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Mondulkiri provincial police are investigating the mass murder of five Bunong people and one boy who was seriously injured in Me Pai village in Pech Chreada district’s Pou Chrei commune but officials have not been able to confirm the cause of the murders. Provincial deputy police chief Brigadier General So Sovann said that experts are carefully investigating the case. However, as of yesterday, the perpetrators have not been identified yet. He said the case was a premeditated act of resentment but investigators did not know who would want to take revenge on the victims. Before finding the body of the victims, their relative called to visit as usual but this time the phone continued to ring without being answered. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018824/mass-murder-of-five-bunong-shakes-community-as-police-investigate/

Law enforcement officials have vowed to take Cambodia out of the ‘grey list’ for money laundering with improved knowledge training skills to combat the crime. The 25 officials made this promise after undergoing a five-day money laundry investigation workshop, starting January 31, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Australian Embassy in Phnom (Australia Federal Police) together with the Central Security Department. This is the 3rd training held to improve the capabilities of enforcement officials from the Ministries of Interior and Justice. National Police spokesman Lieutenant General Chhay Kim Khoeun said yesterday that money laundering is a big challenge as it involved the illegal process of making large amounts of money generated by criminal activities such as drug trafficking. “It is important for the officials to acquire knowledge and skills on ways of how money is laundered or generated illegally. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018829/law-enforcers-vow-to-remove-cambodia-from-money-laundering-grey-list/

A romp in the community pond ended badly for three four-year-olds after they drowned. The tragic incident happened on the morning of February 2 in Chrak Sangke Village, Svay Chuk Commune, Samaki Meanchey District, Kampong Chhnang. Local authorities confirmed that all three of the children are neighbours and revealed the identities of the children as: Phean Theara, male. Sim Mengly, male, his father was reported to have been at home during the time of the incident, while his mother was out teaching. Chhean Somony, female, during the time of the incident, her father was teaching at a school while her mother was manning their store. Local authorities stated that the parents were unaware of the children’s disappearance and initially thought that the children were just playing near their homes. After an extended period of not hearing or seeing their children and searched for them. The search led people to discover the bodies of the children in a pond and they were rushed to the hospital but were announced dead on arrival. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018618/three-four-year-olds-drown-in-a-pond/

Phnom Penh cites lack of progress on April 2021 ASEAN ‘Five-Point Consensus.’ The foreign minister of Myanmar’s military regime will not be invited to a mid-February Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial retreat, host Cambodia said Thursday, citing the lack of movement on an agreement the regional bloc struck with the junta leader last year. “Since there has been little progress in carrying out ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, the ASEAN member states did not reach a consensus to invite Myanmar State Administrative Council foreign minister to participate in the upcoming FM retreat to be hosted by Cambodia,” Phnom Penh’s foreign ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said in a written comment to RFA’s Khmer Service. “Therefore, we have asked Myanmar to send a non-political representative instead. Meanwhile, we encourage Myanmar to be represented at the retreat by a non-political figure, rather than leaving the seat empty. It is up to Myanmar to decide,” he added. The retreat is set for Feb. 16. The decision came a week after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2022, urged junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing during a video conference to uphold the Five-Point Consensus. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the Feb. 1, 2020 overthrow of Myanmar’s democratically elected government and heads the junta, agreed to the consensus when he met ASEAN leaders in Jakarta last April in a summit convened to address the crisis in Myanmar. The agreement calls for an end to violence, dialogue between the junta and the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD), and for the ASEAN special envoy and delegation to visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned. Myanmar marked the first anniversary of the coup Tuesday with no progress to show on those issues, while in the past year, security forces have arrested nearly 8,900 civilians and killed more than 1,500. Military conflict has engulfed large swathes of the country of 54 million, displacing more than 300,000 people. Speaking to RFA’s Khmer Service, Cambodian political analyst Seng Sary told said Cambodia has adopted ASEAN’s way of dealing with regional affairs after Prime Minister Hun Sen had exhausted solo efforts. Hun Sen’s Jan. 7-8 trip to Myanmar — the first by a foreign leader since the coup — drew widespread criticism for conferring legitimacy on the regime. “It seems Cambodia is listening to criticism from other ASEAN members and the international community,” said Seng Sary. “Cambodia is disappointed,” with the lack of progress with the junta, but “doesn’t regard the Burmese issue as its priority,” he added, suggesting Phnom Penh would “pass the hot stone” to Indonesia, next year’s ASEAN chair. Myanmar's junta spokesman did not respond to RFA telephone calls for comment, but the head of a pro-military think tank in Myanmar, shrugged off a decision he said was anticipated by the regime and faulted ASEAN for bowing to outside pressure.. “We already expected that Myanmar might not be invited to attend the meeting. This decision is not a big, significant one,” said Thein Tun Oo, director of the Thaeninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank in Naypyidaw founded by former military officers. “As we had said before, Myanmar’s internal affairs will not be greatly impacted because we are not able to attend the (ASEAN) meetings.” Thein Tun Oo added that “ASEAN’s decision making [regarding Myanmar] has departed from its core principles” such as non-interference in fellow members’ affairs. “We accepted there was a change in political dynamics within ASEAN, but we also have found that there was some external pressure from other powerful nations,” he added. Cambodia’s announcement was welcomed by the National Unity Government (NUG) of former lawmakers and officials ousted in the coup. “The ASEAN countries now firmly showed their stand and seriousness on the Five-Point Consensus,” said Bo Hla Tint, the NUG’s special representative to ASEAN. He called on ASEAN, other diplomatic partners and U.N. agencies to “seek a more strategic, result-oriented and practical approach to end the violence in the country and allow equal humanitarian access to all communities in need.” Than Soe Naing, a political and ethnic affairs analyst in Myanmar called the exclusion of the junta envoy “good, auspicious news for people of Myanmar and the NUG” that helped dispel concerns that ASEAN might “give a green light” to the junta. “But now, ASEAN stands firmly on its consensus that aimed to help solve the country’s crisis. Myanmar democratic forces are very grateful for the decision.” Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service and by Khin Khin Ei and Khat Mar of the Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Paul Eckert. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/asean-cambodia-02032022173930.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

