News
Women still struggle to enter political fray in Cambodia
The number of women standing in the upcoming commune elections remains low, civil society groups have warned, driven by a lack of nominations from Cambodia’s male-dominated political elite. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/women-still-struggle-to-enter-political-fray-in-cambodia/3849496.html
PM says veterans will get their land
Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked Land Minister Chea Sophara and the Cambodia Veterans Association to make a success of the social land concession scheme for men and women who have served the nation. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38295/pm-says-veterans-will-get-their-land/
Mineral exploration permits offered for protected Prey Lang
One of four new mining exploration permits, advertised publicly this week, is within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary map, coordinates reveal, sparking concern among activists and community members about the strength of the forest’s recently-acquired protected status.In the first public tender of fresh exploration licenses ...
Shaun Turton and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mineral-exploration-permits-offered-protected-prey-lang
Rise in meth use, trafficking spur cross-border drug plan
Faced with an ongoing rise in drug trafficking and use, especially of methamphetamines, Cambodia and the other five Greater Mekong Subregion countries have joined forces to try and stem the narcotics tide. Cambodia was also among four countries where drug-making laboratories were found, Mr. Douglas ...
Phan Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/rise-in-meth-use-trafficking-spur-cross-border-drug-plan-129466/
Shifting economy feeds nation’s uncertain politics
The country is set to embark on local elections that promise to highlight the economic hardships faced by many Cambodians despite a sustained annual growth rate and continued poverty reduction, economic and political observers said this week. A report from Future Forum released on Tuesday ...
Matt Surrusco
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/shifting-economy-feeds-nations-uncertain-politics-129465/
Mekong states sign on to UN policy on drugs
With the Kingdom in the middle of a controversial “war on drugs”, six Mekong countries agreed yesterday to adopt a regional drug policy that puts health care first, and mandates police and judicial cooperation. ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mekong-states-sign-un-policy-drugs
Victor in Illinois is first Cambodian-American woman elected to US public office
When Khemarey Khoeun is sworn in as a park district commissioner in Skokie, Illinois, on May 16, she’ll be making history as the first Cambodian-American woman elected to public office at any level of government in the United States. ...
Ten Soksreinith
http://www.voacambodia.com/a/victor-illinois-first-cambodian-american-woman-elected-united-states/3845887.html
Royal turtles are taken to conservation centre
After spending the last three months under the watchful eye of their own personal retinue of bodyguards, nine endangered royal turtles successfully broke free from their shells on Tuesday and were transferred to the Koh Kong Reptile Conservation Centre, where they will be raised. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/royal-turtles-are-taken-conservation-centre
Voter ink can be washed off, NEC admits
Less than a month before Cambodia goes to the polls, the country’s top election body on Wednesday acknowledged it had paid nearly $800,000 for indelible ink that its own tests showed could be removed using hair care products, an issue one opposition leader called a ...
Ouch Sony and Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/voter-ink-can-be-washed-off-nec-admits-129469/
Soldiers confirmed dead
Three Cambodian peacekeepers have been confirmed dead in Central African Republic, a day after they went missing following an attack on their convoy by a Christian militant group. The three men, Mao Eng, 37, Seang Norin, 35, and Mom Tola, 31, were shot to death and ...
Touch Sokha and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/soldiers-confirmed-dead
Youth keying into digital economy
Southeast Asia’s youthful population is embracing the internet and rapidly connecting to the digital economy, creating enormous potential for economic growth throughout the region, panellists at the World Economic Forum on Asean said yesterday. Addressing a panel discussion on “The Asean Dream”, Kao Kim Hourn, the ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/youth-keying-digital-economy
Complaint to be filed in suspicious prison death
A Banteay Meanchey woman is planning to file a complaint against the provincial prison director for his alleged role in the suspicious death of her stepdaughter on Saturday. Khon Thy said her stepdaughter, Sok Chanthan, 27, had suffered from chronic asthma since she was 7 years ...
Niem Chheng and Martin de Bourmont
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/complaint-be-filed-suspicious-prison-death
Grow Asia to focus on value chain projects
Cambodia’s agricultural sector must improve post-harvest processing to increase the value of its products, while increased knowledge sharing could help farmers better understand the different value chains and identify opportunities, agricultural experts participating in the Grow Asia Forum said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/grow-asia-focus-value-chain-projects
CPP official quits district post to secure commune seat for ruling party
In a country known for its political patronage networks, volunteering for a demotion is rare. But Moeung Visalsok, 46, a ruling Cambodian People’s Party district council member in Kampong Chhnang province, is doing just that. ...
More than 130K: NEC gives OK to poll observers
The National Election Committee has so far approved more than 30,000 observers from NGOs for the June 4 commune elections and confirmed that more than 100,000 observers affiliated with political parties will also monitor voting. ...
Touch Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/more-130k-nec-gives-ok-poll-observers
Bonded warehouse opens its doors
Local logistics firm Kerry Worldbridge officially launched its customs bonded warehouse yesterday, allowing firms to import and store materials in the facility without paying duties and taxes provided the final product is re-exported. ...
Matthieu de Gaudemar
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bonded-warehouse-opens-its-doors
Questions linger over second accused ship
A second ship accused by the NGO Mother Nature of illegally exporting dredged ocean sand last week is expected to arrive at a port in China today with a cargo of silica sand, which is exempt from the ban, the ship’s owner said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/questions-linger-over-second-accused-ship
Calls to halt ‘reforestation’ plan
Fourteen community representatives speaking for thousands of families yesterday petitioned the South Korean Embassy, Environment Ministry and Forestry Administration to halt the expansion of a controversial “reforestation” project by a Korean company situated between the protected Prey Lang forest and Mekong River. Their petition – ...
Phak Seangly and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/calls-halt-reforestation-plan
Private prison breaks ground
Ground was officially broken yesterday on a new facility at Prey Sar prison that will soon enable the upper crust of the Kingdom’s underworld to buy their way out of overcrowded jails and into the relative luxury of a privately run institution. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/private-prison-breaks-ground
Port operator’s IPO share price set near high tide mark
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP), the state enterprise that operates Cambodia’s principal seaport, announced a share price of 5,040 riel ($1.26) yesterday for its upcoming initial public offering following a bookbuilding exercise that garnered a strong response from institutional investors. ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/port-operators-ipo-share-price-set-near-high-tide-mark
Peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic
Cambodians at home and abroad yesterday mourned the passing of peacekeeper Im Sam, who was shot to death during a guerrilla ambush in Central African Republic. He was the Kingdom’s first peacekeeper to ever be killed in combat, officials said. ...
Chhay Channyda and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/peacekeeper-killed-central-african-republic
Economic development requires rule of law: ESCAP
Cambodia has enjoyed strong economic growth but needs to improve its governance and rule of law in order to promote greater development, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) said in a report released yesterday. ...
Matthieu de Gaudemar
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/economic-development-requires-rule-law-escap
Court questions officials over sale of Jolie-Pitt land
An environmental ranger and a village chief were questioned yesterday by the Pailin Provincial Court for allegedly colluding to grab, clear and sell land in a protected area supported by the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, according to officials. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-questions-officials-over-sale-jolie-pitt-land
Cambodia’s politics play out on social media
Facebook has long been the key battleground in Cambodian politics, with parties wrestling for the ear of a young and increasingly connected electorate. But recent analytics show a particularly political brand of social media addiction in the Kingdom, even by regional standards, pushing the stakes ...
Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodias-politics-play-out-social-media