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The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has confirmed that as of the first quarter of 2023, nearly 700 workers across Cambodia were seriously injured and 17 workers died during the commute to and from work. Heng Sophannarith, NSSF Deputy Director-General and Chairman of the Road Safety Working Group for Workers, said last week that road accidents occur every day, which concerns the government, especially traffic accidents involving workers who travel by truck and other transportation to and from work. He added that according to a report by the Road Safety Working Group for Workers, in the first quarter of 2023, there were 636 road traffic accidents involving 696 workers with 17 workers killed and 200 seriously injured and 479 slightly injured. He said that traffic accidents are hidden killers that not only cause deaths, injuries and disabilities but also create a tragedy that affects the family’s economy and national economy. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501310885/17-workers-die-over-600-hurt-in-q1-road-crashes/

The Kingdom yesterday celebrated the 87th birthday of Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. On the occasion, Prime Minister Hun Sen and several government officials sent their greetings to her. Chhin Ketna, secretary-general of the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals (NCONIF), said yesterday that the committee has instructed national institutions to join in the celebration of the ceremony, partucularly to enjoy the fireworks display in front of the Royal Palace. Keut Chhe, deputy Phnom Penh Governor, said the Phnom Penh Administration had asked residents to put up national and religious flags to decorate offices and homes to mark the Queen Mother’s birthday. He said that the fireworks display was arranged by the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501310027/cambodia-celebrates-87th-birthday-of-queen-mother/

Mech Dara receives award from US Secretary of State for human trafficking coverage. Cambodian journalist Mech Dara was presented with an award by the U.S. State Department on Thursday for his reporting about the prevalence of cyber-scam slavery compounds in his country. Dara was one of eight journalists, activists and community leaders presented with a Hero Award by Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a morning ceremony at the State Department in Washington to mark the release of the 2023 U.S. Trafficking in Persons report. A former reporter with The Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post and Voice of Democracy, Dara led coverage of Cambodia’s scam-compound problem, with locals and foreigners alike being forced to work – under threat of violence – as the perpetrators of online scams targeting people across the world. Dara’s reporting on compounds in Phnom Penh and the coastal casino town of Sihanoukville led Cambodian authorities, who initially denied the existence of the compounds, to acknowledge the problem and launch periodic raids on buildings housing the operations. The compounds are typically run by Chinese crime syndicates with alleged ties to local Cambodian authorities, but one report by Al Jazeera even linked government senator Kok An and Hun To, the nephew of Prime Minister Hun Sen, to some of the operations. Cambodia’s cyber-scam slavery problem has since been covered by news outlets around the world, including Al Jazeera’s 101 East, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, BBC, ABC Australia and Vice. Cindy Dyer, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for the office to monitor and combat trafficking in persons, praised Dara’s extensive reporting for uncovering the issue and bringing it to international attention. The award, she said, recognized “his courageous reporting on human trafficking for the purpose of forced criminality in Cambodia, which led to greater public awareness of, and improvement within, the Cambodian government’s anti-trafficking response.” Trafficking in persons The 2023 U.S. Trafficking in Persons report says “forced criminality in cyber scam operations” has become a multi-billion industry since the pandemic, as weak economies and travel restrictions have made vulnerable people more susceptible to being tricked into slavery. “Rather than fulfilling their advertised employment promises, many of these companies began forcing the recruits to run internet scams directed at international targets and subjecting them to a wide range of abuses and violations,” the report says, noting it is becoming a global problem, particularly in remote areas and border towns. Among other methods, it says, compound owners enslave their victims through “withheld travel and identity documentation, imposition of arbitrary debt; restricted access to food, water, medicine, communication, and movement; and threats, beatings, and electric shocks,” and force them to carry out the scams. Each year the report also places countries around the world into one of three tiers measuring their government’s efforts to combat human trafficking. Cambodia this year once again placed in the lowest tier, alongside China, Myanmar, Russia and North Korea, among others. In Southeast Asia, the only better performer this year was Vietnam, which was upgraded from Tier 3 to the “Tier 2 watchlist,” alongside countries like Brunei, Malaysia, El Salvador, and South Africa. Among the 30 Tier 1 countries – which the report notes “does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problem” but rather “that a government has made efforts to address the problem” – are France, the United States, Seychelles, Colombia and Cyprus. The only Asian designees in the top tier are Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines. South Korea, Laos and Hong Kong fall in Tier 2. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/mech-dara-award-06152023143100.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

