Social development
Human rights
Borei Keila members told to stop protests
District authorities warned Borei Keila residents yesterday during a meeting to stop protesting lest they be arrested. On Wednesday, representatives from seven families gathered in front of the house of Suy Sophan, the owner of Phanimex, to demand what they deem just compensation for vacating their ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/borei-keila-members-told-stop-protests
Hun Sen rejects democracy index’s ‘authoritarian’ label
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday took a swipe at a recent democracy report that labelled his regime “authoritarian”, before declaring no one is capable of “toppling Hun Sen besides Hun Sen”. ...
Mech Dara and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-rejects-democracy-indexs-authoritarian-label
Cambodia plunges in democracy survey after CNRP dissolution
The state of democracy in Cambodia has declined to the point where it is now led by an outright “authoritarian” regime, according to the latest Democracy Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Democracy Index 2017, released yesterday, ranked Cambodia 124th out of 167 countries, ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-plunges-democracy-survey-after-cnrp-dissolution
Buddhists flock to Oudong ceremony
More than 1,000 people flocked to Oudong Mountain in Kandal province yesterday to observe Meak Bochea Day, which marks the day the Buddha prophesied his own death.Nguon Nhel, second vice president of the National Assembly, presided over the ceremony accompanied by many lawmakers and government ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50105768/buddhists-flock-to-oudong-ceremony/
Draft of long-awaited access-to-information law unveiled
A proposed access-to-information law more than a decade in the making was unveiled to the public yesterday, with just one item left to finalise – punishments for officials who refuse to disclose public information. ...
Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/draft-long-awaited-access-information-law-unveiled
Khmer Krom warned not to join Rainsy’s new movement
The head of a Khmer Krom advocacy association yesterday issued a statement urging his followers not to join ex-opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s newly minted Cambodia National Rescue Movement, claiming it will provoke violence. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/khmer-krom-warned-not-join-rainsys-new-movement
Chinese New Year parties rise
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday said on his Facebook page that the number of people celebrating Chinese New Year in Cambodia is increasing.Mr Hun Sen said Cambodia now celebrates three New Year celebrations annually, including New Year’s Eve, and the Chinese and Khmer New Year. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50105458/chinese-new-year-parties-rise/
Government looks to make controversial amendments to Constitution
The Constitutional Council is planning to meet later this week to discuss amendments to the Constitution, including changes to an article guaranteeing the right for citizens to form organisations and political parties. The document, a letter of invitation to local media, outlines an agenda for the ...
Andrew Nachemson and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/government-looks-make-controversial-amendments-constitution
US Senators call on UN to pass resolution on Cambodia’s political crackdown
A group of US Senators has sent a letter to Nikki Haley, the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, urging her to work with other members of the UN Human Rights Council to pass a resolution on Cambodia’s political situation. ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-senators-call-un-pass-resolution-cambodias-political-crackdown
Hun Sen chides Cambodia Daily, lauds Trump
Prime Minister Hun Sen met with members of the press yesterday, not shying away from classifying some journalists and media outlets as extortionists and tax evaders, while applauding United States President Donald Trump’s efforts to go after so-called fake news. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-chides-cambodia-daily-lauds-trump
Cambodia PM berates media at correspondents' dinner
Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen berated journalists on Sunday at a dinner his government hosted for correspondents and accused some of spreading fabricated stories. ...
Prak Chan Thul
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cambodia-media/cambodia-pm-berates-media-at-correspondents-dinner-idUSKBN1FA0ZB
Borei Keila families take compensation
Almost 20 Borei Keila families have decided to accept compensation in one of the country’s most prominent and longstanding land disputes. ...
Soth Koemsoeun and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/borei-keila-families-take-compensation
World Democracy in Crisis, New Freedom House Report Says
The report, “Freedom in the World 2018”, released on January 16, found that 2017 was the 12th consecutive year of decline in freedom globally, with 71 of the 195 countries included in the report suffering declines, including Cambodia. ...
Freedom in the World
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/world-democracy-in-crisis-new-freedom-house-report-says/4210004.html
New Borei Keila offer rejected
Borei Keila residents have continued to reject compensation in exchange for leaving their land, claiming the latest offer was inadequate. Two of the remaining 11 families met with the 7 Makara district governor in Phnom Penh yesterday to discuss compensation. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102236/new-borei-keila-offer-rejected/
Exiled Cambodian opposition members set up new movement
Foreign-based members of Cambodia’s dissolved opposition party have launched a movement to demand the release of its detained leader and to call for free and fair elections and possibly protests. ...
Prak Chan Thul and Simon Cameron-Moore
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cambodia-politics/exiled-cambodian-opposition-members-set-up-new-movement-idUSKBN1F3083
Villagers evicted from national park
Authorities are to force about 40 families in Koh Kong province to relocate from their homes in Botum Sakor National Park. The villagers asked authorities to provide them with social land concessions, because they have no other place to live. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102035/villagers-evicted-from-national-park/
Analysis: Cambodia signing up for Chinese billions – at a price
Arriving in Phnom Penh in the midst of a political crackdown on dissent, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang showed no qualms about signing 19 major development deals yesterday with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, making it clear that Chinese aid to the Kingdom remains unaffected by ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/analysis-cambodia-signing-chinese-billions-price
Analyst Kim Sok's bail request denied at Supreme Court
Outspoken government critic Kim Sok was rejected bail at the Supreme Court this morning, with the prosecutor arguing that to grant Sok early release from an 18-month prison sentence would cause “chaos” in society. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/analyst-kim-soks-bail-request-denied-supreme-court
Monovithya appeals to US officials
Kem Monovithya, the daughter of jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha and a CNRP official, met with United States officials yesterday to discuss the possibility of further sanctions on the Cambodian government if measures taken in an ongoing political crackdown are not reversed. ...
Andrew Nachemson and Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/monovithya-appeals-us-officials
Villagers asked to vacate national park
Koh Kong provincial authorities on Monday ordered 40 families living in Botum Sakor district to vacate their land and homes after it was determined they were illegally occupying a national park. On Friday, authorities went to inspect Botum Sakor National Park and found 40 families ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50101013/villagers-asked-vacate-national-park/
New media pass for journalists
The Information Ministry will use a new form of media pass for journalists working in Cambodia by the end of January in order to easily manage and collect data from journalists. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100766/new-media-pass-journalists/
Hun Sen lashes out at journos, analysts over comments on reform record
The prime minister lashed out at journalists and analysts today for questioning the current government’s reform record, a seeming reference to a Post article from December about a speech in which he touted his administration’s progress. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lashes-out-journos-analysts-over-comments-reform-record
Officials partially tear down home for road
Preah Sihanouk province authorities yesterday demolished part of one home and its fence, which had encroached on a road they are trying to widen in the province’s Prey Nop district. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-partially-tear-down-home-road
As deadline passes, Borei Keila residents reject final offer
A deadline for a group of Borei Keila residents to accept compensation or leave their homes with nothing passed on Friday, with none of the residents agreeing to move to a resettlement site, and authorities saying they have no right to remain, but with no ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/deadline-passes-borei-keila-residents-reject-final-offer