Government
Gov’t-aligned union’s strike quietly ended
Workers at Dongdu Textile in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district ended a two-week strike yesterday after their bosses agreed to reinstate 11 union leaders and activists fired in January. Chhin Sony, president of the government-aligned Union of Cambodia, said more than 2,000 workers returned to the factory ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/gov%E2%80%99t-aligned-union%E2%80%99s-strike-quietly-ended
Labor Ministry ignored its own research on minimum wage
The Labor Ministry on Tuesday defended its failure to act on the results of its own study, which in November found that the minimum livable wage for garment factory workers is between $157 and $177. In its annual report, the ministry listed its wage study, carried ...
Aun Pheap and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/labor-ministry-ignored-its-own-research-on-minimum-wage-51977/
NEC Calls for Council Election Candidates
The National Election Committee (NEC) on Tuesday called on political parties to send in lists of proposed candidates who wish to be considered in the upcoming municipal, provincial, city and district council elections, which are scheduled for May 18. NEC President Im Suosdey said at a ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/nec-calls-for-council-election-candidates-51993/
Push to ban public smoking
The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a joint memo yesterday advising recipients to take measures to ban smoking in public places. The “circular” is the first of its kind in Cambodia, and is to be distributed by all government ministries in ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/push-ban-public-smoking
Cambodia and Vietnam vow to speed up border demarcation
Technical groups of Cambodia and Vietnam vowed to conclude the border demarcation between the two neighboring countries as soon as possible. Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that Cambodia and Vietnam have already plant the border posts along ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=ZDdjNjk3OGI2NzJ
Cambodia: Bail refused for 21 workers and human rights defenders
The Cambodian government must immediately and unconditionally release the 21 garment workers and human rights defenders who have been detained since early January, FIDH and its member organizations Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) and Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human ...
FIDH News Staff
http://www.fidh.org/en/asia/cambodia/14627-cambodia-bail-refused-for-21-workers-and-human-rights-defenders
Cambodia, Vietnam pledge to further enhance ties, cooperation
Cambodia and Vietnam vowed on Tuesday to further strengthen and expand friendship and cooperation for the benefits of the two countries and peoples. Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the two ministers agreed to increase cooperation in economics, trade, investment, ...
Shanghai Daily News Staff
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=199661
Fears over human rights in Cambodia as crackdown on protests continues
Prak Sovannary tries to put on a brave face. She has just heard that two of 23 men arrested during a violent crackdown on garment worker protests in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last month have unexpectedly been released on bail.Her husband, Vorn Pao, a prominent activist and union leader, is not ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/11/cambodia-human-rights-crackdown-protests
Workers on strike to demand annual leave, administrator be ousted
Around 1,000 garment workers from a factory producing jeans in Bith Trang Special Economic Zone in Prey Nop district went on strike to protest against administration chief in their factory. They also demanded the annual leave of 18-21 days per years, which were rejected by ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=MDc5ZDFkY2Q1MzB
Cambodia denies PDRC protest link
Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh has categorically denied a report that Cambodian troops have been sent into Thailand to stir trouble in areas where the People’s Democratic Reform Committee is staging anti-government protests. Defence spokesman Col Paphathip Sawangsaeng said Gen Tea Banh made the denial to ...
Bangkok Post News Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/394440/cambodia-denies-its-troops-stirred-trouble-at-pdrc-protests
Cambodia, Vietnam trade bound to hit 5 bln USD in 2015: PM
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday was optimistic about the country’s steadily growing trade with Vietnam and foresaw that the bilateral trade volume would definitely reach $5 billion by 2015. The two-way trade volume was valued at $3.5 billion last year, up 25 percent year-on-year. Speaking ...
Global Times News Staff
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/841879.shtml#.UvslvPmSxqU
Cambodian traders urged to attend upcoming Macau Exhibition
Ministry of Commerce appealed to the Cambodian traders to join the upcoming Macau International Exhibition to promote their products and find business partners. The appeal was made following the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), which announced that it would hold 2014 Macau International Environmental ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=Mjc0YjA2Nzk3NjU
Obama speech sees mixed reaction on US momentum in Southeast Asia
US President Barack Obama’s Southeast Asia-only trip in 2012 marked a high point in the US prioritization of the region. But there has been a drop in the presence of high-level US diplomats since then, and in his recent State of the Union speech, Obama ...
