A high speed car chase in Kampong Cham province ended with one of the Kingdom’s largest drug seizures on March 14. As part of an ongoing anti-drug operation, the authorities intercepted a convoy of three Lexus SUVs as they passed through Trapeang Preah commune, in Prey Chhor district, but when signalled to halt, the offenders fled at high speed. The chase continued down National Road 7, ending in Sragnae commune, when officers managed to stop one of the vehicles. The two occupants of the vehicle reportedly escaped, as did the other two Lexuses. When the police searched the recovered vehicle,…
Author: Niem Chheng
Vessels from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will be the first international visitors to the Ream Naval Base when it opens next month, following the completion of phase one of its current upgrade work. General Vong Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) confirmed the unexpected news during a March 18 meeting with Colonel Hara Takashi, the newly appointed Japanese military attaché to Cambodia. Pisen informed Hara that the port will commence operations in early April, and noted that Japanese vessels will be historically welcomed as the first to dock at the new facility. “Pisen noted that the…
As of the end of 2024, 5.04 million Cambodian citizens – or 51 per cent of the over-18-year-old population – had utilised credit or taken out loans. The total amount of credit equalled to almost $59 billion (236,429.266 billion riel). According to the 2024 Credit Situation Report by Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC), released on March 15, this represented a slight increase in the number of borrowers, with just under five million Cambodians in debt at the end of 2023, and total debt standing at almost $58 billion. Phnom Penh, along with Kandal and Siem Reap provinces account for approximately 60%…
Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has proposed an alternative strategy to discipline police officers who fail to carry out their duties to a satisfactory standard. He has suggested that they be posted to the border regions for a period of three to six months, so they understand the challenges many of their brother and sisters face. His idea has received mixed reactions. On the morning of March 17, as he addressed a graduation ceremony at the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship National Police Academy, he proposed both reductions in rank and border postings for officers who violate disciplinary standards. “If they have an…
Ahead of the possible introduction of new US visa restrictions, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has explained that Cambodia expects positive consideration, based on the Kingdom’s full cooperation on Cambodian citizens who are subject to US removal orders. In recent days, the administration of US President Donald Trump was reportedly planning to issue new travel restrictions on 43 countries. The rumoured restrictions will be separated into three colour-coded categories: Red, Orange and Yellow, depending on the severity of the restrictions. Cambodia is one of 21 nations reportedly on the yellow list, the least restrictive…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has declared that Cambodia is fully prepared to use its armed forces to defend its borders in the event of a violation through the use of military force, adding that he will continue to speak about peace until opposing politicians fully understand. “If I am asked why we don’t abandon the topic of peace, I say I will keep talking about it until you all understand it, too. Endure hardship, but don’t let it [peace] disappear,” he said. He shared his remarks during the March 14 closing ceremony of the annual conference of the Cambodia Oknha…
Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has issued a strongly worded reminder to prison officers across the country that they must conduct stricter checks on the use of phones, money transfers abroad and drug trading inside prisons. The Kingdom’s prisons are currently home to more than 55,000 inmates. As he addressed the March 12 closing ceremony of the 2024 annual conference of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), he emphasised that prisons are currently in a critically overcrowded situation. Of the more than 55,000 inmates, 30 to 40 per cent are being held for drug-related cases. “The minister has instructed…
The steadily increasing numbers of Cambodians – and foreign residents – registering for the Kingdom’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) reflects growing public awareness of the benefits of the system, as well as trust in healthcare services in Cambodia, explained Heng Sophannarith, deputy director-general of the fund. As of March 7, membership had reached 2,776,192. In 2024, services were accessed approximately 650,000 times each month. The increase in members has led to concerns about wait times and access to medical services. 499,979 public sector employees are NSSF members, along with the 1,570,662 employees of registered businesses who are covered under…
Although Cambodia is generally considered safe for tourists and other foreign visitors, the National Police Commissioner has reiterated the procedures for filing police complaints, should any of the Kingdom’s guests experience any unfortunate incidents of petty crime. A March 11 directive signed by National Police Commissioner Sar Thet explained that complaints should be filed directly with the Department of Tourism Police and entities under it, or at the nearest local or district police station. “Complaints should be written in Khmer, English or French. Other languages will be accepted if translated into one of the three international languages mentioned above,” it…
Cambodia aims to increase air passenger traffic to 7.5 million people in 2025, an increase of over one million compared to 2024, and to transport 80,000 tonnes of goods. The plan was presented by Mao Havanall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA), at the secretariat’s annual conference today, March 11. He emphasised the goal of boosting both passenger traffic and cargo transport via air routes. In a same-day press release, the SSCA noted that it will work to increase passenger numbers, including streamlining procedures to support new flight operations by Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to…