thursday, march 18, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3629 / 4000 RIEL NA dismayed over GDT chief stands UK to increase EU resolution firm on march 31 nuke stockpile on mass trials deadline for tax in defence shift national – page 3 business – page 6 World – page 10 Tobacco EU: UK jab benefits exports outweigh trail off downsides THE EU’s medicines regula- in 2020 tor said on March 16 it was “firmly convinced” the ben- Thou Vireak efits of AstraZeneca’s vac- cine outweigh potential C A MBODI A exported more risks, insisting there was no than 5.8 thousand tonnes evidence linking it to blood of dried tobacco leaves clots after several nations worth more than $17 mil- suspended the shot over lion to nine countries last health fears. year, marking a 14 per cent The suspensions have and 28 per cent decline in provoked intense debate volume and value, respec- over whether it was prudent tively, over 2019. to put AstraZeneca inocula- The Kingdom shipped out tions on hold just as vacci- a total of 5,820.82 tonnes of nation campaigns were leaves in 2020, down by beginning to gather pace. 14.02 per cent from 6,769.97 Experts at both the World tonnes in 2019, according to Health Organisation (WHO) figures provided by Minister and the European Medicines of Agriculture, Forestry and Agency (EMA) met on March Fisheries Veng Sakhon. 16 to discuss the vaccine, Last year’s exports were with the European organisa- valued at $17,462,460 mil- tion expected to publish lion, falling 28.34 per cent conclusions on March 18. from the $24,371,874.72 While millions of doses of million clocked in 2019. the vaccine developed with Buyers of Cambodian Oxford University have been dried tobacco leaves were administered, small num- listed as Vietnam, Indone- bers of people have devel- sia, Hungary, the United oped blood clots, prompting Arab Emirates, Belgium, countries including the EU’s South Africa, Greece, Singa- three largest nations – Ger- pore and Germany. many, France and Italy – to In 2016, Cambodia and Catching fire suspend injections. Vietnam agreed on prefer- Protesters take cover behind homemade shields as they confront the police during a crackdown on demonstrations against ential duties for agriculture the military coup in Yangon on Tuesday. STR/AFP sTORY > 11 Continued – page 10 products crossing their shared border. The Kingdom was allowed to export 3,000 tonnes of dried tobacco to Vietnam duty-free each year starting in 2016 under the agree- ment, which was renewed Nat’l committee set up to thrice for 2017-2019. Tbong Khmum province has the largest tobacco grow- ing area, followed by Kam- pong Cham and Kratie prov- inces, with Kandal province map out Covid jab rollout far behind. The harvest usu- ally takes place from early Mom Kunthear activities within this framework. to set up a sub-committee, a secretariat specific master plan for them is needed. If March to late April. “This committee has the right to use to support its processes and can request we don’t have one, the work will be com- Tbong Khmum provincial HE government has established the Ministry of Health’s stamp, and the additional members as necessary. plicated and it won’t move fast enough. Department of Agriculture, a national Covid-19 vaccination ministry has to work with provincial- Hun Sen has appointed health min- “We need to have a lead agency for Forestry and Fisheries committee as it seeks to contain level institutions to prepare sub-com- istry spokeswoman Or Vandine as the purchase of vaccines and [the director Heng Piseth told the pandemic and purchases an mittees to administer vaccinations in chairwoman of the committee. Van- agency should follow my] advice The Post that a notable por- additionalT four million doses. their respective areas. dine will be in charge of organising about purchasing an additional four tion of the province’s tobacco Comprising nearly 100 members from “They are responsible for signing vaccinations across the country and million doses,” Hun Sen said. is sold to Vietnam, admitting relevant institutions across the coun- up volunteers for vaccinations,” ac- preparing a master plan for the minis- The prime minister also said there that he did not know what try, the committee’s role is to plan and cording to a directive signed by Prime try’s ongoing vaccination campaign. was now an urgent need to provide manage nationwide vaccinations, train Minister Hun Sen on March 17. “In the future, vaccines will continu- Continued – page 6 medical staff and carry out other related The national committee is authorised ously be supplied to Cambodia and a Continued – page 3

THE PHNOM PENH POST ANA makes documentary on National ancient Cambodia waterways Inside page 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Kingdom’s internet demands Ex-CNRP lawmaker gets ministry’s nod for up amid Covid-19 restrictions new party formation

Nov Sivutha Niem Chheng party members, party bylaws and bank account but is now HE number of inter- THE Ministry of Interior has working to fulfil the ministry’s net users in Cam- allowed former opposition requirements. bodia has increased lawmaker Ou Chanrath to “The important thing is that significantly amid form the Cambodia Reform the ministry has now agreed to theT Covid-19 pandemic due Party (CRP), but denied his re- allow the formation of the party to increased demand for, quest to use of the motto “res- . . . The next move is to collect among others, online pur- cue, serve and protect” as it the thumbprints of 4,000 party chase and education, ac- was once used by the Supreme members to submit to the min- cording to a senior official Court-dissolved Cambodia istry and to write the bylaws and at the Ministry of Posts and National Rescue Party. fill out some other forms, all Telecommunications. The new party’s headquar- of which may take about three The ministry’s director-gen- ters is in Anlong Vil com- months,” he said. eral Tol Gnak told The Post on mune’s Puk Chhmar village Political analyst Seng Sary said March 16 that people’s mobil- of Battambang provice’s it was too early to predict wheth- ity has been restricted during Sangke district. er Chanrath’s party could gain the crisis, which has led to an In a statement, the minis- popular support because the increase in internet use. He try said: “Based on Article 11 success of a political party de- said the number of people in of the law on political par- pends on its political platforms both public and private sec- ties, the interior ministry re- and leadership. tors conducting meetings on- quests that [the CRP] change Sary noted that the CRP will line has also increased. the motto ‘rescue, serve and have to deal with public criti- He added that people’s protect’ found in their party’s cism and attacks from some movements have been re- Men use their smartphones at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district on Wednesday. Hean Rangsey logo. The change is necessary of the other former CNRP stricted as part of measures because this is the same mot- supporters. to stop the spread of the vi- es, technology and security and wireless networks is close “The online ordering sys- to used by a political party “He’s going to have to go rus. This has resulted in more has also increased. To beef up to one million places. tem that my company has set that was dissolved by the Su- through a storm of smears goods and services being or- online security, the ministry “At the same time, there are up is to make it convenient preme Court.” and insults to prove that he is dered online. has been preparing a cyber- some challenges that make us- for customers, especially dur- CRP founder Chanrath said a qualified politician who can “All of these features have security law. ers complain about the slow ing the Covid-19 crisis. People the proposed motto was not handle this kind of scrutiny. changed so much that the Telecommunications min- internet service, which affects cannot go out, so they can’t inappropriate as it was writ- Politicians are public figures digital technology’s role in ister Chea Vandeth confirmed the daily work process, as well buy food,” he said. ten in Khmer and applied to that citizens can and will criti- the Covid-19 context is grow- on March 16 that the number as online study,” Vandeth said. However, Kayaseth said us- all Cambodians equally, but cise. If he can make it through ing along with the number of of internet users during the Vi Kayaseth, a human re- ing apps and other online he said he would comply with these opening stages, I think apps. It can be said that this crisis has increased to 15.5 source manager at online platforms to order goods is the ministry’s request. he could be a very formidable challenge has also created million, including mobile in- food delivery firm NHAM24, not yet widespread in Cambo- Chanrath said his party politician,” he said. opportunities,” Gnak said. ternet users. said on March 17 that during dia. He hoped that demands still lacked some of the docu- According to Gnak, along The number of homes, the outbreak, his company’s will increase in the future as ments required to engage www.phnompenhpost.com with the opportunities, the buildings and companies online orders have increased companies continue to pro- in political activities such check the post website challenges for online servic- connected with underground by only five to 10 per cent. mote their online services. as the thumbprints of 4,000 for breaking news PP residents urged to save water Mom Kunthear

THE Phnom Penh Water Sup- ply Authority (PPWSA) has requested that residents in central Phnom Penh use water sparingly so that residents on the outskirts of the capital have a sufficient supply of water. The PPWSA said water pres- sure in parts of the city has decreased lately and water shortages can occur during the dry season. In a notice issued on March 16, the PPWSA said that Covid- 19 had impacted the econom- ic activities of the whole nation and that the PPWSA revenues had also resultantly suffered. Despite these difficulties, the notice said, the PPWSA had maintained consumer services in the capital and A boy washes his hands in Daun Penh district’s Phsar Chas commune on Wednesday. HENG CHIVOAN Takhmao town 24-hours a day during the crisis thus far. would decrease and certain new water treatment plants and gated community in Kouk Roka The notice further said that areas on the outskirts could expand the network of major commune told The Post on during this dry season the lose water service entirely pipes to distribute more water to March 17 that she gets up at level of water in the rivers had periodically each day. meet the increased demand. 4am or 5am every day to collect decreased to an unusual “The PPWSA asks that the “We have looked for coopera- water in tanks for daily use. degree causing an imbalance 40,000 families who live in the tive aid partners to help us meet “I sometimes start filling the between the supply of water western parts of Phnom Penh the water use needs of the citi- tanks from midnight onward and the city’s demands for it. in certain villages of some com- zenry, in line with the clean because if I don’t do this I will not This imbalance means that munes such as Kamboul, Phle- drinking water policy of the have water to use. This shortage consumers could experience ung Chheh Roteh, Khmuonh, Cambodian government and its of water has been a prolonged fluctuations between strong Krang Thnong, Kouk Roka, Kan- sustainable development goal one and has existed in both the and weak water pressure in taok, Snao, Trapeang Krasang of a 100 per cent guarantee of dry and the rainy seasons for the their homes and businesses at and Samraong Kraom to please clean drinking water availabil- past four years that I’ve been liv- certain times of the day when show patience and understand- ity for all citizens in the main ing in this area,” she said. many consumers were attempt- ing in light of these difficulties,” business and commercial areas She indicated her agreement ing to use water at the same the PPWSA requested. by 2025,” the PPWSA said. with the PPWSA’s notice and time, according to the notice. Phnom Penh has for many The Bakheng Water Treat- echoed it with her own per- The notice states that when years enjoyed rapid economic ment Plant is currently being sonal request that Phnom Penh demand for water exceeds the growth and explosive popula- constructed and the ground- residents use water sparingly system’s capacity for supply- tion growth requiring increased breaking ceremony for the to help residents like her who ing water then the water pres- water supply services and the plant was held on February 1. live on the outskirts, especially sure on the outskirts of town PPWSA has already had to build Tep Nimol who lives in a Borey during the dry season. THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National NA rebuffs European Parliament resolution

