CamboJA
ASEAN Summit 2025: vision for unity and prosperity clouded by security and political challenges
ASEAN leaders have adopted a bold Kuala Lumpur Declaration ASEAN 2045 vision for a united, resilient, and people-centred region, but analysts warn that deepening internal divisions—especially the Myanmar crisis—and the rise of transnational crime threaten to derail those ambitions. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/asean-summit-2025-vision-for-unity-and-prosperity-clouded-by-security-and-political-challenges/
Appeal court upholds convictions against union leader Morm Rithy and govt critic Ny Nak
The Court of Appeal of Phnom Penh on Tuesday upheld the conviction of a lower court against union leader Morm Rithy — a decision which has been condemned as unjust by his lawyer and unionists who attended the trial. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/appeal-court-upholds-convictions-against-union-leader-morm-rithy-and-govt-critic-ny-nak/
Environment journalist Uk Mao determined to expose illegal logging after release on bail
Environmental journalist Uk Mao, an indigenous minority, pledged to continue protecting the forest and exposing illegal logging activities following his release on bail on Sunday — his determination praised by civil society organizations and press freedom groups. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/environment-journalist-uk-mao-determined-to-expose-illegal-logging-after-release-on-bail/
Urgent action needed to dismantle scam compounds in Cambodia and Southeast Asia – UN
UN experts are sounding the alarm over a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Southeast Asia, urging immediate, human rights-based action to dismantle scam compounds—including in Cambodia—where hundreds of thousands of people are “trafficked, trapped, and forced into online criminal operations”. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/urgent-action-needed-to-dismantle-scam-compounds-in-cambodia-and-southeast-asia-un/
Land Ministry, involved in Angkor evictions, proposes new plan to resolve land use disputes, minister says
The Land Ministry, which was heavily involved in the relocating of thousands of Angkor Wat residents – a process rights groups condemned as forced – is now pushing a new mechanism to address long-running land use disputes among remaining communities, according to the minister. ...
Information Ministry accuses NGOs, press groups for politicizing journalist Uk Mao’s case
The Ministry of Information has criticized non-governmental organizations and press groups for “pursuing their own political agendas”, portraying negative press freedom in Cambodia, in relation to jailed environmental journalist Uk Mao’s case. The ministry claimed that Mao “violated journalistic ethics”. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/information-ministry-accuses-ngos-press-groups-for-politicizing-journalist-uk-maos-case/
CamboJA News wins Anthony Lewis Prize for exceptional rule of law journalism
CamboJA News has been awarded the World Justice Project’s Anthony Lewis Journalism Prize, recognizing our investigative reporting and daily coverage of issues undermining the rule of law in Cambodia. ...
CamboJA Staff
https://cambojanews.com/camboja-news-wins-anthony-lewis-prize-for-exceptional-rule-of-law-journalism/
U.S. researcher’s report names 28 for sanctions over ruling party scam links; govt denies
A blistering report by a prominent U.S. crime expert, disallowed from returning to Cambodia by his employer in 2023 over alleged threats, has triggered a wave of condemnation from Cambodian officials after calling for expanded U.S. sanctions on elites linked to the country’s online scam ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/u-s-researchers-report-names-28-for-sanctions-over-ruling-party-scam-links-govt-denies/
Govt temporarily remediates Color Star workers’ two-day strike after factory announces sudden relocation
About 500 workers of Color Star Cambodia Product Co Ltd in Prek Chrey village, Phnom Penh protested and blocked the road for two consecutive days after the factory announced that it is moving to a new location, about 40 kilometers away. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/govt-temporarily-remediates-color-star-workers-two-day-strike-after-factory-announces-sudden-relocation/
Environment journalist Ouk Mao charged with incitement, public defamation after reporting on deforestation
Online journalist Ouk Mao, who reports on environmental issues and illegal deforestation in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, was charged with incitement and public defamation, the Stung Treng Provincial Court confirmed on May 19. ...
Health ministry compels people to get vaccinated as JN.1 Covid-19 cases rise to 21 in two weeks
The Ministry of Health has once again advised Cambodians to get the Covid-19 vaccine and increase their vigilance following concerns about the new JN.1 variant which has seen new cases rise to 21 within two weeks of May. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/health-ministry-compels-people-to-get-vaccinated-as-jn-1-covid-19-cases-rise-to-21-in-two-weeks/
Environmental activist stands firm despite legal action threat after exposing logging in Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary
An outspoken environmental activist stays resolute in his efforts to raise awareness of environmental issues despite threats of legal action after exposing illegal logging in a protected area in a northern province of Cambodia. ...
