Cambodia Morning News For November 29

For energy independence, government must diversify and invest: experts
Despite Cambodia’s efforts to shore up its energy independence, the government needs to increase homegrown electricity generation to lower prices, ensure investment and meet the Kingdom’s increasing demand for energy, experts said yesterday at a regional energy security forum.
— The Phnom Penh Post

New MFI enters the Kingdom
Khmer Capital Microfinance Plc became the most recent microfinance institution (MFI) to become operational in Cambodia’s crowded market yesterday, when it celebrated its official opening after obtaining its licence from the central bank in July.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Thailand, Cambodian discuss nationality verification issue
Top labor officials from Thailand and Cambodia held a meeting to discuss measures to speed up the national verification process.
— NNT

Private sector worried over wage law
THE CAMBODIAN private sector is concerned that the newly proposed universal minimum wage law, which is reportedly being drafted by the government and comes on the heels of numerous new labour regulations, has created a climate of uncertainty, according to an industry expert.
— The Nation

Cambodia’s Hun Sen Warns CNRP Members Fleeing the Country They Will be ‘Sent Back’
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is warning opposition party members fleeing the country that they will soon be “sent back” from neighboring Thailand, where many have gone into hiding to escape persecution.
— Radio Free Asia

Sathapana Bank gets a new logo
Sathapana Bank Plc saw strong growth on its investment in commercial banking services after it was acquired by Japanese-owned Maruhan Japan Bank early last year, which transformed the microfinance giant into a full-fledged commercial bank, the company’s executive said yesterday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Analysis: Government picking up police’s blueprint for a ‘colour revolution’ crackdown
After the Ministry of Interior filed a complaint with the Supreme Court to dissolve the CNRP earlier this month, the government’s lawyer Ky Tech submitted a set of documents as evidence that the opposition CNRP was involved in a “colour revolution”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Ministry of Information defends press crackdown to UN
Cambodia’s Ministry of Information has defended as legitimate its recent crackdown on independent press outlets, calling it a “warning to all media” in a missive to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations that appears to have been made public accidentally.
— The Phnom Penh Post

MoI Launches Website and Application on Smart Phone
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has launched a website and application on smart phone (APP) to provide information about notifications and security information.
— Fresh News

Government forms new anti-torture org in bid for UN compliance
A new committee to combat torture in Cambodia’s prisons and jails has been formed at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen, with the top position given to a former government official whose son is a deputy prisons director.
— The Phnom Penh Post

US-Cambodia debt issue raises questions of morality and humaneness
The US is well advised to look at the Russian and Chinese models of dealing with Cambodian debt.
— The Business Times

France, US condemn calls to shutter CCHR
The French and American embassies yesterday condemned Prime Minister Hun Sen’s call for the closure of prominent NGO Cambodian Center for Human Rights over its purported links to “foreigners”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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