The Phnom Penh Post
Complaint to be filed in suspicious prison death
A Banteay Meanchey woman is planning to file a complaint against the provincial prison director for his alleged role in the suspicious death of her stepdaughter on Saturday. Khon Thy said her stepdaughter, Sok Chanthan, 27, had suffered from chronic asthma since she was 7 years ...
Niem Chheng and Martin de Bourmont
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/complaint-be-filed-suspicious-prison-death
Grow Asia to focus on value chain projects
Cambodia’s agricultural sector must improve post-harvest processing to increase the value of its products, while increased knowledge sharing could help farmers better understand the different value chains and identify opportunities, agricultural experts participating in the Grow Asia Forum said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/grow-asia-focus-value-chain-projects
More than 130K: NEC gives OK to poll observers
The National Election Committee has so far approved more than 30,000 observers from NGOs for the June 4 commune elections and confirmed that more than 100,000 observers affiliated with political parties will also monitor voting. ...
Touch Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/more-130k-nec-gives-ok-poll-observers
Bonded warehouse opens its doors
Local logistics firm Kerry Worldbridge officially launched its customs bonded warehouse yesterday, allowing firms to import and store materials in the facility without paying duties and taxes provided the final product is re-exported. ...
Matthieu de Gaudemar
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bonded-warehouse-opens-its-doors
Questions linger over second accused ship
A second ship accused by the NGO Mother Nature of illegally exporting dredged ocean sand last week is expected to arrive at a port in China today with a cargo of silica sand, which is exempt from the ban, the ship’s owner said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/questions-linger-over-second-accused-ship
Calls to halt ‘reforestation’ plan
Fourteen community representatives speaking for thousands of families yesterday petitioned the South Korean Embassy, Environment Ministry and Forestry Administration to halt the expansion of a controversial “reforestation” project by a Korean company situated between the protected Prey Lang forest and Mekong River. Their petition – ...
Phak Seangly and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/calls-halt-reforestation-plan
Private prison breaks ground
Ground was officially broken yesterday on a new facility at Prey Sar prison that will soon enable the upper crust of the Kingdom’s underworld to buy their way out of overcrowded jails and into the relative luxury of a privately run institution. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/private-prison-breaks-ground
Port operator’s IPO share price set near high tide mark
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP), the state enterprise that operates Cambodia’s principal seaport, announced a share price of 5,040 riel ($1.26) yesterday for its upcoming initial public offering following a bookbuilding exercise that garnered a strong response from institutional investors. ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/port-operators-ipo-share-price-set-near-high-tide-mark
Peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic
Cambodians at home and abroad yesterday mourned the passing of peacekeeper Im Sam, who was shot to death during a guerrilla ambush in Central African Republic. He was the Kingdom’s first peacekeeper to ever be killed in combat, officials said. ...
Chhay Channyda and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/peacekeeper-killed-central-african-republic
Court questions officials over sale of Jolie-Pitt land
An environmental ranger and a village chief were questioned yesterday by the Pailin Provincial Court for allegedly colluding to grab, clear and sell land in a protected area supported by the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, according to officials. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-questions-officials-over-sale-jolie-pitt-land
Economic development requires rule of law: ESCAP
Cambodia has enjoyed strong economic growth but needs to improve its governance and rule of law in order to promote greater development, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) said in a report released yesterday. ...
Matthieu de Gaudemar
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/economic-development-requires-rule-law-escap
Cambodia’s politics play out on social media
Facebook has long been the key battleground in Cambodian politics, with parties wrestling for the ear of a young and increasingly connected electorate. But recent analytics show a particularly political brand of social media addiction in the Kingdom, even by regional standards, pushing the stakes ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodias-politics-play-out-social-media
Correspondent banking in retreat, but growing in Asia
While financial inclusion is a top priority for emerging economies, new research suggests more stringent enforcement of anti-money regulations in recent years has resulted in major Western banks disconnecting from these regions, leaving local businesses without access to the international financial system. ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/correspondent-banking-retreat-growing-asia
Logging trucks seized in Ratanakkiri
Authorities intercepted four trucks carrying 81 pieces of illegal luxury timber at a checkpoint in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district last Friday, District Military Police Commader Sok Min said yesterday. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/logging-trucks-seized-ratanakkiri
PM returns from Singapore hospital
Prime Minister Hun Sen returned to Cambodia yesterday after an urgent medical examination in Singapore due to exhaustion. The premier was forced to cancel diplomatic meetings and ceremonies last week and was rushed abroad for treatment. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-returns-singapore-hospital
City Hall considering relocating warehouses
Speaking at a pagoda inauguration on Saturday, Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong said City Hall is looking to move warehouses and automobile repair shops out of the city centre to the outskirts to reduce pollution and traffic congestion – a move Hun Sen’s sister Hun ...
Kong Meta
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/city-hall-considering-relocating-warehouses
Mekong River Commission meets on Lao dam
The Mekong River Commission held its second stakeholder meeting on Laos’s controversial proposed Pak Beng dam on Friday, giving involved parties the opportunity to hear responses to concerns raised at the first meeting in February. ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mekong-river-commission-meets-lao-dam
Flu outbreak afflicts Mondulkiri village
Half of the residents of Mondulkiri’s Norng Buor village fell ill during a mass flu outbreak this weekend, prompting a rapid mobilisation of the province’s health authorities, who ascribed the flu’s rapid spread to poor hygiene. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/flu-outbreak-afflicts-mondulkiri-village
Four mining licences put up for bids
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has publicly announced that companies can bid for four mining exploration permits in both Kratie and Kampot provinces, marking the first time since the ministry was formed in 2013 to issue fresh licences for private companies to investigate mineral ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/four-mining-licences-put-bids
Kingdom asked to up AIDS fund
Cambodia has been asked to more than double its yearly contribution toward the fight against HIV/AIDS to at least $3.2 million in each of the next three years, an official from the National AIDS Authority said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kingdom-asked-aids-fund
Complaint in Koh Kong over destroyed crops
Some 100 villagers in Koh Kong province’s Thma Bang district removed warning posts put up by environmental rangers and a conservation NGO around land that had been allegedly cleared by the residents since 2013 for farming, filing a complaint against the NGO for allegedly destroying ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/complaint-koh-kong-over-destroyed-crops
Logging ‘conspiracy’: Cambodian, Vietnamese officials accused of taking huge bribes
Cambodian and Vietnamese officials have received millions of dollars in bribes from Vietnamese timber traders as part of a cross-border “conspiracy” to log vast swathes of Ratanakkiri province and funnel the timber to Vietnam, according to a damning report by the Environmental Investigation Agency released ...
Shaun Turton and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/logging-conspiracy-cambodian-vietnamese-officials-accused-taking-huge-bribes
Local coffee sector gets a jolt
Several international and local coffee industry representatives gathered yesterday for the start of a three-day event promoting partnerships and franchising opportunities to satisfy Cambodia’s growing coffee cravings. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/local-coffee-sector-gets-jolt
Villagers take truck to prevent logging
Villagers in Preah Vihear’s Choam Ksan district confronted a group of soldiers, preventing them from felling timber in their community forest by confiscating one of their trucks, a local official said yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-take-truck-prevent-logging