Cambodia inches up corruption index
Cambodia has performed better than last year in its effort to fight corruption, but it is still slow, an international anti-corruption watchdog said Wednesday. The index ranks Cambodia 156 out of 175 countries this year, up from a 160 ranking last year. ...
Bangkok Post News Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/447010/cambodia-performs-better-in-corruption-index
Villagers in Ratanakkiri prevent company from clearing land
About 100 villagers prevented a company from clearing part of its land concession in Ratanakkiri province’s Lumphat district on Saturday in the latest confrontation in a long-running dispute in the Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary, according to a villager and a local official. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-in-ratanakkiri-prevent-company-from-clearing-land-77219/
Residents file petition over cracks
Dozens of families living in Phnom Penh’s iconic White Building filed a petition to City Hall yesterday morning, urging authorities to put an end to nearby construction work, which they say has left large cracks in the structure, and demanding compensation. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/residents-file-petition-over-cracks
Gamblers risk illegal crossing to get to Cambodia casinos
Hundreds of Vietnamese gamblers trying to get to casinos in Cambodia are testing tightened security at two border gates in Long An Province, and a crackdown at Binh Hiep Border Gate has opened a market for gangs facilitating illegal crossings or bribing guards. ...
Vietnamnet News Staff
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/123023/gamblers-risk-illegal-crossing-to-get-to-cambodia-casinos.html
Thai army says it’s too early to lay blame for loggers’ deaths
Thailand’s army has asked Cambodia “not to jump [to] the conclusion” that its soldiers were to blame for the deaths of three Cambodian loggers who were shot dead earlier this month while searching for rosewood across the border, according to Thai media. ...
Phnom Penh gardeners threaten to strike over pay, sick leave
About 50 of Phnom Penh’s 270 gardeners gathered at the National Assembly and then City Hall on Monday morning to deliver petitions asking for a substantial raise to their modest monthly salaries, threatening to go on strike if they were denied. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penh-gardeners-threaten-to-strike-over-pay-sick-leave-78111/
Chhouk Bandith still at large three years on
Three female garment workers who were shot by former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith during a February 2012 factory demonstration called on the government yesterday to imprison the former politician, who has been on the run for three years as of today. ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/chhouk-bandith-still-large-three-years
Shoot-out after Laotians snared in drug sting
Stung Treng provincial military police and at least four Laotian drug smugglers exchanged gunfire along the Lao border Tuesday after a man was arrested for attempting to sell more than 1.5 kg of crystal methamphetamine to undercover officers, an official said Wednesday. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/shoot-out-after-laotians-snared-in-drug-sting-78704/
CNRP Siem Reap chief under fire over ‘irregular spending’
A group of Siem Reap provincial CNRP officials plan to protest outside the opposition party’s headquarters in Phnom Penh this morning to request that provincial party chief Ke Sovannaroth be ousted due to alleged “irregular spending,” an official said on Sunday. ...
Khy Sovuthy and Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrp%E2%80%88siem-reap%E2%80%88chief-under-fire-over-irregular-spending-78881/
Women’s Rights activists stage flash mob to raise awareness
A group of activists staged a flash mob in Phnom Penh’s Wat Botom park Thursday evening, performing the Madison and the cha-cha-cha to bring attention to women’s rights in the lead-up to International Women’s Day on Sunday. ...
Sek Odom and Maria Paula Brito
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/womens-rights-activists-stage-flash-mob-to-raise-awareness-79215/
NGOs slam Cambodian political parties over workshop on electoral reform draft law
Representatives of more than 60 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and an electoral reform group on Monday boycotted a national workshop held Cambodia’s ruling and opposition parties on the electoral reform draft law, saying they did not have enough time to review the documents. ...
RFA Khmer News Staff
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/ngos-boycott-workshop-on-electoral-reform-03092015171323.html
Court questions General charged in corruption case
A military general charged in connection with a high-profile corruption scandal at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which led to the removal of its top judge last month, on Tuesday denied the allegations against him after being questioned at the court. ...
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-questions-general-charged-in-corruption-case-79472/
Land, insecurity linked: report
Rampant land grabs, economic land concessions and a disastrous land-titling program have fostered an environment of insecurity for Cambodia’s most marginalised citizens, according to a new report, which argues that the Kingdom needs to rethink its current business-centric development model. ...
Ethan Harfenist
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/land-insecurity-linked-report
Parties unite to pass strict tobacco control law
The ruling CPP and opposition CNRP made a rare show of fraternity Wednesday morning in unanimously passing the country’s first tobacco control law—which bans sales to minors, smoking in public and most advertising—in a bid to combat related illnesses. ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/parties-unite-to-pass-strict-tobacco-control-law-81703/
CNRP’s Sovannara on trial
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court today is scheduled to hear the trial of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party activist Meach Sovannara, who was charged with leading a violent “insurrection” after an opposition demonstration turned violent last July. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://bit.ly/1cOQ72R
Opposition TV station to launch this year
Cambodia’s first opposition-aligned television station will begin broadcasting around the country by the year’s end, with a group of investors close to the CNRP now raising the $3 million needed to launch operations, opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Sunday. ...
Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/opposition-tv-station-to-launch-this-year-82116/
Traffic accidents, fatalities down this new year
Thirty-seven people died in 112 road accidents during last week’s Khmer New Year holiday, typically the busiest time of year on the country’s roads as people make their way to and from their home provinces to be with family. ...
Eighth villager dies in HIV-stricken Roka commune
An 89-year-old woman who was among the more than 240 villagers to test positive for HIV in Battambang province’s Roka commune died Monday, bringing the total number of deaths since the outbreak was first detected in December to eight. ...
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/eighth-villager-dies-in-hiv-stricken-roka-commune-82219/
Amid slow sales, some Aeon tenants leave mall
Less than 10 months after the $200-million Aeon Mall opened its doors to Phnom Penh’s consumers, at least seven tenants at Cambodia’s largest shopping center have shuttered their businesses, complaining of disappointing foot traffic, construction disturbances and overly thrifty patrons. ...
Anthony Jensen and Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/amid-slow-sales-some-aeon-tenants-leave-mall-82423/
ASEAN, EU may resume free-trade talks: report
ASEAN and the European Union (EU) are set to explore the possible resumption of talks on a free-trade agreement (FTA) after the ASEAN Economic Community comes into effect this year, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported Sunday. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://bit.ly/1bv0CYh