The Phnom Penh Post
Dam-affected villagers make case to UN envoy
The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia met with Stung Treng Governor Mom Saroen yesterday to discuss the plight of ethnic minorities in the province affected by the Lower Sesan 2 dam project. ...
Jack Davies
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dam-affected-villagers-make-case-un-envoy
Russian firm exploring potential rail deal
A visiting representative of JSC Russian Railways, the state-run firm that manages rail infrastructure and operates passenger and freight services in Russia, met executives of Cambodia’s railway operator yesterday to discuss possible cooperation between the two companies. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/russian-firm-exploring-potential-rail-deal
Koh Kong locals seek land’s return
Representatives of 526 Koh Kong families hopped on their motos on Friday morning to deliver petitions to their district town halls calling for the return of land taken from them by a 2006 economic land concession (ELC), as well as compensation for lost crops. ...
Bun Sengkong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/koh-kong-locals-seek-lands-return
Indian firm considers setting up fun park
Pan India Paryatan Pvt Ltd (PIPPL), the owner of Mumbai-based EsselWorld, one of India’s largest amusement parks, has shown interest in developing a theme park in Cambodia after a meeting with the minister of tourism late last week. ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/indian-firm-considers-setting-fun-park
Gov’t and NGO seek to expand access to water
As the Kingdom grapples with water shortages, the Ministry of Rural Development and NGO Plan International have set a goal to bring clean water sources to 60 per cent of Cambodia’s 12 million rural residents by 2018. ...
Igor Kossov
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-and-ngo-seek-expand-access-water
Pailin storm damages dozens of structures
Two homes were completely destroyed, while 35 others and four schools were damaged, by heavy rain and strong winds in the western province of Pailin on Friday.The schools remained open despite the damage, said Seng Vanntha, deputy chief of Pailin district. ...
Kong Meta
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pailin-storm-damages-dozens-structures
Ministry denies talk of reopening Thai access to Preah Vihear temple
A Defense Ministry spokesman yesterday denied Thai media reports that Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh had discussed the potential reopening of access to Preah Vihear temple from the Thai side of the border during recent talks. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-denies-talk-reopening-thai-access-preah-vihear-temple
Royal buys out one TV to focus on distribution
Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group has acquired the remaining shareholding of One TV from Russian-owned General Satellite Group in a move to boost the distribution of Cambodia’s niche pay for digital terrestrial television (DTT) market. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/royal-buys-out-one-tv-focus-distribution
Old debt on agenda for PM’s Russia visit
Prime Minister Hun Sen will attempt to renegotiate the $1.5 billion of Soviet-era debt Cambodia accrued during the 1980s when he visits Russia in May, according to a post on the premier’s Facebook page. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/old-debt-agenda-pms-russia-visit
New LGBT policies necessary: CCHR
The Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) has called on schools to adopt a flexible school uniform policy to help transgender students and for the government to introduce(CCHR) anti-discrimination laws, in partnership with a USAID program worth almost $300,000. ...
Bun Sengkong and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-lgbt-policies-necessary-cchr
Magistracy meet calls for order in the court
Judge and prosecutors were called to a two-day workshop to address the sector’s pervasive ethics challenges, but legal experts said change could not occur until there were concrete rules, instead of vague moral guidelines. ...
Mech Dara and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/magistracy-meet-calls-order-court
Tourism a key revenue generator for SMEs
Cambodia’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) earned $1.9 billion in revenue last year from the tourism sector, and could increase this amount further by reducing imports, an industry spokesman said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/tourism-key-revenue-generator-smes
Malaysian firm wagers on Sihanoukville's potential
An obscure Malaysian company has obtained approval from Cambodia’s Council of Ministers to develop hotels and casinos in Sihanoukville, with an online promotional video claiming the firm will transform the coastal city into the “Macau of Southeast Asia.” ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/malaysian-firm-wagers-sihanoukvilles-potential
Alcohol, cigarette tax to increase on April 1
The General Department of Taxation has asked alcohol and cigarette firms to implement proposed increases in special tax on their products, as per a subdecree issued last December. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/alcohol-cigarette-tax-increase-april-1
Reththy, agriculture ministry continue to squabble
The Ministry of Agriculture has rejected a request from private-sector rubber firms – led by agricultural tycoon Mong Reththy – for a meeting to discuss the floundering fortunes of the nation’s rubber sector, claiming the ministry was busy and was already addressing the issue. ...
Sor Chandara and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/reththy-agriculture-ministry-continue-squabble
Drought hits district in Mondulkiri
Up to 4,000 mostly ethnic minority people in Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima district are facing a water shortage after the local supplier announced service would be suspended due to impending widescale drought. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/drought-hits-district-mondulkiri
Nauru refugee decries kingdom's medical facilities
After fleeing religious persecution in Myanmar, Mohammed Rashid found himself on a circuitous route to Phnom Penh. ...
Erin Handley and Bun Sengkong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nauru-refugee-decries-kingdoms-medical-facilities
Unions seek sit-down with premier over draft law
Failing to receive a response to a letter submitted to Prime Minister Hun Sen via his Facebook page last week, a group of unions yesterday took their cause to the Council of Ministers, this time submitting a formal letter requesting a sit-down with the premier ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unions-seek-sit-down-premier-over-draft-law
Towers to improve Angkor Wat's cell coverage, discreetly
Visitors to Cambodia’s premiere tourist destination, Angkor Wat, can expect better mobile network coverage come June, after Apsara Authority signed an agreement with local telecom services firm Camtowerlink Communications to install six camouflaged mobile towers across the vast temple site. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/towers-improve-angkor-wats-cell-coverage-discreetly
Cop denies graft claim after ACU clears him
In the wake of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) clearing him of any wrongdoing, a Phnom Penh commune police chief yesterday refuted allegations that he had accepted protection pay-offs from neighbourhood drug dealers. ...
Niem Chheng and Jack Davies
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cop-denies-graft-claim-after-acu-clears-him
UN human rights rapporteur discusses judicial sector reform
The independence of the country’s judiciary was among the issues that UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Rhona Smith raised yesterday during a meeting with the minister of justice as part of her 10-day visit. ...
Mech Dara and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/un-human-rights-rapporteur-discusses-judicial-sector-reform
Siem Reap hosts ASEAN terrorism forum
As a two-day ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) summit on terrorism and organised crime held in Siem Reap closed yesterday, Interior Ministry counter-terrorism director General Em Sam An highlighted the growing toll transnational crime was exacting upon ASEAN members. ...
Thik Kaliyann
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/siem-reap-hosts-asean-terrorism-forum
Swifter footwear sales help push garment growth
Cambodia’s garment sector – a key driver of the economy – exhibited modest growth last year, with total exports topping $6.3 billion in 2015, up from $5.8 billion one year earlier, according to an industry report released yesterday. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/swifter-footwear-sales-help-push-garment-growth
No great hopes for China's Mekong release
Though praised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China’s release of Mekong River water from the Jinghong dam on March 15 is unlikely to bring much relief to downstream countries like Cambodia, water experts said yesterday. ...
Igor Kossov
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/no-great-hopes-chinas-mekong-release