An Angkor Wat “replica” in the center of Da Nang, Vietnam, is trying to attract International tourists to visit Vietnam without having to “cross the border” to visit the real Angkor Wat in Cambodia because they built a copy the architectural model of Angkor Wat of Cambodia as the original version, which is the most unique historical-cultural archeology. On January 29, 2022, a Facebook account called Phnom Rithi posted a video of Vietnamese television and wrote “In the future, it will be easier for the Khmer Krom to not spend time crossing the country to visit Angkor Wat in Siem Reap because the Vietnamese have the the right to build the Khmer temple of Angkor in the theme park in Da Nang province. The same Facebook account states that Vietnam has already asked for permission from the Ministry to help spread the culture and complete the construction and was reportedly already Inaugurated for tourists. In a Vietnamese TV video, the male host said, “Do you know what the temple is behind me?” That is the temple of Angkor Wat copied from Cambodia, but this temple is not located in Cambodia, it is located in Da Nang . read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018373/controversy-expected-as-replica-of-world-renown-angkor-wat-built-in-da-nangs-theme-park/

King Norodom Sihamoni will depart to China today and join other international dignitaries who have confirmed their attendance for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and related activities. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday the King would leave for Beijing at 8.30am today and is expected to return on Saturday. Siphan said King Sihamoni’s attendance at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games shows the value of sports and friendship, as well as the solidarity of Cambodia-China and the world. “The Olympic games is an international sporting event, without any political purposes. It shows the unity, well-being of each nation and friendship between one nation and others. Therefore His Majesty’s attendance shows he highly values this international sporting event and the friendship between Cambodia-China and others in the world,” he added. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018081/king-to-attend-beijing-olympics-opening-ceremony/