Lay Samean bodia and the EP involving the trials. “The first aspect is we know that HE National Assembly (NA) the court judged and convicted indi- has responded with utter viduals according to the framework dismay to European Parlia- of Cambodian law. So, Cambodia as ment (EP) criticism on trials a sovereign state must have its legal forT former leaders and activists of the principles in strengthening the rule Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia of law, public order, and internal National Rescue Party (CNRP) and stability,” he said. members of civil society organisa- Law enforcement is the right of every tions. It urged the EP to have an ob- country to guarantee safety and public jective assessment on political devel- order. The second aspect is the state- opments in Cambodia. ment by the EP, and he finds that Eu- In a statement on March 17, the rope should learn more about Cambo- NA took note of the EP’s resolution dia rather than issue a statement that of March 11 on the trials against didn’t reflect the situation the country. convicted individuals. “I believe that there are more dif- The statement said as an indepen- ferences of opinion in the framework dent and sovereign state, Cambodia of the statement and I thank Europe was entitled to pursue its policy of for paying attention to Cambodia. self-determination in order to protect But it should help Cambodia in other national interests including peace, forms and not just express concerns stability and prosperity. that don’t reflect the evident situa- Cambodia urged the EP to have an tion in the country,” he added. objective assessment of political devel- However, he said that overall, al- opments in the country and continue A European Parliament session on March 11 on the trials against former opposition party officials and civil society members.E P though Cambodia and the EP have to constructively engage with diverse issued the statements, it would not political groups in Cambodia based on on March 1 sentenced Sam Rainsy, the The statement highlighted many rights and the rule of law. affect cooperation and friendship the principles of mutual trust, mutual former leader of the CNRP to 25 years problems including the call by the “Because this institution has ac- on both sides. respect and mutual interest. in prison in-absentia. Former CNRP EP to reject Cambodia as the host cepted requests from opposition “So, we can have differences of The statement added that the tri- officials who served as his accomplic- for the Asia-Europe meeting to be groups and their allies and some of opinion as to the problems of de- als of the convicted people linked to es each received sentences from 20 to held this year if democracy is not their countries. The decision is po- mocracy and human rights, but there the “November 9, 2019 plot” were in 22 years on charges of committing an restored. The EP has also called the litically motivated,” he said. are other areas where Cambodia and full conformity with the Constitution “attack liable to endanger the institu- EP Mission in Phnom Penh and He added, however, that as a sover- the EP can cooperate. For example, and related laws, which strengthened tions of the Kingdom of Cambodia”. embassies of all member countries eign state upholding the principles of cooperation to reduce poverty, and the rule of law in the Kingdom. After the Cambodian court issued to monitor trials and visits prisons, sovereignty and the rule of law, Cam- stimulate the economy during and “Any attempt to plot an insurrec- the ruling, the EP on March 11 released and requested the Cambodian gov- bodia continued to cooperate and after Covid-19,” he continued. tion through the use of defamatory a statement mentioning the mass tri- ernment to reinstate the CNRP and consult with the EP for the EP and He elaborated that this would not language, incitement to violence, and als against opposition and civil soci- 5,007 commune seats to the party. the European Commission to learn damage relationship between the a call for the armed forces to over- ety in Cambodia, the arrest of people However, Ministry of Justice about the Cambodian court system. two sides. throw a legitimate government are breaching Covid-19 regulations and, spokesman Chin Malin regarded the Kin Phea, director of the Royal “I understand that there are still unlawful and must be denounced,” especially, the trials of Sam Rainsy and EP’s statement as a decision based Academy of Cambodia’s Interna- opportunities and areas for restor- the statement said. other CNRP leaders, and other mem- on self-interest and had a political tional Relations Institute viewed two ing trust between Cambodia and The Phnom Penh municipal court bers of the disbanded party. agenda rather than about human aspects to the statements from Cam- Europe,” he commented. Three land in court for smuggling migrant workers in B Meanchey Long Kimmarita ers and illegal border crossers. Adhoc, said police had in- One of the suspects – Chak creased their enforcement THE Banteay Meanchey pro- Vy, a 41-year-old resident of measures against brokers for vincial police have sent three Sangke village in Malai dis- fears of losing their jobs after suspects to court for allegedly trict’s Boeung Beng commune, Prime Minister Hun Sen or- smuggling 14 Cambodian mi- is considered the ringleader. dered all border forces to put grant workers across Cambodia- The other suspects were iden- a stop to illegal crossings. Thai border in Malai district. tified as Yat Bunny, a 38-year- He said that recently two Provincial police chief Sith old resident of Chamna Leu border officials had lost their Los told The Post that this op- commune in Kampong Thom posts because their efforts eration was carried out jointly province’s Stoung district, and were deemed insufficient. by forces of the Border Police Om Chanra, the 63-year-old Chankea noted that illegal bor- Battalion Unit 815 along with owner of a guesthouse in Malai der crossings had also been made officers from the Ministry of commune’s Doung village. possible by corrupt officials. Interior’s Internal Security Malai district police chief “There are fewer people cross- Department, Malai district Ben Sam Ath told a local news- ing the border illegally … The police and Military Police. paper that Vy and Bunny had decrease is due to Covid-19 and He said police sent the trio led the 14 migrant workers to Thailand tightening enforce- to court on charges of illegal the guesthouse in preparation ment on their side,” he said. Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang. Heng Chivoan human trafficking. for illegal border crossing on From February 13-23, Cam- “They smuggle people the night of March 15. bodian border authorities across the border via a banned Chanra, the guesthouse own- had arrested 85 brokers for K Speu reclaims 266ha state land corridor. They’ve repeatedly er, was also charged for not co- smuggling migrant workers violated this ban so we have operating with the police and across the border. Among the Nov Sivutha will continue our search even the wealthy and powerful, to enforce the law,” he said. for providing his guesthouse detainees, 10 were arrested if it takes us the next 10 years. often encroach on state land Los said police will continue for use by the brokers. on the Vietnam border, ac- THE Kampong Speu provin- We won’t relent in our search and occupy it illegally. to tighten border security and Sum Chankea, provincial cording to a report from the cial authorities are working to for them and will bring them “If the authorities take land crack down on human traffick- coordinator for rights group National Police. identify land grabbers after re- to court,” he said. from residents, surely they will claiming more than 266ha of Roth Thavy, provincial coor- stage a protest. But if the land land at nine sites in Oral dis- dinator for rights group Adhoc, belongs to real estate traders trict’s Tasal and Trapaing Chor said he supported the move as or someone powerful who oc- 1.5M Sinovax doses to arrive soon communes as state property. long as the reclamation was cupied it illegally, they don’t Provincial governor Vei done legally and the land would dare to complain against such Continued from page 1 chase more vaccines,” he said. fence said it had vaccinated Samnang told The Post that truly revert to state control. reclamation,” he said. “The information that we 109,324 members of the armed the 266.31ha of forest land Thavy said he was con- He called on the authorities vaccinations to teachers in have is that one batch of 1.5 forces with a first dose and had been illegally occupied. cerned that the land might to bring the offenders to jus- Phnom Penh and the provinces million Sinovax vaccines will be 59,424 with a second dose. He said although the au- be reclaimed under false pre- tice without delay. of Kandal, Prey Veng, Koh Kong, arriving at some point. We have On March 17, the Kingdom thorities have successfully re- tences and then reallocated “If the authorities are willing to and Preah Sihanouk provinces also been trying to purchase recorded another 75 Covid-19 claimed the land, they would to other parties. search for the offenders, it won’t – the hotspots of the February 20 the Johnson & Johnson vaccine cases linked to the February search for the offenders and Thavy said it was hard to take long to arrest and prosecute community outbreak of Covid-19. from the US,” he added. 20 community transmission, bring them to justice. determine the status of land them. But if their real intention “We don’t keep any secrets The health ministry said bringing the total to 990 in He said however that the in the province because the is to hide the offenders or delay from the Cambodian people. from February 10 to March less than a month. authorities have yet to iden- authorities had not made the the search, it will only worsen We need to provide between 16, it had inoculated 170,659 The latest cases bring the tify any individuals or groups necessary information public. the problem. The problem will 10 and 13 million vaccinations civilians with the Sinopharm country’s Covid-19 tally to involved in the case. He noted that some people, persist if they don’t bring them to our population, and we or AstraZeneca vaccines. 1,505, with 662 remaining “This isn’t going to end – we who are mostly employed by to justice soon,” he said. have signed a contract to pur- The Ministry of National De- hospitalised and one death. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National ‘Trafficked’ teen seeks repatriation from China Kim Sarom en – Kheng Hun, 55, and Voeun Phorn, 44 – are already in pris- PREAH Vihear provincial anti- on for their involvement in this human trafficking police are girl’s case following the victim’s cooperating with the National mother’s lawsuit in 2020 over Police’s Department of Anti- their role in her daughter being Human Trafficking and Juvenile trafficked to China. Protection to help a Cambodian According to the victim’s teenager who says she is being mother, brokers sent pictures held against her will in China. of four Chinese men – two older This intervention by the au- men and two younger men – for thorities came about after the her daughter to choose from and victim posted to Facebook after seeing the photos of the from China on March 4 asking Chinese men the victim told her Prime Minister Hun Sen to as- mother that she had decided to sist her return to Cambodia. marry one of them because life Prang Thida, deputy provin- was too difficult in Cambodia. cial police chief for anti-human Mao Mab of rights group Ad- trafficking, told The Post that the hoc said that human trafficking victim was a 17-year-old Cambo- brokers will lie to the victims

A woman takes her child to Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital near Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district on Wednesday. Hean Rangsey dian girl who had previously re- and promise them salaries of sided in Preah Vihear province. $500 or $1000 a month work- Thida said the victim posted a ing abroad, taking advantage video asking for help on March of Cambodia’s poverty and 4, but she did not clearly indi- poor standards of living as well Hospital funding plummets cate what her location was. as the loan debt many victims The Facebook video includes owe to banks these days. Orm Bunthoeurn uted in January totalled 16,097 includ- support and ensure the sustainability of a request that Cambodians “The methods of the brokers ing 24 honourary members, 15,257 all the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital’s share it widely so that her mes- are systematically fraudulent, UNDING for the Cambodia supporting members, and 816 other operations with efficiency and quality. sage might reach the prime min- such as obtaining false travel Kantha Bopha Foundation in people. Other donations came from “The organisation would like to ister, in hopes that he would be documents for the victims to February has significantly de- entrance fees for visiting the Angkor ar- deeply thank all donors who always do- able to help her return home. ensure they can reach China. creased compared to January. chaeological park in the fourth quarter nate money to support and ensure the “I was cheated by a broker in After arriving in China, the bro- FThe foundation’s press release on March of 2020 and money donated through sustainability of all five Kantha Bopha 2019 when I was just 15. I was ker’s partners there take con- 17 reported that in February the foun- four fundraising places. Children’s Hospitals to improve the sold to [a man in] China at that trol of the victim,” she said. dation had received donations of only “The foundation would also like to well-being of children and infants in age. They detained me and She said that human traffick- 304,318,100 riel and $189,018, while in encourage local people and those from Cambodia,” the press release said. would not allow me to contact ing – including labour traffick- January donations had been 2,305,085,600 abroad to continue to donate as follows: The foundation secretary has also en- my family. ing and sex trafficking – takes riel and $2,460,020 respectively. honorary members from 20,000,000 riel couraged philanthropists to continue “They’ve beaten me, kicked place not only in China, but also Only 5,365 donations were received in [$5,000] per year, support members to donate through free donation ser- me and locked me in a room. in countries like Malaysia and February including four from honourary 5,000 riel per month or 60,000 riel per vices at ABA Bank, ACLEDA Bank, Ca- I do not want to stay in China Thailand and that the provinc- members, 4,698 from supporting mem- year,” the press release added. nadia Bank, Chip Mong Bank, Sathap- anymore. I am afraid they will es in Cambodia most often tar- bers, 663 from other people and money Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation ana Bank, Wing Specialised Bank and beat me again or sell me to geted by brokers are Kampong through three fundraising centres. said that by continuing to donate in the True Money Agency or by phone: 061 somebody else,” she said. Cham, Tbong Khmum, Battam- The number of people who contrib- spirit of Khmer helping Khmer would 70 1111. According to Thida, two wom- bang and Preah Vihear. THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Documentary on Angkor waters set for April

An arial view showing Angkor Wat and its moat in Siem Reap last year. ANA Irrigation system in Angkor Resort area. ANA

Orm Bunthoeurn scientific evidence and the ANA’s Build Angkor,” he said. This is the wonder of our Khmer to another site. The strong point of direct observation and practice. So, He added that water had played ancestors. Angkor temple was built managing water in the Angkor area HE Apsara National Authority the video has both practical and sci- an important role in promoting on sand, and this water retains the is that it can be retained in the dry (ANA) plans to release a doc- entific aspects,” he said. national development in the past, humidity of sand which plays a role and rainy seasons. umentary titled Water to Build Kosal said the ANA wanted to show especially civilisation in the Angkor as the foundation of the temple,” he “It means that the ancient water- Angkor early next month to the public the important role water area. Angkor in the past was called elaborated. ways our ancestors had built had demonstrateT the importance of Cam- has had in building civilisation and a “water city” because the city had According to research, the ancient been expertly managed. Through bodia’s ancient waterways. Cambodia since ancient times. prospered by using water for the waterways in the Angkor area have the ancient water management ANA spokesman Long Kosal told “Water formed an important part sake of constructions and economic facilitated how the ANA can now ef- system we studied, researched and The Post on March 17 that this was of building the nation and made an development. fectively control water. Water from explored, we practiced what our the first time the ANA had compiled especially important contribution “Through research, we know that Kulen Mountain and rivers such ancestors had done. We just made such a documentary. in keeping a balance at Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat weighs tonnes. I ques- as the Siem Reap, Roluos and Puok something that already existed to “The documentary is based on That’s why we’ve dubbed it Water to tioned how the weight is sustained? rivers can be diverted by the ANA operate again,” he said.

