Apr 3: Reuters reported: British mine disposal expert Christopher Howes
and his interpreter Houn Hourth abducted last week in northwest Cambodia are alive,
co-Premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh said. "They are not in the hands of the
Khmer Rouge guerrilla faction as some had feared and now [local] families are in
permanent contact I think that their lives are not in danger," he said in reference
to villagers with links to the kidnappers who have been used as intermediaries. The
Mines Advisory Group (MAG) director had said there were no new developments in the
case.
Apr 3: Reuters reported: Government troops killed 39 Khmer Rouge guerrillas
and lost 22 of their own men in northwest Cambodia in the last week of March. Information
Ministry spokeman Sieng Lapresse said the government casualties were largely caused
by mines. A defence ministry spokeman said some army troops were just one kilometer
from Pailin.
Apr 4: Reuters reported: The 238-km highway connecting Bangkok, Phnom Penh,
Ho Chi Minh City and the coastal Vietnamese town of Vung Tau, is one of the top priority
projects supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the region. The total cost
of the Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City stretch is estimated to be $90 million. "We
are at the first stage of implementation of this first regional project. Construction
could begin by late 1997," a public works and transport ministry official said.
Apr 4: The Government of the United Kingdom announced a grant of over $300,000
to the trust fund established for the UN Center for Human Rights (UNCHR). The British
Government welcomed the commitment of the Cambodian government to guaranteeing human
rights. The contribution will enable the UNCHR to extend technical assistance and
training.
Apr 5: US Ambassador Kenneth Quinn presided over the donation of 23 tons
of humanitarian relief supplies valued at $300,000 to the Royal Government of Cambodia
at the Oral Refugee Camp in Kampong Speu. The donation, consisting of food, clothing
and equipment would be used to assist the Khmer Rouge defectors in Oral and other
areas.
Apr 6: Reuters reported: Cambodia's electricity-starved capital got two
power plants in a week, a 10-megawatt (MW) plant funded by Japanese aid and an 18-megawatt
station worth $17.8 million funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Industry,
Energy and Mines Minister Pou Sothirak said the electricity needs of the capital
would be met by the two facilities. Sothirak estimated that by the end of the year
Phnom Penh would have an electricity generating capacity of about 90 MW, compared
with just 15-20 MW a year ago.
Apr 9: The Cambodia Development Council (CDC) officially inaugurated its
computer center under the presidency of Prince Norodom Ranariddh the first prime
minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
Apr 9: The Embassy of France presented two vehicles worth $52,000 to H.E
Dr. Dy Narong Rith, State Secretariat of the Ministry of Health, for serving in the
National Program in Aids Protection.
Apr 11: The Singapore Embassy announced that Singapore has decided to offer
Asian Training Awards to Cambodian nationals from today. Cambodian nationals have
to be nominated by the Cambodian Government to qualify for the training award. The
86 training courses offered are in the fields of communications, education, environment,
finance, horticulture and industry training, housing and urban development, medicine,
port activities, primary production, public utilities, public works and fire prevention,
science and technology, social welfare and rehabilitation centre.
Apr 14: The Government of India has decided, responding to an appeal launched
by His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, to supply medicines and equipment
worth two million Rupees on an urgent basis to the Royal Government of Cambodia.
The provision of medical aid is to cater to the wounded soldiers of the Royal Cambodian
Armed Forces who have suffered in their operations against the Khmer Rouge.
