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Articles by Pha Lina
Youth optimistic about market for scriptwriting
Taking up writing as a hobby might be fine for the younger Cambodians, but very few people would venture into it for a living. Among the few professional writers are Svay Leemeng, who is optimistic despite the low income he earns. Hailing from Pailin province, Leemeng, 28, pursued his studies in the capital and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law. But his strong interest in scriptwriting spurred him to vie for a two-year scholarship at Cambodian Living Arts (CLA).
Ethnic Phnong villagers turn to homegrown produce for a living
As she walks in the rain, the 65-year-old ethnic Phnong woman is on her way to Sen Monorom to sell the wild bamboo shoots and bananas she carries on her back. She wears a blue shirt, a krama and yellow flip-flops. It’s another day in Mondulkiri province, and the woman is one of many local ethnic minority members who earn a living by selling produce, either homegrown or foraged from the jungle. Her bamboo shoots sell for 1,500 riel (20 cents) a bundle, and her bananas go for about 500 riel a bunch.
‘Adhoc 5 effect’ has left civil society scared, stifled
The trouble for the “Adhoc 5” started after Khom Chandaraty walked into the human rights group’s office on the evening of March 9, 2016, where she informed staffers there that she had been falsely accused of being then-CNRP vice president Kem Sokha’s mistress. A month later, Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor Seang Sok questioned the hairdresser for around five hours, only to emerge from the courtroom to make a startling revelation.
Labour Ministry to failing students: Don’t despair
Students who failed this year’s grade-9 and grade-12 examinations should not despair as the government has provided alternative options for those who want to continue their studies, a Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training official said. Speaking to The Post yesterday, ministry spokesman Heng Sour said that it would allow students to enrol in a vocational training programme – irrespective of their test results – and that it has prepared more than 10,000 scholarships to assist them.
Challenges lie ahead warns drug chief despite successes
A high-ranking official at the Authority for Combating Drugs on Monday said that despite improvements in tackling the drug problem, with cases “largely” down, the system faced challenges, with rehabilitation centres hitting capacity and “the criminal developing faster than the authorities”.
Government hits back after scathing report from UN’s Smith
The government hit back this week after the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Rhona Smith criticised the Cambodian government’s prioritising of “peace, stability and development over human rights”. “Peace without justice is unsustainable; development without freedom leaves people behind,” Rhona Smith had said in a report submitted to the 39th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Cambodia.
Get the taste of avocados all year in Mondulkiri
Talll trees and green fields stretch toward the horizon in Mondulkiri province. With the advent of the rainy season, the showers feed and rejuvenate the scenic views. They also help produce a bounty of fresh fruits from the area including durian, passion fruit, mangosteen, rambutan and avocado. But visitors must be wary when shopping for food in the region as much of it is imported.
Group of pupils complain over results of examination
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport said it will set up an examination committee to review complaints from over 100 students who are unhappy with their national high school examination results. Students across the Kingdom were disappointed with their results, especially in mathematics, where many received poor marks. Candidates claimed they were top students in the subject but failed it in the examination that was held last month.
Deadlock over wage talks
The first round of a tripartite meeting to negotiate a new minimum wage for garment and footwear workers ended in a deadlock on Monday. Trade unions, employers, and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training officials tried to hammer out a new wage scheme for thousands of workers in the industry, but could not reach an agreement on the quantum. The unions, led by Ath Thon, Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union president, demanded $211.94 as the minimum wage for next year.
Germany’s Merkel sends PM ‘congratulations’ on poll win
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel became the first leader of a Western democracy to congratulate Prime Minister Hun Sen on his party’s landslide victory in the July 29 national elections, issuing a letter wishing him success over the course of his new term of office. Observers, however, were divided as to the message behind the seemingly positive missive.
PM: Leaders age like wine
Defending the fact that the leadership has remained largely the same in the sixth mandate of the government, Prime Minister Hun Sen said reforms were more about improving job efficiencies. Several analysts have begged to differ, however, saying reforms won’t make much progress under an identical hierarchy. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the single-party National Assembly on September 7, Hun Sen said it wasn’t important to change leaders.
Students get exam results
As many as 75,059 students or 66.21 per cent passed this year’s high school examinations. The figure is 2.37 per cent higher than last year, a Ministry of Education announcement said on Sunday. The ministry said this year, the number students who received either an A, B or C grade decreased. This, it said, was due to higher test standards which encouraged students to study harder.
