News
Kheng seeks constitutional ban on individuals harming Cambodia’s ‘interests’
Interior Minister Sar Kheng announced yesterday that he would introduce an amendment to the Constitution banning individuals from doing “anything to impact the national interests” of Cambodia, singling out ex-opposition figure Kem Monovithya as an example. ...
Mech Dara and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/kheng-seeks-constitutional-ban-individuals-harming-cambodias-interests
Justice minister calls for provincial spokespeople
Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana has called for all provincial court presidents and prosecutors’ offices to appoint spokespeople to answer questions from the public and the media “as soon as possible,” citing rising interest in the judiciary as the reason. ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23534/justice-minister-calls-for-provincial-spokespeople/
ACU to push for law to protect whistleblowers
In May, the government said it was prepared to pass a law that would provide long-overdue protections to whistleblowers in Cambodia, but the officials responsible for drafting the law have been suffering from a bad case of writer’s block. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14915/acu-to-push-for-law-to-protect-whistleblowers/
Workers at South Korean firm strike over demotions
More than 40 employees at a South Korean firm in Phnom Penh continued a two-week-old strike Tuesday over their demotions earlier in the month and have started to protest, the workers and company said. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/workers-at-south-korean-firm-strike-over-demotions-82347/
Judges need regulations: legal expert
Following days of high-profile convictions and charges dealt at breakneck speed, based on little evidence and little investigation, a prominent legal expert said yesterday that the law “needs to be updated” to change Cambodia’s widely decried court system. ...
Alice Cuddy
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/judges-need-regulations-legal-expert
Khmer Krom vow more protests, again
Kampuchea Krom activists are planning yet another round of demonstrations to protest remarks made by a Vietnamese embassy spokesman in June, demanding Prime Minister Hun Sen cut diplomatic ties with Vietnam until a public apology is issued. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/khmer-krom-vow-more-protests-again
Land issues creating mistrust of local officials, observers say
Despite a number of agencies dispatched to solve land dispute, rights workers say people continue to face forced evictions and rights abuses by land developments. These problems are not being handled at the local level, fueling mistrust in local government, rights workers say. Rights workers from myriad ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/land-issues-creating-mistrust-of-local-officials-observers-say/1947717.html
Controversial judiciary laws pass without change
With all 11 senators from the opposition boycotting their seats, the Senate on Thursday passed three controversial judiciary laws which critics say will tighten government control of the courts. The ruling CPP’s 44 senators passed the laws without change, said CPP senator and Senate spokesman Mam ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/controversial-judiciary-laws-pass-in-senate-without-debate-61309/
New guidelines aim to protect women, children
A 100-page set of guidelines for the legal protection of the rights of women and children was launched by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Phnom Penh on Thursday in a bid to address shortfalls in how the judicial system handles cases such as rape, ...
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-guidelines-aim-to-protect-women-children-61320/
Kampuchea Krom forum banned by city
Phnom Penh City Hall on Monday banned Wat Samakki Raingsey from hosting a public forum on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of the official granting of Kampuchea Krom to the State of Vietnam. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community (KKKC), which advocates for the ethnic minority ...
Mech Dara and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kampuchea-krom-forum-banned-by-city-60320/
Assembly passes first of three contentious laws on judicial reform
Ruling party lawmakers at the National Assembly pass the first of three draft laws in judicial reform, defying an opposition boycott and ignoring calls for further review by outside legal experts. The Law on the Organization of the Courts will put more power within the Ministry ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/assembly-passes-first-of-three-contentious-laws-on-judicial-reform/1920338.html
Judges required to explain reasons behind pre-trial detention
Judges are now required to write a reasoned explanation when placing citizens in pre-trial detention, instead of simply checking a box as was previously practiced, Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana said Tuesday. But the Ministry of Justice is also considering amending the criminal procedure code to ...
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/judges-required-to-explain-reasons-behind-pre-trial-detention-54913/
Proposed law gives new powers to Justice Ministry
The last of three draft laws written with the aim of cleaning up the courts establishes four new judicial chambers, but legal and political experts worry that it does little to loosen the grip of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Justice Ministry over the courts. The draft ...
Lauren Crothers and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/proposed-law-gives-new-powers-to-justice-ministry-54546/
Long-awaited draft law limits King’s powers over judiciary
The long-awaited draft law on the Supreme Council of Magistracy continues the practice of secret votes and gives Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana key powers, according to excerpts from the document, but it would reduce the position of King Norodom Sihamoni if passed in its ...
Hul Reaksmey and Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/long-awaited-draft-law-limits-kings-powers-over-judiciary-54419/
Juvenile justice law step closer to being reality
Officials from the ministries of interior, social affairs, and justice met with NGOs on Friday to discuss the latest draft of a juvenile justice law that has been in the works for more than a decade and which would mean young offenders’ rights would be ...
Phorn Bopha
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/juvenile-justice-law-step-closer-to-being-reality-52720/
Detainee speaks out online
As lawyers for 21 defendants denied bail by the Court of Appeal last week wait for the Supreme Court to respond to their appeals, the most high-profile of the detainees is speaking out via social media. On Friday night, Prak Sovannary, wife of Vorn Pov – ...
Sean Teehan and Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/detainee-speaks-out-online
Video can’t be trusted: district gov
Video footage of Daun Penh district deputy governor Sok Penh Vuth bashing a defenceless man with a bullhorn on Monday has sparked outrage and demands for his ouster, but his boss told the Post yesterday that people shouldn’t be too hasty to judge, suggesting the footage may ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/video-can%E2%80%99t-be-trusted-district-gov
The Assassination of Union Leader Chea Vichea—A Decade On
Ten years after his assassination, friends and associates remember Chea Vichea, the founding president of the Free Trade Union, as a quiet man but a charismatic leader, passionate about labor issues and the right for workers to collectively bargain for higher wages and better conditions. ...
Denise Hruby
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/the-assassination-of-union-leader-chea-vichea-a-decade-on-50951/
Ministries Discuss New Appeal Courts, Judicial Reform
The Ministry of Justice is moving ahead with plans to expand the Appeal Court system around the country as part of inter-ministerial talks that began on Monday on the subject of judicial reform. The talks, which are expected to wrap up today, focus on a long-awaited ...
Khuon Narim and Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministries-discuss-new-appeal-courts-judicial-reform-50940/
Beyond Chea Vichea, Many Cases Lack Accountability, Justice
Ahead of the 10-year anniversary on Wednesday of the assassination of Free Trade Union (FTU) President Chea Vichea, police said Monday that despite their inability to bring anyone to justice for the high-profile slaying, the case remains open. However, Chea Mony, the brother of Chea Vichea, ...
Khy Sovuthy and Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/eu-ambassador-distances-local-delegation-from-resolution-50914/