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Tuesday, april 7, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL Gov’ts Committee tracks urged to More than influx of migrants protect 3,000 in court Niem Chheng every day through interna- Kirth Chantharith, told The ridors. We are concerned about women tional border checkpoints Post on Monday that around this, but we have immigration for drugs NEWLY-ESTABLISHED and corridors after Thailand 60,000 migrant workers have police working in cooperation inter-ministerial com- shut its borders. returned since the end of with soldiers at the borders. since January mittee is discussing It said both countries still al- March, when Thailand an- “We gather them and place UN SECRETARY-GENERAL national – page 3 ways to contain the lowed their nationals to return. nounced its border closure. them under quarantine,” he said. Antonio Guterres has urged ACovid-19 pandemic ahead of the At the O’smach Interna- He said an average of 1,000 Prime Minister Hun Sen governments to include Khmer New Year and in anticipa- tional Border Checkpoint in workers arrive in Cambodia said on Sunday that none the protection of women in tion of the return of more migrant Oddar Meanchey province each day. of the migrant workers has their response to the dead- workers from Thailand. on Monday, 864 workers re- “O’Smach is the only official caused harm to public health ly novel coronavirus pan- The General Department of turned to Cambodia. border checkpoint that remains in their communities through demic. Immigration said Cambodian The General Department of open, but our workers are also Reports of domestic vio- workers continue to return Immigration director-general, coming through unofficial cor- Continued – page 3 lence have surged globally in the wake of massive lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the disease. “Violence is not confined to the battlefield,” said cdc approves Guterres in a statement and video released in mul- $161M brewery tiple languages, days after his call for a worldwide in kandal, 1,545 ceasefire in the wake of the outbreak. jobs expected “For many women and business – page 6 girls, the threat looms larg- est where they should be safest – in their own homes,” he said. Describing the rise in domestic violence as “hor- rifying”, he urged all govern- ments “to make the preven- tion and redress of violence against women a key part of their national response plans for Covid-19”. India reported double the usual number of two more domestic abuse cases in the first week of nation- weeks likely wide movement restric- Cambodian Muslims returning home after being qurantined for 12 days at a high school in Kandal province’s Takhmao town. HENG CHIVOAN tions, according to the for philippine country’s National Com- mission for Women. lockdown Cases in France rose by a WORLD – Page 10 third in the week after that country’s lockdown, Wife set on fire over ‘jealousy’ authorities said, while Aus- tralia reported a 75 per Kim Sarom Article 200 of the Criminal Sambun said Kong became injuries after spending a night cent increase in internet Code. If found guilty, he will be enraged and took a half bottle there. searches relating to sup- A SIEM Reap man has been sentenced to life in prison. of petrol from a motorbike and The suspect was also taken port for domestic violence charged with setting his wife on Banteay Srei district military poured it on the victim who was to the same hospital but was victims. fire in a hammock by pouring police commander Ky Sambun sleeping in a hammock. She being guarded by military Guterres called for the petrol on her and lighting it. on Monday named the victim received burns all over her body police. He was escorted back setting up of emergency The suspect, who was from was Chea Savy, 37. Kong is a while the suspect also sustained to the base to record his state- warning systems in phar- Tbeng commune, Banteay military official at an air force injuries to his head and ear. ment after being treated for macies and grocery stores, Srei district, was allegedly regiment in Tbeng commune, Military police put out the fire three days, Sambun said. and for safe ways “for wom- jealous. Tat Kong, 45, was Banteay Srei district, Siem and took both the victim and “After being taken to the mili- en to seek support, without NGO ‘WRITING arrested last Friday and Reap where he lived. the suspect to the hospital. tary base, the suspect wanted to alerting their abusers”. placed in a Siem Reap provin- Sambun said before the inci- “The hammock is plastic. commit suicide, but others there “Together, we can and THROUGH’ WITH cial prison after military dent, a man had made a phone When it got burnt it was like a prevented him from doing so. must prevent violence eve- police sent him to court. call from Poipet town, in Banteay burning plastic bag falling on When the military handed him rywhere, from war zones to POEMS, CRITICAL Siem Reap provincial court Meanchey province, to the a human. It burned tightly to over to me, I also kept watch on people’s homes, as we work spokesman Yin Sreang told The woman, but the suspect picked the skin,” Sambun said. him,” Sambun said. to beat Covid-19,” he said, THINKING SKILLS Post that Kong was charged by up the phone call. The man The victim was taken to The suspect and the victim and called “for peace at investigating Judge Sin Sangha asked for the woman by saying Banteay Srei district referral had children but it is not clear home and in homes around lifestyle – page 12 for attempted murder under that she was his girlfriend. hospital but succumbed to her how many. the world”. AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Culture ministry clamps down on National News land grab at archaeological sites Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Japan grants visa extensions PP police scheduled for practical, technical to stranded foreign residents traffic training classes Ry Sochan Soth Koemsoeun crease their expertise and specific skills in performing HE Cambodian Embassy in MUNICIPAL police officers their work better. Japan has confirmed that the opened road traffic train- “I supported them in join- Japanese Immigration Office ing classes in Phnom Penh ing this training so that they will extend stay permits for up on Monday, with 837 officers can learn better skills from toT three months for foreigners, including from 14 police departments professional trainers. We need Cambodians, who have expiring resi- participating to improve their authorities who have specific dence permits to reduce congestion at abilities. The classes will con- skills and ethics to perform the office as flights become scarce dur- tinue until June 29. their work well,” he said. ing the Covid-19 epidemic. Phnom Penh Municipal Dep- AIP Foundation country According to the notification released uty Police Chief Chev Hak, said director Kim Pagna said on on Sunday, the Cambodian Embassy there are 10 training sessions March 6 that he supported said: “The Japanese Immigration Office with each lasting five days. training for road traffic offi- will receive requests of residence permits The training is designed to cers which is related to a new and extended residence permits for three improve the ability of traffic government sub-decree on months for foreigners whose permits ex- road officers and is aimed at increasing traffic fines. pire in March, April, May or June.” showing practical procedures He encouraged the train- The Cambodian Embassy confirmed and techniques from expert ers to explain the law to citi- that the permit extensions also apply to officers who have studied at zens besides just fining them. temporary residents and individuals ap- the police school. There were also some mes- plying for residence between March and “This training is conduct- sages related to educating of- June, such as newborns in Japan. ed by professionals, which ficers to understand the law, But the extensions are not valid for for- means they have already he added. eigners who use a specific work visa and are been trained at the police “I want them to focus on the in the process of preparing to leave Japan. Cambodians living in Japan are eligible to request visa extensions for up to three months, school. They will show work police when implementing On Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Af- according to a notification released by the Cambodian Embassy in Japan. hun sen’s facebook page experiences, including solu- the law to avoid causing any fairs and International Cooperation issued tions and challenges related abnormal problems for citi- measures to assist foreigners who arrived in month visa extensions because of the for Cambodians returning to the Kingdom. to the area of road traffic.” zens. Therefore, the training Cambodia since January 1 and were unable high number of foreign residents and However, Cambodians can’t return Tuol Kork district Police should include strategies that to return home due to airspace restrictions tourists who couldn’t return home after home because of the difficulties in ob- Chief Sok Heng said two of his solve and explain problems caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. flight restrictions were imposed. taining air tickets. officers joined the training to to offenders,” Pagna said. Two of the measures were to extend He said there were more than 16,000 “So they can ask for a one-month exten- gain experience from seniors According to a report from type T tourist visas and void penalties for Cambodians in Japan who have residen- sion until the situation returns to normal and professional trainers spe- the Traffic Police and Public foreigners who overstay their visas until tial permits set to expire, but he doesn’t and they can return home,” he said. cialised in traffic road proce- Order Department of the Na- they can leave Cambodia. The measures know how many of those permits will ex- According to Rachana, among the 16,000 dures. tional Police on Monday, as took effect on Friday. pire in March, April and May. Cambodians living in Japan, there are 913 In terms of the lessons and a result of its operation from The Cambodian Embassy officer in Ambassador of Cambodia in Japan Ung students, 10,800 trainees and workers and courses related to the train- January to March, police Japan, who asked not to be named, told Rachana told National Television of Kam- 4,900 Cambodian citizens who hold per- ing, he said he was not aware stopped and fined 131,853 The Post on Monday that the Japanese puchea (TVK) in an interview on Friday manent residency but haven’t been grant- of what would be taught, but vehicles, including 82,865 Ministry of Justice allowed up to three- that Japan had issued a favourable measure ed Japanese citizenship. he wanted his officers to in- motorbikes. Victims left empty-handed after purchasing land plots Long Kimmarita

