How Lese Majeste Laws Are Eroding Free Speech in Southeast Asia

Lese majeste laws are irreconcilable with freedom of expression.

The Diplomat, August 19, 2022

Cambodia's 2018 Criminal Code, Article 437-bis

Across Southeast Asia, increasingly authoritarian governments are systematically corroding freedom of expression as their tolerance for dissent and criticism deteriorates. States continue to harass, sue, and imprison activists and human rights defenders at alarming rates, as documented by ARTICLE 19’s Global Expression Report 2022. Repressive governments in the region are weaponizing a range of laws to silence criticism and preserve their corrupt regimes. Of these, archaic lese majeste laws are arguably the most problematic of them all.

A Debt Storm is Coming: Which country could go the Sri Lanka way?

Is Cambodia better off than Sri Lanka and many other developing countries?

Gravitas

When activists are misunderstood: meet the Cambodian human rights defenders mislabeled as politicians

នៅពេលសកម្មជនត្រូវបានគេយល់ខុស៖ ជួបជាមួយអ្នកការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្សកម្ពុជាដែលត្រូវបានគេយល់ច្រឡំថាជាអ្នកនយោបាយ

អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិទទួលបន្ទុកសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស, ឧត្ដមស្នងការអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិទទួលបន្ទុកសិទ្ធិមនុស្យ ប្រចាំកម្ពុជា

United Nations Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner in Cambodia

August 17, 2022

 

UNICEF delivers molnupiravir to Cambodia for Covid controls

“The supply is enough to treat 20,664 people affected by the virus in Cambodia. Funding was provided by UNICEF’s ACT-A Supplies Financing Facility [ACT-A SFF], with contributions from the Canadian government," the UN body said in a statement.

The Phnom Penh Post, August 18, 2022

UNICEF has delivered a batch of molnupiravir, an oral antiviral treatment for mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults, to further support the Cambodian government in its fight against the pandemic.

The shipment of 826,560 tablets touched down at Phnom Penh International Airport on the night of August 17.

កុំពោលស្តាយក្រោយ និពន្ធទំនុកច្រៀងនិងច្រៀងដោយ ស៊ានកេត្យា

សួស្តីបងប្អូនទាំងអស់

សូមរីករាយកម្សាន្តជាមួយនឹងនាងខ្ញុំនូវចម្រៀង១បទក្រោមចំណងជើងថា (កុំពោលស្តាយក្រោយ) ទំនុកច្រៀងនិងច្រៀងដោយស៊ានកេត្យា

Casino Workers at Cambodia's NagaWorld Face Brutality, Jail Time for Striking

The women-led struggle at Cambodia’s largest hotel and casino is now a major front in the country’s labor movement, and offers lessons to people combating capitalism and patriarchy around the world.

The Real News Network, August 17, 2022

image GGrasia

This special Workers of the World report from The Real News takes an inside look at the evolving labor struggle of workers at NagaWorld. Owned by Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong, NagaWorld is Cambodia’s largest hotel and casino. Like many other employers, NagaWorld has tried to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to roll back years of labor organizing. NagaWorld workers’ union, the LRSU, voted to strike last year after management announced mass layoffs of 1300 workers, as well as cuts to wages and benefits—despite posting over $100 million in profits. LRSU organizers have faced

Former Australian school teacher faces criminal defamation charges over election comments

Hun Sen, was operating a “gangster regime” and the Australian government “has to stop sucking up” to him. In February, Hill also blasted the Morrison government for backing the establishment of a “farcical” human rights institute that he said would be used by the Cambodian prime minister as a propaganda tool in a bid to build international credibility, Australian MP Julian Hill said.

The Sydney Morning Herald, August 16, 2022

Cambodia’s main opposition party has called for criminal defamation charges to be dropped against its deputy president, a former Adelaide school teacher, who has declared he will “fight until the end and not flee” a political crackdown waged by long-time leader Hun Sen.

Son Chhay, a dual Cambodian and Australian citizen, returned to Phnom Penh from his home in Adelaide in March to join the Candlelight Party, a successor to the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, whose dissolution in 2017 effectively rendered the south-east Asian nation a one-party state.