Cambodian Youth Network environmental activists launch online forest patrol campaign. Facebook Forest activists turn to social media Voun Dara rior along with a request for a occurring in areas under its discussion with relevant insti- jurisdiction,” he said. THE Cambodian Youth Network tutions on forest issues. He said perpetrators must face (CYN) – in collaboration with a Kimhong said that in the past the full force of the law whether group of forest activists – has the environment ministry has they are a logger, land grabber, launch a three-month advocacy responded to the demands of hunter or a political activist campaign on Facebook starting the organisation and forest group trying to take refuge under this March to celebrate World activists for their participation the label of forest protectors. Forest Day and spur the Ministry in natural resource protection. Pheaktra pointed out Cam- of Environment to stop restrict- Environment ministry bodia respects human rights ing their forest patrols. spokesman Neth Pheaktra and citizens have full freedom CYN’s programme manager responded some civil society under the rule of law. But free- Heng Kimhong said the cam- organisations are just using dom, he said, shall not be tan- paign is aimed at mobilising human rights and natural tamount to anarchy. public support for the cause. resources as a pretext to garner “The environment ministry “With this campaign … we attention and solicit funding. doesn’t benefit by opposing hope to convince the envi- He said the law must be those who love nature and ronment ministry to allow for enforced without exception and want to participate in natural public participation in pro- that these organisations should resource protection, but we tecting our natural resourc- support law enforcement rather require that everyone acts in es,” he said. than engaging in purported accordance with the law. They According to Kimhong, this advocacy to please donors. must build a good faith part- campaign will engage in online “They are trying to defend nership [with the environment advertising and advocacy and anarchic freedom . . . The envi- ministry] and work together to will culminate in the submis- ronment ministry will continue preserve Cambodia’s natural sion of a petition to the minis- to strengthen law enforcement resources for future genera- tries of environment and inte- without exception for all crimes tions,” he said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,068 1.2486 6.5032 109.11 4.1215 1.3462 30.80 0.7728 1.1910 1.3900

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: March 17, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,680 16,700 16,700 16,660 2 GTI 3,900 3,410 3,900 3,410 3 PAS 13,080 13,280 13,280 13,080 4 PEPC 2,940 2,900 2,940 2,880 5 PPAP 12,460 12,600 12,820 12,440 6 PPSP 1,720 1,640 1,740 1,640 7 PWSA 6,380 6,200 6,400 6,200 ‘Come buy GDT firm on March 31 tax deadline at a more May Kunmakara material market matters. “I believe the response can reasonable ENERAL Depart- best be described as practical ment of Taxation to the extent the government rate’: grower (GDT) director- needs to maintain tax collection general Kong Vibol at this time of financial stress, Continued from page 1 refusedG to budge on a March 31 and certainly from the GDT’s deadline to file tax on income perspective as a government the country’s exact quota was. (ToI) for fiscal year 2020 despite revenue-collection source, it is He said Chinese traders were the economic pressure on the understandable,” he said. buying up more of the leaves business community caused by He explained that all cham- from the province’s farmers, the Covid-19 pandemic. bers pointed out the value but said he did not know where He instead directed busi- and importance of E-filing as the product ended up. nesses to file income taxes a GDT-made tool for taxpay- This year, tobacco plantations digitally through GDT’s ToI E- ers, adding that he will en- in Tbong Khmum cover a total Filing system to curb the com- courage AmCham members of 680ha and are yielding an munity transmission of the to use the online system. average of 1.70 tonnes per hec- novel coronavirus and ensure “The prevailing concern is tare, Piseth said. As of March 16, that the government collects a adequate resources available the harvest in the province is sustainable stream of revenue to achieve the March 31 dead- more than 68 per cent. as the pandemic stretches on, line given the stay-at-home Matt Sokkrey, a farmer in the according to a March 15 GDT recommendation by the Royal province with 2.5ha of tobacco letter signed by the tax chief. Government and given the ac- plants, said she expects to col- Vibol was replying to a March celeration of the Covid cases. lect five to six tonnes for this 12 letter submitted by nine in- “As the deadline remains year’s harvest. ternational business chambers unchanged, many business- She said the average whole- that asked for an extension and General Department of Taxation director-general Kong Vibol. HENG CHIVOAN es will be challenged and sale price for high-quality stressed the need to temporar- stressed to comply. tobacco now ranges from 8,500- ily suspend in-person meet- the Zoom app, he added. tainable revenue collection many enterprises have already “The suspension of in-per- 10,000 riel ($2.10-2.47) per kilo- ings, especially for taxpayers “Taxpayers are not required for various state expenditures prepared theirs,” Vibol added. son meetings is a massive re- gramme, leaving much room to undergoing audits or new ones to communicate in-person and to avoid the potential risk Anthony Galliano, president lief, given safety concerns of haggle with local traders. looking to register. with tax officials to submit tax of Covid-19 transmission dur- of the American Chamber the populace, and the strong “I’d like to ask traders to come He noted that GDT has de- returns, and GDT is certain ing the pandemic, GDT would of Commerce in Cambodia reluctance of staff to hold and buy at a slightly more rea- veloped online systems such that the deadline for annual like to encourage members of (AmCham), one of the signa- any meetings until Covid sonable price. Farmers spend as “E-Filing for Monthly Tax tax on income should not be the international chambers tories to the March 12 letter, subsides. The chambers and a lot of money on workers. We Return”, “ToI E-Filing”, “E- extended,” Vibol said. of commerce to fulfil their tax expressed his appreciation for their members are extremely won’t break even if the rates are Payment” and “E-Uploader” He stressed that while GDT obligations through ToI E-Fil- Vibol’s prompt response and pleased in this case. too low,” Sokkrey said. – to store tax-return records has to adapt its safety proto- ing instead of filing tax returns consideration of the business “I believe the General De- Last year, the area under – to ease the process of tax cols to Ministry of Health rec- manually with officials before chambers’ concerns. partment of Taxation has tobacco cultivation was filing and minimise the risks ommendations, the tax collec- the March 31 deadline. “This demonstrates public- spoken, so the chambers can 5,175ha, of which 4,875ha was associated with Covid-19. tion agency must also ensure “GDT would also like to seek private sector engagement only be hopeful that there is a harvested, producing 6,132 Taxpayers in need of auditing quality service and a sustain- your understanding for not and open dialogue, and on change of mind, especially if tonnes, representing a one per or other services will be able to able source of revenue. extending the deadline for this occasion there was con- the situation worsens,” Gal- cent drop from 2019, ministry get a hold of GDT officials via “Therefore, to ensure sus- annual tax on income since structive conversation on liano said. statistics show. China’s Huawei announces royalty rates for 5G tech HUAWEI Technologies Co on receive about $1.2 billion to Francis Gurry, former direc- show the history of our innova- March 16 disclosed royalty $1.3 billion in revenue from tor-general of the World Intel- tion over the past 30 years and rates for the use of its 5G tech- patent licensing between 2019 lectual Property Organisation, our long-term commitment to nologies in smartphones, as and 2021. said: “In releasing its licence respecting, protecting and the Chinese tech giant aims to Huawei’s total revenue in fee structure for 5G standard contributing to IP. With this increase transparency in its 2019 reached 858.8 billion essential patents, Huawei is white paper, we want you to intellectual property (IP). yuan ($132.2 billion). promoting the widespread better understand how Huawei The move came as Huawei According to Ding, Huawei adoption and use of standards has become what it is today.” has become one of the world’s has been the largest technical designed to ensure interoper- The move also came as Hua- largest patent holders through contributor to 5G standards ability, reliability and trans- wei faces a string of restrictions sustained investment in inno- and follows fair, reasonable parent competition, while at from the US government, affect- vation. By the end of last year, and non-discriminatory prin- the same time providing a fair ing its smartphone businesses. Huawei held over 100,000 ciples in patent licensing. return for investment in R&D Song said Huawei holds over active patents worldwide. He added that the company [research and development].” 10,000 patents in the US, Jason Ding, head of Huawei’s hopes the royalty rate it From 2010 to 2019, Huawei which bring value to many US IP rights department, said for announced on March 16 will spent about $90 billion on companies. As a major con- every multimode 5G smart- increase 5G adoption by giving R&D, according to a white tributor of patents essential to phone that uses Huawei’s 5G 5G implementers a more paper on innovation and IP the 5G standards, the company is technologies, the company transparent cost structure that company issued on March 16. willing to share these tech- will get up to $2.5 in royalties. will inform their investment Huawei chief legal officer nologies with the world. CHINA Huawei estimates it will receive about $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion in revenue Huawei estimated it will decisions. Song Liuping said: “We want to DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK from patent licensing between 2019 and 2021. XINHUA NEWS AGENCY THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Chinese propose 20 garment, VN to cut renewable energy capacity due footwear factories in K Speu to power oversupply Thou Vireak LOW power demand coupled Dung added that an estimate HINESE investors are with an oversupply of electric- of various costs like the initial thronging the pic- ity at times have forced Viet- investment, operations and turesque and sleepy namese authorities to cut the maintenance, installation and Kampong Speu in capacity of renewable energy connection were also taken searchC of opportunities amid plants to avoid overwhelming into account. the province’s ongoing socio- the national grid, according to The lower price was partly economic transformation, the Ministry of Industry and due to the recent sharp decline even as Covid-19 rages on, ac- Trade. in solar power equipment cording to the provincial gov- Significant investments from prices. ernor on March 17. social resources have been “Solar panels are now far Vei Samnang told The Post poured into developing renew- more efficient, allowing more that at least 20 new project able energy, particularly solar electricity to be produced than proposals from Chinese inves- energy, in recent years, accord- previously,” he noted, adding tors for garment and footwear ing to the ministry. that this would be beneficial factories were in the works for However, a boom in high- to investors while the govern- the southwestern province, capacity renewable energy ment could take advantage of which starts just under 12km projects, mainly in central and the increasing supply of clean west of Phnom Penh’s limits southern Vietnam, has over- energy at affordable prices and along National Road 4. loaded inter-regional trans- the falling level of investment The provincial governor said mission lines and caused required to develop national domestic and global Covid-19 oversupply at times, the min- electricity networks. vaccination rollouts bode well istry said in Document No He went on to say that, for for investment in the King- 1226/BCT-DTDL sent to the end-users, the new rates would dom’s garment industry still National Assembly’s commit- be much lower than those of reeling in pandemic doldrums. tees for Science, Technology EVN. People and businesses He expressed hope that There are 153 garment factories operating in Kampong Speu province, 43 of which manufacture for export to and Environment, and Eco- would be encouraged to install the US. pOST STAFF Kampong Speu would soon nomic Affairs and the Office rooftop solar panels for their welcome the 20 new factories, 50,000 workers, noting that Job losses, however, were par- cording to the National Bank of of the Government explaining own use, instead of selling all with the expectation that pro- the province would be about tially offset by the opening of Cambodia (NBC). its stance on the power capac- power generated to the nation- duction could start when the 7,000 short. new garment factories which In its “Macroeconomic and ity cut. al grid to enjoy high returns, Covid-19 situation improves. Samnang claimed that there have provided employment for Banking Progress 2019 Report Additionally, domestic he said. Vietnam expects to “The attributes that are cre- are 7,500 “factories and enter- 23,208 workers, of whom 17,638 and 2020 Outlook” report, demand for power has fallen produce 25,000-26,000 mega- ating more investment oppor- prises” operating in Kampong are women, he said. NBC said total FDI amounted below normal levels due to the watts (MW) of solar power by tunities in Cambodia, as well Speu, identifying 335 as “large- “Conditions in the labour to $3.588 billion, up 11.7 per impact of Covid-19, which led 2030. as Kampong Speu province, sized enterprises”. sector are gradually normal- cent from $3.212 billion 2018. to an oversupply of electricity The reduction of 20-30 per are peace, a strategic geo- He said there are 153 garment ising in the beginning of this Of the total, the financial sec- during off-peak times such as cent in the purchase price of graphical location, decent in- factories, 43 of which manufac- year. The entire garment sec- tor received FDI worth $2.385 holidays, weekends, and at rooftop solar power still frastructure and a labour force ture for export to the US. tor in Cambodia can return to billion, while the non-financial noon, the ministry said. ensures benefits of parties with promise. Ministry of Labour and normal if the Covid-19 crisis sector received $1.203 billion. According to the ministry, such as EVN, investors and the “The seriousness of the Vocational Training spokes- ends,” Sour said. A breakdown of the data by this is a very dangerous situ- state, according to Dung. Covid-19 outbreak has kept person Heng Sour told The Cambodia attracted more country showed that Chinese ation that adversely affects However, Nguyen Van Be, investors from coming into Post in January that 129 fac- than $3.5 billion in foreign di- FDIs accounted for 43 per the safe operation of the Chairman of the Association our country, slowing work to tories closed in 2020, citing rect investment (FDI) in 2019, cent, South Korean (11 per national grid. of Ho Chi Minh City Industrial a crawl, but we’ll continue to the Covid-19 pandemic as the an increase of nearly 12 per cent cent), Vietnamese (seven per Though the National Load Park Enterprises, said the price forge ahead,” Samnang said. primary cause for the loss of over 2018, thanks in part to Chi- cent), Japanese and Singapor- Dispatch Centre (A0) has reduction to 5.3-5.8 US cents He estimated that the 20 71,202 jobs, of which 57,794 nese investors who accounted ean (six per cent), and other reduced the output of tradi- per kilowatt-hour was a big factories would require about were held by women. for half of the investments, ac- countries (27 per cent). tional energy to the minimum, drop. That would make inves- the oversupply remains, so the tors uninterested in investing centre had to make another in rooftop solar power cut to renewable energy capac- projects. ity to prevent the electricity The export processing zones system from collapsing. and industrial zones in Ho Chi Vietnam lychee gets GI status in Japan The ministry has ordered Minh City have the advantage Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and that the roofs of factories are THE Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, A0 to calculate the required very large and suitable for the Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has grant- reduction of capacity at all development of rooftop solar ed a Geographical Indication (GI) certifi- renewable power plants in a power projects. With the old cate to lychees grown in Luc Ngan district transparent and fair manner, purchasing price at 8.38 US in the northern Vietnamese province of regardless of who their inves- cents per kilowatt-hour, many Bac Giang, making it the first Vietnamese tors are. enterprises wished to invest in product to obtain the certificate in Japan, The ministry added that it those projects. according to the provincial news portal. has received government With this price, the investor Le Anh Duong, chairman of Bac Giang approval to supplement vari- could make their money back People’s Committee, said this was good ous power transmission line within five-to-seven years, but news for local lychee farmers. projects into planning while with the new price in the draft, The GI certificate proves that the qual- urging EVN to fast-track the they would take more than 10 ity of Luc Ngan lychee is in accordance progress of existing projects to years. with international standards and paves raise the capacity of the Tran Van Nhon, Director of the way for the fruits to be shipped in national electricity network. Intech Vietnam Green Energy Japan and other markets with strict The ministry will issue a Development JSC, said to import standards, Duong told Tien Phong new price mechanism for ensure that businesses have (Vanguard) newspaper. rooftop solar power this investment motivation, the Last year alone, about 200 tonnes of Luc month, with prices likely to state should issue incentives Ngan lychees were exported to Japan, fall to below six US cents per based on actual conditions. statistics from the provincial Department kilowatt-hour, according to Those who want to invest in of Industry and Trade revealed. Hoang Tien Dung, director of rooftop solar power projects The Luc Ngạn lychee has won trademark the ministry’s Electricity and for their own use could sell the protection in Cambodia, China, Laos, Renewable Energy Depart- rest of 60-70 per cent of power South Korea, Singapore and Australia. A farmer in Vietnam’s Luc Ngan district harvests lychees for export to Japan. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY ment. output at the old price. Trade experts said lychee farming Rooftop solar power would Meanwhile, producers that households and processing facilities with areas fall in line with Global Good Agri- and Plant Protection. fetch only 5.2-5.8 US cents per want to produce rooftop solar GI certificates registered in overseas mar- cultural Practices (GlobalGAP) and Viet- The department will continue to work kilowatt-hour, depending on power only for sale, must sell kets would be able to increase sales, namese Good Agricultural Practices with enterprises to expand the number of each project, Dung told the power at the lower price in the improve incomes, and contribute to (VietGAP) to produce high-quality organ- growing areas to be granted codes for media. draft. regional socio-economic growth. This in ic products for domestic consumption export to Japan, and at the same time The new rates had been cal- In addition, the pricing turn would help build the reputation of and export. improve the quality of lychees to meet culated based on an assess- mechanism could be zoned to Bac Giang’s other products and Vietnam- By year-end, the province hopes to requirements, Tang said. ment by foreign consultants promote investment in solar ese goods as a whole in foreign markets. increase the total cultivation lychee area He added that cooperation with other on the changes to and devel- power projects in low radia- Luc Ngan district is home to more than to the Japanese market to approximate- ministries to build more facilities for opment of renewable energy tion regions to avoid invest- 15,000ha of lychee, mostly in Hong Giang, ly 219ha, generating 1,500 tonnes, said export lychee fumigation and sterilisation and the price of solar power ment being concentrated in Tan Son, Quy Son and Giap Son com- Dang Van Tang, head of the provincial would be also included. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA equipment in Vietnam and certain areas. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA munes. Of which, several lychee growing Sub-Department of Crop Cultivation NEWS NETWORK around the world, he said. NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Property VN property Outbreak wracks land lot market firms turn to Hin Pisei

