Government
National government
South Korea Denies Asking Gov’t to Stop Strike
The South Korean ambassador to Cambodia, Kim Han-soo, on Monday denied having asked the Labor Ministry to stop a strike at a South Korean-owned garment factory last week, but said the dispute has put a $40 million investment from the parent company on hold. On Sunday, ...
Zsombor Peter and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/south-korea-denies-asking-govt-to-stop-strike-60316/
Insurance law reform under way
The Council of Ministers last week approved a raft of changes to the country’s insurance laws, a move that industry insiders hope will better reflect the sector’s current state. The draft law, which was prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, has an additional 14 ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/insurance-law-reform-under-way
Private schools to face tougher regulations
The Ministry of Education is drafting two sub-decrees on private educational institutions aimed at improving regulation of the nation’s vast body of private schools. The sub-decree on Organization and Management of Private Schools and sub-decree on Categorization of Private Schools have been sent to a range ...
Phorn Bopha
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/private-schools-to-face-tougher-regulations-60153/
Maids still missing as deal with Malaysia nears
When Ros Srey Pich was 19, she signed a contract with a recruitment agency that would send her to work as a maid in Malaysia. The recruitment agency, Job Asia, had sourced the teenager from what is now Tbong Khmum province, telling her poor family that ...
Phorn Bopha and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/maids-still-missing-as-deal-with-malaysia-nears-60302/
Kampuchea Krom forum banned by city
Phnom Penh City Hall on Monday banned Wat Samakki Raingsey from hosting a public forum on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of the official granting of Kampuchea Krom to the State of Vietnam. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community (KKKC), which advocates for the ethnic minority ...
Mech Dara and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kampuchea-krom-forum-banned-by-city-60320/
Cambodian army asks Thailand to remove new barbed wire near Preah Vihear temple
Cambodia has accused the Thai troops of erecting a new barbed wire fence on land in front of the 11th century Preah Vihear temple and has asked Thai side to remove it, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday. “Our military ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-06/02/c_133378332.htm
Cambodia, Iran look to enhance bilateral ties, cooperation
Cambodia and Iran are looking for possibilities to strengthen and expand bilateral ties and cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries and peoples. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong held a talk on Monday with the Hanoi-based Iranian Ambassador to Cambodia ...
Shanghai Daily News Staff
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=221964
Cambodia relies on ASEAN
Cambodia Association of Travel Agents says good connections and airline service from other ASEAN member countries will be the main driver to push tourism forward. The association president, Ang Kim Eang, said the increase in ASEAN travellers to Cambodia was driven by an expansion of direct ...
Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2014/06/cambodia-relies-on-asean/
Questions over spending plan
The Council of Ministers on Friday approved a new five-year National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) – the guiding policy document used by the government – requiring an estimated $26.58 billion in spending and investment, or more than $5.3 billion a year, until 2018. The plan ...
May Kunmakara and Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/questions-over-spending-plan
25 found guilty for roles in garment protests; sentences suspended
Twenty-five unionists, garment workers and bystanders were found guilty by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday for their involvement in three separate garment protest-related cases, but were handed down suspended sentences. The 22 men who had not been bailed ahead of trial were ordered ...
The Cambodia Daily
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/25-found-guilty-for-roles-in-garment-protests-sentences-suspended-60092/
Gov’t orders halt to Koh Pich expansion
The owner and developer of Koh Pich in Phnom Penh has been ordered by the government to scale back its expansion of the island, according to the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. According to a statement posted to the ministry’s website on Wednesday, the Overseas ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-orders-halt-to-koh-pich-expansion-60029/
K Speu families threaten to take back farms
Representatives for about 250 families involved in a long-running dispute with an agri-business firm in Kompong Speu province have filed a complaint with rights group Adhoc and say they will attempt to retake land that was stolen from them. About 60 of the villagers traveled to ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/k-speu-families-threaten-to-take-back-farms-60033/
Monks protest over institute
A group of about 100 people, including 50 or so monks, attempted to march yesterday to protest outside Phnom Penh’s Buddhist Institute, but were thwarted by droves of military police and district security guards on Sisowath Quay. No violence occurred as Independent Monk Network leader But ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/monks-protest-over-institute
Stung Treng villagers caught in forestry racket
SIEM PANG DISTRICT, Stung Treng province – For the elite few granted the right to level swathes of woodland in the north of this remote province, the timber trade is worth a fortune. For the Forestry Administration—the government body charged with policing logging—business is also booming. While ...
