Social development
Civil society
NGOs ask king not to sign NGO law
A group of 26 local NGOs submitted a letter to King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday calling on him to refuse to sign off on a controversial law regulating non-governmental groups in the country. ...
Janelle Retka
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngos-ask-king-not-to-sign-ngo-law-90398/
Lawmakers urge Constitutional Council to amend NGO law
A group of opposition lawmakers has urged the Constitutional Council to amend a contentious law on regulating NGOs in the country. Prum Nhean Vicheth, a spokesman for the Constitutional Council, confirmed receipt of the petition and said the Council will be considering the draft law ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/lawmakers-urge-constitutional-council-to-amend-ngo-law/2886994.html
Mobile voice messages a hit with new moms
Dr. Thearith helps thousands of women in Kampong Chhnang province care for their babies. He provides them with advice about how to breastfeed, how to keep their infants from contracting malaria, and how to avoid infections. ...
Srey Kumneth and Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13850/mobile-voice-messages-a-hit-with-new-moms/
Bar association accuses rights monitor of legal interference
The Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia on Tuesday wrote to local rights group Adhoc accusing its head of monitoring, Ny Chakrya, of flouting legal practice by ordering the NGO’s lawyers to hand over for examination all documents relating to cases they defend. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/bar-association-accuses-rights-monitor-of-legal-interference-89831/
NGOs call for review of LANGO by Constitutional Council
Opponents of the controversial draft law on associations and NGOs (LANGO) hope that the Constitutional Council can succeed where protests and vote boycotts have failed. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13763/ngos-call-for-review-of-lango-by-constitutional-council/
Six arrested, released over NGO law protest
Authorities in Phnom Penh on Sunday arrested and released six people dressed in prison uniforms and chained together by their legs for protesting outside the National Assembly against a recently approved law that threatens to muzzle NGOs critical of the government ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/six-arrested-released-over-ngo-law-protest-89467/
Arrests made at Cambodia NGO law protest
Six demonstrators were briefly detained as they protested against the recent passage of a law under which critics say the law will hinder the ability of NGOs to operate in the nation. ...
Channel News Asia News Staff
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/arrests-made-at-cambodia/2009242.html
CPP senators approve NGO law as hundreds protest
As hundreds of protesters rallied outside the Senate Friday morning, 44 ruling party senators voiced their support for the controversial NGO law before approving it unanimously and sending it on to the Constitutional Council. ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cpp-senators-approve-ngo-law-as-hundreds-protest-89448/
Senate passes NGO law amid boycott
Cambodia’s Senate today gave its expected approval to the controversial law on associations and non-governmental organisations (LANGO), amid street protests and a boycott from opposition representatives.All 44 Cambodia People’s Party senators present voted unanimously to endorse the draft legislation, which will next week head to ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/senate-passes-ngo-law-amid-boycott
Gov’t, civil society butt heads as LANGO goes to senate
The Senate is scheduled to vote Friday on the controversial Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO), despite a boycott by the opposition party and heated opposition from civil society. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13640/gov---t--civil-society-butt-heads-as-lango-goes-t
Hundreds demonstrate against pending NGO law in provinces
Hundreds of people gathered in provinces around the country Wednesday to demonstrate against a pending NGO law that opponents fear will be used to muzzle groups that criticize the ruling CPP. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hundreds-demonstrate-against-pending-ngo-law-in-provinces-89254/
Land disputes down in 2015 due to ELC freeze
Although the number of land disputes across the country decreased in the first six months of the year—largely due to a freeze on the granting of economic land concessions—little has been done to resolve existing disputes, according to a report released Wednesday by rights group ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/land-disputes-down-in-2015-due-to-elc-freeze-89260/
Cambodian opposition party senators refuse to debate NGO draft law
Senators from Cambodia’s opposition party will not participate in a debate on controversial legislation passed by the lower house of parliament earlier this month on the regulation of nongovernmental organizations that operate in the developing country, an opposition Senate lawmaker said. ...
RFA Khmer News Staff
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/opposition-party-senators-refuse-to-participate-in-ngo-draft-law-debate-07222015162125.html
Facebook battle over NGO law
The National Assembly may have approved the contentious Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO), but some young people are still urging the government to scrap it. ...
Chea Takihiro
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13552/facebook-battle-over-ngo-law/
Gov claims NGOs are recruiting protesters
Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Pa Socheatvong yesterday accused civil society organisations of paying land rights demonstrators to protest against a controversial NGO law that recently passed the National Assembly. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/gov-claims-ngos-are-recruiting-protesters
Rights worker fights defamation claims
How should one react when accused in court of defaming a provincial judge and prosecutor? Ny Chakrya just laughs. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13507/rights-worker-fights-defamation-claims/
Five arrested over anti-NGO law leaflets
Authorities in Phnom Penh arrested and released five activists on Saturday for handing out leaflets urging residents to “Say No” to a pending NGO law that critics fear will be used to muzzle critics of the ruling CPP. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/five-arrested-over-anti-ngo-law-leaflets-88882/
Gov’t: foreigners banned from protesting
Foreigners who join protests against the government will now be subject to arrest and deportation, Phnom Penh’s governor and the government’s spokesman said yesterday, in the latest effort by the CPP to curb outside influence in the country’s political affairs. ...
Khy Sovuthy and Colin Meyn
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/foreigners-banned-from-protesting-govt-says-88853/
NGO law set to pass senate this week
The contentious law on associations and NGOs will likely pass the Senate this week, after it is reviewed tomorrow and Wednesday opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) senator Kong Korm said yesterday. ...
Muny Sithyna and Vincent MacIsaac
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13459/ngo-law-set-to-pass-senate-this-week/
UN expert urges senate to reject NGO law
U.N. human rights expert Maina Kiai on Thursday urged Cambodia’s Senate not to pass a controversial NGO law that the National Assembly approved this week, warning that the legislation could have “disastrous” effects. ...
Kuch Naren and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/un-expert-urges-senate-to-reject-ngo-law-88701/
Cambodian opposition party senators to boycott vote on draft law on NGOs
Opposition lawmakers in Cambodia’s Senate said Thursday that they would boycott an upcoming vote in the upper house of parliament on a draft law that regulates nongovernmental organizations working in the country if senators failed to amend the legislation. ...
Yeang Socheameta
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/opposition-party-senators-to-boycott-vote-on-draft-law-on-ngos-07162015165844.html
Cambodia: UN expert urges authorities to reject bill that 'threatens' free society
United Nations human rights expert Maina Kiai on Wednesday urged Cambodia to reject a draft law that would allow authorities to shut down and criminalize any group advocating for human rights, basic freedoms and good governance, saying it is not too late to reverse the ...
India Blooms News Staff
http://indiablooms.com/ibns_new/world-details/F/3866/cambodia-un-expert-urges-authorities-to-reject-bill-that-threatens-free-society.html
Adhoc case ‘is a rights violation’
The International Committee of Jurists has given its backing to human rights activist Ny Chakrya, calling for the Cambodian government to end legal proceedings against him. ...
Pech Sotheary and Charles Parkinson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/adhoc-case-rights-violation
Prominent rights monitor questioned over defamation claims
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday began questioning a leading human rights campaigner who stands accused of defaming and attempting to coerce two judicial officials over a land dispute in Siem Reap province. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prominent-rights-monitor-questioned-over-defamation-claims-88153/