THE National Election Committee (NEC) on Wednesday urged Cambodian embassies around the world to join in efforts to encourage citizens living abroad to exercise their right to vote in the July 23 national election. “We call on all Cambodians to come and exercise their right to vote. We also request the cooperation of our embassies to help spread the word (about National Election) to Cambodians who are living or working abroad,” NEC said in a statement. The national election will be held on Sunday, July 23, from 7am to 3pm. Citizens with a valid Cambodian identity card and having their names on the voter list can vote in the National Election. The NEC added that if their name is not on the voter list or they do not have a Cambodian identity card – expired or missing or damaged – the citizen can vote using the election identification document. The election identification document will be issued for 30 days from June 22 to July 21 at the Commune Election Committee and it must be validated by the commune / district authorities in order to vote. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501308889/cambodians-overseas-urged-to-come-and-vote-in-july-polls/

Figures produced by the Cambodian tourist authority reveal that Thais remain the biggest tourist market in the Khmer kingdom. In the first quarter, 570,000 Thais were stamped in by land and air, 285,000 Vietnamese and then 184,000 Chinese nationals. The total admitted from all countries to Cambodia was 1.72 million, a 600 percent improvement on the same period in 2022. Although there are regular flights from China, the huge Chinese market of the pre-covid era has yet to flower. Cambodian tourist minister Thong Khon said that more flights from China were expected and that his aim was to see at least 4 million global arrivals in the whole of 2023. Observers say that there are several reasons for the slowness of the Chinese revival including a downtown in the Chinese economy, a rise in the prices of inclusive foreign holidays, particularly airfares, and delays in the issuing of new five-year passports many of which expired during the covid era. read more https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/thais-are-the-largest-group-of-tourists-entering-cambodia-right-now-433922

KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday ordered authorities to beef up border security after recent fatal shootings in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Speaking during a get-together with some 18,000 factory workers here, Hun Sen said an armed gang simultaneously attacked two commune headquarters in Cu Kuin district of Vietnam's Dak Lak province on June 11, leaving several commune officials and police dead. "Now, this armed gang's members are on the run, and I'm concerned that they will possibly flee to Cambodia," he said. He ordered the Cambodian armed forces in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Kratie provinces to increase cooperation with the Vietnamese side to prevent the fugitives from crossing the border illegally. Branding the armed gang members as terrorists, the prime minister added that the fugitives who fled to Cambodia would be arrested and sent back to Vietnam if discovered. He also warned to shut down any international organizations in Cambodia if they granted refuge to those fugitives. read more https://english.news.cn/20230616/56f34eb153c54667a60c1c90c33b425c/c.html

Indonesia proposal for first-ever bloc exercises in South China Sea meets vocal resistance from China’s top regional ally Cambodia Rising Sino-American rivalry and fears of an accidental superpower clash are forcing states to step up their diplomatic games. That’s particularly true for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is now scrambling to forge greater internal unity and nudge the US and China toward greater dialogue to avoid a conflict in its neighborhood. Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN, announced this month that it will soon host the first-ever naval drills among member states in order to reinforce “ASEAN centrality” amid the “high risk of disaster in Asia, especially Southeast Asia.” Just days after, however, Cambodia, largely seen as Beijing’s leading regional partner, torpedoed Indonesia’s plan by expressing reservations about joining the joint drills. In a statement, General Vong Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said that his country has yet to agree to the drills. read more https://asiatimes.com/2023/06/cambodia-seeks-to-sink-joint-asean-naval-drills/

