Sokha’s witness request denied
An investigating judge has rejected Kem Sokha’s request that he interview a representative from the US government in connection with the former opposition leader’s “treason” case, despite the fact that Sokha stands accused of plotting a US-backed overthrow of the Cambodian government. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sokhas-witness-request-denied
Ministry meets with protesting garment workers following factory closures
Officials from the Ministry of Labour met with former workers from three garment factories in the capital’s Por Senchey district this morning after the owner absconded without warning last week, leaving 2,000 workers without their severance or salary for the month of January. ...
Yon Sineat and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-meets-protesting-garment-workers-following-factory-closures
Strikes down, but advocates, officials differ on significance
Strikes in Cambodia plummeted by more than half last year, according to the Ministry of Labour’s annual report – a statistic lauded by the government as evidence that worker conditions had improved but rejected by labour advocates as a sign that dissent was being suppressed. ...
Yon Sineat and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/strikes-down-advocates-officials-differ-significance
Women’s Day plea for Vanny
Communities affected by land disputes have used the occasion of International Women’s Day today to urge the government to free activist Tep Vanny. They also called for the release of civil society organization officials and an NEC official who are being held in prison. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/36220/women---s-day-plea-for-vanny/
Kingdom mourns for Sok An
With the passing of Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen has lost one of his closest right hand men, someone who has been by his side for more than three decades since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1980. ...
Cheang Sokha
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/36584/kingdom-mourns-for-sok-an/
Sesan residents settle on new relocation site
Over a hundred families in Stung Treng province’s Srekor and Kbal Romea communes said yesterday that they have located around 2,000 hectares to relocate to when a scheduled test run for the Lower Sesan II dam this week leaves their villages flooded. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sesan-residents-settle-new-relocation-site
NEC plans meeting to review elections
The National Election Committee plans to hold a two-day meeting in Preah Sihanouk province to review the June 4 commune elections, with members of the election monitoring coalition the “Situation Room” saying yesterday they plan to table recommendations to improve certain electoral procedures. ...
Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-plans-meeting-review-elections
Railway protesters seek talks
More than 100 residents living in Por Sen Chey district’s Ka Kab commune yesterday burned tyres while protesting over the construction of a railway that will lead to the Phnom Penh International Airport, claiming that people were not given notice of the construction. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5073738/railway-protesters-seek-talks/
After Cambodia Daily’s $6M bill, tax authority targets RFA, VOA
Popular media outlets Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have become the latest to draw the attention of the government for allegedly not paying taxes, one week after a letter to the Cambodia Daily demanding more than $6 million in back taxes was leaked. ...
Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/after-cambodia-dailys-6m-bill-tax-authority-targets-rfa-voa
Emergency summit called over tear gas bomb crisis
The Ministry of Defence will today hold an emergency meeting on what to do with two tear gas barrel bombs found in Svay Rieng province. The bombs are believed to have been dropped by the United States during the Vietnam War. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5083637/emergency-summit-called-tear-gas-bomb-crisis/
Six sanctuaries proposed
The Environment Ministry is to request the creation of six new protected areas to safeguard biodiversity and boost conservation in the country. Tim Sitha, deputy director of the general department of conservation, said the ministry has been studying the potential to establish the new areas. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5087603/six-sanctuaries-proposed/
Fresh calls for Sokha’s release
With Cambodia’s former opposition leader Kem Sokha languishing in a remote jail for more than three months now, international organisations and parliamentarians have renewed their calls for his immediate release and for the reversal of the controversial dissolution of his Cambodia National Rescue Party. ...
Niem Chheng and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fresh-calls-sokhas-release
Malaysia firm to bring Oddar Meanchey onto national power grid
Malaysian-owned power infrastructure provider Pestech (Cambodia) Ltd has won a $26 million job to start on a new electricity project in Cambodia that will see Oddar Meanchey province connected to the national power grid, according to a filing on the Malaysian stock exchange. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/malaysia-firm-bring-oddar-meanchey-national-power-grid
Poipet locals get passes to Thailand
Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities yesterday began issuing a new border pass for residents who wish to cross into Thailand for business. The statement said the new border pass will cost $5 and be valid for two years for multiple entries in and out of Thailand. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099633/poipet-locals-get-passes-thailand/
Freed Mother Nature activists decry ‘injustice’
Two Mother Nature activists, who were released from prison yesterday, said they had been “robbed” of their freedom for the past five months after being arrested for documenting suspected illegal sand-bearing vessels in Koh Kong without evidence that they had committed a crime. ...
Yesenia Amaro and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/freed-mother-nature-activists-decry-injustice
New Laos dam draws criticism
News that Laos will move ahead with the proposed 912-megawatt Pak Beng dam, which would be the third mainstream dam in Laos’ Lower Mekong River, has sparked criticism from environmental groups who say downstream countries should decide the fate of potentially harmful development projects. ...
Cristina Maza
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-laos-dam-draws-criticism
Technical issue mars voter list publication
Prospective voters ran into problems yesterday during the first publication of the country’s new voter lists. Citizens will have until January 14 to check their names and information on voter lists to confirm they are correct, either in person, at registration offices or online. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33877/technical-issue-mars-voter-list-publication/
Parties gear up for the elections
Political parties are scrambling to complete their internal processes and register ahead of this year’s commune elections, which are to be held in June. The National Election Committee (NEC) will be accepting registration applications for all parties’ candidates from March 3 to 5. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35331/parties-gear-up-for-the-elections/
Government task force destroys seized illegal fishing gear
A government task force charged with eliminating illegal fishing on the Tonle Sap lake has destroyed more than 100 km of nets and other equipment seized in Kompong Chhnang and Kompong Thom provinces this month, officials said on Monday. ...
Van Roeun
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-task-force-destroys-seized-illegal-fishing-gear-125494/
Campaign for local products
The “Buy Khmer Products” campaign continues this year, in a bid to promote local products among Cambodian people.Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, said last Friday that the campaign is “a momentum to inspire and awaken Cambodian citizens to acknowledge the value of local products.” ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/36154/campaign-for-local-products/