The Phnom Penh Post
Gov’t decides on New Year prisoner pardons
The government has finalised plans for next month’s annual Khmer New Year clemency, with more than 800 prisoners across the country expected to receive pardons and sentence reductions, according to an Interior Ministry official. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/govt-decides-new-year-prisoner-pardons
Villagers, mining firm settle land dispute
Villagers in Ratanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district have accepted compensation offers from an Indian company seeking a licence to mine gold in the area. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/villagers-mining-firm-settle-land-dispute
Russian tried over cocaine allegations
A Russian woman accused of smuggling five kilograms of liquid cocaine from Brazil to Cambodia was tried on Friday morning at Phnom Penh Municipal Court. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/russian-tried-over-cocaine-allegations
‘Decline in dropouts’ bodes well for project
Figures showing a promising decline in the number of school dropouts discussed at a meeting yesterday may augur the possible expansion of a pilot project aimed at keeping kids in school, a program officer said. ...
Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/decline-dropouts-bodes-well-project
Acid attack claims life
A 20-year-old woman who suffered serious burns earlier this month after being doused with acid passed away on Saturday, marking the first reported acid-attack fatality in Cambodia since 2012. On March 6, security guard Meas Vanny was walking from her rented room to begin a shift ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/acid-attack-claims-life
One-time NEC fave weighs call
The head of a local rights group who was once touted as the consensus choice for the revamped National Election Committee’s key ninth member will soon announce whether she will officially withdraw her candidacy. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/one-time-nec-fave-weighs-call
Summons rejected by activist pagoda
Residents of the dissident Samaki Rainsy pagoda in the capital have rejected a summons from Phnom Penh Municipal Court for Abbot Thach Hasam Ang and four monks to appear this week on charges of violence and defamation. ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/summons-rejected-activist-pagoda
Drought highlights Int'l Water Day
As officials and development agencies marked International Water Day yesterday, thousands of families in Kampong Cham province went without a drop – some reportedly for the sixth day in a row. The local authorities and rights workers made desperate pleas for aid as reports emerged that ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/drought-highlights-intl-water-day
Japanese firms look to expand
Japanese companies in the Kingdom are looking at expanding local operations as business confidence for 2015 is expected to rise on account of higher projected sales and operating profits, according to a survey conducted by the Japanese External Trade Organization. The survey, which looked at Japanese ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/japanese-firms-look-expand
Fears abound in HIV village
Three months after their community was shaken by a mass outbreak of HIV, support continues to pour in for residents of Battambang province’s Roka commune. But amid fears generated by the death of several elderly residents and the belief the funding could soon dry up, they ...
May Titthara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/fears-abound-hiv-village
Rice lobby, EU discuss Italian trade complaint
A visiting delegation from the European Union met with the Cambodia Rice Federation yesterday to discuss concerns raised by Italian rice producers, who say duty-free Cambodian rice imports are undercutting the Italian market. Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said yesterday that the purpose ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/rice-lobby-eu-discuss-italian-trade-complaint
Two busted over illegal reptiles
Twenty-eight hard-shell turtles and eight snakes – weighing more than 50 kilograms – were seized from a minivan in Kampong Thom’s Kampong Svay district on Wednesday. ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/two-busted-over-illegal-reptiles
Support sought for cashew nut farming
The president of Kampong Thom Cashew Nut Association has urged government officials to implement a policy to increase cashew production, as a huge opportunity was being wasted by both the government and farmers he said. ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/support-sought-cashew-nut-farming
Arrest warrant issued for Takhmao governor’s wife
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Thoy Kimsean, the wife of Takhmao town Governor Eam Samay, over allegations she issued a fake cheque worth $185,000 in 2013. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/arrest-warrant-issued-takhmao-governors-wife
PM honours ‘heroines’ in teaching, sport
The prime minister yesterday praised three women as national heroines for their inspiring international achievements in the arenas of education and sports. During an awards ceremony for scholars at the National Institute of Education, Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated local teacher Neang Phalla for her abilities ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/pm-honours-heroines-teaching-sport
P Vihear families call on gov’t to stop logger
After almost five years of alleged illegal logging in Preah Vihear province’s Preah Rokar community forest by a local businessman, more than 100 villagers yesterday petitioned the provincial authorities to shut down his handicrafts company. The villagers say that the woodworking operation, owned by businessman Sar ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/p-vihear-families-call-govt-stop-logger
Cambodia OKs controversial election laws
Cambodian legislators approved two controversial election laws on Thursday that were promptly condemned by rights groups as undemocratic for their restrictive provisions — including a ban on NGOs from criticizing political parties during election campaigns. The laws, which were unanimously approved, received backing from both the ...
Aljazeera America News Staff
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/19/cambodia-approves-controversial-election-laws.html
Cop chief accused of illegal timber sales
Ethnic Lao and the local authorities in Stung Treng province’s Sesan district have accused the Srekor commune police chief of being a timber “gangster” and selling protected wood to tycoon Kith Meng, who has a stake in the nearby Lower Sesan II hydropower project. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/cop-chief-accused-illegal-timber-sales
New road at Poipet to boost trade ties
Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday that customs revenue from Poipet International Port on the Cambodia-Thai border was over $120 million a year, on account of heavy movement of goods across the border. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/new-road-poipet-boost-trade-ties
Rolls-Royce opens showroom
Rolls-Royce officially launched its showroom in Cambodia yesterday, with both government and the luxury-car maker forecasting a rosy sales outlook for the high-end vehicle. In June, Rolls-Royce appointed HGB Group Co Ltd, the distributor for Mazda and Kia vehicles in Cambodia, to be the official dealership. ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/rolls-royce-opens-showroom
‘Development’ a dirty word, survey finds
After admitting there were “major problems” with its resettlement projects earlier this month, the World Bank has come under fire from Boeung Kak lake residents in a new report from a human rights group. The report by the International Accountability Project (IAP), titled Back to Development, ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/development-dirty-word-survey-finds
Woman claims torture over family homestead
Police in Takeo province are investigating allegations of torture made against a local police officer accused of tying up and beating his niece amid a dispute over the use of the family’s land. Eng Vibol, 37, claims she was badly beaten by her uncle, police captain ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/woman-claims-torture-over-family-homestead
GMAC slams sample size in HRW report
Nearly a week after Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report detailing systemic labour rights abuse in Cambodia’s garment sector, the country’s garment manufacturers association fired back, criticising the study’s methodology and alleged omissions. ...
Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/gmac-slams-sample-size-hrw-report
Disputes roil Preah Vihear
A series of land disputes have shook a pair of communities in Preah Vihear province, resulting in violent scuffles and tense standoffs between government actors and members of the Kuoy ethnic minority. In Rovieng district, more than 140 families living in the Boeung Tonle Mrech community, ...
Phak Seangly and Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/disputes-roil-preah-vihear