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — Experts are raising concerns that a recent Cambodian government order allocating around $1 million to a local company for a facial recognition technology project could pave the way for the technology to be used against citizens and human rights defenders. The order, signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and released in March in a recent tranche of government documents, would award the funds to HSC Co. Ltd., a Cambodian company led by tycoon Sok Hong that has previously printed Cambodian passports and installed CCTV cameras in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. The Oct. 17 order appears to be the first direct indication of Cambodia’s interest in pursuing facial recognition, alarming experts who say such initiatives could eventually be used to target dissenters and build a stronger surveillance state similar to China’s. In recent months, the government has blocked the country’s main opposition party from participating in the July national elections, shut down independent media and jailed critics such as labor organizers and opposition politicians. Neither the Interior Ministry nor the company would answer questions about what the project entails. “This is national security and not everyone knows about how it works,” Khieu Sopheak, secretary of state and spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, told VOA by phone. "Even in the U.S., if you ask about the air defense system, they will tell you the same. This is the national security system, which we can’t tell everyone [about]." The order names HSC, a company Sok Hong founded in 2007, as the funds’ recipient. HSC’s businesses span food and beverage, dredging and retail. HSC also has close ties to the government: in addition to printing passports and providing CCTV cameras in Phnom Penh, it runs the system for national ID cards and has provided border checkpoint technology. Malaysian and Cambodian media identify Sok Hong as the son of Sok Kong, another tycoon who founded the conglomerate Sokimex Investment Group. Both father and son are oknhas or "lords," a Cambodian honorific given to those who have donated more than $500,000 to the government. Cambodia When reached by phone, Sok Hong told VOA, "I think it shouldn’t be reported since it is related to national security." Cambodia’s history of repression, including monitoring dissidents in person and online, has raised suspicions that it could deploy such technology to target activists. Last year, labor leaders reported they were recorded via drones during protests. "Authorities can use facial recognition technology to identify, track individuals and gather vast amounts of personal data without their consent, which could eventually lead to massive surveillance," said Chak Sopheap, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights. "For instance, when a government uses facial recognition to monitor attendance at peaceful gatherings, these actions raise severe concerns about the safety of those citizens." In addition, giving control of facial recognition technology to a politically connected firm, and one that already has access to a trove of identity-related information, could centralize citizens’ data in a one-stop shop. That could make it easier to fine-tune algorithms quickly and later develop more facial recognition tools to be shared with the government in a mutually beneficial relationship, Joshua Kurlantzick, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for Southeast Asia, told VOA. China — one of Cambodia’s oldest and closest allies — has pioneered collecting vast amounts of data to monitor citizens. In Xinjiang, home to about 12 million Uyghurs, Chinese authorities combine people’s biometric data and digital activities to create a detailed portrait of their lives. In recent years, China has sought to influence Southeast Asia, "providing an explicit model for surveillance and a model for a closed and walled-garden internet," Kurlantzick said, referring to methods of blocking or managing users’ access to certain content. Some efforts have been formalized under the Digital Silk Road, China’s technology-focused subset of the Belt and Road initiative that provides support, infrastructure and subsidized products to recipient countries. China’s investment in Cambodian monitoring systems dates back to the early days of the Digital Silk Road. In 2015, it installed an estimated $3 million worth of CCTV cameras in Phnom Penh and later promised more cameras to "allow a database to accumulate for the investigation of criminal cases," according to reports at the time. There is no indication China is involved in the HSC project, however. While dozens of countries use facial recognition technology for legitimate public safety uses, such investments must be accompanied by strict data protection laws and enforcement, said Gatra Priyandita, a cyber politics analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Cambodia does not have comprehensive data privacy regulations. The prime minister himself has monitored Zoom calls hosted by political foes, posting on Facebook that "Hun Sen’s people are everywhere." Given the country’s approach to digital privacy, housing facial recognition within a government-tied conglomerate is "concerning" but not surprising, Priyandita said. "The long-term goal of these kinds of arrangements is the reinforcement of regime security, of course, particularly the protection of Cambodia's main political and business families," Priyandita said. In the immediate future, Cambodia’s capacity to carry out mass surveillance is uncertain. The National Internet Gateway — a system for routing traffic through government servers which critics compared to China’s "Great Firewall" — was delayed in early 2022. Shortly before the scheduled rollout, the government advertised more than 100 positions related to data centers and artificial intelligence, sowing doubts about the technical knowledge behind the project. Still, the government is pushing to strengthen its digital capabilities, fast-tracking controversial laws around cybercrime and cybersecurity and pursuing a 15-year plan to develop the digital economy, including a skilled technical workforce. Sun Narin of VOA’s Khmer Service contributed to this report. https://www.voanews.com/a/cambodian-facial-recognition-effort-raises-fears-of-misuse-/7138262.html

A man went missing after rescuing his child from drowning at O’chheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville, on Sunday. The body of the father was found yesterday by rescuers after a 20-hour search operation at sea. The man was named Heng Piseth, aged 40. He and his family had travelled to holiday at Sihanoukville and O’chheuteal Beach. The deceased man’s 10-year-old son said that he and his father went swimming together. Suddenly, he was dragged down by a wave and at the time, his dad immediately jumped into the water to help him, pushing him back out of the water. But after rescuing him, unfortunately the boy’s father was dragged down by a strong wave from the sea. He disappeared and drowned on Monday. Sihanoukville police extended the search for the man, and at 9.00am yesterday the search team found the body. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501306804/hero-dad-lost-his-life-saving-son-from-the-sea/

