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Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Cambodia's king on Monday will appoint Hun Manet the country's new leader after his father Hun Sen calls time on nearly four decades of hardline rule. Days after a landslide victory in July's election, Hun Sen -- one of the world's longest-serving leaders -- announced he was stepping down as prime minister and handing power to his eldest son. The polls were widely decried as a sham after the opposition challenger Candlelight Party was barred from running over a technicality, with the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) winning all but five seats in the 125-member lower house. On Monday, following a request from Hun Sen, King Norodom Sihamoni is set to issue a royal decree making four-star general Hun Manet the prime minister. However, to officially become the country's new leader the 45-year-old and his new Cabinet must win a confidence vote in parliament set for August 22. The incoming government will usher in a crop of young ministers -- with some taking posts vacated by their fathers. While insisting he would not interfere with his son's rule, Hun Sen has promised Cambodians he will continue to dominate the country's politics. FILE - Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni is greeted by prime minister Hun Sen during the celebration marking the 64th anniversary of the country's independence from France, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 9, 2017. Having come to power in 1985, he helped modernize a country devastated by civil war and genocide, although critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction, entrenched graft, and the elimination of nearly all political rivals. The United States, United Nations and European Union condemned last month's polls as neither free nor fair. Hun Sen rejected those allegations and said his handover, a dynastic succession compared by some critics to North Korea, was being done to maintain peace and avoid "bloodshed" should he die in office. He also warned that should Hun Manet's life be seriously endangered, he would return as prime minister. While groomed for the position for years, the eldest son of Cambodia's iron-fisted ruler remains untested in the political arena, analysts say. And there are few expectations Hun Manet will chart a more liberal path than his father, despite being educated in England and the United States. A member of the ruling party's powerful permanent committee, he has been the Royal Cambodian Army's commander since 2018. Hun Manet has also met some world leaders including President Xi Jinping of China, Cambodia's main ally and a significant benefactor. After stepping down, Hun Sen will become president of the Senate early next year and acting head of state when the king is overseas. https://www.voanews.com/a/cambodian-king-to-appoint-hun-sen-s-son-as-new-prime-minister/7214257.html

PHNOM PENH – Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra appeared in Cambodia on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of the nation’s leader, after delaying a return to his home country amid political turmoil. The 74-year-old, who has lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years, visited the neighbouring nation, ruled by strongman leader Hun Sen, to celebrate the Premier’s 71st birthday, according to local news reports. Fresh News – an online news outlet with close links to Mr Hun Sen – cited the Premier as saying that Thaksin and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra spent a night at the leader’s residence in the capital Phnom Penh after attending his birthday party, and posted pictures of the event. The duo left Cambodia on Sunday morning, the report said, without stating their next destination. The visit took place on the same day Thaksin announced he will postpone his return to Thailand by about two weeks from an originally planned date of Aug 10, citing the need to do a health check-up. The political party his family backs, Pheu Thai Party, is, meanwhile, struggling to form the country’s next government after opposition from military-appointed lawmakers scuttled attempts by its former ally to do so. read more https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-s-thaksin-seen-in-cambodia-after-delaying-return-from-exile

Traditional healers, with their deep knowledge of nature’s bounty, have long played a pivotal role in providing healthcare in Cambodia. They use an array of natural ingredients, including dried plants, roots, and tree bark, to create effective remedies for various ailments. For individuals like Rani, who discovered a cyst in her chest, these traditional medicines are not only trusted but considered essential for maintaining health. While there are concerns about over-reliance on these treatments, the public’s faith in them remains steadfast, fuelled by concerns about the quality and cost of modern medicine. In a move that seeks to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of traditional medicine, the first traditional medical school was established in Phnom Penh in 2009. Since its inception, the school has graduated 345 students, all trained in the art and science of traditional healing. The curriculum is comprehensive, spanning hygiene and anatomy lessons and field trips to the countryside to learn about medicinal plants. This formalized training supplements and professionalizes the knowledge handed down from ancestors. The aim is to foster an environment where traditional and modern medicine can coexist, working side by side to meet the healthcare needs of Cambodia’s population, 80% of whom live in rural areas where access to doctors is limited. Ancient origins https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501336921/reviving-ancient-healing-arts-cambodias-ground-breaking-approach-to-healthcare/

The armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia are holding the two nations’ first joint training exercise on search, rescue, and disaster relief this month. The search and rescue exercise will be held from August 6 to 19 while the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief training will be conducted from August 16 to 21. Both training exercises held in Thailand aim at enhance bilateral cooperation between the two armies. The exercises were agreed to during a meeting with General Ith Sarath, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and General Thitichai Tiantong, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Chief of Joint Staff. According to a Ministry of National Defence statement yesterday, both countries discussed bilateral cooperation on border security and other issues to be resolved, as well as humanitarian issues. The statement said that the Thai Border Affairs Department requested Cambodia to establish medical exchanges between the two countries’ militaries. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501336651/thai-cambodian-militaries-to-hold-joint-drills/

The longtime prime minister said even his wife was surprised at the recent announcement that he would step down. Outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Thursday that the recent announcement that he would transfer power to his eldest son may have been done hastily, adding that he could return to office if his son’s life is ever endangered. Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Kandal province, Hun Sen said even his wife – Hun Manet’s mother – didn’t know about the plan to appoint the 45-year-old four star general as prime minister this month. Hun Sen had previously said that he would continue as prime minister until 2028. But on July 26, he announced on state television that a new Hun Manet-led government would be formed on Aug. 22, after the National Election Committee officially reports election results. The news came three days after preliminary results showed Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the tightly controlled parliamentary election. On Thursday, Hun Sen said he was worried that infighting among senior CPP ministers could result in bloodshed if a smooth and timely transition to a new government wasn’t made. But his plan to wield influence behind the scenes as head of CPP should maintain stability, he said. “I warn you that if my son’s life is endangered, the possibility of returning to be the prime minister is that I have to come back and work,” he said. “I have to return to be the prime minister for a while. After that, I will choose who can be the next prime minister.” Hun Manet, son of Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, is seen at a polling station on the day of Cambodia’s general election, in Phnom Penh, July 23, 2023. Credit: Cindy Liu/Reuters Still a few days left The abrupt transfer of power may be a sign that key CPP officials still don’t support Hun Manet's prime minister candidacy, said Um Sam An, a former opposition party member of parliament. Longtime CPP leaders like Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Defense Minister Tea Banh are also planning to step down this month. Um Sam An said Hun Sen has appointed Sar Kheng, Tea Banh and others to the Supreme Council of the King – which has no real authority over government affairs – to keep them out of power. But failing to share some influence could eventually exacerbate divisions within the CPP, he said. “The fact that Hun Sen consolidates power alone may result in armed conflicts that prevent the transfer of power,” Um Sam An said. “Sar Kheng may join hands with Tea Banh to prevent that transfer of power.” “So, there are still a few days left, and Hun Sen is still worried,” he said. Sar Kheng, Tea Banh and Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An were also recently promoted to vice president positions of the CPP. Hun Sen has said he will serve as president of the Senate. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San said he didn’t know yet who the CPP would appoint as president of the National Assembly. He added that the ruling party has no internal divisions. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Edited by Matt Reed. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-sen-hasty-08032023161709.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Cambodia's outgoing Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out Thursday at international criticism of elections his party won against no meaningful opposition, and defended his decision to hand power to his son as necessary to avoid bloodshed. The 70-year-old has ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for nearly four decades but announced last week he was stepping down for his son Hun Manet to take over as PM this month. The move came after his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election last month condemned by the United States, United Nations and the European Union as not free or fair. Election authorities disqualified the only serious opposition party on a technicality, paving the way for the CPP to win 82 percent of the vote and claim all but five seats in the 125-member lower house. "I can declare that democracy in Cambodia has won," Hun Sen said on Thursday in his first speech since the polls, insisting that the critics did not represent the whole international community. He also defended his handover to Hun Manet – a dynastic succession compared by some critics to North Korea – maintaining it was needed to ensure peace in the country should he die in office. read more https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230803-cambodia-s-hun-sen-defends-dynastic-succession-amid-international-criticism

Australia's national gallery will return three 9th and 10th Century bronze sculptures to Cambodia, after they were found to be stolen. It follows a decade-long investigation carried out by the two countries to determine the origin of the works. Cambodia's government welcomed the historic move as "an important step towards rectifying past injustices". It comes amid a global push to return looted cultural goods. The three artworks originally came from the Champa Kingdom that once inhabited Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) says it purchased the sculptures in 2011 for A$2.3m (£1.18m; $1.5m) from British artefacts smuggler Douglas Latchford - who died in 2020. Mr Latchford has been implicated in the illegal trade of antiquities since 2016 according to the NGA, with charges laid against him in 2019 relating to the alleged trafficking of stolen and looted Cambodian artefacts. read more https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66368076

