Social development
Families in Kampong Speu await payments
Representatives of some 250 families who lost their land to a company in Kampong Speu province filed a complaint with Adhoc yesterday, saying they have yet to receive compensation, even after land measurement volunteers allegedly promised a resolution if villagers voted for the ruling party ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/families-kampong-speu-await-payments
Boy caught up in protests faces 11 years in jail
As several hundred garment workers from the SL Garment factory pelted police with rocks during a protest near the Stung Meanchey pagoda in November, Men Sok Sambath, a 14-year-old scrap collector, decided to join the crowd. “I saw other people throwing rocks at the [police] truck, ...
Mech Dara and George Wright
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/boy-caught-up-in-protests-faces-11-years-in-jail-59934/
Villagers vow to defy fresh ban on marches
More than 1,500 villagers plan to march to the Anti-Corruption Unit and National Assembly in Phnom Penh on Thursday in defiance of a fresh ban issued by City Hall prohibiting them from doing so. The villagers form a group known as the Land Communities for Peace ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-vow-to-defy-fresh-ban-on-marches-59966/
South Korea and Japan provide aid
The Japanese and South Korean governments yesterday announced millions of dollars in aid to Cambodia for a scholarship program and a number of rural development projects. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong and Japanese Ambassador Kumamaru Yuji signed for a $2.85 million grant yesterday to fund ...
Vong Sokheng and Cheang Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/south-korea-and-japan-provide-aid
App aims to report bribes
Cambodians may soon find it easier than ever to report official corruption, and not just to the authorities or their friends and neighbours, but to the whole world, thanks to the impending launch of a Khmer-language version of the graft-reporting smartphone app Bribespot. Already popular in ...
Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/app-aims-report-bribes
Electronics workers call for child care
About 700 workers at a Svay Rieng province electronics factory were to demonstrate for the third day today after management refused their demands for access to child care and the reinstatement of five union leaders. The provincial department of labour yesterday proved unable to sway management ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/electronics-workers-call-child-care
Ocean garment workers on strike after factory halts operations
About 1,000 workers protested outside Ocean Garment factory in Phnom Penh’s Pur Senchey district on Wednesday to demand compensation for being out of work while the factory suspends its operations for a month due to flagging demand from buyers, a union leader said. Workers have been ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ocean-garment-workers-on-strike-after-factory-halts-operations-59954/
Cambodia says to accept only voluntary refugees from Australia
Cambodia will take in only voluntary refugees from Australia, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Wednesday. “We will only receive refugees, who voluntarily agree to come to Cambodia, not by force,” he said in a response to questions raised by journalists. “This is ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-05/28/c_133367869.htm
Progress, but no ‘final decision’ on Australian immigration deal
Cambodian officials say they have not yet confirmed whether they will accept a request from Australia to receive rejected immigrants. But they do say the request is moving forward. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding over the transfer of immigrants in April, but a ...
Khoun Theara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/progress-but-no-final-decision-on-australian-immigration-deal/1924328.html
Villagers await water
Hundreds of families in Koh Kong province have since early May been affected by drought and a lack of clean water, which is supposed to be provided by tycoon and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat. Due to the annual drought in the province, two reservoirs ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-await-water
Remains ‘bound for NGO’
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party said yesterday that charred human remains retrieved by a local party member in Kampong Speu province on Saturday would be handed over to human rights organisations for examination. Despite a seeming lack of evidence or investigation, opposition activists have speculated ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/remains-%E2%80%98bound-ngo%E2%80%99
NGOs lobby China, companies over Sesan dam
A group of 15 local and international rights groups Tuesday sent a slew of letters to the Chinese government and companies involved in the Lower Sesan II hydropower dam in Stung Treng province seeking a halt to dam construction due to serious environmental and social ...
Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngos-lobby-china-companies-over-sesan-dam-59807/
Criticism of judicial law grows
Surya Subedi, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, added his voice yesterday to the growing chorus of criticism aimed at three draft laws on Cambodia’s judiciary that sailed through the National Assembly last week. Subedi – who had previously championed the laws as ...
Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/criticism-judicial-law-grows
Short-lived retirement for Sambo?
Two years after she was walked out of the city in the middle of the night to a quiet life of retirement on the outskirts of the capital, Sambo, Phnom Penh’s iconic and much-beloved elephant, might soon be back at work entertaining tourists. With funding for ...
Kevin Ponniah and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/short-lived-retirement-sambo
Villager in land row denied character statement by police
A villager involved in a long-running land dispute in Kompong Chhnang province with the wife of Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem has accused his commune police chief of discrimination after he was refused a character statement he needed to apply for a garment factory ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villager-in-land-row-denied-character-statement-by-police-59726/
Police raid store, seize fake beauty products
Police raided a discount store in Phnom Penh and seized more than 1,000 bottles of beauty products on Monday after receiving a tip that the shop was selling counterfeit goods, an official said. Police confiscated 872 bottles of shower gel and 280 bottles of whitening cream ...
Hay Pisey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-raid-store-seize-fake-beauty-products-59803/
Villager travels to Parliament over land row
A representative of villagers involved in a land dispute in Mondolkiri province appealed to the government Tuesday to address their displacement after their shelters were destroyed by police and soldiers in a forced eviction Monday. Chan Rithy stood outside the National Assembly in Phnom Penh on ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villager-travels-to-parliament-over-land-dispute-59795/
Lack of judiciary consultation on key Cambodian laws draws concern of UN rights expert
The lack of consultative process on three draft laws has set a worrying precedent for future key legislation, according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi. “For many years in my capacity as the Special RapporteurI ...
UN News Centre
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47904#.U4WD6PmSxqV
International union urges factories to raise wages
A major international union wants Cambodian garment workers and factory managers to return to negotiations, following meetings between international companies and officials. The IndustriALL Global Union said Tuesday that management should seriously consider a minimum wage of $160 per month, after international buyers such as Levis ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/international-union-urges-factories-to-raise-wages/1923487.html
Cambodia’s tobacco tax to go up, slightly
In less than two months, smokers indulging in Cambodia’s inexpensive cigarettes will have to reach a little deeper into their wallets. Starting in July, the tax on cigarettes will jump from 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the retail price, with a tax base ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia%E2%80%99s-tobacco-tax-go-slightly
Institute feeling crowded
Construction work at the site of Phnom Penh’s Buddhist Institute by Hong Kong-listed casino operator NagaCorp has caused concern among staff that the large development is driving away students. In recent days, a wall separating the institute from Hun Sen Park in Chamkarmon district’s Tonle Bassac ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/institute-feeling-crowded
Mysterious bones stoke conspiracy
A package containing charred human remains was delivered to the Cambodia National Rescue Party office in Phnom Penh yesterday morning. Despite a seeming complete absence of hard evidence, some are convinced the remains – found on Saturday at a mountain in Kampong Speu – belong to ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mysterious-bones-stoke-conspiracy
Help for the elderly extended
The government has approved a second phase of a pilot project in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces that will this time see professional caregivers rather than volunteers visit the homes of the elderly to assist with domestic work, hygiene needs and general companionship. “Families are the ...
Amelia Woodside and Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/help-elderly-extended
March to PM’s house halted
Representatives of more than 400 families who watched as their homes were burned during an eviction this month in Kratie’s Snuol district were blocked by authorities yesterday as they attempted to take their grievance to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s doorstep. Though tensions initially ran high, the ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/march-pm%E2%80%99s-house-halted