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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg has arrived in Cambodia for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations. Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, the Crown Prince will hold talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and other key officials. His visit underscores Luxembourg’s growing engagement with Cambodia in areas such as trade, education, and development cooperation. The delegation was welcomed in Siem Reap by Agriculture Minister Dith Tina before heading to Phnom Penh for high-level meetings. Discussions are expected to explore new avenues of collaboration, building on previous engagements between the two countries. In recent months, Luxembourg has expressed interest in deepening cooperation with Cambodia, particularly in investment, health, and education. The visit follows prior talks between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Luxembourg officials on the sidelines of last year’s ASEAN Summits. As both nations look to expand bilateral ties, this visit marks another step in fostering closer partnerships and exploring new opportunities for cooperation. -2025-03-31

CMAC PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Japan has pledged over $10 million in grants to support Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war, a legacy of decades of conflict. The funding, formalised in an agreement signed on Thursday between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn and Japanese Ambassador Ueno Atsushi, will be directed to the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC). Of the total amount, $8.3 million will go towards strengthening CMAC’s South-South Cooperation training programme, which helps share demining expertise with other affected nations. The remaining $2.1 million will fund the construction of a training complex and outreach facility. Cambodia remains one of the world’s most landmine-affected countries, with an estimated 4 to 6 million unexploded munitions left behind from conflicts that ended in 1998. Since 1979, landmines and explosive remnants of war have killed nearly 20,000 people and injured more than 45,000. Japan has long been a key supporter of Cambodia’s demining efforts, and this latest contribution is expected to enhance the country’s capacity to train specialists and accelerate mine clearance operations, making communities safer. -2025-03-31

Photo Myanmar Rescue Mandalay As Myanmar reels from the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, concerns are mounting over whether international aid will reach those who need it most—or if it will be controlled and misused by the ruling military junta. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, made a rare plea for foreign assistance after the disaster left more than 1,000 dead. Yet, even as international relief efforts began, the military continued its brutal campaign against resistance strongholds, bombing civilians in Sagaing and Shan State. The regime has a history of mismanaging crises. After Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which killed over 100,000 people, the military obstructed aid and prioritised its grip on power. A similar pattern was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the junta’s failures left countless dead. Now, with no proper disaster response plan in place, Myanmar’s people are left to fend for themselves once again. While countries including the US, China, Russia, India, and Thailand have pledged aid, concerns persist over whether it will be fairly distributed. The military controls nearly all communication and transport networks, raising fears that assistance will be diverted to junta strongholds while opposition areas, like Sagaing, are left to suffer. Myanmar’s local civil society groups and NGOs are best placed to help earthquake victims, but they need direct support. The international community must ensure aid reaches the people—not the military rulers responsible for their suffering. -2025-03-31

Aungban Philanthropic Group MANDALAY, Myanmar – The devastating aftermath of Myanmar’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake has left a grim scene in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, as rescuers scramble to find survivors buried beneath collapsed buildings. The death toll has surpassed 1,600, with many more feared trapped under the rubble. The quake struck on Friday, reducing homes, businesses, and infrastructure to ruins. The city’s airport was badly damaged, and roads have buckled, severely hampering relief efforts. With communication networks down in many areas, the full extent of the disaster remains unclear. Survivors, armed with nothing more than shovels and their bare hands, have been digging through the debris in extreme heat, desperately searching for family and friends. The situation is dire, with hospitals overwhelmed, supplies running low, and clean water scarce. Sunday’s 5.1 magnitude aftershock sent fresh waves of panic through the streets, but the rescue efforts pressed on. Many Mandalay residents, left homeless or fearful of further building collapses, spent the night outdoors. Foreign aid has begun to trickle in, with teams from India, China, Russia, and neighbouring Thailand joining rescue operations. However, the ongoing civil war in Myanmar complicates efforts, with military-controlled regions restricting access to humanitarian aid. As time passes, the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes. Aid workers warn that without immediate intervention, the crisis could deepen, with food shortages and disease outbreaks looming. The disaster has also impacted Thailand, where at least 18 people have died, including 11 in a high-rise collapse in Bangkok. Calls for a ceasefire in Myanmar’s conflict zones are growing as the international community urges the military to prioritise relief efforts. However, with tensions still high, it remains uncertain whether humanitarian aid will reach those who need it most in time. -2025-03-31