The director of the Preah Vihear Provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts Neou Chankong confirmed yesterday that a villager had found a unique ancient royal sword, known as Preah Khan in Khmer, on the Phnom Tbeng Mountain in Preah Vihear province. The Preah Khan sword has been handed over to the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Preah Vihear province for temporary storage. He said that he did not know yet whether it is a real ancient sword or a newly-created one. “We are waiting for experts from the National Museum of Phnom Penh to evaluate the sword on Monday to determine whether it is a genuine ancient sword and from which era,” he said. According to the Preah Vihear Provincial Police Chief, a Facebook account called “Ne Preah Vihear” posted a short video about the discovery of the sword by Heng Phin, a 42-year-old farmer living in Rovieng district, Preah Vihear province, last week on Friday. “He handed the sword over to the authorities to be temporarily stored at the Preah Vihear department of culture and fine arts,” the police chief added. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/1306108/unique-ancient-sword-found-in-preah-vihear/

TAKEO, Cambodia, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here Sunday that the country's economy is expected to achieve a 5.6 percent growth rate in 2023, up from 5.2 percent in 2022. Peace, together with the successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic, has laid a strong foundation for the Southeast Asian country to recover its economy from the pandemic, he said. "It's essential for all of us to protect the peace, which is the most important prerequisite for national development." Hun Sen said in a speech during a get-together with nearly 20,000 garment factory workers. The World Bank said in its May economic update that Cambodia's economy remained robust, driven by pent-up consumer demand, agriculture, and the return of foreign tourists after China's reopening earlier this year. The lender said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement and the Cambodia-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement have also given a boost to the growth. The country's economy mainly relies on garment export, tourism, agriculture and real estate and construction. The International Monetary Fund said in its recent World Economic Outlook that Cambodia is among the three most robust RCEP economies in 2023 alongside the Philippines and Vietnam. https://english.news.cn/20230611/afd1a184e80849fb84836a548332cfaa/c.html

A Chinese couple has been arrested by the Cambodian police on suspicion of murder after the body of a female live streamer of Korean nationality was found near Phnom Penh, officials and reports said Sunday. The woman in her 30s was found dead on June 6, wrapped in a blanket and dumped in a pond, according to Cambodian newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea Daily. Local villagers discovered her body and alerted the police. The Cambodian police soon identified the victim as a Korean woman with over 250,000 followers on social media. She had announced her retirement from her live streaming career last year. The Cambodian authorities arrested the Chinese couple in their 30s who own a hospital as the suspects in her murder. The couple reportedly told the police that the victim died after receiving treatment at the hospital on June 4. The police suspect the couple to have disposed of the victim's body to avoid punishment. The cause of her death remained undetermined as of Sunday noon. The Cambodian police are still waiting for the autopsy report. The Korean police said they have requested that the Cambodian police do a thorough investigation of the case. read more http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230611000107

Complaints are pouring in against Tycoon Nuon Ak who allegedly swindled over $1.25 million from 96 people in a fake land deal in Kampot province’s Toek Chhou district. Im Chansothon, Toek Chhou district governor, said yesterday that 18 people have registered complaints against Nuon Ak so far and the authorities summoned him for a face-to-face discussion with the complainants four times, but in vain. He added: “A variety of complaints such as violation of contract, failure to allot land, no promised project development, non-issuance of land certificates have been registered against him.” “People just want their money back, while some of them want Nuon Ak to fulfill the contract. They are also requesting the authorities to initiate talks so that both parties can arrive at a solution,” Chansothon said. Tycoon Nuon Ak who allegedly swindled over $1.25 million from nearly 100 people in Kampot province. Fresh News Ea Sokhen, Chit Chenda and Chea Dara, representatives of the complainants, said that their clients entered into a contract with Nuon Ak for the Kampot Paradise project in Ang village, Trapaing Pring commune, Teuk Chhou district. Sokhen said that people trusted the Nuon Ak Company and invested in plots of land. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501305134/tycoon-allegedly-swindled-over-1-mil-from-96-people/

