Sunday, October 27, 2013

Kid Animation Brave KIRIKOU [FR] (+playlist)

Kirikou is so popular throughout the world for the brave behavior. The story tells us about the what going on of the rural life in Africa in the ancient time as the legend. How the strange the kid was born and how the difference between this small kid and other children. Kirikou is so small, but also brave and hard-working to accompany his mother all the time during her work. He learns day by day about the village and the surrounding under the influence of a known powerful cruel lady. From time to time, Kirikou plays very important role to solve the issue around the village as well as to protect the children from being arrested. One day he is drowning because of finding the water for the whole village, but luckily he is fine and everyone appreciate for what the best of his achievement is. Kirikou observes and knows more about the powerful lady as well as the powerful old man living behind the Caraba's place, he wishes to meet that old man. His mother helps him to get the way through the underground. He does experience a lot of things, especially helping the small squirrels that their family brings to him a lot of gifts. Kirikou is also creative to the nature as the way to escape from the eyes from Caraba's place. Next, he does experience the wild pig to lead him towards the old man cave that at he lasts he reaches his goal. The old man instructs him to pull out the nail from Caraba's back that she will return to the very simple lady. At last, Kirikou succeeds and gets the first kiss becoming his first love with the change to normal young man. They live happily ever after in the village after everyone reads his story.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

The Concern of the Citizens, "Time to Change"


Political instability is the most concerned issue to all Cambodian residents. War, political conflict and economic crisis in the past along with border conflict, environmental problems and social issues still happen in this country catching the citizens' attention very much and make them so worried from day to day. 

Recently, the accuse of election fraud and the demonstration against CPP by CNRP get Cambodia down in term of the political stability because of the unbearable situation over the poor such as residential housing confiscation mainly in Phnom Penh and some parts of rural area, especially the flow of Vietnamese into Cambodia. Even though that is a relief that both parties has been on the table, there is still no resolution to solve the issue because of the different concepts; one still demands to find the truth with the equal power in the government while the other wish to run the government with today result in agreement with the king. Honestly speaking, the main trend for the change in the election poll is because of the running previous government without caring much about the social complaint on the government services and individually too powerful in the line of government officials. How could residents satisfy to such government in term of democracy and free market? Have the government officials ever asked themselves on how effectiveness and efficiency their leadership and management is? Do they serve the country with nationalism and best effort? If they do so, why such bad service still occurring in today government from low level to high level? Just an example, there is a comparison on Facebook between the service charge for doing passport in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia resulting the Cambodia in the highest pricing and long time service to get just this passport. Do they ever know how hurt Cambodian themselves get to see such comparison while the government is still too proud of their power? Cambodian has suffered from the war and political conflicts over decades, especially the bad sight from some foreign nationalities over Cambodia today. Who will take responsibility for this? All Cambodians will take this as the part of this nation. In the clear perspectives, the government is admirable from the start to stabilize the country and choose the right option for the economic development (free market); however, it is so disappointed with the corruption, the decrease of national resources, nepotism, the lack of food security check, the remarkable downward trend of food supply (fish), the rocketing number of Vietnamese plus many long term economic concessions, the low quality of educational system comparing to neighboring countries, and the bigger gap between the rich and the poor. This causes the political opportunism to CNRP newly created to get more votes from her residents. In contrast, CNRP shows the promise to people that they will change current situation and solve all the problems including the large number of illegal Vietnamese throughout Cambodia. On the other hand, there is also not fully trust to CNRP with just their promise; more and more people votes for them in exchange of the decreasing power of today government officials and the change for better; some regrets because of the view on the some political chaos lately. It is not sure for CNRP to be the best for Cambodia; it might be just the stepping stone for Cambodia to change for better meaning it does not matter whether to change the today leader or not, but the main purpose is to make the change to Cambodia in overall. 

In the conclusion, government themselves should reconsider for what kind of weakness they have and make a change of those in term of better Cambodian society and government service. It is not only simple criticism, but it is surely the complaint for better. Do not ever think that only you have the power of authority, but people are the main power of the country's leadership! You just get role to serve them, not to use them for yourself and family member! Similarly, CNRP should choose the right decision not only for power, but for better! The demonstration as well as other aims to hinder the the establishment of the new government is not the wise choice. Please accept the possibility and go on for better solution!