A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck central Myanmar, leaving at least 150 dead and many more feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The quake, which also shook neighbouring Thailand, has forced Myanmar’s ruling military junta to issue a rare plea for international aid. A Desperate Appeal Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, visited a hospital in Naypyidaw, where survivors are being treated. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun urged the global community to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, a striking move from a government that typically resists outside intervention. A state of emergency has been declared across six regions, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway. Trump’s Response Amid Aid Cuts In Washington, President Donald Trump acknowledged the disaster, stating, “We’re going to be helping. We’ve already alerted the people. Yeah, it’s terrible what happened.” However, his administration’s drastic cuts to USAID and the State Department’s humanitarian programmes have left the US response capabilities in question. Sarah Charles, a former senior USAID official, warned that the agency is now “in shambles,” lacking the staff and resources for an effective disaster response. The Trump administration recently announced the closure of USAID, raising doubts over how the US can deliver the promised aid. A Region in Crisis The earthquake's impact extends beyond Myanmar, with tremors felt as far as India, China, and Cambodia. In Bangkok, a 34-storey building collapsed, killing at least 10 people. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, but with Myanmar’s infrastructure already weakened by years of conflict and economic turmoil, the need for international aid is urgent. The coming days will test not only Myanmar’s ability to manage the crisis but also the effectiveness of global humanitarian efforts—particularly from an America now lacking its once-formidable aid network. -2025-03-29

India has released 27 Myanmar women and children who were unlawfully detained for up to two years after serving their sentences, following mounting pressure from rights groups. The group—20 women and seven children—had been held in Sajiwa Prison in Imphal, Manipur State, since their 2022 arrest for entering India illegally. Although they had completed their sentences, authorities continued to detain them until their release on 21 March 2025. Their freedom came after India for Myanmar, an advocacy group, and 160 Myanmar organisations applied pressure following the 10 March death of another Myanmar prisoner in the same jail. Salai Dokhar, the group’s founder, criticised India’s delayed response, stating the prisoners had been unjustly held long past their sentences. It remains unclear how the freed detainees will be repatriated. In previous cases, India handed over released Myanmar nationals to the ruling junta in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region before they were allowed to return home on bail. -2025-03-29

PHOTO: CAMBODIAN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT Cambodia witnessed a sharp rise in human trafficking cases in 2024, with authorities cracking down on nearly 200 incidents and more than doubling the deportation of foreign offenders, according to a newly released government report. The National Committee for Countering Human Trafficking reported on 27 March that 197 cases were investigated last year—an increase of 33 from 2023—leading to 273 arrests. Additionally, authorities handled 922 cases resulting in the deportation of 5,852 individuals, a stark rise from 2,159 in the previous year. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest share of deportees, with 2,695 sent back—more than double the 1,011 repatriated in 2023. Vietnamese and Indonesian nationals followed, with 1,198 and 861 deportations, respectively. Interior Minister Sar Sokha warned that Cambodia remains vulnerable to cross-border crimes, including human trafficking and tech-based scams. He noted that criminal networks are using the country as a base for illicit activities, targeting both locals and foreign nationals. Authorities say they are working closely with embassies and international partners to dismantle trafficking rings and assist victims, while perpetrators continue to face prosecution. -2025-03-29

Photo: Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington, DC The United States has returned two ancient Khmer artefacts to Cambodia, marking another step in the fight against cultural artefact trafficking. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office handed over the relics to Cambodian officials on 26 March, as part of an ongoing investigation into smuggling networks linked to disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor. The artefacts, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, were illicitly removed from Cambodia and eventually surfaced in the US. One, a sculpture known as "Head of a Ruler," is a relic from the Angkor period, bearing signs of violent removal. The other, a "Grey Sandstone Torso" from the Baphuon period, was stolen from Cambodia’s Wat Po Veal Museum during the country’s civil war and later sold at auction in New York in 2024 before being seized by authorities. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg highlighted the significance of the return, noting that over 30 stolen Cambodian artefacts have been repatriated in recent years. Since 2011, US authorities have recovered more than 2,500 objects linked to Kapoor’s smuggling ring, many of which have been returned to their rightful countries, including India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Kapoor, who was sentenced to ten years in prison in India in 2022, still faces extradition to the US, where he has been charged with 86 criminal counts. Five members of his network have already been convicted. -2025-03-29