HE land division market technology has plummeted in the wake of the February 20 commu- nity transmission, dashing amid Covid hopesT that a brief recovery early this THE success story of a Vietnamese year could be sustained, according start-up, Propzy, despite the challenges to industry insiders. posed by Covid-19 surprised partici- Prior to the pandemic, rapid eco- pants at a conference on technology nomic growth and rising incomes held in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). had spurred the creation of land di- The property-technology (proptech) vision projects outside of the King- company reported excellent results dom’s urban centres. for 2020 and plans to soon expand Land division refers to the process outside HCMC. in which developers create new allot- It guides customers through the ments by splitting land into smaller entire process of online real-estate parcels with separate lot titles. This is transactions, and is a pioneer in the done to boost the value of their land finance, insurance and real-estate holding by leveraging the develop- (FIRE tech) solution. ment potential of their property. It has 30 transaction centres, 700 Ven Chhunheat, chairman of Dey employees and a database of 50,000 Thmey Real Estate Co Ltd, which man- houses and apartments. ages land division projects along na- Its success story clearly shows the tional roads 3 and 4, told The Post on role played by technology in property March 17 that the latest outbreak had companies’ efforts to overcome the eroded company sales by 30-50 per cent. challenges caused by the pandemic. He ascribed the slump to fear – of An executive at a market research losing jobs and income, or contract- Prior to the pandemic, rapid economic growth and rising incomes had spurred the creation of land division projects outside of the firm said the use of technology in the Kingdom’s urban centres. SUPPLIED ing Covid-19 when going out. real estate sector has come to stay, And with the amount of cash re- prospective investors to buy up lots have been mounting requests from with income sources drying up for pointing out that travel restrictions quired to carry out a lump-sum pay- at a discount with better terms. customers to delay payments, he the moment, he is starting to run during the pandemic made it difficult ment on a subdivided plot or reliable An anonymous salesman for Savuth lamented. “At the moment, about out of money to pay. for traditional site inspections and source of income needed to pay in Real Estate, which owns more than 50 per cent of customers have asked He said the outbreak had tem- direct meetings, but demand for land instalments, things are only made 30ha of land split into lots along Na- the company to ease the terms of porarily shuttered a relative’s shop increased relentlessly. worse with potential customers tional Road 51 near Canadia Industrial payment agreements, and it’s com- where he would work to earn some So more and more online platforms tightening their budgets, he noted. Park, said daily sales had plunged from plied with some of them.” spare cash on the side. and realty apps have popped up, “Before Covid-19 broke out in 20 lots to just three or four, with week- However, he is optimistic that “Before, I was able to earn extra offering virtual tours so that custom- a third community transmission, ends not faring much better. subdivided-lot trading could avert a money while working at the com- ers could check out products remote- many customers had made appoint- “Sales are not so hot right now and major disruption if the current out- pany, but now it is over – I dare not ly, she added. ments to see the lots. But as soon as there aren’t as many visitors per day as break is controlled soon. go anywhere other than to work. If Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy director- the outbreak struck, almost all were there used to be, with almost all poten- Koemsoeun, an employee of a pri- this situation persists much longer, general of major property trading and cancelled,” Chhunheat said. tial customers who had scheduled to vate company in Phnom Penh who I may go to the [owner of the lot] to leasing website batdongsan.com.vn, Still, he said, the current situation visit the land cancelling,” he said. bought a lot in the capital’s outskirts ask it to ease payment terms or delay was quoted by dangcongsan.vn as say- provides a unique opportunity for To make matters worse, there on an instalment plan, said that them for a bit,” Koemsoeun said. ing that not only consumption behav- iour but also business methods and the way to approach customers have changed dramatically to accommodate the social gap caused by the pandemic. “Real estate technology becomes a Luxury housing performance beats expectations lifesaver for businesses by providing online sales platforms, helping con- LUXURY housing markets performed ade that will upgrade stock and nect buyers and sellers without hav- better than expected last year, with improve accessibility. ing to meet face to face.” 66 of the 100 markets featured in “Only two cities, Dubai [minus two Many companies have embraced Knight Frank’s Prime International per cent] and Buenos Aires [minus technology. Residential Index (PIRI) seeing eight per cent], are forecast to see For instance, during the social dis- growth and prices, on average, rising prime values decline.” tancing period, Phu My Hung Devel- by almost two per cent. Knight Frank notes that Latin opment Corp offered online registra- “Looking ahead, the picture for America, with a limited vaccine roll- tion for buyers in its The Antonia 2021 is a similar one, with prices out, is set to recover more slowly than apartment project. again predicted to rise by an average other regions. The company said it could not of two per cent but, as our selection “Dubai’s rate of price decline organise sales events due to social of 25 prime locations shows, within should slow as travel restrictions ease distancing, but thanks to technology this there is wide variance in forecast and the postponed Expo 2020 [hope- it managed to reach out to a large performance,” says Knight Frank in fully] takes place.” number of prospective buyers. its latest wealth report. When it comes to predicting the Online booking is just the first step The global real estate consultancy outlook, Knight Frank qualifies that in completely digitising the sales proc- says Seoul led the growth with seven forecasting during turbulent times is ess, it said, adding an application per cent. “Despite 20 rounds of cool- “fraught with risk”. would be developed soon for this. ing measures, demand continues to “Notwithstanding a global pan- Another big player in the market, outstrip supply in a city with a popu- demic and the largest economic Novaland Group, has also adopted Knight Frank believes London’s luxury property market will see a three per cent price lation larger than that of either Lon- growth this year. AFP downturn since the Great Depres- technology for sales. don or New York. sion, we came within fewer than It has installed virtual technology so “Shanghai and Cape Town share sec- locations set to see a three per cent erbated by the pandemic.” three percentage points of getting it that customers can study its projects ond place with a five per cent mooted price growth this year. “A stamp duty The property consultancy says US right in 11 of the 25 markets tracked from all directions, in various weather rise, albeit for contrasting reasons. holiday, an end to Brexit-induced cities have the capacity to surprise on and we were firmly on the money conditions and various times of day. Economic recovery in the Chinese political uncertainty and the potential the upside in this year. with Vienna and Mumbai, where our The technology is used at its Nova- Mainland’s commercial hub is already relaxation of international travel “If the dollar weakens to the extent forecast was accurate to within less land Gallery in District 3, HCMC. well underway with China’s gross restrictions will likely offset a new sur- some analysts are predicting, this than half a percentage point. Hung Thinh Group has recently domestic product [GDP] forecast to charge for foreign buyers and a poten- could motivate more overseas buyers. “Auckland and Vancouver wrong- announced plans to invest $10 mil- grow by over eight per cent in 2021.” tial strengthening of the pound.” A rethink of the state and local tax footed us but, in our defence, a pan- lion to develop a proptech platform In Cape Town, Knight Frank says Knight Frank adds that markets such deduction could also be on the cards, demic-fuelled post-lockdown surge was and put it into operation this year, prices are rising from a low base, hav- as Auckland and Vancouver, which redirecting attention back to states hard to foresee at the end of 2019.” and said it expects to attract 30,000- ing seen a decline on the back of eco- saw strong pent-up demand post such as New York and California.” Knight Frank says its European city 50,000 brokers to it. nomic weakness, currency volatility Covid-19 lockdowns, will see sales vol- Meanwhile in Europe, Knight Frank forecasts proved mixed. “We were with- Cen Land launched cenhomes.vn last and the drought of 2018. umes and price growth moderate. says steady and sustainable growth in one percentage point when it came year, and it saw 14,000 transactions. “Miami, Lisbon and Auckland share “Policymakers in both markets (three per cent) is the outlook for Ber- to Lisbon, Geneva and Monaco, but less Sunshine Group’s app saw the fourth place with a price growth of four have a proven track record of inter- lin, Paris and Madrid, with compara- accurate in relation to Paris, Madrid number of transactions grow. per cent. We expect pent-up demand, vening to curtail price inflation. tive value, limited new stock and the and Berlin. All posted weaker price Other big players like Vinhomes, a benign tax regime and low interest “Sydney, Singapore and Los Ange- delivery of high-grade projects to growth than we envisaged, as interna- LinkHouse, Gamuda Land, and Van rates to be their respective drivers.” les sit mid-table with a forecast price their respective market drivers. tional travel bans clipped the wings of Phuc have also invested a lot of mon- The property consultancy believes growth of three per cent. All have “All three cities have regeneration investors and prime buyers alike.” THE ey in technology since last year. VIET that London is one of a number of seen tight prime supply levels exac- projects planned in the coming dec- STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK thursday, March 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World UK to increase Scientist shifts blame for clotting away from nuke stockpile vaccines to Covid-19 Continued from page 1 mark, making it the worst-hit global region in absolute terms, in defence shift The EMA insisted that coun- according to an AFP tally. tries should continue using In the world’s hardest-hit ritain on March 16 espionage and cyber-attacks the vaccine. country, the US, former presi- announced plans to to human rights. “We are still firmly convinced dent Donald Trump encour- increase its stockpile Britain’s Trident nuclear that the benefits of the Astra- aged his Republican support- of nuclear weapons, programme is a thorny po- Zeneca vaccine in preventing ers – one of the main groups reversingB a trend towards dis- litical issue domestically, Covid-19 with its associated resistant to Covid-19 vaccines armament after the end of the with repeated calls for it to be risk of hospitalisation and – to get their shots. Cold War. scrapped, given global moves death outweigh the risk of these “I would recommend it,” A government review of towards disarmament after side effects,” EMA chief Emer Trump said in an interview with defence, security and foreign the end of the Cold War. Cooke said on March 16. Fox News late on March 16. policy said emerging threats Opponents for its abolition Cooke noted however that This was Trump’s most explic- made it no longer possible to include the main opposition the regulator was “looking at it endorsement for the national stick to its commitment to re- Labour party and the Scottish adverse events associated with mass vaccination campaign duce warheads. National Party (SNP). Britain’s British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to all vaccines”. since he left office in January. deliver a statement to Parliament on the government’s Integrated “The UK will move to an nuclear submarine fleet is Review on Tuesday. AFP France and Italy welcomed Meanwhile in Brazil the Cov- overall nuclear weapon stock- based in the west of Scotland. the news. id-19 death toll broke another pile of no more than 260 war- The Campaign for Nuclear Age – to parliament on Tuesday. military to adopt cutting-edge The preliminary statements record: 2,841 people died in a heads,” it added. Disarmament (CND) called His Downing Street office technologies such as drones from the EMA “are encourag- 24 hours, authorities said on The Guardian and The Sun the reports “shocking” given billed the 100-page report as and artificial intelligence. ing”, read a joint statement March 16. on Monday said in their on- the pressures of the global the government’s “most com- There will also be a new fo- from French President Brazil, where President Jair line editions that the country coronavirus pandemic and prehensive articulation of a cus on space and cyber, as well Emmanuel Macron and Italian Bolsonaro appointed his would look to raise the num- climate change. foreign policy and national se- as a revamp of Britain’s ability Prime Minister Mario Draghi. fourth health minister since ber of warheads from 180 to “We don’t want any more curity approach” in decades. to respond to security threats French Prime Minister Jean the pandemic began, has the 260 by the middle of the de- nuclear weapons. In fact, we It comes as London looks to with the creation of a White Castex vowed he would be vac- world’s second-highest Covid- cade. don’t want any,” it added. reposition itself post-Brexit, House-style situation room. cinated “very quickly” with the 19 infection rate after the US. Both dailies said details International Campaign rebranding itself “Global Brit- A new Counter-Terrorism AstraZeneca vaccine to give were contained in a leak they to Abolish Nuclear Weapons ain” and eyeing new opportu- Operations Centre is also pro- the public confidence in the ‘I’m an example’ had seen of the government’s (ICAN) executive director Be- nities beyond the EU. posed. jab if it is ruled as safe by the More than 382 million doses long-awaited Integrated Re- atrice Fihn accused Britain of Johnson’s office said the The review is said to be a EU medicines agency. of vaccine have been admin- view, which was published on “pushing for a dangerous new recommendations included response to a changing world Castex also said that new istered globally, the vast major- March 16. nuclear arms race”. a strategic “tilt” towards the in which Britain “cannot rely restrictions could be put in ity in wealthier countries while The review was also said to She said it was “irresponsible, Indo-Pacific region, given solely on an increasingly out- place for the Paris region, such many poorer nations have yet state clearly that Russia un- dangerous and violates inter- its increasing importance in dated international system”. as the weekend lockdowns to receive a single jab. der President Vladimir Putin national law”, adding: “This is global geopolitics. It will stress the continu- already imposed in the Nice AstraZeneca’s shot, among poses an “active threat” but toxic masculinity on display.” Britain has already applied ing importance of alliances, and Calais regions. the cheapest available, was describes China as providing for partner status with ASE- including with NATO, but set “We are in a worrying and billed as the vaccine of choice a more “systemic challenge”. Strategic ‘tilt’ AN, while Johnson is due to out a new foreign policy of London has increasingly Prime Minister Boris John- make his first post-EU visit to “increased international activ- The benefits of the AZ vaccine locked horns with both Mos- son set out the conclusions of India next month. ism . . . to shape a more open cow and Beijing in recent the year-long review – entitled Other key areas the review will international order in which in preventing Covid-19 with its years, on issues ranging from Global Britain in a Competitive address include plans for the democracies flourish”. AFP associated risks outweigh the risk of these side effects