Hopes are fading as authorities search for a 4th day for a young woman who was swept away when a torrential flood engulfed her campsite – killing one of her companions. Major General Mao Chanthurith, who is leading the search operation, stated: “The search continued on the third day from morning until evening. We have not found the missing woman.” Although not yet found, the joint police force has not abandoned the operation The tragedy happened when floodwaters from O’Mal waterfall adjacent to their campsite washed away tents early Saturday morning near Mak Brang commune, Toek Chhou district in Kampot province. The missing woman has been named as Phorn Srey Khouch, 19. The deceased woman was identified as Ken Srey Ratna, 19, from Svay Khom village, Bati district in Takeo province. Two men in the group of four campers survived the floodwaters, Song Tim Thon, 23, and and Seiha, 22. All four victims were friends who came from Svay Khom village. Authorities have encountered some difficulties in this operation because the location is a mountainous area with waterfalls. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501335734/hopes-fade-for-missing-young-woman-in-kampot/

The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia has asked Cambodian authorities to investigate the recent fatal shooting of a Vietnamese man in Phnom Penh and to search for the perpetrator, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. Following the embassy’s report on the fatal incident on Saturday, the ministry has urgently directed the agency to fully identify the victim, deploy citizen protection measures, and request Cambodian authorities to investigate the case and search for the suspect killer. The victim was identified as Minh Hung Khuou, 35, a Vietnamese national, who was shot at 1:25 pm that day in Tuol Svay Prey I Commune of Boeng Keng Kang District, the Khmer Times reported on Monday, citing Captain Choun Bros, deputy police chief of the commune. The man was residing in Cambodia before the shooting happened, the captain said, adding that his body had been brought to Stung Meanchey Pagoda, waiting for his relatives to receive it. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501334839/vietnam-requests-cambodia-to-hunt-for-suspect-who-killed-citizen-in-cambodia/

The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen posted a message a day after his father announced his retirement. The eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen vowed to maintain peace in Cambodia when he takes over as head of the government next month, saying on Facebook and Telegram that he’ll also aim “to ensure the development and tranquility of the people.” Hun Manet’s message on Thursday came a day after his father announced he would hand over the prime minister position next month. The 45-year-old posted a photo along with the message that shows Hun Sen dressed in a military uniform and standing in a jeep at a 2019 anniversary celebration for the Royal Cambodian Army Command’s headquarters. Hun Manet, who until recently served as deputy commander of Cambodia’s armed forces, is also dressed in uniform in a second jeep following just behind Hun Sen. “My father’s word that I will always remember and be determined to apply in all circumstances: ‘When you become the prime minister of Cambodia, you must maintain peace to ensure the development and tranquility of the people,’” Hun Manet wrote. Hun Manet’s statement is welcome, but “peace” doesn’t just refer to “no war,” said Ny Sokha, the president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) NGO. It must also include respect for human rights, social justice and social equality, he said. “Determination is not enough. It needs real practice so that people can believe in him,” he told RFA. “We are waiting to see what priority issues he will address after he officially becomes the new prime minister of Cambodia.” Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen claps during the 71st anniversary celebration of the Cambodian People’s Party at its headquarters in Phnom Penh on June 28, 2022. Credit: Heng Sinith/AP Peace and the political opposition Hun Sen, 70, has served as prime minister since 1985. He told reporters on Wednesday that a new Hun Manet-led government would be formed on Aug. 22, after the National Election Committee officially reports the results from Sunday’s election. Preliminary results show the ruling Cambodian People’s Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly in the July 23 vote, which included Hun Manet as a first-time candidate for parliament from Phnom Penh. Critics have said the tightly controlled election was neither free nor fair. Hun Sen was a signatory to the 1991 Paris Peace Accords and often touts his “win-win” initiative to persuade the remaining bands of Khmer Rouge guerillas to lay down arms in the 1990s. He has also methodically co-opted all political opposition over the years, and he often points out that his long reign as prime minister has brought peace and economic development to Cambodia after decades of civil war. In the months leading up to last Sunday’s election, Hun Sen persuaded dozens of opposition activists to switch their allegiance to the CPP, while others were threatened with legal action. “Now Hun Sen uses the word peace to arrest and put people in prison,” Chea You Horn, the president of the Khmer Association of Victoria in Australia, told Radio Free Asia last month. Men Sothavrin, a former parliamentarian from the now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, said Hun Manet appears to be copying his father’s dictatorship style. “Hun Manet must show that he is different from his father and never repeat his father’s dictatorship,” he said. “He must reinstate genuine multi-party democracy and respect human rights, especially political rights, freedom of press and expression.” Translated by Chandara Yang. Edited by Matt Reed. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-manet-message-07282023152933.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