Facing loss of a lucrative trade status, Phnom Penh looks to be trying to get back in Washington’s good graces. The government of Cambodia has hired the second largest lobbying firm in the U.S. in hopes of improving relations with Washington, but analysts told RFA that Phnom Penh’s policies are the problem. The Cambodian Embassy in Washington is paying U.S. $60,000 a month over one year to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to “conduct outreach” with U.S. officials to “help to move the bilateral relationship between Cambodia and the U.S. forward,” according to documents submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. Foreign entities must register with the U.S. government when they hire lobbyists to advocate on their behalf. The decision to retain one of Washington’s most powerful lobbying firms comes as the U.S. Congress weighs legislation to punish Cambodian officials for the country’s poor human rights record. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would place stiff sanctions on Cambodian leaders for alleged human rights abuses four months ago. The Senate must pass its version of the bill — titled the Cambodia Democracy Act — before it can be sent to the president to be signed into law. Cambodia also wants its Generalized System of Preferences trade status renewed after expiring in 2020. That designation gives Cambodian products duty-free access to the massive U.S. market. “We don’t regard the U.S. as our enemy. Otherwise, we would not have spent thousands of dollars to make sure the Cambodia-U.S. relationship is good,” Sen. Sok Ey San, spokesman for Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), told RFA’s Khmer Service Thursday. “We don’t want [Washington] to believe the media that is politically biased with fake news,” he said. Phnom Penh’s international reputation has plummeted in recent years. In response to increasingly autocratic governance and human rights violations, the European Union has stripped Cambodia of its preferential trade status and the U.S. government has imposed sanctions on powerful figures within Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government. Political analyst Em Sovannara told RFA, however, that it would likely take more than a prominent lobbying team to fix U.S.-Cambodia relations. “You can’t speak one way and act another way,” he said. “We need to build mutual confidence and avoid being suspicious. Only then can we have a good relationship.” Em Sovannara said Cambodia should keep its money and instead respect human rights, democracy, and territorial integrity. Washington and Phnom Penh re-established full diplomatic relations in 1993. But “since 2017, the pace of democratic backsliding in Cambodia has accelerated,” the U.S. State Department states on its website, pointing to the frequent imprisoning of journalists, human rights activists and members of the political opposition. “Cambodia has shifted from a flawed but improving multiparty democracy with an independent media and vibrant civil society to a de facto one-party — and increasingly authoritarian — state intolerant of dissent,” the State Department fact sheet on Cambodia states. Sophal Ear, an associate professor at Arizona State University and an expert on U.S.-Cambodia relations, told RFA that the hiring of Akin Gump shows “the outlook is worsening for Cambodian authorities with respect to Senate bill targeting Cambodia and the possibility of losing GSP trade with the U.S.” Ear said that Cambodia’s hired support in the U.S. was dwindling after the recent passing in December of Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen, who had agreed to lobby for Phnom Penh. RFA reported in September that Cambodia had entered a similar agreement with PR Firm Qorvis Communications, which would “provide strategic communications and media relations services in support of increasing public awareness along with travel and tourism for the Kingdom of Cambodia.” It had also in 2019 signed contracts with two other lobbying firms, including Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, currently the largest in the U.S. Bringing in reinforcements in Akin Gump “means going with the big boys and demanding results for money,” Ear said, noting that the fees for services totaling $720,000 per year were insignificant to Hun Sen. Another source of strain in the relationship between Cambodia and the U.S. is increasing Chinese influence in Phnom Penh. Washington last month banned the export of military equipment to Cambodia, citing concerns about “deepening Chinese military influence” in the country, the latest in a series of measures targeting the kingdom’s growing ties to Beijing. Hun Sen denied that the U.S. sanctions on the Cambodian military were a concern and ordered all U.S. made weapons destroyed. Translated by Samean Yun and Sovanarith Keo. Written in English by Eugene Whong. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/akin-02022022094503.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Cambodia Airports has announced the resumption of domestic flights of some airlines as the number of flights to Cambodia continues to increase. On February 1, Cambodia Angkor Air resumed domestic flights, according to the airline. The airline will start flights between Phnom Penh-Siem Reap and Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville from February 4, 2022 as scheduled every Friday and Sunday. On January 26, AirAsia resumed flights between Phnom Penh and Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile, in early January 2022, Vietnam Airlines also added flights between Phnom Penh (PNH) and Ho Chi Minh City (HCM). According to Cambodia Airposts: “Vietnam Airlines has resumed their flights to Phnom Penh on January 1, 2022 and has set flights four days a week. “Now the airline has added six more flights, a total of 10 flights a week.” Sin Chansery Vutha, spokesman for the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation, told local media that flight schedules at Cambodia’s three international airports showed that by the end of January, 2022, there will be about 10 domestic and international airlines operating in Cambodia, with some airlines flying between 3-4 times in 1 week. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501017539/domestic-airlines-resume-flights-as-flights-to-cambodia-increase/

