The government of Japan has provided a $5.4 million grant to Cambodia to renew voter information registration and management systems. The support is aimed at securing voter information and eventually making elections fair and accurate, said the embassy of Japan in Cambodia. An exchange of note event was held today, January 23, and attended by Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ueno Atsushi, ambassador of Japan, at the foreign ministry. The grant is part of “Project for the Economic and Social Development Programme”. “It will include the provision of a dedicated server and associated cyber security…
Author: Niem Chheng
Legal experts have emphasised the importance of understanding Cambodia’s legal framework for successful business operations, despite the country’s generally open and pro-business environment. Speaking at the Cambodia-Philippines Business Forum in Phnom Penh on January 22 – which focused on fostering ties between the two nations through Women in Business – Ly Tayseng, managing partner of HBS Law, explained that Cambodia generally adopts a civil law system. However, in practice, the Kingdom’s legal framework is becoming a mixed system of civil law, common law and international best practices, particularly in the business sector. “Cambodian laws are gradually influenced by international legal…
Sok Songha, until recently head of the Anti-Drug Crime Office of the Takeo Provincial Police, has been detained in provincial prison for allegedly accepting bribes and abusing his position. According to a January 20 statement by the Takeo Provincial Court, Songha, 38, is accused of taking bribes and abusing his power in the province between 2023 and 2024. The charges also implicate Sok Kea, also known as Seng Sokkea, 36, who is alleged to have paid bribes to Songha. Kea is currently detained in Kandal Provincial Prison, but it is unclear whether his detention is related to drug-related crimes. Songha…
Banteay Meas district in Kampot province was declared Cambodia’s first “smoke-free” district on January 16. Residents in the district have significantly reduced the use of charcoal or wood for cooking and have shifted to alternative energy sources such as electricity and gas. This initiative was led by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in collaboration with the Banteay Meas district administration. The goal was to transform the district into Cambodia’s first completely “smoke-free” area. SNV began working on the programme in early 2022 to reduce the social, economic, environmental and health impacts which stem from traditional cooking methods. At the start…
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and the Philippines have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint efforts to combat transnational crimes, human trafficking and cyber fraud. This commitment was expressed during a telephone conversation between Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Enrique A. Manalo, the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, on January 15. “Minister Manalo expressed gratitude for Cambodia’s full cooperation and goodwill in resolving the recent surrogate pregnancy cases involving Filipino nationals,” explained a foreign ministry statement. Both sides also praised the bilateral relations and are currently preparing for an official visit by Cambodian Prime…
Social analysts have agreed with the government’s plans to deploy new police officers to their home communes, noting that familiarity with their surroundings will make them more efficient at carrying out their duties. Last week, approximately 700 new police officers were selected through a competitive exam process. They will be stationed at their local bases, rather than being brought in from afar. The new arrangement is part of the reforms within the national police system, according to Touch Sokhak, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. Sokhak explained that the selection process prioritised candidates who are already residents of that area,…
Two mine clearance personnel tragically lost their lives in an explosion on the morning of January 16. The incident occurred at minefield BS/CMAA/37102, located in Oddar Meanchey province’s Trapeang Prey Village, in Trapeang Prasat district’s Bak Anloung commune. The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) confirmed the identities of the victims: Pov Nephin (ID: 936486) and Oeun Chandara (ID: 936493), both members of the First Mine Clearance Unit. The explosion occurred at 7.45am, during a routine clearance operation, as they were digging up and deactivating mines. Senior Minister Ly Thuch, CMAA first vice-president, expressed his condolences to the…