The path that Cambodia treads under the leadership of Hun Sen's eldest son is filled with potential and promise, says Cambodian expert Chheang Vannarith. After nearly 40 years as Cambodian leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen is stepping aside, handing over power to his eldest son, Hun Manet. The leadership transition in Cambodia has taken a significant step forward, marking a notable departure from its violent history of power transfers. After gaining independence from France in 1953, Cambodia has experienced several violent regime changes due to conquest, coups and civil wars. The latest events include the 1970 coup, the rise of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975, a violent power transition in 1979 and a violent power struggle in 1997. This time, the shift of power has been remarkably peaceful, with Hun Manet set to assume the role of prime minister on Aug 22, following the Cambodian People's Party's (CPP) victory at the Jul 23 election. The reactions to Hun Manet’s appointment have been mixed: On one hand, there is optimism that Western-educated Hun Manet may improve Cambodia's testy relationship with the West. read more https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/cambodia-election-hun-sen-hun-manet-cambodian-peoples-party-3668721

Cambodia's long-serving prime minister has announced he is stepping down. What comes next? Three days after Cambodia’s highly controlled national election, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced Wednesday he will step down and hand power to his eldest son, army chief Hun Manet. Hun Sen, 70, has ruled Cambodia since 1985, making him one of the longest serving leaders in the world. During those decades, Cambodia saw an end to civil war, rapid economic growth and a steep decrease in poverty. But Hun Sen’s strongman rule has also been marked by extreme corruption, resource depletion, violence and political repression. The July 23 election had no viable opposition and many saw it as smoothing the way for a power transfer. Immediately before the election Hun Sen told a Chinese television station that Hun Manet could become premier within a month. Will Hun Sen retain any power after the transfer? Hun Sen will take on several powerful positions. He will become president of the Senate, president of the Supreme Council of the King, and president of the CPP. As a result, Hun Sen may well be expected to control much behind the scenes. He will also continue on as honorary president of the recently formed Cambodia Oknha Association. By heading the group of wealthy tycoons, Hun Sen is expected to also wield a potent economic tool. Why is this happening now? Hun Sen has variously promised to rule until 74, 90 and indefinitely. But in recent years he has spoken more about an eventual resignation. In 2021, he said Hun Manet would take over between 2028 and 2030. The announcement was officially endorsed by the party. Even though Hun Sen announced a weeks-long transfer timeline just before the election, many were surprised by the speed at which he’s moving to implement the transition. According to Hun Sen, Hun Manet will be appointed Aug. 10 and sworn in Aug. 22. There has been speculation that the shift is related to Hun Sen’s health or internal party conflicts, though there has been no definitive sign that either issue is the cause. It is also understood that Hun Sen wants the transfer to happen in time for his son to attend the UN General Assembly in early September. What is clear is that Hun Sen and the CPP are attempting to prevent as little turmoil as possible when Hun Manet takes over. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San told RFA that only a few ministers will stay on when the new government is formed later this month. Who is Hun Manet? Hun Manet, 45, has been groomed for decades to take over the premiership. He was the first Cambodian to be admitted to the U.S.’s elite military academy West Point and later went on to get a doctorate in economics at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. A four-star general, Hun Manet has served in Cambodia’s military since 1995. He was the commander of the army until stepping down recently to run as a lawmaker for Phnom Penh. What are the expectations for Hun Manet’s rule? Hun Sen built his public persona as an everyman — partly through famously lengthy, bombastic but often funny and rough speeches. In contrast, the western-educated and mild-mannered Hun Manet carefully curates his every statement, rarely betraying his true thoughts or feelings. The effect has been to make him a sort of inkblot test for Cambodia watchers. Optimists see in Hun Manet a closeted reformist itching to step out of his father’s shadow and rescue a country teetering on the edge of pariah status. They note his academic credentials, including his 2001 master’s thesis exploring the idea of land reforms in Cambodia. They also point to his seeming reluctance to be dragged into his father’s dirtier political frays. Pessimists counter that Hun Manet has never veered from his father’s “stability” narrative, which is a thinly veiled threat that any attempt to unseat the Hun family would be met with violence. Moreover, any attempt at meaningful reform would run up against the vested interests of the nation’s tycoons and military leaders. Their support has been vital in sustaining Hun Sen’s 38-year reign and would presumably be equally essential to his son. The truth, however, is that nobody but Hun Manet really knows for sure what he has planned. Another unknown is how much latitude Hun Sen will allow his oldest child. While he has vowed to step down, he will hardly be stepping out of politics entirely. (Additional reporting by RFA Khmer and Jack Adamović Davies.) Edited by Jim Snyder. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-sen-resignation-explainer-07262023153915.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

