Andrew Haffner
Khieu Samphan, Malai district, Banteay Meanchey province, 1980. (J. Kaufman/DC-Cam)

The Good, Bad and Ugly as Khmer Rouge Tribunal Reaches End of the Road

“I wouldn’t hold a glass of champagne and say ‘Cheers.’” A somewhat experimental effort with a $330-million price tag, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal straddled controversy, the pursuit of justice and bitter disappointment before its final verdict against the last-surviving regime leader on trial.

Development of the Run Ta Ek resettlement site for Angkor residents in September 2022. (Phin Rathana/VOD)

Displaced From Angkor: Desolate Land, Uncertain Futures Await Residents

Angkor residents are worried about being displaced from their work and public amenities if they move 20 km to an underdeveloped resettlement site. The state denies these are evictions, but its campaign to clean up “illegal constructions” leaves residents with little choice.

Underground Group Chat Teems With Human Trafficking Ads

Every day, posters come to the “White Shark Channel” to plug their services or seek those of others. People smugglers, bounty hunters and even scammers looking for new jobs in the industry are networking in the Telegram group.

Canteran Apparel workers file a petition to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet in Phnom Penh on June 21, 2022. (Hean Rangsey/VOD)

Workers’ Protest Camp Mobilizes as Dispute Resolution Stalls

About 100 former workers of the Canteran Apparel factory in Phnom Penh have resorted to petitioning the prime minister himself to sort out their grievances, claiming the manager of their site left without warning and shut down the business without paying any compensation.

Khem Veasna. (Khem Veasna’s Facebook page)

Faith, Failure & Fealty: Khem Veasna’s Curious Path to Nirvana

Khem Veasna has long advocated for democracy, rule of law, and what he has called a true Buddhist path. But after repeated electoral letdowns, his League of Democracy Party has opted out of this year’s election as the leader has taken a stronger spiritual turn.