Law and judiciary
Busts on human trafficking double
Operations against human trafficking networks increased by a whopping 127 percent compared to the same period in 2016, according to a six-month report released yesterday by the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT). ...
Kong Meta and Martin de Bourmont
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/busts-human-trafficking-double
Workers rescued from Thai boats in Malaysia
The Cambodian embassy in Malaysia has repatriated 14 Cambodian fishermen who fled a Thai boat and are believed to be human trafficking victims, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. ...
Ros Chanveasna
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40167/workers-rescued-from-thai-boats-in-malaysia/
Laws failing young sex exploitation victims
Child sex tourism is continuing to damage the lives of young Cambodians, while the internet is enabling perpetrators to carry out abuse, the Justice Minister has warned. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40172/laws-failing-young-sex-exploitation-victims/
Government approves law to guarantee energy purchase
The National Assembly approved a draft law yesterday that will guarantee the state’s purchase of electricity from two large-scale private energy projects, protecting the investments against any loss resulting from political instability. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-approves-law-guarantee-energy-purchase
CPP assembly members vote for ‘Anti-Rainsy’ law
The National Assembly swiftly passed controversial new measures yesterday to effectively ban former opposition leader Sam Rainsy from the political arena or from bolstering the opposition’s firepower ahead of next year’s elections. ...
Meas Sokchea and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cpp-assembly-members-vote-anti-rainsy-law
Tanker filled with timber
A petrol tanker truck was found with more than 2,000 pieces of luxury rosewood stashed inside its tank when it was intercepted by authorities in Phnom Penh last week, National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said yesterday. ...
Soth Koemsoeun and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/tanker-filled-timber
Illegal timber loads seized
The Cambodia Royal Gendarmerie and Kratie provincial military police yesterday concluded a crackdown on a known timber smuggling route in Sambour district, confiscating nearly 100 pieces of wood equivalent to about 40 cubic metres. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40130/illegal-timber-loads-seized/
Four tonnes of illegal medicine seized
Anti-economic crime police from the Interior Ministry yesterday seized more than four tonnes of illegal medicine in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40077/four-tonnes-of-illegal-medicine-seized/
NGOs parse LANGO warning
NGOs huddled yesterday to make sense of a letter from the Interior Ministry asking them to comply with controversial provisions of the Law on Associations and NGOs (LANGO), with some considering requesting further clarification or an extension of a September deadline for compliance. ...
Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ngos-parse-lango-warning
Party law vote set for Monday
Opposition lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said yesterday that Cambodia National Rescue Party banners featuring self-exiled former party President Sam Rainsy will be taken down nationwide after a National Assembly vote on Monday that is expected to ban the use of his image in party materials. ...
Meas Sokchea and Alex Willemyns
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/party-law-vote-set-monday
More marijuana destroyed in Takeo
Nearly 15,000 marijuana plants were destroyed in Takeo province’s Kirivong district on Wednesday evening, in the second such crackdown this week. ...
Mom Kunthea
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40079/more-marijuana-destroyed-in-takeo/
NGOs warned to comply with law or face action
Interior Minister Sar Kheng took aim at civil society on Tuesday night, warning NGOs to comply with the law or face legal action, at the same time the ministry ordered the ad hoc election monitoring group the Situation Room to cease any future monitoring activities. ...
Ben Sokhean and Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngos-warned-to-comply-with-law-or-face-action-132171/
Court denies analyst Sok’s request for bail
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court’s decision to deny jailed political analyst Kim Sok’s request for bail, also rejecting his request to summons Prime Minister Hun Sen, the plaintiff in the two defamation and incitement cases that landed the analyst in detention. ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-denies-analyst-soks-request-bail
Army brass arrested in Sihanoukville
An army general in Preah Sihanouk province was arrested by Military Police officials on Tuesday after the provincial court ordered he be taken into custody following allegations of land grabbing. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/army-brass-arrested-sihanoukville
Supreme court orders eco-activist’s appeal to be reheard
Environmental activist Ven Vorn has been given a second chance to have an illegal logging conviction overturned after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered his case sent back to the Appeal Court for review. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/supreme-court-orders-eco-activists-appeal-to-be-reheard-132169/
Changes to party law ban convicts
The National Assembly’s permanent committee will today schedule a plenary session of parliament to debate and vote on laws that would ban the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party from associating with its former leader Sam Rainsy, or ever using images of his face, recordings of ...
Meas Sokchea, Touch Sokha and Alex Willemyns
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/changes-party-law-ban-convicts
Government letters rekindle concern over controversial law on NGOs
A series of letters issued by the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday night – one chastising two election monitors, and another offering a blanket warning to NGOs – have again raised the spectre of the Kingdom’s controversial and widely criticised Law on Associations and NGOs ...
Ananth Baliga and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-letters-rekindle-concern-over-controversial-law-ngos
Field of dreams: Marijuana crop destroyed in Takeo
Over 12,000 marijuana plants were destroyed in 47 different locations by authorities in Takeo province on Monday after villagers stumbled upon the illegal crop in the mountains and along a lake. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/field-dreams-marijuana-crop-destroyed-takeo
Election monitors get warning over law on neutrality
The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning to election watchdogs Comfrel and Nicfec, ordering them to halt their activities that allegedly violate their NGO obligation of neutrality. ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/election-monitors-get-warning-over-law-neutrality
Guilty walk free in land sale case
Two Ministry of Mines officials were convicted on corruption charges yesterday in a Phnom Penh court after confessing to selling state land, but nonetheless walked free after a judge reduced their sentences. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/guilty-walk-free-land-sale-case
Muth’s lawyer calls for case to be terminated
The defence team for Meas Muth has said terminating the proceedings against the alleged Khmer Rouge naval commander is the “only legitimate and lawful option” if funds cannot be found to ensure a fair trial. ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/muths-lawyer-calls-case-be-terminated
Second change to Party Law this year takes aim at Rainsy
Thirty lawmakers have agreed to once again alter Cambodia’s controversial Law on Political Parties – the second change so far this year – with ruling party spokesman Sok Eysan leaving little doubt that the new law would target one person: Sam Rainsy. ...
Meas Sokchea and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/second-change-party-law-year-takes-aim-rainsy
Officials file complaint over beating by general
Two village officials from Oddar Meanchey province filed complaints on Friday against one-star General Duong Sina, accusing him of using violence against them and two other villagers, though Military Police yesterday said the general appeared to have fled. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-file-complaint-over-beating-general
Australia looks to outlaw tours to orphanages in Cambodia
Australians facilitating tours and volunteer programs at orphanages in foreign countries such as Cambodia may eventually face criminal charges if a recently opened inquiry in Australia results in legislation. ...
Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/australia-looks-to-outlaw-tours-to-orphanages-in-cambodia-132047/