Mystery blazes destroy more seized timber
Government officials say they are investigating the causes of two separate weekend fires in Mondolkiri province that reportedly burned through hundreds of high-value logs the government had sold to a businessman after confiscating them from a pair of rubber plantations. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/mystery-blazes-destroy-more-seized-timber-124313/
Villagers accuse official of logging shakedown
Two hundred ethnic Phnong villagers in Mondulkiri’s Koh Nhek district launched a protest on Friday after the deputy district governor and an armed escort seized timber from their homes, before allegedly attempting to extort a bribe for its return. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-accuse-official-logging-shakedown
NEC to host daily party panel discussions on television, radio
The National Election Committee will broadcast daily interview panels featuring all political parties that are running in upcoming local elections on state-run television and radio stations during the 14-day election campaign period, spokesman Hang Puthea said on Tuesday. ...
Vietnam stops nine overloaded trucks with illegal lumber
Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province have recently stopped at least nine overloaded timber trucks crossing into the country from the Kingdom, despite the Cambodian government ostensibly banning wood exports to its eastern neighbour, according to a Vietnamese news report. ...
Shaun Turton and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vietnam-stops-nine-overloaded-trucks-illegal-lumber
Prime minister’s brother Hun San requests ‘serious action’ against top cop
The prime minister’s older brother Hun San has sent a letter to the Interior Ministry asking for “serious action” to be taken against a deputy National Police chief over an alleged dispute on his land in Banteay Meanchey province. ...
Gov’t funds return of ‘Shadow’ election monitors
A group accused of rubber-stamping autocratic elections in 2013 said on Tuesday it would return to observe the June 4 commune elections, with the airfare, accommodation and an excursion to Siem Reap province covered by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. ...
Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-funds-return-of-shadow-election-monitors-130302/
Banteay Meanchey villagers seek dispute resolution
Almost 100 people from Boeung Snor village gathered at Banteay Meanchey’s Provincial Hall yesterday, demanding that provincial authorities resolve a 13-year-old dispute involving land promised to a group of Khmer Rouge defectors by the government in 1997. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/banteay-meanchey-villagers-seek-dispute-resolution
Commune vote smooth but not perfect, says watchdog
Asian election monitor Anfrel yesterday commended authorities, citizens and political parties for Sunday’s smooth commune elections, but stopped short of calling the ballot “free and fair”, raising concerns over the heightened political rhetoric in the run-up to June 4. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/commune-vote-smooth-not-perfect-says-watchdog
Visa-free medical travel period tripled by Thais
The Thai government on Wednesday publicly announced that nationals of five countries, including Cambodia, can visit Thailand for up to 90 days without a visa to seek medical treatment, an official at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/visa-free-medical-travel-period-tripled-thais
Surrogacy exit rules released, with parents required to provide yearly updates
Parents of children born to surrogate mothers in Cambodia will be required to provide the government with yearly updates of their child’s mental and physical development, according to new guidelines officially disseminated to embassies for the first time yesterday. ...
Kong Meta and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/surrogacy-exit-rules-released-parents-required-provide-yearly-updates
Municipality monitoring pawn shops
Phnom Penh Governor Khoung Sreng said the municipality was half-way through a two-week crack-down on pawn shops in order to prevent the sale of stolen goods at the increasing number of second-hand establishments across the capital. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/municipality-monitoring-pawn-shops
US businesses give Cambodia mixed marks
U.S. companies doing business in Cambodia are optimistic about the country’s overall investment environment, but remain dissatisfied with the supply of cheap and skilled labor, corruption, tax structure, and attitudes toward the U.S., according to a new survey. ...
Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/us-businesses-give-cambodia-mixed-marks-133739/
Daily trio face tax department charges
The Tax Department yesterday escalated its attack on the Cambodia Daily by filing a legal complaint accusing its founder and two directors of obstructing the tax process and tax evasion, which could see them face up to six years in prison. ...
Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/daily-trio-face-tax-department-charges
Eyes on Sokha not welcome: lawyers
Jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha’s lawyers have said that they are under surveillance during meetings with their client in Tbong Khmum’s Trapaing Thlong prison, which they yesterday called a violation of their rights ensuring client-attorney conversations are confidential. ...
Chhay Channyda and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eyes-sokha-not-welcome-lawyers
Social programmes ‘underfunded’
In spite of recent pledges to expand social protections, the Cambodian government has failed to prioritise spending on services that reduce poverty and improve quality of life among vulnerable populations, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization. ...
Brendan O’Byrne
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/social-programmes-underfunded
Military clearing claims dismissed as outdated
A REDD Programme representative yesterday said it would be concerning if recent claims of the military systematically clearing protected forest in Oddar Meanchey province covered under the scheme proved true – though a third-party company has dismissed the claims as outdated. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/military-clearing-claims-dismissed-outdated
Aid boost for customs development
The Japanese government on Tuesday pledged to donate two patrol boats to the General Department of Customs and Excise. The announcement was made in a meeting between Economy Minister Aun Ponmonirath and Iizuka Atsushi, director-general of Japan’s Customs Bureau. ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50101351/aid-boost-customs-development/
Mining exploration set for region home to endangered river dolphins
Australian mining firm Medusa Mining has announced plans to begin exploration for gold, copper and oil in Kratie province’s Prek Kampi commune, about 35 kilometres west of a stretch of the Mekong River that is home to endangered river dolphins. ...
Robin Spiess and Brendan O’Byrne
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mining-exploration-set-region-home-endangered-river-dolphins
Government signs contract for infrastructure projects
Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol yesterday signed a $44 million contract with Chinese company Beijing Urban Construction Group Co Ltd to carry out sewage and road improvement projects in Battambang, Poipet and Bavet towns, among other projects. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-signs-contract-infrastructure-projects
Villagers file complaint against Union Development Group for razing crops, property
Fourteen families in Koh Kong province’s Kiri Sakor district filed a court complaint today against 60 security guards employed by Union Development Group (UDG) for allegedly destroying their crops and small huts on land belonging to the development conglomerate. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-file-complaint-against-union-development-group-razing-crops-property