The warning comes after the main opposition party was excluded from the July 23 national vote. Cambodia’s election authority has threatened fines and prison terms for those who urge a boycott of July 23 national elections, while Western diplomats voiced concern over the exclusion of the main opposition party from the vote. The National Election Committee said in a statement Tuesday that those who “urge voters not to go to vote, recreate mistrust in the election and disturb the electoral process” could face fines of between 5 million-20 million riels (US$1,200-4,800) and prison terms. It did not specify the possible length of prison term. The committee said that there had been leaflets, pictures and video clips distributed on social media urging voters not to vote or to destroy their ballots because the opposition Candlelight Party, or CLP, isn’t allowed to contest the election. The committee last month excluded the CLP on a technicality – although it was allowed to contest commune elections just last year. The ruling meant Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party won’t have any major challengers on the ballot next month. On Monday, French Ambassador Jacques Pellet and German Ambassador Stefan Messerer met with Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng to register their concern over the party’s exclusion and to call for free, transparent and multiparty elections. “They expressed their concerns about the CLP’s absence from this important democratic exercise,” Noemie Pinta, press counselor at the French Embassy in Cambodia, wrote in an email to RFA Khmer. “The absence of the main opposition party can only undermine the democratic nature of the vote,” she said. “France will continue to call for the holding of free, transparent, pluralistic elections in accordance with the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the Cambodian Constitution.” The peace agreements ended more than 20 years of conflict and internal strife that laid waste to Cambodia, and provided a framework for democracy, later recognized in the country’s constitution. However, Hun Sen, who has led Cambodia since 1985, has shrunk space for dissent. In the run-up to this July’s vote, his government has used a combination of legal action, threats and harassment to target the political opposition, independent media and civil society groups. He’s also co-opted former opposition supporters and activists to ensure the continuing dominance of his Cambodian People’s Party, which currently holds all the National Assembly seats after the last flawed elections in 2018. At Monday’s meeting with the ambassadors, Sar Kheng, who is also deputy prime minister, stressed the maintenance of public order and a secure, nonviolent electoral environment for the upcoming election, The Phnom Penh Post reported. The Candlelight Party is vowing to continue political activities although it is excluded from the election. In response to the NEC statement, it said it’s not a crime if voters don’t cast ballots. “Voters have the full right to decide whether they want to vote or not without any pressures, threats or incitements from any political parties,” the party said in a statement. Kang Savang, a coordinator with the independent Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, or Comfrel, agreed, saying that Cambodians have the right to choose parties that they like, and voting is not an obligation. The United States has said it is “deeply troubled” by Cambodian authorities barring the CLP and does not plan to send official observers for the elections on the grounds that experts say the vote won’t be free or fair. Translated by Samean Yun for RFA Khmer. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Mat Pennington. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/cambodia-election-boycott-06072023181841.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Washington — The United States, responding to remarks made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen earlier in the week, said on Tuesday that the trilateral security alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is not an effort to spread nuclear weapons in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. On Monday, Hun Sen said that the trilateral group known as AUKUS was "the starting point of a very dangerous arms race" as he objected to the coming of nuclear-powered submarines to the region. The three allies signed a deal in March to strengthen their presence in the Asia-Pacific region where China is expanding its military stance. The agreement calls for Australia to buy three nuclear-powered submarines from the United States. "AUKUS is intended to enhance peace, prosperity, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Through AUKUS we will support Australia's acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines — a proven and safe technology," a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday in an email response to VOA's request for comments. Hun Sen said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is "a nuclear weapon-free zone," a regional bloc that opposes nuclear weapon proliferation. AUKUS, he said, is the "starting point of a very dangerous arms race." "The small-scale alliance relevant to nuclear-powered submarines among the U.S., Britain and Australia is becoming a concern for ASEAN and countries in the region," Hun Sen said at a graduation ceremony in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, on Monday. China, which is ASEAN's comprehensive strategic partner while being at odds with ASEAN member nations over territorial claims to the South China Sea, expressed support for Hun Sen's statement on AUKUS and for a nuclear weapon-free Southeast Asia. Five members oppose China's claims ASEAN members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Five — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam —oppose China's claims in the South China Sea, waters rich in natural resources where China has expanded aggressively by building islands for military and tourism use. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the regular daily press briefing on Tuesday that "according to estimates by international arms control experts, the amount of weapon-grade nuclear materials the U.S. and the U.K. will give to Australia could be used to manufacture up to 64 to 80 nuclear weapons." Wang added that Hun Sen's remarks speak to concerns widely shared by regional countries, including the ASEAN nations, according to China's official Xinhua news outlet. "If the three countries are set on advancing their nuclear submarine cooperation, it is bound to deal an irreversible heavy blow to the integrity, efficacy and authority of the international nuclear non-proliferation system and trigger similar behavior in other non-nuclear-weapon states, thus turning the region into an arena of arms race," said Wang. 'Commitment to nuclear nonproliferation' A U.S. State Department spokesperson told VOA Khmer that AUKUS does not aim to equip Australia with nuclear weapons and the partnership "is possible because of Australia's long-standing and demonstrated commitment to nuclear nonproliferation." "To be clear, Australia does not, and will not, seek nuclear weapons and remains committed to its international non-proliferation obligations," said the State Department spokesperson. The State Department also noted that "AUKUS stands in sharp contrast to others in the region that continue to invest heavily in building up military capabilities while offering little transparency or reassurance." Cambodia Hires DC Firms to Burnish Image, Attract Investment President Joe Biden has promised to double down on U.S. ties with Southeast Asia, but the U.S. has sanctioned key Hun Sen allies and objected to moves that limit democracy and press freedom. But the U.S. is a crucial export market for Cambodia, and despite its tough talk about U.S. interference in its affairs, Phnom Penh has indicated a desire to mend fences. Since 2019, the Cambodian government has hired at least three U.S.-based lobbying firms in an effort to improve ties with Washington and attract American investment. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-to-cambodia-aukus-sub-deal-is-not-nuclear-proliferation-/7126262.html