Indonesian police are investigating an illegal trade of human organs involving police and immigration officers who were accused of helping traffickers send 122 Indonesians to a hospital in Cambodia to sell their kidneys, police said on Tuesday. The investigation began when Indonesian authorities arrested 12 people, including a police officer and an immigration officer, on July 19. The police vowed to continue cracking down on human smuggling syndicates involved in the illegal trade of human organs. Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, stated that all 122 victims, including factory workers, teachers, and executives, had returned to Indonesia. However, police are still searching for several other victims whose testimony will be vital for the investigation. Most of the victims lost their jobs during the pandemic, and driven by financial desperation, they agreed to sell their organs for money. Haryadi added that six of the victims are still under observation by doctors. The suspects exploited the vulnerable situation of these individuals and lured them through social media, promising them a substantial amount of money in return for their kidneys. Each victim was promised 135 million rupiah ($9,000). read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331390/human-organ-trafficking-uncovered-in-indonesia-police-crackdown-on-traffickers/

King Norodom Sihamoni has awarded 141 artistes with the Royal Order for their contribution to the promotion of Cambodian culture through the arts. The award was given to the artists in response to a request from Prime Minister Hun Sen. Among them were several artistes who practice Chapei Dang Veng, a musical tradition closely associated with the life, customs and beliefs of the Cambodian people. It features the two-stringed, long-necked guitar that is usually plucked and accompanied by singing. Pich Sarath, director of the community living Chapei, said: “My family was very surprised when we heard that King Norodom Sihamoni had awarded 141 artistes the Royal Order, especially when I learned that I am one of the awardees.” There are also some famous Chapei Dang Veng elder artistes such as Master Kong Nay and Prum Phalla, who are considered outstanding at chapei, among the awardees. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331747/141-artistes-receive-royal-order-award-from-king/

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen won a landslide victory in Sunday’s general election, said the National Election Committee (NEC)’s preliminary results released on Wednesday. A total of 18 political parties contested the election, which was held once every five years to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly. The results indicated that the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 percent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party of Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 percent of the total valid votes. CPP spokesman Sok Eysan said according to the CPP’s calculation based on the NEC’s preliminary results, the CPP won 120 seats, and the Funcinpec Party gained the remaining five seats. “This is another great success for the CPP, and it truly reflected people’s confidence in the party’s leadership,” he told Xinhua. “We will do our best to continue to serve the people.” In a special voice message on Wednesday, the prime minister said his eldest son Hun Manet has “the highest possibility” of becoming the new prime minister, replacing him in the new-term government. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501332138/cambodias-election-body-says-pms-party-wins-82-3-percent-of-the-popular-votes-in-election/

Hardline Cambodian PM Hun Sen to Step Down After Four Decades PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign in three weeks and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985, eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee, and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82% of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea. "I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television. Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, the Candlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats. The government hailed the 84.6% turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair. Chinese influence Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday's vote. But the outgoing leader has made it clear that he still intends to wield influence, even after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction. Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has tacked close to Beijing, benefiting from huge Chinese investment and infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of a naval base that has alarmed Washington. China welcomed Sunday's election, with President Xi Jinping sending Hun Sen a personal message of congratulation. But the flood of Chinese money has brought problems, including a rash of casinos and online scam operations staffed by trafficked workers in appalling conditions. Critics say his rule has also been marked by environmental destruction and entrenched graft. Cambodia ranks 150th out of 180 in Transparency International's corruption perception index. In Asia, only Myanmar and North Korea rank lower. Rights groups accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush any opposition to his rule — including activists and troublesome union leaders as well as politicians. Scores of opposition politicians have been convicted and jailed during his time in power and the law was changed ahead of Sunday's election to make it illegal to call for voters to spoil ballots. Five days before polling day, authorities banned exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy from running for office for 25 years for urging people to void their ballot papers. Opposition leader Kem Sokha was in March convicted of treason and sentenced to 27 years in prison over an alleged plot to topple Hun Sen's government. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest. https://www.voanews.com/a/hardline-cambodian-pm-hun-sen-to-step-down-after-four-decades-/7198415.html