A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, killing at least 144 people and injuring over 730. The quake, which hit in the early afternoon, caused widespread destruction, with tremors felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where eight people died, and a high-rise building collapsed. Myanmar Declares State of Emergency The earthquake's epicentre was near Sagaing, close to Mandalay, at a shallow depth of 10km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). A powerful aftershock of 6.4 magnitude followed just 12 minutes later, worsening the devastation. Myanmar’s military-led government declared a state of emergency across six regions, with authorities warning that the death toll is expected to rise. Major General Zaw Min Tun, a military government spokesperson, urged blood donors to assist hospitals in hard-hit areas, including Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw. The Red Cross reported that damaged power lines were hampering relief efforts, leaving some areas inaccessible. The earthquake caused a 90-year-old bridge in the Sagaing region to collapse and damaged key highways linking Mandalay to Yangon. In Naypyitaw, several religious shrines were destroyed. International Aid Sought Amidst Ongoing Civil Unrest Myanmar’s ruling military junta made a rare request for international humanitarian aid. However, ongoing civil conflict following the 2021 coup complicates relief efforts. Aid groups are scrambling to assess the situation and navigate Myanmar’s restricted access to external assistance. As the full scale of the disaster unfolds, rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid the destruction, with fears that the final death toll will rise significantly in the coming days. -2025-03-28

As Myanmar’s conflict deepens, ASEAN’s response is facing a moment of reckoning. With its chairmanship in 2025, Malaysia has a rare opportunity to push for a new strategy that goes beyond ASEAN’s struggling Five-Point Consensus (5PC). The military junta, in power since the 2021 coup, is losing control over vast swathes of the country. Despite this, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing insists elections will be held in late 2024 or early 2025. However, with resistance groups controlling an estimated 42% of Myanmar’s territory, ASEAN remains sceptical. Malaysia’s approach so far has been proactive. Its special envoy, Othman Hashim, has engaged not only with the junta but also with Myanmar’s opposition groups, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic armed organisations. This shift suggests a potential recalibration of ASEAN’s engagement strategy. Beyond diplomacy, Malaysia’s leadership will be crucial in addressing the humanitarian crisis. With over 20 million people in need of aid, ASEAN’s current relief efforts have proven inadequate. Thailand has already pioneered cross-border aid routes—Malaysia could expand such initiatives and coordinate ASEAN’s approach with key external partners like China, India, and Japan. As Myanmar’s crisis continues, ASEAN must look beyond just ending violence. It needs a long-term strategy that includes supporting Myanmar’s displaced communities, investing in capacity-building, and helping to shape a post-conflict governance structure. Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship could set the stage for ASEAN’s most decisive shift on Myanmar yet. -2025-03-28

A Myanmar rebel group controlling a major rare earth zone has authorised the export of existing stockpiles to China, easing supply concerns that had driven up prices. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which seized control of mining areas in Kachin state last October, informed miners that shipments could resume from 28 March, sources told Reuters. The group will impose a tax of 35,000 yuan (£3,900) per tonne on exports. China, the world’s largest importer of rare earths, has faced supply shortages since Myanmar’s exports plummeted, with terbium oxide prices surging nearly 22% in six months. Prices have since dipped 1% as expectations of increased supply grow. The KIA has not publicly commented, but its decision marks a shift in Myanmar’s rare earth trade, with potential ripple effects on global markets. -2025-03-28

Fauna&Flora A groundbreaking genetic study has revealed that Cambodia’s northern plains host a larger and more diverse population of endangered Asian elephants than previously thought, offering new hope for their conservation. Conducted by Fauna & Flora alongside Cambodian and Scottish researchers, the study analysed elephant dung to estimate a population of 51 elephants in the Prey Lang, Preah Roka, and Chhaeb wildlife sanctuaries—far more than earlier anecdotal estimates of 20-30 individuals. Crucially, genetic testing showed these elephants descended from two distinct lineages, boosting their chances of long-term survival. Despite this positive finding, the study warns that a population of at least 1,000 is needed to prevent inbreeding and ensure survival beyond the next century. Cambodia’s total wild elephant population is estimated at just 400-600. Fragmentation remains a major threat, with elephants moving between Preah Roka and Chhaeb but not to Prey Lang, underscoring the need to expand conservation efforts. Experts say this research provides vital insights for future protection strategies, with plans to apply similar methods across Cambodia and beyond to better track and safeguard elephant populations. -2025-03-28