critical situation and, clearly, for poorer nations and the clot Talks stall in Greece-Turkey maritime dispute measures of the type that have reports have had an impact been used in other parts of the beyond Europe. Diplomats from NATO list of Turkish targets for sanc- territory are on the table,” he Countries that have halted or members Greece and Turkey tions over what it said had told BFM TV in a live inter- delayed the rollout range from failed to reach a breakthrough been Ankara’s “unilateral view. Indonesia and Venezuela to on Tuesday during the latest actions and provocations” in Sweden and the Netherlands. round of talks on their standoff the eastern Mediterranean. Covid, not jab, to blame? But Canadian Prime Minis- over eastern Mediterranean A Greek diplomat said the In Britain, which has ter Justin Trudeau urged his borders and energy rights. bloc’s March summit would administered more than 11 citizens to get the AstraZeneca Greek foreign minister Nikos return to the question. Greece million AstraZeneca doses, shot. A scientific committee Dendias told reporters after- is also counting on the support experts see no evidence of advising the government even wards that his country was of US President Joe Biden, the more frequent blood clots extended its recommendation “participating in these talks in same source said. among the inoculated. for AstraZeneca’s jab to people good faith”. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg Prime Minister Boris John- aged 65 and over. But the two sides seemed far also expressed “serious con- son wrote in The Times news- And Thai Prime Minister Pray- apart both on the scope and cerns” over Turkey’s actions in paper that the shot “is safe and ut Chan-o-cha was himself details of the talks. comments to European law- works extremely well”. injected as his country lifted its Turkish President Recep makers on Monday. One British scientist argues own AstraZeneca suspension. Tayyip Erdogan said afterwards NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also expressed ‘serious concerns’ over He cited not just Ankara’s that Covid-19 itself – and not “I am an example today,” he it was “out of the question for Turkey’s actions in comments to European lawmakers on Monday. POOL/AFP claims in the eastern Mediter- the vaccine – could be to blame, said. us to make any concessions”. such meetings since 2000 have Hostilities flared last year ranean, but also its decision to as it was known to cause such The pandemic spurred Addressing a news confer- yielded scant progress. when Ankara sent a research buy the Russian air defence problems. unprecedented efforts to ence, he added: “Turkey’s deter- The latest talks did not start in ship accompanied by a navy system S-400 and its record on The “very likely explanation develop vaccines, with a mination in the eastern Medi- the best of conditions, after a flotilla into waters near the rights at home. of at least some of the clotting number of successful options terranean remains entire.” diplomatic note from Ankara a Turkish coast that Greece Ankara, however, remains disorders seen are a result of now available. Tuesday’s talks were the sec- day earlier drew a line in the sand. asserts belongs to it – a claim defiant. Covid-19 rather than the vac- On March 16, Brussels sealed ond meeting this year after the The note was addressed to that the EU supports. In a videoconference with cine”, said Stephen Evans, pro- a deal to step up deliveries of 10 two sides met in Istanbul in Israel, Greece and the EU, Turk- Those waters are thought to military officers, Turkey’s fessor of pharmacoepidemiol- million doses of the Pfizer/BioN- January, ending a nearly five- ish media reported, telling be a possible source of natural defence minister Hulusi Akar ogy at the London School of Tech vaccine, now scheduled to year pause in the dialogue – them to seek Ankara’s permis- gas reserves. called on Athens to abandon Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. arrive in the EU before July rath- and taking place only after EU sion before proceeding with its “uncompromising and pro- “Hence, even if there were a er than in the third quarter. pressure. work on a proposed undersea ‘Provocations’ vocative attitudes”. problem, acknowledged to be And a new agreement for Another meeting is sched- power cable in disputed east- Turkey is furious that Athens is He denounced what he said very rare with the AZ vaccine, Germany’s IDT Biologika to uled in Istanbul, reported ern Mediterranean waters. using its web of islands to lay were Greece’s efforts to drag the the overall benefit would be so help produce the single-shot Greek state broadcaster Hel- Both sides cite a range of dec- claim to huge swathes of the EU and the US into what was much greater than any specu- Johnson & Johnson vaccine lenic Broadcasting Corpora- ades-old treaties and interna- Aegean and Mediterranean seas. essentially a bilateral dispute. lative harm,” he added. would offer Europe greater tion – known by its Greek acro- tional agreements to support But at a December EU sum- “They will not get anywhere Covid deaths across Europe certainty, Germany’s economy nym ERT. But more than 60 their conflicting territorial claims. mit, member states drew up a like this,” he said. AFP meanwhile passed the 900,000 minister said. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN UN decries rise in deaths, hundreds disappeared amid Myanmar unrest

