak bridge. It is under construction and financially supported by Chinese government. It will take about one hour, I think, to arrive Vihear Sour commune or Vihear Sour pagoda.

I like take picture and when I go outside I always take my small digital camea with me. I took pictures and I rarely see my own. Thus, more or less, I asked my friends to take pictures for myself. This is a picture on the boat across the Mekong river taken on 26 June 2008.

Near Wat Phnom and behind Sunway Hotel and Ministry of Economy and Finance, you will see a Kuntha Bopha Hospital, the fourth hospital in Cambodia, provide hospital services to children. Every day from early morning till night, there are many and many women with their children sit along the hospital fence and they have to wait for their turn. Some arrived the hospital at 4am and others at 5am, etc.

People come here because they pay less compared to other hospitals, usually blamed for high service fees. I noticed that there are hundreds of people per week and then I can conclude that there are thousands of people come to seek for hospital services for children at four Kuntha Bopha hospital. This hospital has helped Cambodia and Cambodians. I myself highly appreciate it.

On Saturday 28 June 2008, I went to Vihear Sour pagoda, located in Vihear Sour commune, Khsach Kandal district, Kandal province. People can go there by motor or car and it does take about one to two hours from Phnom Penh. Road condition is better off and if Prek Tamak bridge is fully built, then the travel to the location will be very good.

I went there many times and I see progress there, particularly roads, bridges and other achievements within the pagoda. Almost every day, people go to the pagoda and it is full of people when it is on the weekend or on holy days (Thngey Sil). People go there will not only for traditional purposes, but they can also take a rest for entertainment and visit some ancient places.

Within the location of Vihear Sour pagoda, you can see the pagoda created in the Baksey Chamkrong reign, the former King of Cambodia, and Vihear Koh Andet with many holy cottages for people to pray for happiness. But, I have noticed that not may local people know about the history of the pagoda. Monks or teachers should be trained about the history and children who sell food and other commodities should be aware of this and be able to introduce to people at least some about the history of Baksey Chamkrong, Ta Kuhe, and the pagoda.

In the future, I also think that the pagoda can be transformed into a small recreational site for domestic people. Thus, people can make more money.

If you have time, I think you should spend about half day to visit there.

That is very amazing in recent days with regards to Preah Vihear Temple, known as the temple of Cambodia worldwide. Many years since 1960s, the temple is widely under the territory of Cambodia and belongs to Cambodia. In the 1960s, problems had been made as the Thais also claimed as the owner of the temple. And today, the some Thai nationalists expressed their opposition position to the inscription of the temple into the world heritage by the Cambodia’s government. Some Thais demonstrate and others asked the Thai government in the senate over this temple. Some Thais afraid that the inscription would make Thailand loss its territory. On the other hand, the Thai court also put injunction on Thai government’s support of Cambodia’s proposal to UNESCO over Preah Vihear temple. These are mainly politics and for political reasons. It is used to play politics in Thailand where there is not always political stability since the coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin.

If the temple is used as political tool, do you think it is good? Politics like this is appreciated?

Cambodia is to run a national election for the fourth mandate of the national assembly. Today, 26 June 2008, is the first day of election campaign, scheduled 30 days until 25 July 2008. The election day is Sunday 27 July 2008.

In the first day, main political parties organize election campaign and along the roads and public places I see political activists walk along public roads and others organize meeting at their party office. Political parties are trying their best to win election and it is the very important time they have to fully use their resources and means to win and take government office. At the mean time, they have to spend a lot of money. I just estimate with spending over T-shirts, Caps, drinking water, break, car rental, etc. They have to spend these items for election campaign through 1,621 communes across the country. Some parties do not organize campaign in all communes. Now, let estimate with the total numbers of 11 competitive political parties. How much money they will pay for election campaign?

Some parties before election campaign day spent on gifts such as Sarong, net cash, medical tablets, etc. How much they pay? If the party is poor, they will have limit resources to do election campaign. The richer the party, the more opportunity to win. Some may not agree with this. But, I usually see that those parties which have higher resources, excluding achievements and political platforms, always win election. My notice may be wrong to some extent.

