Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Cambodia in brief: September 27, 2016


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. 

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