Social development
‘Anarchist’ activist flees village for UN, alleging harassment
An environmental activist branded an “anarchist” by a government spokesman said he fled to the U.N. human rights office in Phnom Penh on Monday after police harassed him for becoming involved in a dispute between sand dredgers and villagers in Kandal province. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anarchist-activist-flees-village-un-alleging-harassment-131288/
Jarai commune chief sticks to his roots
A newly elected commune chief in Ratanakkiri province has vowed to solve local problems by referring to his Jarai heritage and traditions. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39224/jarai-commune-chief-sticks-to-his-roots/
Thousands quit smoking
The number of men who smoke in Cambodia dropped by almost a third in the past decade, while women smokers nearly halved, according to a government report. Figures showed that 48.98 percent of men aged 18 and older smoked ten years ago, but that has now ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39148/thousands-quit-smoking/
IMF: Make youth a demographic dividend
The International Monetary Fund says Cambodia’s young population compared with other regional countries will be a driving force for financial development and contribute to the emerging finance technology sector, or Fintech. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39134/imf--make-youth-a-demographic-dividend/
Government spokesman admits to NGO scare
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak’s pre-election warning that some NGOs and their leaders were being watched for illegally aiding the opposition was a threat designed to frighten them, General Sopheak said on Wednesday, as civil society groups warily condemned the statements. ...
Aun Pheap and Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-spokesman-admits-to-ngo-scare-131115/
Commune vote smooth but not perfect, says watchdog
Asian election monitor Anfrel yesterday commended authorities, citizens and political parties for Sunday’s smooth commune elections, but stopped short of calling the ballot “free and fair”, raising concerns over the heightened political rhetoric in the run-up to June 4. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/commune-vote-smooth-not-perfect-says-watchdog
Making films about trafficking
Cambodian youngsters are being invited to take part in a video contest on the theme “Asean Against Trafficking – Humans Are Not For Sale”. The Cambodia Human Rights Committee (CHRC) has announced its support for the Asean Youth Video Competition, which aims to raise public awareness ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39067/making-films-about-trafficking/
Australian journalist arrested
Australian national James Ricketson was arrested on Saturday, according to police officials, with local media claiming the independent journalist was detained for “stealing information”. ...
Andrew Nachemson and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/australian-journalist-arrested
The votes no one wants
As Cambodians went to vote yesterday, more than 1,000 ethnic Vietnamese families living in floating houses in Kampong Chhnang province found themselves shunned by election officials on both sides of the border. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39040/the-votes-no-one-wants/
Two women go head-to-head in election dominated by men
As Cambodians go to the polls on Sunday to elect new local council representatives, in a contest dominated by men, two women are facing off for control of this Kampong Speu province commune. ...
Sun Narin
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/two-women-go-head-to-head-in-election-dominated-by-men/3884409.html
Age is no barrier for candidates
Parties competing in the commune elections are pinning their hopes on young candidates winning the popular vote. Nhek Bun Chhay, president of the Khmer National United Party, said his party is focusing on youth candidates, with people aged between 25 and 32 making up 40 percent ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38910/age-is-no-barrier-for-candidates/
Amnesty international criticizes country’s ‘corrupt’ court system
Amnesty International today accused the ruling CPP of using its grip on the judiciary to systematically harass and intimidate civil society and urged the government to drop cases against opposition activists and human rights defenders. ...
George Wright and Chhorn Phearun
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/amnesty-international-criticizes-countrys-corrupt-court-system-130667/
Svay Rieng police halt training session for election observers
Police in Svay Rieng province on Saturday shut down a training session for 16 observers registered to monitor this Sunday’s commune elections, saying it had not been sanctioned by authorities, according to an organizer. ...
Phan Soumy and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/svay-rieng-police-halt-training-session-for-election-observers-2-130568/
Training centre to help locals climb ladder at garment firms
The Garment Manufacturer Association of Cambodia (GMAC) will launch its new vocational training centre next month, providing courses aimed at upgrading the skills of Cambodian workers in a bid to replace the middle-management positions currently occupied predominantly by foreigners. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/training-centre-help-locals-climb-ladder-garment-firms
Software to help stop spread of TB
The Indian Embassy to Cambodia has given a $50,000 grant for a project to help stop the spread of tuberculosis in the kingdom. During a press conference at the National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control (CENAT) on Friday, Operation ASHA programme director Dr Narith ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38802/software-to-help-stop-spread-of-tb/
Female opposition commune chief hopes to keep her post after elections
In the lead up to June’s commune elections, Sguon Samean, a former Sam Rainsy Party commune chief, say that she is hopeful that people will vote for her again.“I believe in my people. I have hope in my people since they trust me and they ...
UN to grill government over Montagnards
UNHCR, the U.N.’s refugee agency, will question the government over its decision to deny asylum to the majority of Montagnards left in Cambodia, officials said, a month after the group was criticized for its role in repatriating some of the asylum-seekers to Vietnam. ...
Aun Pheap and George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/un-to-grill-government-over-montagnards-130423/
Opposition women candidates vow good governance if elected
A group of women running as opposition candidates in the upcoming local council elections has vowed to prioritize development, improve administration and protect the price of agricultural products if elected. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/opposition-women-candidates-vow-good-governance-if-elected/3871092.html
Whooping cough assurance
The Ministry of Health yesterday denied a local media report that children in Cambodia under one year old have a 50 percent chance of catching whooping cough. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38756/whooping-cough-assurance/
EU meets rights body
A European Union election expert mission yesterday met with the government’s Cambodia Human Rights Committee in a closed-door meeting as part of its visit to the Kingdom, at the end of which it will submit recommendations to the Cambodian authorities. ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eu-meets-rights-body
U.S. Democracy promotion group holds political debate in Battambang
Local residents in Battambang town took part in a political debate organized by U.S. Democracy promotion group, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) on Monday ahead of local elections early next month. Attendees asked prospective candidates questions related to citizen’s concerns over unemployment, migration, ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/us-democracy-promotion-group-holds-political-debate-in-battambang/3867567.html
Cambodians unconcerned by threats of violence ahead of election
Political campaigning in Cambodia’s local elections began on Saturday and has so far passed without incident. Cambodians in Phnom Penh on Monday said they hoped that the election could be conducted fairly and free of violence. Sim To, a second-year student at Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, ...
Kann Vicheika
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/cambodians-unconcerned-by-threats-of-violence-ahead-of-election/3869453.html
Disabilities group urges politicians to consider their needs in local elections
The needs of disabled Cambodians have not been taken into account in the forthcoming local elections, a disabilities group has said. Ngin Saoroth, executive director of the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO), told reporters this week that politicians were not putting “the issue of the disabled ...
Hean Socheata
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/disabilities-group-urges-politicians-to-consider-their-needs-in-local-elections/3869502.html
Poipet children face abuse
The trend of Cambodian workers flocking to Thailand can have a devastating ripple effect on children living on the margins in the border town of Poipet, where they face a litany of risks such as drug use, sexual abuse and physical violence, according to a ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/poipet-children-face-abuse