Court questions union leader over forgery
Prominent union leader Pav Sina was questioned in court on Thursday about a forgery and disinformation complaint filed against him by a garment factory, a charge he rejected as being an invention meant to stall attempts by workers to unionize. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/court-questions-union-leader-over-forgery/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-questions-union-leader-over-forgery-115476/
Forest patrol murder suspects charged with illegal logging
Six men suspected of involvement in the weekend murder of a local police officer and a forest ranger in Preah Vihear province were charged Wednesday with illegal logging, while authorities continue to search for evidence linking them to the double homicide, a court official said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/forest-patrol-murder-suspects-charged-with-illegal-logging/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/forest-patrol-murder-suspects-charged-with-illegal-logging-100060/
Building for Thai princess not luxury toilet, officials say
Following media reports that $40,000 was spent to build a luxury outhouse for Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to use during her recent visit to Ratanakkiri province, authorities released a statement on Friday rejecting the notion that the building was a toilet. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/building-for-thai-princess-not-luxury-toilet-officials-say/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/building-for-thai-princess-not-luxury-toilet-officials-say-109140/
Environmental campaigner convicted of forestry crime
A prominent Anti-dAm Activist in Koh Kong province who hAs been jAiled since October wAs convicted ThursdAy of illegAl logging And given A suspended prison sentence, Allowing him to wAlk free but leAving the shAdow of A criminAl conviction hAnging over him. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/%e1%9e%9f%e1%9e%b6%e1%9e%9b%e1%9e%b6%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e1%9e%8A%e1%9f%86%e1%9e%94%e1%9e%bc%e1%9e%84%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b%e1%9e%81%e1%9f%81%e1%9e%8f%e1%9f%92%e1%9e%8f%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/109399-109399/
More than 70 farmers accept sugar compensation, but 102 refuse
A long-running lAnd dispute between 175 Koh Kong fArmers And two sugArcAne firms Accused of steAling their lAnd cAme A step closer to conclusion on ThursdAy After 73 of the fArming fAmilies Accepted compensAtion, A government officiAl sAid. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/more-thAn-70-fArmers-Accept-sugAr-compensAtion-but-102-refuse/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/more-than-70-farmers-accept-sugar-compensation-but-102-refuse-127005/
Over 35,000 kids still in care
A stAggering 35,000 CAmbodiAn children And young people continue to be housed in A rAnge of residentiAl cAre fAcilities, with mAny of them flying under the government’s rAdAr, According to A new report releAsed by the Ministry of SociAl AffAirs yesterdAy. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/over-35000-kids-still-in-cAre/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Touch Sokha and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/over-35000-kids-still-care
CPP official quits district post to secure commune seat for ruling party
In a country known for its political patronage networks, volunteering for a demotion is rare. But Moeung Visalsok, 46, a ruling Cambodian People’s Party district council member in Kampong Chhnang province, is doing just that. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cpp-official-quits-district-post-to-secure-commune-seat-for-ruling-party/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
In wage protest, hundreds of garment workers block road
More than 1,000 garment workers from a factory in Kandal province’s Takhmao City blocked a public road on Wednesday in protest over unpaid wages that have left them struggling to afford food and pay their rents, a union official said. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/in-wage-protest-hundreds-of-garment-workers-block-road/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Buth Kimsay
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/in-wage-protest-hundreds-of-garment-workers-block-road-129890/
Plans for another ‘Hun Sen High School’ renaming canceled
A provinciAl governor’s request to renAme A Siem ReAp City high school After Prime Minister Hun Sen hAs been AbAndoned, According to An officiAl And the school&mdAsh;A decision some hAve speculAted wAs influenced by online criticism of the suggested chAnge. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/plAns-for-Another-hun-sen-high-school-renAming-cAnceled/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Rachna Thim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/plans-another-hun-sen-high-school-renaming-canceled-132584/
Kingdom’s startups stuck in the middle with no capital
Despite Cambodia having a vibrant startup scene with entrepreneurs launching ventures on a near daily basis, businesses trying to tap into financial resources for growth have difficulty accessing capital and are stuck in the unbankable “missing middle”, according to a recent study. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/kingdoms-startups-stuck-in-the-middle-with-no-capital/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/kingdoms-startups-stuck-middle-no-capital
