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Tuesday, june 9, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL ministry allows Kingdom, US see VN Covid-19 test childcare centres strong trade in kit allowed for to resume service first four months sale in Europe national – page 2 business – page 6 world – page 10 Teacher transfers suspended Long Kimmarita firmed the decision was made to He said the planned recruitment Cambodian Independent Teach- their duties well were fired by the help the ministry address the short- is a response to the current number ers Association (Cita) director Ouk ruling political party, she alleged. HE Ministry of Education, age of teachers, especially at public of students in the country. Chhayavy said during this period, Chhayavy said: “There is no shortage Youth and Sport has ordered higher education institutions. “The suspension of the workplace recruiting additional teachers only of teachers because there are many all education departments It said: “The ministry decided to exchanges for all educational staff wastes the state budget because due who are not recognised by the state. in the country to suspend suspend workplace exchanges for this year is part of the ministry’s to Covid-19, teachers cannot per- “Some teachers vacated their licences teacherT transfers for the rest of the all municipal and provincial educa- plan to recruit high-level teachers at form their duties. to work in other places. Teacher sala- year. The decision was made to help tional staff for 2020.” high schools to fulfil future require- She claimed that the teacher re- ries are low at public schools, so they solve a shortage at public education- Ministry spokesmen Ros Soveacha ments,” Soveacha said. cruitment plan only serves to pro- switched to private schools. There are al institutions. told The Post on Monday that the min- He said Cambodia has 120,000 teach- vide a way for political officials to many teachers listed in the state frame- Minister Hang Chuon Naron, who istry is planning to recruit teachers in ers and the ministry plans on recruit- hire people in their network. work, but they are not teaching. How- signed the notice on June 5, con- the future to fill the current void. ing 3,000 more high-level teachers. Some teachers who had fulfilled ever, the ministry has ignored them.” Kingdom’s exports of corn decline as local demand rises

Thou Vireak est producers of corn grown for livestock feed. It can produce 56,750 THE Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry tonnes per year on a total 10,790ha and Fisheries has announced that of cultivated land. exports of corn used for livestock feed The data shows that the province’s have declined sharply over the last dry harvest season for corn is few years, while production and between February and April while domestic demand have risen. the rainy harvest season falls between Minister Veng Sakhon said corn July and September. The province exports reached 35,636 tonnes dur- has seven silos for drying corn, and ing the first five months of the year, each one can dry between 1,500 down 29.68 per cent from the same tonnes and 3,000 tonnes per year. period last year when 50,679 tonnes The director-general of the min- were exported. istry’s Department of Animal Health In 2019, corn exports reached and Production Tan Pannara, told 119,993 tonnes and in 2018, 204,184 The Post on Monday that there are tonnes were exported. 18 livestock feed production facto- He said despite the decline in ries operating in Cambodia and international demand, the produc- another one is being built. tion of Cambodian corn has steadily The factories are capable of produc- Sitting guard increased over the last four years. ing more than 1.2 million tonnes of A security guard talks on the phone inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday as it reopened for visitors following restrictions to halt the spread of Covid-19. AFP Farmers’ corn production sur- livestock feed per year, equal to 56 per passed 1.11 million tonnes in 2019, cent of the country’s current supply. up from 333,058 tonnes in 2016. Domestic farmers have started Sakhon said: “The above results raising more livestock as well. symbolise national pride and favour Piglet imports during the first five Philippines: No vaccine, no school for the people and the government. months of this year have increased Corn exports have decreased during four-fold compared to last year. This TENS of millions of children Philippine President Rod- the end of August and teach- ones said in a press briefing. this period, but the extra product year, 88,000 piglets were imported over in the Philippines will not rigo Duterte said last month ers will use distance learn- Children are generally has been transported to local live- the timeframe while last year, 22,000 be allowed back to school that even if students could ing methods via the internet not allowed outside their stock feed processing plants. piglets were imported. until a coronavirus vaccine not graduate, they needed or TV broadcasts where homes unless they are out “This result is in line with the gov- Meanwhile, imports of breeding is available, officials to stay out of school to fight needed, Briones said. getting essentials or head- ernment’s policy to promote agri- sows during the period reached 14,169 announced on Monday, the spread of the disease. Millions live in deep pov- ed to work. cultural production and increase while last year 7,850 were imported. adding that they may have “We will comply with the erty in the Philippines and do Online enrolment for over the number of domestic livestock. “After the ministry implemented to broadcast lessons on TV. president’s directive to not have access to computers 25 million primary and sec- It is also a result of Cambodia’s deci- the government’s recommendations Countries like France and postpone face-to-face at home, which is key to the ondary students started sion to increase corn import taxes, regarding the reduction of pig South Korea began resuming classes until a vaccine is viability of online classes. earlier this month for a which foreign countries must pay imports, farmers had the confidence face-to-face classes as they got available,” education secre- “The teacher and the delayed start to the school for locally produced corn.” to raise more livestock. This will also their outbreaks under control, tary Leonor Briones said in school will have to adjust . . . year, which normally runs Ministry data showed that Tbong lead to an increased demand for but Philippine authorities see a statement on Monday. depending on the availabil- from June to April in the Khmum province is one of the larg- livestock feed,” Pannara said. the risk as too great. Classes are to resume at ity of communication,” Bri- Philippines. AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Regional training underway for National News domestic violence counselling Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Court denies bail for CNRP officials in ‘treason’ case Kim Sarom the CNRP was dissolved, she said, her husband hadn’t carried out po- HE Appeal Court on Monday litical activities at all. denied a bail request by 10 The police, she said, arrested her former members of the Su- husband after Sam Rainsy, the “act- preme Court-dissolved Cam- ing CNRP president” announced his bodiaT National Rescue Party (CNRP), return to Cambodia. defence lawyer Sam Sokong said. “I have three children and two of them The defendants will be handed back are studying at university. My husband to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. is a breadwinner in the family. If I lose The verdict came after the Ap- an income-earner to provide for the peal Court deliberated for hours in family, then I am speechless,” she said. the case of the 10 who face charges Sokong said his 10 clients are Sok of treason, incitement to commit a Chantha, Nhem Vean, Chum Chan, felony and incitement of soldiers to Khem Pheana, Khut Chrek, Ngin disobey the government. Kheang, Long Pheary, Keo Thai, Thai Sokong spoke to The Post outside Kunthea and Yim Sareth. The police ar- the courtroom after the decision was rested them in provinces and Phnom delivered by Judge Sous Sam Ath. Penh in March and April this year. Children at the Kolab IV Orphanage in Phnom Penh. social affairs ministry “The [Appeal] Court upheld the Sokong said he and co-counsel Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s rul- Lor Chunthy requested the Appeal ing to not allow the charged per- Court on Monday to release the 10 sons to be released and upheld the on bail with conditions as stipulated Childcare services set to resume verdict for them to be detained in by law. He said several of his clients prison,” Sokong said. have health problems. Niem Chheng ber of vulnerable children and child Social Affairs ministry spokesper- He said he would meet his clients “My 10 clients have high blood pres- victims who will receive training at son Touch Channy told The Post to discuss filing a grievance to the sure, diabetes, and excessive acid. They THE Ministry of Social Affairs, Vet- each centre cannot exceed 10. So- on Monday that childcare centres Appeal court. “The decision to de- need medical treatment from doctors. erans and Youth Rehabilitation will cial distancing must be maintained are divided into two types – centres tain my 10 clients is unfair and I will So, I ask that the Appeal Court please allow associations and local and at all time, the directive said. where children lived permanently file an appeal to the Supreme Court release them on bail,” he said. international NGOs to resume the Associations and NGOs must pre- and those where they go for training to review it,” he said. Sokong said that having been de- provision of childcare services after pare soap, sanitisers, hand-washing and return home after class. The wife of one of the charged men tained in prison for a month, his cli- it was suspended since April to pre- basins and thermometers, and con- “Previously, we imposed restric- Khem Pheana, the former CNRP Ph- ents asked him and Chunthy to file vent the spread of Covid-19. tinue to educate the children on the tions on the centres by not allow- sar Depou Ti Bei commune chief, a bail request. In a directive seen by The Post on importance of handwashing and ing children to leave or enter them, called the decision unfair. But it was denied by the Phnom Penh Monday, it said the organisations other preventive measures. which means they stay there per- She said her husband had not Municipal Court, after which he filed can now resume the services as long Directors, programme managers, manently. Visitors were also banned done anything against the law. Since an appeal with the Appeal Court. as they follow safety and preven- social workers, childcare service staff, from visiting them. tive measures recommended by the and children under their care must “During the Khmer New Year, we Ministry of Health. learn and practice safety measures banned children from leaving the It said the decision was made after introduced by the health ministry. centres because we were afraid that the government demonstrated “suc- They must monitor the health of they could contract the virus. cess” in its response to the pandemic. children and immediately report “Now that the situation has im- However, visitors are barred from any any suspicious Covid-19-related proved, we’ve loosened the mea- of the centres until further notice. symptoms to caretakers, local au- sures a little. So we allow community “Donors, foreign volunteers and thorities, health officials and the so- centres to reopen and require them generous people who wish to visit the cial affairs department. to follow safety and other preventive children at the centres or in the com- Caretakers must continue to look measures,” he said. munity must refrain from doing so to after children at home or the centre, Channy said there are currently avoid the spread of Covid-19,” it said. and avoid going to high-risk places 223 childcare centres across the Preventive measures detailed in such as recreation centres or kinder- Kingdom, where 6,597 children are the directive are divided into two gartens. They are required to follow enrolled. Most of the centres provide parts – one for the organisations strict hygiene practices to protect life skills training. Foreign language and the other for caretakers. themselves against Covid-19 and classes are managed by Cambodi- They face various charges including treason and incitement to commit a felony. kim sarom For the organisations, the num- from transmitting it to others. ans, he said. Campaign to clear backlog set for next phase Voun Dara

MINISTRY of Justice spokesman Chin Malin said on Monday that the committee in charge of clearing the backlog of court cases in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the provincial courts has been reviewing the results of its one-month campaign before its second phase is implemented next week. The committee, which is made up of four working groups, is supervised by the Ministry of Interior. “The working groups will assess the results of the first month of the campaign. They will announce the results of the campaign once a month,” he said. Minister of Justice Koeut Rith announced the launch of the campaign on May 18 after it was discovered that nearly 40,000 criminal cases had yet to be closed. Rith said the campaign will reduce the number of pending cases by 50-70 per cent during the next six months. The ministry said the committee was formed to assist the provincial courts in clearing cases and guaranteed the campaign’s success. The ministry also noted that court prosecu- tors will play a major role in clearing the cases. They will have to take the initiative in clearing Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin said the working groups tasked with clearing the case cases while ensuring they adhere to legal prin- backlog at each court will announce the results of the campaign once a month. HENG CHIVOAN ciples and the direction of the committee. THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Local leaders learning how to help victims of violence Voun Dara trainers in the capital and 24 provinces on the minimum HE Ministry of Wom- standards for basic counsel- en’s Affairs has been ling for women and children training regional who have been victimised head advisers on ba- by gender-related violence. sicT counselling for women Training will take place from and children who have been June until August,” she said. victimised by violence. Sinet said the ministry The ministry has conducted wants sub-national level of- the training in eight of the 25 ficials to become good ser- provinces in line with the gov- vice providers for the women ernment’s policy of transferring and children. Hence, officials human resources and budgets need to improve their knowl- to the sub-national level. edge and learn about psycho- The General Department of logical methods to help vul- Nhean Sochetra held a closing ceremony for 25 head trainers who sucessfully completed the course on Friday. Ministry of Women’s affairs Social Development deputy nerable victims. director in charge of Legal “Having been trained, our She said training is just the judicial police agents and taught lessons to strengthen course for the officials in the Protection at the Ministry of officials can take [this] knowl- first step, as the ministry has officials learned about the their capacity to become capital and the provinces in pro- Women’s Affairs, Sar Sinet, edge to the relevant people at a series of additional steps minimum standards for ba- trainers and then to become viding services to protect wom- told The Post on Monday that the sub-national level because that follow. sic counselling for women service providers at the sub- en and children. Some citizens the ministry had completed the ministry’s goal is to expand The Ministry’s general di- and children who have been national level. are still unaware that they can the training course for 25 ju- human resources and provide rector of Social Development victimised by gender-related Rights group Licadho moni- receive such services,” he said. dicial police agents and of- the service to local areas. Nhean Sochetra presided over violence and basic rights of tor Am Sam Ath said the gov- Sam Ath said violence and ficials (six men) from eight “This is important because a ceremony on Friday to con- victims and how to prepare ernment and the ministry abuse against women and provinces last Friday. experts at the ministry can- clude the training course for the themselves as service provid- had, in the past, worked to children