OVER 100 victims are demanding that a com- pany called Than Preah In compensate them after they invested money to buy plots but never received the land titles or refunds. A Facebook post by a user named Neak Rong- kruos Doy Sar Company Than Preah In said the company’s director, Chhy Chakrya, also known as Hang Prinya, had cheated them out of money and closed the company’s offices before escaping. The owner of the page, who chose to remain anonymous, told The Post on Monday that he had been cheated out of more than $40,000 by the company after he bought 3ha from it in Siem Reap province last year. At first, he said the company would issue land titles within six months, but a year passed, and then the company closed all of its branches. “There are hundreds of victims and some of them are still being cheated by this company. After the post, we gathered nearly 100 victims,” he said. The owner of the page said after the victims are gathered, they would follow legal procedures Chhy Chakrya, also known as Hang Prinya, is facing and file a complaint with the courts next week. accusations of fraud for not issuing land titles. police Another victim, Ngor Lyheang, filed a com- ning into financial problems, but it hadn’t gone plaint with the Siem Reap provincial court on bankrupt and was still operating. Moreover, he said March 20 and told The Post on Monday that peo- he had met his clients to resolve the problem. ple had spent their hard-earned money on the “At present, despite the problem, I don’t have any land, borrowed from banks, and invested in the desire to abandon clients whom I used to believe company in the hopes of seeing some returns. in. Ten months ago, I took the opinion that the When the company ran into problems, he company should be sold to others and declare said they couldn’t repay the banks and this dis- bankruptcy, and then I would get away from it. rupted their livelihoods. “I am willing to accept the case because we Lyheang said: “I filed the complaint alone, owe them, and we will pay them back. It is not and I want to have my money back. I spent wrong for them to sue us. The clients bought $18,500 on buying plots and plantation land. land from us and they have not yet obtained “I want it to be known that this company is a the titles. If they sue us, it is not wrong. But if cheat. I am also participating in filing a joint we run away, we are wrong,” he said. complaint with other victims.” He said his company could continue operat- Chakrya posted a nine-minute clip on his ing as long as clients continue believing in it, Facebook page on Monday, saying he had not because the company still has land in many evaded the responsibility of paying his clients. places, and it could be given to clients as com- He said his company closed its doors after run- pensation. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Officials’ salaries set to Over 5,500 arrested for drugs be donated from May Khouth Sophak Chakrya Niem Chheng Officials who receive their NTI-DRUG police salaries through other means have arrested more THE Ministry of Economy could directly contribute to than 5,500 suspects and Finance has informed of- the Committee with personal and seized over ficials who are willing to con- payments. A300kg of drugs as evidence tribute their salaries to fight “We encourage them to start since January. Covid-19 that most donations contributing from May. For A report released by the Na- won’t be deducted from their those who wanted to contrib- tional Authority for Combat- bank accounts until May, and ute from April, they can do it ing Drugs and seen by The if they wished to make dona- by themselves,” Hun Sen said. Post on Monday showed that tions before then, they could Ministry of Economy and from January 1 to April 5, a make a personal payment to Finance spokesperson Meas total of 5,546 suspects were the National Committee for Sok Sensan said on Monday detained, 87 of whom were Combating Covid-19. that April salaries had already foreigners. Minister Aun Pornmoniroth been transferred to officials’ Police also seized drugs in issued the order on Friday, ex- bank accounts. the form of pills and powder plaining how government of- As of Saturday, Hun Sen weighing nearly 120kg, 110 ficials and civil servants could said more than $10 million packets of unspecified drugs, contribute their salaries to has been donated to the 225kg of dried cannabis and the committee. Committee, including that 77,708 marijuana plants. The move came after many from private individuals and Besides, police impounded officials, public servants and government officials. 26 vehicles, 657 motorcycles, members of the armed forces “We prepared this budget to 1,943 phones, 128 scales and announced their desire to help those in difficult situa- 11 rifles and pistols in nation- donate their salaries to help tions during Cambodia’s bat- wide crackdowns. combat Covid-19. But some tle with Covid-19. The money “Of the 5,546 suspects, 3,133 of those salaries had already will be used to buy face masks, were arrested and sent to been transferred to the recipi- medical equipment, sanitis- From January 1 to April 5, a total of 5,546 suspects were detained, 87 of whom were foreigners. pOLICE court for trafficking, storing, ents’ bank accounts. ers and other things people processing and distributing Loek Vannak told The Post on ing and processing drugs. operation. Last week, Prime Minister may need according to the drugs and growing addictive Monday that Soeurng Theava Court spokesman Tep A Svay Rieng provincial po- Hun Sen announced that he situation,” Hun Sen said. plants. The other 2,413 were and Oeurng Dychanna, both Phalla identified the three as lice report said on March 31 would contribute his salary In the meantime, ministries drug users and have been 37, are being detained at Prey Troeng Voekphu, 35; Vo Hor that police raided a rented to the committee for seven and police commissariats on sent to drug rehabilitation Sar prison. Thoeurng, 27; and Ngo Thy house in the commune’s Kan- months. Monday received scores of centres,” said the report. “They were arrested on April Eang Than, 18. dal village and freed 15 Viet- Officials who receive their donations to join the fight In Phnom Penh on Monday, 2-3 with more than 16kg,” he He said they were arrested namese nationals who had salaries through partner banks against the disease. Phnom two suspects were placed in said. between March 31 and April 3 been confined in the house. facilitated by the ministries of Penh municipal police chief pre-trial detention after being The Svay Rieng Provin- in three separate locations in After questioning them, Economy and Finance, and Civil Sar Thet received 12,000 face arrested for drug trafficking. cial Court on Monday also Bavet town’s Bavet commune. police checked other nearby Service would have their contri- masks, 610 bottles of sanitiser The National Police’s anti- charged three Vietnamese More than 4kg of drugs and rooms and seized some drugs butions deducted from their ac- and 60 litres of hand-washing drug department director nationals for trafficking, stor- other items were seized in the before arresting the three. counts from May, Hun Sen said. sanitiser. ‘No mass gatherings ‘Stop land grabs at archaeological sites’ for Khmer New Year’ Khorn Savi THE Ministry of Culture and Continued from page 1 Health ministry spokesper- Fine Arts said last year, it son Or Vandine could not be cracked down on 18 cases of coronavirus infections, which reached for comment on Mon- land grabs at archaeological remained stagnant at 114 cas- day. But National Police chief sites, while 6,617 archaeologi- es as of Monday. Neth Savoeun, who is also the cal sites including burial plac- Of the number, 53 Covid-19 committee’s vice-president, es, ancient temples, ancient patients, or 46.49 per cent, said on his Facebook page pagodas and irrigation sys- have been discharged from that the meeting touched on tems across the country were hospitals. The latest three pa- the return of migrant workers registered for conservation. tients who recovered on Mon- before the Khmer New Year. The ministry’s Department day are Malaysian nationals Kampong Speu provincial of Archaeology and Prehistory doing Islamic religious work governor Vei Samnang, who head, Voeun Vuthy, confirmed in Kampong Cham province. was present at the meeting, that land grabbing at the 18 Meanwhile, 12 Cambodian echoed Savoeun. He said at- archaeological sites had been Muslims from Svay Proteal tendees raised concerns about suppressed and settled in six commune in Kandal province’s the influx of migrant workers provinces, with most of the Sa’ang district – who had been from Thailand through unof- cases in Phnom Penh, and quarantined over the last 12 ficial corridors, which makes Kandal, Stung Treng and Prey days after they went into close it difficult for the authorities Veng provinces. contact with two Covid-19 pa- to control them and monitor “The ministry stands by gov- tients – have returned home their health. ernment policy guidelines and after testing negative. “It’d be ideal if the work- appealed to the court through District governor Nhem ers returned directly through legal procedures in five major Vandine said the 12 were iso- the official borders. But, we’re cases – three in Kandal prov- lated at the Hun Sen Takhmao worried that they are coming ince, one in Kampong Speu High School. back through illegal border and another in Kampong Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts secretary of state and spokesman Long Ponnasirivath said cultural sites “They were in close con- crossings. Chhnang,” Vuthy said. that are listed as heritage sites were also encroached upon, while the most vulnerable to encroachment tact with the two Covid-19 “They don’t inform us when He said the 6,617 archaeo- were those sites in proximity to development areas. HENG CHIVOAN patients, who tested positive returning through such corri- logical sites listed and under but have already recovered,” dors. If they do, we can check conservation were based on day, organised by the Govern- criminal law identifies heri- undergoing several renova- he said. up on their health. four principles – prehistoric or ment Spokesperson’s Office. tage land as state property tions in the vicinity of the Ang- On Monday, an inter-min- “We have laid out measures Funan-style ancient houses, The ministry’s secretary of and cannot be converted into kor Resorts to make the historic isterial committee created on to respond to the situation. And archaeological sites that have state and spokesman, Long private ownership,” he said. site more attractive to local and Thursday and led by Minis- with the Khmer New Year ap- temples in the Angkor and Ponnasirivath, said land The ministry said such international tourists. ter of Health Mam Bun Heng proaching, we won’t allow any pre-Angkor periods, ancient grabbing at archaeological or violations of the law include He said such improvements held a meeting at the Ministry mass gatherings. If we let peo- pagoda in the post-Angkor cultural sites were sometimes clearing heritage land, il- include extending road infra- of Interior to discuss the pan- ple gather, chances are they will period, and historical build- unknown to the ministry at legally excavating artefacts, structure projects, develop- demic. drink in groups and possibly in- ings in the French period. the early stages, while other demolishing ancient archi- ment of automatic irrigation Attended by top officials fect each other,” he said. The last includes the conser- cases involved pure greed. tecture to put up new build- systems to increase the green from the interior ministry, However, he said the final vation of historical buildings He said cultural sites that are ings, forest crimes and the in both dry and rainy season relevant institutions and the decision rests with Prime after the French period. listed as heritage sites were also building of illegal houses at in the temple surroundings, 25 municipal and provincial Minister Hun Sen, who will Vuthy was speaking at a encroached upon, while the Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear and reforestation in front of the governors, the meeting aimed address the nation on Tues- press conference on the “Ca- most vulnerable to encroach- Sambor Prei Kuk sites. temple, establishing a hos- to introduce plans to prevent day over government-im- reer progress and continuing ment were those sites in prox- Apsara Authority spokes- pitality centre in front of the the virus from spreading posed measures during the employment direction of the imity to development areas. woman, Long Kosal said cur- temple and stopping disor- across the Kingdom. New Year celebrations. Ministry of Culture” on Mon- “The Constitution, civil and rently the Apsara Authority is ganised sales in its vicinity. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Ultimatum for makers Ministry of Justice site online of counterfeit alcohol Voun Dara Voun Dara As a result of the measures, HE Ministry of Justice on Thursday, deputy prosecu- on Monday announced THE General Department of tors in Kandal province and the the launch of its new Consumer Protection, Com- Phnom Penh Municipal Court, website www.moj.gov. petition and Fraud Preven- department officials, officials khT in addition to its already tion gave an ultimatum to of the police departments’ anti- existing Facebook page and owners of the 59,402 litres of economic crime bureaus and Telegram service. fake alcohol that were seized local authorities drove a mobile Ministry spokesperson Chin last Thursday to solve the experimentation van to inspect Malin on Sunday said the web- problem by this Wednesday two locations suspected of stor- site would add to its existing for face legal action. ing fake alcohol. official Facebook page and oth- The department’s director- The first location was at er social networking platforms general Phan Oun told The #188, St 13A, in Kandal prov- that the ministry operates. Post that in the department’s ince’s Bek Chan commune in Malin said the website was campaign it cracked down Ang Snuol district, and the established to increase the on the sale of 64,178 litres of second was at #02, St 01A, effectiveness in broadcasting fake alcohol (methanol) and Borey Piphup Thmey gated information related to the are holding it for further legal community, in Kambol dis- ministry, especially the procedures. trict’s Kantouk commune in achievements of legal and The 59,402 litres of fake al- Phnom Penh. judicial system reforms. cohol found on Thursday is He said: “After the inspec- “The website will play its roll being held temporarily at the tion and analysis, the munici- in educating and broadcasting department’s Kandal provin- pal court deputy prosecutor the law to the public. In the cial and Phnom Penh head- allowed the department to future, it will also broadcast The Ministry of Justice launched its new website www.moj.gov.kh in addition to its already existing Facebook quarters. seize and hold 59,402 litres of samples of verdicts and judge- page and Telegram service. HEAN RANGSEY Oun said: “The department fake alcohol temporarily for ments of the court so that the seized 64,178 litres of fake further procedure.” public can better understand policy framework for the court ordering the court to do this ministry has duties to arrange alcohol. But it is difficult for After the two locations were how decisions are made. to implement and follow up on and that,” he said. laws to make it easier for the this methanol substance to raided, the department on “The website will also provide policy implementation that has Over the past four months, court to effectively fulfil its be kept, so we also contacted Friday informed the owners of a foundation for students to con- been set out,” he said. Malin said, the ministry has obligations and duties. major petrol station owners. the fake alcohol to come and duct research as well,” he said. He said this meant that the been continuing to work on a “The ministry is drafting But they don’t have places to solve the case by Wednesday. The announcement said: “We ministry’s role is to prepare the legal framework for such areas three statutes – clerk statutes, store it. So, in line with proce- Oun said: “As of Sunday, the are pleased to inform the public law, implement it and follow up as the penal code, code of notary statutes and bailiff stat- dures, we are requesting the owners have not yet come to about this and our group is to see whether or not its imple- penal procedure, civil code utes,” he said. The ministry is prosecutor to destroy it.” solve the case and provide an pleased to receive constructive mentation is effective. and code of civil procedure. also reviewing the statute per- After recently seeing some explanation to the police.” feedback from the public.” “If it’s not effective, is it It is also working on a law on taining to attorneys, which he opportunists exploiting the The department appealed The launch follows a March because the law is not good or court appointments, a law on said exists but is outdated. opportunity to import and to the public, particularly all 25 press conference where is still lacking? So, we will draft statutes for magistrates, and “It will be updated and mod- distribute fake alcohol, Oun retail and wholesale vendors, Malin said the ministry is an a new law, amend the old one another for prosecutors, and a ernised in line with the current ordered his subordinate of- to please collaborate and executive institution control- or delete it. All of these are the law on the functions of the context. As for the future direc- ficials to immediately search learn about doing business led by the Royal Government. ministry’s tasks. [Our role] is Supreme Council of Magis- tion, the ministry will finalise for and crack down on the responsibly to avoid harming “The ministry has essential not deciding whether some- tracy. these laws and statutes within traffic and distribution of fake consumers’ health and even duties to draft laws, prepare the one loses or wins the case or Besides that, he said, the the mandate,” he said. alcohol across the country. confronting the law. Workers protest over pay

