Ministries and other national bodies

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces plans to recruit 3,850 new soldiers, the majority of which will be enlisted in a new brigade established after a border row with Laos, a document obtained yesterday showed. ...

After 24 years of fiercely independent journalism, the Cambodia Daily will publish their final edition today due to an “exorbitant” $6.3 million tax bill levelled at them last month – an outcome critics say threatens Cambodia’s free press ahead of next year’s crucial national election. ...

The Ministry of Labour’s spokesman yesterday said that free medical treatment for garment workers, announced by Prime Minister Hun Sen last week, will start on January 1. ...

Nearly 300 families accused of grabbing state land to build huts near a canal in Kandal province have been given three days to dismantle the structures. ...

The Land Management Ministry on Wednesday announced a plan to resolve a yearslong land dispute between thousands of villagers and well-connected sugar barons by early next month, though not all affected communities were included. ...

The Ministry of Labour’s spokesman yesterday said that free medical treatment for garment workers, announced by Prime Minister Hun Sen last week, will start on January 1. Spokesman Heng Sour said the scheme would have help from other ministries. ...

The Ministry of Commerce yesterday launched a petroleum mobile lab to detect fraud and cheating at petrol stations and ensure fair competition. The lab, under the authority of CamControl, will drive across the country, starting from Phnom Penh. ...

Kampot pepper, a Cambodian product that got geographical indication (IG) certification from the European Union, is expected to yield 80 matrix tons for the markets by this year. ...

The joint cabinet meeting between Cambodia and Thailand next month will exclude discussions on the Phnom Penh-Bangkok rail link, leaving the exact date of its launch in limbo. ...

The Ministry of Interior has launched an investigation into the opposition CNRP’s funding sources after the government-aligned Fresh News website posted a leaked document purporting to show that the party received funds from a foreign organisation. ...

The Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction yesterday promised to settle land disputes between villagers and sugar companies granted economic land concessions in Kampong Speu, Koh Kong and Preah Vihear provinces. Minister Chea Sophara made the promise after an inter-ministerial meeting at his office ...

Cambodia and New Zealand have reached a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving agricultural productivity to increase food safety and reduce reliance on imports. ...

The Interior Ministry has filed a Supreme Court complaint requesting the dissolution of nine political parties accused of flouting their obligations under the Law on Political Parties. ...

Three local NGOs are to request a meeting with the Interior Minister to discuss the granting of ID cards to Kampuchea Krom people living in Cambodia. ...

Ten representatives of 143 indigenous families affected by the development of the Lower Sesan II hydropower dam in Stung Treng province gathered yesterday to submit a petition to the Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister’s cabinet. ...

The Cambodia National Rescue Party sent a letter on Monday to Interior Minister Sar Kheng asking for clarification on a recently amended prakas that now requires eligible voters to get a police verification letter before a commune chief can attest to their place of residence, ...

Cambodia and Vietnam vowed to boost cooperation to prevent cross-border drug trafficking during the nations’ annual meeting yesterday. Lieutenant General Mak Chito, deputy National Police commissioner in charge of drug crimes, and Ngo Thai Dung, director of Drug Crime Prevention at the Vietnamese Defence Ministry, met ...

The Ministry of Tourism has been training and strengthening the capacity of  tour guides in Preah Sihanouk province, with help from leaders of provincial coastal tourism departments and 80 participants from universities and institutions in the province. ...

Nine eggs of the globally endangered white-winged duck have successfully hatched after a nest was found last month in Preah Vihear province’s Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the Industry Ministry and the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority to repay customers after a technical blunder led to big water bills. ...

Telecommunication operators are being pushed to develop connecting telecommunication infrastructure to enable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) connectivity from urban to rural areas. ...

Representatives of holdout families who are refusing to evacuate two Stung Treng province villages that will be flooded by the Lower Sesan II dam traveled to Phnom Penh to petition the Mines and Energy Ministry for help on Friday. ...

Cambodia has suggested that the US review its Generalised System of Preference for Duty-Free and Quota Free (GSP-DFQF) granted to the kingdom, as a less developed country, in order for its exports to have better preferential access to the North American market. ...

A cabinet meeting on Friday amended several articles of the fisheries law to limit the use of narrow fishing nets and introduce licences for some mechanised equipment. ...