monday, july 19, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3709 / 4000 RIEL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, SEARCH ON FOR MODEL DEATH TOLL TOPS 170 FINANCIAL AID SENT TO VILLAGES TO ENTER UN IN EUROPE DELUGES, VN FOR COVID-19 FIGHT TOURISM COMPETITION DAMAGES IN BILLIONS national – page 2 business – page 8 World – page 9 Non-bank financial authority’s duties set

Thou Vireak The sub-decree on the organisation the Social Security Regulator, the He said outlining the structure and product (GDP) in due course. and functions of units under the aus- Trust Regulator, the Accounting and duties of NBFSA units would “boost "We’ve witnessed that in the past, THE private sector rejoiced as new pices of the NBFSA consists of 65 Auditing Regulator, the Real Estate work efficiency because the authori- the interests of the public did not legislation entered into force, laying articles and 13 chapters, and was and Pawnshop Business Regulator ties would be directly responsible”. seem to be taken seriously. With this out the organisation and functions of signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on and the Internal Audit Unit. “The NBFSA will help protect the authority, the interests of consumers the Non-Bank Financial Services July 14, with immediate effect. Forte Insurance (Cambodia) Plc interests of the public, the custom- will be taken into greater account”, Authority’s (NBFSA) individual units, Units covered by the legislation Group CEO Youk Chamroeunrith ers and the insurance companies," legal infrastructure will be reformed, a move widely-believed to spur fur- include the Insurance Regulator of told The Post on July 18 that the he said, adding that the authority opening up more channels of support ther progress and strength in the non- Cambodia, the Securities and NBFSA would provide significant would prop up the industry and banking financial services sector. Exchange Regulator of Cambodia, benefits for the insurance sector. push up its share of gross domestic Continued – page 6 Jabs for kids bring hope for school reopenings

Voun Dara moniroth, there are ... around two million children and AMBODIA is tenta- youths, so we need around tively planning to four million more doses,” he reopen schools – at said in an audio address to the least at the second- nation on July 16. aryC level – when the vaccina- “I've already told them to tion of children aged 12-17 is procure more vaccines. So far, completed, even though daily the number of vaccines we transmissions and deaths in have received and are expected other age groups remain high. to receive is 22 million. And if Schools across the country we count vaccines that will have been suspended since come through donations [as Breath of fresh air March 20, one month after the pledged], we will have more Governor Kuoch Chamroeun checks on oxygen concentrators during a visit to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Referral Hospital on Saturday. Preah Sihanouk provincial Administration third community cluster trans- than 31 million. But then again, mission broke out on February we cannot be sure that the 20. Classes have been con- promises will materialise, so we ducted virtually since then. cannot count them as vaccines As of July 18, the Kingdom we have on hand," he said. had recorded a total of 67,181 Hun Sen said that given that At least 25 dead in Mumbai landslide Covid-19 cases with 58,930 the current vaccination cam- recoveries and 1,106 fatalities. paign is focused on the AT LEAST 23 people were A falling tree demolished ple were killed after a land- say when the water supply Prime Minister Hun Sen on remaining four million people killed after several homes a wall in the eastern suburb slide hit five homes early on was expected to be restored. July 16 said in an audio address aged 18 and over, vaccinations were crushed by a collapsed of Chembur during July 18's July 18, the NDRF added. The Indian Meteorological to the nation that children aged for children may start now wall and a landslide triggered early hours, burying nearby Building collapses are com- Department said early on 12-17 in Phnom Penh and the with Phnom Penh, Kandal and by heavy monsoon rains in residents, the National Dis- mon during India's June-Sep- July 18 that "moderate to provinces of Kandal and Preah Preah Sihanouk. India's financial capital Mum- aster Response Force tember monsoon season, heavy rain or thundershow- Sihanouk will be vaccinated “I appeal to all parents and bai, authorities said July 18. (NDRF) said. with old and rickety struc- ers" were forecast for the soon on a voluntary basis. caretakers to get ready to bring Rainwater also inundated a Seventeen bodies have been tures buckling under days of next two days. “There is a need to vaccinate their children to get the vac- water purification complex, recovered from the rubble, it non-stop rain. Prime Minister Narendra children and youths aged 12 to cines soon. We want to achieve disrupting supply "in most of added, with rescue operations Mumbai has been hit by down- Modi tweeted his condolenc- 17. According to the statistics herd immunity which will the parts of Mumbai", a meg- ongoing. pours since July 17, with local es and added that there would provided by [Minister of Econ- acity of 20 million people, In the suburb of Vikhroli in transport services affected. be financial compensation for omy and Finance] Aun Porn- Continued – page 2 civic authorities said. the city's northeast, six peo- The city's civic body did not victims' families. AFP

‘SKANDA ON PEACOCK’ DOMESTIC REVENUE A SLATED FOR RETURN VITAL FUNDING SOURCE HOME TO CAMBODIA FOR DEVELOPMENT: UN nATIONAL – page 5 business – page 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Covid vaccination for children to be on voluntary basis

Continued from page 1 of the national committee for combating Covid-19, for con- enable us to reopen the econ- sideration. omy, especially schools which Pech Bolen, president of the we have closed and permitted Federation of Education Serv- only distance learning. This is ices in Cambodia, said on July a loss for us,” he said. 18 that he applauded Hun Sen’s If children aged 12-17 are decision to vaccinate children vaccinated, schools from sec- and youth, which could lead to ondary to higher education school reopening in the near levels can reopen. He told future. Phnom Penh, Kandal and “The quality of education for Preah Sihanouk governors to children can be ensured via get vaccination teams ready in virtual education, but we are cooperation with the ad-hoc concerned about the mental national Covid-19 vaccination and physical health of the 13-18 commission. age group. They are in the class- The commission must also es which require exams; grades work hard to negotiate with 9 and 12,” he said. vaccine-producing countries, “We are ready for it. We especially China, in purchas- already have the standard The donations will be shipped on a special flight on July 19.HEALTH MINISTRY ing the vaccines for children operating procedures that the and youths. The relevant education ministry announced authorities also have to think earlier. We have experience of children who will reach the and we always take the pre- age 12 soon, he said. caution of preventing trans- Gov’t donates Covid aid to VN He noted that the vaccina- mission,” he said. tions for children would be on If vaccination for children Mom Kunthear cially in Ho Chi Minh City, on deaths, according to the CRC. encing trouble with the new a voluntary basis. But because and youth could be accom- July 17. VCFA president Sam An Covid-19 variant,” he said. no vaccinees, including cente- plished in September or Octo- HE government has The donations will be said: “This is the sympathy of Chanroeun echoed the con- narians, have reported any ber, it would push for schools provided medical shipped on a special flight on the Cambodian people to help cerns of Ministry of Health, major side-effects, he believed to reopen faster and the qual- equipment and fi- July 19. The shipment consists our Vietnamese friends in saying the number of daily in- that parents will bring their ity of education would also nancial aid to neigh- of one million face masks, times of emergency as an ex- fections, momentum, and the children for vaccinations. improve, Bolen said. boringT Vietnam to help curb 100,000 N95 masks, 100 auto- pression of solidarity between death toll in Cambodia due to The education ministry said: Heng Ty, a resident of Boe- the spread of Covid-19, which matic oxygen concentrators, the two countries’ friendship the pandemic is about to cross “This strategic decision cre- ung Tumpun commune in is currently running rampant $200,000 donated by the gov- associations.” the red line. ates more opportunities in the the capital’s Meanchey dis- there. ernment, $100,000 donated by Vietnam has in the past do- The situation requires the preparations for reopening trict, said he has two children A civil society official sees the the CRC and $50,000 donated nated medical equipment, face government to find ways secondary education institu- who are at grade 9 and in year aid as a humanitarian gesture by the VCFA. mask, and financial aid to Cam- to prevent the pandemic’s tions step by step when vac- one at university. He was with neighboring country and “Bun Rany Hun Sen donated bodia through the VCFA to pre- spread and to help the Cam- cinations are completed in the happy to hear that the gov- that the government should $100,000 to the Vietnamese vent the pandemic. bodian people, he said. near future.” ernment will administer vac- provide them to its citizens in Red Cross through the Viet- Cambodian Institute for De- “The government should Education ministry spokes- cines to children. impoverished areas. namese embassy in Cambo- mocracy president Pa Chan- have a mechanism in place to man Ros Soveacha told The “I am happy because I want Prime Minister Hun Sen dia to contribute to prevent- roeun said on July 18 the move distribute face masks or sell Post on July 18 that they are my children to go back to and his spouse Bun Rany ing the spread of Covid-19 in is a humanitarian and diplo- good-quality alcohol at an af- working with relevant minis- school. Nearly two years now Hun Sen – who is president Vietnam,” said the CRC in a matic gesture during the Covid- fordable price or at a discount tries on the vaccination cam- they’ve been on a break. There of the Cambodian Red Cross Facebook post on July 17. 19 era to express sympathy to a to the Cambodian people so paign for children and youth. are a lot of difficulties for them. (CRC) – and Vietnam-Cam- Vietnam has been plagued neighbouring country. that they can use it to prevent Parents and caretakers of chil- They sleep more and learn less bodia Friendship Association by a severe Covid-19 out- “This is a gesture to show the spread of the disease. dren will receive the call from from online classes. It has (VCFA) president Men Sam break, especially in Ho Chi that Cambodia has adequate “We have seen people have the ministry soon. become a bad habit for chil- An pledged a total of $350,000 Minh City. In recent days, the capacity and ability to man- trouble finding quality face “[This] is a great decision to dren and different from in addition to other medical country has detected thou- age the pandemic and is able masks at affordable prices and vaccinate about 2 million chil- before,” he said. equipment for Vietnam to sand cases of Covid-19 every to donate some financial aid thousands of litres of counter- dren and youth aged 12-17,” Although he said virtual prevent the spread of Covid- day. On July 17, it recorded a and medical equipment to feit alcohol circulating in the Soveacha said. classes provided safety for his 19 into the community, espe- total of 44,186 cases and 225 Vietnam, which is experi- country,” Chanroeun said. In mid-June, more than 100 children and were easy to con- private educational institutions trol, he said he would rather requested that the education opt for real classes. ministry reopen schools, say- “If they can really go to ing that otherwise they might school, I am so happy because be forced to close permanently I want my children to have due to bankruptcy. their old habits, having a clear The ministry has referred the time set aside for learning. request to Minister of Econo- But I suggest that when the my and Finance Aun Porn- schools reopen, there must be moniroth, who is also chair- strict prevention meas- man of the standing committee ures,” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has told parents of children aged 12-17 in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal and Preah Sihanouk to get them ready for vaccinations soon. SPM THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National P Sihanouk hospital Ministry: Get your second shot receives oxygen Mom Kunthear concentrators for

HE Ministry of Health has Covid-19 patients explained that the first dose HE PREAH SIHANOUK Provincial of Covid-19 vaccine does Administration has provided a set not create a strong immune Tof oxygen concentrators to the systemT response, thus leaving those provincial referral hospital for treat- who do not receive their second shot ment of Covid-19 patients and other vulnerable to the disease. emergency uses. Health ministry spokeswoman Or Provincial hall spokesman Kheang Vandine – who is also head of the Phearum told The Post on July 17 that the national Covid-19 vaccination com- concentrators have a generating capacity mission – said on July 18 that some of 35 cubic metres per hour, equivalent to people might think that after getting five standard oxygen cylinders. the first dose, they will immediately He said the concentrators will also have total immunity from the virus serve the needs of other health centres when in fact they are still vulnerable in the coastal province. to the disease and must continue to “Previously, we had to place orders take preventive safety measures. when we needed oxygen supplies. Now “When the virus enters our organs we have our own concentrators that and our organs have no immunity – can generate oxygen equivalent to five we cannot defeat Covid-19. So, the cylinders per hour, or 50 cylinders in 10 likelihoods of contracting the dis- hours,” he said, expressing hopes that ease, sickness and death is possible the machine will help prevent deaths at all times during the vaccination from the disease. interval,” she said, adding that even Amid an ongoing outbreak, Phearum two doses of the vaccine need an in- said the provincial authorities are us- terval afterwards for the vaccine to ing all necessary means to detect the create immunity. virus, find those who have had contact She said if individuals get infected with infected persons and collect their during the interval between the first People get vaccinated against Covid-19 on the closing day of the vaccination campaign in Phnom Penh on July 8. HENG CHIVOAN specimens for testing to prevent the and second doses without symp- virus spreading. toms and the symptoms only shows responsibility to prevent it. was first detected on March 31. of Alpha variant or whatever variant “We aim to break the chain of trans- up after the second shot, it indicates “I raise concerns and ask our peo- Vandine said what is more impor- of Covid-19. So, protect yourself and mission and root out the source of that the two doses of the vaccine ple to protect themselves respective- tant now, regardless of the Delta or prevent it from spreading to family infections in the province,” he said. were not able to defeat Covid-19 in ly and seriously. Do not relent in the Alpha variant, is that people have to members and others, it is of the ut- Phearum said that besides the their bodies. fight against it if we do not want to be united in carrying out protective most necessity,” she added. concentrators, a Covid-19 laboratory “This is why preventive measures see public health tragedy that can oc- measures because the Alpha variant As of July 18, Cambodia had re- that has recently begun operations must be implemented at all time to cur beyond that red line,” she said. is dominating almost every province corded a total of 67,181 Covid-19 in the province also plays a key role avoid the virus entering our organs,” The health ministry announced on and town and deaths are confirmed cases with 58,930 recoveries and as medical personnel no longer have she said. July 16 that it had detected another 37 every day. 1,106 fatalities. to send specimens to the capital for She reiterated that Cambodia cases of the Delta variant in passen- “Why are we afraid only of the On July 18 alone, the ministry re- testing. This, he said, enables the was about to cross the red line if gers from Thailand on the Cambodi- Delta variant and do not take pre- ported 845 Covid-19 cases, 315 of authorities to respond in a timely individuals and family members an-Thai border and in airline passen- cautions? Currently, what we are do- which were imported. It also report- manner. Orm Bunthoeurn still do not pay attention and take gers, bringing the total to 75 since it ing is to cut the transmission chain ed 30 new deaths. Ramsar designation planned for Boeung Prek Lapouv area

