CamboJA
Resounding call to release human rights defender Koet Saray charged for incitement in Preah Vihear
About 50 civil society groups and unions called for the release of human rights activist Koet Saray, president of Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), who has been placed in pre-trial detention. ...
Thai court fixes May 9 hearing for Oddar Meanchey villagers versus global sugar producer case
Three villagers from Cambodia traveled to Thailand to file documents against one of the world’s largest sugar manufacturers, Thai-owned Mitr Phol Sugar Co Ltd, at a Thai court on Wednesday. ...
“There’s A Lot of Data, but Limited Access”- NGOs Call For Improved Access And Quality Data Sharing
Non-state actors have raised concerns about the limited sharing of public data by the government due to a lack of trust, as well as zero quality or standard of data. ...
Khuon Narim and Ly Rosslan
https://cambojanews.com/theres-a-lot-of-data-but-limited-access-ngos-call-for-improved-access-and-quality-data-sharing/
European Union and Cambodia launch $53 million technical education initiative
On Tuesday the European Union and the Cambodian government launched four new programs designed to promote sustainability and energy efficiency in the country, including a $53.1 million initiative to improve technical education. ...
Seoung Nimol and Pou Soreachny
https://cambojanews.com/european-union-and-cambodia-launch-53-million-technical-education-initiative/
Royal gendarmerie arrests 11 Pursat residents in wildlife crime crackdown
Cambodia’s Royal Gendarmerie arrested 11 Pursat province residents Tuesday after the military force deployed nearly 300 of its officers to crack down on natural resource crimes. ...
Eung Sea
https://cambojanews.com/royal-gendarmerie-arrests-11-pursat-residents-in-wildlife-crime-crackdown/
CSOs continue to press authorities to allow banned STT photo exhibition to resume
Some 62 civil society organizations (CSOs) including Licadho, Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), and local communities have urged the authorities to allow Sahmakum Teang Tnaut’s (STT) photo exhibition to resume after it was shut down two weeks ago. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/csos-continue-to-press-authorities-to-allow-banned-stt-photo-exhibition-to-resume/
Teenager rescued after trafficked to China for marriage, police search for ringleader
Interior Ministry police are searching for the ringleader in a human trafficking case following the rescue of a 16-year-old who was trafficked to China. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/teenager-rescued-after-trafficked-to-china-for-marriage-police-search-for-ringleader/
HRW: rights of Indigenous Chong residents violated in Southern Cardamom carbon offset project
A new report alleges that conservation NGO Wildlife Alliance forcibly evicted, arrested and mistreated members of the Indigenous Chong community who live in the Cardamom Mountain National Park in the name of a carbon offset scheme. ...
Leila Goldstein and Soeung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/hrw-rights-of-indigenous-chong-residents-violated-in-southern-cardamom-carbon-offset-project/
Low revenue forces Cambodia’s oldest newspaper ‘Phnom Penh Post’ to end print publication by March 29
The Phnom Penh Post will cease publication by March 29 following a significant fall in advertising revenues since the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn, although the paper will continue operating online. ...
Khuon Narim and Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/low-revenue-forces-cambodias-oldest-newspaper-phnom-penh-post-to-close-march-29-final-print/
Conservation Group’s Militarized Forest Patrol Clashes With Villagers in Preah Vihear
A man in camouflage pants and a shirt labeled “U.S. Army” lunges at a villager, swinging a rattan stick in his right hand, handcuffs in his left. ...
Leila Goldstein and Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/conservation-groups-militarized-forest-patrol-clashes-with-villagers-in-preah-vihear/
Ministry of Information finalizing protracted access to information draft law
The Ministry of Information is finalizing the long-overdue draft law on the access to information, known as the “A2I draft law”, as highlighted in its work direction for 2024. The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, according to documents viewed ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/ministry-of-information-finalizing-protracted-access-to-information-draft-law/
Prek Takong villagers fear losing land following expiration of a land lease contract
Twenty five families in Prek Takong 1 village of Chak Angreleu commune are concerned about losing their plots of land, which were rented out to the Meanchey district authority to build a temporary sewage canal. ...
