News
Old Soldiers Won’t Fade Away
May 7th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Disputed Land, Economic Land Concessions, Farmland, Labor, Land Tenure, News, News Source, Protected Areas, Social Land Concessions"I don’t know how to protect the territorial integrity [of the nearby Cambodian-Thai border] – even my three hectares of land I cannot protect,” said Bun Chanthorn, 54, one of hundreds of retired and active soldiers who since 2010 have been battling the local authorities and a rubber company over thousands of hectares of land in Pursat’s Veal... continue
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050765451/National/old-soldiers-won-t-fade-away.html
Mobile Banking Services On A Rise
May 7th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Banking & Finance, Economics, Financial Services, News, News SourceF1soft Company, a software service provider that makes banking transactions available via phone, had commenced operations in Cambodia, company officials said yesterday during a workshop. ... Sean Thorninn, a lecturer in economics at the Limkokwing University and expert in Cambodia’s landscape of microfinance institutions (MFI), told the Post a growing number of financial institutions in the Kingdom were begining to provide... continue
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050765437/Business/mobile-banking-services-on-a-rise.html
Ministry Cancels Telco Limits
May 7th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Domestic Investment, Economics, Foreign Investment, Industry, News Source, TelecommunicationsAn often flouted and publicly unpopular restriction forbidding Cambodia’s telecoms from offering lucrative mobile phone promotions was scrapped on Sunday, just two weeks after it was introduced. In a letter from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC), signed by Minister So Khun, it announced a halt to the implementation of the decision made between the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC)... continue
Rann Reuy and Anne Renzenbrink
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050765438/Business/ministry-cancels-telco-limits.html
Boy Beaten by Plantation Staff Sent to Vietnam for Treatment
May 7th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Disputed Land, Land Tenure, News, Social ConcernsA 14-year-old boy severely beaten by employees of a well-connected rubber plantation company in Ratanakkiri province on Saturday was sent to Vietnam for treatment for a life-threatening blood clot in his brain on Monday, according to his father, while a soldier detained in connection to the incident was released. Ry Soklim, 14, was among four villagers in Andong Meas district beaten... continue
Flooded Forest Gets Protection
May 7th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Fishing, Forests, Land Tenure, News, News SourceA Northeastern section of the Mekong River that is home to a number of endangered species has been designated a conservation site by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
A prakas issued by Minister Chan Sarun on April 23 officially declared a 56-kilometre section of the Mekong mainstream between Kratie and Stung Treng towns, known as... continue
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050765443/National/flooded-forest-gets-protection.html
Phnom Penh Governor Leaves Behind Mixed Legacy
May 7th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Foreign Investment, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, News, Social ConcernsDuring his speech last week at the swearing-in ceremony of Phnom Penh’s new governor, Pa Socheatvong, Interior Minister Sar Kheng noted that managing Cambodia’s capital is by no means an easy task. ... While critics of [former Phnom Penh governor] Mr. [Kep] Chuktema note his failure to settle high-profile land disputes and struggle to deal with the city’s expanding population, it... continue
Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penh-governor-leaves-behind-mixed-legacy-22697/
Cambodia gets rolling
May 6th, 2013, Bangkok Post, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Industry, International Relations, Production, Social Concerns, TradeThe small but sleek Angkor Car can easily navigate the narrow streets of Cambodia, while with an electric engine saves on expensive fuel costs. It may cost $10,000 per vehicle, a bit steep for most local people, but the vehicle is a welcome testimony to Cambodian ingenuity. And it is well timed as well, as Cambodia’s automotive sector is just beginning... continue
Bangkok Post Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/marketing/348783/cambodia-gets-rolling
Cambodia, Bangladesh ink visa exemption deal for diplomatic, official passport holders
May 6th, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Exports, Foreign Investment, Imports, International Relations, News, TradeCambodia and Bangladesh on Friday signed a visa-free agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties in politics, trade, investment and tourism, officials said. The deal was inked here between Long Visalo, secretary of state at Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Bangkok-based Ambassador of Bangladesh to Cambodia. ... Trade and investment ties... continue
Xinhua News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-05/03/c_132357925.htm
Kids beaten over ELC
May 6th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Land, Domestic Investment, Economic Land Concessions, Land Tenure, News, News SourceFive men working for Ratanakkiri rubber concessionaire DM Group, including a soldier, have been arrested for allegedly beating a villager and his children – one of whom, doctors say, may not survive – in a scuffle over their family’s land, the father said yesterday. Police confirmed the beating and said the soldier would be sent to court today for questioning, while... continue
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050665430/National/kids-beaten-over-elc.html
Police seize illegal rosewood; suspect escapes
May 6th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Environment & Natural Resources, Forests, Land Tenure, News, News Source, Timber/WoodNearly a tonne of rosewood was uncovered in a raid yesterday in Kampong Speu in which the suspect successfully fled after injuring an officer, police officials said. ... “According to the quality assessment, I can say a rough value of that rosewood is $300,000,” he [Keo Pisey, provincial police chief] said. “Now, we will continue to investigate and search to arrest... continue
