Raised riot shields in their left hands, batons ready in their right, the
line of several dozen soldiers advanced toward the crowd of “protesters” who,
armed with sticks and placards, lunged forward now and then to strike out at the
shields.
Transparency and environmental groups are calling on the Anti-Corruption Unit
to investigate potential smuggling in the sand-dredging industry after a gaping
$750 million discrepancy was discovered between Cambodia’s documented sand
exports and Singapore’s imports.
Self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy told a British television show he
hopes the international community will pressure Prime Minister Hun Sen to grant
him a royal pardon, while allowing he was “considering” coming back to Cambodia
even without a deal.
The state-owned bank entrusted with extending $27 million in emergency loans
to millers to purchase rice paddy has marginally lowered the interest rate on
these conditional loans in an effort to shorten some of the strings
attached.
A group of environmental activists petitioned the government yesterday to
release information about the potential impact of the proposed 2,600-megawatt
Sambor dam on the Mekong River in Kratie province, which they say could displace
thousands and destroy ecosystems.
A group representing more than 20 media organisations yesterday appealed for
the government to intervene after commentators on Radio ABC Cambodia described
journalists as “thieves”.
Over 40 new mining licences were issued during the first half of the year to
satisfy the high demand for construction materials by Cambodian infrastructure
and real estate projects, while more than 100 licences were revoked due to
environmental concerns or inactivity, a government official said
yesterday.
The Labour Ministry will hold another tripartite meeting for wage
negotiations on Wednesday after yesterday’s meeting produced no results, as both
employers and unions held firm on their demands.
Koh Kong provincial authorities intervened yesterday to seek the repatriation
of 50 Cambodian citizens who were arrested while fishing illegally in Thai
territory on Sunday morning, a Mondul Seima district official confirmed.
About 100 police officers in Kep have thumbprinted a letter calling for the
dismissal of the province’s police chief, Ing Som Ol, whom they accuse of
nepotism, bribery and poor management skills.
Queen Mother Norodom Monineath has donated $500 to the family of slain
political analyst Kem Ley for the Pchum Ben holiday, a member of the royal
family confirmed yesterday.
The head monk at Samaki Rainsy pagoda – long known for hosting activists and
land disputants – has asked the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to postpone a summons
he received relating to a defamation case, with court officials giving no
details of the complaint.
Six Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the kidnapping and illegal
confinement of three of their countrymen in the capital in December yesterday
denied having any knowledge of the case in a hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal
Court.
Prime Minister Hun Sen has appealed to ministry officials and local
authorities to strengthen the protection of natural resources following a series
of high-profile illegal logging busts that resulted in no arrests.
Two men have been arrested in connection with last week’s murder of a Tbong
Khmum province activist for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, a
killing believed to have been sparked by “individual revenge”, police said
yesterday.
In what is being touted as an experimental attempt to go green, the Ministry
of Environment yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with two Chinese
companies to plant Paulownia trees in Cambodia.
Outspoken radio host and aspiring politician Mam Sonando called on activist
monk But Buntenh to defrock yesterday. The remarks followed Sonando’s appearance
at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court where he answered questions related to his
defamation lawsuit against the monk.
A Cambodian government official urged China’s new ambassador to the Kingdom
yesterday to speed up a $300 million loan aimed at building rice storage
facilities across the country, a nearly two-year-old request that has seen
little traction as Cambodia’s rice sector continues to struggle, state-owned
media outlet AKP reported.
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) launched its “Loving Riel Banknotes”
campaign yesterday, in which it will allow people to exchange their old or torn
riel banknotes for crisp new notes of the same value at NBC branches nationwide.
A three-day trade and tourism conference aimed at promoting Indonesian-made
products in Phnom Penh ended yesterday and although the conference is hoped to
boost bilateral trade, an Indonesian diplomat said direct flights would be
needed to facilitate the flow of business between the two countries.