he UN on Tuesday con- “Deeply distressing reports of tor- demned the surging death toll ture in custody have also emerged,” in Myanmar since the Febru- she said. ary 1 coup, warning that de- The office had determined that tainedT protesters were facing torture “at least five deaths in custody have and hundreds had disappeared. occurred in recent weeks”, she said, UN rights office spokeswoman adding that “at least two victims’ Ravina Shamdasani told report- bodies have shown signs of severe ers: “The death toll has soared over physical abuse indicating that they the past week in Myanmar, where were tortured”. security forces have been using le- thal force increasingly aggressively ‘Enforced disappearances’ against peaceful protesters.” In addition, “hundreds of people In total, she said, the office had cor- who have been unlawfully detained roborated that a total of 149 people remain unaccounted for and have had died in the crackdown on pro- not been acknowledged by the mili- tests since February 1, but stressed tary authorities”. Members of the medical community hold up the three-finger salute at the funeral of Khant Nyar Hein at his funeral in Yangon on that the actual number was surely This, Shamdasani said, “amounts Tuesday. STR/AFP much higher. to enforced disappearances”. According to the Assistance Asso- Her comment came after security Shamdasani voiced concern that through state-imposed communica- toll had risen sharply in recent days, ciation for Political Prisoners (AAPP), forces escalated the use of lethal force the UN rights office was facing in- tion blackouts. with 11 deaths on March 15, 39 on more than 180 people have been against anti-coup protesters, despite creasing difficulty confirming in- A dramatic crackdown on the me- March 14 and 18 on March 13. killed, including 74 on Sunday alone. international appeals for restraint. formation on the ground, pointing dia in the country was also compli- Shamdasani said the figures, surely In addition to the killings, Sham- Much of the country has been in to the imposition of martial law in cating getting hold of information, an underestimate, included people dasani warned that security forces uproar since the military ousted ci- a range of townships in and around she said, pointing out that at least 37 killed in the Yangon township Hlaing were continuing to arbitrarily arrest vilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last Yangon and Mandalay. journalists had been arrested, while Tharyar “during a violent crackdown and detain people throughout the month, with hundreds of thousands In addition, many of the working- five major Myanmar news outlets . . . by security forces after unknown country, with at least 2,084 people taking to the streets to demand a re- class neighbourhoods where people had seen their licences withdrawn. actors set fire toC hinese-operated or currently being held. turn to democracy. had been killed had been cut off The UN rights office said the death -invested factories”. AFP Thai PM gets AstraZeneca jab Vietnam stands for election to UN as country resumes rollout rights body in 2023-2025 tenure Vietnam is running for election to the UN Human ernmental Commission on Human Rights Thailand’s prime minister Oxford/AstraZeneca injection leaders went ahead with their Rights Council (UNHRC) in the 2023-2025 tenure, (AICHR), Vietnam exerted efforts to boost soli- on Tuesday received the Astra- to its vaccine options last Fri- jabs on Tuesday. hoping to contribute more to the world’s joint darity, unity and cooperation in AICHR, includ- Zeneca vaccine as the South- day, before health authorities “Everyone is fine. I am an efforts to promote and protect human rights. ing its efforts to ensure human rights amidst the east Asian nation began the abruptly suspended it as a pre- example today for having Astra- Vietnam is honoured to be nominated by pandemic. In May, under Vietnam’s initiative, drug’s rollout, lifting a suspen- caution. Zeneca,” the 66-year-old, who ASEAN countries to become the bloc’s candi- the commission for the first time issued a joint sion that was triggered by Euro- By Monday, it had cleared its was the first person to receive date for a seat in the UNHRC – the UN’s inter- press release related to the pandemic reflecting pean nations raising safety use after the World Health the jab in the Southeast Asian governmental agency comprising of 47 mem- the cooperation and unity within the bloc. concerns. Organisation (WHO), the Euro- country, said of his cabinet. bers in charge of promoting and protecting In November 2013, Vietnam was elected to The country became the first pean Medicines Agency and WHO safety experts were human rights around the globe. the UNHRC and officially become a council outside of Europe to temporar- many countries, including Brit- preparing to meet Tuesday over Addressing a High-level Segment of the 46th member in the 2014-2016 tenure with high ily delay the Covid-19 vaccine ain and Canada, declared it the vaccine melee as the three Regular Session of the UNHRC via video confer- votes (184 ‘yes’ votes out of 192 – the highest after several EU nations – safe for use. largest EU nations – Germany, ence last February, Deputy Prime Minister and among 14 new members). including Ireland, the Nether- “Today, we will start injec- Italy and France – followed Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh pointed out The country’s win demonstrated its position lands and Denmark – moved to tions of another vaccine. I think other EU members in suspend- that the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the and prestige reflected through its great achieve- delay it due to reports that it will create confidence for ing the shot on Monday, deal- lives of millions, and affected the well-being of ments in ensuring human rights, particularly in some recipients had suffered people to get the vaccine,” Thai ing a blow to the global immu- billions around the world, and has strained the fields of ensuring civil, political, socio-eco- blood clots. premier Prayut Chan-o-cha nisation campaign. public health and social security systems in all nomic and cultural rights, and at the same time Thailand is already adminis- said. The vaccine was developed countries, triggering and exacerbating various showing the international community’s expec- tering China’s Sinovac vaccine, The gruff former general’s jab by AstraZeneca and the Uni- human rights challenges. tation for the engagement of the country. with millions more imported was initially scheduled for last versity of Oxford in Britain, “However, when the world is moving towards During the three years of the first tenure as a doses expected in the coming Friday but it was postponed at where more than 11 million a ‘new normal’ state, the pandemic is also a UNHRC member, Vietnam participated in the months. the last minute following the doses have been administered chance to build a better future, based on the council’s activities and programmes fully and But it was expected to add the delay. The country’s political apparently without any major capacity of adaptation and innovation, coop- responsibly. The country attended all annual problems. eration and solidarity at the local, national and high-level meetings of the council, during Thailand is not set to start its global levels,” he said. which Vietnamese delegates participated in not own mass vaccination cam- “Ensuring a safe society against epidemics only plenary sessions but also thematic discus- paign until June, with more like Covid-19 is the best way to make sure each sions on issues of Vietnam’s priorities such as than 60 million shots planned and every member of the society can fully enjoy the implementation of Sustainable Develop- through domestic production their human rights.” ment Goals, the impact of climate change on of the AstraZeneca vaccine. He stressed that Vietnam continued to “put human rights, and the implementation of inter- But it is vaccinating essential emphasis on the protection and promotion of national commitments on human rights. workers and other groups with all human rights and fundamental freedoms of Vietnam has put forward many initiatives and more than 100,000 AstraZeneca our people, even in this most difficult of times”, engaged in promoting human rights such as jabs imported for emergency adding that the country has tackled the pan- promoting the rights of vulnerable groups and use earlier this month. demic head on, putting the people at the cen- responding to climate change. AstraZeneca’s shot, among tre of all its efforts. The country was also ASEAN’s coordinator at the cheapest available, was The diplomat also shared that Vietnam had pro- the UNHCR. The country fulfilled the second billed as the vaccine of choice vided medical masks and supplies to support more Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the council for poorer nations and the clot than 50 countries and international partners in in 2014 and is carrying out recommendations reports have had an impact their response to the pandemic. Under Vietnam’s of the third UPR. beyond Europe. proposal, the UN General Assembly adopted by Running for election to the UNHRC is a step Indonesia delayed its Astra- consensus a resolution proclaiming December 27 implementing its Communist Party of Viet- Zeneca rollout on Monday, and as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness nam’s and the state’s foreign policy and is a Venezuela announced it would to help raise awareness on the importance of pre- good chance for it to increase its position and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha receives theOxford/AstraZeneca not authorise the jab over fears venting and responding to epidemics. prestige and strengthen its relations with other Covid-19 vaccine in Bangkok on Tuesday. ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT/AFP of “complications”. AFP Last year, as the chair of the ASEAN Intergov- countries. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion

www.phnompenhpost.com Innovation key to higher-quality

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Managing Editor Post Khmer economic growth in China Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Opinion Phak Seangly Jia Kang Business Editor N AN article published in Qiushi May Kunmakara journal on March 16, Chinese Deputy Business Editor President Xi Jinping once again Sangeetha Amarthalingam emphasised the importance of Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Iinnovation to modern economy, and Pan Simala said that China should become a glo- Senior Reporters bal centre for science and innovation. Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng To achieve higher-quality develop- Reporters ment and become a strong manufac- Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, turing power, China needs to more Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Mom Kunthear, vigorously promote innovation. Chi- Hong Raksmey, Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, na has been the largest manufactur- Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, ing country for 11 straight years, Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha accounting for nearly 30 per cent of Photographers the global manufacturing output, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey according to the Ministry of Industry Web Editor and Information Technology. Leang Phannara As for the country’s value-added Digital Team industrial output, it has reached Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy 31.30 trillion yuan ($4.80 trillion), SIEM REAP BUREAU Minister for Industry and Informa- Offi ce Manager tion Technology Xiao Yaqing said on Sophearith Blondeel March 1. And as China’s gross domes- PRODUCTION & PRINTING tic product (GDP) reached 101.6 tril- Head of Desktop Publishing lion yuan in 2020, narrowing the gap Nhim Sokphyrak with the US, it is likely to maintain its Desktop Publishing leading position in manufacturing Containers are unloaded at Qingdao Port in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong earlier this month. CHINA DAILY Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath for a long time to come. Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna The rapid development of manufac- the development of its core technolo- circulation and integrating the position in the global industrial turing is one of the important fruits of gies is dependent on other countries, domestic and overseas markets. chains. The government, on its part,

