How Cambodia’s secretive timber auctions are fueling the illegal logging trade
In the predawn hours of May 6, a flatbed truck packed with lengths of illegally logged timber sped past a checkpoint in Ratanakkiri province, knocking aside a police car and racing off. Police later tracked down the truck to a house in Banlung City. In the ...
Zsombor Peter and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/how-cambodias-secretive-timber-auctions-are-fueling-the-illegal-logging-trade-63919/
Seng Theary begins hunger strike, after UN declares her arbitrarily detained
Imprisoned activist Seng Theary began a 10 day hunger strike on Monday, less than a week after a United Nations report declared she was being detained in violation of international law and called for her release, her lawyer Jared Genser stated on Monday. ...
Jack Brook and Runn Sreydeth
https://cambojanews.com/seng-theary-begins-hunger-strike-after-un-declares-her-arbitrarily-detained/
Sand for Singapore's Growth Comes at Environmental Cost to Poorer Neighbors
KOH KONG, Cambodia (AP) — Round a bend in Cambodia’s Tatai River and the virtual silence of a tropical idyll turns suddenly into an industrial nightmare. Lush jungle hills give way to a flotilla of dredgers operating 24 hours a day, scooping up sand and piling ...
No Power Leads to No Water In Sihanoukville
The water shortage that has led to tens of thousands of households in Sihanoukville without running water for the past week occurred after provincial officials decided to limit power to a water pumping facility operated by the tourist town’s privately-owned distributor, a manager at the ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/no-power-leads-to-no-water-in-sihanoukville-16858/
On Independence Day, King Sihamoni Calls for Unity
King Norodom Sihamoni used a speech during celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Cambodia’s independence from France on Saturday to call for unity amid growing concerns over the long-term harmony of the nation since July’s disputed national election. Government officials, military officers and foreign diplomats turned ...
Mech Dara and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/on-independence-day-king-sihamoni-calls-for-unity-46800/
Sam Rainsy Rejects Accusation of Inciting Military Coup
CNRP president Sam Rainsy on Monday defended his recent Facebook posts urging police and soldiers to “stand up” with the people and “demand” a change of government, and dismissed claims from the ruling CPP that he was inciting a coup. “We just want to urge ...
Neou Vannarin and Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/sam-rainsy-rejects-accusation-of-inciting-military-coup-39276/
Cambodia should hold referendum to decide on reelection: political analysts
Cambodia should hold a referendum to decide whether the country calls a reelection or not after allegations of serious irregularities during July’s election that handed victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party, political analysts said. Kek Galabru, president of a renowned human rights group ...
Nzweek News Staff
http://www.nzweek.com/world/cambodia-should-hold-referendum-to-decide-on-reelection-political-analysts-2-105897/
Rainsy calls Assembly meeting ‘communist’
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, along with the rest of his party, condemned the opening of the National Assembly yesterday, saying in a speech delivered in Siem Reap that the action violated the constitution and had reverted the country to “communist” rule. Even as rumours swirled about ...
May Titthara, Meas Sokchea and Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rainsy-calls-assembly-meeting-%E2%80%98communist%E2%80%99
Cambodian PM unveils 5-year strategy, vowing deep reforms
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday announced his new government’s five-year strategy, vowing to deepen reforms in all fields to ensure sustainable growth and poverty reduction. “Reforms are the top priority for Cambodia and the country will continue deepening reforms in all fields in order ...
Nguon Sovan
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-09/25/c_132749682.htm
Armed Man at Rally Claimed to Be ‘Samdech Bodyguard’
A man apprehended by participants at a rally in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park on Sunday after he was spotted carrying a concealed pistol, signed himself into Calmette Hospital by listing his occupation as “Samdech Bodyguard,” in apparent reference to one of the three leaders of ...
Mech Dara and Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/armed-man-at-rally-claimed-to-be-samdech-bodyguard-45091/
Lawyer to Assess Whether Government Crimes Worthy of ICC
The opposition CNRP announced Tuesday that it had engaged lawyer Richard Rogers, former head of the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s Defense Support Section, to analyze evidence of alleged crimes committed by the CPP government and decide whether they justify filing a complaint with the International Criminal ...
Colin Meyn and Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lawyer-to-assess-whether-government-crimes-worthy-of-icc-50303/
Unionists' jailing compared with Bandith
Since her husband was arrested in June and thrown in provincial prison to await trial, Soam Chantha, 32, has given birth to a baby boy. At the same time the men have been locked up, police have failed to arrest former Bavet governor Chhouk Bandith, ...
Shane Worrell and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unionists-jailing-compared-bandith
Anonymous Hacks Government Websites
Anonymous Cambodia, a group of local computer hackers, has claimed responsibility for disrupting at least three government websites since Saturday and vowed additional hacking attacks to protest against July’s “unfair” election, according to the group’s Facebook page and Twitter account. Since Saturday, the hackers have attacked ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anonymous%E2%80%88hacks-government-websites-42250/
Cambodia to feel an energy crunch, but growth to remain stable: report
Energy demand in Southeast Asia is expected to increase by more than 80 per cent by 2035, fuelling some $240 billion in oil spending, a new report from the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) shows. In its “Southeast Asia Energy Outlook” published yesterday, the Paris-based IAEA ...
Anne Renzenbrink
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-feel-energy-crunch-growth-remain-stable-report
Opposition Asks ADB To Suspend Funding to Cambodia
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has asked the Asian Development Bank to suspend funding to Cambodia, whose government he says was not formed legally following the July elections. In a letter to ADB President Takehiko Nakao, Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, said the ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/opposition-asks-adb-to-suspend-funding-to-cambodia/1766436.html
Another Military Official Accuses Opposition Party of Causing Chaos
General Neang Phat has become the second senior military official to wade into the current political impasse between Prime Minister Hun Sen’s CPP government and the CNRP, accusing the opposition party of trying to destabilize the country, according to a local media report. Gen. Phat, who ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/another-military-official-accuses-opposition-party-of-causing-chaos-51101/
Cambodia’s eight-month political deadlock shows hints of ending
Talks between Cambodia’s ruling party and the opposition to resolve the impasse over last year’s election have been deadlocked for months. The two sides disagree on a number of issues, most significantly reform of the National Election Committee (NEC). But signs of a thaw have ...
Robert Carmichael
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodias-eight-month-political-deadlock-shows-hints-of-ending/1884765.html
As lake disappears, a development dilemma
Looking out from his house, held up by three-meter stilts on a peninsula that juts into Boeng Tompun lake, Chan Sokhom can see the sand inching closer to him every day. Within a few years, the sand will likely reach his doorstep. By then, Mr. Sokhom ...
Cameron Rhoads and Sek Odom
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/as-lake-disappears-a-development-dilemma-62718/
Rubber prices tumble as industry panics
Cambodia’s steadily declining rubber prices have hit critically low levels that are destined to only get worse as Thailand prepares to offload huge rubber stocks, the secretary-general of the Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia said Thursday. As the price of natural rubber has paralleled a ...
Kang Sothear and George Styllis
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/rubber-prices-tumble-as-industry-panics-58889/
Fight to save B’bang heritage finds new allies
When an old building formerly owned by the state was demolished on the outskirts of Battambang City in February, for some, it was the last straw. The giant, freestanding colonial-era mansion with the round windows, the blue shutters and the cracking yellow paint had become one ...
Matt Blomberg and Sek Odom
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fight-to-save-bbang-heritage-finds-new-allies-59105/