Analysts have noted the success of Cambodian People Party (CPP) president Hun Sen’s “Isolate and Finish” policy, describing a rapid increase in the number of supporters abandoning former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, and observing that the one-time challenger for the position of prime minister is becoming more and more isolated. Rainsy was formally Hun Sen’s biggest rival in contemporary Cambodian politics. Since he began living in self-imposed exile abroad to avoid a slew of court cases, his followers have been departing from his sphere of influence one after another. The latest person to declare an end to his allegiance with…
Author: Niem Chheng
Cambodian Senate president Hun Sen has received the support of Laos head of state Thongloun Sisoulith for the Kingdom’s Funan Techo Canal project, noting that the canal will not pose any environmental impact or affect the water flow of the Mekong River. Hun Sen met with president Sisoulith on April 23, during day one of the latter’s official two-day visit to Cambodia, according to Hun Sen’s social media channel. “The canal will provide a connection between the Bassac River and Cambodia’s coastline. The Laos head of state shared his support for this large project,” said the post. The 180km waterway…
Cambodia reiterated its unwavering support for China regarding the Taiwan issue, re-stating the Kingdom’s support for the one-China policy during an official visit by a senior Chinese leader. The stance was shared with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi during his three-day visit to Cambodia, which ended today, according to a joint press release by the two governments. The release said Cambodia emphasised its recognition that the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government representing the whole of China. It added that Cambodia views Taiwan as an “inalienable” part of China’s territory. “Cambodia opposes any attempt to…
There was great news for the Kingdom’s conservationists as the 7th fresh water Mekong Dolphin calf, a critically endangered species, was spotted in Kampi deep pool in Kratie province on April 22. The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) calf was discovered by a research team from the Fisheries Administration (FiA) and WWF Cambodia in the late afternoon in Chroy Banteay commune, in Praek Prasab district, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. “The FiA of the agriculture ministry would like to thank our river guards and local authorities as well as the local people for joining hands to conserve…
Analysts have described Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Cambodia as making a major contribution to the realisation of 2024 as the year of people-to-people exchanges, which will spur an increase in tourism from China to Cambodia. Wang is paying an official trip to the Kingdom from April 21-23, as part of a diplomatic mission which also includes visits to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. He paid a courtesy call on King Norodom Sihamoni on April 21, before meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chanda Sophea later on the same day. On April 22, he…
Analysts hail the seventh-mandate government’s commitment to combating illegal drugs and ensuring public safety. When he took office in August last year, Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to place public order as one of his top priority areas. This includes a policy of “house cleansing”, by ordering all police and military personnel to undergo drug testing. The policy has since been extended to include all civil servants, at the national and sub-national levels. As of March 28, more than 230 police officers had been fired or demoted for their involvement with drugs, or for other serious violations of the disciplinary code,…
A Cambodian forestry official has finally been reunited with his family after more than 16 months of US court proceedings regarding allegations that he was involved in the alleged illegal sale of monkeys to US animal testing facilities. Cambodian authorities have long maintained the allegations were unwarranted. Kry Masphal, director of the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity of the Forestry Administration (FA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, arrived home from the US on the night of March 25, following his acquittal. He was one of eight individuals indicted by the US District Court for the Southern District…