are still a concern, “According to the minis- not be in local areas in all 25 head trainers that success- ers,” she said. disseminate violence related such as a father raping his try’s plan for this first step, provinces and cities all the fully completed the course. Sochetra said through the to women and children. daughter or a grandfather mo- we will work with head time,” Sinet said. “As a result of the training, training, participants were “We support the training lesting his granddaughter. Covid-19 patient released, total recoveries rise to124 Khorn Savi quarantine centres in Ban- from Thailand and passed it teay Meanchey province. on to four others. THE Ministry of Health on The ministry confirmed that A fifth involved a Chinese Monday confirmed that most of the cases in the country man from Guangzhou who another Covid-19 patient has were imported from abroad. was infected and passed the been discharged from hospi- Late last month, the World virus on to another four. tal, bringing the total number Health Organisation con- The ministry on Monday of recoveries to 124. firmed that Cambodia has so expressed concern about in- The 26-year-old Cambodi- far succeeded in preventing fections in groups of people. an man from Tbong Khmum community infections. But This, it said, could lead to a province’s Tbong Khmum the country has reported five second wave of infections in district, tested positive on clusters of major cases. Cambodia as it observed that May 29, after returning from The first cluster had seven some citizens went on excur- a religious school in the Thai people infected with Covid- sions to other places in the southern province of Yala. 19 on the Viking Mekong Kingdom and neglected to “The remaining two pa- cruise ship which travelled take protective measures. Ermenegildo “Kupa” Lopes (left), Ambassador of East Timor to Cambodia, meets with Heng Samrin. facebook tients in the country are be- from Vietnam. The ministry called on citi- ing treated at the Khmer So- The second was when 34 zens to remain extremely vig- viet Friendship Hospital. people were infected after they ilant. That means they have to East Timor ambassdor seeks “One is a Cambodian man travelled to join a Muslim re- wash hands with soap, alco- infected with Covid-19 after ligious gathering in Malaysia. hol or gel frequently and wear returning from the Philippines Then, they passed on the virus facemasks or scarves when new Cambodian investments and the other is a Cambodian- to nine other people who came sneezing or coughing. French man who returned from into direct contact with them. It said people should also Khorn Savi but not yet from Cambodia. Cambodia for its successful France,” the ministry said. The third cluster involved 31 continue to maintain social dis- National Assembly spokes- effort in repelling the threat The recovered patient is a res- French tourists in Preah Siha- tancing and delay organising ERMENEGILDO“Kupa” Lopes, man Leng Peng Long said the of Covid-19, Peng Long said. ident of Roka Por Bram Village nouk province who passed the weddings and religious servic- the new Ambassador of East purpose of the meeting was Samrin said the two countries in Roka Por Bram commune virus on to another eight people. es, and refrain from travelling Timor to Cambodia, prom- to open a friendly dialogue on will continue to cooperate on in Tbuong Khmum province’s The fourth was imported abroad if it is not necessary. ised on Monday to strengthen economic relations between tourism, agriculture, and hu- Tbuong Khmum district. diplomatic relations with the the two countries. man resources improvements. The ministry announced Kingdom and expressed an in- Lopes did not clarify which He said Cambodia will con- on May 29 that he had been terest in attracting Cambodian sectors in East Timor needed tinue to support East Timor’s infected with Covid-19 after investments to East Timor. the most investment. membership in the ASEAN joining a religious service in Lopes discussed his diplo- Peng Long said: “Lopes only Inter-Parliamentary Assembly Thailand and returning to matic mission at a meeting with said there are investors from (AIPA) and ASEAN plus one. Cambodia on May 28. National Assembly president countries including Indonesia, On May 27, Prime Minister The man travelled on a bus Heng Samrin at the National Malaysia, Australia and the US. Hun Sen met with Lopes and from Thailand with nine oth- Assembly in Phnom Penh. “He mentioned that there were said he wanted East Timor er Cambodian men who were Samrin’s Facebook page said no investors from Cambodia rice companies to set up tested at the O’Bei Choan Lopes stressed that East Timor and he requested Cambodians warehouses, factories, drying checkpoint. is full of natural resources and to consider East Timor as a pos- areas and purchaser networks The authorities held them international investors are sible investment destination.” in Cambodia. to take their samples to be needed to monetise them. Samrin accepted an invitation He said this would help tested at Institut Pasteur du Currently, East Timor has at- from Lopes to visit East Timor at Cambodia produce enough Cambodge and he tested tracted investors from Indone- a suitable time in the future. rice to be able to export to positive. The other nine test- The patient was infected after joining a religious service in Thailand and sia, the US and other countries Lopes also said he admired East Timor. ed negative and were sent to returned to Cambodia on May 28. cambodia-japan friendship hospital 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Four held, over 100kg of drugs seized in capital Niem Chheng questioned. The search is also on for several others involved in the cases. DURING an operation last week in Chito said earlier this month that Phnom Penh, the Anti-Drug Depart- the police have recently investigated ment arrested four Chinese nationals a series of major drug cases and that and seized more than 100kg of drugs. in the last one, the suspects had tried The operation was the latest in a to traffic the drugs after the Covid-19 string of large drug busts carried out situation seemed to have quietened. by the police in the capital. “Our country is very lucky that we The suspects were identified as Tai- crack down on [the drugs] in time. wan nationals Lee Shaofeng, 48; He Yi The modus operandi of these peo- Ri, 56; Zhang Jun, 46, and Cai Tao, 45. ple is to produce, process and send During the operation, the police the drugs out,” he said. discovered more than 7kg of addic- In a separate case, the Anti-Drug tive substances, more than 5kg of Department on Thursday detained a ketamine, more than 2kg of meth- suspect named Chhuon Bunkong, 29, Officers seized a chainsaw while inspecting state forest land in Siem Reap province on Saturday. facebook amphetamine, 0.31g of heroin and near Daeum Kor Market in Tuol Kork 25.75g of ecstasy. Other chemical district, Phnom Penh, and discovered substances totalled 109kg. methamphetamine weighing over 1kg. National Police deputy chief and Police last Wednesday arrested ‘Stop grabbing forest land’ deputy secretary-general of the one of their own, the anti-drug traf- National Authority for Combating ficking office chief Chhun Somethea Voun Dara “When Forestry Administration mune, Svay Leu District, Siem Reap, Drugs (NACD) Mok Chito said on and his companion Ken Chanry, officials went to the forest to put up Seng Lon, led forces to patrol the for- Monday that the police are continu- and seized 2kg of methamphet- HE Siem Reap provincial signs banning logging, we discovered est on June 5 and put up signs warning ing to investigate those involved. amine. The suspects were sent to Department of Agriculture, land theft and the creation of owner- against the theft of forest land. Some of them had long come to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Forestry and Fisheries called ship certificates for state land. He called on citizens to stop forg- Cambodia to work in companies. Minister of Interior Sar Kheng pre- on citizens to stop stealing “If we are a little careless, some ing documents to transfer state land “Pure drugs weighed more than viously announced a $10,000 reward forestT land belonging to the state. It people will steal the forest land. This for private ownership and urged the 7kg. More than 100kg of blended to police who