Khmer Times Cambodia has reported 647 forest fires in just one week, with the provinces of Ratanakiri and Stung Treng hardest hit, according to the Ministry of Environment (MoE). At the same time, Phnom Penh recorded its worst air pollution on record, ranking among the most polluted cities globally. Between 20 and 26 March, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng saw 101 fires, while Mondulkiri and Kampong Thom recorded 77 and 56 fires, respectively. Ministry spokesman Khvay Atitya attributed the fires to climate change and human activities, including burning trash and agricultural waste. Phnom Penh’s air quality plummeted, ranking 15th most polluted city worldwide and 6th worst in Southeast Asia, according to IQAir. However, the MoE insists Cambodia’s air quality remains within safe limits, following World Health Organization guidelines. Authorities have pledged to step up conservation efforts, patrols, and public awareness campaigns to curb forest fires and improve air quality. The public is urged to cooperate by avoiding open burning and promoting environmental awareness. -2025-03-28

geovalin Cambodia has ranked lowest among ASEAN nations in the 2025 World Population Review’s education index, placing 120th globally out of 203 countries. Singapore leads ASEAN in education, followed by Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia, while Cambodia lags behind regional peers. South Korea tops the global list, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands. Education specialist Dr Quach Mengly acknowledged Cambodia’s progress over the years but stressed that the country is falling behind in modernisation and technology. He highlighted a lack of STEM education and AI integration as key challenges, urging the government to invest in these areas. Dr Mengly also warned against overemphasising English at the expense of Khmer proficiency, arguing that strong native language skills are essential for academic success. The Ministry of Education has not yet commented on the report, citing the need to review its methodology. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for reforms to modernise Cambodia’s education system and ensure it keeps pace with global developments. -2025-03-27

AKP Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has announced that Preah Sihanouk province will become the country’s main logistics hub, with a $1 billion investment in its deep-water port. Speaking at the inauguration of a new school building in the province, Hun Manet urged local residents to prepare for economic opportunities that the transformation will bring. He emphasised the need for a skilled workforce, encouraging young people to focus on education to support the region’s growth. Preah Sihanouk currently hosts nearly 4,000 factories and businesses, employing over 127,000 workers. The province also has 12 special economic zones, five of which are operational. With this investment, Cambodia aims to strengthen its role in regional trade and logistics, positioning Preah Sihanouk as a key economic driver for the nation’s future. -2025-03-27

GNLM Myanmar’s ruling junta has announced plans to hold a national election in four phases between December 2025 and January 2026, marking the first time it has provided a detailed schedule for the long-promised vote. Since seizing power in 2021, the military has repeatedly delayed elections, citing ongoing conflict. With large parts of the country controlled by resistance groups, the feasibility of a nationwide vote remains in question. Despite international scepticism, the junta has gained backing from Russia, Belarus, China, and India. However, human rights groups and the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) reject the election’s legitimacy, arguing that widespread military control and political restrictions make a fair vote impossible. Former leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned, and the military previously dissolved the NLD, which won Myanmar’s last democratic election in 2020. Rebel groups and the shadow National Unity Government insist negotiations can only happen if the military steps away from politics—an idea the junta dismisses as "impossible." With resistance forces vowing continued pressure, Myanmar’s future remains uncertain as the regime pushes ahead with its controversial election plans. -2025-03-27

Myanmar has sent 124 new workers to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS), marking a milestone as the first woman joins the programme. According to the Myanmar Embassy in South Korea, the group comprises 58 manufacturing workers, 25 forestry workers, 19 construction workers, 7 service workers—including the first female participant—and 15 agriculture and livestock workers. They arrived at Incheon International Airport on 19 March aboard a Myanmar National Airlines chartered flight from Yangon. Upon arrival, Myanmar’s labour attaché in Seoul welcomed them, offering guidance and assistance to help them settle into their new roles. The EPS system, designed to regulate foreign employment in South Korea, continues to provide job opportunities for Myanmar workers, strengthening economic ties between the two nations. -2025-03-27