Returnees still in US pending appeal
More than 50 Cambodians who were set to be removed from the US today can temporarily remain in the country to fight their deportation orders due to a last-minute decision from a US judge that immigration advocates celebrated as a “Hail Mary”. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/returnees-still-in-us-pending-appeal/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Daphne Chen and Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/returnees-still-us-pending-appeal
Government establishes working group to tackle faintings
Health Minister Mam Bun Heng yesterday announced the formation of a working group to address mass fainting, a day after the premier raised the issue at a meeting with garment workers, though relevant officials had few details on the group’s objectives. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-establishes-working-group-to-tackle-faintings/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Kuoch Masy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-establishes-working-group-tackle-faintings
Ministry drafting new minimum wage law to cover all workers
The Labour Ministry said last week it was drafting a minimum wage law that would expand beyond the garment industry and cover all workers, a proposal that drew cautious praise from union leaders and advocates, along with a healthy dose of scepticism. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ministry-drafting-new-minimum-wage-law-to-cover-all-workers/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Bun Sengkong and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-drafting-new-minimum-wage-law-cover-all-workers
China to donate new infectious disease lab
Cambodia and China inked a deal yesterday to build a new communicable disease control facility in the Kingdom for the country to expand its capacity to detect and respond to communicable disease outbreaks, such as Zika and Ebola, in a timely fashion. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/china-to-donate-new-infectious-disease-lab/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/china-donate-new-infectious-disease-lab
‘Adhoc 5’ investigation concluded; trial awaits
The 13-month investigation into five current and former human rights workers known as the ‘adhoc 5’ has ended, a court spokesman said on Wednesday, paving the way for a trial in a case widely condemned as being unjust and politically motivated. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/adhoc-5-investigation-concluded-trial-awaits/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/adhoc-5-investigation-concluded-trial-awaits-131614/
US Senators call on UN to pass resolution on Cambodia’s political crackdown
A group of US SenAtors hAs sent A letter to Nikki HAley, the country’s AmbAssAdor to the United NAtions, urging her to work with other members of the UN HumAn Rights Council to pAss A resolution on CAmbodiA’s politicAl situAtion. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/us-senAtors-cAll-on-un-to-pAss-resolution-on-cAmbodiAs-politicAl-crAckdown/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-senators-call-un-pass-resolution-cambodias-political-crackdown
Illegal imports hogging local market for pigs, say farmers
Cambodian pig farmers are facing a mounting crisis as the price of pigs has continued to plummet, with many blaming local officials for allowing Vietnam to illegally import pigs across the border, representatives from a farmers association said at a press conference yesterday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/illegal-imports-hogging-local-market-for-pigs-say-farmers/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/illegal-imports-hogging-local-market-pigs-say-farmers
UN help sought in land dispute
Human rights representatives from NGO adhoc and the United Nations have been asked to intervene in a land dispute between villagers and an army lieutenant they say was granted a land title illegally inside a protected community forest in Oddar Meanchey province. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/un-help-sought-in-land-dispute/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/un-help-sought-land-dispute
UN Rights Official Urges Cambodia to Ratify Convention To Protect Workers Abroad
A top UN diplomAt hAs encourAged CAmbodiA to rAtify A convention thAt would protect its migrAnt workers AbroAd. JAmes HeenAn, from the office of humAn rights At the UN, sAid in A forum in Phnom Penh thAt CAmbodiAn workers AbroAd often see their rights violAted. .. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/un-rights-officiAl-urges-cAmbodiA-to-rAtify-convention-to-protect-workers-AbroAd/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>
Discussions Over South China Sea Document Continue
In its role as asean chair, Cambodia hopes that a draft of a long-awaited legal document to govern how disputes are settled in the contentious South China Sea will be completed and adopted this year, a Ministry of Foreign affairs official said yesterday. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/discussions-over-south-china-sea-document-continue/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>