Orm Bunthoeurn

THE Boeung Prek Lapouv Protected Landscape Area in Takeo province – renowned as a habitat for many species of rare water and migratory birds – is set to be designated a Ramsar site, or a wetland of international importance. Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra said this is because the area is a habitat for many rare bird spe- Birds at the Boeung Prek Lapov protected area. ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY cies and provides for the liveli- hoods of local communities. also has the presence of The area also raises public He added that before the des- greater adjutants, which are awareness of the importance ignation is official, the wetlands an endangered species, and of wetland areas. The increased needed further research on bio- water birds such as the black- participation of people, funds diversity, ecology and potential headed ibis, glossy ibis and for conservation and provid- for the area. The information is painted stork. They forage for ing opportunities for research needed to garner the support food in this area,” he said. and ecotourism will all sup- of relevant parties at the sub- He said the area provided port conservation in the area. national and national levels. many benefits for people such Srey Sunleang, deputy head of “Once the Boeung Prek Lapouv as water resources, food and the ministry’s General Depart- Protected Landscape Area is in- medicine. The area absorbed ment of Nature Protection and cluded as a Ramsar site, Cam- flooding, provided shelter Conservation Administration, bodia will have six Ramsar sites. from storms, protection from said Cambodia approved the These are the Stung Treng, the droughts, and regulated and Ramsar Convention on Decem- Koh Kapi, the Boeung Chhmar, purified water. ber 24, 1996, and became a full the Prek Toal and Stung Sen “These highlighted the in- member on October 23, 1999. Ramsar sites,” he continued. ternational importance of this “The Ramsar Convention He said this protected area is landscape area. So, the envi- works on three pillars – wise use a habitat for a variety of water ronment ministry has been of wetland areas, international and migratory bird species, preparing to designate this area demarcation and establishment especially flamingos. Environ- as the Ramsar site that will give of wetland areas, and interna- mental rangers had recently this wetland area international tional cooperation,” he said. recorded the presence of yel- value,” Pheaktra said. Sunleang added that cur- low-breasted buntings that He said the designation showed rently, 2,424 wetland areas migrated between Siberia and that the area was of internation- were included as Ramsar sites Southeast Asia via the East al importance and was interna- in the world covering 25 mil- Asian-Australasian Flyway. tionally recognised by the Ram- lion hectares. Of that number, “The Boeung Prek Lapouv sar Convention with the Ramsar Cambodia has five wetland Protected Landscape Area secretariat in Switzerland. areas covering 42,257ha. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Government advises use of Covid test on 5-10% of staff

Mom Kunthear State institutions have to and Orm Bunthoeurn purchase the rapid test kits at their own expense. Each state OVID-19 rapid an- institution, nonetheless, can tigen tests should still seek support from the be administered to inter-ministerial commission at least five-to-10 for combating Covid-19 and perC cent of staff at all public from Prime Minister Hun Sen and private institutions, said depending on their actual sit- a new government guideline uation and needs, especially released amid the pandemic. in case of an outbreak. Special attention should be Private institutions are also paid to ensure that the areas fully responsible for the pro- Around 75 per cent of Covid-19 cases were detected through the rapid antigen tests. HEAN RANGSEY where workers who are tested curement, except for serious live represent the widest cov- cases that warrant govern- can detect the virus in indi- positive result for people with of Health has mandated that both in Por Sen Chey district. erage possible, it noted. ment intervention. viduals who are asymptomat- a particular condition, while only 10 people are permitted The other two are Chun- It explained that such tests According to the guideline, ic and those who are carrying specificity represents the pro- to attend the funeral of a de- long Mlou located in Kambol are necessary to track the dis- antigen rapid tests accounted high levels of the virus. It ex- portion of people who do not ceased Covid-19 patient and district’s Pleung Chhes Roteh ease and ensure the smooth for roughly 60 per cent of all plained that the risks of trans- have the condition and who the attendees must strictly ad- commune and Krang Thnong functioning of institutions. Covid-19 tests conducted mission are high one to three test negative. here to preventive measures. in Sen Sok district’s Krang “All staff members present nationwide in June. Around days before infected persons For instance, a sensitivity of In an announcement on Thnong commune. at the workplace should un- 75 per cent of Covid-19 cases show symptoms and five to 80 per cent means that results July 16, the department said Phnom Penh deputy gov- dergo rapid testing at least confirmed last month were seven days after they do. will not turn out positive for 20 Covid-19 patients’ corpses ernor Keut Che noted that once every one or two weeks. detected through the devices. The World Health Organisa- per cent of people with a con- shall be wrapped by health cremations for deceased Each institution has to raise It said the kits have helped tion (WHO) recommends rap- dition who undergo testing. officials before being handed Covid-19 patients are cur- awareness widely about this ease the burden on poly- id antigen test kits for Covid- This depends on a number of over to their families for cre- rently permitted in the capi- to their staff,” it said. merase chain reaction (PCR) 19 that meet the minimum factors, such as the time from mation at four designated pa- tal because the road leading It recommended that antigen test machine and reduce the performance requirements of the onset of the infection, the godas in the capital. to a 70ha site in neighbour- tests be administered more fre- risks of community outbreak at least 80 per cent sensitivity viral load, and quality and ef- Two of the pagodas are Ang ing Kampong Speu province quently to staff members who as they can produce results in and 97 per cent specificity. fectiveness of the device. Ta Minh located in Chom Chao that has been specifically pre- have contact with people from 15-30 minutes. Sensitivity measures how of- Separately, the Phnom I commune and Kok Banhchon pared for the service is still outside their institution. The guideline said the kits ten a test correctly generates a Penh municipal Department in Chom Chao II commune, under construction.

Interior minister Sar Kheng speaks at the ministry in February. HONG MENEA Sar Kheng responds to social media concerns Ry Sochan he has referred 87 cases to rel- evant units for review. IN THE first six months of this Chea Sokunthea, deputy year, the Ministry of Interior chief of Sar Kheng cabinet, told had received 665 complaints The Post on July 18 that if was and suggestions through min- not necessary to solve some of ister Sar Kheng’s official Face- the problems on certain Face- book page, 259 of which have book pages as the users did not been solved. ask questions but offered rec- “The outstanding cases are ommendations to the minister. being reviewed as we need more “They expressed opinions, time to handle them in accor- offered ideas and some of- dance with legal procedures,” fered advice to Minister Sar he said in a Facebook post. Kheng,” he said. Sar Kheng said 172 of the cas- Sokunthea said the ministry es were solved by the National was resolving any pending is- Police, 58 by the General De- sues. Most of the cases could partment of Administration, be dealt with at the local level 10 by the General Department and were referred to the capi- of Identification, three by Gen- tal and provincial governors eral Department of Immigra- for further action. tion, 15 by the General Depart- “The capital and provincial ment of Inspection, and one authorities have reported all by the General Department of the problems dealt with to Finance and Logistics. the ministry for review,” he “I have also received feed- said. “We haven’t ignored any back and suggestions from issues raised. We are address- 154 [Facebook] account own- ing them in accordance with ers,” the minister said, adding procedure.” THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National ‘Skanda on Peacock’ en route to Kingdom

Mom Kunthear Cambodia. With this action, we paramount emblems of cultur- in or about 1997 by a former reaffirm our commitment to al identity of the nation and its Khmer Rouge member lead- sandstone statue ending the sale of illegally traf- ancestors,” the minister said. ing a group of looters. looted from the Koh ficked antiquities in theU nited Cambodia and the US gov- The team then moved the Ker area depicting States, and begin the process of ernment have a memoran- Skanda statue “by oxcart to Skanda – the war god returning Skanda on a Peacock dum of understanding (MoU) the house of a broker near the Aof Hindu mythology – riding to its rightful home.” to work together on returning Thai border … aware that the on a peacock is set to return The culture ministry under- stolen artefacts back to the broker sold antiquities to a for- to Cambodia from the US, ac- lined that Koh Ker had been the Kingdom, signed in 2003 and eign national called ‘Sia Ford’ cording to the Ministry of Cul- target of large-scale looting dur- last renewed in 2018, accord- – the British-Thai antiquities ture and Fine Arts on July 16. ing times of war and unrest. ing to the attorney’s office. dealer Douglas Latchford, The US Attorney’s Office for Culture minister Phoeung The office noted that Cam- aka ‘Pakpong Kriangsak’”, the the Southern District of New Sackona described the statue bodian cultural experts believe office said, noting thatS “ ia” York and the Department of as an example of the awe- that the face of the Skanda on means “lord” in Thai. Homeland Security have filed a inspiring creativity of the the statue could be a portrait “In 2019, Latchford was civil complaint seeking forfeiture Khmer people of the era. of a royal family member, such charged by the office with wire of the antique, the ministry said. She noted that images of the as Harshavarman II, the son of fraud conspiracy and other The attorney’s office on July Hindu god of war were rare in King Jayavarman IV. crimes related to a many-year 15 said the owner of “Skanda Khmer art, but were a promi- It recounted: “During the scheme to sell looted Cambo- on a Peacock” had “voluntarily nent component in Krachap civil conflicts of late 20th dian antiquities on the inter- relinquished possession of the temple decoration. century, statues and other ar- national art market, primarily statue to the custody of HSI “The return of this statue tefacts were stolen from Koh by creating false provenance [Homeland Security Investiga- confirms Cambodia’s com- Ker and entered the interna- documents and falsifying tions]”, the principal investiga- mitment to find and bring tional art market through an invoices and shipping docu- tive arm of the department. back the souls of our ances- organised looting network. ments. The indictment was “The statue was stolen from tors, who left their homeland “Local teams of looters ultimately dismissed due to the Prasat Krachap temple at many years ago during times would first remove the stat- the death of Latchford. Koh Ker in Cambodia, and of war,” Sackona said. The ‘Skanda on a Peacock’ statue. US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ues from the original location “On or about April 10, 2000, sold by antiquities dealer She stressed that the Kingdom at Koh Ker. The statues would Latchford sold Skanda on a Douglas Latchford into the is extremely elated at the uplift- Sackona said: “The return of er partners for years on nego- then be transported to the Peacock and, thereafter, it international art market. ing reality that a rising number these sculptures and a slew of tiations, locating and bringing Cambodia-Thailand border, was imported into the United “From 928 to 944AD, Koh Ker of its illegally-exported valuable new [archaeological] discover- back the Kingdom’s cultural and transferred to brokers, States. After the most recent was the capital of the ancient cultural belongings are finally ies have given the Cambodian assets, and pinpointing their who would in turn transport owner was contacted by the Khmer empire in Cambodia. finding their way back home. people and the world a deeper original locations, she said. them to dealers in Khmer ar- United States regarding Skan- The Cambodian state under The Skanda statue was likely understanding of ancient “We are incredibly proud of tefacts located in Thailand, da on a Peacock, the owner King Jayavarman IV construct- taken from the antechamber of Khmer culture and history.” the partnership between our particularly Bangkok. agreed to relinquish posses- ed a vast complex of sacred the Krachap temple, the same She appreciated Edenbridge two countries’ governments, “These dealers would sell sion of the statue and to waive monuments at Koh Ker, includ- spot as a Shiva sculpture that Asia founder Bradley J Gordon to reinforce the protection of the artefacts to local or in- all claims of right, title, and in- ing the Prasat Krachap temple will also be returned soon, the and Heinberg Barr LLP’s Steve Cambodian cultural heritage ternational customers, who terest in it,” the office added. and its statuary,” it said. minister claimed. Heimberg, saying their years- and serve the ultimate inter- would either retain the pieces It noted that the matter was Manhattan US Attorney Au- Some Sanskrit epics indicate long assistance has been of est of all mankind, especially or sell them on the interna- being handled by its Laundering drey Strauss said: “’Skanda on that Skanda was the first-born indispensable value. future generations of Cambo- tional art market,” it added. and International Criminal En- a Peacock’ is a work of great son of Shiva, who featured The two law veterans have dians, who will have the op- It said the Skanda sculpture terprises Unit, and that Assistant historical, religious and artistic heavily in art produced during worked hand-in-hand with portunity to embrace the value and other statues were pil- US Attorney Jessica Feinstein significance to the people of the Koh Ker dynasty. Cambodian officials and oth- of these treasures, which are fered from Krachap temple was in charge of the case. Forestry crimes persist, but on small scale, official says Voun Dara