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the country’s second expressway, which will link the capital, Phnom Penh, to the eastern border with Vietnam PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the country’s second expressway, which will link the capital, Phnom Penh, to the eastern border with Vietnam. The road to Bavet city in Svay Rieng province, a total length of 135 kilometers (84 miles), is projected to take 48 months to construct and cost $1.35 billion. It is a project of China Bridge and Road Corp., which is building it under a 50-year build-operate-transfer contract. The road is Cambodia’s second expressway after the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which opened last year and connects the capital with the country’s main port on the Gulf of Thailand. China is Cambodia’s biggest investor and closest political partner, whose assistance largely underpins the Southeast Asian nation’s economy. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/groundbreaking-held-cambodias-expressway-linking-capital-vietnam-99896591

Earlier this week, the Cambodian leader worried that the new Thai government would target migrant workers. Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday that he was reassured after seeing a statement from Thailand’s Move Forward Party that said it would not expel Cambodian migrant workers if it forms a government. Hun Sen said on Sunday he was worried that a new Thai government would enact policies that would jeopardize the status of migrant workers from neighboring countries. “This policy will not be supported by Cambodia and Laos,” he said. “Cambodia doesn’t have much but I want to leave a message: ‘Please watch out.’ I don’t want to advise Thai politicians but please watch out.” Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor has said that at least 1.2 million Cambodians are working in Thailand. Migrant construction workers travel in the back of a crew cab in Bangkok, May 25, 2020. Credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Move Forward, the top vote-getting party in the May 14 election, denied it has a policy to repatriate migrant workers. “The party's stance is to protect the welfare and labor rights of all workers in Thailand, regardless of their nationalities,” it said in a statement on Thursday. “The Move Forward Party recognizes the importance of the contribution made by the migrant workforce to the economic and social development of Thailand.” Move Forward and Pheu Thai – Thailand’s two largest opposition parties – dealt a resounding defeat to the country’s pro-military establishment in last month’s election. But an alliance of eight parties remains short of the 376 seats required to govern in Thailand’s 750-seat bicameral legislature, and no new government has been formed. Thai economy’s need for migrant workers On Thursday, Hun Sen said he welcomed the Move Forward statement. “So now we don't have any concerns that the workers will leave Thailand,” he said during a public event with thousands of garment factory workers in Kampong Chhnang province. But Sou Piseth, a migrant worker in Thailand, speculated that Hun Sen was making the statements simply to gain votes ahead of the July 23 elections. He pointed out that Hun Sen’s government didn’t do anything to help workers who were stuck in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew (left) and leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat, wave in Bangkok, May 17, 2023. Move Forward party denied it has a policy to repatriate migrant workers. Credit: Sakchai Lalit/AP Mao Saron, another migrant worker in Thailand, told Radio Free Asia on Thursday he isn’t concerned that a new Thai government would expel migrant workers because Thailand relies on workers to boost its economy. Dy The Hoya, the migration program director at the Phnom Penh-based Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights, or CENTRAL, also said he wasn’t worried about Thailand sending thousands of Cambodians back across the border. “Thailand won’t expel workers because they benefit from them as well,” he said. Move Forward said in its statement that it would like to “expand and improve regular pathways” for migrant workers and ensure that those pathways “are free from extortion, coercion, or other forms of exploitation.” Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/thai-election-migrant-workers-06082023170122.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Pernod Ricard Cambodge, the Cambodian direct affiliate of French liquor major Pernod Ricard, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Standards of Cambodia and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, to develop and regulate Cambodian rice spirit standards as well as promote ‘Sraa Sor’ as national pride. The deal-signing event was held in the presence of Daren Omg, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Cambodge and Soem Nara, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation. The Institute of Standards of Cambodia is the National Standards Body responsible for the preparation and publication of Cambodian Standards and Guidelines for products, commodities, materials, services, practices and operations. A few months ago, Pernod Ricard Cambodge, announced the launch of its new Cambodian rice spirit brand ‘Sensota’. The name ‘Sensota’ is derived from the Khmer word ‘Sensot’, which means ‘pure’, and reflects the use of locally-sourced raw rice spirit produced by distillers in Takeo province, the company said. Rice wine, or Sraa, is one of Cambodia’s oldest homemade alcoholic drinks. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501302666/liquor-major-inks-deal-to-promote-local-rice-wine/

PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Tuesday launched the second phase of cross-border QR code payments, which will allow Thai nationals to shop in Cambodia using the Thai currency baht. Chea Chanto, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, visiting governor of the Bank of Thailand, presided over the launching event in Phnom Penh, said a NBC's press statement. The launch of cross-border QR code payments "aims to promote the usage of local currencies and financial inclusion, facilitate cross border trade activities, and boost tourism in both countries", the statement said. "As the first phase of this project, launched in 2020, allowed Cambodians to be able to pay for goods or services through mobile banking application by scanning QR code at retail merchants in Thailand and vice versa on the second phase starting from June 6, 2023 onward," it added. The two neighboring countries' central banks have worked together since 2018 to develop a QR code payment app in order to allow people to shop in each other's countries using the currency of their own country. With the app, Cambodians will be able to use riel to purchase goods in Thailand, while Thais travelling in Cambodia will be able to pay in baht. The users of the QR code payment system will be required to have a bank account in their local currency. Cambodia's official figures show that there are currently more than 1 million Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, and that more than 424,000 Thais visited Cambodia in the first three months of 2023. ■ https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20230606/9cbbd640be5b4d159d70e2c164a83cca/c.html

A torrential downpour accompanied by lightning killed a boy and injured four others in three different locations of Puok district in Siem Reap province on Sunday. Four cows grazing in a field also perished when lightning struck three villages in Puok district at around 3.30pm on Sunday. Tep Pomsen, Puok district police chief, said on Monday that the deceased and the four injured men were ploughing and seeding a paddy field in Muk Pen village in Puok district when the tragic incident happened. The deceased was identified as Penh Vannchara, 13, while the injured were identified as Keo Rotha, 17, Vath Mithona, 33, Pich Sambath, 41, and Han Hay, 19. All of them belong to the same village except Rocha, all were severely injured. Two of the severely injured are being treated at Sasasdom health centre, one received treatment at Puok District Referral Hospital and the other one, with minor injuries, was treated at home. Of the four cows, three were killed in a paddy field in Muk Pen village while the other one was killed in Kork Thlat village in the district. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501303488/lightning-kills-boy-injures-three-others-in-siem-reap/

PHNOM PENH, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Monday that the Southeast Asian nation is projected to graduate from a least developed country status by 2027. "I'm very confident that Cambodia will graduate from least developed country status by 2027 at the latest and will achieve our goal of becoming an upper-middle income country in 2030," he said in a speech during the graduation ceremony of nearly 6,000 students at the Royal University of Law and Economics. "Maintaining peace and political stability is the most important prerequisite to achieve these targets," he said. Hun Sen said the kingdom's economy has recovered well in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, with GDP growth being forecast at 5.6 percent in 2023, up from 5.2 percent in 2022. Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, and the Cambodia-Republic of Korea FTA will help Cambodia graduate from its least developed country status and achieve its goals of becoming an upper-middle income country in 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050. "The RCEP, along with other bilateral FTAs, has not only given a boost to the kingdom's sustainable trade growth, but also become a magnet to attract more foreign direct investments," he told Xinhua. The RCEP agreement comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. read more https://english.news.cn/20230605/380ad462b381476597f9d88f110b4565/c.html

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to establish another border checkpoint between Banteay Meanchey and Sa Kaeo provinces. Banteay Meanchey provincial deputy governor, Ly Sovannarith, said yesterday that both countries have agreed to open a new checkpoint in Svay Chek commune, Banteay Meanchey and Ta Phraya commune, Sa Kaeo province in Thailand. Sovannarith noted that this came after Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities had met with Sa Kaeo provincial authorities to discuss the implementation to establish an international border checkpoint. Both countries have agreed on opening the checkpoint for the convenience of both provinces’ citizens to enhance trade and strengthen the relationship, Sovannarith added. “This new checkpoint is a testimony to the good relationship between both countries over the last decade and will benefit cross border economic growth,” said Sovannarith. Both authorities have mutually agreed on this project. However both sides will wait until the official agreement is penned by both countries ministries of interior before construction can commence, Sovannarith added. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501302824/new-border-checkpoint-agreed-in-banteay-meanchey-and-sa-kaeo/