Viewing green forest from Phnom Bai Chow in Mondulkiri
Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers 2,225sq km of forest, was designated as a protected area by royal decree in 1993. It is a diverse area of rainforests, mountainous pastures, sparse forests and wet grass fields. Looking down at the forest from an overlook allows visitors to take in the majestic sights and see the valley as a sea of greenery. Located along National Road 76, from Mondulkiri to Ratanakkiri province, the sanctuary is some 10km from Sen Monorom town.
PM vows to keep pledges as CNRP slams ‘fake’ assembly
‘I sincerely pledge . . . that I am determined to lead the national executive to ensure the success of all the programmes the Cambodian People’s Party [CPP] promised the people before the election,” Prime Minister Hun Sen said at Wednesday’s National Assembly swearing-in ceremony, as he assured the Kingdom’s voters that all campaign promises would be kept.
Authorities to clamp down on Preah Sihanouk coast grabs
The authorities will soon put an end to coastal land encroachment in Prey Nub district in Preah Sihanouk province as the area is earmarked for a tourism development project. Prey Nub district governor Sar Kakada said he will come hard on those who violate the rules and continue to acquire land illegally.
I begged them not to: Deportees on return ‘home’
When three Cambodian immigration officials came to meet him in May at a refugee detention centre in Pennsylvania, James, one of 30 recent deportees from the US, says they spoke highly of Cambodia. He said they told him the Kingdom had changed a lot and was no longer the land from which his mother had to flee the horrors of genocide and war.
Ricketson trial closes, verdict due Friday
The trial of Australian filmmaker James Ricketson closed on Wednesday, with the defence portraying the 69-year-old as “a man who had done a lot to help” Cambodia. However, the prosecution accused him of hiding behind the facade of a “humanitarian” to “incite foreign countries to hate” the Kingdom and its leader.
PM welcomes GDP to forum
After hosting 16 of the Kingdom’s 20 registered parties at the inaugural meeting of the Consultation Forum, two additional parties earlier this week announced their intention to join the group but pushed back against the idea of opposition leaders receiving salaries. Despite missing the initial forum on August 21, leaders from the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) and Our Motherland Party expressed their desire to be a part of the advisory group.
Spotlight turns to Sokha trial after royal pardons
Amid a spate of releases and pardons for activists, many have speculated as to whether former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Kem Sokha will be freed when his case resumes at the end of this month. Being held in pre-trial detention in Tbong Khmum province near the border with Vietnam, Sokha was arrested in a midnight raid last year on charges of treason that many have deemed politically motivated.
Emails in focus on sixth day of Ricketson trial
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson was grilled on Tuesday, over his connections to the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and Sam Rainsy. It marked the sixth day of his hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court over espionage charges. Despite the judge noting the presence of email communication between the filmmaker and some CNRP leaders, Ricketson wholly denied any affiliation with the party.
Eighteen of 20 parties now in forum after GDP, OMLP join
Two more parties have decided to participate in the Consultation Forum, which had its inaugural meeting last week. This brings its membership to 18 of the 20 parties that participated in the July 29 national elections. However, the leaders of the latest parties to sign up said they disapproved of the idea that advisers receive a government stipend.
Ricketson asserts mistaken identity led to arrest as ‘spy’
On the fifth day of his trial on espionage charges on Monday, Australian filmmaker James Ricketson told the Phnom Penh Municipal Court how his “illegal” arrest was carried out without a warrant and may have resulted from a case of mistaken identity. “I believe the accusation that I’m an American spy is a mistake,” he said Ricketson said he had never had any links to any government or military.
Kingdom’s first corporate bonds in sight after approval from NBC
Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL) is set to become the first company to issue corporate bonds in the Kingdom, and it is doing so to the tune of 80 billion riel ($20 million). The firm has received approval from the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) for the move. HKL announced on Friday that the Cambodian microfinance firm plans to initially offer $20 million in bonds, and increase this by another $10 million if there is high demand.
Villagers in Mondulkir say illegal logging is going on unabated
Villagers claim that rampant illegal logging is taking place at the Phnom Namlear Wildlife Sanctuary and local authorities are not doing enough to curb the activity. Every night about 20 to 30 lorries remove luxury timber from the wildlife sanctuary, which is fast depleting its forest reserves. Even the Banong ethnic community in Pou Long village in Mondulkiri Province, who have the legal right to work in the forest are deprived of their livelihoods.