IN the first six months of this year, rangers from the Ministry of Environment went on 14,422 patrols in protected natural areas and biodiversity corri- dors, investigated 4,238 cases of natural resource offences, imposed fines in 511 of those cases and sent 515 of the cases to court for prosecution. Most of the offences were land grabbing attempts in state forest land, deforestation or logging and poaching, the ministry report showed. Stumps and timber are seen at the Prey Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province on March 21. CAMBODIA YOUTH NETWORK It said that on July 15 a large- scale law enforcement crack- ment in the aggregate. and commune authorities. down on natural resources “The environment ministry “Now, the protectors of natural offences took place with 1,260 will continue to carry out its resources end up getting [arrest- rangers joining other police missions responsibly and pro- ed] while sellers of forest land in forces to patrol 75 protected fessionally by managing and conservation areas turn out to areas and biodiversity corri- conserving natural protected be authorities. So we do not dors covering 7.3 million hec- areas in Cambodia for genera- know how to complain to offi- tares of land. tions to come. cials or what to recommend. Ministry spokesman Neth “This is a joint effort by rang- “We encourage residents to Pheaktra said authorities will ers from the ministry, natural file complaints with the courts continue law enforcement to protected area communities against the offending officials. protect and conserve natural and partner organisations to If the courts do not address resources in protected areas, protect and conserve natural these complaints, it means which make up 41 per cent of the resources in Cambodia,” he said. that the courts are under pres- Kingdom’s territory currently. Sum Chankea, Banteay sure from someone,” he said. Pheaktra said large-scale Meanchey provincial coordina- On June 26, the Mondulkiri natural resource offences in tor for rights group Adhoc, said Provincial Court detained and natural protected areas were however that after having charged nine military and no longer occurring in the observed the situation over the police officers for forestry same manner that they once past six months, he was of the offences and conspiring with did. The problem, he claimed, view that a large number of Vietnamese traders to illegally now involves only offenders natural resource offences still export timber through the individually carrying out small- persisted – including illegal O’huch area in Sre Khtum com- scale offences like trapping state forest land grabs and mune’s O’am village of Keo animals, which still caused deforestation, most of which Seima district, according to a serious harm to the environ- involved participation by village provincial court spokesman. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 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 4,101 1.2576 6.4666 110.08 4.2095 1.3538 32.75 0.7439 1.1821 1.3827

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: July 16, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 12,920 12,900 12,960 12,860 2 GTI 4,180 4,200 4,200 4,000 3 PAS 13,700 13,700 13,860 13,560 4 PEPC 3,150 3,170 3,170 3,150 5 PPAP 15,200 15,020 15,220 15,020 6 PPSP 2,100 2,150 2,150 2,100 7 PWSA 7,100 7,100 7,120 7,100 Support for Domestic revenue a vital source of decree, but scepticism development financing: UN report hangs in air Thou Vireak Continued from page 1 omestic revenue is an increasingly vital source of for the insurance sector, Cham- financing for development roeunrith said. in the Kingdom, amount- Kim Heang, regional operat- ingD to 19 per cent of gross domestic ing principal of Keller Williams product (GDP) last year and expected (KW) Cambodia and owner of to reach 22.5 per cent by end-2025, the Borey KS Residence, wel- the UN said on July 16. comed and expressed support The UN Development Programme for the sub-decree, which he (UNDP) made the remark based on a said would beef up the real report, entitled “Cambodia’s Develop- estate industry, but cautioned ment Finance Assessment” released that the unit must be conced- on the same day. ed the power and staff needed The study, it said, “analyses the to effectively serve the sector. compositions and trends of all Cam- “If we look at the legal aspect, bodia’s financial inflows, covering the more the state intervenes, public, private, international and the stronger it [the law] is. national sources available to support When the law is effective, busi- development investment in the coun- nesspeople will respect it and try” and “estimates the likely reduc- competition will be transpar- tions in these flows resulting from the ent, so I support it,” he said. Covid-19 crisis”. But in light of the stronger “While official development assis- legal framework and imple- tance [ODA] flows remain significant mentation mechanisms in – estimated around 7.9 per cent of place, the additional units GDP – their composition has shifted would lead to elevated costs further towards loans and within this Domestic revenue is an increasingly vital source of financing for development in the Kingdom, amounting to 19 per cent of gross domestic for businesses, he cautioned. towards less concessional terms. product (GDP) last year and expected to reach 22.5 per cent by end-2025. Hong Menea “[Still,] if these units wield “Covid-19 has led to total financ- iron fists, all businessmen ing flow losses estimated to be $3.6 some of the green financing mecha- Within those flows, domestic sources sised that the government “plans to must be held under the law, billion, accounting for 19.8 per cent nisms that should be explored to are becoming increasingly important. launch the Post Covid-19 Economic then those who obey will of the total flows, for 2020. The three achieve the Sustainable Development “Cambodia can expect to graduate Recovery Plan 2021-2023 which will be receive benefits. But if the most significantly affected are do- Goals [SDG],” the UN agency said. from Least Developed Country [LDC] financed by public resources while also units lack the authority or the mestic revenue, foreign direct invest- UNDP Cambodia resident repre- status towards the end of the 2020s. considering mobilising additional re- manpower, then loopholes ment [FDI] and private domestic in- sentative Nick Beresford lauded the The time to prepare new sources of sources from other financing options, will remain in the manage- vestment. report as the most spot on illustration financing is now as this report makes thus this report will provide us some in- ment,” Heang said. “The report also emphasises the im- of the Kingdom’s anticipated financial clear. For example, being able to issue sights into different financing options”. The sub-decree tasks the portance of a set of financing policy in- inflows achieved by such a compre- bonds in Khmer riel, is an option be- Seilava welcomed policy recom- NBFSA Secretariat with coordi- novations to boost the capacity of the hensive overview. ing considered, and one strongly sup- mendations in the report as “another nating the formulation and state to manage the public finances “Once we are able to ease Covid-19 ported by UNDP,” he said. contribution of [the] UNDP to provide implementation of policies and and secure ongoing high levels of pri- restrictions, we can expect a strong Ministry of Economy and Finance evidence-based policy recommenda- strategies for the development vate capital flows. This underscores growth in development finance flows. secretary of state Ros Seilava empha- tions” for the government. of the non-banking sector, including financial technology. The secretariat will develop strategies and action plans to carry out non-bank financial sector development policies, Customs logs nearly $1.16B in first half 2021 and facilitate requests for additional regulations, rules or Thou Vireak per cent of the target set by the per cent), and construction facilitation mechanisms, beef trade across all countries. procedures for the manage- Law on Financial Manage- materials and miscellane- up cooperative initiatives with The collapse in trade, he ment of the sector, as well as THE Ministry of Economy and ment for 2021. ous fees (6.2 per cent), with the private sector, reinforce said, would inevitably spell monitor and evaluate the Finance’s General Department Value-added tax (VAT) made other products accounting the prevention and suppres- a downturn in the collection effectiveness of the implemen- of Customs and Excise of Cam- up the majority of revenue at for 28 per cent. sion of smuggling, improve of tax revenue, especially tation, the edict said. bodia (GDCE) collected 37.8 per cent, followed by spe- As part of its future work work efficiency and optimise customs duties. “It’s a mat- It added that the secretariat $1.1595 billion in revenue in cific tax (37.6 per cent), cus- plan created in response to the the implementation process of ter of fact that each coun- will provide coordination and the first half of 2021, down 8.9 toms duty (18.1 per cent), global Covid-19 pandemic, the information and communica- try’s customs revenue col- administrative support for per cent year-on-year. excise tax on petroleum prod- GDCE will “continue to anchor tion technology [ICT] strate- lection has declined during regulators, expert committees, GDCE director-general Kun ucts (4.5 per cent) and tariffs good governance at the insti- gies,” Nhem said. the Covid-19 pandemic, technical working groups or Nhem made the remark on and other fees (two per cent), tution . . . [and] strengthen the Hong Vanak, director of including Cambodia.” inter-institutional taskforces July 14 via video link at a meet- he said. professional ethics of customs International Economics at Last year, the GDCE collect- in the fulfilment of sectoral ing to review the work done by Vehicles and machinery and excise officials”, he said. the Royal Academy of Cam- ed $2.4196 billion in revenue, strategies and action plans, as the department over the first topped the list of sources of “The GDCE will also pursue bodia, previously told The down $795.5 million or 24.8 well as facilitate cooperation half of this year. customs and excise revenue compliance in the private sec- Post that the sweeping per cent compared to 2019. with regional and internation- He said revenue collection in at 42.3 per cent, followed by tor, simplify customs proce- effects of Covid-19 had led to This was equivalent to 83.5 per al organisations and develop- January-June had achieved 49 petroleum and energy (23.5 dures and enhance trade a decline in international cent of the 2020 plan. ment partners. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Japanese gov’t wants renewable energy to make up almost 40% of energy mix by 2030

