Opposition Parties Say They Had Too Little Time to Review Election Procedures
Opposition parties say they received too little time to review a 337-page National Election Committee draft of procedures for the upcoming national election after the committee asked for feedback within two and a half weeks.
Hundreds From Three Provinces Urge Government to Speed Up Land Dispute Resolutions
About 300 people from three provinces are urging three ministries and the Prime Minister’s cabinet to speed up solutions for their land disputes that have dragged out for more than a decade.
Briefs: Supreme Court Denies ‘Adhoc 5’ Appeal, Brings High-Profile Case to an End
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld convictions against four human rights officials and an election body staffer — who previously worked at the same rights group — in a case related to a love scandal involving opposition leader Kem Sokha.
Agriculture Ministry Defends Indicted Officials Caught in Monkey-Smuggling Ring
The Agriculture Ministry backed two of its employees who have been charged with smuggling long-tailed macaques — and one of whom was arrested in the U.S. on Wednesday — and said it would make the “utmost efforts” to absolve them.
Prek Tnaut Pollution Hits a New Low as Water Declared ‘Hazardous’
Residents living along Prek Tnaut river that snakes from Kampong Speu to Kandal say they have mostly stayed away from using the polluted river, but are now seeing it turn an oily black color and smell noxious.
Village Chief Fired After Participating in Angkor Relocation Site Protest
Penh Pren, a village chief in Balaing commune in Prasat Bakorng district, told VOD Thursday that he was removed from his position after attempting to protest overnight at Run Ta Ek relocation site earlier this week.
Agriculture Ministry Warns Farmers to Stop Online Critiques
The Ministry of Agriculture has asked farmers in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey to refrain from criticizing the ministry for low crop prices on the grounds that it has already sent officials to resolve the issue.
Battambang Candlelight Activist Convicted for Filming Alleged Election Irregularity
Ley Sokhon, a party activist, was arrested in June after actively searching for fraud during the June commune election in Battambang province and posting a video of a confrontation with CPP officials.
Mass Trial Defendant Denies He Is Subject of Phone Taps
A Phnom Penh court judge presiding over a mass trial said she had matched a defendant’s voice to a phone tap just by listening to their testimony in court, a claim challenged by the former CNRP official.
US Indictment Details Cambodian Officials’ Alleged Acts in Monkey-Smuggling
Emails and bank transfer details collected by U.S. investigators allege the Forestry Administration director used ministry staff to capture thousands of wild monkeys for illegal export — and that they waited until after the 2018 election to avoid scrutiny — while also requesting a large donation to the ruling CPP.
Cambodian Official Arrested in US Over Alleged Monkey-Smuggling Ring
An Agriculture Ministry official was arrested in New York — and the Forestry Administration’s director is also wanted — for a U.S. felony indictment over smuggling long-tailed macaques.
GDP to Vote on Joining Forces With Candlelight
The opposition Grassroots Democracy Party will soon decide whether it will join the Candlelight Party or stand on its own in the 2023 national election after discussions of a potential merger stalled, leaders said.
Warning Issued Over Football-Themed Investment Scam
The anti-cybercrime police said it was investigating complaints of fraud against a football-themed investment that allegedly lured people to send money before cutting off their withdrawals, and urged caution around online investments.
Cambodia’s Financial Outlook Rating Drops on Opaque Imports
International credit rating firm Moody’s downgraded Cambodia’s financial outlook from stable to negative over a “severe widening” in the gap between imports and exports and a lack of transparency.
Mondulkiri Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary Chief Fired After Alleged Abuse of Locals
The Environment Ministry has ordered provincial officials to fire the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary chief in Mondulkiri province over alleged abuses of power, including threatening local people who were collecting firewood.
CNRP Political Ban Lifts, Says Supreme Court Official
A Supreme Court official said 118 former CNRP officials would regain their political rights Wednesday and do not need to file any paperwork to make official their return to politics.
Angkor Disputants Pitch Tents in Protest, Made to Leave
Siem Reap families set up camp on disputed land this week in protest of their former farms being used to resettle Angkor park evictees, but have left under threat from authorities, the residents said.
Five Years From ‘Death of Democracy,’ Little Expected From Political Ban Lifting
Though a five-year political ban is set to end on Wednesday, former opposition officials will likely have little opportunity to make a difference in the upcoming election, the politicians as well as analysts say.
Brigade 70 General Faces Another Land-Grab Complaint
A military general and his soldiers violently took over land in Sihanoukville, bringing knives, making threats and destroying fences, alleges a complaint from residents.
Briefs: Another Naga Protester Questioned, Gun Shooting in Pailin
A third NagaWorld protester was questioned in court over alleged breaking and entering in a case that remains unclear. Authorities are questioning six Thai nationals over a shootout in Pailin province.
VOD, VOA Reporters Banned from PM’s Post-Asean Speech
Media advocacy organizations decried officials’ unexplained decision to ban reporters from news outlets VOD and VOA from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s press conference following the Asean Summit on Sunday.
Hun Sen Tests Positive for Covid-19, to Miss APEC
Prime Minister Hun Sen is returning home from Indonesia after testing positive for Covid-19, he said this morning, noting he has no symptoms but will miss meetings with Chinese and French leaders.
Two NagaWorld Protesters Questioned in Court, but Crime Still Unclear
Two NagaWorld unionists have been questioned in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court over breaking and entering, intentional damage and unlawful confinement — but they still don’t know what the casino company is accusing them of, they said.
Military Pickup Truck Crashes in Phnom Penh, 200 Kg of Drugs Found
Phnom Penh police are investigating a traffic accident that led authorities to find 200 kg of drugs inside a military pickup truck.
Abduction Arrests in Koh Kong as Police Say Crime Moving From Sihanoukville
The Koh Kong court is questioning six suspects over the kidnapping and detention of a Malaysian woman, as local police said some foreign nationals and crime-linked operations were moving into the province as they “evacuate” from Sihanoukville.
Jailed Forest Activist’s Wife Says He Is Sick in Prison
Jailed forest activist Chorn Phalla’s wife said Phalla was getting sick in prison and asked for his release, though a prison official disputed the account saying there were doctors inside and the activist was fine.
Khmer Thavrak Hunger Strike Ends Under Surveillance at Home
A small group of hunger strikers was down to only one activist — fasting at home — due to security concerns and exhaustion by the time their protest action ended along with the Asean Summit.
‘I Am Not Holding My Breath’ After Asean Summit, Human Rights Defenders Say
Watching from outside the Sokha Hotel, activists and human rights defenders in Cambodia and Myanmar shrugged: As usual, they said, it was doubtful the yearly summit would lead to any material change for their situations.
Asean Suggests Myanmar Could Be Barred From Future Meetings
A string of high-level meetings has continued back-to-back in Phnom Penh this weekend, with Asean stating it could reconsider Myanmar’s participation in future meetings and the U.N. chief calling for human rights defenders and climate activists in Cambodia to be protected.
Cambodian Activists Look to Joe Biden for Help During Asean
Cambodian activists and opposition politicians made a last-ditch effort to catch the attention of U.S. President Joe Biden before he arrived at the Asean Summit, hopeful that the U.S.’s self-image as a protector of democracy could help elevate their plight.