CamboJA
Indigenous people in a village in Ratanakiri province cut down trees at risk to pay off debts
Residents of a village in O’Yadao district, Ratanakiri province, due to debt, went to cut down trees in the community, transported them across the border and sold them to Vietnam in order to repay the bank, according to village and community authorities. ...
Voice of Democracy to resume broadcasting overseas, unaffiliated with CCIM
The government-shuttered media outlet Voice of Democracy (VOD) announced it will resume broadcasting from the United States beginning in October, according to a Tuesday press release posted on the VOD Khmer Facebook page. ...
Khuon Narim and Jack Brook
https://cambojanews.com/voice-of-democracy-to-resume-broadcasting-overseas-unaffiliated-with-ccim/
Complaint advances against investor Oikocredit for role in microfinance sector’s abuses
A Dutch government watchdog group accepted a complaint last Friday alleging that social investor Oikocredit contributed to abuses in Cambodia’s microfinance sector. ...
Wife of Environment Ministry Secretary of State denies knowledge of alleged online scam gang renting her building
The wife of an Environment Ministry secretary of state denied knowledge of an alleged online scam gang inside a Phnom Penh apartment complex owned by her company. ...
Victims of tycoon’s alleged land fraud turn to child Labor and migration to repay debt
Like many of her neighbors in Kampong Cham, Seang Sinath borrowed tens of thousands of dollars to invest in a tycoon’s land scheme, falling into overindebtedness when the company stopped paying her back. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/victims-of-tycoons-alleged-land-fraud-turn-to-child-labor-and-migration-to-repay-debt/
Family of violently beaten government critic seeks justice
Phnom Penh police say they are investigating a brutal assault against a vocal critic of government policies, as civil society groups say the incident is the latest in an ongoing crackdown on critical voices. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/family-of-violently-beaten-government-critic-seeks-justice/
District police chief demoted after removal of commune police chief with criminal record
A district police chief in Kampong Thom province was removed from his position after a commune police chief in his district was demoted for previously serving prison time for theft. A police official told CamboJA that the two police chiefs were relatives. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/district-police-chief-demoted-after-removal-of-commune-police-chief-with-criminal-record/
Only one third of disabled people identified for government assistance program since 2020
A July sub-decree aims to improve the registration process for disabled people in order to receive government assistance, but most disabled people in the country have yet to benefit from the identification program that began registrations in 2020. ...
Seoung Nimol and Hel Komsan
https://cambojanews.com/only-one-third-of-disabled-people-identified-for-government-assistance-program-since-registrations-began-in-2020/
Banteay Meanchey police detain 23 Candlelight Party officials
Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police detained and questioned 23 Candlelight party officials over the weekend for allegedly lying to people while collecting thumbprints to establish a new political party. Police say party members falsely told citizens that CPP leaders were behind the effort to create the ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/banteay-meanchey-police-detain-23-candlelight-party-officials/
Amnesty international calls on world heritage committee to address forced evictions at Angkor Wat
The human rights group Amnesty International has called on Unesco’s World Heritage Committee to address forced evictions at Angkor Wat as its 45th annual meeting begins Sunday in Saudi Arabia. ...
Khuon Narim and Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/amnesty-international-calls-on-world-heritage-committee-to-address-forced-evictions-at-angkor-wat/
Condition of Indochinese Leopard casts shadow over tiger reintroduction efforts
A report published in June this year concluded Indochinese leopards are functionally extinct in Cambodia after camera traps failed to capture a single image of them in 2021. ...
Andrew Califf
https://cambojanews.com/condition-of-indochinese-leopard-casts-shadow-over-tiger-reintroduction-efforts/
Ethnic Kuy put curse on environment officials building cow stable in wildlife sanctuary
Kuy indigenous peoples in Preah Vihear province’s Chheb district invoked ancestral spirits and held a “curse ceremony” to hex powerful people, including department of environment officials who they say are violating their land rights. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/ethnic-kuy-put-curse-on-environment-officials-building-cow-stable-in-wildlife-sanctuary/
Tycoon’s company receives 1,247 Hectares along Kep coastal waters for satellite city development
A company linked to tycoon Khun Sear, TP Moral Group, received 1,247 hectares of coastal waters in Kep province to develop a new satellite city and “special tourism zone” according to a March 6 sub-decree signed by former Prime Minister Hun Sen and publicized in ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/tycoons-company-receives-1267-hectares-along-kep-coastal-waters-for-satellite-city-development/
Burning Homes in the Name of Conservation: NGO Wildlife Alliance Cracks Down on the Poor
The farmers of Knong Riel run when they see white faces. A white face, for many farmers, means staff from Wildlife Alliance, one of Cambodia’s leading conservation NGOs, have entered the northern edge of the Cardamom National Park where dozens of families grow cassava, corn ...
