Continuing the week's news from Cambodia ...

A 14-year-old Cambodian girl is about to undergo surgery in Hawaii that will allow her to walk for the first time.

Sythan Leam lives in Anglong Thor, a small village about 80 miles northwest of Phnom Penh in Kampong Thom province in Cambodia.

When she was 2 months old, she suffered severe burns on her left leg. There is no doctor or medical care in the village and, when her leg healed, her calf was fused to her thigh.

Thinking about the pain this child has endured for her entire life brings tears to my eyes. Scar tissue, as we know, doesn't stretch, so 14 years of growth could have been nothing but torture.

If you're interested in contributing, Shriners Hospital for Children in Hawaii, and Dr. Gunter Hintz, would welcome donations.

For a classic "Pot / Kettle" thing, here's a report that says the Cambodian government is blaming international organizations for its failure to implement anti-corruption laws.

Huh?

After 10 years and 200,000 Cambodian signatures demanding the passing of an anti-corruption law, the head of the Anti-corruption Unit had this to say:

... delays are being caused by international organisations objecting to elements of the draft law.

And when the national assembly sent back to the government... the same NGO, the same foreigner country starts to involve, to review everything. When someone blocks this procedure and says please go ahead, what can we do?

I repeat ... huh?

Just because I can, I'll mention that 59-year-old Roger Dale Green from Tennessee has been arrested in a Phnom Penh hotel room raid for debauchery, the charge that covers child sexual abuse. He denies the charges, saying, "he was helping two young girls and their mother by giving the girls presents and letting them stay in his hotel room before he was arrested."

Moving right along, if we're looking for fursure nasties,here's a twofer ...

Former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea ... hopefully a candidate for punishment under the trail we all hope are coming ... has voiced admiration for Saddam Hussein, and pity over his execution.

"Saddam Hussein had a spirit of national love," he said, adding, "I love him."

Just for context, Nuon Chea was Brother Number One's Number Two, chief ideologue of the KR.

The Asia Times has a very interesting article postulating that 2006 will be historically views as a defining year for Cambodian politics that has led to stability.

Hmmmm. Worth a read.