Taiwan Frets for ‘Thousands’ Trafficked Into Cambodia

Taiwan joins the chorus of regional countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, China, and Malaysia) expressing concerns about human trafficking in Cambodia, where reports are rife of enslavement, beatings, torture, and being resold.

The Diplomat, August 16, 2022

Cambodia’s troubles with human trafficking have escalated significantly after investigations by Taiwanese authorities, who fear thousands of Taiwanese have been trafficked into the Southeast Asian country and forced to work for criminal syndicates.

Four parties plan to request meetings on election reforms: Candlelight, Grassroots Democratic (GDP), Khmer Will (KWP) and Cambodian Reform (CRP)

មានជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅខាងក្រោម Available in Khmer at bottom.

The Phnom Penh Post, August 16, 2022

Four political parties are planning to request meetings with the National Assembly (NA), National Election Committee (NEC) and the Ministry of Interior this week to submit “important” documents to them while urging revisions to the electoral system, a move they said must be made to improve political freedom in Cambodia.

China supports Cambodia’s right to safeguard independence

China supports Cambodia’s right to safeguard independence

Can Khmers trust the commies?

Khmer Times, August 16, 2022

China firmly supports the Kingdom’s right to safeguard national sovereignty, independence and independently choose its own development path, and build a national defence and military, remarks made during Minister of Defence General Tea Banh’s four-day visit to the country.

Gen Banh, who is also deputy prime minister, led senior ministry officials and a team of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) officials to China since Saturday to further strengthen military technical cooperation between the two countries, at the invitation of Wei Fenghe, Chinese Minister of National Defence. According to the defence ministry.

Cambodia’s low lying provinces face severe flooding this week

Khmer Times, August 16, 2022

The Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MWRM) predicted light-to-heavy rainfall across the country next week, that could result in flash floods in eight provinces.

Vietnam eyes China’s expanding presence in Cambodia

Vietnam has been trying for decades to contain Chinese influence in Cambodia and Laos. But China’s overwhelming economic power has made these efforts difficult. In the north, Vietnam shares a land border with China and in the west, with Laos and Cambodia. Laos and Cambodia are highly dependent on China for trade and investment and have become close diplomatic allies of Beijing.
East Asia Forum, August 16, 2022

In June 2022, several media reports announced that China was opening a military base at Cambodia’s Ream naval base located on the southern tip of Cambodia close to the contested waters of the South China Sea. Cambodia has already used Chinese funding to modernise and expand the Ream naval base. The reports claimed that a secret deal had been signed between Cambodia and China, giving the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exclusive access to part of Ream.

‘Cambodia is the standard for democracy in Mekong region’

និយាយមិនចេះខ្មាសខ្មោច។

Khmer Times, August 15, 2022

While hailing Japan’s crucial role in Cambodia’s peace-building process, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) spokesman claimed that of the countries in Mekong region, Cambodia is one of the countries that upholds democracy.

Japan has been playing a key role in Cambodia’s social and economic development process since the early 1990s.

Suos Yara, a CPP spokesman, who is also chairman of the National Assembly’s Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Information, and Media, was reacting to remarks made by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi during the recently concluded 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meeting in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia holds back Vietnam and Thailand in trafficking prevention

Porous borders, corruption preclude collective progress

Nikkei, August 16, 2022

Geography has helped Thailand and Vietnam compete for a large share of investment flowing out of China. But it has also thrown a wrench in their plans as trafficking persists along Southeast Asia's porous borders, especially in their shared neighbor Cambodia.

‘Why sue Son Chhay for defamation’

“The lawsuit is political intimidation of opposition party officials to suppress protests of injustice,”
Thach Setha, Candlelight Party's Vice President, said.

Khmer Times, August 15, 2022

A senior Candlelight Party (CP) official has called for defamation charges against Son Chhay, a CP vice-president to be dropped.

“I urge the court to drop the charges against Son Chhay as this will tarnish Cambodia’s democracy reputation. The international community is monitoring the implementation of democracy in Cambodia, so we don’t want the international community to see Cambodia negatively.”

Which Asian Countries Support China in the Taiwan Strait Crisis – and Which Don’t?