broke up major drug said village, commune and district invasion is mostly from local people, related authorities to cooperate to ingredients were found. This case is dealings of 1kg and above. authorities should cooperate to pro- but there are also some who came to tackle such illegal activities. major,” he said. (NACD) secretary-general Meas tect forest land in the province. work in Siem Reap many years ago “Lands managed by the Forestry Chito said the suspects had rented Virith said on Monday that the re- Department director Tea Kim- and stole forest land,” said Kimsoth. Administration in Kantuot-Khna places to produce the drugs two or ward was still offered. soth told The Post on Monday that He called for citizens to stop log- Krao spanning about 20,000ha are three months earlier, but they had Chito said in March that the govern- forest land managed by the Forest- ging on forest land and settling on in danger because some culprits changed from one place to another. ment had offered more than 13 bil- ry Administration and residents in state land as it is illegal. “The For- conspired to transfer ownership to He said the police first arrested sus- lion riel ($3.15 million) in 2018-2019 Siem Reap spanned over 30,000ha. estry Administration cannot be the sell and buy forest land. pects near the Australian Embassy in to units and officials who broke cases The forests have an abundance of only ones to protect and conserve “The provincial administration Phnom Penh and seized 5kg of drugs. involving 100g of drugs and over. high-grade Cambodian timber. the forest. had already reported to the Siem Later, they raided a room at So- The Anti-Drug Department said He said the Forestry Administration “Citizens and local authorities must Reap authorities to take measures to phea Apartments and seized anoth- from January 1 to June 7, the po- constantly educates the people but participate as we cannot patrol every stop such ownership transfers, and er 2kg of drugs and other drug-pro- lice had been involved in a total of some culprits still take the opportuni- inch of the protected land,” he said. the buying and selling of forest land ducing equipment and ingredients. 4,709 cases, arresting 9,294 people, ty during quiet times to log and steal The Kantuot-Khna Krao Forestry Ad- in the area managed by the Forestry The police have yet to send the sus- of whom 138 are foreigners of seven forest land that belongs to state. ministration director in Kantuot com- Administration,” Lon said. pects to court as they are still being nationalities. THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Former NGO Kampot residents plead to stay on land Long Kimmarita her family had been living on chief denies the land for a long time and A GROUP made up of more evicting them will make their than 30 people from 13 fami- lives more difficult. lies gathered in Meanrith com- “His Majesty, Prime Minister abuse claims mune, in Dang Tong district, Hun Sen, Bun Rany [First Lady}, Kampot province, on Sunday please help us to tackle this Long Kimmarita It ran smoothly, he said, and requesting the authorities to land dispute. If we are evicted could feed around 100 orphans speed up the resolution of a from this place, we have no HE former executive and 30 employees at a cost of chronic land dispute with place to stay. I call for Prime director of internation- about $40,000 a month. former Dang Tong district Minister Hun Sen to help tack- al NGO Sovann Komar But then the organisation deputy governor Prak Buoy. le this issue for us,” she said. LLC has denied alle- began to have internal dis- Kang Ith, the representative of Meanrith commune chief gationsT of serious child abuse putes which caused the dis- the 13 families said in a video from Em Tam told The Post on Sun- and fraud while working for the missal of nearly 20 people, the disputed land on Sunday that day that it is very difficult for NGO, which runs a children’s including him, after the death the people have occupied the the 13 families to lose the land village for over 50 teenagers. of one of the US co-founders. 40ha for nearly 30 years. which has been their shelter The abuse allegations include Arun said he was accused But Prak Buoy sued, demand- for a long time. torture, starvation, acts of cru- of embezzlement by a small ing they leave the land they He said commune authori- elty and neglect of minors un- group of dissenting staffers have lived on since 1993 claim- ties tried to help the citizens der the age of 15, said a court and suggested an internal in- ing that he was in possession but another party, who did not summons issued by Investigat- vestigation, which was denied. of the land title. even know the specific land ing Judge Hok Pov on May 4. He said the accusers blamed A child receives a checkup at Sovann Komar children’s village. Supplied Ith said the dispute started location, did not agree and filed Sothea Arun is also accused him for losing millions of dol- in 2001 when the families tried a complaint with the court. of misusing $1.4 million of lars but questioned the plau- He said other orphans had day that evidence against to ask for intervention from “This dispute has lasted a the organisation’s money, ac- sibility of such an accusation come under fire from the new Arun includes photographs, various authorities. The case long time. There have been cording to a Sovann Komar because withdrawing funds leadership as well. emails, reports and extensive went to the Kampot provincial many district governors who press release. required signatures from each “They started to feel very testimonies from witnesses. court and the residents lost. could not solve this problem, Arun claims that the accu- owner of the NGO. depressed and dropped out of Gordon said the criminal He said the dispute was but Buoy still does not agree sations have been manufac- The Post could not contact school, feeling very emotional. complaints of abuse and fraud between two other families and and demands that citizens tured by people conspiring to Kara Heide on Monday. She We all need a family near us, against Arun have resulted in Prak Buoy. The other families leave. If you make citizens take over the organisation. is a Sovann Komar employee and we have already had bro- two prosecutors recommend- did not know about it, but they leave, where will they live? His denial comes after So- who helped bring the accusa- ken families once,” he said. ing charges against him. were accused of trespassing and They have only this land. vann Komar, which is based tions to light. Ministry of Social Affairs, Vet- He said over the last eight living on stolen land, Ith said. “Regardless of being a com- in the capital’s Meanchey dis- A 19-year-old orphan known erans and Youth Rehabilitation months, Arun has attempted “Citizens were provided with mune chief, I do not know any trict in Veal Sbov commune, as Syo was expelled from the spokesperson Toch Channy told to subvert justice by lobbying a copy of a district registry let- powerful people helping. I sued Arun and former staff Sovann Komar children’s village The Post that the ministry tried senior government officials ter about their occupation, but only know that if citizens lose, members in October 2019 for after protesting and showing to assist in the case but no solu- to interfere in the court pro- said they did not know that it seems really bad as they only abusing children and fraud. dissatisfaction with the case. tion could be found. Both par- ceedings against him. they occupied someone else’s have this land,” Tam said. Arun told The Post on Mon- Syo told The Post on Mon- ties sued and the case fell out- Arun also accused a So- land,” Ith said. Kampot provincial adminis- day that he created the or- day that following the accu- side the ministry’s jurisdiction. vann Komar lawyer of armed Still, the residents are plead- tration director Veth Vathana ganisation almost 20 years sations, foster parents were Bradley Gordon, the legal robbery and manipulated ing to stay. said the matter has already ago with three other foreign removed from the orphanage, representative for Sovann minors at the Sovann Komar A resident who did not give gone beyond the provincial founders who live in the US. which affected his studies. Komar told The Post on Mon- children’s village, he said. her name said in the video that authorities.

