National government
Ministries and other national bodies
Senate vote paves way for lawmakers’ arrests
The seven opposition CNRP lawmakers charged last year with “leading an insurrection” could be arrested and imprisoned in the same way that opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour was arrested and imprisoned over the weekend, Justice Ministry spokesman Chin Malin said Tuesday. ...
Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/senate-vote-paves-way-for-lawmakers-arrests-91994/
Inter-ministries discuss a draft law on inspection
The Ministry of the National Assembly-Senate Relation and Inspection today held a meeting at Cambodiana hotel, discussing on a new draft law on inspection before sending to the Council of Ministers. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/inter-ministries-discuss-a-draft-law-on-inspection-8854
Three environmental activists arrested in Koh Kong province
Three activists from Mother Nature Cambodia have been detained by the provincial court of Koh Kong, after launching a campaign to stop sand dredging along a river there. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/three-environmental-activists-arrrested-in-koh-kong-province/2922442.html
Cambodian government takes umbrage at US congressman’s comments on land grabs
Cambodia’s Ministry of Land Management is acting in accordance with the country’s laws and making an effort to respect citizens’ rights, a ministry official said Tuesday, rejecting comments by a U.S. congressman that people in the Southeast Asian country are denied basic protection from land ...
Cambodia’s int’l trade value up 9 percent
The value of Cambodia’s international trade increased by about 9 percent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Commerce Ministry. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodias-intl-trade-value-up-9-percent-91908/
Abbot warns of protests over arrest of ‘activist monks’
The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Buddhist Monk Association has slammed the August 1 arrest and defrocking of two monks, accusing police officials of detaining the pair on baseless and politically motivated charges. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14483/abbot-warns-of-protests-over-arrest-of----activist-monks---/
Kratie families feel effects of NGO law
Officials in Kratie province are insisting that a small group of families involved in a local land dispute register with the Interior Ministry or be “punished.” ...
Aun Chhengpor
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kratie-families-in-land-dispute-feel-effects-of-ngo-law-91796/
Thirty Unions call on Labor Ministry to rethink draft law
Thirty labor unions and associations appealed to the Labor Ministry on Friday to redraft its planned Trade Union Law, which they say will suppress industrial action and facilitate union busting, despite significant concessions in the latest draft. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/thirty-unions-call-on-labor-ministry-to-rethink-draft-law-91748/
Cambodia's trade volume up nearly 10 pct in 1st half of 2015
Cambodia’s trade volume with foreign countries was valued at $ 9.75 billion in the first six months of 2015, an increase of 9.5 percent from $ 8.9 billion over the same period last year, according to Chinese News Agency-Xinhua quoted the ministry of commerce’s statistics. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/cambodias-trade-volume-up-nearly-10-pct-in-1st-half-of-2015-8837
Rural health centers remain underfunded, under-prepared
Cambodia launched a health strategic plan in 2002, in an effort to improve services to areas that lack medical personnel and resources. But in many rural areas, there has been little progress, and even an awareness of basic hygiene and disease prevention remains considerably low. ...
Ten Soksreinith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/rural-health-centers-remain-underfunded-under-prepared/2917998.html
Union law could cost CPP the next election, labor leader warns
Draft legislation on trade unions will undermine the hard-won progress of labor unions here as well as violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, labor law and UN conventions, labor leaders said yesterday. ...
Chea Takihiro
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14396/union-law-could-cost-cpp-the-next-election--labor-leader-warns/
Cambodian workers in limbo as Qatar drags heels on safety standards
The Cambodian government is working on an agreement with the Qatari government that would allow Cambodians to join the thousands of migrant workers helping to build the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. As a safety measure, the Cambodian government has requested that Qatar guarantee ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14391/cambodian-workers-in-limbo-as-qatar-drags-heels-on-safety-standards/
More than 200 montagnards now in Phnom Penh, UN says
The number of Montagnard asylum seekers in Phnom Penh has doubled over the past two months with the U.N. saying Thursday that there are now more than 200 in the capital, but the government’s refugee department again denied knowledge of the group. ...
Chris Mueller and Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/more-than-200-montagnards-now-in-phnom-penh-un-says-91645/
Cambodia tourist target under challenge
A Cambodian plan to attract 5 million tourists to the country in 2015 is hanging in the balance despite a rise in the first half of this year. Cambodia set 5 million tourists as the target this year, an increase from 4.5 million last year. ...
Bangkok Post News Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/654708/cambodia-tourist-target-under-challenge
New Education ministry ban comes under fire
The backlash began Wednesday against a new Education Ministry directive that bans political activities and unauthorized associations at academic institutions, with the country’s largest teachers’ union and various youth groups accusing the government of hypocrisy. ...
Mech Dara and Simon Henderson
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-education-ministry-ban-comes-under-fire-91534/
Museum puts spotlight on women
The National Museum in Phnom Penh has launched a new exhibition called “Photovoice of Cambodian Women in the Past, at Present, and in the Future.” ...
Nou Sotheavy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14316/museum-puts-spotlight-on-women/
Koh Kong fishermen resume anti-sand-dredging campaign
As about 100 fishermen in Koh Kong province on Wednesday resumed their monthslong campaign against a company they accuse of illegal sand dredging, an environmental NGO claimed the firm was now hiring locals as security guards in an attempt to divide the community. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/koh-kong-fishermen-resume-anti-sand-dredging-campaign-91551/
A delegation of American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong visits Cambodia
A delegation of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong led by its president Richard R. Vuylsteke has been on a visit to Cambodia to study the investment environment in the country, according to state news agency- AKP. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/a-delegation-of-american-chamber-of-commerce-in-hong-kong-visits-cambodia-8826
Ministry warns of punishment for political activity at schools
The Ministry of Education has issued a directive banning political activism or association at academic institutions, saying it will fine or shut down universities, post-secondary schools and student organizations that have engaged in or promoted political activity. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-warns-of-punishment-for-political-activity-at-schools-91454/
Malaysia and Cambodia pledge to strengthen military ties
Defense Minister Tea Banh met Malaysia’s army chief, Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor, yesterday to discuss ways to improve military ties between the two countries. ...
Chea Takihiro
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14302/malaysia-and-cambodia-pledge-to-strengthen-military-ties/
Ministry announces surprise inspections of prisons
Rights group Licadho has welcomed an announcement from the Interior Ministry that conditions at prisons, social rehabilitation centers and drug rehabs will be improved to ensure that the rights of inmates, patients and others housed or confined at the centers will be respected. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14307/ministry-announces-surprise-inspections-of-prisons/
Thailand asks cambodia to repatriate prisoners
A spokesman for the Justice Ministry said Tuesday that the government was considering a request made by the new Thai ambassador to repatriate seven of the country’s nationals serving prison sentences in Cambodia. ...
Mech Dara
https://cambodia.opendevelopmentmekong.net/wp-admin/post-new.php
No prosecution for disgraced health official
The country’s anti-corruption czar on Tuesday said the former director of the National Malaria Center must pay back the $351,000 in bribes he took in exchange for mosquito net contracts—effectively admitting the ex-director’s guilt—but that he would not be prosecuted. ...
Kuch Naren and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/no-prosecution-for-disgraced-health-official-91438/
NGOs want Cambodia to provide accommodations for students during exam
Civil groups have urged Cambodian authorities to provide places for students to stay during the upcoming national high school graduate exam and prevent hotels and guesthouses from increasing room rates in all cities and provinces. ...
Chandara Yang
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/ngos-want-cambodia-to-provide-accommodations-for-students-during-exam-08112015162920.html