News
Social programmes ‘underfunded’
In spite of recent pledges to expand social protections, the Cambodian government has failed to prioritise spending on services that reduce poverty and improve quality of life among vulnerable populations, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization. ...
Brendan O’Byrne
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/social-programmes-underfunded
NEC balance further tips in favour of CPP
The three appointees are Nuth Sokhom, who will be the deputy chief of the NEC, Dim Sovannarom, and Hel Sarat from the Khmer Nationality Party. They were selected among five candidates, according to CPP National Assembly spokesperson Chheang Vun. ...
Ben Sokhean and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-balance-further-tips-favour-cpp
Kheng scolds senior officials for seeking to keep power centralised
In a frank rebuke of members of his own party, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng yesterday accused national leaders and ministers of impeding the process of decentralising Cambodia’s government out of a desire to maintain power for themselves. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/kheng-scolds-senior-officials-seeking-keep-power-centralised
Sausage case producer raided
Authorities shut down a large sausage casing manufacturer in Kampong Speu province after discovering its owners had been operating illegally for two years and were using forbidden chemical substances. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sausage-case-producer-raided
China woos Hun Sen at Beijing dinner
The Communist Party of China has again publicly announced its strong support for the ruling CPP. The comments were made at a dinner on Wednesday night in Beijing, attended by Prime Minister Hun Sen and Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093483/china-woos-hun-sen-beijing-dinner/
South Korea set to import mangoes
South Korea wants to host more migrant workers and increase agricultural imports from Cambodia, including mangoes, a meeting between the outgoing ambassador and National Assembly president Heng Samrin revealed yesterday. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093482/south-korea-set-import-mangoes/
Mondulkiri gets new protected communities
The Ministry of Environment has recognised nine new natural protected communities in Mondulkiri province. The purpose of these communities is to ensure the stability of local ecosystems and the protection of the natural habitat in the region. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093479/mondulkiri-gets-new-protected-communities/
US ambassador says Cambodia ‘not interested in a positive relationship’ with US
In an unusually candid interview yesterday, United States Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt questioned whether the Cambodian government ever had “an honest desire” to form a relationship with the US, as Prime Minister Hun Sen continues to claim the superpower backed a purported “revolution”. ...
Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/us-ambassador-says-cambodia-not-interested-positive-relationship-us
Traffic deaths up from last year, says ministry
Nearly 1,500 people died from traffic accidents in the Kingdom during the first 10 months of this year, a minor increase over last year, though the number of injured fell significantly, according to a report by the Ministry of Interior’s National Committee for Road Safety ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/traffic-deaths-last-year-says-ministry
Draft revisions at odds with PM
An early draft of amendments to the Labour Law appears to expand the use of short-term contracts, a move criticised by labour activists and unionists, and one which directly contradicts recent recommendations made by Prime Minister Hun Sen. ...
Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/draft-revisions-odds-pm
Economy won’t be a casualty: analysts
Despite the widely condemned pre-election dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, the country’s only major opposition party, by the Supreme Court earlier this month, the heightened risk of political instability is expected to have limited short-term economic spill-over effects, according to an assessment from ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/economy-wont-be-casualty-analysts
Government creates logistics council to help sector stay competitive in the region
The Cambodian government recently laid out the framework for the creation of a National Council of Logistics, a specialised interministerial team designed to tackle the high costs of the Kingdom’s logistics sector to promote the efficient flow of exports, according to a royal decree issued ...
Street vendors kicked off the kerb in Phnom Penh
City Hall yesterday renewed a call to enforce a ban on vendors occupying public streets and parks in the capital, with a group of nearly 40 sellers based near the Council of Ministers headquarters responding with a petition to the municipality opposing the move. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/street-vendors-kicked-kerb-phnom-penh
Hun Sen’s ‘Win’ set in stone: minister floats plan to immortalise post-dissolution defections
Across the Prek Pnov Bridge, where Phnom Penh gives way to Kandal, the massive foundations of an unfinished stone spire commemorating the achievements of Prime Minister Hun Sen jut up from an otherwise empty expanse. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sens-win-set-stone-minister-floats-plan-immortalise-post-dissolution
Government rights head meets envoy
The interim representative of the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia met yesterday with the head of the Cambodian government’s rights body, voicing concerns about the threatened closure of a prominent outspoken local NGO. ...
Ben Sokhean and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-rights-head-meets-envoy
Miners back at scene of fatal collapse
People appear to have resumed illegal mining activities at a gold mining site in Kratie province, which was shut down by authorities in August after four miners were killed, officials said yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/miners-back-scene-fatal-collapse
Under a controversial new plan by the Ministry of Interior, ethnic Vietnamese – some living in Cambodia for generations – begin to see documents revoked
Behind the traffic police station in Kampong Chhnang town, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Tonle Sap, immigration officials gathered thousands of ethnic Vietnamese to begin a nationwide process of revoking “improperly” issued documents this week. The plan to review birth certificates, identity cards, passports ...
Kong Meta and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-post-depth/ethnic-vietnamese-some-living-cambodia-generations-see-documents-revoked
Impunity threatens Mondulkiri preserves
Speaking at a workshop hosted by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) on the past four years of conservation in the so-called Eastern Plains Landscape – a project with $1.42 million in funding from the EU and an additional $420,000 from USAID and the ...
Phak Seangly and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/impunity-threatens-mondulkiri-preserves
Confirel wins sweet honour
Cambodian-based specialty food producer Confirel won first prize for its Thnot Organic Sugar at the 15th Asean Food Conference in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/confirel-wins-sweet-honour
Oknha accused of logging in protected forest
The environment minister has promised to investigate allegations that a tycoon-owned company is using a land concession to illegally log wood in a protected area in Preah Vihear province. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/oknha-accused-logging-protected-forest
CMAC removes China UXO found in Battambang
A Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) team of experts yesterday successfully removed two unexploded anti-tank mines discovered by rat hunters in Battambang province on Wednesday, police said. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cmac-removes-china-uxo-found-battambang
PM warns party of complacency in leaked audio
Two leaked audio tapes, purportedly of Prime Minister Hun Sen speaking candidly to senior officials, appear to hint at insecurities within the ruling party over the controversial dissolution of the country’s main opposition, with the premier warning that the party’s “struggle” didn’t end with the ...
Ben Sokhean, Andrew Nachemson and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/pm-warns-party-complacency-leaked-audio
New benefits for workers
Maids, labourers and other so-called “informal workers” are set to receive free health care and maternity benefits next year – as long as they can get their employer to register them with the government. ...
New benefits for workers Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-benefits-workers
List of new National Assembly members approved
The National Election Committee (NEC) has approved new candidates to fill National Assembly seats left vacant by the dissolution of the opposition, drastically changing the composition of Cambodia’s parliament and providing a shot in the arm for the ailing royalist Funcinpec party. ...
Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/list-new-national-assembly-members-approved