Antiquities work nets NGO award

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has awarded Cambodia's Heritage Watch its 2009 Conservation and Heritage Management Award for the organisation's efforts in preserving and promoting Cambodia's cultural heritage. The award is to be presented in Philadelphia next January at the annual AIA meeting. CAMILLA BJERREKAER

$9.5 million fund  aims at biodiversity

A five-year, US$9.5 million fund aimed at conserving regional biodiversity, including parts of Cambodia, is to launch this month, a Hanoi-based NGO said in a statement Wednesday. The NGO said the project, called the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, is aimed at conserving the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. In Cambodia the conservation is to focus on Kampong Chhnang, Kandal, Kratie, Ratanakkiri and Stung Treng provinces. CAMILLA BJERREKAER

Thai authorities claim former police chief Chea Ratha is still hiding out in Thailand, General Keo Vanthan, director of Cambodia's Interpol department at the Ministry of Interior, said Thursday. "But as a result of the Preah Vihear dispute I doubt there will be progress on her arrest," Keo Vanthan said, adding that Cambodian authorities were still hoping to arrest the Interpol-red-listed fugitive who is wanted for her connection to an acid attack. THET SAMBATH