Cambodia’s Hun Sen says he’ll hand power to eldest son in August The longtime prime minister will step down once Sunday’s one-sided election is certified. By RFA Khmer 2023.07.26 This combination photo shows Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son Hun Manet during election campaign rallies in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 1, 2023 and July 21, 2023 respectively. UPDATED AT 4:39 PM EST ON 7-26-2023 For years, people have talked about Prime Minister Hun Sen’s desire to eventually hand over power to his eldest son, the foreign-educated military general, Hun Manet. Until recently, the 70-year-old Hun Sen said he would continue as prime minister until after the next parliamentary election in 2028. But in the weeks leading up to last Sunday’s election, speculation grew that the change would happen much sooner. On Wednesday, Hun Sen called a news conference to say he would step down as prime minister, a position he’s held since 1985. In a special broadcast on state television, he said a new Hun Manet-led government would be formed on Aug. 22, after the National Election Committee officially reports the results from Sunday’s election. “I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister,” he said. Preliminary results show Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly in the July 23 vote, which included Hun Manet as a first-time candidate for parliament from Phnom Penh. The only viable opposition, the Candlelight Party, was disqualified in May on a technicality. Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy told Radio Free Asia that announcing the handover before the NEC had even certified the election results was “indecent.” The Cambodian people “object to nepotism,” as well as the prospect of living “under the grip of the Hun family forever,” he said. ‘Gripping power’ As recently as March, Hun Sen vowed to rule Cambodia until his death. “Some people said Hun Sen is gripping power. I am accepting that,” he said at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh. “I am only defending the power that I am having – there is nothing wrong with that.” But last week, he drastically moved up that timetable when he told China’s Phoenix TV that he could hand power over to the 45-year-old Hun Manet “within three or four weeks” of Sunday’s elections. That followed various promotions and appointments to government ministries in March and April that seemed to indicate that the sons and daughters of longtime officials would be assuming new leadership roles after the election. Last week, CPP spokesman Sok Ey San confirmed to Radio Free Asia that a post-election government cabinet would be “90 percent new blood,” with only a few ministers staying on. Hun Sen’s youngest son, Hun Many, thanked his father for his years of service in a message posted on Facebook. “The Kingdom of Cambodia will move forward with optimism, enthusiasm, confidence, agility and high commitment to the national cause and people,” he said. “Brother Net! We put our trust in you!” New adviser positions for the old guard Hun Sen confirmed on Wednesday that he would remain as head of the CPP – a post he previously said he would keep to remain politically involved. He also said he would serve as president of the Senate and as a member of the Supreme Council of the King, a nine-member body that selects Cambodia’s monarch. It last acted in 2004 when it selected the current king, 70-year-old Norodom Sihamoni. Changes to the Constitution last year did away with a requirement that the Assembly vote to approve a newly designated prime minister, a move believed aimed at easing the transition to Hun Manet. Hun Sen added on Wednesday that other aging top officials will be expected to step down from their ministry positions soon. They could possibly serve as high-level advisers or as senators, he said. He said this transition would include Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Defense Minister Tea Banh – all of whom were recently promoted to vice president positions of the CPP. They will also serve as members of the Supreme Council of the King, he said. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Mike Firn and Matt Reed. This story has been updated with background information and quotes from Sam Rainsy and Hun Many. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/hun-sen-steps-down-07262023040944.html Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

In a special message to the nation, Prime Minister Hun Sen has just announced that he is stepping down from the role of Prime Minister. The PM announced the move via a live broadcast on national TV at around 2.10pm on the 26th of July. The Prime Minister stated that the King will order the appointment of a new Prime Minister – the PM’s son, Hun Manet – in around 3 weeks. The PM added that he will not interfere in the work of Hun Manet as Prime Minister. The PM stated that the his resignation is a prelude to long-term stability, which is the foundation for development. The PM added that that the inauguration of Hun Manet as Prime Minister did not skip the procedures. The PM stated that the resignation of the Prime Minister is a great sacrifice to ensure the peace of the nation and added that his resignation was in line with the royal example of King Norodom Sihanouk in the transfer of the throne. The PM also stated that after he resigns from the Royal Government, he will be appointed by the King to be the President of the Supreme Council of the King. The PM will also be the President of the Senate to replace Samdech Say Chhum after the Senate election on February 25, 2024. Hun Sen has served Cambodia as Prime Minister for a record-breaking 38 years and his stepping down comes after a landslide win for his ruling Cambodian People’s Party in National elections on 23rd July 2023 – with the CPP securing 120 of the 125 available seats https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501331629/prime-minister-hun-sen-announces-resignation/