HE Japanese govern- be about 934 billion kWh. This ects and it will “study the ap- ment aims to increase is about 10 per cent less than propriate division of roles be- the ratio of renewable the figure estimated in the tween the public and private sources in the energy current plan released in 2018, sectors to establish a system mixT to 36-38 per cent from the because of advances in energy for conducting surveys more current 22-24 per cent in fiscal efficiency in factories and of- quickly and efficiently”. 2030, and maintain nuclear fice buildings, among other The draft states the govern- power at 20-22 per cent, ac- facilities. ment’s intention to “continue cording to a draft of the basic The draft states that the gov- utilising [nuclear power] on energy plan currently under ernment will “promote the a necessary scale”, describ- review. highest possible utilisation of ing it as “an important power The goal is for energy pro- renewable energy as a main source that contributes to en- duction that does not emit source of power” with a target ergy stability”. carbon dioxide such as re- of generating about 331-350 Taking into consideration newable energy and nuclear billion kWh. the lack of progress in restart- power to account for about The government regards ing nuclear power plants, “the 60 per cent of electricity gen- offshore wind power as a de- government will take the lead erated in Japan. cisive factor in making renew- and work to gain the under- The basic energy plan sets able energy a main source of standing and cooperation of the direction of the nation’s power because it can be in- local governments and other mid- and long-term energy troduced on a large scale and parties concerned”, according policies. In late April, Prime a wide range of companies are to the draft. Minister Yoshihide Suga set a involved in the sector. Japan will reduce its depen- goal of reducing greenhouse Land is becoming scarce for dence on thermal power gen- gas emissions by 46 per cent the development of solar and A shortage of land limits opportunities to expand solar power generation in Japan. CHUBU ELECTRIC POWER CO INC eration, which has been under by fiscal 2030 from fiscal 2013 onshore wind power, which mounting international criti- levels. are mainstay renewable en- The draft states that “it is the can expand capacity. stable power source.” cism. However, in the event of Following the move, atten- ergy sources. government’s responsibility to In addition, a series of or- Regarding wind power, an emergency, such as a sud- tion has focused on how the The government will pro- work toward decarbonising dinances have been enacted suitable locations for install- den decline in the output of government would position mote the expansion of re- the energy sector”. It positions across the country to preserve ing giant turbines are limited renewable energy sources, the renewable energy and nuclear newable energies through renewable energy sources the natural environment and both on land and at sea. Also, risk that idled or aging ther- power in the latest plan. such measures as establish- such as solar and wind power landscape, making it difficult because arrangements need mal facilities will be unusable The government plans to ing districts in which relevant as “main power sources for the to expand the installation of to be made with local fishery increases over time. release the draft on July 21. businesses will be invited to carbon-neutral era”. However, solar panels. cooperatives, among others, In the draft, the government The Cabinet is expected to ap- operate facilities and utilising many challenges exist. As the output of solar power and environmental assess- indicated its intention to sup- prove the new plan by around abandoned farmland. Japan has the world’s high- generation fluctuates depend- ments must be carried out, port the commercialisation of autumn this year after solicit- Currently, Japan’s energy est solar power generation ing on weather conditions, the such facilities take a long time power plants that adopt new ing opinions from the public. sector, including power gener- capacity per square kilome- draft states that “in the long to complete. technologies such as carbon The draft estimates that the ation, accounts for more than tre of flat land, which in turn term, [solar power] combined According to the draft, the dioxide capture, utilisation total amount of electricity to 80 per cent of the country’s means it has the least amount mainly with storage batter- government will be involved and storage. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN be generated in fiscal 2030 will greenhouse gas emissions. of available land on which it ies is expected to develop as a from the initial stage of proj- (JAPAN)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Vietnam’s central bank allows lenders to expand credit room THE State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has officially The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural approved credit room extensions for some banks Development (Agribank) on July 15 said it in line with fulfilling the government’s policy of would cut lending rates in Vietnamese dong for both managing the fight against the pandemic the fifth time. and continued economic development. The bank will reduce interest rates for short- Instead of the 10-12 per cent allowed under term loans with an annual interest rate of at least the most recent current credit growth grants, fie per cent, and mid-and long-term loans with some banks will be able to issue credit up to an interest rate of no less than seven per cent. 14-15 per cent for the year. The interest rate cut will save borrowers about Banks that have been allowed to expand cred- 5.5 trillion dong ($240 million). it are mostly pursuing Basel III standards and all The programme, to last until December 31, have met the requirements of Basel II. will be rolled out at all 2,300 transaction sites of The SBV advised that it has also given priority Agribank in the country. to credit institutions that are implementing the Agribank has also restructured loans, pro- government’s policy and the central bank’s vided free-of-charge domestic money transfer directions, to reduce lending interest rates to services, and donated more than 130 billion assist businesses and people struggling through dong to combat Covid-19. the economic impacts of Covid-19. The Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) The adjustment of the credit growth target, also said lending rates on its short-term loans also known as a room extension, is made at the would be cut by a maximum 0.8 percentage credit institution’s request. points and that of mid and long-term loans, by The SBV carefully assesses the operational one percentage point, for existing loans. environment, financial capacity, governance The bank will adjust the lending rates for both and ability to expand healthy credit of each individual and institutional clients between July credit institution before approving extensions. 15 and October 15. The SBV said the room extensions would assist The Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock the country’s economic growth but also that it was Bank (Sacombank) on July 14 was the first to cut aware of the inflation risks, and that room exten- its lending rates following a meeting between the sions would be most effective in conjunction with State Bank and credit organisations. other solutions and other monetary policies. It adjusted the annual rates down by one percent- age point for outstanding loans of businesses and individuals affected by Covid-19. Notably, those operating in tourism, transportation, catering and lodging services, education and health care. Vietnam Bankers Association secretary-gen- eral Nguyen Quoc Hung, told the Vietnam News Agency that more banks are expected to follow suit from now till the end of this year to assist pandemic-hit clients. At the meeting between the SBV and credit organisations in the beginning of last week, cred- it institutions reached a consensus on reducing lending rates with a focus on businesses suffering The Agribank on July 15 said it would cut lending rates most from impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. in Vietnamese dong for the fifth time.SUPPLIED VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Zomato IPO subscribed over 10.7 times, against valuation of 719 million INDIAN multinational res- Jack Ma’s Ant Group among taurant aggregator Zomato’s its existing shareholders – is initial public offering (IPO) one of the country’s hottest was oversubscribed 10.7 tech start-ups and dominates times on July 16, the third and India’s booming app-based last day of the sale, with insti- food-delivery space along- tutional buyers pouring into side rival Swiggy. garb shares of the food deliv- There are high expectations ery platform. about the growth of the food The offer received bids for delivery market in the coun- 7.7007 billion equity shares try of 1.3 billion people and against an IPO size of 719.2 Zomato and Swiggy’s delivery million, stock exchange data riders are ubiquitous in In- showed. dian cities. Retail investors sought 6.09 But there are also concerns times the portion reserved for that companies like Zomato them. Against 129.5 million and Swiggy – which are yet shares reserved for retail in- to be profitable due to high dividual investors, 788.7 mil- start-up and marketing costs lion shares were bid by 1pm – could be overvalued. (0730 GMT). Zomato, which operates in A popular tourist destination, Shirakawa-go reflects a Japanese building style known as gassho-zukuri, or ‘prayer-hands construction’, distinguished Non-institutional investors 525 Indian cities with more by a steep thatched roof clasped together resembling two hands folded in prayer that allows the houses to withstand heavy snowfall. UNWTO put in bids for 1.0982 billion than 32 million Indians visiting shares against their reserved the platform every month, lost portion of 194.2 million. 8.16 billion rupees in the finan- Qualified institutional buy- cial year ending March 2021. ers (QIBs) sought nearly 15 “Zomato has been incur- Tourism ministry to choose 3 times their quota of 388 mil- ring substantial losses and lion shares. may continue to incur losses The portion set aside for in [the] near future too, given employees has been sub- the business is at nascent model villages for UN contest scribed 42 per cent. stage,” Mumbai-based invest- Zomato mobilised 41.9651 ment services firm Motilal Hin Pisei tourism ministry to smooth tion Cambodia chapter chair- Cambodia Hotel Association billion rupees ($560 million) Oswal said in a note to clients implementation and inspec- man Thourn Sinan under- president Din Somethearith from 186 anchor investors ahead of the IPO. HE Ministry of Tour- tion, it said. lined that taking part in the said the selection process on July 13, a day before the Around 30 Indian compa- ism is selecting three Tourism ministry spokes- global competition will pro- would provide a serious leg- issue opened. The IPO size nies have announced IPO model villages to man Top Sopheak told The vide a shot in the arm for the up for hotels and the greater has been reduced to 51.7849 plans this year, including represent Cambodia Post on July 18 that a key cri- Kingdom’s tourism sector. tourism sector, and enhance billion rupees from 93.75 bil- digital payments firm Paytm, atT the “Best Tourism Villages” terion for selecting villages to He said eligible villages the Kingdom’s reputation. lion earlier. backed by Japan’s SoftBank as competition, organised by the the international competition must actively work to pre- Internally, local authorities The IPO, which was the well as by Ma. UN’s World Tourism Organi- is tourism potential. serve aspects of cultural heri- and people will strive to im- biggest in India, opened for Zomato’s offering, along sation (UNWTO), the Council Tourism activities offered in tage in their original context, prove and develop each village subscription on July 14 in a with Paytm’s, is expected to of Ministers said. the villages must relate to the ensure a reasonable degree of in all areas, and build a stron- price band of 72-76 rupees propel India’s IPO market to The event is scheduled for protection and conservation security and maintain a clean ger local economy, he said. per share. its best year on record. THE October in the Moroccan of culture, heritage, traditions environment. Externally, the nominated Zomato – which counts STATESMAN (INDIA)/ASIA NEWS NET- economic centre of Mar- and customs, and a sizable “The programme will be villages will have the opportu- subsidiaries of Uber and WORK, AFP rakesh, on the occasion of the portion of the population able to bring greater global nity to partner with overseas 24th WTO General Assembly, must be involved in the in- attention to Cambodia, espe- counterparts and learn from according to a July 13 letter dustry, he said. cially if its model tourist vil- each other, fostering strong from the council signed by He added that the selection lages are chosen.” relations, he added. permanent secretary of state process is part of the “road- Cambodia Association “Through the event, alli- Hing Thoraksy. map for plans to restore and of Travel Agents president ances can be forged between The government has autho- promote the tourism sector Chhay Sivlin said the push international model tourism rised the tourism ministry to in Cambodia during and after to make it to the world-class villages, to redevelop the ho- work with relevant ministries the Covid-19 crisis. event would not only attract tel and tourism sectors down and institutions, such as the “If Cambodia wins the com- foreign tourists, but also local the line,” he said. Ministry of Interior, mu- petition, it will bring many holidaymakers. The UNWTO said the dead- nicipal, town and provincial benefits, such as experience- “On behalf of the private line for applications to the authorities, and other stake- sharing on developing model sector, we really appreciate “Best Tourism Villages” is Au- holders to nominate the three villages with other countries, and support this endeavour. gust 31, noting that member village, the letter said. as well as the creation of new When there’s a competition at states can present up to three The model village selection tourism products to prop up each village and commune, villages. The results will be an- process can be incorporated local economies and provide the respective localities al- nounced in October on the into the existing mechanism additional job opportunities ways organise, even though occasion of the 24th Session of of the Clean City Competi- to the people,” Sopheak said. Cambodia has yet to reopen the UNWTO General Assem- Zomato, one of India’s hottest tech start-ups, dominates the country’s tion, which is handled by the Pacific Asia Travel Associa- to foreign tourists,” she said. bly in Marrakesh, Morocco. booming app-based food-delivery space alongside rival Swiggy. AFP Iron Capital raises $5.7M in Series A financing round

May Kunmakara gunning for a July-September release system through our ISO-certified car for version 1.0 of its mobile app. service centres, spare part supply PHNOM Penh-based investment Iron Capital co-founder Richard chain, financial services and tie it all holding firm Iron Capital Plc has Seang noted that the majority of the together via technology.” raised $5.7 million in a Series A financ- Kingdom’s automotive market is con- He said that through the ecosys- ing round from an undisclosed private trolled by “small and inefficient” tem, Iron Capital seeks to offer cus- strategic investor, to develop the first mom-and-pop operations, and that tomers 15-20 per cent cost savings digitalised automotive ecosystem in larger dealerships are priced out of over existing dealerships. the Kingdom, according to a Deal reach for the average Cambodian The company was founded in 2019 Street Asia (DSA) report on July 12. shopper, as reported by DSA. by car veterans Seang and Alice Sok, The company said in a statement The Post was unable to reach Iron along with entrepreneur Tommy Sim, that it would use the proceeds from the Capital CEO Lee Wei Ken for com- who co-founded local venture capital round to ramp up development of a ment on July 18, but DSA quoted him firm Sim Brothers Plc. mobile application and a custom as saying: “Automotive consumers in Iron Capital’s investment portfolio garage technology system to provide Cambodia have long had to contend includes A Klasse Auto Co Ltd, the customers with smoother access to its with low-quality spare parts and Kingdom’s first dual-ISO certified products and services, the Singapore- fraudulent repair services provided private garage franchise and based financial news outlet reported. by irresponsible market players. Advanced Auto Digital Media Co Ltd, An investor in garage franchises and “Our goal is to level the playing field which puts out automotive content, (From left to right) Tommy Sim, Alice Sok and Richard Seang. SUPPLIED digital media firms, Iron Capital is for consumers and create a new eco- according to DSA. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Smutty talk ‘Never seen anything like it’: 170 dead lands Japan envoy to SK in Europe deluges, damages in billions in hot water ESCUE workers scrambled on July 17 SOUTH Korea summoned the to find survivors and Japanese ambassador on July victims of the devas- 17 over “undiplomatic” remarks tationR wreaked by the worst about President Moon Jae-in floods to hit western Europe and the possibility of a summit in living memory, which have during the upcoming Tokyo left at least 170 people dead Olympics, according to Seoul’s and dozens more missing. foreign ministry. Western Germany has suf- A senior Japanese diplomat fered the most brutal impact had reportedly ridiculed of the deluge that also pum- Moon’s desire to meet with melled Belgium, Luxembourg Japanese Prime Minister Yoshi- and the Netherlands, leaving hide Suga, describing the South streets and homes submerged Korean leader as “masturbating in muddy water and isolating with himself”. entire communities. The diplomat, who was not With the death toll in Ger- identified, added in the same many at 143 into the fourth interview with South Korean day of the disaster, authorities cable network JTBC that Moon said more bodies were likely was in a “tug of war only with to be found in flooded cellars himself” since Japan has “no and collapsed homes. Around space to pay attention to Seoul- 22,000 rescuers have been Tokyo relations” at the mobilised. moment. In Germany’s worst-hit states The comments come as the of North Rhine-Westphalia two countries have reportedly (NRW) and Rhineland-Palati- been in talks over staging a top- nate, residents were gradually level encounter during the returning to their homes and Games to improve ties that scenes of desolation. have plunged to their worst Chancellor Angela Merkel level in years over historical was set to visit the hard-hit disputes. town of Schuld in Rhineland- In Belgium, the death toll jumped to 20 with more than 21,000 people left without electricity in one region. AFP Following JTBC’s report, the Palatinate on July 18. Japanese ambassador said it President Frank-Walter diers were wading waist-deep In neighbouring Belgium, the in the city of Maastricht. have to be demolished, and was his deputy Hirohisa Soma Steinmeier surveyed the dam- in muddy water as they at- death toll jumped to 27 with A burst dam in Germany’s efforts under way to restore who had spoken the “highly age in Erftstadt in NRW on July tempted to clear the streets many people still missing. Heinsberg district 65km south- gas, electricity and telephone inappropriate” words, though 17, where a landslide was trig- and search for victims among European Commission west of Duesseldorf overnight services. he did not confirm exactly what gered by the floods. “We are the rubble from buildings, President Ursula von der prompted the emergency The disruption to com- was said. mourning with all those who collapsed bridges and half- Leyen and Prime Minister evacuation of more than 700 munication networks has “While it is true that such lost friends, acquaintances or submerged cars. Alexander de Croo visited residents. complicated efforts to as- terms were used during the family members,” he said. At least 98 of Germany’s the flood-damaged areas of In some affected areas, fire- sess the number still miss- conversation it was not direct- But the visit ended on a victims lived in the Ahrweiler Rochefort and Pepinster to- fighters, local officials and ing, and most roads in the ed at President Moon,” Ambas- controversial note, with NRW district of Rhineland-Palati- gether on July 17. soldiers, some driving ar- submerged Ahr Valley are sador Koichi Aiboshi said in a premier and chancellor can- nate, police said in an updat- “Europe is with you,” von moured vehicles, have begun out of service. statement. “I have sternly didate Armin Laschet caught ed toll, including 12 residents der Leyen tweeted afterwards. the colossal work of clearing Roger Lewentz, interior warned Deputy Chief Soma,” on camera laughing in the of a home for the disabled “We are with you in mourning the piles of debris clogging the minister for Rhineland-Palat- he added. background with a group of who drowned in the rising and we will be with you in re- streets. inate, told local media up to South Korean vice-foreign people during Steinmeier’s waters. building.” “The task is immense,” 60 people were believed to be minister Choi Jong-kun called statement. “I’ve lived here my whole Belgium has declared July 20 said Tim Kurzbach, mayor of missing. More than 670 were for punitive measures. “Laschet laughs while the life, I was born here, and I’ve a day of official mourning. Solingen, a city in the south of injured. Such remarks “seriously den- country cries,” wrote the top- never seen anything like it,” Luxembourg and the Neth- the Ruhr area. The government has said it igrate” efforts to restore ties selling Bild daily. said Gregor Degen, who runs erlands were also hammered The real scale of the disaster is working to set up a special and “appropriate action should Laschet later apologised on a bakery in the devastated by heavy rains, inundat- is only now becoming clear, aid fund, with the cost of dam- be taken”, he told Aiboshi dur- Twitter. spa town of Bad Neuenahr- ing many areas and forcing with damaged buildings being age expected to reach several ing their meeting, according to Elsewhere in the town, sol- Ahrweiler. thousands to be evacuated assessed, some of which will billion euros. AFP the foreign ministry. AFP Indian media challenges gov’t over tougher IT rules

