The Phnom Penh Post
Fears abound in HIV village
Three months after their community was shaken by a mass outbreak of HIV, support continues to pour in for residents of Battambang province’s Roka commune. But amid fears generated by the death of several elderly residents and the belief the funding could soon dry up, they ...
May Titthara and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/fears-abound-hiv-village
Rice lobby, EU discuss Italian trade complaint
A visiting delegation from the European Union met with the Cambodia Rice Federation yesterday to discuss concerns raised by Italian rice producers, who say duty-free Cambodian rice imports are undercutting the Italian market. Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said yesterday that the purpose ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/rice-lobby-eu-discuss-italian-trade-complaint
Two busted over illegal reptiles
Twenty-eight hard-shell turtles and eight snakes – weighing more than 50 kilograms – were seized from a minivan in Kampong Thom’s Kampong Svay district on Wednesday. ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/two-busted-over-illegal-reptiles
Support sought for cashew nut farming
The president of Kampong Thom Cashew Nut Association has urged government officials to implement a policy to increase cashew production, as a huge opportunity was being wasted by both the government and farmers he said. ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/support-sought-cashew-nut-farming
Arrest warrant issued for Takhmao governor’s wife
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Thoy Kimsean, the wife of Takhmao town Governor Eam Samay, over allegations she issued a fake cheque worth $185,000 in 2013. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/arrest-warrant-issued-takhmao-governors-wife
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