For Burmese artist Htein Lin, creating art was an act of defiance and survival during his years in a Myanmar prison. Deprived of traditional materials, he used prison uniforms as canvases and fashioned makeshift tools from syringes, soap, and cigarette lighters. “I had to make art,” he recalls, despite the risks. His retrospective, Escape, now showing at Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery, features 000235, a series named after the number assigned to him by the International Red Cross during his incarceration from 1998 to 2004. The exhibition spans his life before, during, and after prison, exploring themes of oppression, resilience, and artistic ingenuity. A standout piece, Sitting at Iron Gate (2002), reflects on the isolation of prison life. Another work, Biology of Art (1999), depicts human anatomy using toothpaste tubes and medical bottles. His project A Show of Hands immortalizes the hands of nearly 500 former political prisoners in plaster casts, symbolizing their strength and sacrifice. Htein Lin, a former pro-democracy activist, was imprisoned for his opposition to military rule. After his release, he lived in the UK before returning to Myanmar. In 2022, he was arrested again alongside his wife, former British ambassador Vicky Bowman. Though released after three months, he remains trapped in Myanmar, denied a passport. His latest work, Fiery Hell (2024), captures the devastation of Myanmar’s escalating civil war. “The world doesn’t misunderstand Myanmar—it simply doesn’t pay attention,” he says. Yet, through art and meditation, he remains steadfast. “One day, things will change.” -2025-03-26

Since Myanmar’s military coup four years ago, medical workers have been among the most targeted professionals in the country, with 135 killed and nearly 860 arrested for opposing the junta, according to human rights monitors. One of them was 26-year-old doctor Thiha Tin Htun, who was shot dead by security forces during a mass protest in Mandalay in March 2021. Footage later showed police dragging his body away, a grim symbol of the military’s brutal suppression of dissent. Thiha Tin Htun was among nearly 50,000 health workers who joined the anti-junta Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), refusing to work under military rule. The response has been relentless: in just the first two months of 2025, the World Health Organization recorded six attacks on medical workers, killing 33 people. Some health professionals, such as doctor Zin Lin and nurse Khin Khin Kywe, took up arms after witnessing the junta’s violent crackdowns. They were captured and executed in September 2021 after resisting a military raid. Others have suffered in different ways—medical licenses revoked, families taken hostage, and careers ruined. Despite the repression, Myanmar’s health workers continue their struggle, many operating underground clinics at great personal risk. However, with the junta’s crackdown showing no signs of easing, the country’s health crisis deepens, leaving millions with little or no access to medical care. -2025-03-26

xinhua PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has connected 99% of its villages to the national power grid, marking a major achievement in its energy development, the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced on Monday. Over the past 15 years, the Kingdom’s electricity generation has increased eightfold, driven by a mix of hydropower, coal, oil, and an expanding focus on renewable sources such as solar and wind. A ministry statement highlighted plans to promote gender-inclusive employment, with new energy projects aiming for 60% female participation in construction and 50% in operations. Officials say these initiatives are boosting economic growth while improving environmental sustainability. The country’s energy transition took a significant step forward last October with the launch of a $1.34 billion gas-fired power plant in Koh Kong province. Once operational, it will be Cambodia’s largest power-generation facility. Despite these advances, Cambodia still imports electricity from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, particularly during the dry season. The government’s Power Development Master Plan 2022-2040 seeks to reduce dependence on coal and accelerate the shift toward renewable energy. -2025-03-26