Sunday​ Bun Sak ក្រមុំស្រុកណា (+playlist)


Cambodia King Sisowath Era - Royal Classical Khmer Dance (+playlist)

Angkor Wat Visited by King Sisowath in 1921 Andre Malraux affair King Mo...

Motivational Video of NICK VUJICIC in Cambodia (+playlist)

Cambodia Khmer Royal Ballet in Washington DC 1971 2 2 End (+playlist)

Cambodia Khmer Royal Ballet in Washington DC 1971 1 2 (+playlist)

Cambodia Khmer Royal Ballet in King Sisowath Era (+playlist)

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Huy Meas ហួយ មាស រាជធីតាវោហារមាស សំឡេងរនាតឯក - フイ メース



HUY Meas was a famous radio host and Lakhorn Niyeay (Modern Spoken Theatre) narrator and singer in Cambodia. She was born on January 06, 1946 in Svay Por Commune, Sangker District (Battambang Town now), Battambang Province. She was a youngest child among three siblings; HUY Siyoeurn (1st brother) and HUY Saiyo (2nd brother) who is now a teacher at Kork Banteay Primary School in Kork Banteay Commune, Rolea Ba’ear District, Kompong Chhnang. Her father, HUY Yoth, was an officer at Battambang Railway Station and her mother, BUTH Chin, was a housewife. Since she was a child, HUY Meas would love to assist her grandmother to pagoda for traditional ceremony. She usually contributed much effort to help older in that occasion such as smotr (in Khmer: ស្មូត), Dharma memorizing (សូត្រធម៌), and storytelling for illiterate old people with her tiny sweet voice. As ancestor told, HUY Meas was believed to have golden voice since her simple speaking and singing different during the public, so she was titled “Reach Thida Vohar Meas - រាជធីតាវោហារមាស”.

In early 1950s, HUY Meas attended Sor Heur Primary School (Sor Heur Secondary School now). Some radio researchers released the information that at home she just studied hard without ever singing for her family, but during traditional ceremony at school or pagoda she entertained the public with smotr, poem-telling, and storytelling about Khmer Tales and Srey He To Paktes. In the end 1960, she attended the women high school, Net Yorng. There she met PEN Rorn in the same generation and IM Song Seum, her senior. Not only studying at school, she also took some extra classes at her professor’s house for French Language, Mathematics, Ethics, etc. According to KEO Chanbo whose father was HUY Meas’s professor, HUY Meas was smart, tidy, and hard-working to be the most beloved student of her father, Prof. BUN Thorng. HUY Meas, PEN Rorn, IM Song Seum, and other students were taught not only school courses, but also music and singing since Prof. BUN Thorng was also good at Mandolin, Chapey, and Drum playing, singing, and other kinds of music. In the end 1962, ROS Sereysothea attended Net Yorng High School and studied with HUY Meas, PEN Rorn, IM Song Seum and other students during the extra hours. They became the beloved student group of Prof. BUN Thorng.

Being popular among various ceremonies with Smotr, speech and Dharma memorizing, in early 1965 HUY Meas was called to assist her professor who was the committee of the big three-day provincial ceremony, Sakmach Cheat. She showed her best ability in Smotr, singing, poem-telling, Dharma memorizing, and storytelling; all audiences surprised and admired her very much for both her voice and talent being well-known throughout Battambang. Besides, her professor also advised to register the singing contest in Sakmach Cheat. Being smart for entertaining people during that occasion, she narrated immediate speech plus lonely solo singing and then started singing “Reatrey Soma – Moon Night” of MAO Sareth, the original singer. Receiving the 1st rank for women singer, her parents, professor, and other classmates were so happy and admired for her best effort.

