Government
International relations
New international checkpoint to open in Battambang
Cambodia and Thailand are due to open an international checkpoint bordering Battambang province and Sa Kaeo province to facilitate the flow of goods across the border at the end of this month. Nguon Ratanak, Battambang provincial governor, and Porn Poth Penpas, Sa Kaeo provincial governor, held ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50115168/new-international-checkpoint-to-open-in-battambang/
Rights protests at Asean-Australia summit as leaders discuss cooperation
An Asean special summit with Australia wrapped up on Sunday, with regional leaders declaring a “new era” of increasingly close relations, following two days of protests in Sydney against the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen. An estimated 300 protesters gathered on Friday, the majority ...
Erin Handley and Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rights-protests-asean-australia-summit-leaders-discuss-cooperation
‘Like-minded friends forever’: Golden Dragon, Cambodia’s 17-day military exercise with China, kicks off
On Saturday morning, hundreds of Cambodian and Chinese soldiers in full combat gear stood in formation in front of a backdrop of tanks, armoured trucks, machine gun-mounted helicopters, and artillery weapons. Generals from both sides spoke warmly of the deepening relationship between the two countries, ...
Chinese choppers, APCs arrive for joint exercise
Three helicopters, eight armoured personnel carriers and other military materials from China arrived in Cambodia yesterday a few days ahead of a military exercise between the Cambodian and Chinese militaries in Kampong Speu province. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50114295/chinese-choppers-apcs-arrive-for-joint-exercise/
UN human rights envoy raises CNRP dissolution in meeting with National Assembly president
UN Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith raised the forced dissolution of the CNRP and the redistribution of its legislative seats, as well as the government’s frequent legal action against sitting parliamentarians, during her visit on Tuesday with National Assembly President Heng Samrin. ...
China paying for majority of joint military exercise
The Chinese government is picking up the majority of the tab for the joint military exercise between China and Cambodia from March 17 to 30 in Kampong Speu province’s Samroang Tong district. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113687/china-paying-for-majority-of-joint-military-exercise/
PM to attend summit in face of protests
Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend the Asean-Australia Special Summit this week in the face of planned protests against his attendance, including by the wife of slain political analyst Kem Ley who was recently granted refugee status. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113689/pm-to-attend-summit-in-face-of-protests/
South Korea to help build bridge across Mekong
The government of South Korea will help to build a Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River in the future, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday. The announcement came after a meeting on Friday between Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and newly-appointed ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113678/south-korea-to-help-build-bridge-across-mekong/
Hun Sen lauds US-North Korea talks
Prime Minister Hun Sen applauded the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, offering his congratulations to the odd couple at the fourth annual River Festival in Kandal province. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lauds-us-north-korea-talks
War games: Ministry says 'please don't be alarmed' as it announces Golden Dragon military exercise with China
The Ministry of Defence on Thursday warned civilians and aircraft to avoid a section of Kampong Speu province from March 15 to March 30 while Cambodia participates in its Golden Dragon military training exercises with China. ...
Ben Sokhean and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/war-games-ministry-says-please-dont-be-alarmed-it-announces-golden-dragon-military-exercise
Japan to fund four new local projects
Japan agreed to provide $384,817 in financial assistance to local organisations for projects in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Chhnang and Koh Kong. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50112050/japan-fund-four-new-local-projects/
New border crossing to open in November
The governments of Cambodia and Thailand in November will launch a new border crossing in Banteay Meanchey province and Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province to facilitate entry of citizens from both countries. Cambodian officials met with their Thai counterparts on Friday to discuss the new checkpoint, which ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50111864/new-border-crossing-open-november/
Spokesman vows Cambodia will fight against ‘colonisation’ after US cuts aid
The Cambodian government expressed “dismay” yet remained defiant yesterday in the face of a US decision to cut aid to the Kingdom in response to its ongoing political crackdown, saying it would not comply with demands to restore the forcibly dissolved opposition CNRP. In a statement, ...
Mech Dara and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/spokesman-vows-cambodia-will-fight-against-colonisation-after-us-cuts-aid
US cuts aid to Cambodia with aim to ‘urge government to reconsider its current course’
The White House is cutting aid to several assistance programs in Cambodia due to “recent setbacks to democracy”, it announced late Tuesday. Some programs supporting Cambodia’s Tax Department, military and local government will be cut or reduced “to ensure that American taxpayer funds are not being ...
Daphne Chen and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-cuts-aid-cambodia-aim-urge-government-reconsider-its-current-course
EU council condemns crackdown but stops short of concrete action
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union yesterday adopted a set of conclusions condemning “recent worrying political developments and the continuing deterioration of democracy” in Cambodia, though some politicians expressed regret about a missed opportunity to take concrete measures. The conclusions, passed by the European ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eu-council-condemns-crackdown-stops-short-concrete-action
China gifts medical equipment to state-run military hospital
China’s Ministry of Defence yesterday provided 24 kinds of medical equipment to the state-run Preah Ket Mealea military hospital to support heart and blood treatments. During a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Lieutenant General Ly Sovan, director of Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, said the hospital has often ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50110602/china-gifts-medical-equipment-state-run-military-hospital/
Germany suspends preferential visas
The German government yesterday confirmed it has suspended preferential visa treatment for private travel by members of the Cambodian government, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family, following the dissolution of the opposition CNRP. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50110231/germany-suspends-preferential-visas/
Hun Sen threatens to boycott Asean summit proceedings if faced with 'pressure'
Prime Minister Hun Sen today threatened to boycott next month’s Asean-Australia Special Summit in Sydney – and to “beat” demonstrators outside who burn his image – after apparently being supplied leaked telephone calls between opposition members predicting forthcoming international “pressure”. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-threatens-boycott-asean-summit-proceedings-if-faced-pressure
Hun Sen claims glowing review by UN
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday claimed that Cambodia received an exceedingly positive review during a yearly assessment with United Nations representatives, even as the UN published a statement slamming recent legal amendments. ...
Ben Sokhean and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-claims-glowing-review-un
US committed to maintaining good relations
The United States is committed to maintaining bilateral relations with Cambodia in order to resolve some outstanding issues.Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn met with US Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the US House Appropriations Committee, at the ministry yesterday where they mainly discussed relations between ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50109640/us-committed-maintaining-good-relations/
Germany puts pressure on Cambodia, ending preferential visa treatment for Hun family and high-ranking officials
In a response to a parliamentary inquiry, the German government on Wednesday laid out a number of measures it has quietly taken over recent months to pressure the Cambodian government following its crackdown on media outlets, NGOs and the political opposition. ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/germany-puts-pressure-cambodia-ending-preferential-visa-treatment-hun-family-and
Cambodia and Vietnam to boost ties
Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn yesterday met with newly appointed Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh to discuss boosting ties between the two nations. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50108459/cambodia-vietnam-boost-ties/
Hun Sen lauds Korean détente at Pyeongchang
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday lauded the short-term “reconciliation” between North and South Korea as they compete under a united flag at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, taking a swipe at countries he claimed were “dissatisfied” with the united front. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lauds-korean-detente-pyeongchang
Australia debates motion to condemn Cambodia’s political crackdown
The Australian Parliament is considering a motion to condemn Cambodia’s political crackdown, with lawmaker Mark Butler declaring Australia has “a solemn duty” to take action to defend Cambodia’s “fledgling democracy”. ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/australia-debates-motion-condemn-cambodias-political-crackdown