The General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) has issued a final instruction to the owners and operators of all commercial gambling establishments. They are required to submit a detailed layout of their premises and gaming equipment locations. In a February 9 notification, the CGMC stated that if casino premises are found to be inconsistent with the stated function of each building, floor and room, they must be revised. They must clearly specify whether the purpose of each location is for commercial gambling or for non-gambling businesses and must resubmit plans for approval. The CGMC reiterated…
Author: Niem Chheng
Cambodian defence officials have rebuked their Thai counterparts after they claimed that Cambodia is escalating its military capabilities. The described such accusations as unfounded and misleading. The comments follow a February 8 article in Thai media outlet The Nation Thailand, in which Thai officials warned of a potential “third round” of border clashes, claiming a significant military build-up. The report claimed that Cambodia has acquired advanced anti-aircraft weaponry to neutralise Thailand’s historical air superiority in the region. It did not suggest where Cambodia may have purchased such capabilities, nor been trained to operate it. Thai officials were cited by the…
Prime Minister Hun Manet hopes that now that their elections have been completed, Thai authorities will resume negotiations on surveying and demarcating the border through the mechanism of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), noting that this will alleviate the suffering of people living along the border. He also reiterated that Cambodia will continue to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are recognised by international law, not by force. Manet shared his comments as he attended a February 10 meeting with the Kingdom’s top scholars, high school students who scored an A grade in the baccalaureate exam. “It cannot be…
Ten Cambodian citizens, including three children, were taken into custody by the Thai Navy on February 8, as they attempted to return home, according to a Thai navy spokesperson. In a social media post earlier today, February 9, navy spokesperson Parach Rattanachaiphan said that Marine Ranger Task Force 2 of the Chanthaburi Marine Task Unit apprehended 10 Cambodian nationals, 3 men, 4 women and 3 children, in the area of Ban Laem, Thep Nimit Subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron District, Chanthaburi Province, bordering Doung International Checkpoint, near Battambang province’s Kamrieng district. He said the individuals did not possess travel documents to…
Almost 3,200 foreign nationals were deported Cambodia between February 1-8, as the Kingdom intensified the latest campaign to eradicate online scam operations, according to the General Department of Immigration (GDI). The GDI, under the Ministry of Interior, reported that a total of 3,181 individuals were deported during the first eight days of February. The daily breakdown was as follows: 312 on February 8, 625 on February 7, 629 on February 6, 479 on February 5, 289 on February 4, 428 on February 3 and 419 on February 1-2. The foreigners were detained for various illegal activities, including illegal residency and…
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia has rejected statements made by Thai culture minister Sabida Thaiseth, who claimed on February 6 that Ta Krabei and Tamone Temples belong to Thailand. The ancient Hindu temples along the border have been the point of disputes between the two countries, with Ta Krabei heavily damaged by Thai shelling during the December fighting. Thai authorities have said they will repair the damage their troops inflicted on the temple. In a press statement today, February 8, the culture ministry reiterated that these historical sites are located entirely within the sovereign territory of…
Early this morning, February 7, the Thai military blocked a major road on occupied ground in the Thma Da area of Pursat province. The Thais reportedly intended to install the containers yesterday but halted the work due to the presence of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT). At around 5.40am, seven containers were placed in front of existing razor wire barricades, blocking an arterial road which connects to Koh Kong province. Cambodian officials believe this action constitutes a violation of the ceasefire and of the Kingdom’s sovereignty. More containers are reportedly being moved into place, along with additional razor wire. A…
The United States has earmarked $4 million in aid to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) for the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), while pledging to help Cambodian war refugees affected by UXO return to their homes. In a February 6 social media post, the US Embassy said: “The United States is implementing its commitments under the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement to help Cambodians affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO) return to their homes and restart their lives.” “Today, the US provided $4 million to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) through our implementing partner, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA),…
Cambodia’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party are hosting a trilateral summit attended by senior officials from the CPP, the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. CPP president Hun Sen, president of the Cambodian Senate, To Lam, general-secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Thongloun Sisoulith, general-secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, attended the February 6 summit. The summit, held at the CCP headquarters, aimed to enhance friendship, traditional solidarity, cooperation and mutual support, with the aim of addressing various issues within the relations of the three parties,…
Thai military personnel and civilians reportedly attempted to place approximately 50 shipping containers in the Thma Da area of Pursat province on February 6, but were interrupted by the arrival of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) at the site. The placement of the containers would have mimicked their actions in the An Ses area; the aim appears to be to block the road and potentially create a new status quo on the ground. Today’s attempt was halted when the Coordination Liaison Group (CLG) led the AOT to the area. A senior Cambodian official stated that the placement of these containers,…