A group of 10 politically active young Cambodians will visit Japan as part of the Japanese government’s support for Cambodia’s democratic development. Among the 10, seven are from opposition parties, two from the ruling party and one from a civil society organisation. The March 12 to 19 visit is part of the JENESYS 2024 programme, a people-to-people exchange initiative supported by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a March 10 press release from the Japanese embassy. “This programme has been conducted since 2018 with the goal of supporting Cambodia’s democratic development through promoting dialogue between the ruling and opposition…
Author: Niem Chheng
The sculpted body of a Buddha in an unusual pose was discovered by Apsara National Authority (ANA) specialists at the Ta Prohm Temple in February. It was found to be a perfect match with a head that was found in 1927. As part of a collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the ANA archaeologists discovered the sculpture during the second phase of research outside the northeast corner of a laterite stone platform near the third hall of the temple. The decorations and pose are unusual, with the sculpture’s left hand placed on its chest. ANA This sculpture has…
More than 78 tonnes of used tyres, which entered the Kingdom through the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, have been returned to their point of origin. The worn out tyres were reportedly sent to Cambodia for disposal, in violation of international customs laws. The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) announced today, March 7 that following their inspection of the shipment, they ordered the owner of the four containers – containing 78,640 kilogrammes of old tyres – to ship them out of Cambodia. The department did not reveal the origin of the consignment. According to the GDCE, the cargo…
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has urged the public, especially wedding officiates and event organisers, to stop incorporating the “Rudra Abhishek Ritual” into wedding ceremonies, explaining that this practice deviates from Khmer traditions and customs. In a March 6 announcement, the ministry noted that it recently discovered several social media pages which promoted the integration of the ceremony into weddings. The ministry clarified that the ceremony of Shiva Lingam was historically a significant ritual for ancient kings. “This ritual was traditionally conducted within temple sanctuaries, typically at the central point of the temple, which represents the divine dwelling,…
The Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) is preparing a proposal which will extend the Kingdom’s mine clearance deadline for a third time, to 2030. Under the framework of the Ottawa Convention, plans are being laid out for the period covering 2026 to 2030. An inter-ministerial discussion on the draft document took place on March 6 at the CMAA headquarters, led by Senior Minister Ly Thuch, who serves as the first vice-president of the authority. Cambodia became a state party to the Ottawa Convention in 2000 and has already requested two previous deadline extensions: the first from 2010 to 2019, and…
Police are currently hunting for a third suspect in connection with the murder of Heng Seavly, whose bound and naked body was discovered in a shallow grave near Aeon Mall 3 on March 1. On March 3, the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police arrested two Chinese nationals, named Chen Cong, 30, and Li Haohao, 34, in connection with the killing. The 18-year old woman was allegedly romantically involved with Cong. During interrogation, the two men confessed that they had participated in the murder on the night of February 27. They claimed that the killing was orchestrated by a…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and related institutions to conduct research on the contribution of small businesses to the Kingdom’s economic growth. He explained that the growth estimated by the government is based on macroeconomic perspectives, which may not necessarily respond to real-world conditions, particularly at the sectoral level. Speaking at the March 4 Cambodia Outlook 2025 Conference, “Cambodia’s New Growth Strategy: Priorities for Quality and Sustainable Development”, the prime minister emphasised that economic growth based on macroeconomic perspectives may not reflect the microeconomic conditions of specific sectors. “Normally, we cannot have 6…
Cambodia is witnessing a continued upward trend of non-communicable diseases, with over 230,000 new cases of diabetes diagnosed in 2024, marking an increase of more than 59 per cent. Last year, more than 30,000 patients received cancer treatment in Cambodia. According to the Ministry of Health, in 2024, there were 230,279 cases of diabetes, with 17,534 of them hospitalised, an increase of 43.25 per cent over 2023. There were 31,518 cancer patients, an increase of 87.42 per cent, and 127 deaths were reported. The most common cancer types were breast cancer, accounting for 20.4 per cent of all cases, and…
A delegation from Palestine has concluded a successful visit to Cambodia. The group examined the operation of the Kingdom’s special economic zones (SEZ), with the goal of learning how they could apply the same techniques to develop their own sustainable economic system. The February 22 to 28 visit was supported by the Japanese government. During their time in Cambodia, the Palestinian delegation, consisting of authority officials and representatives of the private sector, visited the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) and exchanged views with officials from the Cambodian Development Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the…
The General Department of Immigration has refuted claims circulating on social media that Chinese nationals must pay $100 for an entry visa to Cambodia, with an additional $20 “unofficial” fee. The department stated that false claims such as this are damaging to the Kingdom’s reputation. The Chinese man who made the claim was arrested on March 1. He entered Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport, and photographed a $100 bill, and then a $20 bill, alongside his entry documents, claiming it was for additional services fees. In December last year, the Cambodian government announced a reduction in the price of…