The Phnom Penh Post
‘Pitfalls ahead’ for web freedom, report finds
While Cambodia lacks a “rigorous, systematic approach to internet censorship”, new programs regulating telecommunications, online expression and cybercrime threaten the relative freedom it currently enjoys, according to a new report.The Freedom on the Net 2015 report, released on Friday by American watchdog organisation Freedom House, ...
Daniel Nass
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pitfalls-ahead-web-freedom-report-finds
Races hung out to dry
Citing low water levels of the Tonle Sap as the cause, Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday justified his decision to call off the upcoming Water Festival in Phnom Penh in a speech in Kampot, even as some observers suggested political concerns motivated the event’s abrupt ...
Mom Kunthear and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/races-hung-out-dry
Man briefly detained over criticism of gov’t
A man in Kampong Speu’s Oral district was briefly placed under house arrest yesterday, following his public criticism of the government and prime minister at a town hall meeting.Ung Ny, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) Oral district executive director, said that 45-year-old Hay Hoeun, a ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/man-briefly-detained-over-criticism-govt
Prince Finance launches in Cambodia
After receiving a licence from the National Bank of Cambodia in August, the microfinance institution Prince Finance has started its business to cater to the financial needs of local and foreign customers. Post Plus sat down with Hon Sorachana, the board director of the Prince ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/prince-finance-launches-cambodia
CNRP calls on UN to join investigation
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party has called on the United Nations to join an investigation into the beating of two CNRP parliamentarians last Monday, expressing serious doubts the Cambodian People’s Party-led government could conduct an independent inquiry into an incident it was almost immediately ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cnrp-calls-un-join-investigation
Prisoner says release contingent on bribe
A Trapaing Thlong prison officer in Kampong Cham was last week accused of demanding $150 to release a prisoner who had fully served his 10-year term, a charge the prison’s director rejected yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prisoner-says-release-contingent-bribe
Bomb threat uni graduate is released
The university graduate arrested for threatening the life of Interior Minister Sar Kheng was released from Siem Reap Provincial Prison on Friday after being handed a reduced sentence by the provincial court, police said yesterday. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bomb-threat-uni-graduate-released
PM urges students not to slack
As students filed back into schools yesterday to kick off the 2015-2016 academic year, Prime Minister Hun Sen broadcasted some televised tough love, telling students to take their studies seriously for the good of the nation. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-urges-students-not-slack
NEC kicks off e-voting registration test
The National Election Committee yesterday kicked off the 15-day trial of its new electronic voting registration system at 25 stations throughout the country.NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said that the registration test plans to enrol about 30,000 people, though those people will have to register again ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-kicks-e-voting-registration-test
Man briefly detained over criticism of gov’t
A man in Kampong Speu’s Oral district was briefly placed under house arrest yesterday, following his public criticism of the government and prime minister at a town hall meeting.Ung Ny, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) Oral district executive director, said that 45-year-old Hay Hoeun, a ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/man-briefly-detained-over-criticism-govt
Fake docs earn former official 3 years
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced a former consular official with the Foreign Ministry to three years in prison for signing false government documents to facilitate the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of luxury timber to Vietnam when he was stationed in Ho ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fake-docs-earn-former-official-3-years
Sokha still in crosshairs
The National Assembly is preparing to discuss the “people’s proposal” to oust Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy leader Kem Sokha from his position as the assembly’s vice president, a ruling party lawmaker said yesterday.Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker and parliamentary spokesman Chheang Vun said that Monday’s ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sokha-still-crosshairs
Cops offer reward – to themselves
Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng has offered $10,000 to government officials investigating the brutal bashing of two opposition lawmakers as an incentive to solve the crime quickly, a ministry spokesman said yesterday. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cops-offer-reward-themselves
Illegal fishing busts up 150%: ministry
Fishing crime busts rose 150 per cent during the first nine months of 2015, compared with the same period last year, while anti-forestry crime actions dropped 13 per cent. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-fishing-busts-150-ministry
Difficult rainy season ends
As a fickle rainy season that has seen areas of the country plagued by drought draws to a close, Cambodia’s rice production remains nearly on target, though food insecurity is still a problem for individual communities, according to the World Food Programme.The season’s slow start ...
Igor Kossov
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/difficult-rainy-season-ends
Mesco set to draw first gold from Ratanakkiri mine
Mesco Gold has established the required surface-level infrastructure and is awaiting government approval to begin the extraction of gold at its Phum Syarung mine in Ratanakkiri province, the company’s director said yesterday.The Indian mining firm is poised to become the first operational commercial mine in ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mesco-set-draw-first-gold-ratanakkiri-mine
Khmer Power Party targets Sokha, PM
The fledgling Khmer Power Party has backed calls for Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy leader Kem Sokha to resign as the National Assembly’s deputy president. ...
Vong Sokheng and Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/khmer-power-party-targets-sokha-pm
Ratanakkiri official defends disputed land
A Ministry of Interior immigration official at the centre of a long-running land dispute in a gem mining district of Ratanakkiri spoke out for the first time yesterday, just days after 200 villagers protested what they termed their illegal eviction.The villagers from Bakeo district’s Keh ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ratanakkiri-official-defends-disputed-land
Single brand to strengthen market for fragrant rice
Cambodia must focus on building a single recognisable brand for its premium fragrant rice to strengthen its international marketing efforts, Minister of Commerce Sun Chanthol said yesterday. Cambodia’s Phka Rumduol – a long-grain, aromatic variety of rice – has been awarded the World’s Best Rice ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/single-brand-strengthen-market-fragrant-rice
Terror used as pretext: report
Cambodia has been named among states accused of using counter-terrorism measures to clamp down on human rights and civil society in a report released this week by the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism.Speaking in New York on Monday, the British rapporteur ...
Zoe Holman
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/terror-used-pretext-report
Automation key to customs efficiency
Private-sector enterprises urged Cambodia’s Customs Department yesterday to introduce an online application and payment system for shipments, rather than the manual method used currently that eats into time and resources. ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/automation-key-customs-efficiency
Rights report decries sugar firm’s tactics
Asia’s largest sugar producer, Mitr Phol, is responsible for violating the rights of hundreds of villagers in Oddar Meanchey who saw their land grabbed, homes destroyed and livestock killed to make way for plantations, according to the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT). ...
Phak Seangly and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rights-report-decries-sugar-firms-tactics
PM condemns attack
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday condemned the savage beating of two opposition lawmakers outside the National Assembly on Monday, before then insisting the violence was wholly unrelated to the pro-ruling party rally from which its perpetrators emerged.In a rare televised address to the nation, the ...
Chhay Channyda, Meas Sokchea and Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-condemns-attack
New fertiliser factory to target local market
Taiwan Fertiliser Company, a Taiwanese manufacturer and seller of fertilisers and chemical products, intends to build a fertiliser factory in Preah Sihanouk province to supply the local market, a company representative said yesterday. ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/new-fertiliser-factory-target-local-market