Government
Hun Sen seeks to clarify remarks, pledging that election will take place ‘no matter what’
Prime Minister Hun Sen hit back yesterday at suggestions that he would consider postponing this year’s elections, saying they will go on as scheduled “no matter what happens” – an apparent effort to clarify his remarks in a speech the day before that an election ...
Ben Sokhean and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-seeks-clarify-remarks-pledging-election-will-take-place-no-matter-what
The big three. 2018 elections for Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia
In 2018 there will be three elections in our immediate region – the much-predicted (and confirmed by the Thai PM) Thai election, another in Cambodia and one in Malaysia. All have their very local versions of democracy which will shape the outcomes. All are vital ...
Tanutam Thawan
https://www.phuketgazette.net/news/big-three-2018-elections-thailand-malaysia-cambodia
Construction project approvals up, but locals aren't reaping the rewards
The government announced a more than 20 percent increase in approved construction projects last year over the year before, but not all the benefits of the booming industry are being passed on to Cambodian workers and property buyers, according to industry insiders. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/construction-project-approvals-locals-arent-reaping-rewards
Local officials prepare to vote for ruling party in absence of main opposition
In Popel commune, Takeo province, some seven commune councilors from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party are going to vote in the Senate election, which will take place on February 25. The election will take place without the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which gained more ...
Voter list complaints resolved
The National Election Committee has received and settled 150 complaints in regards to preliminary voter lists for February’s Senate election. Among the complaints, 144 were approved, one was denied, three had already been resolved and two were withdrawn. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102836/voter-list-complaints-resolved/
Villagers say military official who took their land now wants $20K
A military lieutenant who sued 13 families in Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng district for allegedly grabbing his land is now demanding $20,000 in compensation, though villagers deny the accusation and it remains unclear as to how the official initially came to own the ostensibly protected ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-say-military-official-who-took-their-land-now-wants-20k
New centre for agricultural research to help expand markets
China-based Digital Agriculture Exchange has revealed plans to build an agricultural research centre in the kingdom to improve production and packaging standards of local fruit and vegetables. Officially dubbed a “multifunctional centre”, its aim is to up quality standards to make Cambodian produce more desirable abroad, ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102796/new-centre-for-agricultural-research-to-help-expand-markets/
Students lectured on ‘revolution’
Ruling party lawmaker Pen Panha gave a lecture yesterday at the Royal School of Administration to students on the opposition’s alleged attempt at “colour revolution” – an allegation used to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party in November, with virtually no evidence presented to the ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/students-lectured-revolution
Angkor Gold in second exploratory phase
Angkor Gold Corp is entering its second phase of exploration in Ratanakiri province after its first round showed promising indications of copper and silver deposits. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/angkor-gold-second-exploratory-phase
After Rainsy calls for future protests, Hun Sen says elections will not take place amidst ‘chaos’
Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an oblique warning in a speech to garment workers yesterday, noting that there could be no elections in a “chaotic country” – an apparent reference to the protests foreshadowed by the newly announced Cambodia National Rescue Movement. ...
Ben Sokhean and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/after-rainsy-calls-future-protests-hun-sen-says-elections-will-not-take-place
Chinese demand drives construction boom in Cambodia
The value of construction projects in Cambodia rose more than 22 percent to $6.4 billion in 2017 from the previous year, according to official figures released on Tuesday that showed the impact of a boom driven by Chinese investors. The high level of Chinese investment is ...
Prak Chan Thul
https://www.reuters.com/article/cambodia-construction/chinese-demand-drives-construction-boom-in-cambodia-idUSL3N1PB2YA
New shophouse project in a good location
The Ly Yong Phat (LYP) Group announced it will invest millions of dollars to develop The Premier Land project to meet the demand for shophouses, thanks to the potential the location has for the development. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102543/new-shophouse-project-in-a-good-location/
CNRM faces legal threat
Interior Minister Sar Kheng has warned the government could take legal action against former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and others involved in the launch of the new Cambodia National Rescue Movement. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102521/cnrm-faces-legal-threat/
Hun Manet rallies forces to defend nation
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ deputy commander Lieutenant General Hun Manet has said troops must prepare to defend the country’s legitimate government and protect the nation’s territory. Speaking on Monday from a firearms training session at Kampong Speu province’s Mareah Prov military base, he said the army ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102522/hun-manet-rallies-forces-to-defend-nation/
Has Cambodia’s economic boom imploded?
Cambodia’s economic rise starkly contrasts the political chaos that reached a climax in November 2017 with the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party — the country’s only major opposition party — and the detention of its leader, Kem Sokha. Prime Minister Hun Sen has ...
Heidi Dahles
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/01/16/has-cambodias-economic-boom-imploded/
Does Cambodia’s New Opposition Party Really Matter?
Cambodia’s former opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s reverence for political change is exceeded only by his reverence for himself as the instigator of it. That may be why, this weekend in the United States, he launched the Cambodia National Rescue Movement (CNRM), a new body that is ...
David Hutt
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/does-cambodias-new-opposition-party-really-matter/
Foreign minister lashes out at US over Khmer Rouge ‘support’
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on Sunday criticised the United States government for allegedly failing to recognise Khmer Rouge-perpetrated genocide until recently, accusing the US of suppressing criticism of the Pol Pot regime. ...
Mech Dara and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/foreign-minister-lashes-out-us-over-khmer-rouge-support
Vietnamese-funded market on border begins construction
Construction began yesterday on a $2 million Vietnamese-funded market located in Tbong Khmum province’s Memot district, about 1 kilometre from the nearest border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/vietnamese-funded-market-border-begins-construction
Garment factory literacy classes expanded
The Ministry of Education is to expand literacy classes for garment workers to more than 12 provinces where factories are located this year, with more classes planed for the whole nation by 2020. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102211/garment-factory-literacy-classes-expanded/
Ministry mulls truck driver training school
The Cambodia Trucking Association has suggested the Ministry of Public Works and Transport open the kingdom’s first heavy truck driver training school. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102241/ministry-mulls-truck-driver-training-school/
Cambodia to reduce foreign debt
The government plans to reduce its foreign debt and raise capital through the issuance of bonds, a representative of the Ministry of Economy and Finance has unveiled. “Increasing local borrowing instead of foreign borrowing will improve the country’s trade balance and current account,” said Vong Seyvisoth, ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102229/cambodia-to-reduce-foreign-debt/
GDP says its billboards were removed by ruling party officials
Official within the Grassroots Democracy Party threatened to pull out of the national elections in July, demanding a more positive atmosphere after ruling party officials allegedly removed GDP billboards in Battambang and Phnom Penh. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/gdp-says-its-billboards-were-removed-ruling-party-officials
Funcinpec shoots down rumours of Chinese VP
The royalist Funcinpec party yesterday denied local media reports that it had appointed a Chinese national as vice president. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/funcinpec-shoots-down-rumours-chinese-vp
Unions and companies alike unhappy with draft changes to law on worker contracts
Both unionists and private sector representatives are unhappy with draft amendments to Cambodia’s Labour Law, which would overhaul the regulations surrounding worker contracts and guaranteed employee protections. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/unions-and-companies-alike-unhappy-draft-changes-law-worker-contracts