The EU’s dilemmas over trade access and human rights in Asia
What price should workers in Cambodia and Myanmar, two of the poorest countries in the world, pay because of their governments’ severe violations of human rights?
— World Policy Review
‘Terrorist’ Serey to ‘halt activities’ and form party if Kem Sokha ‘released’
Sam Serey, the leader of the Khmer National Liberation Front (KNLF), who is accused by authorities of being an armed rebel leader against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, has declared that he plans to “halt activities” and return to Cambodia if certain conditions are met, including the “release” of former opposition leader Kem Sokha.
— The Phnom Penh Post
PM Hun Sen blasts people who insult him and government to gain asylum
Prime Minister Hun Sen today blasted some people who tried to insult him and the government in order to obtain political asylum in third countries.
— Khmer Times
Vietnamese, Cambodian Deputy PMs hold talks
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Deputy PM and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn renewed the efforts to unceasingly cement and deepen the comprehensive cooperation and friendly neighbourliness between the two countries in the new situation.
— Nhan Dan Online
Cambodian villagers protest sand-dredging operation in protected zone
At least 10 ethnic Phnorng villagers protested on Monday in Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province to demand an end to a sand-dredging operation carried out in a wildlife sanctuary in the Bou Sra commune of the province’s Pech Chreada district, local sources said.
— Radio Free Asia
Official denies illegal sand dredging claims
Members of the community in Bou Sra commune, in Mondulkiri province’s Pech Chreada district, alleged that a tycoon and a government official have been dredging sand illegally.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia, Nepal to ink aviation deal
Cambodia and Nepal are expected to sign an Air Service Agreement (ASA) next week, which would allow airlines to operate flights between the two nations.
— Khmer Times
Mixed Q3 results for PPAP, GTI and PAS
State-owned PPAP saw net profit for Q3, which ended Sept 30, surge 60.25 percent.
— Khmer Times
Gov’t rights chief questions US after visa request delay
The head of the government’s human rights body, Keo Remy, has questioned the US’ attitude to human rights after its embassy in Phnom Penh delayed his request for a visa to visit family members who are citizens of the country, while he himself grew up there.
— The Phnom Penh Post
PM sets prison overcrowding meeting
Prime Minister Hun Sen has given a green light to Interior Minister Sar Kheng to set up an urgent meeting with relevant officials to come up with solutions to the Kingdom’s growing problem of overcrowded prisons.
— The Khmer Times
Sokha opposes CNRP conference
Former opposition leader Kem Sokha has told his lawyers that he does not support the CNRP World Conference to be held this weekend in the state of Georgia in the United States.
— Khmer Times
‘Drones forbidden in the capital’
The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall on Monday issued a statement reminding residents to not fly drones in the capital, particularly around the flight paths of aircraft that are landing and taking off.
— The Phnom Penh Post
A repressive anniversary marked in Cambodia
One year after the forced dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, there are few signs PM Hun Sen plans to dismantle his de facto one-party state any time soon.
— Asia Times
UYFC urged to keep breaking world records
The Union of Youth Federations in Cambodia wants to see the Kingdom become famous by breaking world records. UYFC president Hun Many said during the closing of a congress in Phnom Penh yesterday that the group’s achievements were realised through hard work.
— The Khmer Times
Interior Ministry expands freedoms for NGOs
The Interior Minister yesterday told local authorities to allow registered NGOs to conduct their field work without the need of a three-day prior notice as stipulated in a previous policy.
— The Khmer Times
Concerns raised over toxic chemicals in Ratanakkiri
An indigenous minority group living in the eastern province of Ratanakkiri is expressing concerns regarding the use of an illegal chemical in fertilisers by some companies who were granted Economic Land Concessions by the government.
— Khmer Times
Illegal reclamation carries on
Despite numerous cases of illegal landfilling coming to light and an order from Prime Minister Hun Sen to put a stop to it, authorities are seemingly powerless to halt illegal beach developments in Preah Sihanouk province.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Cambodia wants bulk agro negotiation with China
Cambodia urged China to consider a package deal in negotiations on sensitive sanitary and phytosanitary issues regarding exports of agricultural products to Beijing.
— Khmer Times
EU aquaculture aids sustainable fisheries
As Cambodia’s population grows, so does the need for sustainable fish production and as yields from the wild decrease, the European Union is pushing for more sustainable aquaculture, a sector that is just emerging in the Kingdom.
— Khmer Times
Negocia set to take Kingdom’s aviation sector to the skies
A company has unveiled plans to develop human resources in Cambodia’s aviation sector by providing pilot training as the number of new airlines in the Kingdom grows, its founder said on Monday.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Rubber price drops while exports rise
Cambodian rubber exports during the first 10 months are up 24 per cent, while the price decreased 18 per cent compared to the same period last year, figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
— The Phnom Penh Post
GrabPay sets sights on Cambodia and Myanmar
Southeast Asia’s largest ride-hailing group plans to take its mobile payments service into Cambodia and Myanmar as it expands its range of businesses throughout ASEAN countries, according to a senior executive.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Chinese bank buys majority stake in AMK
The Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank buys a majority stake in AMK microfinance.
— Khmer Times
Water Festival a big hit for businesses
The revenue during the three-day Water Festival this year has passed expectations, says a businessman in Phnom Penh.
— Khmer Times
Yuanta Securities gets 2 years LP status extension
Yuanta Securities (Cambodia) Plc received an extension of Liquidity Provider (LP) status from the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) for common stock in the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Shipment of Chinese salt reaches capital’s port
In a bid to meet domestic demand in a year in which production has been minimal, Cambodia has imported 5,000 tonnes of salt from China. The ships carrying the product entered Phnom Penh Autonomous Port yesterday.
— Khmer Times
Prey Lang activists laud researcher’s accolade
Prey Lang forest activists were delighted to hear that Ida Theilade received an award during a ceremony presided over by the Queen of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen last week.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Group notes lack of Sihanoukville SEZ unions
A civil society group has alleged that the Special Economic Zone in Preah Sinahouk province is violating the rights of workers, noting that many workers in the SEZ do not belong to independent unions to protect their interests.
— Khmer Times
Cambodia seizes 40 tonnes of illicit goods, mainly medicines
The Cambodian Interior Ministry’s Counter Counterfeit Committee (CCC) has announced that more than 40 tonnes of counterfeit goods were confiscated in Phnom Penh last week, including contraceptive pills, toothpastes, salves and antibiotics.
— Securing Industry
Halo continues to aid mine-free goal
The Halo Trust demining NGO has over the past 28 years cleared nearly 300 square kilometres of land and removed nearly half a million anti-personnel mines in the Kingdom, a report released yesterday showed.
— Khmer Times
Drug treatment ‘more than doubled’ in 2018
The number of drug addicts receiving treatment at health centres across the Kingdom this year has more than doubled compared to the same period last year, a Ministry of Health official has said.
— Khmer Times
Battling violence against women and children
Ros Sopheap, executive director of Gender and Development for Cambodia, said her NGO will participate in four provinces, including Prey Veng, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang.
— The Khmer Times
Two new projects set for Kingdom’s tourism
Cambodia plans to implement another two projects in the tourism sector in the framework of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, according to Ministry of Tourism secretary of state Hor Moniroth.
— The Phnom Penh Post
Feature photo Cambodian League for the Promotion and defense of human rights (Licardo)
This week’s Cambodia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 2.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
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.

A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.

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