A senior Ministry of Environment official has hit back at some local and international NGOs for their reports on deforestation, which they claim has affected the rights of indigenous people. Last week, a report by Amnesty International (AI) entitled Cambodia: Illegal logging harming Indigenous peoples’ rights and cultures – new research was released. In the report, AI said the Kuy indigenous community in Prey Lang and Prey Preah Roka santuaries had been affected. It suggested that the illegal logging of protected forests is undermining human rights and erasing the traditions of indigenous peoples in Cambodia. read more https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-refutes-ngos-claims-deforestation-sanctuaries

Police in Preah Sihanouk province have arrested 11 Chinese nationals suspected of killing their two country people and confined three others over kidnapping and personal disputes. Provincial Police Chief Major General Chuon Narin yesterday said the murder occurred on January 21 in two different locations, one in Sihanoukville’s Buon commune and another in Prey Nop district’s O’ Oknha Heng commune. The suspects were identified as He Ji Hui, 42; Zhou Feng also known as Guang Tou, 24; Liu Li Jian known as Liu Hua Qiang, 24; Yi Cong Yong known as Dao Dao, 28; Yang Guang Yue known as A Gui, 41; Chen Shiwei known as A Wei or Duo Duio, 22; Peng Jin Long, 34; Chen Wei Wen, 31; Yang Wei Heng known as A Wei, 22; Li Wei Song also known as A Jun, 23; and Wei Ya Qi, 31. He said police detained 14 suspects–12 Chinese men, one Chinese woman and one Vietnamese woman. They were arrested between January 24 and 30 in Sihanoukville, but one Chinese man, one Chinese woman and one Vietnamese woman were released because they were found not being involved. “These 11 Chinese suspects are a group of Chinese mafias and kidnappers hiding in Preah Sihanouk province,” Maj Gen Narin. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501017458/preah-sihanouk-police-arrest-11-suspects-over-double-homicide/

Irish tourist, Karl Mohan, was nearing the end of a month-long stop in Cambodia when he unexpectedly tested positive for Covid in Siem Reap on January 16. Mohan and his girlfriend were taken to the grim ‘Covid camp’ where the real nightmare began. It was a shared-sex facility in a repurposed sports field, comprising rows of wooden bed frames, filthy open lavatories, and little else. Mohan gathered from other inmates that he would be required to stay there for at least seven days, and would then only be released after testing negative twice, two days apart. Several occupants said they had been stuck in the camp for weeks. The Telegraph has reached out to the Cambodian embassy in London and the Cambodian tourist board but there was no immediate response. read more https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/cambodia/filth-sleepless-nights-deadly-snakes-hellish-week-cambodian/