Long Kimmarita

MORE than 30 construction workers representing over 100 workers in total, including Cambodian and Chinese nationals, protested on Mon- day to demand that the own- er of a 22-storey building in Sihanoukville’s Commune III pay them four month’s salary amounting to more than $100,000. The owner had promised to pay them on April 12. Kea Sreykum, who repre- sented all the workers and Contruction workers protest in Sihanoukville over pay. FACEBOOK also a Chinese language in- terpreter, told The Post that to provide for their livelihood. fails to deliver on his promise, Cambodian and Chinese “I have long done this work, the provincial department workers who are tile-layers, perhaps six or seven months should take legal action. builders and painters had already. I have nothing and re- “Our working group took all worked at the building from quest a solution to be found. Ev- records and will continue mon- December until mid-March. ery day, I stay at a rented room itoring the employer’s promise During their employment, and have no money to pay for saying that he will solve the the Chinese employer did not the monthly rent either. problem for the workers on pay them their full salaries and “The employer promised a April 12. Because the construc- promised to do so when the week ago that he would solve tion site is not yet 100 per cent work was complete. He had only the problem but until now he complete, it is not yet named. paid them money for food. has paid nothing,” he said. I don’t know either what plans “It has been a long time The Chinese employer the employer has,” he said. that he had not paid us our could not be reached for Khemara said the employ- salaries. We were only given comment on Monday. er had rented the building money for food. Some work- Preah Sihanouk provincial from a Cambodian who is a ers have gone back home. Department of Labour and landlord. But there was no The employer still said they Vocational Training director information concerning the would have to wait until we Yov Khemara told The Post on building. The provincial De- protested, and now he said he Monday that after the protest, partment of Labour was con- will pay,” Sreykum said. department officials went tinuing to monitor it. Meach Nary, a construction down to intervene. Sreykum expects that worker from Siem Reap prov- He said on Tuesday, all the when the deadline comes, a ince said he had run out of workers would file a com- solution will be reached. In money to buy food because plaint with the department case the employer has still the building’s owner refused asking it to write-down what not paid their salaries, she to pay him for months. When was owed to the workers and said she will stage more pro- he did not receive his salary, continue monitoring the situ- tests and seek intervention his family didn’t have money ation. In case the employer from the department. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,063 1.4140 7.0928 109.16 4.3690 1.4360 32.91 0.6042 1.0790 1.2282 Green light for $161M Kandal brewery Campu Bank gives Thou Vireak

HE Council for the Development of loan relief Cambodia (CDC) last week approved aT $160.6 million brewery in for clients Chhak Chhoeu Neang com- mune’s Trapaing Veng village May Kunmakara in Kandal province’s Ang Sn- uol district. CAMBODIAN Public Bank Plc The project is invested in by (Campu Bank), a subsidiary of Hanuman Beverages Co Ltd Malaysia’s Public Bank Bhd, on and is expected to generate Monday, became the first bank 1,545 jobs, the CDC said. to announce a loan moratori- Ministry of Science, Tech- um for its customers. nology and Innovation All eligible individuals and spokesman Oum Sotha told businesses affected by the The Post on Monday that it Covid-19 pandemic will be welcomed the project, which able to reschedule and refi- he said will help meet local nance their loans. and foreign market demands. The announcement comes “The ministry and I have after the National Bank of always welcomed all of the Cambodia’s March 27 directive projects that the Council for to all banks and financial insti- the Development of Cambo- tutions to restructure credit for dia has approved. loans for vulnerable custom- “We’ll always support the ers in four priority sectors. creation of new factories, The directive aims to main- increasing business and em- tain financial stability, support ployment for Cambodians economic activity and ease the both directly and indirectly,” burden of debtors facing Sotha said. The CDC said the new $160.6 million brewery in Kandal province’s Ang Snuol district is expected to generate 1,545 jobs. afp declining revenues during the He said the government is ongoing outbreak. making every effort to attract tive, Cambodia should permit Cambodia Chamber of He noted that companies The plants are Ana Water The four priority sectors cited foreign investors and encour- the further establishment of Commerce vice-president that receive CDC approval for and Smiler Beverage Co Ltd, by the NBC were tourism age investment in food and this type of business based on Lim Heng said: “We welcome their projects have one year Asian Sunrise Co Ltd, Cam- (including food and beverage, as beverage processing plants real investment. all new investment projects to develop them. They must bodia Brewery Ltd, Cambrew well as other support services), which curb imports into “In addition to beverages, from abroad. reapply for approval if they fail Ltd, Daun Penh Food and Bev- garments (including employ- Cambodia. there are other non-alcoholic “I believe this brewery plant to do so within the timeframe. erage Co Ltd, Khmer Beverage ees), construction (exclusively “Of course, beer products beverages we could look to investment project comes There are currently 10 brew- Co Ltd, Far East Import Export for first house purchasers, shops are not necessities, but if both support to further cut back due to the company seeing eries and beverage plants list- Co Ltd, Kingdom Breweries and first mortgages) and trans- domestic and foreign markets imports – such as orange high demand in our country ed at the ministry, it said in a (Cambodia) Ltd, Media GB port (especially taxi drivers and still demand them and [pro- juice, fruit juice and pure and also a chance to produce report provided to The Post Enterprise Co Ltd, and Phnom tuk-tuk drivers) and logistics. duction] remains competi- drinking water,” he said. for exports,” said Heng. on Monday. Penh Beer Co Ltd. The NBC’s initiative is very timely and sound, and trans- lates into much-needed assist- ance to all sectors of the Cam- bodian economy, especially for small and medium-sized enter- Jica loans $50M to HKL to aid rural MSMEs prises and individuals who have been financially affected May Kunmakara MSMEs and other customers by the ongoing health crisis. . . . in both rural and urban Campu Bank Indo-China HATTHA Kaksekar Limited areas,” it said. Operations regional head (HKL), a subsidiary of Thai- HKL president and CEO Hout Phan Ying Tong expressed based Bank of Ayudhya Pcl Ieng Tong could not be reached hope that the moratorium (Krungsri), received a $50 mil- for comment on Tuesday. would provide much-needed lion loan from Japan Interna- On Friday, the government relief to its customers. tional Cooperation Agency officially launched the Small “As the outbreak escalates, (Jica) to expand its operations and Medium Enterprise Bank Cambodian Public Bank will and support micro-, small- of Cambodia with an initial continue to be pro-active in and medium-sized enterprises capital of $100 million to pro- providing a loan moratorium (MSMEs) in rural areas. vide financing for SMEs. to help all of its customers in The loan agreement was An International Finance Cor- their cash-flow situations and reached on March 27 and will poration report released in alleviate their financial strug- provide funds to rural MSMEs August said Cambodia’s women gles in this difficult and very through the Private Sector entrepreneurs continue to strug- challenging time,” he said. Investment and Finance sys- gle with limited access to financ- Cambodia has 46 commer- tem based on Jica’s Facility for ing for business expansion. Only cial banks, 15 specialised Accelerating Financial Inclu- three per cent have access to banks and 82 microfinance sion in Asia programme, HKL credit from MFIs and banks. institutions (MFIs). There are said in a press release. It estimated that the unmet also 248 rural credit operators, “Ninety per cent of the pop- Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (Jica’s) $50 million loan will provide funds to rural micro-, small- demand for credit from women 15 leasing companies and 20 ulation below the poverty line and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). heng chivoan entrepreneurs is currently $4.2 payment service providers, a currently resides in rural Cam- are run by women. Ensuring Jica supports HKL in expand- HKL said some 82 per cent billion – a figure that is equiva- 2019 NBC report said. bodia. It is important to sup- MSMEs’ growth is an impor- ing lending activity to MSMEs of its customers are based in lent to almost 63 per cent of Banks’ outstanding loan port them in their growth and tant part of the empowerment in rural areas. It is designed to rural areas and 61 per cent of Cambodia’s national budget of portfolio reached $24.5 billion create more employment to of women,” it said. reduce poverty and regional its loans are extended to wom- $6.7 billion for last year. last year while deposits stood further reduce poverty. The Cambodia Inter-censal disparity in Cambodia. en customers. In mid-March, the state- at $25.5 billion. Among MFIs, “However, a large financial Economic Survey 2014 says Thus it will contribute not “In response to the custom- owned Agricultural and Rural loans reached $7.2 billion and gap exists. The fact that many women-owned 26 per cent of only to sustainable economic ers’ needs for financial serv- Development Bank on Mon- deposits $3.9 billion. MSMEs have limited access to small and medium-sized growth but also to [achieving ices, HKL has 177 branches day launched a $50-million finance has restrained their enterprises (SMEs) and 62 per the UN-drafted] SDGs [Sus- located across the country to fund to increase access to www.phnompenhpost.com growth. cent of micro-enterprises. tainable Development Goals],” contribute to financial inclu- credit for SMEs in the local check the post website “Also of note, many MSMEs HKL said: “This loan from it added. sion and provide services to agricultural sector. for breaking news THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Stock markets rebounding on Central bank of UAE doubling stimulus to easing pandemic but oil dips counter virus impact SIAN and European cent, while Seoul, Singapore THE Central Bank of the UAE The regulator’s new mea- equity markets and Jakarta gained almost 4 (CBUAE) on Sunday said it sures also allow banks to de- rebounded on Mon- per cent. Hong Kong jumped has doubled to $70 billion a fer payment of loans for com- day as some of the 2.2 per cent, while Shang- stimulus package to support panies and clients until the world’sA worst-hit countries hai was closed for a holiday. the Gulf state’s economy amid end of 2020. reported falling death rates, The Cambodia Securities the coronavirus pandemic. “The additional measures providing much-needed hope Exchange index fell 0.61 per “The aggregate value of all announced today will effec- in the battle against coronavi- cent. capital and liquidity measures tively relieve the pressure on rus, but oil prices sank after a adopted by the CBUAE since financial institutions . . of- meeting of top producers was Opec delayed March 14, 2020 has reached fering the required relief and delayed. Attention this week will be 256 billion dirhams [$70 bil- continued access to funding While deadly Covid-19 con- on a planned meeting of Opec lion],” the central bank said for businesses and house- tinues its deadly sweep across and other key crude produc- in a statement. holds,” newly-appointed gov- the planet, with more than ers aimed at easing a supply Last month, oil-rich UAE ernor Abdulhamid Saeed said. 1.25 million now declared glut that had sent oil prices announced stimulus worth The UAE, where 1,505 coro- infected and nearly 70,000 crashing. $35 billion that included aid navirus cases and 10 deaths dead, news out of Europe that Both main contracts had to the banking system, fa- have been reported, has in- the rise of fatalities was eas- soared last week as Trump ing has lifted spirits on trad- said Saudi Arabia and Russia The measures announced today ing floors. Billions of people around the world are in lockdown to limit the spread of would hold talks on ending Italy reported its lowest daily the coronavirus, which has put a huge strain on the global economy. AFP their price war, while it also will effectively relieve the death toll in two weeks, while emerged that Opec would be pressure on financial institutions Spanish officials said deaths optimistic things – the slow- the fewest new cases in six holding a teleconference on fell for the third straight day ing death rate caused by cor- weeks, Australian new infec- Monday. cilities for loans and injecting troduced strict measures and France reported its low- onavirus. Italy, Spain, France, tions were also dropping and However, investors were funds into the bourses. including halting travel and est daily toll in a week. and Germany have all seen President Donald Trump said dealt a blow over the week- Most of the new measures closing shopping malls and In early afternoon eurozone declining numbers.” the US was showing signs of end when the meeting was focused on easing financial entertainment venues. deals, Frankfurt stocks rallied London jumped 2.1 per stabilising, despite the num- delayed to Thursday. and liquidity requirements On Saturday night, Dubai, 4.5 per cent, Paris won 3.7 per cent nearing midday, with ber of cases there passing Analysts warned there were for banks to free up cash for one of the seven emirates mak- cent, Madrid gained 3.0 per gains capped by news that 335,000 – the highest in the doubts that the US would take lending. ing up the UAE, announced a cent and Milan added 3.2 per British Prime Minister Boris world. part in them, which could be In the new measures, the two-week lockdown in which cent. Johnson was hospitalised for Markets also shrugged off a major sticking point for central bank reduced by half to it will carry out tests in densely precautionary tests after suf- data on Friday showing a Moscow and Riyadh. 7.0 per cent the reserves banks populated areas. ‘Shrugging off pessimism’ fering “persistent” coronavi- massive drop in US jobs in But even if a deal is reached, are required to keep for de- The bourse of Dubai has “European markets are rus symptoms for ten days. March that added to news there is scepticism that sug- mand deposits, which can be led the slide of the Gulf stock trading higher because in- The pound however rose as that millions of people had gested cuts of 10 million bar- withdrawn by clients anytime. markets, shedding 36 per vestors are shrugging off the officials insisted that Johnson applied for unemployment rels per day will be enough to This will allow for some cent in the first quarter, most pessimism,” said AvaTrade was “still very much in charge benefits. help the oil market, owing to $16.6 billion in liquidity to be of it in March. Its UAE sister analyst Naeem Aslam. of the government”. Tokyo, Sydney and Manila a collapse in demand caused used in new bank lending, the bourse in Abu Dhabi dropped “They are focused on more Elsewhere, South Korea saw all rose more than four per by the pandemic. AFP central bank said. by 26.4 per cent. AFP

