Cambodia Morning News For October 31

Cambodia clampdown threatens Chinese interests
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, claimed in an interview last year that the Chinese state-owned tabloid often says what party officials secretly think. “They can’t speak willfully, but I can,” he told Quartz.
— Asia Times

Cambodia’s illiberal democracy swinging towards autocracy
Since 2016, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has set about deliberately dismantling his country’s democratic system. Month by month, the country’s political opposition has been eviscerated through a combination of coercion and judicial means, known as ‘lawfare’.
— East Asia Forum

SMEs association says it’s fed up with government inaction
The Federation of Association for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Cambodia (Fasmec) slammed the government yesterday in a meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, claiming that the government has been ineffective in finding solutions to help domestic companies.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Prey Sar still overcrowded despite two new prisons
One of Cambodia’s most notorious prisons now houses 6,000 inmates – more than three times its maximum capacity – despite prisoners twice being transferred to a new correctional centre in recent months, a prison official said yesterday.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia to witness slower growth in garment exports
Cambodia’s garment and footwear exports is expected to see a slower growth of around 5 per cent this year compared to 7 per cent in 2016.
— Fibre2Fashion

New Facebook feed freezes out businesses
Facebook’s recent test launch of its Explore Feed in Cambodia, a feature that shifts public posts away from private newsfeeds and into a hard-to-find channel, will have devastating effects on local e-commerce businesses that traditionally rely heavily on social media advertising, industry insiders claim.
— The Phnom Penh Post

The Difficult Discussion on Cambodia’s Forests
At the beginning of the year, Cambodia’s Environment Ministry found itself in a quarrel with U.S. space agency NASA over forest coverage.
— The Diplomat

Defying threat of sanctions, Cambodia calls on military to crush opposition
Cambodia’s defence minister has vowed to destroy an alleged “colour revolution”, while shrugging off the looming threat of international sanctions against the Hun Sen administration for its crackdown on the opposition.
— The Nation

EU Delegates Promise to Strenghten Relations With Cambodia
European Union delegates have promised to strengthen relations with Cambodia despite seeing current political situation in Cambodia, including the arrest of Kem Sokha, president of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
— Fresh News

Deal inked to bring 900 slot machines to Poipet
Casino operator Donaco International announced on Friday that it has signed a contract worth $25 million with Malaysia’s RGB International Bhd to supply more than 900 new slot machines to its flagship Star Vegas Resort and Club in Poipet, the company said in a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Naga 2 launches soft opening in Phnom Penh
Naga 2, a massive hotel and gaming extension to the capital’s NagaWorld casino and resort, launched a soft opening yesterday for the $369 million development, according to the company’s Facebook page.
— The Phnom Penh Post

US Chemical Bombs to be Removed After Water Festival
Chey Sonn, Director General of Chemical Department of Ministry of Defense said Monday that the operations to remove US chemical bombs in Koki regions will be postponed until after Water Festival that will take place from Nov. 2-4.
— Fresh News

Feature photo World Bank Photo Collection/Chhor Sokunthea
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Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.