At least 19 bodies have been pulled from a Poipet city casino, including Cambodian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese workers — and the death toll could double, provincial authorities said Thursday afternoon.
As Cambodia touted recovering trade and GDP growth, thousands took to the streets this year over repression at work or struggles in the market.
“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.
An insatiable craving for land uprooted several communities in 2022, not to mention the ecosystems destroyed in its path.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party continued to maintain a tight grip on power this year and showed little inclination easing pressure on political opponents and dissidents.
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.
UPDATED — Former Cambodia National Rescue Party vice president Mu Sochua and 35 others were convicted by a Phnom Penh court this morning for plotting in a case linked to the exiled opposition leader’s attempted return to the country in 2021.
After three years of trial hearings — and five years since Kem Sokha was arrested — closing arguments in the opposition leader’s protracted treason trial were squeezed into one day of hearings.
A Chinese man who was jailed while leading efforts to rescue hundreds of forced scam laborers is expected to be released from Preah Sihanouk prison soon after his sentence in the “blood slave” case was reduced.
Closing arguments commenced in the Kem Sokha treason trial on Wednesday, with government lawyers indicating that they will file a civil suit for damages against the opposition leader at the end of the criminal case.
VOD is an independent media outlet producing radio programs and disseminating information to the public via the Internet.
© 2019 VOD. All Rights Reserved.