Almost 80 garment workers have fainted at the same Svay Rieng factory since last Friday. facebook Mass factory faintings blamed on worker fatique Soth Koemsoeun that caused the fainting. tory, Sokhoeun said. “We are still monitoring the Cambodian Labour Confed- TWENTY-three garment work- issue and whether or not such eration president Ath Thon ers at TY Electric Co Ltd in Svay fainting continues. If other said he has not obtained addi- Rieng province fainted on workers faint, we will ask the tional information on the Monday after 49 others fainted factory to close for a few days fainted workers, but he noted on Friday and Saturday from so that workers can feel better that smells from electrical tiredness and lacking vita- and assess whether additional wires and insufficient oxygen mins. cleaning inside the factory is at the workplaces make it dif- Labour and Vocational Train- needed so that it does not ficult for workers to breathe. ing Department provincial smell unpleasant,” he said. He said most fainting cases director Ou Sokhoeun said on Ngin Sothy, an assistant to were caused by working many Monday that the workers were the factory’s administrative hours in an unpleasant envi- tired and fainted in the morn- director, could not be reached ronment with odour from ing and evening. The 49 who for comment on Monday. equipment and hot weather. fainted over the weekend have TY Electric Co Ltd is owned “I think when such fainting recovered and returned to by a Chinese national and has occurs, factory owners should their homes on Sunday. 1,600 employees in the GIGA allow workers to relax for a few He said labour officials inspect- Resource Special Economic days and begin cleaning the ed the factory and concluded Zone in Deumpou Village, factory. Inspectors from the that tiredness was the motive Kandieng Reay commune, labour ministry must regu- behind the fainting and the fac- Svay Teap district. It is the first larly monitor the environment tory did not have any problems account of fainting at the fac- at factories,” Thon said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,108 1.3397 7.0724 109.50 4.2675 1.3911 31.45 0.6999 1.1306 1.2697 NBC meet Kingdom-US trade strong in first four set to shape months, but expected to taper off post-Covid Hin Pisei economy WO-WAY trade be- May Kunmakara tween Cambodia and the US in the THE National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) first four months will host its seventh Annual Macroeco- ofT the year increased 29.31 nomic Conference under the theme per cent to $2.1 billion com- “Discussion of Cambodia’s Economic pared with $1.65 during the Development Models” to gather input same period last year, US from academics, researchers, industry Census Bureau data show. insiders and economists about how to The export value of Cam- structure the economy in a post-Covid- bodian goods during the 19 world. period was $2.0242 billion, The conference is scheduled for an increase of 36.66 per December in Phnom Penh, a date cent compared to 2019’s which was chosen to allow time for $1.4811 billion, and goods the public and key stakeholders to imported from the US were register in advance. worth $108.2 million, down NBC said in an announcement that 35.4 per cent from $167.5 since early this year, the Covid-19 million. pandemic has derailed the world Cambodia Chamber of economy, particularly in countries Commerce vice-president that are dependent on external sec- Lim Heng told The Post on tors, due to a dramatic drop in inter- Monday that export growth national trade and investment. during the period was due to The global health crisis has created a the fact that the US did not parallel economic crisis which has see a significant outbreak of changed the fundamental structure and the Covid-19 disease until operation of the economy, it said. February. NBC said: “For Cambodia, as an The Kingdom’s factories open economy that relies on external continued to fulfil orders Growth is set to slow in the following months as the US market closed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading its companies to cancel sectors, especially on exports of gar- from US companies well their orders with the Kingdom’s factories. FRESH NEWS ment products, tourism, construc- into the period until the tion and investment, 2020’s growth mass cancellation of orders in the following months as tions have kept Cambodia- of the Covid-19 disease and $5.8708 billion last year, up has faced a slowdown, much like began, he said. the US market closed in re- US trade going smoothly. the political turmoil caused 38.05 per cent compared to other countries in the world. “It is a pride of Cambodia sponse to the pandemic, However, he said the two by the protests in the last $4.2524 billion in 2018, US “To adapt to the new context of the to maintain bilateral trade leading its companies to countries’ bilateral trade few weeks,” he said. Census Bureau data show. world economy, what economic growth, especially large ex- cancel their orders with volume would slow down Vanak said he was opti- Cambodia’s exports to the model should Cambodia adopt to ports to the US, which is a the Kingdom’s factories, he due to internal US factors, mistic that “if the political US were $5.3568 billion last make it resilient to shocks and able big market for Cambodian said, adding that trade may such as the outbreak and situation in the US improves year, compared to $3.8065 to achieve planned targets?” exports,” said Heng. recover once the disease the protests over the May 25 in line with the coming of billion in 2018, while im- It said the objective of the confer- He said the surge in ex- tapers off in the US and the death of unarmed black man winter, with demand for ports were $514 million, ence is to promote economic research ports during the period was economy fully reopens. George Floyd during his ar- more clothes, footwear and compared to $445.9 million and discuss sustainable economic also largely due to abundant Royal Academy of Cam- rest in Minneapolis, which materials, then I expect in 2018. development models. Another goal availability of raw material bodia economics researcher have paralysed the country. some recovery”. The Kingdom was the US’ is to establish firm economic policies for production in Cambodia. Hong Vanak said improved “US orders will be down The trade volume between 66th largest trading partner to ensure that the government can But growth is set to slow economic and political rela- due to the continued spread the two countries totalled last year. achieve its vision for the future. On May 29, the World Bank revised its projection of Cambodia’s econo- my and expects it to contract between one and 2.9 per cent this year. The World Bank cited Covid-19 as Equities build on rally as US jobs rebound the main culprit. Tourism, manufac- turing and construction had account- A blockbuster US jobs report that the Covid-19 impact on corporate after surging on Friday. Sydney was tinues to reopen to some semblance ed for more than 70 per cent of the fanned optimism about the econom- earnings, investors are encouraged closed for a holiday. of normality, providing a much- economy’s projected growth and all ic recovery from the coronavirus cri- by the reopening of economies that Michael Hewson at London-based needed boost to the shattered tour- three sectors were heavily affected by sis helped push Asian stock markets is likely to lead to a rebound in prof- CMC Markets said: “In the space of ism industry. the pandemic. even higher on Monday, while a deci- itability later this year.” four weeks we’ve seen history made Adding to the positive sentiment Almost 40 per cent of the country’s sion to extend production cuts pro- Tokyo rose more than one per cent, as the US economy posted a record was news that major oil producers had paid employees work in one of the vided fresh support to oil prices. while Wellington surged more than number of job losses in one month, agreed to extend output cuts of almost three sectors and the World Bank esti- As countries continue to ease lock- three per cent after New Zealand offi- only to be followed by a record number 10 million barrels a day for another mates that the economic contraction down measures and with trillions of cials reported no active cases of coro- of jobs gains in the following month. month through to the end of July. puts at least 1.76 million jobs at risk. dollars in stimulus and central bank navirus for the first time since the “[But] despite all of the enthusiasm The deal, which had been expected, Its country manager for Cambodia support pledged, equities across the pandemic began, and said the coun- over last month’s jobs report it doesn’t provided further support to crude Inguna Dobraja said: “The global planet have surged since hitting a try was free of the disease – adding change the fact that US unemploy- prices, which have surged over the shock triggered by the Covid-19 pan- trough in March. that restrictions would be