PHOTO: RCA/ THE PHNOM PENH POST PHNOM PENH – Cambodian authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal fishing in the Tonle Sap Lake, arresting 478 suspects since the start of the year, including 47 Vietnamese nationals. The Royal Cambodia Army (RCA) announced on 24 March that the operations led to the destruction of over 2.8 million metres of fishing nets, along with 7,225 fish traps and 590,071 bamboo stakes. Officials also released 27 tonnes of fish and 725 tonnes of shellfish back into the lake. In addition to the arrests, citizens voluntarily surrendered 315 electric fishing devices and one airgun, while authorities confiscated 56 boats, two vehicles, 14 boat engines, and eight clam filters, among other illegal equipment. Beyond enforcement, soldiers and officials educated 1,187 individuals on legal fishing practices, with 441 pledging to cease illegal activities. General Mao Sophann, commander of the RCA, commended the crackdown and called for continued collaboration between the army, local authorities, and fisheries crime suppression units. He emphasised the need to protect aquatic biodiversity while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for local communities. “The army must work with relevant institutions to conserve and ensure the sustainability of aquatic resources for future generations while developing the Tonle Sap Lake,” he stated. The Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, is a vital source of food and income for millions. However, rampant illegal fishing has threatened its ecosystem, prompting authorities to ramp up enforcement efforts. -2025-03-26

Photo by Doan Duong. In a daring cross-border operation, Vietnamese police, in coordination with Cambodian authorities, dismantled a major fraud ring operating out of the notorious Venus2 complex in Bavet City, Cambodia. The raid, which took place in December 2024, resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects linked to a transnational scam network that had defrauded victims across Vietnam. A High-Stakes Crackdown The operation was launched after Lai Chau police received a complaint from a Vietnamese barber who lost 200 million VND (£6,600) in an online scam. Following a two-month investigation, six suspects were arrested in Vietnam, leading authorities to a broader network based in Cambodia. Given the legal and diplomatic complexities of conducting an international raid, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security coordinated closely with Cambodian officials. The operation—codenamed 0924L—marked a significant step in tackling organised crime across borders. Storming the Scam Den On 11 December 2024, a joint task force comprising Vietnamese and Cambodian officers moved into position. By 8:00 am, they had surrounded the Venus2 complex, a densely populated area notorious for housing criminal operations. At 10:00 am, the team stormed room 6-808, catching the scammers off guard. “Their faces showed utter disbelief—they never expected Vietnamese police to come all the way to catch them,” recalled Colonel Pham Hai Dang, head of the task force. The operation lasted five tense hours, during which officers remained on high alert in the volatile environment. Once secured, the 12 suspects were handed over to Cambodian authorities for processing. Justice Delivered Two weeks later, all 12 suspects were extradited to Vietnam, where they were linked to a scam network that had stolen nearly 4 billion VND (£132,000) from 52 victims. Investigators also uncovered suspicious financial transactions totalling over 100 billion VND (£3.3 million). The success of this raid highlights growing cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in tackling cross-border crime. For victims, it represents a step towards justice, as authorities continue to dismantle fraud networks preying on unsuspecting citizens. -2025-03-25

Before 1975 (Photo by Valleguidonensis / CC BY-SA 4.0) A long-awaited moment of renewal is taking shape in Cambodia’s capital, as the country’s Catholic community prepares to unveil the new St. Joseph Cathedral in Phnom Penh. Scheduled for consecration in November, the cathedral marks a powerful symbol of faith and perseverance nearly 50 years after the Khmer Rouge destroyed the original Notre Dame Cathedral in 1975. “We are proud that we can see the church rise again,” said Father Paul Chatsirey, the parish priest, in an interview with UCA News. Blending Khmer and Catholic architectural styles, the new cathedral has been under construction since 2021 and is set to be completed by July. It will accommodate up to 700 worshippers, making it the first church built in Cambodia since 1967. The $3 million project has been largely funded by Catholics from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with significant contributions from the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP). A History of Faith and Persecution Catholicism has endured a turbulent history in Cambodia, dating back to the 17th century. While early missionaries were welcomed, conversions remained rare. A small but visible Catholic community emerged in the 18th century, primarily composed of Vietnamese refugees fleeing persecution. By 1970, Catholics in Cambodia numbered around 65,000, the majority of whom were of Vietnamese descent. However, growing nationalist hostility under General Lon Nol’s government forced tens of thousands to flee. The Khmer Rouge’s rise to power in 1975 proved catastrophic. Determined to erase symbols of foreign influence, the regime targeted Catholics, destroying churches and killing or driving out nearly half of Cambodia’s Catholic population. Among their acts of destruction was the demolition of the Notre Dame Cathedral, a prominent city landmark. “The trauma still lingers among Cambodian Catholics,” said historian Alain Forest, professor emeritus at Paris Diderot University. A New Beginning Decades after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia’s Catholic community has slowly rebuilt itself. The government returned some church properties in the 1990s, and a seminary was reopened for worship. In 2019, plans for a new cathedral took shape, leading to the construction effort that is now nearing completion. The Catholic population in Cambodia remains small—estimated at around 20,000—but the new cathedral stands as a testament to the resilience of a community that has endured decades of hardship. “This is a reaffirmation in a country still overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist,” Forest noted. “It’s also a way of showing the church’s continuity and resilience.” Until the grand opening in November, worshippers continue to gather in a temporary space, quietly awaiting the day when their faith will once again be enshrined in stone. -2025-03-25