Boeing Co is seeking more than $60 billion in federal support for the US aerospace industry in the wake of the two crises. AFP Boeing extends plant shutdown in Washington CHICAGO-headquartered priority,” Boeing’s commercial aerospace firm Boeing Co has airplanes division president said it will indefinitely extend a Stan Deal said in a statement. shutdown at its factories in the Boeing was already facing US’ Washington state because significant headwinds prior to of the coronavirus pandemic. the coronavirus pandemic be- The aerospace giant had cause of the crisis surrounding already halted production at the 737 Max, which has been its Puget Sound facility near grounded for more than a year Seattle, where the company following two fatal crashes. builds the long-range 777 jet But the pandemic has further and other models, after an- hit the company’s outlook with nouncing a two-week stop- most commercial airline travel page last month. suspended and major carriers It had also shut its other thrust into a life-or-death fight. major state factory at Moses The company is seeking Lake because of the 737 Max more than $60 billion in fed- grounding. eral support for the US aero- Boeing announced on Sun- space industry in the wake of day that the shutdown would the two crises. continue indefinitely in an ef- It announced a voluntary fort to protect staff from Covid- worker layoff plan on Thursday 19, which has already claimed and said it expected “several the life of one employee at the thousand employees” to take a company’s Everett facility. severance package or retire. “The health and safety of our Boeing currently employs employees, their families and around 70,000 people in our communities is our shared Washington state. AFP 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus TECHNOLOGY PHOTOS POST STAFF POST PHOTOS Allen Dodgson Tan (right), director of applied technology at the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, showcases the prototype for the ventilator alongside chief designer Theara Kong. Cambodian engineers join race to build ventilators amid outbreak