Activists in the country say that the new law will destroy freedom of expression. United Nations human rights officials called on Cambodia to drop plans to create a “National Internet Gateway” that would allow the government to monitor all internet traffic in the country. On Feb. 16, 2021, Prime Minister Hun Sen signed an order to launch a National Internet Gateway — similar to China’s complex network of censorship tools known as the Great Firewall — to regulate all online traffic in the interest of “protecting national security and maintaining social order.” The Gateway will provide authorities with “measures to prevent and disconnect all network connections that affect national income, security, social order, morality, culture, traditions and customs,” the decree said. Internet service providers will be given a year to connect to the gateway. Those that do not could lose their operating licenses or have their bank accounts frozen. Users will be required to provide their true identities, according to the directive. The new law is scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 16 and will have “a serious negative impact on internet freedom, human rights defenders and civil society in the country,” the U.N. said in a statement Tuesday. “As the world has evolved to depend on internet access as a primary channel for communication, information sharing and networking, the body which controls the internet effectively controls much of society.” Once in effect, Cambodia will be able to see the websites that people visit. Authorities will also be able to block certain websites and turn off internet access for individuals, the U.N. statement said. The new law will have disastrous effect on press freedom, Nop Vy, the executive director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance, told RFA’s Khmer Service. “When the language of sub-decree is vague, authorities can accuse reporters of making content that violates ethics and culture so they can shut down websites without first obtaining approval from the court,” Nop Vy said. Youth activists are concerned that the decree will allow the government to spy on their private communications and prevent them from using the internet as a tool for activism, activist Svay Samnang told RFA. “The sub-decree gives unlimited power to authorities so activists will become authorities’ prime targets,” he said. The government must first demonstrate that it cannot use this law to infringe upon personal freedoms, social researcher Sek Socheat told RFA. “Can the sub-decree be used for other purposes? Will it affect our freedom of expression that is protected by the constitution?” he said. “We don’t know yet whether the government can violate our freedom with this law. We are waiting to see but I hope that the government won’t unconstitutionally restrict people freedom.” The local Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights NGO told RFA that the government has a poor track record on using internet evidence to charge people with crimes, and that this goes against international human rights agreements the country has signed. “Past arrests of social media users have had an impact on human rights, especially freedom of expression,” said Am Sam Ath, the group’s deputy director for human rights. “[The Gateway] will restrict people’s freedom of expression through fear. Journalists will have to increasingly self-censor to post news on Facebook. People will not dare to post messages in social media or anywhere on the Internet," he said. The Gateway will give the government the ability to target people more efficiently, Out Latin, the project coordinator for the Cambodian Youth Network Association, told RFA. “There are environmental activists and politicians, who have been threatened and imprisoned because they made statements critical of the government's inaction,” he said. “I think the establishment of this internet gateway will give more power to the government that could further affect freedom of expression.” RFA attempted to contact Ministry of Post and Telecommunications spokesman Meas Bo for comment but could not reach him. The New York Times in a recent report drew comparisons to China’s Great Firewall, which allows Beijing to regulate and censor the internet within its borders. “The authorities are emboldened by China as an example of an authoritarian state that gives Cambodia political cover, new technology and financial resources,” Sophal Ear, a dean at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, told the Times. The report is misleading, government spokesperson Phay Siphan told RFA. The purpose of the National Internet Gateway is to earn raise revenue, fight terrorism and maintain internet security, he said, not to restrict or suppress freedom of expression. Speaking to RFA Jan. 31, Phay Siphan justified the government's recent crackdown on online activists. “They incite violence, discrimination and spread insults. Should we allow that to happen?” he said. Translated by Sok Ry Sum and Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/internet-02012022164544.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has introduced Royal Cambodian Army Commander and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP) Prime Minister’s candidate to King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk as his successor to protect the monarchy. He also highlighted Lt Gen Manet’s efforts to protect the Royal Palace as army commander and also as Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) deputy commander-in-chief. Mr Hun Sen, the CPP president, also blasted those who criticised his and Lt Gen Manet’s recent visit to the Royal Palace after King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath granted a royal audience to them. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of an overpass in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district yesterday, Mr Hun Sen said Lt Gen Manet has made great efforts to safeguard the Royal Palace and defended the visit against those who spoke badly about it. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501016602/cementing-succession-hun-sen-introduces-manet-to-the-king-as-cpps-pm-candidate/

King Norodom Sihamoni has issued a Royal Decree granting Khmer citizenship to environmentalist Benjamin Joseph Davis, an American. The royal decree, which was signed last Wednesday, also granted citizenship to his wife Lwin Sharyn Patricia and two daughters Davis Amelie Charis and Davis Jarrah Camille. The Environment Ministry yesterday congratulated them on being conferred citizenship. Environment Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said that this was a recognition of the dedicated efforts Davis and his family have put in toward protecting and conserving forest and wildlife resources in the Phnom Thnort-Phnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province. Davis has been working with the government to protect and conserve wildlife and forest resources for more than 20 years and his Be Treed project has resulted in the conservation of the a portion of the sanctuary to be turned into nature tourism destinations. The project is co-sponsored by the Environment Ministry. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501016695/king-grants-citizenship-to-american-environmentalist/

As early as 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Phnom Penh residents were up and busy hosing down and cleaning their front yards. They set up tables with fake dollar bills, small glasses of wine, roast meats, decorations and other food offerings. At their front steps, people placed small furnaces, ready to burn offerings for their ancestors. At a meat vendor in Boeng Keng Kang III, people were lined up along the street at 5:45 a.m. waiting to collect their orders of roast duck and pork. Local police were onsite to assist with managing the crowd. After two years of the pandemic, Phnom Penh residents were back celebrating the Chinese Spring Festival ahead of the Lunar New Year on February 1. Expecting renewed celebrations, City Hall asked residents to refrain from firing fireworks, gambling or marching in parades, threatening legal action for those who cause unrest. read more https://vodenglish.news/vendors-see-lunar-new-year-rebound/

