With Cambodia in the process of filing a complaint to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the Ta Krabei, Ta Moan Tauch and Ta Moan Thom temples, and Mum Bei area, the Ministry of National Defence on July 6 rejected “baseless and arrogant claims” made by certain Thai media, military personnel and civilians who asserted that Ta Krabei Temple lies within Thailand’s sovereignty. While Thailand has often made their claim, the latest conflict came on July 5 when Cambodian people with Khmer scarfs stitched with small national flags visited the temple. They were interrupted by Thai citizens and soldiers,…
Author: Niem Chheng
Cambodia’s recourse to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should not be misconstrued as a hostile or provocative act, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation clarified, in a July 4 statement. Rather, it is a peaceful, responsible and lawful measure that reflects Cambodia’s unwavering commitment to international law and the rules-based international order, it added. The ministry noted that other ASEAN members, including Malaysia and Indonesia (2002), and Malaysia and Singapore (2008), have turned to the ICJ to resolve territorial disputes with success and mutual respect. The statement came as border tensions escalated with a minor military confrontation…
The five-day lottery for the “Forest Protection Land Grant for Sustainable Development” programme, held from June 30, has concluded. A total of 500 landless, impoverished families from across the Kingdom were announced as winners during a live broadcast of the lottery. The initiative was proposed last year by Prime Minister Hun Manet. Of the 12,329 families who applied, 2,500 were selected for the first round of the lottery, with just 500 families awarded land in this initial draw. A working group will conduct on-site interviews with the selected families to ensure they meet the programme’s strict criteria. Candidates but hold…
Two Russian nationals and two Cambodians have been arrested by the Anti-Cyber Crime Department for impersonating Senate president Hun Sen and other high-ranking officials on Telegram. They used to fake accounts to encourage members of the public to invest in fraudulent investment schemes which promised high profits. Today, July 4, the department announced that it had conducted an investigation into the scheme, which had duped people out of more than $40,000. Besides impersonating Hun Sen, the perpetrators also faked accounts of Heng Sour, Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, and Kim Santepheap, secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice.…
Following numerous in-person and online meetings, the US and Cambodia have reached an agreement and are currently drafting a statement that will outline a framework agreement regarding the “reciprocal” tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in April. The final meeting between a Cambodian’s task force, led by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development Cambodia, and the US delegation, led by Sarah Ellerman, deputy US trade representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, took place this morning, July 4, said a press release from the Office of the Council of Ministers. The US initially…
The US embassy in Phnom Penh celebrated the 249th US Independence Day (July 4) on July 3, with the participation of several high-ranking Cambodian officials, who assured the Americans that Cambodia remains a trusted partner of the US. Embassy chargé d’affaires Bridgette Walker said that the idea and spirit of America have not only shaped her country’s development, but are also the basis upon which the US interacts with the rest of the world. “We seek partnerships where there are equal chances and opportunities; where there is transparency; and where there is fairness. To achieve these goals, you will find Americans…
The amendment to the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of Cambodians who collude with foreigners against the Kingdom’s national interests is imminent. Today, both the prime minister and the president of the Senate emphasised the necessity of this law, comparing it to similar laws already in place in many countries. Speaking at the inauguration of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) provincial headquarters in Kampong Thom this morning, July 3, Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that among nearly 200 UN member states, 150 countries have laws allowing the revocation of citizenship, including the US, a superpower. He further noted that 134…
The government of Japan has extended grant assistance to a programme which provides opportunities for young Cambodian government officials to study at graduate schools in Japan. Minister of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi signed an exchange of notes on the extension of the Japanese Government’s Grant Aid of nearly $3 million, during a July 3 meeting. The grant is provided for the implementation of the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship”. Since 2001, over 500 Cambodian government officials have studied in Japan under this project, according to Ueno. Speaking at the…
The Japanese embassy in Phnom Penh has dismissed rumours that the government of Japan will supply military drones to Thailand, as tensions rise over ongoing border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. In a message delivered via the embassy’s telegram channel this morning, Miyoshi Asagi, counsellor at the embassy, said that the rumour was untrue, describing it as misinformation. “We’ve learned that there’s a rumour or information that the Japanese government will provide fighting drones to Thailand. This information is false. The Japanese government has never planned to provide such equipment to Thailand nor has received such a request from Thailand.…
The Constitutional Council of Cambodia (CCC) has announced that amending Article 33 of the Constitution is “possible”, following a proposal by Senate president Hun Sen that the Minister of Justice review this supreme law and allow the citizenship of Cambodian citizens that collude with foreigners to be revoked. However, the idea has received mixed reactions. “Following a plenary meeting, the Constitutional Council respectfully submits to His Majesty, the revered King and supreme figure, that the proposed amendment to Article 33 of the Cambodian Constitution is feasible,” said a June 2 secretariat press release, following the meeting of the CCC Secretariat…