The Phnom Penh Post
PM honours ‘heroines’ in teaching, sport
The prime minister yesterday praised three women as national heroines for their inspiring international achievements in the arenas of education and sports. During an awards ceremony for scholars at the National Institute of Education, Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated local teacher Neang Phalla for her abilities ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/pm-honours-heroines-teaching-sport
P Vihear families call on gov’t to stop logger
After almost five years of alleged illegal logging in Preah Vihear province’s Preah Rokar community forest by a local businessman, more than 100 villagers yesterday petitioned the provincial authorities to shut down his handicrafts company. The villagers say that the woodworking operation, owned by businessman Sar ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/p-vihear-families-call-govt-stop-logger
Cambodia OKs controversial election laws
Cambodian legislators approved two controversial election laws on Thursday that were promptly condemned by rights groups as undemocratic for their restrictive provisions — including a ban on NGOs from criticizing political parties during election campaigns. The laws, which were unanimously approved, received backing from both the ...
Aljazeera America News Staff
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/19/cambodia-approves-controversial-election-laws.html
Cop chief accused of illegal timber sales
Ethnic Lao and the local authorities in Stung Treng province’s Sesan district have accused the Srekor commune police chief of being a timber “gangster” and selling protected wood to tycoon Kith Meng, who has a stake in the nearby Lower Sesan II hydropower project. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/cop-chief-accused-illegal-timber-sales
New road at Poipet to boost trade ties
Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday that customs revenue from Poipet International Port on the Cambodia-Thai border was over $120 million a year, on account of heavy movement of goods across the border. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/new-road-poipet-boost-trade-ties
Rolls-Royce opens showroom
Rolls-Royce officially launched its showroom in Cambodia yesterday, with both government and the luxury-car maker forecasting a rosy sales outlook for the high-end vehicle. In June, Rolls-Royce appointed HGB Group Co Ltd, the distributor for Mazda and Kia vehicles in Cambodia, to be the official dealership. ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/rolls-royce-opens-showroom
‘Development’ a dirty word, survey finds
After admitting there were “major problems” with its resettlement projects earlier this month, the World Bank has come under fire from Boeung Kak lake residents in a new report from a human rights group. The report by the International Accountability Project (IAP), titled Back to Development, ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/development-dirty-word-survey-finds
Woman claims torture over family homestead
Police in Takeo province are investigating allegations of torture made against a local police officer accused of tying up and beating his niece amid a dispute over the use of the family’s land. Eng Vibol, 37, claims she was badly beaten by her uncle, police captain ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/woman-claims-torture-over-family-homestead
GMAC slams sample size in HRW report
Nearly a week after Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report detailing systemic labour rights abuse in Cambodia’s garment sector, the country’s garment manufacturers association fired back, criticising the study’s methodology and alleged omissions. ...
Sean Teehan
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/gmac-slams-sample-size-hrw-report
Disputes roil Preah Vihear
A series of land disputes have shook a pair of communities in Preah Vihear province, resulting in violent scuffles and tense standoffs between government actors and members of the Kuoy ethnic minority. In Rovieng district, more than 140 families living in the Boeung Tonle Mrech community, ...
Phak Seangly and Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/disputes-roil-preah-vihear
UN panel grills Cambodians
Sitting in Geneva before a panel of international experts chosen by the UN, Cambodian delegates yesterday did their best to dodge a series of pointed questions regarding the Kingdom’s adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Phrases such as “I don’t know ...
Ethan Harfenist
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/un-panel-grills-cambodians
Gov’t prepares for mine standoff
Officials backed by a small detachment of gendarmerie seconded from the National Military Police are preparing for potentially violent confrontations with security forces employed by illegal mining companies, an official said yesterday. Meng Saktheara, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, yesterday ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/govt-prepares-mine-standoff
MEF sets target for tax revenue
The Cambodian government is aiming to increase its revenue collection to $3.78 billion for 2015, on the back of strong tax and customs income. A directive signed by Monaster of Economy and Finance Aun Porn Moniroth on Monday says $2.75 billion will be collected via current ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/mef-sets-target-tax-revenue
Small parties left out
Minor political parties have come out swinging at the ruling and opposition political parties for overhauling the election system on a bi-party basis. Two election-related laws that the National Assembly is expected to pass later this week have been negotiated for months solely by the CPP ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/small-parties-left-out
NGOs call out holes in EIA law
The Ministry of Environment is close to finalising a draft environmental impact analysis (EIA) law for development projects, but NGOs and civil society groups raised concerns that the draft law, as it stands, prevents indigenous people who live on the land from opposing such projects. Speaking ...
Chan Muyhong and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/ngos-call-out-holes-eia-law
Extradition pact sees next steps
The Ministry of Justice has established a working group to examine a draft extradition treaty with Russia, the latest step in a process that could ultimately see prominent fugitives deported, a ministry spokesman said yesterday. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/extradition-pact-sees-next-steps
‘Scales are needed to stop road damage’
Following a directive by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon to the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation to improve their monitoring of overloaded vehicles, a ministry official said they will build more vehicle scales. ...
Sean Teehan and Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/scales-are-needed-stop-road-damage
City says ‘fake cops’ nailed
Capital police yesterday revealed the identities of five men who had allegedly been posing as Flying Tigers – an elite Ministry of Interior rapid-response unit – and extorting money from victims who believed they were in danger of being jailed. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/city-says-fake-cops-nailed
Food safety needs tightening
The Cambodian government will introduce a food-safety law later this year that would see the Kingdom adopt a set of national food safety standards and ensure greater coordination across ministries, according to a health official. Aing Hoksrun, chief of the food bureau at the Department of ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/food-safety-needs-tightening
Election gifts under scrutiny
Chuon Phang, the 79-year-old chief of Tasanh commune in Battambang’s Samlot district, has always handed out free cotton kramas to local villagers about a month ahead of elections. But the ruling Cambodian People’s Party representative does not characterise the practice as vote-buying. He says he gives ...
Kevin Ponniah and Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/election-gifts-under-scrutiny
Holiday clemency requested for 900 prisoners
The names of more than 900 prisoners have been put forward to receive pardons and sentence reductions during next month’s Khmer New Year festivities, officials said yesterday. The inmates were selected by the Ministry of Interior and their cases are now being assessed by the Ministry ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/holiday-clemency-requested-900-prisoners
4 dolphins found dead this year, WWF says
As the Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin population steadily declines, conservation groups have voiced concern that the critically endangered species may be swimming toward extinction if drastic measures are not soon taken to protect them. The numbers tell a depressing tale: From 2011 to 2014, 23 dolphins were ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/4-dolphins-found-dead-year-wwf-says
200 strike over unionist’s dismissal
More than 200 striking workers demonstrated in front of Siko Phnom Penh Garment Factory in the capital’s Dangkor district yesterday after management fired an employee who founded a new labour union there, according to a union representative. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/200-strike-over-unionists-dismissal
Advans SA increases holdings in local MFI
Luxembourg-based Advans SA Group and two other foreign investors have increased their share holdings in local microfinance institution Amret, giving Advans a controlling stake in the company. Claude Falgon, executive director of Advans SA SICAR, said that since the first stake acquisition, the business had acquired ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/advans-sa-increases-holdings-local-mfi