UN estimates 100,000 trafficked into Cambodian scam operations, officials ask “Where are they?”
At least 100,000 people have been forced to carry out online scams in Cambodia, according to a UN Human Rights report released Tuesday, but Cambodian government officials say they want to see more evidence for the estimate. ...
Seoung Nimol and Leila Goldstein
https://cambojanews.com/un-estimates-100000-trafficked-into-cambodian-scam-operations-officials-ask-where-are-they/
Meta rejects recommendation to suspend Hun Sen for inciting violence
Meta rejected the recommendation of its Oversight Board to suspend former Prime Minister Hun Sen from the company’s platforms for inciting violence. Cambodian government officials celebrated the announcement and said Meta’s representatives are permitted to resume their work in the country. ...
Seoung Nimol and Leila Goldstein
https://cambojanews.com/meta-rejects-recommendation-to-suspend-hun-sen-for-inciting-violence/
WMC upset over release of fraudster who stole more than $200,000
The Women’s Media Center of Cambodia (WMC) held a press conference on Monday afternoon to voice their outrage over the release of Sambun Yany, a former chief finance officer briefly imprisoned for stealing more than $200,000 of the organization’s funds. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/wmc-upset-over-release-of-fraudster-who-stole-more-than-200000/
An overview of new ministry leaders and their family and business ties
The single National Assembly vote on Tuesday which solidified Hun Manet’s position as prime minister also ushered in sweeping changes across Cambodia’s top minister roles. ...
CamboJA Staff
https://cambojanews.com/an-overview-of-new-ministry-leaders-and-their-family-and-business-ties/
Government gives 9,968 hectares in Botum Sakor National Park to Royal Group
Tycoon Kith Meng’s Royal Group company received 9,968 hectares inside Botum Sakor National park in Koh Kong province, according to a January 25 sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and published earlier this month. ...
Runn Sreydeth and Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/government-gives-9968-hectares-in-botum-sakor-national-park-to-royal-group/
New gov’t more than doubles secretary and undersecretary of state positions in ministries
The newly formed government has 1,422 secretaries or undersecretaries of state — a 121.8% increase from the previous government, which had only 641 officials in those positions. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/new-govt-more-than-doubles-secretary-and-undersecretary-of-state-positions-in-ministries/
New Prime Minister Hun Manet vows to keep peace as his father steps down
After 38 years in power, Hun Sen finally stepped down from the prime minister role, leaving the top job to his eldest son Hun Manet this week but retaining significant powers. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/new-prime-minister-hun-manet-vows-to-keep-peace-as-his-father-steps-down/
Boeng Tamok activist flees to Thailand, seeking refugee status
Fearing arrest, well known land rights activist Prak Sophea fled to Thailand last week and applied for refugee status over the weekend, she told CamboJA. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/boeng-tamok-activist-flees-to-thailand-seeking-refugee-status/
Two Kraol indigenous people accused of encroaching on Ministry Land fail to appear in court
The Kratie Provincial Court summoned two Kraol indigenous people from Srae Chis commune to appear in court for questioning this week for allegedly illegally encroaching on protected areas, but the two villagers did not show up. ...
Seoung Nimol and Hel Komsan
https://cambojanews.com/two-kraol-indigenous-people-accused-of-encroaching-on-ministry-land-fail-to-appear-in-court/
Appeals court hears challenge to 2014 convictions from garment workers protest
The Court of Appeals held a hearing Thursday in a case dating back to 2014, when ten men were convicted of charges related to violence at demonstrations during a nationwide garment workers strike. The court’s verdict on the appeal is scheduled to be announced on ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/appeals-court-hears-challenge-to-2014-convictions-from-garment-workers-protest/