Members of the public who have experienced corruption at the hands of officials at the Anti-Corruption Unit are encouraged to provide further information to the unit after it sent one of its staff members to court. The ACU said in a statement that its internal investigation unit found Touch Tith Vathana, 27, an officer in an international complaints and legal affairs department, had committed corruption. “Touch Tith Vathana used various methods for illegal personal gain while he was in charge of receiving complaints,” the statement said. “When he was suspended, he did not stop his illegal actions and demanded more from the complainant.” The internal investigation had collected evidence and questioned Tith Vathana before coming to its conclusion, it said. His case was sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for misappropriation of public funds and corruption. read more https://vodenglish.news/anti-corruption-unit-finds-one-of-its-officials-corrupt/

A altercation occurred in Phnom Penh on Friday night after 2 cars of Chinese men and their Cambodian bodyguards intercepted a bus full of Chinese tourists. The incident happened on Friday 28 January on the corner of Mao Zedong Boulevard and Monivong Boulevard in central Phnom Penh. Witnesses say that 2 cars, filled with Chinese men and their Cambodian bodyguards intercepted the tourist bus and drew pistols to threaten the passengers of the bus. The bodyguards then proceeded to attack the driver of the bus. Police were called and arrested the perpetrators immediately. The bus driver says that he had collected the Chinese tourists from a condo in Boeng Keng Kong district and said that he had been told to drive them to the Vietnam border in Mondulkiri province. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501015686/armed-bodyguards-attack-chinese-tourist-bus-in-phnom-penh/

The influx of Cambodian migrant workers who crossed into Thailand for employment purposes has began through the O Bei Choan, Banteay Meanchey Province and O Smach border crossing, Oddar Meanchey Province to reunite with families for the Chinese New Year which started on Sunday. Most of the returning migrant workers are believed to be of Chinese or Vietnamese mixed descent. Dr. Khlok Huot, Director of Oddar Meanchey Provincial Health Department, said on January 29 that the number of Cambodian workers repatriated through O’Smach checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province has increased compared to previous months. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501016067/cambodian-migrant-workers-flock-back-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year-from-thailand/

By Andrew Haffner and Mao Sreypich KAMPONG CHHNANG — Long Sokha was technically farming in a flooded forest, but there was no hint of that on a recent, sun-soaked afternoon. The fields of the plot in Kampong Leng district of Kampong Chhnang province looked neat and orderly, planted with rows of rice plants soaking in the paddy. The roughly 2,000 hectare stretch, not far from the Tonle Sap lake, was bare of any substantial trees, and though parts of the area appeared to be uncultivated wetlands, the area mostly looked like any other productive agricultural area in Cambodia. There was only one issue with that — none of these farms were supposed to exist. The land Sokha farmed is part of a protected state-managed area bordering the Tonle Sap, the great lake of Cambodia that stands as a critical hub for both biodiversity and commercial fishing. In December, Prime Minister Hun Sen launched a campaign to reclaim protected lakeside areas such as those rented by Sokha, calling for all flooded forestlands to be handed back over to the state. But even as levels of encroachment pushed the government to act, the flooded forest landscape had already been changed by generations of deforestation, a trend most dramatically punctuated by massive wildfires in 2016. Opportunist land-grabbing, often led by officials, has only accelerated since the fires burned out. read more https://vodenglish.news/how-cambodias-protected-flooded-forests-all-but-disappeared/

AirAsia has re-launched its resumption flight to Phnom Penh from Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday after a hiatus of almost two years. Riad Asmat, AirAsia Malaysia CEO said, “Phnom Penh has always been a very popular leisure destination for AirAsia in the past, and we are excited to launch the inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur after almost two years. “The overwhelming response as seen on January 26 signifies a strong pent-up demand for international leisure travel and we expect a strong rebound as international restrictions continue to ease. AirAsia is proud to support this initiative by the Cambodian government and we look forward to launching more flights to the country soon. “From an operational standpoint, we have extensively prepared to ensure all of our guests can travel safely, seamlessly and with peace of mind.” Fully vaccinated travelers from Malaysia who wish to travel to Cambodia must meet the requirements set by the Cambodian government prior to purchasing their flights and upon arrival. Cambodia has one of the most friendly entry requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals, either tourists or business and other travellers. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501016004/airasia-mounts-first-flight-to-phnom-penh-in-almost-two-years-while-bangkok-airways-increases-frequency/