tion (US), J-Hook Co Ltd (Cambodia) creating 3D-printed replicas of UXO While GWHF is covering the to lose any medical equipment,” the and professors from Pennsylvania’s for the training of deminers. cost of the labour, the Cambodian Cambodian-American stressed. Villanova University – have designed However, to address the outbreak, Health Professionals Association of The face shields, modified versions the LIBV. eight engineers, divided into groups of America is funding the materials. of a Czech open-source variant by It took six days for the device to go four, are working round the clock to Tan, who is also the president of Prusa3D, have been adapted to accom- from an idea to the prototype stage, build face shields. the board of the American Chamber of modate Cambodia’s manufacturing Tan said, which would not have been They are producing 50 face shields Commerce in Cambodia, stressed that capacity. possible without the use of 3D printers. per day and aim to make 3,000. the medical equipment will only be Rather than using laser cutters to “We hope we can start manufactur- “The ‘lads’ have volunteered to used as part of the Kingdom’s efforts puncture the hole for the elastic, the ing them within weeks. We also hope work in shifts to cover 24/7 produc- to combat the outbreak. Cambodian engineers have devised a our design will be useful for other de- tion. This is an amazing commitment “There have been multiple com- way to use paper cutters and punches veloping countries which have limited from the engineers. mercial entities and individuals to keep costs down. resources,” said Tan. “The face shields cost $3 [per unit] who have looked to purchase these Mork Tongly, 25, was among the s FORD, General Motors US Ambassador to Cambodia to manufacture, including manpower, face shields from us for use in their group of engineers working when The and even Formula 1 teams Patrick Murphy, who visited the facili- materials and machine time. This does private business or for exporting to Post visited the facilities. turn their expertise towards ties last week, said he was “proud to not include management overheads or other countries. We denied them all “These printers are very small, making ventilators during see Americans and US organisations rental of the facility,” Tan said. immediately. Cambodia cannot afford but they let us make the face shields Athe current Covid-19 outbreak, a play a role to help Cambodia stop the uniformly. I’m proud to work and help group of Cambodian engineers is also spread of Covid-19”. my country right now using technol- leading the charge. He added that the effort was ogy,” said Tongly. Allen Dodgson Tan, the director of indicative of “longstanding partner- Tan said GWHF aims to produce the applied technology at the Golden West ships [between] US government health ventilators, alongside the face shield- Humanitarian Foundation (GWHF), agencies and Cambodian counterparts swithin the next few weeks. told The Post that its Design Lab is [who] are giving back to the Kingdom “3D printing allows us to make very currently using 3D printers to make and working together”. professional products. Many DIY [do- face shields for medical workers and The GWHF Design Lab, established it-yourself] homemade visors have a testing a prototype of a low-cost ven- in 2013, houses the Kingdom’s larg- limit to comfort and durability, which tilator for those infected. est 3D printer, which with it being is different from what we do can with Manufactured at a cost of only a “consumer-level device,” is sym- professional fabrication techniques. $100 per unit, the Low-Resource bolic of making the most out humble “This project highlights how the Improvised BVM Ventilator (LIBV) is resources. Fourth Industrial Revolution can currently in the testing stage, with the The foundation was an Innovation empower communities to solve their aim “to address a shortage of ventila- Awards Honoree under the “Tech for own problems. tors worldwide and specifically in a Better World” category at the 2016 “The localisation of production is Cambodia”, said Tan. Consumer Electronics Show in Las Ve- important for national security, and Engineer Theara Kong, 24, and a gas for its Advanced Ordnance Teach- we are honoured to be able to contrib- coalition from the US and the King- ing Materials (AOTM) programme. ute to the Kingdom even in a small dom ­– including Cushbots Corpora- The AOTM initiative is dedicated to Eight engineers are working around the clock to fabricate face shields for medical workers. way,” said Tan. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Coronavirus hope in Europe as US Covid-19: Worshippers girding for ‘Pearl Harbor’ moment quarantined UROPE’S hardest- The four-year-old Malayan hit nations saw tiger named Nadia along with in Pakistan some tentative signs her sister Azul, two Amur ti- of hope in the fight gers and three African lions PAKISTAN has quarantined 20,000 wor- againstE the coronavirus all developed dry coughs and shippers and is still searching for tens Monday but the US braced are expected to fully recover, of thousands more who attended an for its “Pearl Harbor mo- the Wildlife Conservation So- Islamic gathering in Lahore last month ment” as the country’s death ciety that runs the city’s zoos despite the worsening coronavirus pan- toll raced towards 10,000. said in a statement. demic, officials said on Sunday. The virus has infected vir- “We tested the cat out of Authorities said they want to test or tually every corner of the an abundance of caution quarantine those who congregated planet, confining nearly half and will ensure any knowl- at the event held by the Tablighi of humanity to their homes edge we gain about Covid-19 Jamaat – an Islamic missionary move- and turning life upside down will contribute to the world’s ment – from March 10-12 over fears for billions on a death march continuing understanding of they are now spreading Covid-19 that has claimed more than this novel coronavirus,” the across Pakistan and overseas. 70,000 victims. statement sent to AFP said. More than 100,000 people went to Queen Elizabeth II deliv- The zoo emphasised that the meeting, organisers said, unde- ered only her fourth emer- there is “no evidence that ani- terred by government requests for it gency address in a 68-year mals play a role in the trans- to be cancelled as the virus hit the reign to urge Britain and mission of Covid-19 to people country. Commonwealth nations to other than the initial event in In northwestern Khyber “remain united and reso- the Wuhan market, and no Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities lute” as Prime Minister Boris evidence that any person has have so far quarantined 5,300 Johnson was hospitalised been infected with Covid-19 Tablighis or Islamic preachers who with the disease. in the US by animals, includ- attended the Lahore meeting. But there was cause for ing by pet dogs or cats”. “Health officials are conducting cheer in some European The effective mothballing of tests for coronavirus and some of hotspots, with Italy report- the global economy is begin- them have tested positive,” Ajmal ing its lowest death toll in ning to hit hard with analysts Wazir, a spokesperson for the region, two weeks, Spanish fatali- warning poverty levels will told AFP on Sunday. ties dropping for the third The virus has infected virtually every corner of the planet, confining nearly half of humanity to their homes spike with millions of jobs Wazir said thousands of Tablighis and turning life upside down for billions on a death march that has claimed more than 70,000 victims. AFP straight day and France see- lost despite unprecedented from his province were stranded in ing its fewest dead in a week. to be sent home. Pearl Harbor moment, our Time Square deserted as stimulus programmes. other regions because of the closure of “The curve has started its Builder Eduardo Lopez, 9/11 moment, only it’s not neon lights continued to Iran, whose economy has major highways across the country. descent and the number of 59, gave a “10/10” rating to going to be localised.” flicker, one reading: “2020. suffered the double blow of About 7,000 have been quarantined deaths has started to drop,” the staff who cared for him The death toll in hardest- To those fighting for our the virus and punishing US in the central Punjab city Lahore, said top Italian health of- “with tenderness and a great hit New York state rose to lives. Thank you.” sanctions, said it would allow while in southern Sindh province up ficial Silvio Brusaferro, add- dose of humanity”. 4,159, Governor Andrew President Donald Trump “low-risk” economic activity to to 8,000 Tablighis have been quaran- ing the next phase could be But while the curve was Cuomo said, up from 3,565 has warned of “horrific” resume as daily infection rates tined, government officials said. a gradual easing of a strict bending in Europe, there a day prior. death toll numbers and John fell for a fifth straight day. Dozens more have been forced to month-long lockdown. was little sign of a let-up in It was the first time the dai- Hopkins University said But some in poorer coun- self-isolate in southwestern Balo- In Spain, nurse Empar Lo- the US, where the death toll ly toll had dropped but Cuo- more than 1,200 people had tries are already chafing chistan province. ren said: “The situation is approached 10,000 and au- mo said it was too early to tell died of coronavirus compli- against curfews destroying The Tablighi mosques and the more stable. The number of thorities warned worse was whether that was a “blip”. cations over the past day. their livelihoods. movement’s other places of worship patients in intensive care is around the corner. Images from New York Meanwhile, a tiger at New “How can anyone stay home were shut down or marked as quaran- not growing much anymore, “This is going to be the showed medics in protec- York’s Bronx Zoo has tested without anything to eat?” tine centres at the end of last month. and we are starting to dis- hardest and the saddest tive gear wheeling bodies positive for Covid-19, the in- asked Garcia Landu, a mo- At least 154 worshippers who went charge quite a few.” week of most Americans’ on stretchers to refrigerated stitution said on Sunday and torcycle taxi driver in Angola’s to last month’s Jamaat had tested At a field hospital set up at lives, quite frankly,” US Sur- trailers repurposed as make- is believed to have contract- bustling capital Luanda. positive for coronavirus, with two a Madrid conference centre, geon General Jerome Adams shift morgues. ed the virus from a caretaker “Better to die of this disease fatalities, authorities told AFP. staff applauded whenever a told Fox News. The city that never sleeps who was asymptomatic at or gunshot than to starve to Coronavirus has killed at least 45 patient was healthy enough “This is going to be our was quiet, the streets around the time. death,” he said. AFP people in Pakistan but with only lim- ited testing available, observers wor- ry the number is far higher. Tablighi Jamaat is considered one of the world’s largest faith-based movements, with millions of follow- Storm strengthens in Pacific, lashes Vanuatu ers, particularly in South Asia, and sends preachers to countries to A DEADLY Pacific cyclone intensified as queline de Gaillande said. ture to deal with even a mild outbreak. help those most in need,” she said. spread Islam’s ideas. it hit Vanuatu on Monday, threatening Another concern is the impact a New Zealand Prime Minister Jacin- “We have a lot of skilled people on Numerous foreign nationals a natural disaster that experts fear will large natural disaster could have on da Ardern raised concerns about the the ground here already [to carry our attended this year from countries undermine the impoverished nation’s Vanuatu’s attempts to remain one of cyclone and said the Kiwi military disaster operations].” including China, Indonesia, Nigeria battle to remain coronavirus-free. the world’s few countries without any was ready to deploy if needed, even Cyclone Harold has already caused and Afghanistan, organisers said. Tropical Cyclone Harold, which reported Covid-19 infections. though New Zealand is on Covid-19 widespread damage in the Solomon About 1,500 foreigners are now quar- claimed 27 lives when it swept through The nation has sealed its interna- lockdown. Islands, where an inter-island ferry antined in Pakistan, but others left the the Solomon Islands last week, tional borders to avoid the virus but “[Harold] looks like it’s coming into ignored weather warnings and 27 country without being tested. strengthened to a scale-topping Cat- emergency measures including bans the Pacific with considerable force,” people were washed off its decks. Gaza’s health ministry confirmed egory 5 superstorm overnight, Van- on public meetings have been tem- she told reporters. Solomons police on Sunday said the last month its first two cases of coro- uatu’s meteorology service said. porarily suspended so people can “Our defence force is at the ready, bodies of five passengers from the MV navirus were Palestinians who had The cyclone is now packing winds gather in evacuation centres. that’s the role they play regardless of Taimareho had been recovered and the attended the gathering. of up to 235km/h, prompting red “There have been no confirmed what’s going on in New Zealand.” search would resume the next day. Pakistan’s science minister Fawad alerts across several provinces. cases of Covid-19 in Vanuatu, but a sig- Cyclone Pam flattened Port Vila, “I would like to thank everyone . . . Chaudhry earlier expressed exas- It made landfall on the remote east nificant disaster at this time could killed 11 people and left a swath of involved in the search for the missing peration that the event had gone coast of Espiritu Santo Island on present serious logistical challenges to destruction that the World Bank esti- 27 people so far as we try as much as ahead, blaming the “stubbornness of Monday morning and was heading delivering life-saving aid,” Oxfam’s Van- mated wiped out almost two-thirds possible to find the bodies so their the clergy”. directly for Vanuatu’s second-largest uatu director Elizabeth Faerua said. of Vanuatu’s economic capacity. grieving relatives can give them a Organisers said they cut the gather- town Luganville, which has a popula- A major international relief effort De Gaillande said Vanuatu’s govern- proper burial,” chief superintendent ing short following advice from the tion of 16,500. was needed the last time a Category ment could face a balancing act between Richard Menapi said. authorities, however, at the time, they The slow-moving storm was 5 system, Cyclone Pam, hit Vanuatu helping cyclone-devastated communi- The ferry set off from Honiara for said it was due to rainy weather. expected to pass north of the capital in 2015. ties and potentially importing the virus Malaita island on Thursday night, Similar Tablighi Jamaat congrega- Port Vila early on Tuesday. If a similar operation were needed in by allowing in international aid. packed with more than 700 people tions held in Malaysia and India dur- “For now, we don’t have any reports the wake of Cyclone Harold, it would “We will need international aid, but as part of a government evacuation ing the coronavirus pandemic have of injury, but lots of damage,” Red run the risk of importing the virus to a we’re hoping initially it will be through programme in response to the virus been blamed for spreading the virus Cross Vanuatu secretary-general Jac- nation that lacks the health infrastruc- funding only, so we can buy supplies and crisis. AFP to other nations. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN

VN poor to receive support from bank after damage caused by Covid-19 Two-week extension of lockdown in THE state-owned Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) has proposed cutting the loan interest rate for poor households by 15 the Philippines’ Luzon island likely per cent from April 1 until the end of the year. HE lockdown on the Philip- Under the proposal, families pines’ largest and most pop- who made a great contribution to ulous island Luzon is likely to the nation will also receive a be extended by two weeks. reduction of 10 per cent. TIn a statement on Sunday, presi- It is estimated a total of 16.2 dential spokesperson Salvador Pan- trillion dong ($690 million) will be elo cited an “emerging consensus” borrowed and three million among medical experts, business- workers will benefit from the men, government officials and oth- programme. ers that extending the lockdown by In recent days, relevant two weeks was “necessary”. ministries and the VBSP have “Lifting it could be premature as it been completing the might wipe out the gains we have so government’s draft resolution far achieved in containing the virus,” about supporting residents in Panelo said, adding that President coping with Covid-19 pandemic. Rodrigo Duterte was “all ears and The VBSP also proposed that eyes” on the situation. employers can borrow money at “He is evaluating the best option to the bank with no interest for a take that will effectively ensure the suc- year to pay employees who must cess of our war against this wily and cease working for three months faceless global enemy. He will make this due to the pandemic. decision in due time,” Panelo said. VBSP deputy director-general Vice-President Leni Robredo said Nguyen Duc Hai said most people she supported a 15-to-20-day exten- borrowing money at the bank were sion of the lockdown but urged the poor, or families who made great government to decentralise the dis- contributions for the nation. tribution of cash aid so that families He said the bank had badly hit by the quarantine could re- implemented different supportive ceive financial relief fast. measures such as extending “I think people must understand their debt payment, lending them why [the extension] has to be done. If more money for manufacture they don’t understand why it is nec- restoring and giving them essary, there will be resistance,” Ro- The Philippine government is looking at the possibility of extending the Luzon lockdown by 15 to 20 days. AFP guidance to make reports on bredo said in a television interview. their struggles. “I think this resistance will be less- in a dispersed and mobile popula- ment time to carry out mass testing, cal cases, it takes three to six weeks for More than 40,000 people have ened if people understand why it tion,” he said. which is planned to begin by April 14. the patient to recover, she said. had their debt payment period needs to be done [and] if their basic Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Nograles said the task force was look- “That’s why many of our active cas- extended, with more than 1.3 needs are met,” she added. spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task ing at several factors based on data and es have not been included yet in our trillion dong impacted. VIET NAM Robredo said the distribution of Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, findings by epidemiologists, math- list of recoveries,” she said. NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK relief under the social amelioration said in a radio interview on Sunday that ematicians and academic experts. The number of positive cases in- programme should be done by local the group would meet throughout this Among these are the epidemiologi- creases because the country’s testing Singapore quarantines governments, not by the Department week and submit a recommendation to cal trend, the health-care system’s capacity has increased, she added. migrant workers in virus fight of Social Welfare and Development Duterte as soon as possible. capacity, social, economic and secu- “Little by little, we’re able to catch up SINGAPORE has put nearly so that it would go faster. In a radio interview on Sunday, rity concerns, he said. with our backlogs so we can say that 20,000 migrant workers under “Anything that is too centralised will Nograles said the available data was The Department of Health (DoH) re- we’re now seeing [the] real-time num- quarantine for two weeks after a affect the speed. I think local govern- not enough for the body to make a ported on Sunday a total of 3,246 coro- ber of Covid-19 cases,” Vergeire said. growing number of coronavirus ments should do the distribution be- decision last week. navirus cases, 152 more than 3,094 on As of Sunday, she said, more than infections were detected in their cause they have the sense of what is “We wanted to see a clearer trend Saturday. It said eight more patients 19,000 people had been tested for dormitories, authorities said on happening on the ground,” she said. so we deferred it to this week so that had died, raising the toll to 152, and the coronavirus. She said the figure Sunday. Opposition Representative Ed- we have two days’ worth of data that seven others had recovered, bringing included patients who had tested The city-state had largely kept cel Lagman of Albay province also we can input in the models created. the number of survivors to 64. positive for the virus. the virus outbreak under control backed the extension of the Luzon We will continue the discussions by Health undersecretary Maria Rosa- “They are tested repeatedly to through a regime of testing and lockdown but recommended that a [Monday]. Hopefully, things will be rio Vergeire maintained that the rising monitor their progress,” she said. tracing contacts of those infected, steady supply of food and financial clearer by then,” Nograles said. number of local infections was the re- Vergeire said the mass testing planned but cases have increased sharply aid go with the extension. Carlito Galvez Jr, the chief imple- sult of the DoH’s expanded testing ca- by the government was “targeted”. in recent days. Lagman said it would be counter- menter of the government’s response pacity. She explained that the slow re- “We need to prioritise the vulnerable Authorities announced 120 new productive to begin mass testing for to Covid-19, the deadly disease caused covery rate was due to the long process members of the population such as infections on Sunday, its highest the new coronavirus when the lock- by the new coronavirus, on Saturday of bringing patients back to health. pregnant women, those who are im- figure for a single day, with many down had already been lifted. said the government was looking at A patient with a mild case of Covid- munocompromised, and our front-line linked to foreign workers’ “It would be extremely difficult to the possibility of extending the Luzon 19 takes about two weeks to recover health workers who have the highest sleeping quarters. implement initial selective and sub- lockdown by 15 to 20 days. from the onset of symptoms, Vergeire exposure to the virus,” she said. PHILIP- Two dormitories housing sequent comprehensive mass testing An extension would give the govern- said, citing studies. For severe or criti- PINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 19,800 workers have been placed under quarantine and their inhabitants will be provided with on-site medical support, food and essential supplies, officials said in a statement. Fishing boat takes 202 Rohingya to Malaysia There are about 280,000 foreign construction workers in the city- MALAYSIA on Sunday detained gee camps in Bangladesh, thou- state from countries including 202 suspected Rohingya Muslims sands have risked their lives travel- Bangladesh and China, with who arrived illegally by boat, a ling to Southeast Asian nations many housed in shared rooms in top official said, raising fears that – mainly by boat – when the Bay of large dormitory complexes. people smugglers are back in Bengal is calm before monsoon “Efforts are also underway in the action despite the coronavirus season sets in at the end of May. larger dormitories to reduce the pandemic. Zulinda said the migrants were density of their resident workers, by Malaysian Maritime Enforce- detained by maritime authorities transferring some among them to ment Agency deputy director for questioning and will be hand- alternative accommodation during Zulinda Ramly said a large fishing ed over to immigration officials. this period,” said a joint statement boat ferried the suspected “Authorities are investigating from two government ministries. Rohingya migrants to the north- complaints by the migrants that The individuals will continue to ern resort island of Langkawi. three individuals – a boat captain be paid by their employers while Malaysia is a favoured destina- and two crew members – were they are quarantined, officials tion for the migrants from Myan- operatives of a human smuggling added. mar as it is a Muslim majority ring,” she said in a statement. Singapore has so far reported nation with a sizeable Rohingya The three escaped to sea after 1,309 virus cases including six diaspora. bringing the boat into Malaysian deaths. Some 740,000 Rohingya Mus- waters. From next week, all schools lims left Myanmar in August 2017 An estimated 25,000 Rohingya and most workplaces in the and arrived in Bangladesh to join left Bangladesh and Myanmar on affluent city-state will be closed another 300,000 already living in boats in 2015 trying to get to Thai- to stem the spread of the virus. the refugee camps. land, Malaysia and Indonesia. AFP Some 202 Rohingya were aboard a fishing boat intercepted by Malaysian authorities off Langkawi With few opportunities for jobs Hundreds drowned when over- island. MALAYSIAN MARITIME ENFORCEMENT AGENCY/AFP and education in Myanmar or refu- loaded boats sank. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Universities boosting fight againstwww.phnompenhpost.com virus www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNELand providing mutual sup- Opinion Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executiveport, Offi andcer proactively tak- Qiu Yong ing on a wide array of Ly Tayseng Ly Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief social responsibilities. Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman HE novel coronavirus In the wake of the epidem- Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer outbreak has forced ic outbreak, Tsinghua Uni- Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith many countries and versity has opened a series Deputy Chief of Staff cities to impose lock- Sam Rith of online programmes to the Phak Seangly downsT and tens of millions of Deputy Chief of Staff public, including more than Business Editor Phak Seangly people to go into self-quaran- 1,900 MOOCs (massive open May Kunmakara Business Editor tine or isolation to maintain online courses) on Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara social distancing. The out- XuetangX, China’s first and Sangeetha Amarthalingam Deputy Business Editor break is yet another reminder largest MOOC platform ini- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath that we are part of a global tiated by the university. It Pan Simala community that shares an Deputy Head of Lifestylehas Desk also created “clone Senior Reporters uncertain future, and no one Pan Simala class” courses to share Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng can manage to meet common Senior Reporters online education resources Reporters challenges alone. Meas Sokchea, Niem Chhengwith universities in Wuhan, Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long The pandemic has caused Reporters capital of Hubei province Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth worldwide disruption, partic- Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kimand Sarom, the Long epicenter of the out- Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung ularly in the field of educa- break in China, and other Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan tion. According to Unesco, areas, including courses in Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers more than 165 countries have English communication, A researcher works on the development of a coronavirus test at the laboratories of the FederalSovanny, University of Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea ordered nationwide closure of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday. AFP engineering drawing and Web Editor Ry Sochan schools, affecting 87 per cent solid state physics. Leang Phannara Photographers of the world’s total enrolled especially university educa- ers and students have con- indispensable contribu- The clone classes are char- Webmasters students. But despite closing tion, is to empower students siderably improved online tions to the well-beingHeng Chivoan, of Hong Meneaacterised by two identical Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea down their campuses, many with the gift of knowledge, and and students are more satis- humankind. Web Editor classes, one in Tsinghua Uni- SIEM REAP BUREAU universities have moved to safeguard their health and fied with the courses. Thanks to its strengthLeang Phannara in versity and the other in a sis- Offi ce Manager courses online, which is well-being. After the epidemic Rich experiences have been science and technology,Webmasters Tsin- ter school, with exactly the Sophearith Blondeel indeed unprecedented. broke out, therefore, Tsinghua accumulated from, and ghua UniversitySous swiftly Chanthy, initi- Pang Vicheasame course content, materi- PRODUCTION & PRINTING University immediately insights gained into, online ated research projects on als and assignments taught Head of Desktop Publishing Physical and spiritual shelter SIEM REAP BUREAU worked out a campus safety education practises. For Covid-19, and hasOffi madece Manager sub- by the same Tsinghua profes- Nhim Sokphyrak Since the establishment of plan under its emergency example, in-class interaction stantial progressSophearith in basic Blondeel sor. From March 16-20, the Desktop Publishing the University of Bologna in response framework. is very important not only for medical and vaccine university organised a large- Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING 1088, universities across the University education is nei- in-person classes but also for research, fast testing kits, and scale online career fair with Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing world have always been the ther spontaneous nor sporad- online teaching and learning intelligent epidemic preven- 126 universities in Hubei and Nhim Sokphyrak physical and spiritual shelter ic. Rather, it is a well-designed – no matter whether we tion systems and equipment. inviting 621 employers to HEAD OFFICE for intellectuals. Some univer- systematic programme based adopt the Socratic method or In fact, during hisDesktop visit Publishing to participate in the fair. sities may have temporarily on comprehensive planning. Confucius method. Tsinghua UniversitySuon Savatdy, to Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath closed down before, but never As such, online teaching The concept of community inspect the SchoolTep Thoeun of Medi- Thyda, Tim Borith,Collective Than Veasna fight against virus on such a large scale. The and learning is not supple- means a lot for universities – cine’s research on the novel Infectious diseases know Post Media Co, Ltd. pandemic is a great challenge mentary to in-person classes, faculty and students gather, coronavirus on HEADMarch OFFICE 2, no boundaries, and certainly The Elements Condominium Level 7, for all of us, and all countries, so we try our best to ensure with a sense of collective President Xi Jinping empha- have no nationalities. In the Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, universities and individuals online courses have the same identity and integrity, to sised that “science and tech- face of this common chal- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom ought to jointly meet it. quality as in-person learning. share knowledge. Online nology are the most powerful lenge for humanity, we Penh, Cambodia China was the first country On February 17, Tsinghua teaching and learning with weapon in humanity’sPost Media battle Co, Ltd. should unite instead of divid- Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 to be hit by the outbreak, and University resumed teaching real-time interaction is an against diseases”.The Elements Condominiuming, Level be collaborative7, instead Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 the first to announce the clo- for all courses via Rain Class- extension of universities’ Hun Sen Boulevard, Phumof Prek combative, Talong, and have con- Social responsibilities SIEM REAP sure of schools. After detailed room and other platforms. community building work. Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,fidence Phnom Penh,in ourselves and in No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune discussions, on January 30, Rain Classroom is Tsinghua In addition to online cours- In May 2019, theCambodia Global each other. Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Tsinghua University decided University’s independently es, we also offer innovative Alliance of Universities SIEM REAP on Universities serve as the to start the spring semester designed online teaching Climate was established at lighthouse of human civili- COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT modes of defending a thesis. No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune courses online on schedule. app, which offers real-time By March 22, altogether 42 Tsinghua University with 12 sation, imparting knowl- Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 On February 3, more than interactions between teach- students – 26 doctoral candi- universities from nine coun- edge and propagating cul- James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT 57,000 Tsinghua students, fac- ers and students, and helps dates and 16 master’s stu- tries as founding members. ture among the youths. We Advertising Department ulty and non-teaching staff and evaluate the results of online dents – had completed their The GAUC charterChief says:Operating “In Offi cer share a common objective, Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Hun Channet, 017 578 768 alumni attended a special lec- teaching. Teachers can use thesis defense online, seven response to globalJames challenges Ong Soon Teck which is to make the world a Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 ture on Tsinghua University’s the app to conduct course- of those being international presented by climateAdvertising change, Department better place. And at this crit- Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 epidemic prevention work and ware preview and check stu- students from Canada, the world-leading universitiesChap Narith, 017 996 241ical moment, universities Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 the arrangement for the spring dents’ status before class. Republic of Korea, Pakistan shoulder an extremelyHun Channet, 017 578 768should help promote confi- Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 semester through a live broad- Through Rain Classroom, and the US. important role.”Prach Monnyreak, 012 123dence, 7777 trust and unity CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION cast. An audience of more than Likewise, we CIRCULATIONbelieve uni & DISTRIBUTION- among the people, and call slides can be synchronised Acting Distribution Manager Epidemic prevention work Acting Distribution Manager three million tuned in. with WeChat. Students can versities can also make for humanity to rise to its Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy As we face this unprecedent- take quizzes during class, Drawing on traditional indispensable contribu- highest potential. Rest Circulation Supervisor ed global challenge, it is time to and send their feedback and strengths in academic tions to the fight ADMINISTRATION against assured, despite the uncer- Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 reflect on what makes a univer- questions anonymously via research and innovation, the novel coronavirusAdmin & HR Managerout- tainties and challenges that Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 sity great. For one, great univer- the on-screen comments universities can play an break. Over thePich past Socheat two lie ahead, there remains ADMINISTRATION sities should proactively section. essential role in epidemic- months, we haveAssistants main to -Admin & HRhope Manager for a brighter future. Admin & HR Manager CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK respond to the challenges of the While observing the app, prevention work. Modern tained close contactNhel Soaphea with Pich Socheat times and fulfill their responsi- universities, characterised other university leaders we noticed that, compared Financial Director Assistants to Admin & HR Manager bility of serving society. with in-person classes, the by academic research and and global partners, Heang Tangmeng The author is president of Tsinghua Nhel Soaphea The essence of education, interactions between teach- innovation, have made exchanging best practices University. Financial Director Chief Accountant Heang Tangmeng Sren Vicheka Chief Accountant Treasurers Sren Vicheka Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Treasurers Cheam Sopheak Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, IT Manager Cheam Sopheak Seng Nak, Vong Oun IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun TO CONTACT US [email protected] TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Around the NGOs