China has visibly made great progress in completing a naval base in Cambodia and is close to finishing off a pier that may be able to berth an aircraft carrier, per satellite imagery. Images captured by BlackSky, a US-based commercial imagery firm that has been closely tracking the construction at the Ream Naval Base, share an almost complete pier that is quite surprisingly similar in both design and size to a pier that China’s military uses at its overseas base located in Djibouti. The Pentagon firmly believes that China is building its facility in Cambodia to enhance its ability to project the country’s naval power. Cambodia and China have denied that the People’s Liberation Army will have access to the base. China is expected to get a strategic edge from the Cambodian naval base constructed near the Gulf of Thailand. A former US intelligence officer mentioned an ongoing debate in the US government regarding whether China will do the right thing for such a naval base. https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/chinas-large-naval-base-in-cambodia-nears-completion-in-challenge-to-us-naval-power/

A 5-year-old girl died of seizures shortly after a local doctor administered two injections because she had a mild cough and fever. The victim, 5-year-old Kim Chantey, lives in Teuk Phos district, Kampong Chhnang province. She died after her parents took her to a private doctor’s house in Banteay Preal commune, Rolea Bier district. Yim Sophal, Deputy Inspector of Criminal Planning of Rolea Bier District Police Inspectorate, told local news on the afternoon of July 24 that this case had occurred since the evening of July 22, but he just received the information this morning because the victim’s parents just reported to the administrative post. He added that in connection with the case, according to the information he received, the girl’s parents initially took the girl to the home of a private doctor named Ho Thong, a 45-year-old female. After the doctor injected two needles into both of the girl’s thighs, the victim suddenly had anaemia. When she saw that, the doctor gave her a serum and asked her parents to take her to the Provincial Referral Hospital for emergency treatment. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501330083/doctor-flees-after-5-year-old-girl-dies-from-injections/

Some residents and tour guides have expressed dissatisfaction with the new tours set up for Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei temples with a time limit set for tourists. The Apsara National Authority (ANA) issued a statement last week that said ANA will launch a visiting circuit for Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei temples with a time limit for tourists. ANA said that this is to increase the quality of visits and increase the value of the temple, as well as provide a good experience for tourists. According to ANA, the new pilot project for Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei will officially start on August 1. ANA has confirmed that the necessary infrastructure and facilities such as stairs, railings, bars, signs, directions and bulletin boards on the walls of the galleries have been redesigned for the pilot tour.The authority has also confirmed that the new tour offers three options for tourists visiting Angkor Wat. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501330118/new-tours-set-up-for-angkor-wat-and-banteay-srei/