Unfortunately, HUY Meas failed the first Diploma National Examination in mid 1965 and disappointed to take the second Diploma National Examination, she gave up her study and hid in the house not to meet anyone. Later, IM Song Seum went to meet and encouraged HUY Meas to think on the positive side of life. Then he introduced her to the Krosuong Khosana Kar in Battambang and sang for provincial singing group; IM Song Seum, PEN Rorn, and HUY Meas started singing together at Steung Khiev Bar (Sangker River Garden now) and later ROS Sereysothea attended the singing group at this bar. For just a short period of time, HUY Meas was so famous within Battambang and moved to Phnom Penh with PEN Rorn and IM Song Seum in the end 1965. They sang for Krosuong Khosana Kar in Phnom Penh as well as other restaurants and bars. They lived near each other in Tuol Kork area. Then HUY Meas was introduced to work at the national radio as a host in many programs such as culture, modern song, Lakhorn Niyeay, song narration, etc. Her co-workers for every weekend Lakhorn Niyeay were YUOK Kem, KHUN Pol, MEAS Kok, etc. As an example of her participation in the Lakhorn Niyeay (Modern Spoken Theatre) is known as she got a role of Neary Phal in Kompong Thom Chumrom Chit novel which her spoken voice was very soft and sweet to listen. HUY Meas was also introduced to a famous lyricist and musician, MA Laopi, and sang many songs written by him alone or with IM Song Seum since she was cautious of danger to contact other men who usually followed her and asked for love. According to KEO Chanbo, her father always bought all released songs of HUY Meas after she came to Phnom Penh; sometimes he and Chanbo wrote songs sending to Phnom Penh for HUY Meas to sing with some edition from famous lyricists. HUY Meas also sang the song for showing the development of Cambodia in Sangkum Reastr Niyum such as “Reatrey Phnom Penh” (Night in Phnom Penh), etc.

Just few months later, OUM Sophanoureak (called Yael), the best drum player at national radio, asked her for marriage and went to request her parents traditionally in Battambang. They got married legally with the satisfaction for both side old people. Their three-year marriage gave birth to a daughter OUM Somavattey (born in 1966 and now living in Switzerland) who became a famous singer in 1990s. However, HUY Meas’s life became harder and harder to survive since her husband being usually drunk and her mother-in-law being greedy to ask her to buy a car for Sophanoureak according to KEO Chanbo. When HUY Meas visited her professor in Battambang; she was so upset for her marriage. Her mother-in-law as well as relative-in-law usually spoke something to judge her as a dishonest wife secretly saving her earning for her own family without letting her husband know, but the truth was HUY Meas being so honest to support her family-in-law as well as her own. Being ignored for the current issue with her mother-in-law from her husband and his failure career of drinking alcohol, HUY Meas could not bear any more and one night the family conflict occurred. Her husband ordered her to say sorry to mother-in-law, but HUY Meas could not take that pressure for she was right; her husband wanted to commit domestic violence on her. HUY Meas was shocked and escaped in the night to stay with someone she knew because she already heard the worst experience of ROS Sereysothea with SOS Math. In the morning, she returned home and was told by her husband to put down her body to the floor to say sorry to mother-in-law.  Who could do that when they were not wrong? HUY Meas did not do it and was forced to leave the house without letting her to see daughter once again. In fact, Sophanoureak expected HUY Meas to return because her daughter was with him, but he was wrong since a strong woman would never return to the cruel family like that. Later, Sophanoureak wrote the songs such as Samleng Tro Khmer (OUM Sophanoureak), Baksey Kangork Meas (MEAS Hokseng), Kakvey Chanh Snae and Chheam Anatha (CHEA Savoeurn) to blame HUY Meas on the issue. In return, she wrote and sang the songs like Pka Sla Rus Roy, Chet Khos Pi Mun, etc. Pka Sla Rus Roy also was used by HUY Meas as a story for Lakhorn Niyeay on national radio. Until each party got a new couple, the anger had been eliminated. Sharing her heart with her professor’s family, HUY Meas used to say that in her life time being away from her daughter and no chance to take care of her was her mistake and please all the magic things in the world taking good care of her daughter.

In 1969, HUY Meas was titled “Meas Metrey” at national radio during ROS Sereysothea got title “Preah Reach Theany Samleng Meas” from King NORODOM Shihanouk. Later in the same year, HUY Meas got married with VANLY Kesaro, a high-class police officer. They lived together happy ever after and gave birth to two sons; VANLY Daly and VANLY Dodo (both living in the United States now).  HUY Meas was more and more successful with her career in singing and radio hosting. Singing with IN Yeng, SIN Sisamut, SOS Mat, YANG Chheang (called Samneang Rithy), etc in Lon Nol Regime, she was also asked to sing the patriotic songs like Sronoss Dey Khmer, Lea Pov Tov Bom Reu Cheat, Lea Srey Tov Chbaing, 3 Siblings, Kong Commando, Chun Cheat Khmer, Lea Mae Tov Chbaing,  Joun Por Tam Kyol and so on .