Writing Through launched its first project in Cambodia in 2015 – specially designed workshops that use the writing of English poems and stories to develop thinking skills, language fluency and self-esteem. Hong Menea ‘Writing Through’ promotes thinking skills

Hong Raksmey “We break down barriers between From 2011-2013, she was writer- in the public school system but are techniques and thereby keep up student and teacher while establish- in-residence in the Southeast Asia highly valued in the job market. their skills,” says Schuster. OME 14 years ago, Sue Guiney ing mutual respect, thus creating a Department of the University of “Employers want to hire people She says over the five-year course, visited Cambodia for the first safe space for learning which en- London’s School of Oriental and who can come up with new strate- Writing Through have had over 1,500 time and it changed her life. courages students to think in new African Studies (SOAS), the world’s gies, ideas and can help implement people take part in its workshops in She has gone on to write nov- ways, investigating and sharing their leading institution for the study of them. Everyone can create wonderful Cambodia. elsS based in the Kingdom. She then dreams and experiences.” Asia, Africa and the Middle East. things and we are here to encourage Since the primary goal is for the started her mission to give back to the The workshops in Writing Through, She has travelled around the globe and help them unlock that ability. learners to write poems and stories country that inspired her so much. which is registered in the US as a discussing her experiences in Cam- “The focus on teaching in English, for themselves, at the end of each In 2010, an American novelist, poet charity, are run by fluent English- bodia and drawing attention to the though, is not the main goal of the workshop, a magazine is created to and educator led a writing workshop speaking facilitators with the in-class country’s needs. workshop but a secondary benefit. include all the work written during at Anjali House, an education and art assistance of a local teacher who is The programme, which works for It arose from the fact that English is the workshop sessions. centre in Siem Reap, and it was the from a participating school or NGO. anyone regardless of background, the founder’s native language, and “That magazine is also distributed beginning of Writing Through. “This supports our goal of long-term gender or age, has participants as also as a response to requests from to all the students and their spon- From that first workshop grew this sustainability through local teacher young as eight years old as well as prospective students and partners,” soring schools or NGOs, as a way international charity targeting at- training. Our programme can be the elderly with little English as their says Schuster. to celebrate all of our achievements risk populations – children, adults, adapted to students with a wide range background. Writing Through values the read- and to help raise fund for further students and teachers. of English proficiency,” says Schuster. The main focus of the workshop ing skill which is written with an at- workshops. Writing Through launched its first The programme grew out of Sue is to encourage learners to think in tention to style and substance. Sue “We have published an anthology project in Cambodia in 2015 – spe- Guiney’s mixed experiences from a new ways and express themselves Guiney’s weekly blog posts provide of poems which includes some of cially designed workshops that use volunteer trip she took to Cambodia without fear of making mistakes. insights and inspiration. the brilliant work of our past partici- the writing of English poems and with her family in 2006. “When they finally stand up and “Cambodia’s writing community pants,” says Schuster. stories to develop thinking skills, That trip led to her writing the read what they have written, the is still small and struggling. We en- The book, called Poems from the language fluency and self-esteem. first of her collection of novels set in pride and boost in self-esteem are courage Khmer readers to find, read Magic Pencils, is available via www. “At Writing Through, we believe modern-day Cambodia, A Clash of palpable. Although we occasionally and support the work of their coun- writingthrough.org and at some that today’s world demands more Innocents. After the publication of run workshops that are open to the trymen wherever they can find it. bookstores. from its citizens than an ability to that novel, Sue was determined to public, most of our workshops are “We are currently working on First established in Cambodia, and parrot information,” says the execu- bring the fruit of her inspiration back held in NGOs or schools that be- an online version of the workshop then Vietnam and Singapore, Writ- tive assistant and Cambodia coun- to the people who inspired her. come our Partners,” says Schuster. which we will offer for free to help ing Through is open to working in try coordinator for Writing Through, Ever since the first workshop was She explains the Writing Through people express themselves during any country where the programme Kristin Schuster. run in the Siem Reap educational uses poetry and stories in English as these difficult times. could be developed. Schuster says the skills, which are shelter, Anjali House, Sue has de- a new way to learn critical thinking, “For now, we are already offering The Charity has trained facilita- so crucial to intellectual enrichment voted her writing and much of her saying that creativity and self-expres- activities via our Facebook page tors and volunteers around the and personal advancement, are not teaching to Cambodia. sion are aspects often overlooked which allows readers to practise our world and are always receptive to those traditionally taught in many being connected to new partners. school systems. This summer’s first programme in Instead, Writing Through aims to the US will take place with an immi- remedy this educational gap with- grant population. in some of the world’s most at-risk “We work with a dedicated team of populations. volunteers who we train to facilitate “We know that creative language and shadow our workshops. training and exposure to the arts “We are always looking for more creates new perspectives and opens that are willing to go through the minds. training and work with us in the “Open minds lead to self-esteem. future. We also accept sponsorship, The combination of thinking and donations and grants to be able to language skills and self-esteem run as many workshops as possible. are some key antidotes to poverty. “Although Writing Through is only At Writing Through, we help save five years old, we are growing quickly minds, one poem, one story at a and always responding to the needs time,” says Schuster. and demands of schools and NGOs At Writing Through, the original both in Cambodia and throughout and critical thinking skills are devel- the world. oped through the arts. Arts education “We rely mostly on volunteers to can come in many forms, whether carry out our programming and to it be writing, painting, dancing or underwrite our basic costs,” says singing, all help us to develop our Schuster. creativity and push ourselves to use Visit our website to donate: https:// our brains in new ways. writingthrough.org/help/ for dona- Schuster tells The Post: “Writing tion, and https://www.facebook. Through uses a unique pedagogy com/writingthrough/ and https:// focusing on creative writing of poetry twitter.com/writing_through for and stories in English. Novelist Sue Guiney (right) has devoted her writing and much of her teaching to Cambodia. Hong Menea more information. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