Sophat Soeung
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/obama-speech-sees-mixed-reaction-on-us-momentum-southeast-asia-cambodia-khmer/1848293.html
Maina Kiai calls on Cambodia government to lift ban on public assemblies
UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai has asked the government of Cambodia to lift a ban on public gathering that has been in force for a month. A statement also said Kiai met and raised the issue of the blanket protest ban with Secretary of State for ...
Standard Digital News Staff
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000104438&story_title=kiai-calls-on-cambodia-government-to-lift-ban-on-public-assemblies
Fear ‘making bloggers, reporters self-censor’
Cambodian bloggers and journalists often self-censor out of fear that they could face legal or physical threats, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights said in a report on freedom of expression released yesterday. The policy brief, a summary of six roundtable discussions held over the past ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fear-%E2%80%98making-bloggers-reporters-self-censor%E2%80%99
Adhoc concerned by deaths related to domestic violence
At least 11 people were murdered during domestic disputes or committed suicide after suffering domestic violence in the past two months, local rights group Adhoc said in a statement Monday. Only two perpetrators were charged in these crimes, Adhoc said, highlighting the lack of law enforcement. “Adhoc ...
Denise Hruby and Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/adhoc-concerned-by-deaths-related-to-domestic-violence-51886/
Sonando sends latest TV license, radio request
Independent radio station owner Mam Sonando filed his latest request with the Information Ministry on Monday, requesting a TV license and a radio relay station to push his popular radio broadcasts farther into the provinces. Mr. Sonando, the owner of Beehive Radio and a longtime government ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sonando-sends-latest-tv-license-radio-request-51880/
Hun Sen Says His Face as Good as Any; Situation Is Normal
Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that calls for him to resign and for a new “face” to lead the country were hypocritical as the faces of his critics also remained unchanged. Mr. Hun Sen also said that the political situation in the country is perfectly ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-says-his-face-as-good-as-any-situation-is-normal-51866/
Minorities complain to IFC over rubber farm funding
More than a dozen ethnic minority communities from Cambodia’s northeast filed a complaint with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on Monday, accusing it of breaking its own safeguard policies by investing in rubber plantations they say are stealing their land and illegally logging their forests. The ...
Aun Pheap and Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/minorities-complain-to-ifc-over-rubber-farm-funding-51868/
For underpaid teachers, a desire for dignity
Hang Mao was among more than 11,000 Phnom Penh public school teachers who were told two weeks ago that corruption in the classroom would no longer be tolerated. The message came from senior city officials, including Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong and municipal education director Chea ...
Phann Ana
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/for-underpaid-teachers-a-desire-for-dignity-51857/
Unions threaten nationwide strike if 21 prisoners not released
Sixteen unions threatened Monday to organize a nationwide strike if the 21 activists and protesters jailed following garment industry protests on January 2 and 3 are not released on bail Tuesday. The unions also called for charges against the 21 prisoners, 16 of whom began a ...
Mech Dara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/unions-threaten-nationwide-strike-if-21-prisoners-not-released-51864/
Bail denied for 21 detainees
Defence attorneys will now turn to the Supreme Court after a Court of Appeals judge denied bail this morning for all 21 people still detained from clashes with authorities during garment strike demonstrations last month. The presiding judge said he decided not to allow bail based ...
Sean Teehan and May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bail-denied-21-detainees
Unions, opposition ‘hindering wage talks’
Labour Minister Ith Sam Heng and ministry spokesman Heng Sour yesterday accused unions and the opposition of derailing the government’s efforts at minimum wage reform by striking and stirring up violence for their own political gain. “The government has set up a committee to study the ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unions-opposition-%E2%80%98hindering-wage-talks%E2%80%99
Government warns frequent flier
A dispute has erupted off the coast of Sihanoukville. On one side is the country’s aviation authority, backed by the local airport. On the other side are a couple of guys and a few flying boats. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) said yesterday that ...
Eddie Morton and Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-warns-frequent-flier