Society
A collapsed riverbank and houses along the Bassac river in Takhmao city, Kandal province on February 24, 2020. (Hy Chhay/VOD)

Families Living in Tents After Riverbank Collapse Destroyed Homes

Kandal province residents whose homes fell into the Bassac river said Thursday that they’re sleeping in plastic tents while they wait for the government to respond to their concerns over the collapsing riverbank and nearby sand dredging.

Authorities in Kampong Thom province prevent members of the Prey Lang Community Network from entering a protected area to conduct an annual tree-blessing ceremony on February 21, 2020. (Licadho)

Ministry, Forest Patrollers Accuse Each Other of Breaking the Law

The Environment Ministry has accused a forestry patrol group of illegally monitoring a protected forest, drawing criticism from civil society organizations who say the ministry has violated the group’s rights and restricted its conservation efforts.

Armed police monitor participants of a tree-blessing ceremony in Prey Lang protected forest in 2019 (Licadho)

Officials Block Prey Lang Activists From Forest Ahead of Annual Event

The Environment Ministry and local authorities on Friday prevented hundreds of environmental rights advocates and others from entering the Prey Lang protected area for an annual forest conservation event set for the weekend, a ministry spokesman and rights group said.

(Licadho)

Government ‘Unlikely’ to Probe Prison Baby’s Death, Official Says

The government’s human rights committee was “unlikely” to further investigate anyone responsible for the death of a 5-month-old baby who was living with her mother in prison, since the committee had already determined that the child died of “poor health,” its spokesman said.

Ven Rachna, who sells clothing via her Facebook page under the name Thai Srey Neang, speaks in an apology video posted to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police's Facebook page on February 18, 2020.

Online Clothes Seller Charged for Pornography

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday charged an online clothes seller for pornography and indecent exposure over photos posted to her Facebook page in which the woman is wearing what authorities have deemed suggestive attire.

Online vendor Ven Rachna, who sells clothing via her Facebook page under the name Thai Srey Neang, is escorted by officers outside the Tuol Kork district police station on February 20, 2020 (Phnom Penh Municipal Police)

Court Questions Online Clothes Seller Over ‘Sexy’ Sales Videos

An online clothes seller was questioned in court and accused by police of committing pornography crimes on Thursday, after posting photos of herself in supposedly revealing attire on the same day that she was “educated” not to do so by authorities.

The gate to Phnom Penh's Correctional Center 2 (CC2) prison (Licadho)

Five-Month-Old Baby Raised in Prey Sar Prison Dies Under State’s Care

A five-month-old child who lived with her incarcerated mother in a Phnom Penh prison died while under the care of state institutions, human rights group Licadho said, following renewed calls by Prime Minister Hun Sen to hasten trial proceedings for women in detention.