Youth Leadership Challenge

Youth Leadership Challenge is one program organized by Youth Council of Cambodia, YCC, and cooperated with CTN, Cambodian Television Network, Cell Card, IRI and USAID. The purpose of this program is strengthening youth leadership skills and promoting youth to concern about bad points in our society that we need to solve it peacefully.

Of course, nearly two hundred applications apply to this great opportunity. And, importantly, there are three steps of candidate selection. First, they required all applications to stand in front of camera and answer question. Second, after passing the first step, we were interviewed in English and selected only 38 candidates. Third, final step, 38 candidates took part this program at CJCC, which locates in Institute of Foreign Language, in order to select only sixteen candidates. We were divided in four groups, played cheerful games. And then, we were interviewed by a well-known actor, Mr. CHEA Somnang, and Center of Social Development director, Ms. Theary SENG.

He He He… What a amazing, I and my friend, Ms. THENG Tith Maria, are in the sixteen candidates. At that day, I was a little feel nervous, but I believed in myself that I could do it. What make me believe in myself? Hhhhh, I looked this picture…..

Setting your goal, and try to do it. Even though, it is a hard work.

We will compete on the CTN TV……….

Special award on Chinese New Year

On 06 Feb 2008 was a Chinese New Year, I have gotten a new Longman dictionary from American Corner, which locates in Pannasastra University of Cambodia’s library. Before getting this dictionary, I had done correctly AC quiz that ask about the United State of America. After that, I was grade in the top ten candidates in order to get award which have dictionary, flash, bag, helmet etc. Those ten candidates, only five people could get awards by lucky draw. One foreigner, who came from the United State of America embassy, was a honorable guest to select piece of paper written name of candidates. Suddenly, my name was announced, I was happy and took picture with him. That was cool.

Noun Chea was in the pre-trial chamber of ECCC

First, I want to explain what ECCC stands for, Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. On 04 February 2008, Noun Chea, who was a second leader of Kampuchea Democratic, appealed on the hearing against provisional detention.

On that day, there were too many people, national and international journalists, victims, students of Royal University of Law and Economics, and NGOs members. Importantly, security was ensured by plenty of policemen and bodyguards. Before entering to hall, we were checked in three times by machine of scanning guns. Actually, maybe only ten people could access to the court room and other else were in hall which watched canvas, lived from the court room.

As the result, this hearing was delayed because one of Noun Chea’s defense counsel, Mr. Michiel Pestman (Duth) was absent and Mr. Victor Koppe (Duth), other defense counsel, attended in this event but he did not have right to be a co-lawyer at ECCC yet. Actually, Noun Chea has three co-defense counsels are Mr. Son Arun (Cambodia), Mr. Michiel Pestman (Duth) and Mr. Victor Koppe (Duth).

Noun Chea, second leader of Kampuchea Demotratic was in pre-trial chamber

( Sokunthea photo, pool photo)

I was one of visitors

Too many people waiting to enter into the hall

Good security

Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

Who were in the pre-trial chamber?

Co-Prosecutors:
· Ms. Chea Leang (Cambodian)
· Mr. Robert Petit (Canada)

Co-Investigating Judge:
· H.E You Bunleng (Cambodian)
· Mr. Marcel Lemonde (French)

Defense Counsel:
· Mr. Son Arun (Cambodian)
· Mr. Michiel Pestman (Dutch), Absent
· Mr. Victor Koppe (Dutch)

Judges in the Pre-Trial Chamber:

· President H.E Prak Kimsan (Cambodian)
· Ms. Katinaka Lahuis (Netherlands)
· Mr. Rowan Dowing (Australia)
· Mr. Hout Vuthy (Cambodian)
· H.E Ney Thol (Cambodian)
· Mr. Pen Pichsaly (Cambodian)

Note: Above information, I got from ECCC documents