In Pol Pot Regime, she was killed because she was the patriotic singers in Lon Nol Regime, so she was targeted to death based on the principle of Khmer Rouge officials. HUY Meas was forced to leave Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975 as other residents in Phnom Penh. VANLY Kesaro was called to welcome King NORODOM Shihanouk on that day that meant he was killed by Khmer Rouge. HUY Meas with her two sons rode the train to Moung Russey District, Battambang Province. She hid her background and lived as simple 17 Mesa people. However, during the second Khmer Rouge success anniversary on April 17, 1977, her background was known to the Khmer Rouge officials; she was forced to sing the songs during day time as a chance to sing in the last time in her life. At night, Khmer Rouge captured her quietly, took her outside, and killed her. She is thought to be tortured before her death. Luckily, her two sons were not killed and fled to the United States after this regime. According to historical documents on Pol Pot Regime, the patriotic singer as HUY Meas would be tortured in the image as cutting blood line on the leg, cutting the tongue, etc. In short, there is only the sadness for the death of HUY Meas and other Cambodian residents who faced the bad luck to live in Pol Pot Regime from early 1975 to early 1979. “Experience of great artists in the past is the lesson for next generation to focus and improve!”



(Source: Wikipedia Khmer Version on HUY Meas and Other Sources)

By: POK Panhavuth

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Chhun Vanna ជាតិខ្មែរមានតែសម្តេចឪ (Dedicate to Former King Norodom Sihanouk Varman)

ជាតិខ្មែរមានតែសម្តេចឪ

ជាតិខ្មែរមានតែសម្តេចឪ យើងជាកូនចៅរស់នៅសុខសាន្ត យើងខ្ញុំបានធ្វើសាលារៀន គិលានដ្ឋានជនបទនានា គិលានដ្ឋានជនបទនានា។

ព្រះអង្គទ្រង់ធម៌បរិសុទ្ធ ព្រះទ័យអាណិតកូនចៅគ្រប់គ្នា ស្តេចយាងសម្ពោធអគារ ជូនជាតិសាសនាកូនចៅប្រុសស្រី ជូនជាតិសាសនាកូនចៅប្រុសស្រី។

ជាតិខ្មែរនាំគ្នាកសាង បានឃើញរូបរាងទុកជាស្នាដៃ កើតឡើងដោយបុណ្យបារមី ប្រទេសមានជ័យដោយសម្តេចព្រះបិតា ប្រទេសមានជ័យដោយសម្តេចព្រះបិតា។


(ភ្លេងរួចច្រៀងសាឡើងវិញ)

Monday, July 29, 2013

The National Election Day in Cambodia 2013 and Temporary Result

July 28, 2013 was the important day of the fifth national election process in Cambodia. After the unusual movement throughout Cambodia on Saturday to the election center was completed, the vote was done on Sunday from 7:00AM to 3:00PM with the cold weather and raining. One by one came to the center, but there were not many people during 7:00AM; they came to vote later until 3:00PM. Both election committee and voters cooperated very well in most of the election center. However, only some centers encountered the conflict because of the attendance of Vietnamese voters that caused Cambodian residents to get very angry, especially a center in Phnom Penh. There is no clear information yet regarding to this issue why Vietnamese voters appeared in these centers. Even though there was the bad information on the conflict in Phnom Penh, the other election centers completed their mission and got the vote from most of citizens until 3:00PM. Then the election committee in each center along with other stakeholder like COMFREL counted the vote for 8 political parties; only two parties showed the strong support are CPP (Cambodian People Party) and CNRP (Cambodian National Rescue Party). Within the Sangkat and Commune level, there is the tough competition of the vote in each province-city. At last, the temporary result from Bayon TV in the evening of July 28, 2013 showed that the winner is CPP for most of province-city while CNRP won only in 5 province-city such Phnom Penh, Kompong Cham, Kandal, Prey Veng, and Kompong Speu. It should be noticed that CNRP seems to get more support in the residential center than CPP. For instance, CNRP won the election at Sangkat Svay Por of Battambang Town. In short, there will be the real figure for who is the winner after the verification completed and internationally acknowledged as well as the right solution for the current issue occurring during the election process. Anyway, CNRP and CPP will be expected to hold hand for the next mandate since they seem to get similar seat; the political stability and strong economic growth are the things the residents wish for after this election. Personally, there is an appeal for all to use the peaceful method to solve any political conflicts for the benefits of Cambodia. “Please refer to the past experience before you take any actions!”