A BATTLE is unfolding in the Indian agency, said the rules “usher in a new media into self-censorship, apart from provisions to identify where the infor- court to challenge the new rules. courts between the government and era of surveillance and fear” and “self- vesting government with overreaching mation originated. “I am not saying there is no place for media houses over new information censorship . . . which results in abridg- powers over news content,” said the Critics said the rules are also a way self-regulation. Definitely, it is a way technology (IT) rules that many in the ment/violation of Fundamental Times of India in an editorial on July of putting pressure on smaller digital forward but in that process, the gov- Indian media have called intrusive and Rights”, according to legal website 11. players in India like The Wire that have ernment should take itself out.” violating the Constitution’s right to Livelaw. Like other countries, India has been not shied away from criticism of the So far only Livelaw has got legal relief freedom of speech and expression. The news agency is among a host of seeking to regulate social media con- government on issues like the Citizen- with the Kerala High Court barring the The Information Technology (Inter- media outfits, including online news tent amid concerns over national secu- ship Amendment Act, which offered government from taking action for mediary Guidelines and Digital Media portals, that have separately chal- rity and the dissemination of child citizenship on the basis of one’s reli- non-compliance of the rules. Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which were lenged the guidelines in different high pornography. gion. The government has put up a stout released by the government in Febru- courts in the country. Under the new rules, social media Digital news media, which have their defence of the new regulation, beseech- ary, introduces a three-tier system for They have also challenged the rules and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms own private funding, are fearful that ing the Supreme Court to roll all the redress of a grievance for any news on the grounds that the Information will also have to appoint a grievance this will open them up to harassment legal challenges into one case. organisation with a digital presence. Technology Act, 2000, seen as the par- officer with powers to remove content from online right-wing troll armies. Minister of IT and Communications What has worried media organisa- ent act, did not deal with news media, when asked to do so by law enforce- “There is no definition of what a Ashwini Vaishnaw, who recently took tions, both big and small, is that the arguing that this meant that the newer ment and judicial bodies. grievance is. ‘I don’t like your story,’ is over the portfolio in a major cabinet third level of the system is an oversight law should also not do so. They said Initially accused of non-compliance that a grievance? What is the bound- reshuffle, said the new information mechanism involving the federal gov- news websites should not be clubbed of the new rules, Twitter has named its ary of a grievance – that is the first technology rules were aimed at empow- ernment which gives authorities the together with streaming services and resident grievance officer. problem,” said Pratik Sinha of Alt ering and protecting users. The govern- power to take down content. social media sites. Whatsapp, though, has challenged News, co-founder of the fact-checking ment has also denied that they impinge In a plea to the Delhi High Court, the “As they stand, these rules seem like the new rules on privacy grounds as it site that has often caught the ire of the on the freedom of speech. THE STRAITS TIMES Press Trust of India, India’s largest news an attempt to intimidate the news is required to trace chats and make right-wing. Alt News has also gone to (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Anxiety grips Thailand over coronavirus jab roll-out amid tight supplies, efficacy doubts

UBLIC anxiety about to procure more vaccines and Covid-19 vaccination diversify the types offered. in Thailand peaked The Pfizer and Moderna vac- in recent weeks as de- cines received emergency ap- mandP outstripped the number proval in the last two months, of doses in stock, even as con- but are not offered in the cerns mount over the efficacy national vaccine drive at the of one of the primary vaccines moment. being offered in the mass in- The country is expected to oculation drive. receive 20 million doses from The kingdom initially set a Pfizer at the end of the year. monthly target to administer The US will also be donating 10 million doses when it start- 1.5 million Pfizer doses. ed its nationwide roll-out last Private hospitals in Thai- month, but insufficient stocks land, via a state procurement of locally produced AstraZen- programme, will get five mil- eca vaccines have hindered lion doses of the Moderna this goal and sent residents vaccine between this year turning to other avenues for and next. their jabs. One Thai national, who In the latest blow on July 15, wanted to go by only her nick- AstraZeneca asked to extend name Tilly, has a state vaccina- the delivery timeline for the tion appointment scheduled 61 million doses meant to be for later this month, but she supplied to Thailand by five has some reservations. months, from December to “If on that day I find out that May next year. they will be giving me Sinovac, “We must negotiate with I’m getting out of there,” said them because in this situation Tilly, a former air stewardess we need more vaccines,” said in her 30s. deputy health minister Sathit As “backup”, she has placed Pitutacha as the kingdom a 2,400-baht deposit with the battles the worst wave yet of AstraZeneca asked to extend the delivery timeline for the 61 million doses meant to be supplied to Thailand by five months. AFP private Thonburi Healthcare the coronavirus, with new in- Group for two doses of the fections hovering near 10,000 about the longer-term efficacy were infected with Covid-19. cost about 3,000 baht ($90) for thought it was better to get Moderna vaccine in October. daily. of the Sinovac vaccine. The dent in public percep- the two-shot regime. vaccinated as soon as possi- “I want a vaccination that Since February, Thailand In an effort to shore up tion of the effectiveness of Tarruthai Thamvongsin, 38, ble,” said Tarruthai, who owns lasts and can counter the Delta has administered around 13 the immunity of healthcare Sinovac, and concerns over is among the handful of Thai a food and beverage business. variant,” said Tilly, who is not million doses of mostly Astra- workers against the fast- vaccine supplies have driven citizens who went overseas to She said the process in the alone in seeking one through Zeneca and Sinovac vaccines, spreading Delta variant, some Thais to explore other get vaccinated. She flew to the US was simple. She made alternative means. and only about five per cent of Thailand also plans to give ways of getting vaccination. US in April with her husband an appointment online and Earlier this month, 1,800 its over 66 million population booster shots of Pfizer or As- For those who can afford to and managed to get Pfizer turned up at a pharmacy for slots for the Moderna vaccine have been fully vaccinated. traZeneca to those who are travel, getting inoculated in doses in the state of Califor- the free vaccination. were snapped up in minutes Earlier this month, the Thai already fully inoculated with other countries like the US is nia. She spent about $10,000 on when Phyathai Hospital put government said it would mix Sinovac. The authorities say an option. Locally there has “We weren’t sure when the flight, accommodation them up for sale on e-com- doses of Sinovac and Astra- 618 of the 677,348 medical been a mad rush to secure we would get the vaccine in and daily expenses. merce platform Shopee. THE Zeneca, while a new prelimi- personnel who received the mRNA-based Moderna shots Thailand, and waiting made In recent months, the Thai STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS nary Thai study raised doubts Chinese-developed vaccine in private hospitals, which us even more paranoid. We authorities have been trying NETWORK Indonesia axes self-paid Covid-19 shots after outcry

INDONESIAN Cabinet secretary Pra- Pramono said in a statement upload- get access, and any payment could vaccine supplies from the government mission X overseeing health care. mono Anung confirmed on July 16 ed to the Presidential Secretariat’s pose an ethical and access issue – and to inoculate workers and their family The country initially aimed to inoc- that the government had scrapped YouTube account on July 16. particularly during a pandemic, members. Both programmes are free ulate 181 million people by March plans to allow self-funded inoculation The controversial programme was when we need the coverage and the of charge for the participants. next year. This target was recently under the Gotong Royong scheme, an initially set to start on July 12 but was vaccines to reach all of the most vul- The recently cancelled expansion to increased to around 208 million after expansion of the programme that had later delayed by Kimia Farma before nerable,” said Ann Lindstrand, WHO the Gotong Royong scheme, however, health authorities expanded the inoc- elicited strong criticism from the pub- its ultimate cancellation. unit head for essential immunisation allowed individuals to pay for vac- ulation drive to include people lic and civil society groups. The government’s U-turn came after programmes, at a streamed news cines themselves, following a sluggish between the ages of 12 and 17. “After taking public feedback and the World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on July 12. vaccination rollout by businesses. As of July 17, more than 57 million responses into consideration, [Presi- cautioned that individually paid vac- Indonesia’s vaccination programme Only 300,000 shots have been Covid-19 vaccine doses had been dent Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo] has firmly cination schemes could pose ethical is divided into two schemes – the administered since the Gotong Roy- administered through the programme, instructed that the [individually] paid issues and hamper efforts to guaran- national vaccination campaign, con- ong scheme started in March, far data from the health ministry show. vaccination plan, which was previ- tee equal access to vaccines. ducted by the government, and the below its initial target of 1.5 million However, only around 16 million people ously set to be distributed through “Of course, to have the most pos- business-funded Gotong Royong doses, health minister Budi Gunadi – or six per cent of the population – have [state-owned pharmaceutical com- sible impact, it’s important that eve- scheme, which allows private and Sadikin said during a July 13 meeting received a second and final dose. THE pany] PT Kimia Farma, be cancelled,” ry citizen has the equal possibility to state-owned companies to purchase with House of Representatives Com- JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK VN says Cuba will prevail, calls on US to lift embargo

