The working group responsible for measuring and marking temporary pillars on the border in Banteay Meanchey province between pillars 42 and 47 is continuing to work “smoothly”. As of November 24, aerial photography using drones has covered 5.3 kilometres between border posts 42 and 43, or approximately 76 per cent of the total distance. According to the Cambodian team, the joint group from the Cambodian and Thai sides are using aerial drone photography to generate a photo map before temporary markers are installed on the ground. This section passes through Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages in O Beichoan commune,…
Author: Niem Chheng
Tobacco industry insiders in Cambodia have claimed that around 50 per cent of tobacco products on sale in Cambodia are illicit, meaning the government missed out on more than $38 million in revenue this year. The industry representatives presented a report on the tobacco situation in Cambodia last week, showing many of the cigarette packets put on sale at marts and other retailers had no health warnings. “Cigarette packets that have no warning signs not only fail to discourage young people from trying tobacco, but make them believe that smoking is ok for their health as they did not see…
An anonymous Cambodian military expert has described Thai army claims that a landmine which exploded on November 10 — causing a Thai soldier to lose his leg — was a “new” mine is a false assertion. The Thai army issued a new statement today, claiming that the mine, which exploded in a known historic minefield, was newly planted. The Thai army suggested that their claims were based on reporting from the ASEAN observer team (AOT) stationed in Thailand, which alleged that the mine which exploded on November 10 was a PMN-2 type that had been newly placed. However, the Cambodian…
A coalition of Southeast Asian academics, civil society leaders and peace advocates has issued an open statement calling on the governments of Thailand and Cambodia to immediately de-escalate rising border tensions and honour their diplomatic commitments. The November 21 statement, received by The Post today, November 24, comes in response to recent security incidents that threaten to undermine the “Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord”, a joint declaration signed by the prime ministers of both Kingdoms just weeks ago, on October 26. The coalition’s appeal outlined six key pillars that they believed are necessary to safeguard regional stability, placing primary emphasis on…
A prominent Cambodian analyst has shared his appreciation for the role played by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the ASEAN chair, in efforts to calm tense border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia and provide a venue for talks. He noted that such facilitation should not be seen as interference in the affairs of either Thailand or Cambodia. Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that Anwar, along with US President Donald Trump, played a vital role in brokering and facilitating the ceasefire and peace accord between Cambodia and Thailand. “At that critical…
The Banteay Meanchey provincial administration has clarified that the situation in Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages remains calm, noting that contrary to what some have claimed on social media, no new razor wire barricades have been installed by Thai forces. In a statement released today, November 21, the administration explained that it has observed the reposting of old photographs and videos of the installation of razor wire in the two villages, located in O’Beichoan commune, O’Chrov district. It had also seen images from other locations, with some posters claiming they were taken in the two villages. It clarified that…
István Zelnik, a Hungarian national, has voluntarily returned several Khmer antiquities he has possessed for many years. The pieces include fine Khmer silks, as well as sculptures which date back to the prehistoric era, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. A ministry press release explained that the agreement to return the items was the culmination of years of negotiations and was part of the ministry’s continuous efforts to search for and reclaim lost Khmer cultural assets. Zelnik is a private collector who has collected art objects from across the Asian region, including Khmer art, for several decades.…
In Dara, permanent representative of Cambodia to the UN in Geneva, met with Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to update her on the situation of the ongoing armed conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. He also detailed several alleged human rights abuses committed by Thai soldiers against Cambodian civilians. During the November 18 meeting, Dara highlighted serious violations committed by the Thai armed forces, including the shooting of unarmed Cambodian civilians, resulting in one death and three injuries, the alleged gang rape of a Cambodian teenage girl by seven Thai soldiers, and other serious…
In Dara, permanent representative of Cambodia to the United Nations in Geneva, has briefed Tatyana Valovaya, director-general of the UN Office at Geneva, on violations by Thai forces against Cambodian citizens, and also provided updates on the Cambodia-Thailand armed conflict. During a November 18 meeting, Dara explained that the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border remains highly fragile due to continued Thai aggression, according to a press release from the permanent mission. He said the Thai side has persisted in coercive activities against Cambodian civilians, continued to besiege villages, and continued to detain 18 Cambodian soldiers, despite successive agreements. On Thai…
Oxfam and local organisations, government agencies and private sector partners concluded their five-year Fair for All (F4A) project to address systemic challenges in the banana and rubber value chains. According to Oxfam, the F4A project, launched in 2021, has driven meaningful change in Cambodia’s agricultural sector by influencing policy, amplifying community voices and promoting inclusive governance. According to a November 19 press release, F4A strategically convened diverse stakeholders to address systemic challenges in the banana and rubber value chains through national dialogues and grassroots engagement to elevate the concerns of agricultural workers, prompting government commitments to strengthen labour protections and…