The Diplomat, August 13, 2022

An analysis of foreign ministry statements from across the Asia-Pacific region reveals which countries are hewing close to China’s line, which lean toward the U.S., and which are staying neutral.

របាយការណ៍ឆ្នាំ២០២២ ​របស់ក្រសួងការបរទេសសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ស្តីពី ការជួញដូរមនុស្ស ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា

របាយការណ៍ឆ្នាំ២០២២ ​របស់ក្រសួងការបរទេសសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ស្តីពី ការជួញដូរមនុស្ស ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា – (លំដាប់ថ្នាក់ទី ៣ ក្នុងបញ្ជីតាមដាន)
ស្ថានទូតសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកនៅកម្ពុជា

Trafficking in Persons Report July 2022
U.S. Embassy to Cambodia
រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាមិនបានគោរពបានពេញលេញ​តាម​បទ​ដ្ឋាន​អប្បប​រមាក្នុង​ការ​បំបាត់​ការ​ជួញ​​​​ដូរ​​​​​​ មនុស្ស​​​ទេ ហើយមិនបានបង្កើនកិច្ច​​ខិតខំប្រឹង​ច្រើន​គួរ​ឲ្យកត់សម្គាល់លើបញ្ហានេះ បើទោះបីជាមានបញ្ហាជំងឺកូវីដ១៩ លើសមត្ថភាព​របស់ខ្លួន ក្នុងការប្រយុទ្ធប្រឆាំងការជួញដូរក្តី ដូច្នេះកម្ពុជាត្រូវបានបញ្ចុះចំណាត់ថ្នាក់ដល់ទី ៣ ​។​ ទោះបីជាខ្វះការខិតខំគួរឲ្យកត់សម្គាល់ក្តី តែរដ្ឋាភិបាលបានប្រកាន់ជំហានខ្លះដើម្បីដោះស្រាយបញ្ហាជួញដូរ ដូចជាការបន្តចាប់ខ្លួន កាត់ទោស និងដាក់ទោសជនល្មើស រកមើលជនរងគ្រោះដោយសកម្ម ហើយជួយក្នុងការធ្វើមាតុភូមិនិវត្តន៍​នៃជនរងគ្រោះខ្មែរដោយការជួញដូរ និងអ្នកងាយរងគ្រោះ​។ អំពើពុករលួយដែលមានជាទូទៅ ​នៅតែធ្វើឱ្យរាំងស្ទះដល់ការងាររបស់សមត្ថកិច្ច ក្នុងការចាប់ឲ្យជនល្មើសមានការទទួលខុសត្រូវ និងដល់ការផ្តល់ការជួយដល់ជនរងគ្រោះ។ អាជ្ញាធរមិនបានធ្វើការស៊ើបអង្កេត ឬចាប់អោយមន្រ្តីពាក់ព័ន្ធដូចមាន​ក្នុងរបាយការណ៍ដ៏គួរឲ្យទុកចិត្តបានភាគច្រើន មានការទទួលខុសត្រូវពីបទព្រហ្មទណ្ឌក្នុងការឃុបឃិត ពិសេសឈ្មួញខិលខូច ដែលបានធ្វើឱ្យបុរស ស្រ្តី និងកុមាររាប់ពាន់នាក់ នៅទូទាំងប្រទេស រងការជួញដូរមនុស្ស នៅតាមកន្លែងកំសាន្ត និងកន្លែងឡឥដ្ឋ និងតាមប្រព័ន្ធអ៊ិនធ័រណែត។ ដូច្នេះមន្រ្តីបានខកខាន​ក្នុងការផ្តល់សេវាការពារគ្រប់គ្រាន់ដល់ជនរងគ្រោះ នៅក្នុងស្រុក និងនៅបរទេស ហើយពឹងផ្អែកខ្លាំងលើម្ចាស់ជំនួយបរទេស និង អង្គការក្រៅរដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្នុងការផ្តល់ការគាំពារចាំបាច់។

Undersecretary of State sacked for nepotism

Khmer Times, August 12, 2022

The removal of former Lieutenant General Chea Bunheng as Ministry of Interior Undersecretary of State over a nepotism and corruption scandal was finalised by royal decree on August 6.