Starting from 1 February 2022, Bangkok Airways will increase its direct service between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to two flights a day to support the increasing travel demand between the two cities. The added services between Bangkok and Phnom Penh will be operated by Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft. The outbound flight PG935 departs Bangkok at 17.20hrs and arrives at Phnom Penh International Airport at 18.35hrs. The inbound flight PG936 leaves Phnom Penh International airport at 19.25hrs. and arrives Bangkok at 20.40hrs. Passengers can visit the website https://www.bangkokair.com/flight/flightSchedule for more details about flight schedules. Moreover, Bangkok Airways is currently offering an extra 10 kilograms baggage allowance for all passengers traveling on Bangkok – Phnom Penh flights, where economy passengers are offered a total of 30 kilograms baggage allowance while Business Class passengers are offered 50 kilograms. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501015321/bangkok-airways-to-increase-flights-on-the-bangkok-and-phnom-penh-route-to-two-flights-a-day/

Phnom Penh’s iconic Sokha Hotel – a dominant feature of the Phnom Penh riverside view since it’s official opening in 2015 – is now understood to be for sale for $1.5 billion in order to pay off debts and finance further development elsewhere. The owner of the hotel, Sok Kong, a well-known billionaire who is the Chairman of the Board of Sokimex Investment Group, has stated that he wants to sell Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and land in Chroy Changvar for $ 1.5 billion to invest in his Bokor resort, situated on Bokor Mountain in Kampot province, which is built on land leased from the government for 99 years. Mr Sok confirmed that although he is eager to sell, he has not yet received an offer, stating in an interview with Fresh News that “…no one has come to negotiate and buy the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel and land in Chroy Changvar. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501015196/for-sale-phnom-penhs-iconic-sokha-hotel-price-tag-1-5-billion/

The Ministry of Tourism issued a circular to control the flow of tourists during the upcoming Chinese and Vietnamese New Year, as the country continues to implement measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, especially the Omicron variant. The circular was issued on January 28 and in the circular the Ministry ordered the following measure: Preventive measures set by the Royal Government must be strictly implemented. Businesses must strengthen the implementation of tourism safety rules and standard operating standards (SOP) procedures in accordance with the new normalization route introduced by the Ministry of Tourism on tourism-based businesses to maintain business stability and ensure the safety of national and international tourists. Strengthen the management of resorts and tourist destinations. In case of overcrowding, the Department of Tourism must immediately report to the Ministry of Tourism and the Capital-Provincial Administration to take measures to temporarily suspend the activities of those resorts and tourist destinations. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501015360/ministry-of-tourism-warns-of-closure-of-overcrowded-resorts-and-tourist-destinations/

PHNOM PENH, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet next month to discuss humanitarian aid for Myanmar, the current chair of the grouping, Cambodia, said on Saturday. Cambodia's foreign minister, and ASEAN special envoy, Prak Sokhonn, is a preparing for his first visit to Myanmar, the foreign ministry said in a statement. "His priorities are to implement the five-point consensus which was agreed unanimously and will be discussed during the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers' retreat," it said, adding that the event was scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17. Last year's military overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in Myanmar has been a setback for ASEAN and its efforts to present itself as a credible and integrated bloc. read more The grouping made a surprise move in barring the military junta from key meetings over its failure to honour a five-point ASEAN "consensus" that included ceasing hostilities and allowing dialogue. This month, Cambodia said the foreign ministers' meeting, the first during its chairmanship of the 10-nation bloc, had been postponed because some ministers had expressed difficulties in attending. Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

Two British Phnom Penh-based media veterans will soon take the stage at META HOUSE to showcase their new books and Cambodian experiences in a one-hour session of entertainment and enlightenment entitled “Cambodia – Past & Present” at 6.30pm on Wednesday. Glen Felgate, a former Reuters Television journalist who covered warzones such as Sarajevo and Kosovo during the 90’s before helping set up CTN (Cambodia Television Network) in 2002 as general manager, will talk about his book From Phnom Penh with Love – which was inspired by real-life. Felgate is joined by BAFTA-winning Matthew Robinson, former producer-director of British dramas such as EastEnders and Coronation Street, who will talk about his first novel Duel of Supremacy inspired by his ideas of Cambodia one thousand years ago. The session will include a mix of videos, book readings and the pair taking questions about their many years working in Cambodia’s media industry – and elsewhere. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501014672/two-veteran-media-expats-take-to-the-stage-at-meta-house/