VIETNAM is paying close atten- has given to Vietnam in the past two peoples, and for making the impacts of the Covid-19 Havana and other locations citizens” in the wake of the tion to the situation in Cuba in some of the most difficult contributions to peace, stabil- pandemic and the consequenc- over the weekend which were protests. He maintained that and remains confident that times,” the Vietnamese diplo- ity and development in the es of the financial and trade alleged to have been the result the protests were “instigated Cuba will overcome the socio- mat stressed. She added that region and the world,” she blockades and the embargo. of shortages of food and medi- from abroad”, but conceded economic challenges caused Vietnam will always “be there continued. Cuba will successfully imple- cines, power shortages as well that “state institutions and by Covid-19, foreign ministry and support Cuban people to The embargo, which was ment policies to update its as rising inflation in the Carib- leaders need to reach out spokesperson Le Thị Thu Hang the best of its ability”. implemented 60 years ago, has socio-economic model, and bean country. more to the more vulnerable said on July 16. The foreign spokesperson been getting even more strin- continue to promote the coun- Cuban foreign minister Bru- neighbourhoods and above She noted that on July 11, a also called on the US to end its gent in recent times, aggravat- try’s great achievements in the no Rodriguez has said the US all help each other to address number of disorderly protests “hostile policy and unilateral ing the socio-economic chal- fields of education, health care, is to blame for the recent pro- social problems we have in broke out in Cuba, but the economic and financial embar- lenges facing the Cuban and science and technology, tests, suggesting the US is the communities”. “situation has returned to go against Cuba”. people. she added. attempting to “suffocate” its Cuba is suffering from a stability”. “The US needs to take con- Vietnam believes, Hang said International media has economy. major wave of infections, hos- “Vietnam always keeps in its crete steps in the direction of in the statement, that Cuba will reported demonstrations, pep- Cuban President Miguel pitalisations and deaths, amid heart the spirit of solidarity and normalising relations with overcome its current socio- pered with vandalism and vio- Diaz-Canel called for “peace, crippling US sanctions. VIET NAM the valuable support that Cuba Cuba, for the benefits of the economic problems including lence, in Cuba’s capital city harmony and respect among NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Tokyo Olympics in troubled times www.phnompenhpost.com EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Opinion Ly Tayseng Managing Editor Robert J Fouser Sam Rith Deputy Managing Editor phuon Chansereivuth HE 2020 Summer Games Chief of Staff open in Tokyo on July 23, a phak Seangly year later than scheduled. Business Editor The Covid-19 pandemic May Kunmakara forcedT a year delay in holding the Deputy Business Editor games, though many in Japan and Sangeetha Amarthalingam elsewhere have argued that they Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk should be canceled. A recent rise in pan Simala Covid-19 cases in Japan prompted Senior Reporters the government to bring back emer- Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng, Mom Kunthear gency measures that will prevent Reporters spectators from attending events. Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Athletes will compete in quiet, empty venues. Long Kimmarita, Hin pisei, Hong Raksmey, pann Rethea, Voun Dara, Roth Sochieata, For Tokyo, this marks the second Orm Bunthoeurn, Ry Sochan, time the city has hosted the Summer Olympics. In 1964, the Japanese Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha economy had recovered from the Photographers devastation of World War II and the Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey country was on a path to becoming Web Editor an economic superpower. The Olym- Leang phannara pics were a chance to highlight Digital Team Japan’s recovery and rising world sta- Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy tus. Domestically, it was a chance to Desktop Publishing highlight the growth of the middle Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath, class after adopting the Income Dou- Than Veasna bling Plan in 1960 and infrastructure SIEM REAP BUREAU improvements, such as the first Offi ce Manager shinkansen “bullet train”. For years, Sophearith Blondeel generations of Japanese would PRODUCTION & PRINTING remember the 1964 Olympics as ush- Nhim Sokphyrak ering in a period of growing middle- Commercial and Graphic Designer class prosperity and convenience. Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith Internationally, the 1964 Olympics People take a picture of the countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displaying 5 days and 9 hours to go to the opening were held at the height of the Cold ceremony, outside Tokyo station in Tokyo on Sunday. afp War between the US and Soviet Union and the rise of the nonaligned pandemic and the existential threat ernment has ignored their pleas. mostly on the political left, have HEAD OFFICE movement composed mostly of of climate change. Enthusiasm outside of Japan is also argued that they should be discontin- Post Media Co., Ltd. recently independent states in Asia Like the 1964 Olympics, the 2020 low as the pandemic continues to ued. For all the criticism, the Olym- The Elements Condominium Level 7, and Africa. Amid these tensions, the Tokyo Olympics reflect Japan and rage. The pandemic has forced people pics remain the premiere interna- Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, Olympic Games were a venue for the world in 2021. The Japan of 2021 to focus on immediate needs, making tional event that brings the world Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom nation states to project influence and is not the goal-oriented country of the Olympics in Tokyo seem very dis- together in one place. They reflect the Penh, Cambodia gain recognition. 1964. From the outset, most Japa- tant. At a deeper level, the pandemic idealistic desire for cooperation and Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Japan has changed in the 47 years nese people were not enthusiastic hit as many nations had begun to turn world peace. Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 since the 1964 Olympics. Except for about the Olympics. This lack of inward. Brexit and Trump are the It is no coincidence, then, that the Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 brief downturns during oil crises in enthusiasm explains the public’s most obvious examples of the popu- 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney are SIEM REAP the 1970s, the Japanese economy reticence about holding the Olym- list inward turn, but it has also affect- widely considered the most successful No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune continued to roar until 1991 when games in history. That year was the Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 the economic bubble burst. In the peak of post-Cold War cooperation COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT 1980s, countries around the world For all the criticism, the and optimism about globalisation. Chief Operating Offi cer were looking at Japan as an eco- After the terrorist attacks in the US on James Ong Soon Teck nomic and social model to emulate. Olympics remain the premiere September 11, 2001, nation states Advertising Department As the economic slump of the 1990s began to assert themselves, creating Chap Narith, 017 996 241 dragged on and other countries, international event that brings space for a slow but steady creep of Hun Channet, 017 578 768 such as South Korea, began to unilateral actions and controls. prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 attract attention, interest in Japan the world together in one place The 2020 Tokyo Olympics are a vic- Keo puthy, 012 966 605 waned. Japan today has less influ- tim of troubled times as much as they paing patrya, 081 872 202 ence on the world stage compared pics amid the pandemic. In late ed other countries differently. China’s are weak leadership in a diminished Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 to the heady 1980s. June, a poll by the Asahi Shimbun attempts to use technology to control Japan. One can only hope that the CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION The world has seen even greater newspaper showed that only 33 per its population is another such mani- populist my-country-first fever of Acting Distribution Manager changes. The Cold War ended almost cent want to hold the Tokyo Games festation. Post-Cold War support for today gives way to a new appreciation Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 30 years ago. New economic and cul- as scheduled this year, while 32 per cooperation and globalisation is fac- for cooperation and, yes, globalisation Circulation Supervisor tural powers have emerged, the most cent want them canceled and 30 per ing strong headwinds from the popu- in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 obvious of which are China and cent support another delay. Medical list backlash. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK ADMINISTRATION India. Most nations of Europe now organisations, business leaders, and Tokyo joins a lengthy list of Olym- Admin & HR Manager use a common currency. An intercon- opinion leaders have called for the pic Games held amid controversy The writer is former associate professor at pich Socheat Seoul National University. nected world is now facing a terrible Games to be canceled, but the gov- and criticism. Some commentators, Assistants Admin & HR Manager Nhel Soaphea Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT & Networking 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 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Japanese medical NGO Japan Heart pushes for more blood donations

Hong Raksmey Recently the Facebook group has 62 members and 12 of them have LOOD is the very essence already donated blood to help save of life and it saves count- children with cancer at the Japan less people’s lives during Heart Centre. surgeries. Covid-19 has had Sem Chhovy, 41, who has donated aB heavy effect on the global popu- her blood more than 20 times to the lation’s health and wellbeing and NBTC, learnt that JHCMC needed donated blood has become an even blood for young patients’ blood more consequential necessity in the transfusions during surgeries. pandemic era. “Normally, my six family members Japanese medical NGO Japan donate 10,000 riel each per month A mother shares her excitement when her son receives a blood donation for life-saving surgery. SUPPLIED Heart Children’s Medical Centre and I donate blood to NBTC to help (JHCMC) is facing acute blood people in need in general. But this emphasis on helping children. shortages as the demand for blood time I made it directly to the centre to The main mission of the hospital increases in Cambodia. help children fighting against cancer. is providing treatment for children’s JHCMC’s main mission is to save “I know they are very young and even cancer. children’s lives by detecting cancer though adult people are very hard to Located in Oudong, Kandal Prov- symptoms early and and providing struggle with cancer,”said Chhovy. ince at Ponhea Leu Referral Hospi- the best possible treatments. Chhovy said the JHCMC help fa- tal, Japan Heart Children’s Medical Though donors in Cambodia and cilitate the process and make ap- Centre is a non-profit medical or- Japan share their generous finan- pointments for people who want to ganisation which provides high- cial support with JHCMC – which donate blood at NBTC. It’s very con- quality care to children, adults, makes such international surgeries venient for new donors. mothers and babies for free. possible – the lack of blood in their “I encourage people to donate blood Yoshioka, 56, told The Post that bank could prevent many children to help people in need. Of course, “I wanted to build a hospital that from receiving critical surgeries. people can donate money but blood could provide medical services for Cancer patients often require multi- is both priceless and at the same time all Cambodian people and poor ple blood transfusions, and many fami- totally without cost to them. people from other countries.” lies struggle to find people to fulfill this “I also encourage my oldest son, People donate blood at the JHCMC earlier this year. SUPPLIED JHCMC sent two babies who were extensive and ongoing need for blood. 19 years old, to donate blood as reg- hospitalised with hepatoblastoma Remi Horikawa, JHCMC’s public ularly as possible,” said Chhovy. tine in a Phnom Penh hotel. istration will be contacted by our since the summer of 2020 to Japan for relations officer, told The Post that Wearing a yellow shirt with a light blue The other medical staff are ready for administrator through Facebook treatment earlier this. Their surgeries “it is vitally important. Our pediatric face mask and smiling beside her son, a their next missions to save lives later Messenger,” said Horikawa. were conducted successfully in March cancer patients rely on blood trans- mother was quoted on the JHCMC’s Fa- this month. They say that they encour- “Regarding blood donation requests, and the babies are receiving further fusions throughout their treatment.” cebook post as saying that “ I sincerely age Cambodians who might be hesi- we will contact them about 1 or 2 days treatment at the Japan Heart centre. Sourcing the necessary blood for thank all of you blood donors.” tant to donate blood. They say that it before our hospital needs a blood trans- Normally JHCMC performs sur- surgeries is always a challenge, but In the month of July, Dr Hideto Yosh- is perfectly safe and in fact can confer fusion, and on the day, we will meet di- geries in its centre and since the the increased demand for blood and ioka, pediatric surgeon and founder health benefits as well as save the lives rectly with our staff at the blood dona- pandemic it is quit hard to send the the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 of JHCMC, is currently preparing for of precious Cambodian children. tion centre in Phnom Penh,” he says. specialists from Japan to Cambodia. pandemic have made it even more an intensive two weeks of surgeries Since Cambodia is affected by the Japan Heart is an international The two babies were the fourth cas- difficult for hospitals to source blood. for young patients who have been pa- new wave of coronavirus that the medical volunteer organisation that es the centre sent it young patients to Visits to the hospital are currently tiently waiting for their chances. Kingdom sees more than 63,000 was established in 2004 in Japan. Japan for surgery operations since restricted for those who aren’t staff, pa- “We’re basically running this cam- cases nationwide and almost 1,000 They are the only Japanese organisa- they were the complicated cases. tients or their most immediate family, paign with no time limit. However, fatalities, blood donation is now tion to have received an award from According to JHCMC, their aim is which makes it even harder to organise we are planning many surgeries for only held at the NBTC. the United Nations Interagency Task to provide medical services to other- blood drives, according to JHCMC. young patients by Dr Yoshioka and “They donate blood at NBTC, not Force on the prevention and control wise unreachable areas. The centre “Patients often rely on fam- time has become critical for many Japan Heart Centre. In the past, of non-communicable diseases. carries out free medical care and sur- ily members with matching blood of those about to undergo proce- we’ve held blood donation events Japan Heart started in Myanmar gery for children in Japan, Myanmar, types, and it is not uncommon to see dures,” said Horikawa. at JHCMC, but our COVID-19 infec- when Dr. Yoshioka learned that child Cambodia and Laos – a total of more Japan Heart Hospital staff donating According to JHCMC, there are tion protocols prevent us from hold- death rates in Myanmar, Laos and than 35,000 treatments annually. blood on the job,” said source. more than 30 young patients with ing such events,” said Horikawa. Cambodia were high and he noted “Since 2018 we have expanded our Japan Heart is supporting it part- cancer waiting for treatment at the For details about how to donate that the medical services available pediatric ward to include a facility for nership with the National Blood centre. Every day they are struggling blood, check out the Japan Heart in those countries were insufficient. the treatment of pediatric cancer and Transfusion Centre (NBTC) in Phnom to fight against the disease. Blood Donation Friends website Dr. Yoshioka understands the hard we especially welcome patients with Penh by launching a Facebook After arriving at the Kingdom to from the URL and answer three sim- situation facing Cambodians because solid types of cancers to be treated. group – Japan Heart Blood Donation perform these special surgeries, ple questions about blood donation he lived in a similar situation in Myan- “To enhance our ability to treat Friends – to source donors from sup- founder of JHCMC Dr. Yoshioka is to complete the registration. mar for years. Therefore, Yoshioka pediatric cancer and to train Cam- porters and the general public. now undergoing his 14-day quaran- “Those who have completed reg- decided to help, and he put an extra bodian doctors for the future, we regularly invite highly-skilled teams of pediatric surgeons and other spe- cialists from Japan. “In the future, we hope that our hospital can treat pediatric can- cer not only in Cambodia, but also in neighboring countries, such as Myanmar, Laos and others. “We are also setting up our envi- ronment to be a centre of human resource development, with the ultimate goal of local doctors inde- pendently running the Japan Heart Children’s Medical Centre by 2030,” said a staff member. For more details, visit the centre’s website – https://www.japanheart. HidetoYoshioka (furthest right) and Japanese surgeons check blood transfusion in the org/en/ – or visit their Facebook Doctors and medical staff at a blood donation campaign in earlier this year. SUPPLIED JHCMC’s operation hall. SUPPLIED page @japanheart.hospital. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Marriage without strings: Saudi confronts ‘misyar’ he Muslim no-strings- den by Islam outside wedlock. attached “misyar” “Misyar offers comfort, free- marriage often done dom and companionship that in secret is fast per- is halal [permitted in Islam],” vadingT Saudi society – a boon said a Saudi government em- for cash-strapped men unable ployee in his 40s, who has to afford expensive traditional been in such a relationship weddings, but deplored by crit- with a Saudi widow in her 30s ics for legitimising promiscuity. for more than two years. The practice, usually a tem- He said he had three children porary alliance in which the from a separate, conventional wife waives some conven- marriage, and visits his mi- tional marriage rights such syar wife in her Riyadh home as cohabitation and finan- “whenever” he wants. He did cial support, has been legally not say what she gained from permitted in the conservative the secret alliance. Muslim kingdom for decades. “My [Saudi] friend has had More than a dozen interviews 11 secret misyar wives. He di- with matchmakers and misyar vorces and marries another, couples – including grooms divorces and marries another juggling other conventional . . .,” he added, trailing off. marriages – offer a window into a phenomenon still shrouded ‘No dowry’ in secrecy and shame, despite Saudis, as well as the king- its proliferation. dom’s expat workers, can be The testimonies highlight seen hunting on dating apps how misyar is seen as a hybrid and matrimonial websites for between marriage and single- such partners. hood, benefiting polygamists “Misyar is cheaper. There without the stress of main- is no dowry, no obligation,” A woman walks along a promenade outside a shopping centre in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh. Misyar, a no-strings-attached marriage often done in taining a second household. a 40-year-old Egyptian phar- secret, is fast pervading Saudi society. AFP Despite its potential for macist in Riyadh said. abuse, it also appeals to some He began searching after an expat levy introduced by ers on Instagram who charge as the kingdom’s highest reli- children born into misyar re- women keen to shun patriar- sending his wife and five- Saudi Arabia in recent years. much as 5,000 riyals ($1,333). gious authority, legitimised it lationships. chal expectations of traditional year-old son back to Cairo at “Being away from my wife “I gave them my preference: with an Islamic edict. “A woman contacted me marriages, as well as unmarried the start of the coronavirus is hard,” he said, adding he weight, size, skin colour . . . But many question the va- and said: ‘I am a misyar wife couples seeking religious cover pandemic last year, mainly had been searching for misyar but no match so far.” lidity of a furtive practice at and my husband does not for sexual relationships, forbid- due to rising living costs and through “khatba” matchmak- Such marriages are often odds with the main tenets of recognise my child’,” the Ri- short-lived, with most end- Islamic marriage, which re- yadh cleric said. ing in divorce from anywhere quires a public declaration. “He says ‘the child is not my between 14 and 60 days, the problem’. I advised her to take kingdom’s Al-Watan newspa- ‘Take him to court’ him to court and fight for her per reported in 2018, citing A prominent Riyadh cleric rights.” justice ministry sources. attributed its proliferation to Still, women are encour- It is touted by some wom- men unwilling to shoulder aged socially to turn a blind en as a fleeting escape from the full responsibilities of po- eye to their husband’s misyar spinsterhood or a chance for lygamous marriage, which is adventures. a fresh beginning for divor- permitted in Islam as long as Fahad Almuais, a match- cees and widows, who other- all wives are treated equally. maker who says his clients are wise struggle to remarry. In a 2019 column in the mostly “polygamists”, spoke of A close associate of a divorced Saudi Gazette daily, columnist one Saudi government worker Syrian woman in Riyadh said Tariq Al-Maeena described mi- who kept his misyar relation- she was in a secret misyar re- syar as a “licence to have mul- ship hidden from his first wife. lationship because she feared tiple partners without much When he began routinely dis- her ex-husband, a Saudi, would responsibility or expense”. appearing every weekend, her legally seek custody of her two “Reports in the Saudi press female neighbour advised the children if he discovered that have spoken of growing con- suspicious wife to “stay quiet”. she had remarried. cerns over the number of “He married misyar so he It is impossible to estimate children fathered by Saudi wouldn’t make [your life] a the number of such marriag- males in their trips abroad, living hell,” Almuais told on- es, many of which are undoc- and abandoned for all practi- line news portal Thmanyah, umented. cal purposes,” he wrote. quoting the neighbour. Saudi clerics say the practice Some women are forced to “Be patient and let him go A woman holds an Apple iPhone device showing on its App Store an app for facilitating ‘Misyar’ marriage, has proliferated since 1996, pursue court cases against for the weekend, and the rest available in Saudi Arabia, in the capital Riyadh on October 29 last year. AFP when the then grand mufti, Saudi men refusing to accept of the days he’s yours.”AFP Golden Globes voters banned from accepting lavish gifts