The Irrawaddy, archives A Myanmar junta airstrike on a medical clinic in the country’s central Magway region has killed 11 civilians, including medical staff and children, in one of the latest brutal attacks by the military regime. The airstrike hit a clinic in Gangaw Township on Saturday morning, despite no ongoing battles in the area between junta forces and anti-regime militias, residents told Radio Free Asia (RFA). “We found 11 bodies. There were five children,” said a local resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons. “Everyone was a civilian.” Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), the exiled administration opposing the junta, confirmed that among the dead were Dr Mya Soe Aung, 40, his wife, nurse Khaing Hnin Wai, 39, who was four months pregnant, and their five-year-old son. Eight other patients waiting for medical care also lost their lives. The couple had previously worked at Tin Thar District Hospital in Sagaing Region and were active participants in the Civil Disobedience Movement, a peaceful resistance campaign against the junta following its 2021 coup. After resigning from their government positions, they continued to provide medical aid in conflict-affected areas. Mass Arrests and Civilian Killings In a separate incident, residents reported that junta troops executed four civilians who had been arrested during mass raids on villages in Salin Township, around 186 kilometres south of Gangaw. Their bodies were found in an abandoned toilet pit at a local school. “The bodies were dumped inside an old toilet pit at Kya Pin’s school,” said a local administrative group member, speaking anonymously. “We cannot retrieve them for burial and have to cover the area with sand.” Elsewhere in Magway region, junta forces burned down more than 100 homes in Koke Ko Tan and Nay Pu Khan villages, killing a 55-year-old woman in the blaze. The attacks have displaced approximately 17,000 people, leaving them unable to return home. The junta has not responded to requests for comment. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 6,400 civilians have been killed by the Myanmar military since the coup in 2021. This latest attack highlights the escalating brutality of the junta’s campaign against civilians, particularly those involved in the pro-democracy movement. -2025-03-25

Archives 2015 Japan has expressed deep scepticism over Myanmar’s military junta’s plans to hold national elections by January 2026, warning that such a move could worsen the country’s political crisis. During a parliamentary session on 21 March, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya voiced “serious concern” about the proposed elections, stressing that no meaningful political progress had been made. His comments followed junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s announcement of the election timeline during a visit to Belarus earlier this month. “The Japanese government is seriously concerned that holding national elections while there has been no political progress, such as the release of those detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and dialogue to break through the current situation, will only invite more resistance from the Myanmar people and make a peaceful resolution difficult,” Iwaya said in response to an opposition lawmaker’s question. Since seizing power in February 2021, Myanmar’s military has committed widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians. The junta has also jailed opposition politicians, criminalised their parties, and violently suppressed dissent, making free and fair elections impossible. Compounding concerns, much of Myanmar remains outside the junta’s control due to ongoing conflicts with ethnic armed groups and anti-regime forces. Last October, the junta attempted a nationwide census—ostensibly to prepare voter lists—but completed it in only 145 of the country’s 330 townships. Observers believe the census was less about voter registration and more about tracking opposition activists and conscripting recruits. Japan is not alone in its opposition. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan recently stated that elections in Myanmar were “not a priority,” while United Nations human rights experts have urged member states to denounce the proposed vote as a “fraud.” While Japan’s criticism marks a significant step, analysts argue that Tokyo should take a firmer stance. Calls are growing for Japan to push other governments, including ASEAN states, South Korea, and India, to publicly reject the junta’s election plans and withhold any technical support for a process widely seen as neither free nor credible. -2025-03-25