Koh Kong
Lawmaker orders photos, video of event erased
Villagers in Koh Kong province’s Areng Valley, the site of a proposed hydropower dam opposed by most of the local ethnic minority Chong, say police deleted their photos and video of a visit by CPP lawmaker Ay Khorn on Friday to promote the project’s potential ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lawmaker-orders-photos-video-of-event-erased-79296/
Areng valley activist denies illegal logging allegations
An environmental activist in Koh Kong province’s Areng Valley on Monday denied building an ecotourism information center with illegally logged wood after he was summoned to the local court to answer questions over alleged forestry crimes. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/areng-valley-activist-denies-illegal-logging-allegations-78939/
Areng activist summoned over deforestation complaint
The Koh Koh Provincial Court has summoned an environmental activist living in the Areng Valley for questioning over allegations that he felled trees in a forest in order to build a community center, rights workers said Sunday. ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/areng-activist-summoned-over-deforestation-complaint-78893/
Hydropower dam puts a way of life at risk
In the heart of the Areng Valley, on the edges of the rolling Cardamom Mountains, an old Bodhi tree pierces the thick green canopy. At its base, nestled in between its hanging roots, sits a ramshackle altar of tin and timber for the spirit of ...
Zsombor Peter and Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hydropower-dam-puts-a-way-of-life-at-risk-78844/
‘I will come back,’ says deported activist
Referring to Cambodia as “my country”, Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, a vocal environmental activist and Spanish national who was deported Monday, yesterday vowed to return and continue his struggle to save the Areng Valley. ...
Sean Teehan and Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/i-will-come-back-says-deported-activist
PM threatens use of rockets in Areng valley
The day after the government deported a foreign activist opposed to a proposed hydropower dam in Koh Kong province’s Areng Valley, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday invited activists in the valley to secede from Cambodia, but warned that rocket launchers could be deployed if ...
Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prime-minister-threatens-use-of-rockets-in-areng-valley-78609/
New Year sees tourism boost
Cambodia’s beaches and temples saw an increase in local and foreign tourists during the three-day Lunar New Year celebrations, according to figures released by provincial officials. Siem Reap, home to the world-renowned Angkor Archaeological Park and a major tourist destination, received around 69,200 visitors, an increase ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/new-year-sees-tourism-boost
Gov’t waits to deport activist with expired visa
An immigration official said Sunday that his department would wait for orders before moving to deport environmental activist Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, whose visa the government refused to renew after it expired Friday. ...
Mech Dara and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-waits-to-deport-activist-with-expired-visa-78500/
Land disputes surge: Licadho
The number of families newly affected by land disputes last year was three times that of 2013, according to figures documented by local rights group Licadho. In a statement released yesterday, the group “strongly expresse[d] its concern” at the surge in disputes, noting that in 2014 ...
Alice Cuddy and Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/land-disputes-surge-licadho
Lawmakers ask ministry to halt UDG eviction
Parliament’s Human Rights Commission has asked the Ministry of Justice to suspend a court verdict that could see 20 Koh Kong families, who are holding out against giant Chinese firm Union Development Group, lose their homes. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/lawmakers-ask-ministry-halt-udg-eviction
Government standing by decision to not renew activist’s visa
The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday said it was standing by its decision to not renew the visa of outspoken environmental activist Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson in the face of mounting pressure from fellow activists, NGOs, unions, students and monks—even opposition leader Sam Rainsy—to reverse course. ...
Khuon Narim and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-standing-by-decision-to-not-renew-activists-visa-78270/
Sam Rainsy asks government to let outspoken activist stay
Opposition CNRP president Sam Rainsy on Monday weighed in on behalf of environmental activist Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, asking the Interior Ministry to reverse a decision to not renew the Spanish national’s visa over a traffic incident from September. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sam-rainsy-asks-government-to-let-outspoken-activist-stay-78095/
Areng mapped in hope ecotourism can save valley from dam
A group of university students from Phnom Penh opposed to a proposed hydropower dam in Koh Kong province entered the project’s construction site on Sunday for a 10-day study aiming to highlight the area’s alternative potential for ecotourism. ...
Hul Reaksmey and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/areng-mapped-in-hope-ecotourism-can-save-valley-from-dam-78006/
Fainting figures jumped in 2014: government
Workplace faintings last year jumped more than 100 per cent from 2013, a report from the Ministry of Labour and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) released yesterday says. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fainting-figures-jumped-2014-government
Families to rejoin protests against sugar farms
Villagers in Koh Kong province left out of compensation deals that some of their neighbors are receiving for land lost to sugar plantations have gathered about 300 signatures on a petition demanding to be included in the payouts and hope to gather more before submitting ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/families-to-rejoin-protests-against-sugar-farms-77251/
Families to rejoin protests against sugar farms
Villagers in Koh Kong province left out of compensation deals that some of their neighbors are receiving for land lost to sugar plantations have gathered about 300 signatures on a petition demanding to be included in the payouts and hope to gather more before submitting ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/families-to-rejoin-protests-against-sugar-farms-77251/
‘No proof’ in Koh Kong land fight: judge
Villagers in Koh Kong province were sent back to the drawing board yesterday, when the Court of Appeal upheld the provincial court’s decision that about 62 hectares of land belongs to Heng Huy Co. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/no-proof-koh-kong-land-fight-judge
Chinese firm razes homes in Koh Kong
Security guards from a Chinese firm building an airport to serve a planned resort in Koh Kong province Thursday destroyed the homes of 11 families and bulldozed 30 hectares of farmland in an area claimed by both the company and residents. The Union Development Group (UDG) ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/chinese-firm-razes-homes-in-koh-kong-76557/
Dam concerns sent to Subedi
Special Rapporteur Surya Subedi has been called on to investigate and seek justice for human rights violations caused by the development of two large-scale hydropower dams in Cambodia. ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dam-concerns-sent-subedi
Union Development Group re-opens road
A Chinese-owned company embroiled in a land dispute with villagers in Koh Kong province agreed yesterday to reopen a road that it had blocked on Wednesday, sparking violent clashes. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/union-development-group-re-opens-road
Lawmaker asks minister to aid K Kong villagers
Opposition CNRP lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang on Thursday wrote to the environment minister urging him to ensure security guards for a Chinese firm building a $3.8-billion tourist complex in Koh Kong province do not evict some 30 families clinging to their homes in the areas. China’s ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lawmaker-asks-minister-to-aid-k-kong-villagers-75711/
Injuries as locals clash with UDG
Three villagers suffered minor injuries yesterday after they clashed with security guards for a Chinese-owned company with which they are ensnared in a long-running land dispute. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/injuries-locals-clash-udg
Some 20,000 visit Koh Kong on the first day of Sea Festival
About 20,000 people were estimated to have visited Koh Kong province on Friday, the first day of Sea Festival, according to an official at the provincial tourism department. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/some-20000-visit-koh-kong-on-the-first-day-of-sea-festival-7854
Commission calls for review of land concessions in Koh Kong
Three parliamentarians from the National Assembly’s human rights commission, led by CNRP lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang, returned Tuesday from a two-day visit to four communities in Koh Kong province locked in land disputes with companies holding private land concessions. Following the trip, the lawmakers said ...
Khuon Narim and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/commission-calls-for-review-of-land-concessions-in-koh-kong-73100/