By: Pok Panhavuth

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Ending of National Election Campaign and Going to Vote in Cambodia 2013





Election is becoming more important in the concept of all residents in Cambodia. Historically, Cambodia already went through the national elections since 1950s even though it was not described as the proper arrangement while most of Cambodian did not really understand what the election was for and how the evaluation criteria should they consider before making decision. Anyway, there was more than one political party at that time to do the campaign for the election.

Dividing by the war period of 1970s, the first national election in 1993 of the second Kingdom of Cambodia was conducted with the assistance from the United Nations and the large population of Cambodian going to vote. We could see that two political parties won at the same time resulting Co-Prime Minister mandate, but at last in 1997 only one political party stood by and got more supporting vote again and again until today. Besides the conflict of politics, the social welfare and economic growth were seen as better than before. However, the most concern about Cambodia nowadays is related to the corruption, the conflict of interest, the confiscation of residential housing in various places (Boeung Kok, Borey Keyla….), the long-term land concession, deforestation, the weak natural resource and mineral management, social security, the increasing of Vietnamese population throughout Cambodia, the effect of Xayaburi Dam of the upper Mekong River over Cambodia in the future, salary, the long-term autocracy and the territorial border conflict with neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. That’s it leading towards the slogan “Change or Not” in the 2013 national election campaign while the new political parties running by Mr. Sam Rainsy just getting royal pardon as well as more supports in term of the good leadership. Around 1 month of the national election campaign by many political parties, only two main competitors appear to get strong support from residents, one led by Mr. Sam Rainsy and other led by current Prime Minister Hun Sen. At the public area, people asked each other about the election, “Change or not?” becomes more common among all Cambodian citizens and more people in this mandate seem to get interesting about the election and participate as the sign to set the destiny of Cambodia by going to the search for their name in the website of voter list (www.voterlist.org.kh). Surely, the campaign just ended yesterday and today all residents are going to do the movement to their election center. The hope and new perspectives will tell them which criteria are good and they are looking forward to finding the right political party for the next mandate.

In the conclusion, the election is meaning as the way to lead the country by choosing the best leader in order to find the right solutions for the today important issues, especially improving social welfare and the strong economic growth. It has been about 20 years Cambodia has been going on the journey towards the development in the condition of the world free market and the democracy. Whatever it is, the lesson from the past political and development situation must be in the mind of each leader what kind of strategy should be used and how to make those in reality in compliance with the current situation of Cambodia. Foreign support is good, but the independence and the creative idea of each leader might be much better for the sake of Cambodia. “Thanks all for the Best Effort to better Cambodia!”  “Strongly support for the good leadership towards the better future of Cambodia!” “Yesterday is History! Tomorrow is Mystery! But Today is a Gift!”

By: Pok Panhavuth

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Announcement to Find Old Friends of My Mother Inside Cambodia and Overseas


My mother, Kim Sopheavy, would like to announce to find her old best friend, Pak Santepheap, studying together at Tuol Svay Prey High School (Tuol Sleng Genocide Center now). In early 1970s, my mother and her family stayed along the street near Sin Sisamuth's house in Sangkat Tuol Tumpong, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh. She said her old best friend, Pak Santepheap, left Phnom Penh for France during Lon Nol Regime near the fall of Phnom Penh City. 

Right now, my mother is living in Battambang Province with my father, Pok Sokhom, who also studied at the same class with my mother at Tuol Svay Prey High School in Phnom Penh during early 1970s. My mother said she really miss her old close friends and wish to know whether Aunt Pak Santepheap and other old friends at high school in Phnom Penh before Khmer Rouge Regime alive or dead.

In Pol Pot Regime, my mother with her family were forced to leave Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975 for Pearaing, Prey Veng where almost everyone in her family were killed gradually until 1978. Luckily, in early January 1979, she could survive from this black regime. She migrated to Battambang Province for new life and created a warm family when she met my father again in Battambang until today.

Thanks in advance for anyone who could help to find my mother's close friends or know the information of them.

Khmer Popular Music from 1970s











































La Ang Spean in Battambang, The Oldest Prehistoric Site in Cambodia

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