lifted. ment is still well above post financial past two months thanks to the cuts demic has significantly impacted And the release of data on Friday Hong Kong inched up for a sixth crisis levels, and is likely to remain so and the easing of lockdowns that has Cambodia’s economy. showing a staggering 2.5 million US straight gain, Seoul added 0.1 per for quite some time.” boosted demand. “The World Bank is committed to jobs were created last month – com- cent, Shanghai closed up 0.2 per cent, AxiCorp Financial Services Pty Ltd’s helping Cambodia deal effectively pared with an expected loss of more while Mumbai, Taipei and Singapore ‘Increased confidence’ Stephen Innes said the agreement “is with the Covid-19 crisis and prepar- than eight million – added to the jumped more than one per cent, with Jason Wong at BNZ markets added: hugely positive for sentiment as the ing the economy for recovery and optimism, pushing the Nasdaq and Jakarta three per cent higher. “The data are consistent with activity presumption is this clampdown will future resilience.” the S&P 500 on Wall Street to within Bangkok and Manila were also indicators that show a recovery in activ- accelerate the rebalancing of supply The Cambodia Microfinance Asso- spitting distance of record highs. higher. ity as US lockdowns eased, following the and demand. ciation has approved loan restruc- Canada also reported a surprise The Cambodia Securities Exchange big hole in the economy in April, and “The recognition that the deep cuts tures worth more than $817 million increase in employment, confound- index dipped 1.66 per cent, with give increased confidence that activity need to continue for a month or per- to more than 180,000 customers, it ing forecasts of a big drop. Acleda Bank Plc (ABC) closing 2.32 is on a clear path upward from here as haps longer shows that despite the said in a report last week. Iyad Abu Hweij of Allied Invest- per cent lower. restrictions have eased further.” recent surge in oil prices, the large It added that nearly 200,000 cus- ment Partners PJSC said: “While there In early trade, London, Paris and As Latin America experiences a rise producers remain worried about the tomers have requested loan restruc- are still significant uncertainties over Frankfurt dropped on profit-taking in infections and deaths, Europe con- fragile state of the oil markets.” AFP tures since last month. THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business SIA secures $7.2B of PAS to pay $3M in dividends liquidity to combat May Kunmakara TATE-OWNED port coronavirus fallout operator Sihanoukville Autonomous Port SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has option to raise up to a further (PAS) has announced secured S$10 billion (US$7.2 S$6.2 billion in additional thatS it will disburse dividend billion) in fresh liquidity mandatory convertible bonds payments totalling nearly $3 through its recent rights is- (MCB), which will provide ad- million to its shareholders on sue as well as through other ditional liquidity if needed. June 22. credit facilities, as the airline SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong According to the company’s industry navigates an un- thanked shareholders and Cambodia Securities Exchange precedented crisis caused by banks for their support, and (CSX) filing on June 5, the total the coronavirus pandemic. said: “SIA will remain stead- dividend amount is 12.17 bil- A total of S$8.8 billion was fast and agile during this lion riel ($2.95 million). The raised through the rights issue period of great uncertainty, dividend payout ratio is 31.12 on Friday, and a further S$900 and continue to act nimbly per cent, of which 9.03 per cent million was secured through in responding to the evolving is reserved for Class B shares long-term loans secured on market conditions.” and 22.09 per cent is reserved some of SIA’s Airbus A350-900 The airline had announced for Class C shares. and Boeing 787-10 aircraft, Sin- in March that its rights exercise The dividends will be paid gapore’s flag carrier airline said involved the issue of 295 rights in cash. in a statement on Monday. MCBs for every 100 SIA shares CSX vice-chairman Ha SIA has also arranged new held. Each of the rights could be Jong-weon told The Post on committed lines of credit and exercised at S$1 for one MCB. Monday that the payouts are a short-term unsecured loan The rights shares were is- reasonable at a 31.12 per cent with several banks, which sued on the basis of three rights dividend payout ratio. The provide further fresh liquid- shares for every two existing SIA payout for one Class C share ity amounting to more than shares owned by shareholders. is 403 riel, which is eight per S$500 million. Of the S$8.8 billion under cent of the initial public offer- It said “This puts SIA on a the rights issue, the flag car- ing (IPO) price per share. steady footing as it tackles the rier said earlier that it will use He noted that the payouts challenges posed by the glob- S$3.7 billion to fund operating exceeded the guaranteed div- According to PAS’ June 5 CSX filing, the total dividend amount is 12.17 billion riel ($2.95 million). The dividend al Covid-19 outbreak. cash flow such as fixed costs idend payout of five per cent payout ratio is 31.12 per cent, of which 9.03 per cent is reserved for Class B shares and 22.09 per cent is reserved “During this period of high and other operating expenses, for Class C shares. HENG CHIVOAN of the per-share IPO price. uncertainty, SIA will con- while S$3.3 billion will go to- Ha said: “In the current That is 82.38 per cent lower PAS shares for the last 12 other types of businesses are tinue to explore additional wards aircraft purchases and uncertain global economy, than what public sharehold- months will also receive seriously impacted. means to shore up liquidity aircraft-related payments. PAS has managed to provide ers received. This means that around 20 per cent unrea- “Shareholders are satis- as necessary.” The remaining S$1.8 billion around 2.5 per cent dividend PAS has made an effort to lised capital gain, he said. fied with this dividend. All of All existing committed lines will be used for debt servicing yields [compared to the cur- cater to the interest of public Together with the dividend, them voted for eight per cent of credit that were due to ma- and other contractual pay- rent market price], which is investors.” he said, investors will receive of the IPO during the general ture over this year have been ments. already a good rate. He said the payouts are al- more than a 22.5 per cent gain shareholder meeting on June renewed until next year or SIA has had to cancel most “The Ministry of Economy most equal to last year’s pay- from their investments in PAS 5” said Ha. later, which ensures a contin- of its flights amid travel re- and Finance, which is the outs despite the economic over the last 12 months. PAS closed 1.875 per cent ued access to more than S$1.7 strictions worldwide and a largest shareholder and holds problems created by Covid- “It shows the strong busi- higher at 16,300 riel on Mon- billion in liquidity. drastic drop in demand for air Class B shares, received only 19. ness potential of PAS during day, with 5,700 shares traded, For the period up to July next travel due to the pandemic. a 54.92 riel payout per share. Investors who have held this difficult situation while worth 92 million riel. year, the company also has the THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ANN Vietnam NA ratifies monumental trade deal withEU

VIETNAM’S National Assembly’s economic position in the Southeast and high competitiveness thanks to the (NA) deputies officially ratified the Asia and Asia-Pacific regions, height- benefits of EVFTA tax exemption,” said Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agree- ening the nation’s status in ASEAN and Than. Therefore, Vietnamese business- ment (EVFTA) and the Europe-Viet- other international organisations. es would be under great competitive nam Investment Protection Agree- The investment protection deal will pressure right at home. ment (EVIPA) on Monday. encourage Vietnam to keep working “In addition, in terms of trade rem- The agreements will take effect next to complete its legal system and edies, when tariff barriers are no month. improve the investment and business longer an effective tool to protect The EVFTA is expected to give Viet- environment for all investors. businesses, import markets tend to namese companies better access to The EVIPA will replace 21 bilateral apply anti-dumping and anti-subsidy European markets, thus ensuring investment protection agreements or safeguarding measures to protect Vietnam’s economic security. that Vietnam has with European gov- domestic production,” he added. The trade pact will erase import tax ernments. The agreement contains At the same time, when the economy for Vietnamese products. In exchange, four chapters, 92 articles and 13 is open under EVFTA commitments, Vietnam is expected to become more appendices. production transition processes start attractive to European investors. The ratification of the two deals will to form. There will be a wave of inves- As soon as the agreement takes help tighten the bond between Viet- tors from the EU flooding into the effect, EU commits to removing 85.6 nam and the EU in economic devel- country, creating competition for per cent of tariffs, equal to 70.3 per opment, trade and investment. labour resources in industries. Some cent of the country’s total export On the same day, NA deputies also industries therefore will lack workers. turnover to the EU. passed the resolution that allows Than said Vietnamese SMEs would Seven years after the EVFTA takes Vietnam’s National Assembly deputies officially ratified the EVFTA and the EVIPA on also face difficulties of information Vietnam to join the International Monday. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY/VIET NAM NEWS effect, the EU will remove 99.2 per cent Labour Organisation’s Convention shortage of the EU market as well as of import taxes, or 99.7 per cent of export 105 on abolition of forced labour. tion FTA with the strongest commit- ment would not be small. regulations on imported goods. Viet- turnover from Vietnam to the EU. ments for the EU and Vietnam on Than said: “The biggest challenge namese enterprises had not yet been The remaining products will enjoy Challenges for SMEs opening their markets, reforms of for SMEs is technical barriers. Viet- prepared with adequate knowledge zero tax. Minister of Industry and Trade Tran administrative procedures, institu- namese companies would have to and skills on exporting goods to the It means that nearly 100 per cent of Tuan Anh on Friday said small and tions and policies. face requirements of food hygiene EU as well as lack of capital for pro- Vietnamese goods exported to the EU medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) However, the EVFTA will also bring and safety, epidemiological hygiene, duction and business. will see import taxes abolished after should fully understand the provi- challenges for SMEs, which account codes of conduct, regulations on He proposed that the government a roadmap of seven years. sions of the EVFTA. for 97 per cent of total businesses in environmental protection, and origin accelerate administrative reforms This creates big opportunities for He said this at a conference in the country. of goods imported into the EU. while completing policies and insti- local firms to expand their export mar- Hanoi aimed at supporting SMEs in With 27 countries and a population “The regulations on localisation tution to submit to the NA for approv- kets to the EU and the same opportu- taking advantage of opportunities to of more than 450 million people, as well rate will also cause many difficulties al some important laws such as the nities for European businesses. effectively implement the EVFTA. as per capita income of about $36,000, for businesses.” Enterprise Law, Environment Protec- Economists say the trade pact is Anh said there were many issues the EU is also a demanding market, He said the competition with EU tion Law and Labour Law to suit the expected to boost the country’s total that the SME community should con- requiring high product quality. This is goods would also be a challenge for EVFTA’s regulations. This would be a gross domestic product (GDP) by 2.4 sider during the implementation of the biggest challenge for SMEs. SMEs. legal foundation for firms to effec- per cent and exports by 12 per cent by free trade agreements (FTAs). For Vietnam Association of Small and “When opening Vietnam’s market tively implement the EVFTA. 2030. Its exports could rise 2.18 to 3.25 example, these include the ability to Medium Enterprises chairman Nguy- for EU goods, it means that Vietnam- The government should also organ- per cent in the 2019-2023 period and access and understand legal informa- en Van Than said the opportunity ese enterprises will have to accept fair ise training courses on the EVFTA to 4.75 to 5.3 in the 2024-2033 period. tion, commitments in agreements as provided by the EVFTA would be competition with EU businesses. improve businesses’ awareness The EVIPA will help Vietnam well as the implementation process. huge, but the challenge for Vietnam- “These are capitalised businesses with regarding the agreement, said Than. strengthen its important political and He said the EVFTA is a new genera- ese businesses in joining this agree- high quality goods, beautiful designs, VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus Financial technology Wing teams up with Aeon to promote digital payments

Wing and the leading and largest shopping mall in Cambodia have partnered to let customers pay for their purchases using digital payment solutions.

hopping until you drop has never been Wing CEO Manu Rajan (left) and Aeon Cambodia managing director Tsuboya Masayuki signed a memorandum of understanding at Aeon Mall Phnom Penh allowing cashless payments. POST STAFF easier thanks to a part- nership between Wing SSpecialised (Cambodia) Bank Ltd and Aeon Mall (Cambodia) Co Ltd. The Kingdom’s major digital payment solution provider and the leading and largest shop- ping mall in Cambodia signed a partnership on June 5 at Aeon Mall Phnom Penh allow- ing cashless payments. In a display of gratitude to their loyal customers, Wing and Aeon announced that they would give away coupons worth $5 to the first 1,000 cus- tomers to use Wing’s QR code payment system. “It is a privilege for any organisation in Cambodia to establish a relationship with Aeon Mall Sen Sok City. Hong menea Manu Rajan and Tsuboya Masayuki in a joint press conference. POST STAFF

Aeon because it is increasingly based financial services, nerships with Western Union more options and better shop- opportunity to make payments growing. noting that it is more likely and MoneyGram, allowing ping experiences [to] people through their Wing Money App “Through our partnership, people will leave home with- clients to send and receive cash in Cambodia,” he said. by simply scanning a QR code ” every customer will be able out their wallets than their from more than 200 countries. Tsuboya noted that while or the Wing Mastercard. to enjoy more freedom when phones. “We welcome Wing to our cashless payments are not “It has been a long journey Every customer shopping, without having to Wing, established in 2009, shopping malls,” said Aeon currently popular at Aeon to reach this point, which is worry about carrying cash has grown to become the Mall Cambodia managing Malls across Cambodia, the why we are extremely excited will be able along or whether they have Kingdom’s leading mobile director Tsuboya Masayuki. partnership with Wing will that we are signing this MoU. to enjoy more enough currency notes,” said banking services provider “This memorandum of see this increase. So it has taken some time for Wing CEO Manu Rajan. largely on the back of its understanding [MoU] marks a Aeon Mall Cambodia opened both management teams to freedom when Manu stressed that Wing trailblazing digital payment significant milestone with the its first mall in the Kingdom in come to a consensus. was proud to partner with the services. collaboration between Aeon 2014, with Aeon Mall Sen Sok “It’s not how long the jour- shopping, without retail giant, saying that “Aeon The homegrown finan- Mall Cambodia and Wing Spe- City opening four years later. ney took, but how it ended. So having to worry Mall has revolutionised the cial technology – fintech cialised Bank. The Japanese hypermarket we are extremely excited and way we do shopping, the way – firm already has 40,000 “[This] acknowledges that chain is due to open its third grateful that this partnership about carrying we do business, the way we merchants and more than mobile money and electronic outlet in 2023 on Hun Sen will be fruitful and mutually spend our leisure time and the 7,500 Wing Xpress outlets payment services brands are Boulevard. beneficial. Most importantly, cash along way we relax”. across every province in the vital as new innovations. Customers at both Aeon it’s going to benefit both Aeon r ia l to He also emphasised the Kingdom. “Together, we will use Mall Phnom Penh and Aeon Mall and customers,” said

