Thai-Cambodian retreat seals trade and labor deals
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed five bilateral agreements to wrap up the two-day official visit by Cambodian leader Hun Sen, although no deal was reached on energy development and cooperation between the countries. According to Hun Sen, Gen Prayut has agreed in principle to ...
Patsara Jikkham
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/799968/thai-cambodian-retreat-seals-trade-and-labour-deals
Rainsy exile order lifted, but ex-CNRP leader hints his return is dependent on pardon
The Council of Ministers yesterday ended the ban on the return of former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, an apparent reaction to the latter’s comments the night before on a radio broadcast vowing to come back if the restrictions were dropped. “The government has decided to ...
Mech Dara and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rainsy-exile-order-lifted-ex-cnrp-leader-hints-his-return-dependent-pardon
Shifting economy feeds nation’s uncertain politics
The country is set to embark on local elections that promise to highlight the economic hardships faced by many Cambodians despite a sustained annual growth rate and continued poverty reduction, economic and political observers said this week. A report from Future Forum released on Tuesday ...
Matt Surrusco
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/shifting-economy-feeds-nations-uncertain-politics-129465/
Clock ticks on rice harvest
As el niño continues to buffet Cambodia, the next two weeks could be crucial in determining whether the Kingdom will suffer from a smaller-than-usual rice harvest and potential food shortages, experts said yesterday. According to Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries general director So Khan ...
Sarah Taguiam
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/clock-ticks-rice-harvest
Report that new ELCs were granted to logging barons ‘false’
In an open letter to the Ministry of Environment, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) asked yesterday for confirmation of a January 19 report in the Cambodia Daily that said new economic land concessions (ELCs) had been given to two tycoons despite a ban ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20653/report-that-new-elcs-were-granted-to-logging-barons----false---/
World Bank does little as villagers threatened and jailed for protesting big projects
Nget Khun, a 76-year-old known to some in Cambodia’s capital as “Grandma Mommy,” hasn’t had a quiet retirement. A World Bank spokesperson said the bank is in discussions with the government about “how to support the country’s development in a way that benefits all Cambodians.” ...
Phorn Bopha et al
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/world-bank-does-little-as-villagers-threatened-and-jailed-for-protestting-big-projects/2959923.html
Aeonts wins Cambodia licence
The Cambodian hire-purchase subsidiary of Aeon Thana Sinsap (Thailand) or Aeonts has become the first Japanese financial firm to receive a specialised bank licence to do credit-card business in the neighbouring country, according to a statment to the Stock Exchange of Thailand Aeon Microfinance (Cambodia), ...
Darana Chudasri
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/756956/aeon-wins-cambodia-licence
Foreign aid drops in latest OECD update
Foreign aid to Cambodia dropped about 14 percent last year, according to updated data released this week—though the figures exclude China, one of the country’s most significant donors. Actual payments of foreign aid fell from $970 million in 2014 to $830 million last year, marking ...
Michael Dickison
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/foreign-aid-drops-latest-oecd-update-122374/
Groups concerned over increasing violations of Constitution
Rights and democracy groups say Cambodians are not being protected by the constitution, which has been routinely violated by all three branches of government. Over 170,000 families across the country were hurt by land disputes in 2014, according to a new a report by NGO ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/groups-concerned-over-increasingly-violations-of-constitution/2982483.html
Cambodian farmers prosper by going organic
Depending on the season, organic vegetable farmer Sem Chantha could be growing spinach, cauliflower, lettuce or collard greens on her six-hectare plot of land in Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province. The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) supports Cambodian farmers with training and ...
Daniel De Carteret, Chan Muyhong
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodian-farmes-prosper-by-going-organic/2988764.html
Ballot recounts narrowly swing two communes to CNRP
Ballot recounts on Wednesday secured the opposition CNRP two more commune wins—one each in Battambang and Kompong Thom provinces—a day after the first of 40 contested communes in the June 4 local elections swung to the Cpp. Nguon Kolboth, a Cpp representative who was at ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ballot-recounts-narrowly-swing-two-communes-to-cnrp-131359/
Hand, foot, mouth disease alert
The Health Ministry’s Communicable Disease Control (CDC) department has urged people to be cautious of the spread of hand, food and mouth disease (HFMD) and asked that infants or children displaying symptoms be brought to seek medical treatment immediately. “Especially for children with dangerous symptoms, ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35382/hand--foot--mouth-disease-alert/
Tech designer hopes to create better data system for hospitals
Programmer Kong Divin recently returned from a trip to the US, where he won second place in a Microsoft Office context in Texas. He had entered the same competition last year, but did not win any prizes, though it gave him the drive to return. ...
Socheata Hean
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/tech-designer-hopes-to-create-better-data-system-for-hospitals/2930672.html
Anti-logging vigilantes get international recognition
In late November 2011, Minh Ny found himself in a brawl with a group of heavily-armed policemen in Kompong Thom province’s Sandan district as the police attempted to handcuff the late environmentalist Chut Wutty. When the network was named a winner of the Equator Prize, ...
Aun Chhengpor
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/anti-logging-vigilantes-get-international-recognition/2993604.html
Despite growing body of evidence, officials reject deforestation claims
Cambodian officials have defended the government’s record on the forestry sector, despite the publication this year of several substantive reports alleging that deforestation is accelerating due to policy failures. In response, Sophalleth echoed previous comments by the prime minister, insisting that once deforested land is ...
Aun Chhengpor
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/despite-growing-body-of-evidence-officials-reject-deforestation-claims/3018682.html
China pledges new military aid to Cambodia
China and Cambodia agreed to boost their military ties following a meeting between their defense ministers on November 6 in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Though specifics of the assistance remain unclear, Banh, who is also a deputy prime minister, indicated that it includes telecommunications ...
Prashanth Parameswaran
http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/china-pledges-new-military-aid-to-cambodia/
Villagers seek NGOs’, UN’s help in dispute
More than 400 families in Preah Vihear province submitted a petition to a group of NGOs and the UN yesterday, seeking assistance in their battle with the government over 3,555 hectares of protected land that sits within the Kulen Prom-Tep Wildlife Sanctuary. According to Sokha, ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-seek-ngos-uns-help-dispute
A roadmap for financial growth
The government yesterday unveiled its financial sector development strategy for 2016 to 2025, which provides stakeholders with a document to evaluate the last decade of growth while outlining an action plan for the next decade. Chea Serey, director-general of the NBC, said the content of ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/roadmap-financial-growth
Hun sen scolds media during forum session
Prime Minister Hun Sen used a news conference at Thursday’s World Economic Forum on Asean in Phnom Penh to warn that two foreign-owned news outlets, including The Cambodia Daily, were “against” the government and that journalists who did not report “properly” would be seen as ...
Matt Surrusco
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-hijacks-forum-session-to-scold-media-129604/
China's financial power play: How a £530m dam in Cambodia symbolises the growing, sometimes ruthless, influence of Beijing across Asia
Beijing is spreading its influence by stumping up the cash to build desperately needed infrastructure throughout Asia, but with little consideration for communities or the level of corruption. “Without infrastructure, you can’t revive,” said Cambodia’s Commerce Minister, Sun Chanthol. “We have been blamed for always ...