Danielle Keeton-Olsen
A huge fire engulfs the Grand Diamond City Casino in Poipet city on December 29, 2022. (Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police Facebook page)

Poipet Casino Fire Highlights Cambodia’s Opaque Fire Safety Rules

Blocked exits, poor access for fire trucks, lack of sprinkler systems, poorly designed stairs, wrong mix of occupants — buildings commonly fail to meet the standards of Cambodia’s fire code, an inspection company said. But these assessments are not made public.

Enslavement, Violent Crimes and Rule by Law: Justice 2022

“Peace” is written across every local and central government building in Cambodia, but not always found within them. This year has been marked by episodes of abuse and corruption from government officials, as well as intimidation against whistleblowers and journalists. 

‘Community Zones,’ Land Titles Planned Inside Protected Areas

The government will take nearly 1 million hectares out of protected areas across the country to create “community zones” with land titles, but the exact locations of these areas — and who will get titled land — are still unclear.

The Phnom Tamao park now has a few water features peppered across the deforested land. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

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.