Government
US group urges political reform
The International Republican Institute is urging the ruling party and opposition work toward political reform. Jessica Keegan, the group’s Cambodia country director, told VOA Khmer in an interview in Washington that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party should seek common ground ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/us-group-urges-political-reform/2533663.html
Vietnam looks towards $5bil and $2bil trade with Cambodia, Laos next year
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong agreed to conclude negotiations on the signing of a new bilateral trade agreement, which forms the legal framework for achieving the two countries’ goal of 2 billion USD in trade by 2015. The agreement is ...
VietNamNet Bridge News Staff
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/117214/vietnam-looks-towards--5bil-and--2bil-trade-with-cambodia--laos-next-year.html
Details still murky for 2015 budget
A request for more information about the proposed $3.75 billon national budget has been denied and the bill will now likely pass through the National Assembly next week relatively unchanged, opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said yesterday. ...
Shane Worrell
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/details-still-murky-2015-budget
Conservationists ask minister to take action
A group of conservationists in Kratie province submitted on Friday a formal request asking Defence Minister Tea Banh to discipline two Kratie-based military commanders. They accuse the officers of profiting from illegal logging and threatening to kill an activist should he continue his work. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/conservationists-ask-minister-take-action
Phnom Penh Authority explains about Psar Chas market fire
Phnom Penh City Hall on Monday denied that someone set fire on Psar Chas market (Old Market), saying that the fire was caused by electric fault in a store inside the market. The denial came after public as well as social media users said that arson ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/phnom-penh-authority-explains-about-psar-chas-market-fire-7719
Thirteen ethnic Montagnards from Vietnam seek refugee status in Cambodia
More than a dozen ethnic Montagnards are hiding in the jungles of northeastern Cambodia after fleeing alleged religious persecution across the border in Vietnam, a member of a hill tribe living in the area said Monday. The 13 Christian Montagnards, who crossed into Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province ...
Joshua Lipes
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/montagnards-11242014144636.html
Cambodian PM defends Australia refugee deal
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is trying to ease concerns over the social and economic costs of the country’s plan with Australia to receive refugees. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has called for the deal to be halted until Cambodia improves its refugee support system. Hun Sen ...
Ron Corben
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodian-pm-defends-australia-refugee-deal/2531839.html
Police arrest 17 Bangladeshis wanted for human trafficking
A yearlong investigation by immigration police culminated in the arrest on Saturday of 17 Bangladeshi men hiding in Phnom Penh and Poipet City to avoid charges of human trafficking in their home country, police said Sunday. Three of the fugitives, arrested at a guesthouse in Phnom ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-arrest-17-bangladeshis-wanted-for-human-trafficking-72876/
Expert urges gov’t to save site
An archaeologist is pleading the government to save an Angkorian-era canal before the work of brick makers completely erases the site. Built nearly 1,000 years ago, the 120-kilometre stone channel was used to transport building materials from a quarry to Angkor Wat, according to archaeologist Thuy ...
Phak Seangly
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/expert-urges-gov%E2%80%99t-save-site
Authorities warn union leader
Police on Friday warned labour union leader Pav Sina that if he continues to lead protests – thereby violating the rules of a court order – he will be arrested. The Collective Union of Movement of Workers leader was called to the Choam Chao commune police ...
Mom Kunthear
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/authorities-warn-union-leader
Rainsy plans for imprisoned official to become freed lawmaker
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Friday that the CNRP would attempt to secure the release of detained CNRP official Meach Sovannara by promoting him to become a lawmaker so that he can enjoy parliamentary immunity. Mr. Sovannara, the head of the CNRP’s information department, was arrested ...
Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/rainsy-plans-for-imprisoned-official-to-become-freed-lawmaker-72843/
Workers say $128 per month is not enough to live on
Cambodian unions say they will not agree to a minimum wage proposed by the Cambodian government. Union leaders say the government’s proposed minimum wage of $128 per month will not be enough for workers to keep up with the rising cost of living in the country. ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/workers-say-128-per-month-is-not-enough-to-live-on/2529249.html
CNRP commemorates death of 2010 stamped victims
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party held religious ceremony Friday afternoon near former Diamond Bridge to pay tribute to spirits of people who died during the 2010 stampede. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/cnrp-commemorates-death-of-2010-stamped-victims-7703
‘Realistic’ NEC expectations urged
A member of the ruling party’s election-reform negotiating team has told the Post that expectations of the depth of reforms that can actually occur before the 2017 commune and 2018 national elections need to be “realistic”. Prum Sokha, a secretary of state at the Interior Ministry, ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/%E2%80%98realistic%E2%80%99-nec-expectations-urged
Regional officials meet over rubber fall
Officials from Southeast Asia’s natural rubber-producing nations met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday for the 12th International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC). Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) joined ITRC core nations – Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia – for the event, which is being touted as a joint ...
May Kunmakara
http://phnompenhpost.com/business/regional-officials-meet-over-rubber-fall
New panel for teachers’ problems
Teachers will be able to file complaints to the government under a new commission led by Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron. The commission will include Naron as chairman, two undersecretaries of state as deputies and a number of other officials. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/new-panel-teachers%E2%80%99-problems
GMAC claims on true wages ‘exaggerated’
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said in a statement this week that under the new minimum wage workers can actually earn up to $250 per month, though others were quick to label the figure exaggerated. The Ministry of Labour last week approved the new ...
Mom Kunthear and Sean Teehan
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/gmac-claims-true-wages-%E2%80%98exaggerated%E2%80%99
Cambodian PM says gov't has no rights to control judiciary
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that he and his government have no rights to order the courts to arrest or release any suspects who have committed crimes. “I and the government have no rights to order the judiciary, the court to arrest anyone based ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-11/20/c_133803048.htm
Commerce Minister announces reduction in petrol prices
Gasoline prices have been decreased by 300 Riel per liter, according to an announcement issued Thursday by Ministry of Commerce. The oil prices of four companies are decreased from current 5,050 Riel to 4,750 Riel per liter for gasoline, while from 4,750 Riel to 4,500 ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/commerce-minister-announces-reduction-in-petrol-prices-7695
Election group suggests revamped, modern voter registry
A new voter registration system that could eliminate irregularities would cost about $17 million, an election monitor said Thursday. A new system would eliminate duplicate names and improperly spelled names, but would also be based on the old registry, Koul Panha, head of the monitoring group ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/election-group-suggests-revamped-modern-voter-registry/2527764.html
Ministry forecasts rainfall on 24-30 Nov.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has forecasted that Cambodia would see nationwide rainfall from next week, according to its statement on Wednesday. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/ministry-forecasts-rainfall-on-24-30-nov%E2%80%AC-7691
European diplomats concerned by arrests
European diplomats called on Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday to express their concerns about the recent spate of activists’ arrests, with the minister reportedly saying that he believed a one-year sentence speedily handed down to seven Boeung Kak lake protesters last week was rather “heavy”. ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/european-diplomats-concerned-arrests
‘Cyber War Team’ to monitor web
The Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit has created a “Cyber War Team” to monitor and collect information from Facebook and other websites in order to “protect the government’s stance and prestige,” according to a proclamation published in the Royal Gazette. The document, signed ...
Matt Blomberg and Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cyber-war-team-to-monitor-web-72677/
Maid agreement looms
Under an agreement with Malaysia, Cambodian migrant workers will be allowed to hold on to their passports and copies of their contracts but will be banned from any “political activities”, according to a draft version of the document obtained by the Post. The memorandum of understanding ...
Alice Cuddy
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/maid-agreement-looms