Murders, kidnappings, corpses on the beach — news reports out of Sihanoukville paint a picture of violent and serious crime in the coastal city. But authorities are increasingly shutting down information about police work and pressuring journalists over negative stories, crime reporters say.
The human touch is essential behind the march of innovation, writes Chulalongkorn University professor emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, the U.N.’s human rights envoy to Cambodia.
Total parking area roughly the size of Russey Keo district is needed to cater for Phnom Penh’s increasing number of cars, writes Future Forum researcher Ses Aronsakda. But even putting aside this impracticality, adding more parking to a city creates its own problems.
Developing nations in the Mekong have long had to choose between cheap, accessible power and sustainable river management. That may no longer be necessary, writes Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Stefano Galelli.
Construction sites, trash burning and street-food markets are the high-risk areas in Cambodia for PM2.5, or small air particles that can lead to respiratory problems, heart disease or early death, researchers say. Pollution is likely on the rise as vehicles and industry increase.
Stories of suicide have routinely been front-page news in Cambodia — and now get wider reach with the advent of Facebook livestreams — but mental health and media experts say this coverage can do a lot of harm and further stigmatize people.
Thai police officials spoke to VOD about the rising number of Thai nationals lured by scam operations in Cambodia and provided insight into their efforts to rescue victims and the abuses perpetrated by these companies.
Sand mining in the Mekong is happening far more than officially reported — meaning the damage is far worse. More sustainable options are available, writes Edward Park, a principal investigator at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.
A web of powerful interests surrounds sites of trafficking and forced labor in Sihanoukville: Its notorious “Chinatown” area is dotted with businesses linked to prominent tycoons and high-ranking officials; another heavily guarded compound is owned by a ruling-party senator.
A Chinese national, who was trafficked to Cambodia, alleges that his blood was harvested seven times since last August, after he refused to partake in scam operations, leaving him frail and putting his health at serious risk.
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