Sept 24: Reuters reported: "Disgruntled members of Cambodia's Royalist

party should quit now if they wish to join a proposed opposition alliance rather

than wait for 1998 elections," co-Premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh said.

"According to our Constitution, all Cambodians have the right to form any

association... and so he has the right to set up any political party and to run

for elections," he said in reference to his former ally, Sam Rainsy.

Sept 25: Reuters reported: "Cambodia has appointed a prominent

architect to liaise with other countries in a bid to recover treasures stolen

from the 12th century Angkor Wat complex and other ancient temples. 'I was

appointed to the position last week by First Prime Minister Prince Norodom

Ranariddh,' said Van Moulyvan, who is also a minister of state."

Sept 26: Khemara director Sochua Mu Leiper announced her departure to

work full time for First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Leiper had

been working part-time as the Prince's adviser on women's affairs since June.

Sept 26: Reuters reported: "First Prime Minister Prince Norodom

Ranariddh wants the death penalty introduced for murder and drug trafficking...

The prince raised the possibility of amending the constitution with national

Assmbly Chairman Loy Sim Chheang and Justice Secretary of State Ouk Vithon on

Sept 24, said senior officials present at the meeting."

Sept 26: Maharishi Vedic University of Cambodia announced that $35,000

worth of equipment donated by Austalian businesses and individuals had arrived

at the port of Kompong Som for use at their campus in Prey Veng. The gifts

included computers, water pumps, generators, motorbikes and air con units. An

MVU press statement said "With the 20 new computers MVU will now have more

computers per student than any other university in Cambodia." The container load

of donated goods also included 2,000 textbooks, teaching aids, medical and

laboratory equipment, and irrigation equipment."

Sept 27: In a Presko Limited press release on behalf of Land Rover it

was announced: "School children at Phnom Penh's Norodom Elementary School may

now cross the city's busy Boulevard Norodom more safely - thanks to the generous

sponsorship of Land Rover, Cambodia. Land Rover is providing trained Crossing

Guides to assist schoolchildren crossing Norodom Blvd. when they arrive at, and

leave, the school. Crossing zones outside the school have been repainted and

each trained Crossing Guide is to wear bright, easily-identifiable uniforms.

Land Rover's General Manager Peter Elliott said the scheme would help ensure

that students could cross one of the capital's busiest streets safely and would

promote greater driver awareness.

Sept 27: Mr. Robert Boorstin, former Special Assistant to U.S.

President Bill Clinton, delivered a speech entitled "The Press and Foreign

Policy" at the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace.

Sept 27: A press release from Handicap International Cambodia

announced that France had decided to stop the production of all categories of

anti-personnel mines and the destruction of existing stocks.

Sept 28: The Japanese government announced that $75,555 would be

provided to help the Meathapheap Technical School in Sihanoukville. Funds will

be used for the provision of machines and facilities for welding and automobile

repair courses as well as the construction of a trainee dormitory. The project

will be implemented by Japan Volunteers in Cambodia.

Sept 28: Reuters reported: "Co-premier Hun Sen has almost fully

recovered from an operation to have a tumour removed from his lower back and is

expected to travel abroad on official duty next month.... Advisor Muong Sao Khan

confirmed newspaper reports that the tumour appeared to be benign. He said the

growth was the size of an average adult's wrist and had 'caused pain and

bloating'."

Sept 28: Reuters reported: "King Norodom Sihanouk will soon have a

second eye operation in the Chinese capital of Beijing. 'Right now, doctors in

Beijing are preparing to operate on His Majesty the King on the right eye

following the successful operation on his left eye on Sept 21,' government

spokesman Sieng Lapresse said."

Sept 29: The Japanese government held a donation ceremony at the

Central Medical Store wherein $118,078 worth of medical equipment was given to

the Ministry of Health. Donated equipment included dental equipment for one

dental clinic, 13 simple dentristy sets, and 450 sets of midwifery and

Traditional Birth Assistants kits.

Oct 1: Little Friends, the NGO that helps street children, celebrated

its first anniversary of operations.

Oct 2: Didier Lockwood, the famous French jazz violinist played to a

packed house at the Chatomuk Theater. Lockwood's performance was sponsored by

the French Cultural Center.

Oct 2: The Khmer Football Federation and the Cambodia Beverage Company

held a press conference at the Hotel Sofitel Cambodiana announcing the details

of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Football Development Program (FUTURO). The program's

purpose is to "promote football in those countries which, because of their

geographical or economic situation, need to have to catch up with lost

time."

More than 80 sports administrators, coaches, referees and medics have

been selected to attend a Futuro training course from Oct 9-14, to learn about

training strategies, coaching methods, football rules and first aid.

Oct 3: Ariston Sdn. Bhd. introduced its new Chief General Manager, Dr.

Iain Gray to the media. Gray, an Australian, will be heading up Ariston's Naga

Resort project in Sihanoukville.

Oct. 4: Mr John G. Vadermeer, president of Unocal Asia-Pacific Region

paid a courtesy call on First Prime Minister Ranariddh. A check for $56,510 was

presented to the PM to sponsor the Cambodian Volley Ball palyers to the South

East Asian Games, which will take place in Chiang Mai this December.

Oct 5: "Sanderson Park" is dedicated in Phnom Penh. Located just north

of Wat Phnom, the park is named after General John Sanderson, the Australian

Commander-in-Chief of the UNTAC military forces.

Funds totalling $7,200

to landscape the new park came from the Australian Embassy's Direct Aid Program

to the Wat Than workshop for Disabled People.

According to a press

relaese the project has "shown that disabled people can work very well as

gardeners and landscapers. The new Sanderson Park is a good advertisement of the

sort of work they can do elsewhere in Phnom Penh."