There are many signatures of political parties along the national and rural roads at public places and at house of political activists. The way each political party does is different from one to another. Here please enjoy with some pictures I shot while I traveled to province.

It is almost normal or simple which political parties are being with daily life of Cambodians as they could see the signatures of political parties at the public places and houses nearby. Politics is every where in the country or is across the country. So, one can see that who is belong to Cambodian’ s People Party, Sam Rainsy Party, Norodom Ranaridh Party, Human Rights Party, Funcinpec Party, and others. Some people are discriminated because of different parties but it is to acknowledge that some other people can make friends though they are from different parties and this last action should be appreciated. I wish that people do not make trouble within families and communities though they are from different parties.

On the other hand, through this pictures, I have noticed that only the CPP uses the signature to depict its achievements while the other parties only to show the logo of the parties.

Preah Vihear Temple is widely known as an asset of Kingdom of Cambodia and is now under process to put as world heritage. The inscription process has made problems among Thais, but not among Cambodians. Some Thai nationalists demonstrated to express their opposition points of views. However, the demonstration of some Thais will not change the decision of the World Heritage Committee, nor decision made by Thai government as shown in a joint statement made by government of Cambodia and Thailand. Please find the statement as follows:

On May 6, 2008 His Excellency Mr. SOK An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, welcomed his Excellency Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand accompanied by a Thai delegation during their visit to Phnom Penh.

The meeting was conducted in a fruitful and constructive atmosphere to discuss ways and means of strengthening the neighborly cooperation for a further reach for long lasting cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand.

Both sides agreed to fulfill commitments envisaged in the Decision of the 31st Session of the World Heritage Committee to ensure Cambodia’s formal inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List at the 32nd Session in July 2008.

The Kingdom of Cambodia strongly stresses that the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear is without prejudice to the demarcation work of the Cambodian-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) between Cambodia and Thailand; and the zoning (”Zonage” in French) stipulated in the document submitted by Cambodia to UNESCO shall not be considered as boundary line.

Phnom Penh May 6, 2008

I see many signatures posted at commune offices and other public places at provinces. I noticed this as I traveled many times to provinces and communes of Cambodia. The signatures as you can see in the picture is the signature regarding price list of land registration produced by Pact Cambodia for its anti-corruption program.

This is the way to promote people understanding about service fees charged by local authorities once people come to ask for their land registration. It also promotes an action to fight against corruption at commune levels as well. The signature states that if the service charge exceeds the price in the table above is a corruption.

With this signature in front of commune offices and other public places, it is hope that people would try to not commit corrupt. But other people may oppose this expectation saying that the signature will make no sense to curb corruption. I am not sure about this. But the signature shows that there is efforts made by government, commune councils and civil society to fight corruption, more or less.

It is very good ideas to explore more tourist destinations within Cambodia boundaries as Cambodia gains peace and stability and infrastructure has linked its all parts of provinces and rural areas. Luyna commented in my blog saying that I think tourism industry is naive (crude), it requires more investment and innovation. It is not very interested yet and less integrated. A particular tour such as touring “Cambodia History” where we start from Phnom Kulen. “Javaraman 7 Road” could be useful and interesting to explore.”

I agree with his argument. More than at Siem Reap, people can visit Prasat Koh Ker and Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province. Noticeably, the Preah Vihear temple is going to be registered as world heritage. Vutha says the temple belongs to Cambodia, not Thailand. However, road condition toward Preah Vihear temple is not good yet. Once the road is constructed, it is expected to get more tourists in Preah Vihear, creating more jobs and income.  Then transportation will be busy and transportation companies may have more opportunities to make money.

Today, almost every time I travel to Siem Reap and Sihanouk Ville, I noticed that bus seats are full in the bus. But one thing I do not like is comfortability in the bus. Buses are old and some buses got broken along the road. As you can in this picture, the Capital bus has gained much money from its transportation business, but I do not see any improvement of its services. My worry is also about quality of bus. I hope that market competition and tourism development to more explored tourism destination would encourage firms to use high and new buses.