reform and opening-up, and the foun- increasing the risk of the country During the 13th Five-Year Plan needs to implement more favourable dation of its economic success. receiving a serious blow due to exter- (2016-2020) period, high-end indus- industrial policies and take measures However, China is still far from nal factors. This means China could tries such as pharmaceuticals, medi- to ensure the supply of enough work- HEAD OFFICE being a strong manufacturing power. face many hindrances in fostering cal equipment, aerospace and tele- ers to the manufacturing sector. Post Media Co., Ltd. There is an imbalance in supply and high-quality manufacturing. communications experienced rapid It is therefore important that the The Elements Condominium Level 7, demand, and its industrial chains are China is implementing the “dual cir- development and their shares in implementation of national policies is Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, still at the middle to low end of the culation” development paradigm, in manufacturing increased. in line with the needs of the domestic Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom global value chains. And since the which the domestic market is the main- Yet China needs to pay greater atten- market. Though China faces the chal- Penh, Cambodia gap between its high-end industries stay. Although China’s aim is to become tion to low-end manufacturing which is lenge of rising labour cost, it still has the Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 and other sectors remains wide, Chi- self-reliant in high-end technology, the plagued by surplus production capacity, world’s largest manufacturing system Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 na faces an unprecedented challenge moves to accelerate internal economic Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 low added value, rising raw material with the most complete industrial in upgrading “Made in China” to SIEM REAP circulation and pursue self-sufficiency costs, labour shortage and relocation of chains and supporting facilities thanks No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune “Created in China” and “Intelligent in some crucial technologies do not factories to other countries. partly to efficient and skilled workers. Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Manufacturing in China”. mean the country is adopting an isola- China has lost some of its advantages And while some companies move – COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT According to the Fifth Plenary Ses- or have already moved – their manu- sion of the 19th Communist Party of facturing units from China to other Chief Operating Offi cer Chinese enterprises should James Ong Soon Teck China Central Committee last year, developing countries, they still need the world is undergoing unprece- to import critical components from Advertising Department promote technology innovation Chap Narith, 017 996 241 dented and rapid changes. Devel- China, which can boost the cross- oped countries such as the US are border flow of capital and goods, and Hun Channet, 017 578 768 to meet market demand, and Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 trying to decouple their economies encourage these countries to play from China’s, exerting immense pres- Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 add more value to their products more important roles in the China- Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 sure on China’s high-tech companies. proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 An apt example is China’s semicon- tionist strategy. Instead, China remains in mid- and low-end manufacturing In general, China’s manufacturing CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION ductor chips industry, with the US committed to further opening up its due the soaring costs of labour and industry and strategic emerging Acting Distribution Manager ban on supply of chips to high-tech economy to the outside world. natural resources. As such, some low- industries have been growing well, Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 giant Huawei and restrictions on Indeed, China needs to deepen glo- tech manufacturing units have shifted and the right policies can inject vital- Circulation Supervisor many other Chinese companies serv- bal cooperation and more actively – or are shifting – from China to coun- ity into mid- and low-end manufac- Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 ing as a warning. take part in international circulation tries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos turing. In short, the promotion of Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 Although the Joe Biden administra- to import technologies. and Bangladesh where labour costs are innovation and upgrading of high- ADMINISTRATION tion is trying to adopt a more sensi- In order to transform China from a lower, forcing China to transform and end industries will help China Admin & HR Manager ble approach to Beijing-Washington big manufacturing country to a upgrade its industrial structure. achieve higher-quality development. Pich Socheat ties, it still treats China as the US’ strong manufacturing power, the So Chinese enterprises should pro- CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Assistants Admin & HR Manager principal competitor. government needs to pursue higher- mote technology innovation to meet Nhel Soaphea China’s basic manufacturing capa- quality development of the manufac- market demand, and add more value The author is head of China Academy of New Financial Director bilities are still relatively weak, and turing sector while boosting internal to their products to maintain their Supply-Side Economics. Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co., Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co., Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co., Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Nostalgia reigns in mullet’s return usiness in crown. For him, the mullet is front, party in a passport to good times, and the back”: a hair- he intends to travel by foot style considered to the next festival in central ‘Bso obnoxious that for years it France in June, like a sort of verged on being an arrestable slower, hairier Forrest Gump. offence, the mullet has made “I hope people will walk the unlikeliest comeback of with me along the way, ideally the century. with a mullet but no problem From pop stars like Rihan- if not,” he said. na and Miley Cyrus to a sur- He takes a philosophical prisingly high proportion of view of his flowing locks: I“ t’s the England rugby team, the about having enough confi- short-front-long-back style dence in yourself to not take has reinvaded the world’s TV yourself too seriously, and to screens and high streets. totally own your look.” “My idols have always been David Bowie and Princess Skullet, anyone? Diana, so the initial idea was Istin also points out that the to look like their lovechild,” mullet dates back much fur- said Sharon Daniels, 26, an ther than the shoulder pads Australian living in Brigh- and rolled-up jacket sleeves ton, England. of the 1980s. “Shaz” was well ahead of the “If you look at ancient fres- game, and when she first -ar coes, Roman mosaics, you’ll rived in Brighton two years ago, see people with them be- only one other person around cause they’re much simpler town was sporting her do. She than other styles,” he said. knew because people kept Indeed, the History Channel sending her pictures of him. says mullets made their first ap- Now, the mullet is everywhere. pearance in literature in Hom- “I don’t necessarily appreci- er’s The Iliad, in which a group ate that, since now it looks like of spearmen are described as I’m trying to fit in,” Daniels having “their forelocks cropped, laughed. “I don’t mind. I know hair grown long at the backs”. how long I’ve been rocking it.” It also credits Benjamin Franklin’s “skullet” (bald on top, Three men pose during the Mullet Haircut Festival in Boussu. AFP Totally own it long at the back) with helping to Fashion cycles are as inevita- charm the French into support- By that point, the mullet was concerns for most mullet-re- ble as the turning of the plan- ing the nascent US when he was well on its way to disrepute, questers at Novella’s Brooklyn ets, but this is one style that ambassador in the 18th century. moving out of magazine pages salon, who tend to be LGBT many thought buried for good. His daring, wigless hairstyle was and into the truck stops of deep or “hardcore art” scenesters. “It’s back from the dead,” part of a successful PR effort south America, often to be seen “You have to have some really said Tony Copeland of the Brit- depicting him as a man of “sim- near an angry dog on a chain. radical style: the sort of people ish Master Barbers Alliance, plicity and innocence”. “It really became offensive who wear clothes that don’t look theorising that a few months in the nineties,” said Deirdre good, but they’re so fashionable of lockdown growth helped Offensive Novella, of Badlands salon in they can pull it off,” she said. propel the resurrection. Amazingly, however, the Brooklyn. “It was for people Still, the mullet has always “We’re going to see more and mullet went for millennia stuck out in the woods with no looked tough, and that won’t more this year. Guys are just without its own name. It was idea what was happening.” change even after a million fed up with all the skin fades.” not christened until 1994, and Its survival in these outposts Brooklyn and Shoreditch hip- That could mean fierce by an unlikely source. may have been as much about sters insta their two-tier cuts competition at the next Fes- “You’re coming off like practicalities as aesthetics, sav- to ironic death. tival de la Coupe Mulet, Eu- you’re Van Damme, You’ve ing necks from getting red and “I once found myself on a rope’s biggest mullet festival, got Kenny G in your Trans requiring minimal maintenance. ferry to Tasmania with the last held in Belgium in 2019. Am,” the Beastie Boys rapped “It’s true that I don’t get sun- Outlaws motorbike gang and Current titleholder Gau- on their 1994 single “Mullet- burnt, and I don’t need to tie the percentage of mullets was thier Istin, a farmer from Brit- head” – the first recorded use my hair up when I’m using a insane,” said Daniels. tany in northern France, isn’t of the word according to the circular saw,” said Daniels. “It’s just a badass hairstyle.” In this file photo taken on June 9, 1991, American tennis player Andre worried about defending his Oxford English Dictionary. These are not the driving AFP Agassi sports his iconic mullet during the Men’s French Open final.AFP Endangered Australian songbird is ‘losing its song’ AUSTRALIA’S endangered warning sign the regent hon- honeyeaters are now so rare regent honeyeater bird is los- eyeater is on the brink of that some young males never ing its song, a sign that it could extinction” – and the loss of find an older male teacher.” be nearing extinction, scien- song knowledge could also Scientists estimate just a few tists warned in new research reduce chances of mating. hundred regent honeyeaters released on Wednesday. “It could also be exacerbating remain in the wild. A rapid decline in the rare the honeyeater’s population The rare bird, with its black songbird means its young are decline, because we know a and yellow markings, was once struggling to learn mating calls sexy song increases the odds of found across much of eastern as adults disappear, according reproduction in songbirds.” Australia but is now largely to researchers at the Australian Scientists found 18 regent confined to eucalyptus forests National University. honeyeaters, or around 12 per- in the country’s southeast. Male regent honeyeaters sang cent of the total remaining The study also found regent rich, complex tunes in more male population, who could honeyeaters born in captivity populated habitats, but resort- only mimic other species’ have different songs that could ed to simplified songs else- songs – not their own. reduce their attractiveness to where, the scientists wrote in a “This lack of ability to com- wild birds. study published in the peer- municate with their own spe- The scientists now hope to reviewed journal Proceedings of cies is unprecedented in a wild teach the captive birds to sing the Royal Society B. animal,” study co-author like their wild counterparts, by This undated handout photo received from Australian National University on March 17 shows a rare Australian Lead author Ross Crates said Dejan Stojanovic said. playing them audio record- songbird, a female regent honeyeater, at the Capertee National Park in New South Wales. AFP the findings were a “major “We can assume that regent ings. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

An aerial picture taken on March 10, 2021 shows a sinkhole in the Croatian village of Mecencani, which is pocked with round holes of all sizes after December’s 6.4-magnitude quake. AFP Dozens of sinkholes pock Croatia’s quake-hit villages

cluster of around 100 sinkholes logical survey Stjepan Terzic told AFP that while has opened up across farmland in sinkholes are a normal phenomenon, the high central Croatia, some of them just concentration of them “in such a small loca- metres from homes, in the aftermath tion” is unusual. ofA a deadly quake that rocked the area in De- The quake’s aftershocks – which are still shak- cember. ing the area – caused the normally slow forma- The holes started appearing days after a 6.4 tion of sinkholes to accelerate dramatically. magnitude quake struck killing seven people “Thus in a short period of time numerous and tearing down hundreds of buildings around holes have emerged for which, in normal con- the town of Petrinja on December 29. ditions, decades if not longer periods would be “A NORMAL PUZZLE” With the largest opening measuring 25m needed.” across, the sinkholes pose yet another danger The holes, many of which look like small round ACROSS 51 Like some souls or words 23 “Blue Suede Shoes” singer for communities still rebuilding from the disas- ponds as they have filled with emerald ground- 1 Moccasin sound 53 Cut, as coupons Perkins ter. water, have emerged in farm plots around the 5 Toward the rudder 55 Executor, sometimes 24 It eliminates a suspect The sudden depressions are triggered when villages of Mecencani and Borojevici. 10 Unexciting 58 Low point 26 Husky breaths groundwater erodes the bedrock below to a Experts have called for additional caution in 14 Access for a miner 62 It’s used every day in America 27 “Hello” or “goodbye,” in a word point where it can no longer support the soil the coming weeks as groundwater levels are 15 Wilkes-___, Pa. 65 Vowel for Plato 28 Tornado warning above. expected to rise in spring, threatening further 16 Cold coating 66 Punch bowl accessory 30 Forms an opinion 67 It soars over shores A chief engineer at Croatia’s national geo- collapse of the terrain. AFP 17 One who keeps giving you the 32 String-quartet member business? 68 Release, as lava 33 Got things wrong 69 Gambler’s wager 20 “Bear” that’s not a bear 34 Stops presenting evidence 70 Words before “goal” or “course” 21 High-tech valley 37 Indian lentil dishes (Var.) DOWN 22 Community gym site 40 Double-breasted woolen coat 1 Triangular instrument 25 After-bath powder 41 Opposin’ 26 “Danse” step 2 “I had no ___!” UK hot tub insurance payouts 42 Type of booth 29 Unlocked? 3 “Stop,” for one 47 Neck and neck 31 Candy company Russell ___ 4 Analyze 48 Historic records 35 Cosell interviewee 5 Legal-eagle org. tripled during Covid lockdown 52 Exterminate vermin? 36 Did a dishwashing chore 6 Place to get served 54 Turns whitish 38 Old Italian currency 7 Missile trajectories Birds pecking at covers and rus outbreak, it revealed this dropped in them.” 55 Resting on 39 They don’t require psychiatric 8 Still-life subject a grass strimmer causing a week. Other incidents included 56 Past the deadline help 9 Some modern cars puncture – insurance claims “Many people bought hot an engagement ring ripping 57 Old Norse poetry collection 43 “Take ___ Train” (Duke Ellington 10 Vegetable with florets for hot tub damage tripled tubs in 2020, while others a tub lining, while acciden- 59 Very urgent hit) 11 Big-shot ’mobile in Britain last year as people took their spas out of storage, tal damage claims for items 60 Has no life 44 One-time pupa 12 “Preach on!” took more dips during lock- so they could enjoy holidays dropped into hot tubs such 45 Null tennis serve 61 Mother of Poseidon 13 Word for a possessive woman? downs, according to one in- at home” amid Covid travel as mobile phones have also 46 Safe places 62 Girl of the house 18 Inverted V, on a frat sweater surer. restrictions, said Kelly Whit- increased. 49 Letter opening? 63 Moose, in Europe 19 Contest in “Ivanhoe” Aviva received a 188 per tington, property claims di- Aviva added that deflated 50 Product placements, essentially 64 Birth name indicator cent annual increase in claims rector for Aviva. spas were stolen from garages linked to accidental damage “Unfortunately this appears and outbuildings, “although Wednesday’s solution of the foaming outdoor baths to have led to all manner of some brazen thieves took hot in 2020, whose popularity has mishaps, both with the hot tubs directly from customers’ surged during the coronavi- tubs themselves and items gardens”. AFP