The group behind Holly- gifts from studios, publicists, A-listers such as Scarlett wood’s glitzy Golden Globes actors, directors or others asso- Johansson and Mark Ruffalo has banned its members from ciated with motion pictures have slammed the organisers’ accepting lavish gifts, trips and and television programmes. reforms as too slow and inad- other freebies, after contro- “The HFPA remains dedi- equate, while Tom Cruise versy over its ethics and prac- cated to the transformational returned his three Golden tices led to next year’s ceremo- change it outlined in its May Globes to the HFPA in protest. ny being canceled. reform plan and timeline,” the Powerful studios including The Hollywood Foreign Press group said in a statement. Warner Bros, Netflix and Ama- Association is scrambling to “Yesterday, the organisation zon have said they will not reform itself – and the influen- put several more key pieces in work with the HFPA until more tial, but scandal-hit awards place to move forward with meaningful and significant show its members vote on – reform.” changes are made. amid widespread criticism of The Golden Globes are sec- In May, NBC canceled its the group’s record on diversity ond in importance only to the broadcast of next year’s pres- and transparency. Oscars in Hollywood’s film tigious awards. In particular, the exclusive award season, but their future Last month, two members group of 80-odd film journalists status has been called into resigned in protest at the “toxic” has been accused of exploiting question. atmosphere within the ranks. the prestige that comes with a A group of more than 100 Tin- “We will continue to update Globes nomination or win to seltown publicists wrote to the the industry on our progress as gain lucrative perks and unparal- HFPA in March demanding an we vote on new bylaws that will leled access to Hollywood stars. end to “discriminatory behav- create an inclusive, diverse and Under new policies approved iour, unprofessionalism, ethical accountable organisation – one on Thursday, “HFPA members impropriety and alleged finan- that our members, stakehold- shall not be permitted to accept cial corruption,” joining criti- ers and partners will be proud This handout photo courtesy of the HFPA shows the empty ballroom during the 78th Annual Golden Globe promotional materials or other cism from the Time’s Up group. of,” said the group. AFP Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on February 28. handout/HFPA/AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