Vanny: Prison no different from animals locked in cage
Boeung Kak community land activist Tep Vanny on Tuesday expressed her frustration with her just-ended two-year imprisonment. Vanny said she and other land activists never wanted to participate in any protests in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s private residence or any state institutions. “I never thought they would do that to me. It was unexpected that this [land dispute] development led to me receiving unfair prison sentences. It separated me from my family, my parents and my children.
Held for political ransom
In Cambodia, those detained on controversial charges see themselves as pawns in a repetitive game of political chess. Will the rules stay the same? Nay Vanda wakes every day for a 6am roll call. The prisoners sharing the 42-year-old’s 4-by-5 metre cell in Prey Sar shout out a number, one to 30. Like most in the prison, the room is overcrowded. The inmates sleep on their sides, wedged together, but even then there is not enough space.
Two top officials leave GDP
After failing to take a single seat in the National Assembly, at least two senior officials have decided to walk away from the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), which began as a coalition of civil society organisations. However, an analyst said the officials’ move was not a sign that the party was breaking up.
‘Goddaughter’ of Oz filmmaker testifies
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday questioned defendant James Ricketson and a woman who said she was the Australian filmmaker’s goddaughter. Arrested in June last year, the 69-year-old Ricketson was told he had endangered national security by flying his camera drone over a Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) rally in 2013. In court on Monday, Chab Thy, 23, from Prey Veng province took the stand and told the judge she had known Ricketson since she was 10 years old.
Some turn down invitation to PM’s ‘Consultation Forum’
Prime minister-designate Hun Sen is set to host the initial “Consultation Forum” on Tuesday. It will be the first meeting between what is effectively the Kingdom’s new government and rival political parties to foster dialogue on national issues – a discussion the League for Democracy Party (LDP) and the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) on Sunday said they would not be attending.
Wing launches mobile payment platform
Cashless payment service provider Wing Specialised Bank launched a new e-wallet last week that allows customers to use their mobile phones for transactions, according to a press release on Friday. Called WingPay, the service is now available for use at over 20,000 merchant partners in the Kingdom, ranging from tuk-tuks and street vendors to large retail outlets. It allows customers to transfer funds and pay bills using either smartphones or conventional cell phones.
Kim Sok vows to ‘double’ push for democracy after prison release
Kim Sok, who was released on Friday from the Prey Sar prison where he served a one-and-a-half-year sentence on charges of incitement and defamation brought by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has vowed to double his efforts to promote democracy in the Kingdom. However, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan warned the analyst that he could court more trouble if he fails to speak the truth.
Learning to swim like dolphins in the capital
It seems to be a new trend that Cambodian parents, fearing for their child’s safety, decide they are too young to learn how to swim. But, it turns out, learning the skill from an expert can improve a child’s mental and physical development. Sudsiri Prasitphon, a founder of Phnom Penh’s Swimming Dolphin Club Cambodia, and an expert on the benefits of swimming spoke at the recent grand opening of the baby swimming program at Layla Sports Center.
Over $6B exported in first half: Ministry of Commerce
The Kingdom’s total exports under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) during the first half of this year accounted $6.2 billion from $5.3 billion in the same period last year. This is a 15 per cent increase, with most products destined for the European Union (EU), said data from the Ministry of Commerce. Seang Thay, a Ministry of Commerce spokesman, said attractive investment policies and an influx of investors were driving production growth and, in turn, exports.
Political analyst Kim Sok back in court as release nears
Just three days before he was to be released after completing an 18-month sentence for defamation, convicted political analyst Kim Sok was taken to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday for further questioning regarding a second charge. It is alleged that Sok claimed the government has created a system for extrajudicial killings in which the perpetrators would never be found.
NEC to release final results as complaint window closes
The National Election Committee (NEC) is set to announce the final results of the July 29 national elections on Wednesday as scheduled, said NEC deputy secretary-general Som Sorida. However, two analysts expressed scepticism over the announcement, claiming that the political parties were aware that it would be pointless to lodge any complaint. Sorida told The Post on Tuesday that the NEC hadn’t received any complaints during the 72-hour window after issuing preliminary results.
Local firm hopes new banana crop will be appealing to China
Cambodia and China have signed a joint phytosanitary protocol for banana exports – a move that will open the door for the Kingdom to export more fruits to the world’s largest consumer market. Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd, a joint venture between local, Chinese and Hong Kong investors, has invested millions of dollars in a banana plantation in Kampot province’s Chhou district to tap the potential of the crop.