Cambodia confronts cancer crisis amid food safety concerns, calls for stricter border checks
Every 40 minutes, one Cambodian dies from cancer – a grim reality announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet recently. Experts caution that contaminated imported food could contribute to the issue. To safeguard public health, the government is stepping up inspections of imported meat and vegetables ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/cambodia-confronts-cancer-crisis-amid-food-safety-concerns-calls-for-stricter-border-checks/
Flurry of new agreements, yet stakeholders and residents still in the dark on Funan Techo Canal
Chinese and Cambodian state-owned firms inked shareholder and investment agreements for the flagship Funan Techo Canal during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Phnom Penh last month, but details on financing still remain under wraps, worrying stakeholders eyeing slim returns. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/flurry-of-new-agreements-yet-stakeholders-and-residents-still-in-the-dark-on-funan-techo-canal/
Prey Lang community, NGOs cry foul over 99ha forest land allocation to cement factory despite pledge to increase forest cover
Environmental activists and communities launched a campaign urging the government to revoke a sub-decree that allows a private company to build a cement factory on 99 hectares of protected forest in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/prey-lang-community-ngos-cry-foul-over-99ha-forest-land-allocation-to-cement-factory-despite-pledge-to-increase-forest-cover/
Huione Pay removes sign after U.S. blacklist move
Phnom Penh-based Huione Pay was seen taking down its signage on Wednesday, six days after the U.S. Treasury flagged its parent, Huione Group, as a primary money laundering concern and moved to cut it off from the U.S. financial system. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/huione-pay-removes-sign-after-u-s-blacklist-move/
Cambodia joins Laos in halting Thai meat, livestock imports over Anthrax scare
Cambodia has temporarily suspended livestock and meat imports from Thailand after two human anthrax cases, including one death, were confirmed there, although no cases have been reported in Cambodia. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/cambodia-joins-laos-in-halting-thai-meat-livestock-imports-over-anthrax-scare/
Fourteen wastewater treatment plants under construction nationwide, as activist rep calls for preservation of natural lakes
Cambodia launched a $90 million wastewater treatment project in Kandal Province, bringing the total number of wastewater treatments to 14 nationwide. The initiative was welcomed by a civil society organization, which praised the government for ensuring environmental sustainability and public health. ...
Phnom Penh Court sentences Rong Chhun to four years jail, removes political rights
Labor activist Rong Chhun, who is also a senior advisor of Nation Power Party, was found guilty of incitement by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for criticizing the ruling party’s border policies and the way it “handles” the illicit cybercrime industry. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/phnom-penh-court-sentences-rong-chhun-to-four-years-jail-removes-political-rights/
“One death every 40 minutes” – Cambodia unveils plan to tackle cancer crisis
Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered stricter inspections of imported vegetables and meat, calling for broader public education on the prevention of cancer, as cancer kills one Cambodian every 40 minutes—or about 38 lives each day. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/one-death-every-40-minutes-cambodia-unveils-plan-to-tackle-cancer-crisis/
RSF report: Cambodia’s press freedom score drops further but gov’t states real situation is “very good”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Cambodia 161 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, which is a further drop from 151 in 2024, reflecting a deteriorating media landscape, according to its report released a day before World Press Freedom Day. ...
Unions, workers call for better labor rights, higher wage amid labor day celebration
Demands for a better minimum wage and work conditions for skilled labor and informal workers were made over the week through social media platforms by union representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs) and workers in order to escape debt traps, in conjunction with the 139th International ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/unions-workers-call-for-better-labor-rights-higher-wage-amid-labor-day-celebration/
Youth Association calls for the barring of NPP’s activities amid court against senior party leaders
The 100 Nights Working Group Association called on the authorities to review the activities of Nation Power Party’s leader (NPP), notably its president Chea Mony and senior advisor Rong Chhun, accusing them of acting under the direction of former opposition leader Sam Rainsy. ...
Mother Nature activists seek provisional release again; top court to rule April 30
Five jailed activists from the environmental group Mother Nature appeared at the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking provisional release nearly a year after they were sentenced to six to eight years in prison for plotting against the government and insulting the king – charges widely ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/mother-nature-activists-seek-provisional-release-again-top-court-to-rule-april-30/