Cambodia

Cambodia Says No Probe For Missing Thai Activist

Cambodian police on Friday ruled out a probe into the alleged disappearance of a self-exiled Thai democracy activist after a rights group said he had been abducted in broad daylight from outside his Phnom Penh apartment.Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a sharp critic of the Thai government led by ex-general Prayut Chan-o-cha, was dragged into a black car on Thursday evening, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).Citing several witnesses and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from security cameras

6 June 2020
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Hun Sen Calls For Foreign Military Drills, Aid

Cambodia's prime minister invited foreign powers Monday to conduct military drills in the country as he called for overseas funding to build a pier and relocate an army training centre.But the strongman premier insisted that the country would not allow a foreign "military base on its territory".The Wall Street Journal reported last year on a draft deal allowing China to dock warships and store weapons at the Ream naval base near the coastal city of Sihanoukville.Hun Sen - a sta

2 June 2020
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Sihanoukville has become a dangerous playground

Another news report has surfaced highlighting the dangerous town that Sihanoukville – once a sleepy, coastal tourist destination in Cambodia – has become.On Sunday, it was reported that a boy had picked up a pistol and six bullets when out playing with friends on a plot of land in Village 2, Sangkat 1, Sihanoukville off Otres Road. Authorities have also confirmed that the gun was real.

1 June 2020
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How China changed Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville used to be a sleepy coastal town in south Cambodia. Its beaches were known for their quiet, cosy – albeit a little seedy – atmosphere that attracted mostly families, individual travellers and backpackers. Aside from the goings-on of the tourists and those connected with the country’s sole deep-water port, nothing much had changed over the years.

1 June 2020
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Cambodia Bourse Sees First Bank Listing

Cambodia's largest commercial bank listed on the country's stock market Monday, the first lender to trade on the fledgling exchange, despite uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.ACLEDA Bank became the sixth firm to join the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX), which opened in 2011, joining a garment factory, two state-owned ports, and a special economic zone (SEZ). But initial fanfare for the kingdom's trading future has dimmed, with the country's lack of

26 May 2020
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Is Cambodia’s education system corrupted?

On 26 January, Cambodian student Kong Bunrith posted a video on Facebook accusing senior officials in the country’s Ministry of Justice of allegedly taking bribes. Kong had claimed that some of his peers paid up to US$150,000 in bribes to secure passing grades.The municipal court has since summoned him for questioning over accusations of public defamation, slander and incitement to discriminate.

10 May 2020
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Cambodia’s failing education system

In December 2018, Cambodian Senate president Say Chhum had encouraged the country’s youth to study hard in order to become future leaders. He made the comment during the opening ceremony of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia congress at a hotel in Phnom Penh. Chhum’s call certainly makes sense if one were to consider how young Cambodia’s population is.

4 May 2020
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Garment industry hit hard by COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic that first emerged in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, China, has severely affected local industries and livelihoods across the world. Some of the worst hit sectors include tourism and aviation as an estimated three billion people worldwide are under virus lockdowns.

2 April 2020
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COVID-19 and Cambodia’s human rights concerns

In late January, Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Sen, made a televised statement about the spread of misinformation regarding the COVID-19 virus outbreak originating from Wuhan, China. He also threatened to “kick out” reporters or officials seen wearing a face mask.He said that the real illness was the fear they faced from inaccurate information spreading on social media.

2 April 2020
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Tourism In Thailand And Cambodia Take A Virus Hit

Southeast Asia is facing the possibility of billions of dollars in losses from the sharp drop in Chinese tourists since the COVID-19 outbreak.According to a report by global audit, tax and advisory network, KPMG International, the risk of a global recession in 2020 is extremely high as nations shutdown economic activity to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.A report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), outlining the economic impact of COVID-19, stated that, “tourism arrivals in many de

24 March 2020
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EU punishes Cambodia over human rights abuses

In December 2019, Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen dismissed a threat from the European Union (EU) to halt special trade privileges over human rights issues. “I don’t care, if (they) want to do whatever, do it,” Hun Sen said in a speech at a university graduation ceremony in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

5 March 2020
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