Kingdom moves up on innovation index
The Kingdom moved up three places in this year’s edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII), published by Cornell University’s business school and the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Ranked in the 98th spot out of 126 countries analysed, Cambodia moved three notches from its position last year at 101 out of 127.
Western poll flak is ‘pressure to take the Kingdom hostage’
After last month’s national elections brought praise for the orderly manner they were run and managed, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman Sok Eysan dismissed criticism from the West as a “violation of the Kingdom’s independence”. He said the attitude of the Western countries stemmed from an “imperialist” mindset. The CPP has claimed to have won a landslide victory in the July 29 national elections, taking all 125 seats in the National Assembly.
Women lack full rights at Appeal Court
The Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) has released an observational report on the rights of woman defendant’s at the Appeal Court, claiming that many weren’t granted due process. Having monitors attend 453 trials from December 2016 to June this year, CCHR found that there were 76 cases that involved a total of 97 women.
HIV doctor misses hearing
The Supreme Court trial of an unlicensed doctor who spread HIV/AIDS to 296 people in Battambang province in 2015, 30 of whom have since died, was delayed on Wednesday as the accused and his lawyer was absent. Yem Chrin, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in December 2015, saw his conviction upheld at the Appeal Court last year while trying to get his jail time reduced by 10 years.
KRP ‘to sue’ Academy chief over Koh Trol petition remark
Khmer Rise Party (KRP) president Sok Sovan Vathana has warned the head of the Royal Academy of Cambodia Sok Touch, that he will take legal action over the latter’s allegation that the party is inciting instability in the Kingdom.
Exports to US see 26% growth
Exports to the US grew 26 per cent in the first half of this year, despite tensions over the Kingdom’s July 29 national elections. This stands in stark contrast to last year when export growth to the US was in single digits. The latest trade data from the US government said goods from Cambodia brought in between January and June totalled $1.72 billion – representing a 26 per cent growth over last year’s 4.5 per cent compared to the first half of 2016.
Two parties reject results of election
Two minor political parties have refused to accept the results of the Kingdom’s July 29 national elections. One has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Council demanding a recount, while the other has warned that it will lead demonstrations. A National Election Committee (NEC) official said while the complaint was valid, it should not have been sent to the council, while the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman said the complaint went against the peoples’ will.
Pitfalls for Hong Kong maid program
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said its pilot project to send domestic maids to Hong Kong last December was “not a success” as the wages in the Asian financial hub were not lucrative enough. Ministry spokesman Heng Sour said the wages offered by Hong Kong employers were similar to what workers could earn at home. That, he said, made it unattractive for Cambodians. “People prefer to stay and work in Cambodia rather than work as a domestic helper in Malaysia or Hong Kong.
EU called on to propose action over ‘human rights violations’
The chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights Antonio Panzeri has urged the European Union (EU) to propose measures against what he claimed were human rights violations in Cambodia. He also pushed for a swift report from the EU Commission and European External Action Service on their findings in an assessment over the Kingdom’s duty-free status in the bloc.
Kem Sokha lawyer hopeful of bail at next hearing
A political analyst has claimed that former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Kem Sokha will get bail later this month – once the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) takes control of the National Assembly after its landslide victory in the July 29 national elections. After being arrested in a midnight raid nearly a year ago, Sokha is set to have a bail hearing at the Supreme Court on August 22.
China hails Cambodia on polls, Hun Sen on victory
China on Monday congratulated Cambodia on the successful completion of its sixth national elections and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), led by caretaker prime minister Hun Sen, on it victory, even as the European Union, France, Germany and New Zealand joined a chorus of criticism from Western countries on the polls’ “restrictive climate”.
Deployment MPs patrol after CPP wins at polls
A day after the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in the national elections, the capital’s public thoroughfares saw a large deployment of the armed forces. National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said on Monday that many armed forces were deployed in Phnom Penh to maintain order.
No special treatment for jailed CNRP members, says Chanrath
Former Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmaker Ou Chanrath on Thursday claimed that opposition officials and activists are not enjoying any preferential treatment in Prey Sar Prison after leaks surfaced that Meach Sovannara was in possession of a phone in his cell.
Lighting up dark tourist attractions in former KR stronghold - with torches
Anlong Veng district is known as the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. The former battlefield has now become a tourist attraction that offers a wonderful view of the remaining historical sites, among them the homes of Pol Pot and Ta Mok, a bullet production facility and the site where Pol Pot was prosecuted before the Khmer Rouge tribunal took shape. Not to be missed is a village that produces home-made torches for export to overseas markets.
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