Huge Earthquake hits Japan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLtqrKea1Zg

Dalai Lama Resigned: What will be the future of Tibetans?

Tibetans confronted by life after Dalai Lama

Added At:  2011-03-11 9:32 AM

   Last Updated At: 2011-03-11 9:32 AM

AFP

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures as he speaks at an event in Mumbai University. While his demands for autonomy for the mountainous region of Tibet have gone unheeded, he has cemented his role as a world figure with open access to Western leaders and a passionate following of celebrities and fans.

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
NEW DELHI: The Dalai Lama's decision to retire as political head of the Tibetan government-in-exile has forced his followers to confront the prospect of life after the death of the global figurehead.

Tashi Dolma, 21, a college student at an anti-China "Free Tibet" demonstration in New Delhi on Thursday, told AFP he thought the move was part of a long-term plan for democracy and new leadership.

"Being a youngster, I feel that it is the right time for the Dalai Lama to retire," he said. "He has a long-term vision and it is for the young now take the responsibility and take the movement ahead."

Tenzin Dhondup, a 32-year-old filmmaker in Dharamashala, called it a "wake-up call to all Tibetans" that the man considered both a god and a king by his followers would not live forever.

"We want him to stay on forever, but practically speaking that isn?t possible," he said. "Some day or other, someone has to step into his shoes. We are being given more responsibility for our nation."

The 75-year-old spiritual leader fled to India from his homeland more than 50 years ago and has since successfully built up a movement in exile and kept attention focused on Chinese rule in Tibet.

While his demands for autonomy for the mountainous region have gone unheeded, he has cemented his role as a world figure with open access to Western leaders and a passionate following of celebrities and fans.

The Dalai Lama's idea is that he will pass his powers as titular head of the government-in-exile to a new elected prime minister who will be chosen in a scheduled vote by the 200,000-strong exile community on March 20.

This will accord the new prime minister a degree of greater prominence, but analysts say the change will be largely symbolic because the Dalai Lama will remain overall spiritual leader.

The problem long-term is whether the future leaders of the Tibetan movement -- the Dalai Lama's eventual successor and the newly empowered prime minister -- will have the contacts, profile and influence to make a difference.

The over-arching goal of the movement among moderates is to secure political and cultural freedoms and autonomy in Tibet, while hardliners continue to lobby for full independence from China.

"The problem for any prime minister is that, compared to the Dalai Lama, he enjoys little name recognition outside specialised Tibetan circles, and that will be a difficult dynamic to shift," said Barry Sautman, a Tibet expert at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The community in exile is braced for a huge struggle with Beijing about the choice of the next Dalai Lama.

The title is passed via a complex process in which senior monks choose a child thought to the reincarnation of the previous holder of the office. China has already stated it intends to have the final say on any incarnation.

The Dalai Lama has stressed that he might not be replaced or, if there is a reincarnation, he or she would be born outside of China.

Many observers believe the Karmapa, one of the most senior monks in Tibetan Buddhism, would be capable of filling the void left by the Dalai Lama upon his death, if only temporarily.

The 26-year-old also fled Tibet for exile in India and has a huge following, but he has been damaged recently by an investigation by police in Dharamshala.

Investigators found more than a million dollars in cash in buildings belonging to his trust and questioned him several times before eventually clearing him of all charges.

Tsrindiki Sonam Joraden, a Tibetan exile at the "Free Tibet" protest in New Delhi, expressed the sadness felt by many at the mortality and limitations of their current leader.

"We cannot live without him or die without him. He is guiding light," said the 68-year-old, who fled Tibet more than 50 years ago.

"The Dalai Lama is like our mother. If the mother leaves the child's hand, he is shaken and experiences difficulty to walk alone. We will feel the same."

Learn About Our Neighbors:Vietnam Heavily invests in Laos

Much of major investments are done by Vietnam in Laos. At the same time, laos seems to have little or no investments in Vietnam. It is a one way direction.
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Please click on the following links to read some major Vietnam's investments in Laos. 
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=569935


http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201103062123dowjonesdjonline000259&title=vietnam-firm-starts-building-441-million-power-plant-in-laos-government


http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=569351


http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110309-711080.html


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/5711/government-in-brief-10-3.html


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/5711/government-in-brief-10-3.html

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Vietnam-Laos-focus-on-cementing-ties/20113/124311.vov

Learn About Our Neighbors: Laos (and Thailand) will choke Cambodia

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/australia-urged-to-help-halt-mekong-dam-20110310-1bp03.html

Clipping from Sidney Morning Herald

In 2007, Laos signed a memorandum of understanding to sell 95 per cent of the electricity produced by the Xayaburi project to Thailand.

Financing and construction for the $3.5 billion development is also set to come from Thai banks and construction companies.

Climatologist Anond Snidvongs from Chulalongkorn University says dams will impact the region's agriculture.

"Dams are definitely going to affect the biodiversity, that's one thing. It's very clear and very well proven," he said.

Of key concern is the impact on fisheries on Cambodia's Ton Le Sap Lake and Vietnam's delta, both vital sources of food and income for millions of people on the Lower Mekong.

"Fish in the Mekong, they are both food and also economics. About one third of the economy of Cambodia at the moment relies on the exporting of fish (from the lake) to other countries, especially Thailand," Mr Anond said.

Learn About Our Neighbors: From Prey Nokor to Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMGaS7jEx_0


http://www.google.com/images?q=Khmer+Krom&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-CR4TZabCMfIgQeL6L2VAQ&ved=0CEsQsAQ

My Salutation to one of the greatest Khmer Artists-- Chakra Oeur

http://www.providence.edu/art/cambodian/oeur.html

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=204861249540862

I salute Chakra Oeur for his dedication to Khmer Arts. It's one in a million talent gifted to help preserve Khmer Artworks, culture and history. Whereever you are, whatever you do I wish you success. Keep up the good work my friend. Congratulations!

Learn About Our Neighbors: Vietnamese Residents Association In Cambodia

While it is recorded in Wikipedia ( http://timothychhim.blogspot.com/2011/03/wikipedia-338-over-5-millions-of.html?spref=fb) that there are 33.8 % of Vietnamese among Cambodians in Cambodia, the Vietnamese also have their own " Vietnamese Residents Association" in Cambodia which represents most (if not all Vietnamese) inside Cambodia.  Among other things, the important functions of the Vietnamese Residents Association is to "strengthening the unity bloc of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia" and to " protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese people in Cambodia"

The above association is fully and officially supported by both Vietnamese and Cambodian governments.

The Vietnamese' success in forming such an organization inside Cambodian territory is a unique example and lesson for Khmer people inside Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere throughout the world. Millions of Khmer can do the same thing to "strengthen the unity bloc of Khmer community" and to "protect the leginmate rights of Khmer people."    

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Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia hold congress

(VOV) - The Vietnamese Residents Association in Cambodia has held its first congress in Phnom Penh to review activities and elect an executive board for the 2011-2015 term.

Present at the opening ceremony on March 6 were Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Le Anh Dung, Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Min Khin, diplomats and 250 representatives from the Vietnamese community in Cambodia.

The association’s chairman Chau Van Chi said the congress was held in the context of growing relations between Vietnam and Cambodia in various fields, including politics, economics and trade. The two countries’ traditional friendship and effective cooperation have contributed to strengthening the unity bloc of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia, he added.

Since its establishment in 2003, the association, with more than 5,700 members, has helped the Vietnamese community in Cambodia improve their living standards, both materially and spiritually.

The association has closely worked with Cambodian agencies and authorities at all levels to protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese people in Cambodia.