Vong Sokheng and Charles Rollet

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party passed the government’s $4.3 billion budget for 2016 unopposed yesterday as Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers followed through on a pledge to sit out the National Assembly session if concerns for their members’ safety were not addressed.

The CNRP’s 55 parliamentarians boycotted the session amid an increasingly tense political environment that has seen an arrest warrant issued for party president Sam Rainsy, the stripping of deputy leader Kem Sokha’s parliamentary title and the savage beating of two lawmakers outside the assembly after a session in late October.

The 66 ruling party lawmakers in attendance voted unanimously in favour of the budget, which will see spending increased more than 12 per cent from 2015.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/assembly-passes-budget-cnrp-boycotts-vote

Military budget up 8 years in row

Tue, 1 December 2015

Shaun Turton

For the eighth consecutive year, Cambodia’s defence spending is set to grow in 2016 after ruling party lawmakers yesterday approved the year’s budget.

The Ministry of National Defence will get some $382 million, a 17.3 per cent rise on this year’s defense expenditure.

According to the Australian Defence Force’s Defence Economic Trends 2015 report, the Kingdom’s military budget increased yearly from just $100 million in 2008 to about $277 million in 2014.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/military-budget-8-years-row