A series of deaths resulting from falls from high-rise buildings have raised public concerns, with some observers questioning the haste with which authorities appear to have ruled the cases suicides. These cases should be investigated more thoroughly, and “cannot simply conclude with cremating the body,” they suggest. Similar incidents occur regularly, with cases reported in almost every month of the year so far. The two most recent cases occurred just two days apart, on May 16 and May 18, in the capital’s Chamkarmon district. The first case involved a woman identified as Siev Tey, 20, a Chinese-language translator, who fell…
Author: Niem Chheng
As the May 20 National Day of Remembrance approaches, both Prime Minister Hun Manet and scholars have advocated for greater public awareness of the Khmer Rouge era. The day provides an opportunity to commemorate the suffering caused by the Khmer Rouge regime and to reaffirm a commitment to preventing genocide from returning to Cambodia. On May 20, 52 years ago (1973), the Khmer Rouge established cooperatives, collectivising people into solidarity groups and abolishing private property in the areas they had liberated. This policy was reimplemented nationwide on May 20, 1976, a year after they seized power on April 17, 1975.…
The uncertainty surrounding the future of Phnom Penh International Airport has been resolved, with Prime Minister Hun Manet confirming that neither he nor former Prime Minister Hun Sen ever planned to sell the airport to private companies. Instead, it will remain state property and serve the public interest. As he addressed celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the formation of the National Police on the morning of May 16, Manet clarified that the “old”, commonly known as Pochentong Airport by Cambodians, will not be sold. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) will continue to manage the airport after…
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) has instructed all customs authorities to take strict measures against the smuggling of fresh durians through the border corridors under their jurisdiction. In a May 13 letter, the department directed customs institutions to collect durian samples based on risk assessment principles and random checks for analyses, which will be conducted by the General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Suppression (CCF). “If the results show that products contain substances that may be harmful to health or are of poor quality, the goods must be seized, and a report submitted to the…
A total of 120 cluster munitions, remnants from previous wars in the Kingdom, were destroyed in a controlled explosion by experts from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in Ratanakiri province’s O’Chum district on May 12. The “bomblets” were destroyed in a cashew plantation in Kamen Thom village, in Samakki commune. According to CMAC, the cluster munitions were from a CBU-25/A air-dropped bomb, typically containing 132 bomblets. During yesterday’s operation, 120 of them were determined to remain capable of exploding. CMAC reported that a farmer discovered the munitions buried approximately one metre deep on his farm, and informed the centre…
Two of the Kingdom’s top officials have raised concerns about online security challenges in 2025, identifying internet fraud as a major issue among several threats that require heightened attention from the National Police. The concerns were articulated by Prime Minister Hun Manet and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior, in separate letters addressed to the National Police on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Police Day, to be held on May 16. Manet, while acknowledging the numerous achievements of the National Police and commending their efforts in maintaining security across Cambodia, also highlighted the evolving global…
HALO Trust Cambodia responded to an unusual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) call-out over the weekend, when a farmer excavating his land in Battambang province’s Samlout district discovered a Mk81 bomb. The district is one of the most landmine contaminated areas in Cambodia, however finding large air-dropped bombs in this part of the country is rare. HALO sub-unit commander Da No was quickly on the scene to inspect the bomb and assess its condition. At 110kg (250 lbs), a bomb of this size is extremely dangerous to locals and poses a threat to lives and homes within a 1-kilometre radius. Thankfully,…
The Ministry of National Defence has clarified that no troops have been withdrawn from the Ta Moan Temple, which both Thailand and Cambodia consider part of their respective heritage and territory. Each side will continue to station five soldiers at the site. In a press release issued today, May 9, the ministry explained that the Cambodian and Thai defence ministers have agreed to maintain the status quo in a spirit of friendship, keeping their respective forces stationed at their original positions along the border. “In this regard, both parties continue to maintain a joint presence at Ta Moan Temple,…
During a current official visit to Timor-Leste, Cambodian Senate president Hun Sen was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by the country’s leaders. They met him at the airport and will also confer an honorary decoration upon him. Upon his May 7 arrival at Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Hun Sen was greeted by President José Ramos-Horta, who personally drove Hun Sen from the airport to his hotel. “Hun Sen. A good friend, a best friend, visits us. The Liberator and Founder of Modern Cambodia, Hun Sen led his people from genocide to peace and prosperity. I was his driver yesterday,”…
Global auction house Sotheby’s, one of the world’s leading sellers of fine art, antiques, jewellery and other collectibles, has halted the auction of more than 300 Buddhist relics and gemstones, following protests by the Indian government and the Buddhist faithful worldwide, including from Cambodia. “In light of the matters raised by the Government of India and with the agreement of the consignors, the auction of the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, scheduled for 7th May, has been postponed,” Sotheby’s said in a statement. “This will allow for discussions between the parties, and we look forward to sharing any updates…