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050665423/National/police-seize-illegal-rosewood-suspect-escapes.html
Village patrols seize land-clearing tools
May 6th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Agriculture & Agri-business, Agro-Industry, Economic Land Concessions, Environment & Natural Resources, Forests, Land Tenure, News, News Source, Timber/WoodJarai villagers in Ratanakkiri’s O’Yadav district escalated the defense of their protected land this weekend, confiscating the keys and batteries of bulldozers owned by the Vietnamese company they claim has been illegally clearing the area, community leaders said yesterday. The move comes after a number of protests in recent weeks at two villages in the district against a firm known as... continue
Phak Seangly and May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013050665426/National/village-patrols-seize-land-clearing-tools.html
Ministry: election won’t hurt tourist numbers
May 6th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Industry, News Source, TourismWhile tourism in Cambodia has historically slowed in advance of general elections, tourism leaders in the government and private sector have said they expect this year’s July elections to have little impact on tourist arrivals. ... Tourism numbers dipped by 10.9 per cent for the 2003 general election. During the 2008 general election, tourism arrivals increased but at a much slower... continue
Sugar Firm Files Defense in Cambodian Lawsuit
May 6th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Agriculture & Agri-business, Agro-Industry, Business & Commercial Development, Exports, Industry, International Relations, Production, Social Concerns, TradeBritish sugar firm Tate & Lyle has denied knowing of the alleged abuses at two Cambodian plantations accused of illegally driving hundreds of families off their farms and says that the families have no right to ask the company for compensation, according to the firm’s official defense filed last week with the U.K.’s High Court of Justice. Two hundred of those... continue
Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/uk-sugar-firm-files-defense-in-cambodian-lawsuit-21913/
New Governor Promises to Solve Land Disputes
May 5th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Disputed Land, Infrastructure, Land Tenure, News, Social ConcernsPhnom Penh’s new governor used his swearing in ceremony to Friday to boldly vow to solve some of the municipality’s longest-running and most high-emotive land disputes. Pa Socheatvong officially took over on Friday from outgoing governor Kep Chuktema, who served as the city’s chief for 10 years and whose administration will likely be best remembered for the widely unpopular filling in... continue
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-governor-promises-to-solve-land-disputes-21897/
Cambodia’s Excess Baggage
May 4th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Disasters & Disaster Management, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Infrastructure, News, Social Concerns“I don’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn't going expecting to look out the bus window and see all the blue bags along the roads and in the fields,” said 27-year-old Christopher Convery, who is currently backpacking for the first time in Cambodia. ... In 2010, Mr. Hun Sen lambasted the widespread use of plastic bags as a principle... continue
Simon Henderson and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/selected-features/cambodias-excess-baggage-22003/
Agriculture Contributes To Helping Cambodia’s Economic Growth: PM Hun Sen
May 4th, 2013, The Southeast Asia Weekly, Agriculture & Agri-business, Agro-Industry, Economics, Exports, Farming, Infrastructure, Labor, News, News Source, Rice, Trade“The agriculture sector today is still playing significant role in promoting local production growth, job creation, and contributing to the poverty reduction of the people. At the same time, the agriculture sector will continue the basic role for economic growth and socio-economic development in Cambodia in the coming decades although Cambodia has diversified her economy, including industrialization”, Samdech Hun... continue
The South East Asia Weekly Staff
http://thesoutheastasiaweekly.com/?p=6134
Cambodia’s micro-lenders record 24 pct lending growth in Q1
May 3rd, 2013, Asean - China Centre, Banking & Finance, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Financial Services, IndustryCambodia's 35 microfinance institutions had lent 1 billion U.S. dollars to customers by the end of March this year, up 24 percent from 808 million U.S. dollars it lent at the end of last year, the data of Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) showed Wednesday. On the deposit side, the customers' deposits at microfinance institutions had amounted to 346 million U.S. dollars... continue
Asean-China-Center News Staff
http://www.asean-china-center.org/english/2013-05/03/c_132357476.htm
Cambodia-U.S. trade flat in Q1
May 3rd, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Exports, Garment Industry, Imports, Industry, International Relations, Textiles, TradeThe two-way trade volume between Cambodia and the United States valued at 758 million U.S. dollars in the first three months of this year, up only 0.8 percent compared with 752 million U.S. dollars over the same period last year, the statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce showed Friday. The United States is Cambodia's largest export destination. During the January-March... continue
Xinhua News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-05/03/c_132357935.htm
Engineers Hold Labor Day Protest Against Paying Income Tax
May 3rd, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Garment Industry, Industry, Labor, Social ConcernsMore than 50 engineers employed by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. Ltd. to work on a new Neak Loueng Bridge in Kandal province protested on Wednesday over paying income tax of 10 percent and are threatening to go on strike again if their employer dose not pay them back. The Labor Day celebration by 54 engineers in Loeuk Dek district is... continue
Aun Pheap. P.18
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