Phann Ana and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/stung-treng-villagers-caught-in-forestry-racket-60017/
Villagers defy ban, march to Gov’t buildings
More than 200 people from the group Land Communities for Peace marched from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to the National Assembly on Thursday in defiance of a ban issued by City Hall. Phnom Penh deputy governor Khuong Sreng said the protest would not be allowed after ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-defy-ban-march-to-govt-buildings-60037/
Classroom talk remains barrier
Sgnoun Vita can’t communicate with most of her kindergarten students. She teaches them colours and numbers, but can’t understand their questions or chatter. Most of Vita’s students at the Kater Primary School in Ratanakkiri’s O’Yadav district speak Jarai, one of Cambodia’s 24 ethnic minority languages. A ...
Laignee Barron and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/classroom-talk-remains-barrier
Cross at your own risk
Since he began making the perilous journey to Thailand to log rosewood 10 years ago, Sao Sophon* has had plenty of time to calculate the cost of dying. “When we cross the border to Thailand, our lives are equal to $80 or $90, because that is ...
May Titthara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cross-your-own-risk
Y Chhien to be replaced as Pailin Governor
Y Chhien, who has served as the governor of Pailin province since former Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary led his rebel forces in the area to defect to the government in 1996, will step down from his position on Saturday, his cabinet chief said ...
Saing Soenthrith
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/y-chhien-to-be-replaced-as-pailin-governor-after-18-years-60027/
Cambodia aiming for road connectivity in 2015
Cambodia says it hopes to have road connectivity to Vietnam and Thailand by 2015. The connection would be part of Asean integration, a process where Cambodia lags behind its neighbors. Six countries of the Mekong River delta have worked toward linking by road since 1998, in an ...
Khoun Theara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodia-aiming-for-road-connectivity-in-2015/1924443.html
Villagers vow to defy fresh ban on marches
More than 1,500 villagers plan to march to the Anti-Corruption Unit and National Assembly in Phnom Penh on Thursday in defiance of a fresh ban issued by City Hall prohibiting them from doing so. The villagers form a group known as the Land Communities for Peace ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-vow-to-defy-fresh-ban-on-marches-59966/
ILO attacks trade union law
An International Labour Organization official yesterday called the draft of a Ministry of Labour trade union law “a step backwards” during the opening of a two-day workshop meant to hear concerns of both labour unions and employers. In a speech to worker representatives, members of the ...
Mom Kunthear and Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ilo-attacks-trade-union-law
South Korea and Japan provide aid
The Japanese and South Korean governments yesterday announced millions of dollars in aid to Cambodia for a scholarship program and a number of rural development projects. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong and Japanese Ambassador Kumamaru Yuji signed for a $2.85 million grant yesterday to fund ...
Vong Sokheng and Cheang Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/south-korea-and-japan-provide-aid
Gunawadh back as TVK director eleven days after resignation
Kem Gunawadh was reinstated as director-general of state broadcaster TVK on Wednesday, less than two weeks after his highly publicized resignation for failing to live broadcast the annual Royal Plowing Ceremony, according to a statement signed by Information Minister Khieu Kanharith. Acting Director-General Pang Nath denied ...
Saing Soenthrith
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/gunawadh-back-as-tvk-director-eleven-days-after-resignation-59948/
Cambodia says to accept only voluntary refugees from Australia
Cambodia will take in only voluntary refugees from Australia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Wednesday. “We will only receive refugees, who voluntarily agree to come to Cambodia, not by force,” he said in a response to questions raised by journalists. “This is ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-05/28/c_133367869.htm