A staff member walks through an interactive digital installation Life is Continuous Light during a media preview of teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live on Thursday. AFP Japanese forest lights up in digital art show cascading waterfall made entirely “So we don’t destroy the nature itself, we of light pours onto a rock while aza- don’t paint on original trees or rocks . . . in the lea trees are illuminated in a glowing daytime it’s going to disappear.” ripple at a digital art show in a Japa- The exhibition, which opened on Friday Anese forest. and runs until November 7, is in a park whose Light installations featuring blooming flow- boundaries blend into an ancient forest in the ers, giant koi carp and traditional calligraphy Saga region near Nagasaki. come to life after dark, creating an otherworld- Sensors hidden in a thicket of azaleas detect “SEMI-TOUGH” ly ambiance at the exhibition that fuses nature when people walk past – sending a fleeting, fire- and tech. fly-like glow through the trees around them. ACROSS 48 Pt. of MIT 13 Certain photo type The show in the mountains of Kyushu in On the surface of a pond, abstract lines of 1 Parrot with bright colours 49 Moore of films 18 “Bewitched” actor Dick southern Japan is the latest offering from art violet, yellow and green light combine as if re- 6 Monastery’s main man 50 About 22 Teen’s hangout spot collective teamLab. flecting a canopy of neon trees above. 11 Violin part 51 Improves, as cheese 23 Elevator pioneer The group are internationally renowned for And in an abandoned bath house, huge 14 Drop in one’s two cents 52 Postal worker 24 With a bow, to the orchestra 54 Touchdown guesses their mesmerising displays combining projec- “megaliths” jut out of the ground, brightly il- 15 Beast of burden 25 They’re not think tank material 56 Room lender tions, sound and carefully designed spaces. luminated to contrast with the darkness inside 16 What some winners take 27 Instinctive, as a reaction 57 Useless 31 “Nice!” “Sometimes, people think digital art and and out. 17 With very little strength 19 Thai’s neighbour 62 Curtain support 33 Party thrower nature are completely against each other,” Kudo says he hopes the exhibition, titled 20 Russian mountain range 63 Linenlike fabric 34 Estate court Takashi Kudo, a member of teamLab, said at a teamLab: A Forest Where Gods Live, will help 21 Destinies 64 Team racing event 37 Compelled to eat media preview. people appreciate the beauty of the natural 23 Big clumsy goofs 65 Widths of some spaces 39 “If all __ fails ...” “But at the same time, we think digital and environment. 26 Thesaurus man 66 King-size antelope 40 Comes down with nature are quite easy to merge, because our “The leaves – it seems that they are only 28 Pub pours 67 Uneven, like a leaf edge 42 Seed covering ‘paint’ is light. green, but for us, it’s a screen.” AFP 29 Fort location, sometimes DOWN 43 Major conflict 30 Wildebeasts 1 Do a suburbanite’s chore 44 Former Turkish coin 31 Denzel Washington Oscar film 2 Hairy creature 45 Hold in esteem 32 Arctic ocean covering 3 Secretive government agency 46 Get emotional support from 34 Equestrian sport 4 Elephant goads 47 Picture theater 35 Boo-hoo 5 Gradual deterioration 50 Barge route 36 Come-___ (inducements) 6 California seafood treats 53 Boggy area Show goes on for French 37 To’s counterpart 7 “Mac” alternative 55 Piece of farmland 38 College party staple 8 Car stoppers 58 Shark “trademark” 41 Worst finish 9 Circle, as planets 59 U.N. workers’ agcy. 43 Stack of logs 10 Dolls, balls, etc. 60 “___ in victory” cinema deemed oldest 45 Not foggy-headed 11 Appearing sickly, in a way 61 Pupil’s location 47 Low-___ diet 12 Click beetle A cinema on France’s Medi- Auguste and Louis Lumiere, the firmed earlier this month. terranean coast has won its bid engineer brothers considered The cinema’s former owner to be recognised as the oldest the inventors of the motion Raoul Gallaud was a friend of Friday’s solution still in operation by Guinness picture. the Lumieres’ father, and World Records, 122 years after “It’s the reward for more than became a fan after being invit- its first public screening. two years of research,” Michel ed to their summer home in the The bright-yellow Eden The- Cornille, president of the asso- region for a private screening atre in La Ciotat, a resort town ciation that runs the Eden, said in 1885. outside Marseille, showed in a statement after the Guin- Gallaud offered to host a pro- some of the first films made by ness certification was con- jection a few days later but the attempt was bedeviled by tech- nical problems, and the Lum- ieres ended up doing their first public screening later that year in Paris. But four years later, on March 21, 1899, the Eden began show- ing the Lumieres’ films includ- Friday’s solution ing Boat launch at La Ciotat and The Cowboys of America. That was the date used by Guinness to deem Eden “the oldest purpose-built cinema in operation”. “It’s very emotional because all my life I’ve watched my fam- ily fight so the Eden will con- tinue to live,” said Marie-Laure Smilovich, the cinema’s man- The ‘Eden-Theatre’ cinema has been appointed by the Guiness Book aging director and a great- of records as ’The oldest purpose-built cinema in operation’, with his grandchild of of the Lumiere first film show in 1899. AFP brothers. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Champion-elect Pogacar Max Verstappen wins first leads Tour de France into sprint race to claim British Paris to win yellow jersey Defending Tour de France cham- rivals in the first time-trial as the race pion and runaway leader Tadej headed towards the Swiss and Ital- Pogacar will ride into Paris later Sun- ian border ski resorts where he also Grand Prix best position day where he will, barring a disaster, held his own. pull on the overall leader’s yellow The UAE Team Emirates leader orld cham- jersey beneath the Arc de Triomphe then produced a pair of joyful moun- pionship as the sun sets on a dominant win. tain victories in the Pyrenees to rub- leader Max Pogacar stole in at the 11th hour ber stamp his status as the best Verstappen to win the 2020 Tour de France, but rider on the Tour this year. Wwon Formula One’s inau- this year he stamped his authority He will also win the awards for best gural sprint race on Satur- in the first week and rode the 21 days rider under-25 and the king of the day to take pole position of the world’s greatest bike race head mountains polka-dot jersey, a triple for the British Grand Prix and shoulders above his rivals. he also achieved on his debut last but admitted it had been a What would normally be just a year. “strange” experience. ceremonial run into the French The Red Bull driver fin- capital also has a sense of the end Vintage ride ished the 100km dash of the old era too as 36-year-old The Monaco resident, who earns around Silverstone ahead of Mark Cavendish attempts to win €five million ($5.9 million) per year, defending world champion one last time and beat the tally of said he had had fun, but was delight- Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri 34 stage wins he shares with Eddy ed to have survived a bad day Satur- Bottas in the second Mer- Merckx. day in the sizzling heat of the time- cedes in third place. The two men will share the spot- trial run to Saint-Emilion. Verstappen now has a 33- light, with the bullish Cavendish “It was very hot and I was suffering point lead over seven-time likely to feature strongly on the eight a bit. But I’m super happy. It still was champion Hamilton who is laps of the Champs-Elysees sprint a super performance,” said hoping to capture an eighth where he can clinch a spectacular Pogacar. British Grand Prix triumph fifth win on a Tour for which he was “What a demanding three weeks on Sunday. only called at the last second. it has been,” he said ahead of his trip “We were pushing each The 22-year-old Pogacar’s work is to Tokyo on Monday for the Olympic other hard as the tyres were done, and Merckx tipped the Slov- Games. blistering a lot,” said Ver- enian to take a tilt at his “real record” Jumbo’s Jonas Vingegaard goes stappen who collected three Team Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen drives during the sprint session of the Formula One of five Tour de France wins. into the final day run in second, points for his win after see- British Grand Prix at Silverstone motor racing circuit on Saturday. AFP “He looks like the new ‘Cannibal’,” while Ineos’ Richard Carapaz is in ing off his rival by 1.4secs. Merckx said Friday in reference to third. Hamilton took two and have more races,” said Ham- issues. stappen’s performance, Red the Belgian legend’s famous nick- “I’d have told anyone they were Bottas one. ilton who believes the week- The rest of the top 10 was Bull teammate Sergio Perez name. nuts,” Vingegaard said when asked “When I crossed the line end racing schedule needs a made up of Charles Leclerc had an afternoon to forget. Pogacar “rode between the rain- what he would have replied if told after this race and I was told: rethink. in a Ferrari in fourth, Britain’s The Mexican, who missed drops” after surviving a litany of three weeks ago he’d be second on ‘Good job, you have pole po- He wants to see action Lando Norris, in a McLaren, the 2020 British Grand Prix crashes as the Tour embarked from the Tour de France. sition’. It was a bit strange,” only on Saturdays and Sun- in fifth, and teammate Dan- after contracting Covid-19, the nation’s western tip at the Atlan- “Tadej was so strong in the rainy added the Dutch star as he days. iel Ricciardo just behind. had started in fifth place but tic port of Brest. stages, he won it there in the rain,” reflected on the new -Satur “Removing one day – 23 Two-time champion Fer- then spun off the track at the The Slovenian then pulverised his he said. AFP day format. days over the season of driv- nando Alonso, behind the midway stage. “What was great is that ing less which, obviously, wheel of an Alpine, shrugged He will have to start Sun- you start with less fuel, so would be better in ecologi- off his 39 years to climb to day’s race from the back of the cars are faster and a little cal terms,” he said. seventh on the grid. the grid. more lively” to complete the On Saturday’s sprint in He had moved from 11th “I became a passenger 17 laps rather than the 52 particular, he added: “It was to fifth at one stage. very early on. That meant they will have to cover for pretty much the same as the “I liked the sprint format. that I lost the car and did a the “real” race. last races – you had to follow It’s good to have some ac- lot of damage to my race,” Hamilton started the 17- Max.” tion all three days, for the he said. lap sprint at the front of the Bottas shared Hamilton’s fans,” said Alonso. “I’m very sorry for the grid having topped qualify- lack of optimism for Sun- Behind him are four-time team. Been a very low day ing on Friday but was im- day. world champion Sebastian from my side, but tomorrow mediately passed by Ver- “We tried to do something Vettel in the Aston Martin, is a new day and I look for- stappen. different and the target was Williams’ George Russell ward to it.” He admitted he will face to try and get Verstappen in and Esteban Ocon in the Saturday’s sprint qualify- a battle to secure a 99th ca- the first lap. It didn’t hap- second Alpine. ing race was the first of three reer win in front of around pen,” said the Finn. Russell, however, was later planned for this year. 90,000 fans. “Today shows that tomor- demoted three places on the Another will follow at the row is not going to be easy. grid for an opening lap clash Italian Grand Prix in Sep- ‘Ecological terms’ If it’s going to be a bit warm- with Sainz. tember with the third venue Team UAE Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia wearing the overall leader’s yel- “It’s nice for the fans to er, then we might see more In stark contrast to Ver- still to be confirmed. AFP low jersey reacts after crossing the finish line on Saturday.AFP Furious Australian reaction to Koroibete red card Australia’s rugby community “It was terribly milked wasn’t rugby, that’s not something you “World Rugby have allowed has reacted furiously to the red it?” Rennie said. do,” he said. refereeing to reach this point card shown to Wallabies winger “He obviously feels he’s got “To me, it looked like blatant- due to a complete lack of ac- Marika Koroibete in the fifth some head contact, then he’s ly he’s been hit and because he’s countability and it’s hard to minute of Saturday’s 33-30 win grabbed his face, which is no- dropped the ball, he’s reacted to envisage what will have to hap- over France in Brisbane. where near the point of impact, that.” pen for something to change,” Koroibete was sent off after and it’s delayed by five seconds. Former All Black flyhalf An- tweeted Sydney Morning Her- he charged through following a “Every time there is anything drew Mehrtens said the deci- ald’s Sam Phillips. kick and smashed French No.8 like a headshot these guys sion was a “travesty”. The Daily Telegraph’s Jamie and captain Anthony Jelonch [looked like they] had been shot “I reckon Anthony Jelonch Pandaram said a yellow card with a big tackle. by a sniper. has tucked down into that,” would have been sufficient. Jelonch spilled the ball but “The issue for us is, do we get Mehrtens said while commen- “That’s a really tough call on fell to the ground clutching his to the stage where we’re telling tating on the game. Koroibete – I understand the face. our players to lie on the ground “I don’t think the target or the contact was high but yellow Replays seemed to show like the French did every time contact was ever higher than card would have been fair,” he the contact being shoulder to there’s any head contact? the shoulder. said. shoulder, but one indicated “I don’t think it’s in the spirit “That’s an absolute trav- But Jelonch, unsurprisingly, there may have been some con- of the game.” esty and we need to hear more insisted the red card was war- France’s Cameron Woki catches the ball in a line out during the third tact to Jelonch’s head. and final rugby union Test match on Saturday. AFP Injured Wallabies flyhalf about this.” ranted. After watching a number of James O’Connor agreed with Former Wallaby winger Lote “The red card was logical. I replays, referee Ben O’Keeffe with Jelonch’s head, and he was but the reaction, from Wallabies his coach in an halftime inter- Tuqiri called the decision em- don’t think there is any dispute,” agreed with the television shown the red card. coach Dave Rennie down, was view. barrassing, while a host of rugby he said. match official that Koroibete’s The Wallabies recovered to one of disbelief at the severity “It’s pretty frustrating – if media said red cards like those “[But] it maybe galvanised shoulder had made contact win 33-30 and win the series 2-1, of the punishment. you’re playing in the spirit of were destroying the game. them afterwards.” AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 19, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Olympic cluster scare as athletes test Covid positive in Games Village wo athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Vil- lageT after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a clus- ter just days before the open- ing ceremony. The first cases involving ath- letes in the Village come a day after a member of their entou- rage returned the first positive test in the complex, which will house thousands of athletes. The three infections were revealed as competitors fly in from around the world for the pandemic-delayed Olympics, which are facing significant opposition in Japan due to their Covid-19 risks. Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said the three cases “were from the same country and sport”. They are “isolated in their rooms and Tokyo 2020 is delivering meals to them”, he said, adding that the rest of the team have also been tested. The team was not identified. The Olympic Village, a com- plex of apartments and dining areas in Tokyo, will house 6,700 athletes and officials at its peak when the delayed 2020 Games finally get underway. The Tokyo Games, which will be held largely behind closed doors to prevent infec- tions, are unpopular in Japan where opinion polls have con- A group of anti-Olympic activists chant slogans to call for the cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics during a march from the metropolitan government building, 30 days before the sistently demonstrated a lack Olympic Games opening ceremonies, in Tokyo on June 23. of support. Olympic officials have been Fifty-five cases linked to daily testing, social distancing Games and really what’s going while tennis player Nick Kyr- athlete, mental health and at pains to play down the health the Games, which open on and no movement possible to matter is how we respond to gios withdrew due to the lack well-being is at the forefront of risks of the Games, which are Friday, have been discovered outside the Olympic “bubble”. that and to ensure that there’s of fans. all their thinking.” taking place in stringent anti- this month, including four They are under orders to leave no complacency,” said David Australian chef de mis- On Saturday, Games chief coronavirus conditions with athletes. Japan 48 hours after their Hughes, medical director of sion Ian Chesterman said a Seiko Hashimoto admitted athletes tested daily. event. the Australian Olympic team. “buoyant” mood in the camp athletes are “probably very “Mingling and crossing of ‘Extra strain’ In another example of the Australia has 194 athletes in was tempered by caution worried” about coming to populations is very limited. On Saturday, International difficulties, Australia’s entire the Olympic Village backed by over possible mental health Japan, pledging full transpar- We keep the risk to an abso- Olympic Committee president athletics team was quaran- support staff including psy- problems in the unusual ency over Covid-19 cases. lute minimum level,” Olym- Thomas Bach appealed for tined before departure after chologists to help them deal environment. Japanese and Olympic offi- pic Games executive direc- Japanese fans to show sup- a member of their entourage with the “extra strain” of the “The mood and everything cials have also been forced onto tor Christophe Dubi said on port, saying he was “very well returned an inconclusive anti-Covid measures. is sort of buoyant and excited the defensive over a welcoming Sunday. aware of the scepticism” sur- test. The official later tested Australian basketball star Liz to be here, and that we’re con- reception for Bach attended by “We can ensure that trans- rounding the Games. negative. Cambage was one of the ath- scious of the fact that it’s like 40 people while Tokyo remains mission between the various Athletes are arriving to find a “We expect that there’ll be letes to pull out of the Games, no other,” he said. under a coronavirus state of groups is almost impossible.” restrictive environment, with cases associated with these citing mental health fears, “We have to make sure that emergency. AFP Honduras rally past Panama 3-2 to advance to Gold Cup quarters Honduras defeated Central Amer- goal just before the half, on a cross Qatar used a dominating first half ican rival Panama with a 3-2 come- from teammate Alberto Quintero, to to post its first ever Gold Cup vic- from-behind win Saturday to punch give Panama a 2-1 lead. tory with a resounding 4-0 win their ticket to the CONCACAF Gold Midfielder Alexander Lopez scored over Grenada. Cup quarter-finals. Honduras’ second goal in the 61st Qatar scored their third goal in the After scoring four goals in their minute to tie the contest. Lopez took 36th minute of the first half when Group D opening match, Honduras a shot from the top of the and blasted Muhammad Mustafi scored on a picked up where it left off when Romell it into the right corner of the goal to header that came off a corner kick. Quioto opened the scoring in the 22nd make it 2-2. Qatar carried the momentum over minute in Houston, Texas. Quioto would score the eventual to the second half by adding a fourth Eric Davis scored the first goal for winner in the 65th minute, receiving goal less than 60 minutes in. Center Panama midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (left) and Honduras defender Diego Panama in the 32nd minute to tie it a long pass from centre back Kevin forward Almoez Ali got open at the Rodriguez go for a header during their CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims football match 1-1. Alvarez and finding the mark. top of the six-yard-box and drove it on July 17. AFP Cesar Yanis scored his first Gold Cup In the other Group D match, home. AFP