‘I will handcuff you immediately,’ Hun Sen warned would-be demonstrators. Cambodia’s main opposition Candlelight Party has delayed plans for a demonstration following a public threat from Prime Minister Hun Sen to jail the party’s vice president and other members. Organizers had hoped that 10,000 people would march through the streets of Phnom Penh to protest against the National Election Committee’s decision to keep the party off the ballot for the July 23 parliamentary elections. But top party officials decided on Friday to hold off on submitting a permit request to municipal authorities, according to Candlelight Party Vice President Rong Chhun, who disagreed with the decision. “We need to respect the majority,” he said. “But if we do nothing, we will have zero result. If we protest we will have another option. If we stay still, no one will hand over a champion.” On Wednesday, Hun Sen accused Rong Chhun of being the mastermind behind many protests over the last few decades. “When Hun Sen speaks, he acts,” the prime minister said at a bridge inauguration ceremony in Phnom Penh. “Please try me if you dare, you can come out now. I will handcuff you immediately and I won’t keep you in Phnom Penh. I will send you to be detained in a remote province.” The prime minister also sarcastically urged Rong Chhun to get married so that his children will lead protests in the future. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen displays his ballot at a polling station on June 5, 2022. Credit: Heng Sinith/AP The right to peacefully assemble In response, Rong Chhun told Radio Free Asia that everyone should respect the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which is guaranteed by Cambodia’s Constitution. He said the protest will be peaceful and he urged Hun Sen to be an open minded leader who respects the opinions of others when they don’t agree with government decisions. The NEC last month blocked the Candlelight Party from appearing on the ballot, citing inadequate paperwork. Party members cried foul, pointing out that the party was allowed to compete in last year’s local commune elections with the same documentation. The Constitutional Council upheld the committee’s decision on May 25, a ruling that means the ruling Cambodian People’s Party won’t have any major challengers on the ballot. “The election consists of 18 parties and will proceed smoothly,” CPP spokesman Sok Ey San told RFA. “The Candlelight Party is walking backward. It is its own fault but it blames others.” Members of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia announce the election disqualification of the Candlelight Party for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Phnom Penh on May 25, 2023. Credit: Cindy Liu/Reuters United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at Wednesday’s noon briefing in New York that Cambodia should hold an inclusive election “in which a plurality of views and voter choices is represented so that there is “confidence in the electoral process.” The executive director of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition, Ros Sotha, urged the government to intervene with the NEC to resolve the Candlelight Party’s status. The government should listen to the international community and Cambodians who want the opposition party to take part in the election, he said. “There should be a solution. This is a collective Khmer issue,” he said. “We’ve been having political issues for many years, what we need is long term peace and development.” Translated by Samean Yun. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/candlelight-protest-canceled-06022023155101.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

More than 800 ancient artifacts have been found on the seabed in Preah Sihanouk province and initial research estimates the items to be over 500 years old. Provincial authorities said the artifacts were discovered around Ta Kiev and Russey islands and believe the items were manufactured between the 15th and 17th centuries. Preah Sihanouk provincial department of culture and fine arts director Buth Bopha said yesterday that authorities are still searching for other artifacts of the seafloor. “We haven’t finished our mission yet. The number of artifacts may increase,” he said. Bopha added: “The artifacts are pots, jars and plates. According to the initial study of the artifact’s styles, we can say that they were imported from what is present-day Singapore and Thailand.” He noted that researchers believe the artifacts were part of a cargo being shipped to the Kingdom or somewhere nearby, however, along the way the trading ship sailed into bad weather and sunk. The search team also discovered part of the ship at the bottom of the sea. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501302825/treasure-trove-found-off-southern-coast/

PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- One villager died and 27 others were hospitalized in northwest Cambodia's Pursat province after drinking homemade rice wine, which is suspected to contain high levels of methanol, a local health official said on Sunday. Teuk Sopheap, deputy chief of Pursat Provincial Health Department, said the incident happened on Thursday night during the funeral of a resident in Morth Prey village under Krakor district where the tainted rice wine was served. "One man was confirmed dead, and 27 others had been admitted to hospital after the incident," he told Xinhua. "The patients have been recovering well and there is no risk to their lives." Sopheap said the victims had developed symptoms such as eye irritation, chest pain, breathing difficulty, dizziness, headache, and fatigue after drinking the adulterated wine. The toxic wine's samples had been taken for a lab test, he added. Rice wine is popular in rural areas in Cambodia due to its low price. In October last year, three people died and 66 others were hospitalized in Kampong Cham province's Stung Trang district after drinking homemade rice wine containing dangerous levels of methanol. https://english.news.cn/20230604/b62514a33f424191a4e1e543a413a4d6/c.html