However, China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman offered ‘warm congratulations’ for Sunday’s vote. France, the United Kingdom and Australia on Monday criticized Cambodia’s one-sided parliamentary election, while China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman congratulated Cambodia for the “smoothly held” vote. Preliminary results from Sunday’s election show the Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party winning 120 of 125 seats in the National Assembly. But the election has been criticized as neither free nor fair because of the exclusion of the main opposition Candlelight Party, as well as for efforts to neutralize the political opposition through threats, arrests and other means. The estimated 84 percent turnout was “a clear demonstration of the vibrancy of the Kingdom’s democracy” and “a rejection of the calls for electoral boycotts and smear campaigns orchestrated by extremist opposition factions,” Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The voting process was witnessed by 422 international observers, representing 65 nationalities from 61 institutions, according to the ministry’s statement, which did not specify the institutions. Russian election observers stand at a polling station in Takhmau in Kandal province, Cambodia, on July 23, 2023. Credit: Heng Sinith/AP The United States, the European Union, France and Japan said in March that they had no plans to send electoral observers or to provide assistance to Cambodia’s election committee, citing arrests of opposition activists and other actions intended to silence and intimidate opposition figures. A statement from the Australian Embassy on Monday condemned the pressure brought to bear on media outlets and civil society groups in recent months, as well as the National Election Committee’s decision in May to disqualify the Candlelight Party. “Australia has been a partner for decades supporting Cambodia’s aspiration for peace, development, democracy and human rights,” the embassy statement said. “We express our concerns as a longstanding friend and renew our desire to work with Cambodia towards these aspirations.” France’s statement cited the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, which ended decades of war in Cambodia and set the stage for UN-sponsored elections in 1993 and the writing of a new Constitution. “We call for the release of the detained opposition members, and urge the Cambodian authorities to respect the fundamental rights necessary for the restoration of democracy,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said. Locals line up to vote at a polling station in Krang Thnong village outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 23, 2023. Credit: Heng Sinith/AP Additionally, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights called on the international community to not recognize or legitimize Sunday’s “farcical elections.” Canada and the European Union also released statements on Monday that were critical of the election. Official election results are expected to be announced between Aug. 9 and Sept. 4. ‘Strong momentum’ with China At the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s regular news conference on Monday, spokeswoman Mao Ning wished Hun Sen and the CPP success in forming a new government. “In recent years, under the strategic guidance of Chinese and Cambodian leaders, China-Cambodia relations have enjoyed strong momentum,” she said. “Our two countries contribute to regional cooperation and international equity and justice.” Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia since 1985, told a Chinese television station last week that his eldest son, Hun Manet, could succeed him as prime minister within weeks. Hun Manet was listed as the CPP’s top candidate from Phnom Penh. In February, he traveled with his father to Beijing to attend meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Hun Manet, eldest son of Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, shows his inked finger after casting his ballot at a polling station in Phnom Penh, on July 23, 2023. Credit: AFP U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to comment on Monday on the possibility of Hun Manet taking control of the government soon. On Sunday, he said in a statement that the United States was troubled that the elections were “neither free nor fair.” The statement also said that the United States would pause some foreign assistance programs and has taken steps “to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy” in Cambodia ahead of the elections. “We do not make those designations public,” Miller said at the State Department’s regular briefing on Monday. “We make public that we have designated officials, but we do not make the names public as a matter of policy.” He added that $18 million in foreign aid programs will be put on hold this year, and restrictions will extend into future fiscal years. He did not detail the specific programs that were no longer being funded. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Matt Reed. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/embassies-election-07242023155206.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 said it was pausing some foreign assistance programs in Cambodia and imposing visa bans on individuals it says undermined democracy after the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) declared a landslide victory in elections on Sunday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that Washington was "troubled" that the elections, in which Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP faced no viable opponent were "neither free nor fair." "Ahead of the elections, Cambodian authorities engaged in a pattern of threats and harassment against the political opposition, media, and civil society that undermined the spirit of the country’s constitution and Cambodia’s international obligations," Miller said. "In response, the United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs," he added. Miller called on Cambodian authorities to restore genuine multi-party democracy, end politically motivated trials and reverse convictions of government critics and allow independent media to operate without interference in order to "improve the country’s international standing." Self-styled strongman Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 38 years, had brushed off Western concern about the election's credibility, determined to prevent any obstacle in his carefully calibrated transition to his anointed successor and eldest son, Hun Manet. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-pauses-some-aid-imposes-visa-bans-after-neither-free-nor-fair-cambodia-election-/7193333.html

Among the Cambodian people who participated in the 7th National Assembly election on July 23, 2023, there were also three Cambodians of Australian descent who came to participate in the National Assembly election to fulfill their duties as Cambodian citizens. The three Cambodian-Australian citizens are: Mr. Mark Klin Lok Klin Sathathakas voted at office 1449, Tuol Kork Primary School Mr. Mark Klin, Derrick Rithy Rainsy voted at office 1449, Tuol Kork Primary School Mr. Mc Klin Fit, Allen Chakrey voted at office 1449 All three of them participated in the election with their mother, Ok Puthy, who voted at the same 1449 polling station at Tuol Kork Primary School. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501329145/cambodian-australians-cast-votes-in-national-election/

Adolescent pregnancy remains a pressing concern for girls in the Southeast Asia region, hampering their ability to pursue their dreams and aspirations. It is a profound violation of their human rights and imposes significant barriers to their personal, educational, social and economic development. The consequences of early pregnancies are vast, perpetuating cycles of inequality and impeding progress towards gender equality. Globally, during the last decade there has been a steady decline in child marriage. In several countries in Southeast Asia, there has been either stagnation or an increase in adolescent pregnancy, often triggering child marriage or early union. In Cambodia, most adolescent pregnancies occur in the context of union (marriage or cohabitation), but about one in ten women who conceived before age 18 did so outside of union. There is limited research on adolescent girls’ pathways to adolescent pregnancy, especially when it occurs outside of union. read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501328956/adolescent-pregnancy-remains-a-pressing-concern-for-girls-in-cambodia/