Frenchman fined on trek for cheaper cigarettes Tiger King: A true-crime narrative of A man who tried to walk from France to Spain to buy cheap cigarettes was rescued in the Pyrenees mountains – only to be fined for flouting anti- ‘Joe Exotic’ grips nation in lockdown coronavirus regulations. The man had initially set out MID a constant swirl by car on Saturday from of grim coronavirus Perpignan in southern France news, the surreal to La Jonquera in Spain, but tale of a gay, mullet- was stopped at a checkpoint, wearingA private zookeeper and decided to make his way who calls himself “Joe Exotic” on foot across the mountain – now in prison for murder- range that separates the two for-hire – has captivated a na- countries. tion stuck on the couch. “He fell into a stream, in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem brambles, got lost and ended and Madness – featuring a up contacting” the emergency menagerie of big cats, wacky services, a mountain unit of the employees and misfit lovers – gendarmerie police force in the is part Animal Planet and part Pyrenees-Orientales region Breaking Bad. said via Twitter on Sunday. And it’s all true. A helicopter was sent to With the vast majority of rescue the man, “exhausted, US citizens ordered to stay at shivering with cold and lost”, it home to curb the spread of said. the deadly virus, the Netflix After being brought safely true-crime series has become back, the man was given the a must-see binge-watch for €135 ($146) fine for breaking the masses. the confinement rules under The seven-part documen- which French residents can tary, which premiered on leave their homes only for March 20 and tops Netflix’s essential reasons, and then US trending list, depicts the with a self-certified note stating tumultuous world of 57-year- their business. old cat-loving Joseph Mal- “We remind you once more. donado-Passage. STAY AT HOME,” concluded He made a small fortune on the gendarmerie’s Tweet. his questionable private zoo – Many people in southern and then lost it all in a mael- France cross the border to buy strom of jealous feuds, mys- cigarettes, alcohol, some terious fires, failed political foodstuffs and fuel, which are campaigns and convoluted cheaper in Spain. afp murder plots. Tiger King begins and ends Pink Floyd ‘corona party’ at a prison in rural Okla- shut down in New Jersey homa, where Joe Exotic was PARTYGOERS at a Pink Floyd serving his 22-year sentence tribute night in the US have until he was transferred to a been scolded for shouting federal facility in Texas last Joseph ‘Joe Exotic’ Maldonado-Passage poses with one of his tigers. netflix/afp abuse at New Jersey police week. after defying social distancing But the story of how he toshopping themselves into Joe’s zoo is full of tigers, li- Baskin, the activist owner of Joe is ultimately brought rules brought in to contain the got there – with one bizarre, Joe Exotic pics, though the ons, cougars, leopards and Florida-based Big Cat Rescue, down by his desire to crush – coronavirus pandemic. shocking turn and one sor- directors of Tiger King say hybrid cats. Tourists paid to who is determined to shut and finally try to kill – Baskin. Around 30 people gathered to did scheme after another, all Joe himself would like Brad pet the cubs, and watch the Joe’s zoo down due to his al- He was convicted of paying watch an acoustic rendition of caught on cameras originally Pitt or David Spade to do the flamboyant zookeeper – with leged back-door business of someone $3,000 to kill Baskin the British rock band’s greatest aimed at exposing animal honours. multiple piercings and a pis- illegally breeding lions and and handed the long prison hits on the front lawn of a home abuse – has turned Joe into The series has put retired tol at his hip – play with them. tigers for sale. sentence in January. in Rumson, a seaside something of a national anti- basketball Hall of Famer He sings too. Joe argues that Baskin is Joe has since filed a mas- community south of New York hero. Shaquille O’Neal on the Surrounding Joe is a cast of no better than he is – mak- sive lawsuit, claiming he was City, that was also broadcast Fans are dressing up in spot. O’Neal makes a cameo colourful characters includ- ing money by showing cage- convicted on the back of false live over social media. feline-patterned garb, get- in the documentary, but has ing his husband rendered bound cats to ticket-buying testimony. Police were called to end the ting Joe Exotic haircuts, and insisted he was only visit- near-toothless by meth tourists. The two wage an And though he has no tele- revelry, but met a hostile posting pictures of them- ing. abuse, a legless zookeeper online and ultimately legal vision in prison, he is aware crowd on arrival. selves with their pets – real “I don’t harm tigers,” he said and an aide who lost an arm battle. of his unlikely overnight “When we informed and stuffed – on social me- on his podcast. “I love tigers to a tiger. Both embrace gaudy tiger fame. everyone that they must leave dia. . . . I was just a visitor.” There is also a somewhat and leopard print attire. “Joe is somebody who has . . . we were met with well Rap star Cardi B said she Just as the virus crisis has oblivious former Walmart Joe even blamed the activist always wanted to be a star, wishes of ‘F— the police’ and wanted to raise money to help fuelled his ticket to stardom, manager who earnestly over- for the unsolved disappear- and so he’s very excited for ‘Welcome to Nazi Germany’,” reopen his case to get him out Joe has been sequestered in saw Joe’s campaigns for US ance of her millionaire hus- this to have captured people’s said the town’s police of jail – and then said she was a special prison wing due to president and Oklahoma band more than two decades attention the way it did,” Ti- department via Facebook late “just playing”, though she possible coronavirus expo- governor. Yes, for the White ago. ger King co-director Rebecca on Saturday. added: “I do love him tho.” sure, his husband said this House. “We believe she fed him to Chaiklin told The Hollywood Officers then instructed the An array of actors are pho- week. On the other side is Carole the tigers,” Joe says. Reporter. afp band to cut the night short. “The Rumson Police Department takes no enjoyment in ruining anyone’s fun. However we ALL have a responsibility to take this pandemic SERIOUSLY and adhere to the social distancing requirement,” the police statement said. Last month, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy ordered residents to stay home and non-essential businesses to shutter indefinitely. He has since taken to social media to rebuke residents for ignoring the lockdown rules after several news reports of social gatherings. “Can’t believe I have to say this at all. But here we are. NO CORONA PARTIES. They’re illegal, dangerous, and stupid,” he tweeted last A pair of the 39 tigers rescued in 2017 from Joe Exotic’s GW Exotic Animal Park relax at Signage for the Wild Animal Sanctuary where 39 tigers rescued from Joe Exotic’s GW week. afp the Wild Animal Sanctuary on Sunday in Keenesburg, Colorado. getty images/afp Exotic Animal Park currently reside in Keenesburg, Colorado. getty images/afp 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

Thinking caps

“BEHIND THE VELVET ROPES”

ACROSS 51 Winter bird food 12 Metric unit of 1,000 kilograms 1 One of America’s 50 52 Short snooze 13 “___ of a Lonely Heart” 6 Positioned, as a house 53 Flies across Africa? 18 Swelling shrinker 11 “What am ___ do?” 56 Support framework 23 Heavy snorer’s problem 14 A “Cosby” episode, today 58 A real fly-by-night 24 Water nymph of myth 15 One place for a big fight 59 Deerstalker, for one 25 They’re worn in hospitals 16 Wall Street index (with “the”) 60 ___ Claire, Wisc. 26 “10” star 17 How some twins dress 61 Anonymous surname, in court 28 Grimm story 19 “Newhart” establishment 62 It’s a sin 31 Borrowed funds 20 Fly ball’s path 68 Curator’s hang-ups 35 Brook fish 21 Fond du ___ 69 Give a false impression of 37 Pertaining to neap and ebb 22 A “Hickory Dickory Dock” time 70 Lacking worldliness 38 Marry, sans ceremony 23 Absinthe ingredient 71 “What can I do for you?” 40 “See ___ Run” 27 Send in different directions 72 Masterfully competent 42 Not mono 29 Lengthen, as a speech 73 Villain’s facial expression 45 Samsung competitor 30 “Genesis” brother DOWN 47 The “S” in T.S. Eliot 32 Paleozoic and Edwardian, e.g. 1 Respectful title in India 50 Like ’50s gasoline 33 Point of a pen 2 Koppel or Kennedy 53 At the present time 34 Predictable cards? 3 “___ you with me?” 54 Made a statement on a stack 36 Buoy the spirits of 4 Albacore and yellowfin of Bibles? 39 What the walls have, according to 5 Ask on bended knee 55 Bishop’s vestment a saying 6 Pouchlike part 57 “Dead Man Walking” actress 41 First, second, reverse, etc. 7 Receiver of contributions, for Sarandon 43 Good’s opposite short 63 Balmy place? 44 Rewrite for the screen 8 Giveaways at the poker table 64 Moist, and then some 46 Captain’s speed measure 9 Link, as fingers of the hands 65 Quicken the pace 48 Ruckus 10 Place with toddlers 66 “___ been thinking ...” 49 “How ___ is that?” 11 Raymond in “Rain Man,” say 67 Word before “capita” or “annum” Monday’s solution

Monday’s solution THE PHNOM PENH POST april 7, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Athletes do away with old customs, rituals

S the coronavirus brings the interna- tional sports cal- endar to a grinding halt,A the virus is also likely to kill off old player staples such as the high-five and the ten- nis towel. Here are three ex- amples of sporting traditions we might not see anymore. Saliva in cricket to lose shine It’s been a tried and trusted friend to fast bowlers through- out the history of cricket. But the days of applying saliva to one side of the ball to encour- age swing could be over in the aftermath of Covid-19. “As a bowler I think it would be pretty tough going if we couldn’t shine the ball in a Test match,” said Australia quick Pat Cummins. “If it’s at that stage and we’re that wor- ried about the spread, I’m not sure we’d be playing sport.” Tennis to wipe out towel drops Tennis players throwing towels, dripping with sweat and blood and probably a tear or two, at ball boys and girls, has often left fans sym- pathising for the youngsters. Moves by officials to tackle the issue took on greater ur- gency last month, however, when Covid-19 established a global grip. Behind closed doors in Miki, NBA players like LeBron James (left) are ditching the high-fives and hugs to stay safe. GETTY IMAGES/AFP ball boys and girls on duty at the Davis Cup tie between Ja- “I think having the towel balls for the players.” while Southampton warned for the rest of my life after this,” gan Rapinoe says edicts to ban pan and Ecuador wore gloves. whenever you need it, it’s very against players signing au- NBA superstar and Los Angeles handshakes, however, or even Baskets, meanwhile, were helpful. It’s one thing less that Let’s not shake on it tographs and stopped them Lakers forward LeBron James high-fives may be counter- made available for players you have to think about,” said Pre-match handshakes from posing for selfies. told the Road Trippin Podcast. productive. “We’re going to be to deposit their towels. Back Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas were abandoned in top foot- Away from football, the Basketball stars were also sweating all over each other all in 2018, the ATP introduced when he was playing at the ball leagues just before the NBA urged players to opt for told not to take items such as game, so it sort of defeats the towel racks at some events on NextGen Finals in Milan. “I sports shutdown. Premier the fist bump rather than the balls or team shirts to auto- purpose of not doing a hand- a trial basis, but not everyone think it’s the job of the ball League leaders Liverpool also long-standing high-five. graph. shake,” she told The New York was overjoyed. kids to provide towels and banned the use of mascots “I ain’t high-fiving nobody US women’s football star Me- Times last month. AFP French football on the fence concerning health crisis THE coronavirus pandemic is season over is gaining ground suspended for three weeks, “There are more uncertainties Ligue 2 Le Havre. “It’s shame- of presidents, led by Paris creating a puzzle for French in some quarters but others with 10 rounds each to play, today,” Lyon president Jean- ful for me to see some people Saint-Germain chief Nasser football and, for the moment, remain strongly opposed to prompting many of the lead- Michel Aulas told the L’Equipe feel ashamed that football Al-Khelaifi, who is also head of those in charge have no idea the suggestion. ing voices to no longer insist daily on Sunday. Aulas was an wants to come back to life at beIN Media and several sourc- what the answer might be. The The top-flight and second the season should finish at early advocate of ending the some point.” es confirmed negotiations idea of simply declaring the divisions have already been “whatever the cost”. league and basing European The situation is confusing with Canal+ are planned. qualification on last season’s leaders across the game. The The timetable depends on final standings which would put lockdown in France has been the decision of the French gov- his seventh-place team in the extended to at least April 15. ernment on when to end the Champions League. He added Most clubs have put staff, includ- lockdown and to a lesser that the chances of “finishing all ing players, on part-time con- degree, those of the governing the matches are low”. tracts and some of the league’s bodies of world and European His counterpart at Brest, foreign stars, including Brazil’s football, Fifa and Uefa. Denis Le Sant, told the same Neymar, have gone home. Fifa has to change the way the paper: “The season could not Broadcasters Canal+ and summer transfer market works, start again”. beIN Sports have suspended because players whose contracts Amiens president Bernard the payment of TV rights, the end this season will become free Joannin, whose club is 19th in main source of revenue for agents in June. Uefa has been the standings, agrees. clubs. In this context, the French open to postponing the Cham- “Denis Le Saint has a very league is increasing the fre- pions League until the end of humane position that places the quency of its conference calls July or August to allow the health of all above everything but delaying its decisions. domestic leagues to end but has else. It’s a view that’s shared by a “Today, who can say what’s also threatened to bar clubs from lot of people in the world of foot- going to happen? We’re prepar- leagues that do not finish. ball. You have to understand ing for everything,” said Olivier Some officials argue a “dead- that the only commander is Delcourt, president of Ligue 1 line” for the resumption of the Covid-19. Unfortunately, it sets Dijon which is three points league must be set quickly. the agenda,” he said. above the relegation play-off “A resumption of the season Others were outraged. spot. “For the time being, I until doomsday should not “We hope that the league will think it’s urgent to wait.” push the problem onto the finish if it’s possible,” said Pierre The issue of TV rights will be next championship,” Wantiez French football players are unsure if they will take to the pitch again this year. AFP Wantiez, general manager of addressed this week by a quartet warned. AFP