Sovann Sreypich
https://cambojanews.com/prek-takong-villagers-fear-losing-land-following-expiration-of-a-land-lease-contract/
New M’kiri airport to boost tourism, economy but deforestation concerns linger
The government has permitted private firm Focus Trans Global Venture Co Ltd (FTGV) to study the construction of a new airport in Mondulkiri province, northeast of Cambodia, as well as invest in a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model, the Office of the Council Minister ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/new-mkiri-airport-to-boost-tourism-economy-but-deforestation-concerns-linger/
Hun Manet eyes business opportunities in France during first official visit
Prime Minister Hun Manet met with President Emmanuel Macron Thursday at the Élysée Palace on the first day of his official visit to France, where he emphasized possibilities for economic collaboration between the two countries. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/hun-manet-eyes-business-opportunities-in-france-during-first-official-visit/
‘We are dying to live in our homeland’: Siem Reap villagers protest against Apsara
On Monday hundreds of families living inside the Angkor archaeological park protested against the Apsara National Authority, which manages the park, for barring them from doing construction and other activities that support their livelihoods. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/we-are-dying-to-live-in-our-homeland-siem-reap-villagers-protest-against-apsara/
From Clearing Farmland in Preah Vihear
M’lou Prey II commune authorities, of Preah Vihear’s Chheb district, submitted documentation Tuesday to the district regarding alleged encroachment on land farmed by Indigenous Kuy people following a protest earlier this month. ...
Villagers demand compensation from global green mining for clearing farm
At least 10 families are demanding compensation from a private company, which cleared farms and forest land to build an access road to explore iron ore mining in Preah Vihear province. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/villagers-demand-compensation-from-global-green-mining-for-clearing-farm/
Human rights watch: Cambodian government’s claims of democracy do not reflect reality
Cambodia’s 2023 election year was marked by attacks against government critics and independent media, according to a 2024 global Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published Thursday. ...
Khuon Narim and Leila Goldstein
https://cambojanews.com/human-rights-watch-cambodian-governments-claims-of-democracy-do-not-reflect-reality/
Justice Ministry rolls out campaigns to expedite court hearings, review irregularities
The Justice Ministry has rolled out two campaigns to speed up court hearings and resolve alleged irregularities in the justice system in order to enhance transparency and quality. The campaigns, including the set up of out-of-court settlements, have been lauded by civil society groups. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/justice-ministry-rolls-out-campaigns-to-expedite-court-hearings-review-irregularities/
Jan 30 fixed for Kem Sokha’s appeal as civil societies hope for political space restoration
The Court of Appeal will hear former opposition leader Kem Sokha’s appeal against his treason conviction this January 30, as civil societies call on the new government to restore the political situation and human rights in the country. ...
Khuon Narim
https://cambojanews.com/jan-30-fixed-for-kem-sokhas-appeal-as-civil-societies-hope-for-political-space-restoration/
STT report: forced evictions in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Takeo pushed people into debt crisis
A report by NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut Organization (STT) revealed that people who are forcibly evicted from their homes without proper resettlement are burdened with debt, have low access to food, while children experience disruptive education and are subject to child labor. ...
Phon Sothyroth
https://cambojanews.com/stt-report-forced-evictions-in-phnom-penh-kandal-takeo-pushed-people-into-debt-crisis/
Seven Cambodian refugees nabbed by Thai police await UNHCR help
Thai authorities arrested 10 Cambodian refugees while attending the Paris Peace Agreement course in Bangkok on December 29, with seven of them being held at Suan Plu Immigration Detention Center while awaiting intervention by the UNHCR. ...
Pok Ponlue and Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/seven-cambodian-refugees-nabbed-by-thai-police-await-unhcr-help/
Gov’t studies same-sex marriage law amid prejudices, risk of breaking tradition
The law on same-sex marriages might be difficult to enact as government officials are concerned that it could undermine traditional customs. ...
Seoung Nimol
https://cambojanews.com/govt-studies-same-sex-marriage-law-amid-prejudices-risk-of-breaking-tradition/
Human rights violation, deforestation evident in Cambodia’s gold mine operations over 20 years – report
A recent report by Equitable Cambodia has exposed the commercial gold mining industry’s involvement in deforestation, violation of rights, encroachment and land grab of traditional indigenous forested areas. ...