Analyst Kim Sok Again on Trial for Political Killing Claim
The second of two defamation and incitement cases against a political commentator has resurfaced and was heard today in court.
Railway Residents Told to Make Way for Road Construction
Russei Keo district authorities want families living along the railway line in Phnom Penh to remove any parts of their homes or other constructions that can block road construction.
Opinion: Engaging Citizens Is Key for Phnom Penh ‘Smart City’
Phnom Penh says it is trying to become a “smart city,” but it can only earn that status when citizens actively participate and contribute to the city’s development, writes former KAS research associate Lino Arian von Appen.
Classical Dance Pushes the Bounds of Traditional Gender Identities
In founding the first all-male, gay classical dance company in Cambodia, U.S.-born artist Prumsodun Ok simultaneously preserves traditions and empowers diversity.
KNUP Asks NEC to Meet About Election Procedures
The opposition Khmer National United Party has asked to meet with the National Election Committee to make changes to electoral procedures ahead of the upcoming national July 2023 election.
Family of Woman Whose Intestine Cut After Stillbirth Surgery Calls for Legal Action
Relatives of a woman who had surgery to remove a stillborn baby at a private hospital in Kampong Speu’s Kong Pisey district are demanding authorities take legal action against the hospital after she sustained serious injuries.
Youth Environmentalists Campaign to Protect Koh Kong Krao
A group of young environmentalists passed out pamphlets and posted banners this week in Phnom Penh to promote the protection of Koh Kong Krao island, urging people to support preservation of the largest island in Cambodia after the government gave development rights to a private company owned by tycoon Ly Yong Phat.
Agriculture Ministry Alleges VOD Distorted Statement for Political Agenda
The Agriculture Ministry has accused VOD of “perhaps maliciously” distorting a ministry press release, saying the publication could be perceived as having a “politically driven agenda.”
Court Summons NagaWorld Unionists to Testify About Labor Dispute
NagaWorld workers’ representatives have asked for a delay after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court summoned them over a NagaCorp request for a verdict on their
Labor Rights Groups Accused of Creating Worker Dissent
More than 180 apparently government-leaning unions have accused two pro-worker labor rights groups of sowing dissent among unions to split them and affect solidarity in the workers’ movement.
Pride as Lbokator Martial Art Recognized by Unesco
Unesco has put Cambodia’s Lbokator martial art on its cultural world heritage list, as elated local officials and practitioners say they hope it will spur efforts to preserve the tradition.
Few Former CNRP Lawmakers, Councilors Join Candlelight After Ban Lifts
A slow trickle of former opposition CNRP members are making their way to the Candlelight Party ahead of the 2023 national elections, weeks after a five-year political ban was lifted.
Falling Back Into Poverty Meant Sharing One Egg Among Family of Four
In a report this week, the World Bank said some 460,000 Cambodians had fallen back into poverty due to Covid-19. For a Phnom Penh family of four, that meant spending as little as $1.25 total on food per day.
Son Chhay’s Houses Seized Over Defamation Compensation
A Phnom Penh court has ordered the temporary seizure of two properties belonging to opposition leader Son Chhay in relation to $750,000 in damages he is expected to pay to the ruling party for a defamation conviction.
GDP Leader Meets Hun Sen, Likely to Move to Agriculture Ministry
Opposition party leader and agriculture expert Yang Saing Koma and a colleague met with Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss plans to recover the agriculture sector, with a ministry official saying he will be offered a secretary of state position in the government.
NagaWorld Union Leader’s Arrest Came After Third Trip Abroad
Before NagaWorld union president Chhim Sithar was arrested for violating bail conditions by traveling abroad, she had already been on two overseas trips, with her lawyer unaware of the restriction.
Construction Crews in ‘Nonstop’ Patchwork Repairs of National Road 3
Government construction teams are constantly having to repair sections of National Road 3 — which was extensively damaged earlier this year — as the “nonstop” makeshift restorations are not lasting long.
Briefs: Hold Social Media Companies to Account for Online Violence, UN Says
New reports detail online violence, particularly targeting female journalists, globally, as well as increasing poverty in Cambodia due to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic slowdown.
Updated: NagaWorld Union Leader Detained at Phnom Penh Airport, Sent to Prison
NagaWorld union leader Chhim Sithar was questioned at the Phnom Penh International Airport today and has been sent to prison, with a police official saying she violated her bail conditions.
Prek Tnaut Families Face Eviction for River ‘Restoration’ Linked to Elite Company
Nearly 100 families living near Takhmao city are facing eviction as authorities pledge to restore the heavily-polluted river running next to their homes in a project linked to a real estate company with connections to the prime minister’s family.
Poipet Labor Group Says Officials Won’t Let Them Put Up Office Sign
An association that informs tuk-tuk drivers of labor rights says local officials won’t allow it to put up its logo outside a Poipet branch office.
Artist Draws on Drastic Urban Changes in Phnom Penh and Periphery
With an exhibit blending satellite imagery, photography and quotes on urban transformations, environmental artist and educator Zen Teh seeks to raise awareness about urbanization and its consequences for people.
Forest Patrollers Recount Monkey Poaching in Prey Lang
A forest defender group in Prey Lang forest say they have documented unchecked monkey poaching in the fast-disappearing forest, adding that live primates can sell for up to $250 a head.
Longer Rainy Season, Low Rice Prices Hit Farmers
Farmers are struggling to harvest their rice crops thanks to late rains this year, as they already face low sales prices. Rainy season is expected to finish in early December as opposed to the end of October.
Village Demands Return of Chief Who Joined Angkor Protest
Siem Reap residents are collecting hundreds of thumbprints for the reinstatement of a village chief who was fired for joining a protest against the resettlement of Angkor evictees.
Kampot Port Receives More Sea, Tonle Sap Transfer Proceeds
Around 10,000 hectares around the Tonle Sap lake have had protections relaxed, purportedly to legitimize families already using the land, while a port project linked to tycoon Try Pheap received 150 hectares off the coast of Kampot.
Sochua Mass Trial Moves to Closing Arguments
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court is trying 38 defendants — one of whom is on bail — linked to the disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party for supporting the unsuccessful attempt by Mu Sochua to return to the country to face trial in 2021.
Cleared Phnom Tamao Forest Sculpted Into Park
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit has left the cleared area of Phnom Tamao forest after occupying it for about a month starting in August, seeming to transform a piece of the protected forest into an apparent park after a land giveaway controversy embroiled the area just three months ago.
Unionists Fired After Forming Union at Kampong Speu Factory
Three fired union workers at a Kampong Speu factory are asking the Labor Ministry to intervene in their dismissals, characterizing the terminations as a union-busting attempt.
Battambang to Discipline Official Who Alleged Appointment Irregularities
A district administration chief in Battambang has resigned in protest over alleged irregularities in appointments of official positions, prompting the province to vow action against him for “his undisciplined views.”
