The annual national monastic assembly of both of the Kingdom’s Buddhist sects has agreed to allow monks to contribute to humanitarian affairs. This includes visiting civilians who have been displaced by the recent border conflicts, as well as troops and the national police, and distributing gifts to them. This decision was made during the annual national monastic assembly, held from November 17-19. It was presided over by Senate president Hun Sen, who represented King Norodom Sihamoni. “In order to contribute to alleviating social hardships, the leaders of each hierarchies and monks nationwide should share in humanitarian work by visiting war…
Author: Niem Chheng
The owner of Songhak Marina Maternity and Treatment Clinic, who administered a fatal injection to a patient last year and subsequently dumped the victim’s body, has been sentenced by to 5 years in prison, while her husband received a 1-year sentence. On November 17, the Takeo Provincial Court sentenced Sun Marina, 39, to a fixed prison term of 5 years and issued a fine of 8 million riel (approximately $2,000). A patient died after receiving what was supposed to be a routine injection at the clinic, in Trapeang Krasaing Commune, Bati District, Takeo Province, in November last year. On November…
Kin Phea, a prominent political analyst, said it was “beyond the realm of human understanding” that the Thai army has attempted to defend the black-clad border guards who alleged gangraped a Cambodian migrant worker. He said a professional army demonstrate the courage needed to investigate the allegation, rather than hiding behind claims of “fake news”. A Cambodian woman, 18, has filed a complaint to the Battambang police, accusing seven Thai “Thahan Phran” of sexually assaulting her on the night of November 15, as she and several other migrant workers travelled back to Cambodia via an entry in Battambang province. The…
The draft budget law 2026 focuses on protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, mitigating revenue decline and addressing a decrease in state reserves. It was presented to a National Assembly (NA) commission on November 17 for inspection, and to allow lawmakers to ask questions to clarify their understanding of the bill. An NA statement noted that Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth, Minister of Economy and Finance, informed the NA’s Economic, Finance, Banking and Audit Commission (Commission 2) that the draft was prepared to support the seventh-mandate government as it continues its efforts to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while…
Thirty Vietnamese nationals have been taken in to custody by a Cambodian authorities during raids on two suspected online scam centres in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town. The operations took place at apartment in a gated community and at Heng Heng 2 Casino, located in Bavet commune, on November 17. The authorities confiscated 125 desktop computers, 2 laptops, 7 phones, 15 monitors, 16 call center booths and 6 passports as evidence. The operation was coordinated by the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC) and involved the National Police General Commissariat, the Svay Rieng Provincial Unity Command and…
A powerful coalition of 216 Cambodian confederations, unions, organisations, associations, and communities released a joint statement today, November 17, condemning the brutal gang rape of a Cambodian migrant worker, allegedly perpetrated by members of the “Thai Thahan Phran” (Black Army) forces along the Cambodia-Thailand border. The unified front, representing formal and informal workers, youth, women’s rights advocates and concerned citizens from across the kingdom, decried the assault as a “grave violation of human rights, women’s rights and the rights of migrant workers”. They emphasised that these rights are enshrined and protected by a comprehensive framework of national laws, the Cambodian…
A planned meeting of the Joint Technical Working Group, on the implementation of technical instructions for temporary border demarcation in the areas of Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages, has been postponed by one day, to November 18. A senior official from the Cambodian Border Affairs Secretariat clarified that the delay was because Thailand only sent a diplomatic note to Cambodia today, November 17. The official explained that the meeting, which would have focussed on technical details of temporary demarcation between border markers 42 and 47, on the border of Banteay Meanchey province, was scheduled to be held in Cambodia.…
Senate president Hun Sen has enquired about the views of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, regarding the continued detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers who were captured by Thai forces on July 29, a day after the ceasefire took effect. “The arrest of our soldiers occurred a few hours after the ceasefire. I thought that these brothers had already sacrificed for the nation. They [Thailand] are clearly using them as bargaining chips to exchange for this and that. Those soldiers truly understand this, their families also understand,” he said, as he addressed the annual…
Senate president Hun Sen has explained that Cambodia did not expect Thailand to wage war on Cambodia in July, which led to negligence, such as a lack of bulletproof vests. However, he noted that the Kingdom now has a surplus of flak jackets and helmets, to the point where it is considering accepting export orders. Speaking at the annual national monastic assembly for 2025 on November 17, he explained the issue, and how it has been resolved. “Before and after the fighting, did our troops have enough bulletproof vests and helmets? We were negligent because we thought there would be…
According to Cambodian defence insiders, credible Thai sources suggest that further attacks from Thailand are imminent. The threats coincide with an increase in Thai military chatter, since it declared the suspension of the US-brokered October 26 Peace Agreement. Cambodia sources said Thai forces are preparing to conduct operations in Pursat province, in the Thmar Da and O’Phluk Damrey areas, with activity reportedly expected to take place on November 18. The alert, spread by local media on the night of November 16, appeared to be correlated by recent Thai reporting on their military operations. On November 15, Thai Navy Division 1…