Rainsy on trial over Degar deal

Khmer Times, August 12, 2022

Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday tried former opposition leader Sam Rainsy in absentia for allegedly agreeing to cede four northeastern provinces to the Montagnard, a French term referring to a Vietnamese hill tribe, also known as Degar, most of whom are from Christian ethnic minority groups residing in the Vietnam Central Highlands.

Meet Cambodia's cyber slaves: Al Jazeera

Why Cambodia?

Cambodia is the third-most corrupt country in Asia, trailing only North Korea and Afghanistan on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

Video available
This video is age-restricted and only available on YouTube. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/n-EtdC4zQso

August 11, 2022

Once a financial securities analyst in China, Lu Xiangri never imagined he might be a victim of trafficking and enslavement by Chinese cyber-scam operations in Cambodia.

Cambodia court charges opposition politician with defamation

មានជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅខាងក្រោម។ Available in Khmer at bottom.

Cambodia's National Election Committee demanded a public apology from Son Chhay and the Cambodian People’s Party sought $1 million in compensation.

image EAC News Cambodia

AP, The San Diego Union-Tribune, August 11, 2022

A leading Cambodian opposition politician who publicly complained about alleged unfairness in June local elections has been charged with defamation, his lawyer said Thursday.

Son Chhay, deputy president of the opposition Candlelight Party, said in an online interview after the polls that the state National Election Committee was biased in favor of the governing Cambodian People’s Party. He also said there was vote-buying and intimidation of voters. His allegations were denied by the government.

Cambodia to inspect Vietnamese noodles after EU warning on ethylene oxide

The Star, August 11, 2022

Cambodian authorities will conduct an inspection and then prevent imports of Vietnamese instant noodles containing banned Ethylene Oxide (EO), according to Vietnam's Trade Office in Cambodia.

This move follows the European Union's warning to recall or return Vietnamese instant noodles including this dangerous substance, the office cited the Khmer Times as saying.

According to Phan Oun, the Director General of the General Department of Consumer Protection, Competition and Anti-Fraud (KPR), if these types of noodles were detected in the Cambodian market, the KPR would take action to collect them.

Opposition’s alliance move at the crossroad

Khmer Times, August 10, 2022

The initiative to form an alliance among minor political parties before next year’s National Election to challenge the mammoth ruling party –  Cambodian People’s Party – still remains in the air as opposition party officials are struggling to be united.

Malaysia urges ASEAN states to engage Myanmar junta's rivals

Reuters, August 10, 2022

Malaysia wants a clear endgame in Myanmar' faltering peace process and is advocating direct engagement by ASEAN states with the junta's opponents, and bringing other countries into the fold, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Cambodian Journalists Are Telling Truths, Not Breaking Laws

Article 41 of Cambodia’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression.
Article 20 of The Law on the Press 1995 (“Press Law”) guarantees that “no person shall be arrested or subjected to criminal charges as a result of the expression of opinions.”

Polygraph, August 9, 2022

On August 3, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia released a report on the state of press freedom in the Southeast Asian country.

Gravitas: Apple toes China's line on Taiwan

Apple is said to have asked its suppliers in Taiwan to avoid using "Made in Taiwan" labels. The tech giant apparently wants products to be labeled as made in "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan, China."

បំផ្លាញព្រៃឈើ គឺបំផ្លាញខ្លួនឯង

ASEAN (Minus Myanmar) Gets Its Act Together

Myanmar’s military junta was put on notice as ASEAN held its line against China and Russia.

The Diplomat, August 8, 2022

The Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) has often been derided as a toothless tiger with little or no moral backbone, incapable of dealing with contentious issues like the military takeover in Myanmar or Chinese belligerence in the South China Sea.

Thousands of Taiwanese may be trafficking victims in Cambodia: Police

CNA, August 8, 2022

Thousands of Taiwanese lured to Cambodia by the promise of high-paying jobs may be stuck there as victims of human trafficking, according to an estimate by the National Police Agency (NPA).

United States Returns to Cambodia 30 Antiquities Looted From Historic Sites

Reuters, August 8, 2022

The United States will return to Cambodia 30 looted antiquities, including bronze and stone statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities carved more than 1,000 years ago, U.S. officials said on Monday.