Wednesday’s solution

Insurance claims for hot tub damage tripled in Britain last year as people took more dips during lockdowns. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Ibrahimovic returns to Sweden’s national squad Zlatan Ibrahimovic will hints that he could be returning return to Sweden’s squad after to the Swedish team. an almost five-year hiatus to But things took a more seri- play in World Cup qualifiers at ous turn last autumn when, the end of March, head coach after being awarded Sweden’s Janne Andersson said on March Footballer of the Year award for 16. an astonishing 12th time in late The player, known for his November, he said that he not-so-humble ways, also missed playing for the team. announced his own return, “The one who does not miss posting a picture of himself on it, he has already finished his Instagram in the Swedish team career. And I have not finished kit with the caption “The return my career,” he told Swedish of the God”. daily Aftonbladet. The highly-anticipated Ibrahimovic and coach announcement comes just Janne Andersson then met for three months before the Euro- talks. pean Championship in June- Andersson told reporters on July. March 16: “I think we’ll be a The 39-year-old AC Milan better team with Zlatan, that’s striker retired from the Swedish why he was selected.” squad after the 2016 European And in a statement he devel- Championship, with 116 caps oped that thought, saying the and 62 international goals. towering 1.95m forward had Media had speculated about been selected “first and fore- Ibrahimovic’s possible return most because he’s a very good England’s Jos Buttler plays a shot during the third Twenty20 (T20) international cricket match between India and England at the Narendra Modi to the national team, but the football player, the best we’ve Stadium in Motera on Tuesday. AFP Swedish Football Association ever had in Sweden.” had refused to comment until “So it’s of course great that he March 16, when he was wants to come back. In addi- announced among the players tion to what he can contribute selected for the qualifiers on the pitch, he has loads of Buttler powers England to against Georgia on March 25 experience and can also share and Kosovo on March 28, as that with other players on the well as a friendly against Esto- team,” he added. nia on March 31. Without “Ibra”, Sweden 8-wicket T20 win over India Ibrahimovic has been nurs- reached the 2018 World Cup ing a muscle injury lately but quarter-finals and qualified os Buttler powered England to an Wood, returning from a foot injury that tensity and energy and that was lacking hopes to return to the pitch on directly for Euro 2020, which eight-wicket victory over India on kept him out of the second game, took tonight.” March 18 when Milan face his has been postponed to June- March 16, with the tourists taking a three for 31 and only Kohli’s hard-hitting at Buttler attacked India’s pace and spin former club, Manchester Unit- July 2021 due to the Covid-19 J2-1 lead in their five-match Twenty20 the end of the game spoiled his run figures. bowlers from the start, hitting 93m sixes ed, in the Europa League round pandemic. (T20) series despite a sparkling innings Wood, Jordan and Jofra Archer were con- off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal over of 16. In the first roundS weden will from Virat Kohli. sistently firing down balls at 150km/h. the boundaries in the world’s biggest face Spain, Poland and Slovakia The home skipper’s 77-run blitz revived Kohli took charge with the innings cricket stadium. ‘Not done yet’ in Group E. Andersson said he India after a poor start and saw them to looking rocky at 24-3. He put on 70 for “Sometimes people don’t expect me The Swede has made head- would announce the squad for 156-6 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the sixth wicket with Hardik Pandya, who to attack the spinners so I thought lines over the years with cheeky the Euro in May. AFP Ahmedabad, which was kept empty be- contributed just 17. I would like to try to take it on,” said cause of the rising number of coronavirus Buttler. cases in India. Bad ‘body language’ “Chahal is a fantastic bowler and I Buttler carried his bat through the run The India captain hit 49 off his last 17 have had some good battles against chase to score 83 not out, smashing four balls. him but it was nice to chance my arm sixes and five fours, to guide England to The renowned disciplinarian praised a bit today.” 158 for two with 10 balls to spare. England’s pace bowlers who “made it He singled out his first six off Chahal as Jonny Bairstow contributed an un- more difficult” but said his side’s attitude “the one that got me up and running and beaten 40 – taking him past 1,000 runs in had let them down. gave me confidence to take the game on T20 internationals – to give England an “If you lose the toss, embrace what has even more”. emphatic win in captain Eoin Morgan’s been asked of you as a team. To be hon- Morgan singled out his star opener and 100th T20I. est I think the England bowlers were ab- close friend for praise. Morgan won a crucial toss. The side that solutely brilliant with the new ball,” he “He has been in incredible form, he is has batted first has lost every game so far. said. a great leader within our group and obvi- England’s pace attack quickly stunned “We definitely tried to come into the ously he has been around for an incred- the Indian batters with Mark Wood dis- game as well as we could but I don’t think ibly long time,” said Morgan. “He has a missing openers Rohit Sharma and KL Ra- our body language in the second half was great influence in the changing room.” hul and Chris Jordan claiming the wicket of acceptable in the field. The fourth match of the series is on Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to Sweden’s squad after an almost five-year Ishan Kishan in a crucial three-over spell. “Defending 160 you need a bit more in- March 18, also in Ahmedabad. AFP hiatus to play in World Cup qualifiers.AFP Africa must win World Cup soon, says new CAF boss Motsepe New Confederation of African future,” said the 59-year-old issues” prevented Malagasy first time since his ascension to crowned African champions in give some of my personal funds Football (CAF) president Patrice South African billionaire at a Ahmad Ahmad seeking re-elec- the highest position in African 2017, they did so without seven to the players because the prize Motsepe raised the bar on March press conference in Johannes- tion for a second stint. football. potential first-choices who money was insufficient.” 16 for national teams in the con- burg. The mining magnate prom- “I am confident African foot- feared falling out of favour at Champions League winners tinent by insisting one of them Motsepe was elected unop- ised to quit after his four-year ball will succeed, become self their clubs had they travelled pocket $2.5 million and clubs must win the World Cup soon. posed on March 12 to lead term if CAF “does not make sufficient, and the best in the to Gabon. winning the Confederation “An African team must win trouble-torn CAF after a two- real progress” under his lead- world,” predicted the owner of Ahmad moved the 2019 finals Cup, the African equivalent of the World Cup in the near year ban over “governance ership. 2016 CAF Champions League to June-July in Egypt, but the UEFA Europa League, “We must stop being exces- winners Mamelodi Sundowns. coaches and players involved become $1.25 million richer. sively pessimistic and negative Turning to the Africa Cup of in early kickoffs railed against Answering a question about [about the World Cup], there is Nations, Motsepe said he want- the 40 degree Celsius heat. whether he had ambitions to no continent that has succeed- ed it to continue as a two-year- The delayed 2021 tourna- be FIFA president, Motsepe ed by dwelling on its failures.” ly tournament despite sugges- ment will revert next year to a said: “Absolutely not. Infantino No African team has gone tions from FIFA president January-February time slot is doing a great job and must beyond the quarter-finals of the Gianni Infantino that it be because host nation Cameroon be supported.” World Cup, and only Cameroon staged every four years. experiences torrential mid- FIFA-brokered talks played a (1990), Senegal (2002) and Gha- year rain. significant role in the election na (2010) have got that far. Tug of wars Motsepe said the CAF Cham- of Motsepe, who was chosen Africa fared dismally at the The biggest sporting occa- pions League and CAF Confed- after his rivals, Ivorian Jacques last World Cup in Russia three sion in Africa has traditionally eration Cup prize money was Anouma, Mauritanian Ahmed years ago, with its five qualifiers been held during January and unacceptably low, echoing the Yahya and Senegalese Augustin – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Sen- February, triggering tug of wars complaints of many club offi- Senghor, withdrew. egal and Tunisia – eliminated between European clubs and cials who say they compete at Yahya and Senghor will after the group stage. national teams for the service a loss. become vice-presidents and Newly elected president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) But Motsepe was upbeat as of players. “When Sundowns won the Anouma a special adviser to Patrice Motsepe conducts a press conference on Tuesday. AFP he spoke in South Africa for the When Cameroon were Champions League, I had to Motsepe. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 18, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Man City cruise into Champions League quarter-finals with 2-0 win ep Guardiola told five to Liverpool a year later, his Manchester City four to Tottenham in 2019, players to forget their and suffered a shock 3-1 de- previous Champions feat to Lyon last season in a LeagueP failures after cruising one-off tie in Lisbon. into the quarter-finals with However, the signing of a 2-0 win over Borussia Mo- Ruben Dias has transformed enchengladbach on March Guardiola’s men into the 16 that sealed a 4-0 aggregate complete team this season as victory. they remain on course for an The Champions League is unprecedented quadruple of the one trophy that has re- Premier League, Champions mained elusive to Guardiola League, FA Cup and League during his five years in Man- Cup. chester with City failing to City have now kept seven ever get beyond the last eight consecutive Champions under the Catalan. League clean sheets. But the runaway Premier “We cannot deny Ruben League leaders will get the and John [Stones] make an chance to break that barrier incredible step forward for the next month as they showed team,” added Guardiola. why they are the bookies’ fa- “But we need everyone. Ev- vourites for the competition eryone runs a lot, the impor- with another classy perfor- tant thing is to understand we mance in Budapest, which defend with the ball.” hosted both legs of the tie due With no key players miss- to coronavirus restrictions on ing through injury, the wealth travel between England and of options Guardiola has to Germany. choose from is another reason Early goals from Kevin De this could finally beC ity’s year Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan for a major breakthrough in killed off any hope of a fight- Europe. back from the Germans as City Fernandinho, Oleksandr recorded a 24th win in their last Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, 25 games in all competitions. Sergio Aguero and Raheem Manchester City’s Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva (right) vies with Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Austrian midfielder Hannes Wolf (centre) “What happened in the during the UEFA Champions League, last 16, second-leg football match on Tuesday. AFP Sterling were all introduced off past is the past,” said Guardi- the bench in the second half to ola, who won the Champions is higher and hopefully we can off the underside of the bar on were patient in the beginning end of the season to join Bo- give Dias, Joao Cancelo, Gun- League twice as coach of Bar- maintain this mood.” 12 minutes. and then scoring the two goals russia Dortmund. dogan, Rodrigo and Bernardo celona but has been unable De Bruyne and Gundogan Six minutes later a flowing gives us a bit of a cover know- Silva an early night ahead of to replicate that success with were two of a host of first- move from back to front saw ing they need to come out a Rock solid City March 20’s trip to Everton in Bayern Munich or City. team regulars left out by Guar- Phil Foden release Gundogan little bit more. I think we con- Defensive frailties have been the FA Cup quarter-finals. “In the quarter-finals one diola for March 13’s 3-0 win at in behind the Gladbach de- trolled the game.” the cause of City’s previous By then, City will know their bad game, [a few] bad minutes Fulham and City looked re- fence to score his 15th goal of Gladbach have now lost all Champions League exits un- next Champions League oppo- can punish you. freshed in a fast start. the season. seven games since manager der Guardiola. nents. On this form, they are “Now it is the best teams in De Bruyne blasted in the “The start obviously helps Marco Rose announced he They conceded six goals to the side to avoid in March 19’s Europe. The quality every time opener from outside the box a lot,” said De Bruyne. “We will be leaving the club at the Monaco over two legs in 2017, quarter-final draw. AFP Real Madrid’s old guard see off Atalanta to reach last 8

Real Madrid avoided another early after Karim Benzema continued his start, Atalanta never really recov- How Madrid’s veterans would fare popped passes around Atalanta’s mid- Champions League exit on March 16 scoring streak by capitalising on a ered. against more polished opposition field. by beating Atalanta 3-1 to win the tie glaring error from Atlanta goalkeeper Luis Muriel pulled one back for the remains to be seen, after they came The lively Vinicius Junior took too 4-1 on aggregate and reach the quar- Marco Sportiello. visitors late on but any hopes of a up short against Manchester City last long after a neat one-two with Ben- ter-finals for the first time in three Sportiello’s scuffed clearance in the comeback were quickly dashed as year and Ajax the year before that, zema, who then showed the youngster years. first half resulted in Benzema being substitute Marco Asensio fired in a both in the last 16. how it should be done. Sergio Ramos marked his return given an easy finish at the Alfredo di third for Madrid. Sportiello’s clearance was tamed by from injury by converting a penalty Stefano stadium and after an electric Zinedine Zidane’s side will be in Madrid punish Atalanta errors Modric, whose second touch pushed March 19’s draw for the last eight and They will be unlikely to benefit from the ball into the box before a third cut with their old guard fit and firing again, the same generosity Atalanta afforded the ball back to Benzema, who had an they will be hopeful of exceeding what them across the two legs. open net. are now dampened expectations of La Remo Freuler’s red card and a late The goal killed Atalanta’s belief and Liga’s reigning champions. goal spoiled the Italians’ night in Ber- Vinicius almost added a second after “We showed tonight how much hun- gamo and it was individual errors half-time, only to prod wide after a ger there still is in this team,” said Luka from Sportiello and then Rafael Toloi surging run to the edge of Atalanta’s Modric. “We can go far. How far let’s for the penalty that let them down six-yard box. see but today was an important step.” again here. But the warning was not heeded and Ramos played just over an hour in “We started strong and we were suc- Vinicius raced past Toloi, whose dan- his second appearance since recover- ceeding with our pressing,” said Muri- gling leg made enough contact to con- ing from a knee injury while Benze- el. “It’s a shame because from our two cede the penalty, which Ramos ma’s goal was his eighth in as many mistakes came the two goals that cut whipped into the corner. games and 70th in the Champions our legs from under us.” Ramos signalled to the bench that League, making him only the fifth Atalanta tore into Madrid early on, his work was done and he departed player to reach that number. with the intensity of their press giving shortly after, before Benzema headed The 35-year-old Modric and Toni their opponents no time to settle and Lucas Vazquez’s cross at Sportiello and Kroos were dominant in the absence Robin Gosens could have scored, only the rebound against the post. of the suspended Casemiro. to fail to connect with Muriel’s cross. Muriel curled in a superb free-kick “I feel 27!” joked Modric. “The years The early storm weathered, Madrid with eight minutes left but in an Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos celebrates his goal during the UEFA on your passport don’t matter, it’s found their feet as Kroos began to dic- instant it was gone again, as Asensio Champions League round of 16 second leg football match on Monday. AFP about what you do on the pitch.” tate from deep and the tireless Modric drove in a third. AFP