MANU RAJAN / WING growing trend of mobile- It has also fostered part- financial technology to give Mall Sen Sok City will have the Manu. e r a dv THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World New Delhi, US city vows to ‘dismantle’ police force Islamabad OUNCILLORS in the US city Members of the Congressional of Minneapolis pledged late Black Caucus (CBC) said they would team up to on Sunday to dismantle and introduce legislation in the House of rebuild the police depart- Representatives on Monday to make fight locusts ment,C after the death in custody of policing more accountable. George Floyd sparked nationwide The legislation is expected to make DESPITE high running tensions protests about racism in law enforce- it easier to sue police officers over between India and Pakistan ment, pushing the issue onto the na- deadly incidents, to ban the sort of over Kashmir, Islamabad has tional political agenda. choke holds that led to Floyd’s death, said the two have been coop- Floyd was killed on May 25 when and to establish a national database erating to fight a desert locust white Minneapolis police officer Der- to record police misconduct. invasion under a forum admin- ek Chauvin pressed his knee on the One member of the caucus, Rep- istered by the Food and Agricul- unarmed black man’s neck for near- resentative Val Demings of Florida, a ture Organisation (FAO). ly nine minutes. Chauvin has been former police chief in the city of Or- Pakistan is part of the FAO’s charged with second-degree murder lando, told ABC that “systemic racism Commission for Controlling and is to appear in court on Monday. is always the ghost in the room”. the Desert Locust in South- After a majority of councillors com- “What we have to do as a nation is west Asia (SWAC), which is mitted to the effort, Council President hold police accountable,” said Dem- one of the oldest of the three Lisa Bender told CNN: “We commit- ings, who has been mentioned as a regional commissions within ted to dismantling policing as we possible running mate for presump- the global locust early warn- know it in the city of Minneapolis and tive Democratic presidential nominee ing and prevention system. to rebuild with our community a new On Sunday, protesters in US cities began focusing their outrage over the death of the Joe Biden. Other members of the region- model of public safety that actually unarmed Floyd into demands for police reform and social justice. AFP It is unclear what support the pro- al commission include India, keeps our community safe.” Winter Park, Florida, began focusing ber’s presidential election he would posed reforms might find in the Iran and Afghanistan. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob their outrage over the death of the un- support Democrat Joe Biden. Republican-controlled Senate – or FAO spokesperson Aisha Frey is against getting rid of the de- armed Floyd into demands for police The president has ordered National whether Trump might sign such leg- Farooqui told a weekly me- partment, and the head of the city’s reform and social justice. Guard troops to begin withdrawing from islation into law. dia briefing that the ministe- powerful police union, Bob Kroll, ap- Mitt Romney, a Republican senator the nation’s capital, whose Mayor Muriel Some jurisdictions have moved al- rial meeting of the commission peared on stage last year with Presi- from Utah, joined a group of Christian Bowser, a Democrat who jousted with ready to embrace reforms – starting held in March had decided to dent Donald Trump. protesters marching toward the White Trump over the use of force in her city, with bans on the use of tear gas and reactivate communication be- The vow by the majority of councillors House. He tweeted photos of himself told Fox News that there had been no rubber bullets against protesters. tween the member states on the came a day after Frey was booed at and in the procession, along with the sim- arrests on Saturday despite the protests New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told locust situation and a Technical asked to leave a “Defund the Police” rally. ple caption, “Black Lives Matter”. which saw thousands moving through reporters on Sunday that he would and Operational Coordination He later told AFP he supported “massive Trump’s tough approach to putting the capital’s streets. cut the city’s police budget and shift (ToC) team was formed to ex- structural reform to revise this structur- down protests continued to draw ex- However, there were fires and van- some funds to youth and social ser- change information, enhance ally racist system” but not “abolishing ceptional rebukes from top retired mili- dalism a week earlier. vices, local media reported. coordination at the border ar- the entire police department”. tary officers, a group normally loath to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Trump seized on the call by some eas, and increase synchronisa- Bystander video of the incident criticise a civilian leader. Chad Wolf told ABC that Washington protesters to slash police funding to at- tion to combat desert locust – which captured Floyd calling for Former Joint Chiefs of Staff chair- had been “a city out of control” and tack Biden, tweeting without evidence outbreak in the region. his mother and saying he could not man Colin Powell joined them on denied a problem of systemic racism that “not only will Sleepy Joe Biden She said Pakistan had been breathe – has sparked two weeks Sunday, saying Trump had “drifted among police. DEFUND THE POLICE, but he will DE- participating in SWAC meet- of mostly peaceful demonstrations away” from the Constitution. Powell, The Trump administration has pro- FUND OUR MILITARY!” ings on a weekly basis, de- across the country. a Republican moderate, said Trump posed no specific policy changes in The president is scheduled to host a scribing the cooperation as On Sunday, protesters in cities in- had weakened the US’ position response to the widespread outrage roundtable with law enforcement on “fruitful” in exchanging infor- cluding Washington, New York and around the world and that in Novem- over Floyd’s death. Monday. AFP mation in the bordering areas of Pakistan and India. Pakistan and India are facing the worst locust attack in near- India sends ‘man-eater’ tiger to a lifetime in captivity ly three decades and it is feared that crops worth billions of ru- A TIGER blamed for killing re-wild but it habitually went man settlements, attacking cat- pees would be lost. This has led three people will spend the rest into human habitations” tle and endangering humans. to fears about food security in of its life in captivity, Indian of- “The only option left was to Finally, the tiger was tran- the two countries. ficials said on Sunday, saying put it in captivity to ensure both quilised and sent to a zoo in The FAO said the early the big cat was “too dangerous” the tiger and humans are safe.” Madhya Pradesh capital’s migration of locusts from to be allowed to roam free. The tiger – dubbed the Bhopal on Saturday. Pakistan to India started last The five-year-old male “vagabond” or “nomad” by Officials said the decision month and the situation is predator, also blamed for at- some local media – was first to capture the adult tiger was expected to aggravate further tacking cattle, had embarked trapped in December 2018 taken a few months ago but this month when swarms are on a trek more than 500km after its long journey and held was delayed due to the novel expected to arrive from Iran long from western Maha- in captivity for two months. coronavirus lockdown. and Horn of Africa. rashtra state to central In- The big cat was eventually Bhopal’s Van Vihar National The insects have, moreover, dia’s Betul district in Madhya fitted with a tracking collar Park director Kamlika Mohanta for the first time entered ar- Pradesh state in 2018. and shuttled between a tiger said: “It will take some time for eas in the two countries that Madhya Pradesh’s chief wild- reserve and a national park. him to adjust to the new envi- remained unaffected in pre- life warden SK Mandal said: But officials said it repeatedly ronment. We will be monitor- Nearly 225 people were killed in tiger attacks in India between 2014 vious invasions. DAWN (PAKISTAN)/ “We gave it several chances to strayed and hunted near hu- ing his behaviour. AFP and last year, government figures show.STR/AFP ASIA NEWS NETWORK Surge in Latin America as global virus toll passes 400,000 SURGING fatalities in Latin America employees or within Vatican City. in March and April was corrected, the deadly disease have given way toll, at 691, was the lowest it had been helped push the global coronavirus “Unfortunately in other countries – I pushing the toll up from 1,541 on Sat- to grave worries over the economy, in a week, shows a tally by Johns Hop- death toll above 400,000 on Sunday, am thinking of some of them – the vi- urday. encouraging European countries to kins University in the US state of Mary- even as Europe emerged from its vi- rus continues to claim many victims.” But in communist Cuba, President reopen borders and businesses, and land. rus lockdown with infections increas- Brazil has the world’s third-highest Miguel Diaz-Canel declared the pan- those throughout Asia and Africa to In Europe, countries are slowly ingly under control there. toll – more than 36,000 dead – but demic “under control” after the island slowly return to normal life. working towards a post-pandemic Pope Francis, addressing Catholics in President Jair Bolsonaro has criticised nation registered an eighth straight As of 1900 GMT, a total of 400,581 normal and trying to revive tourist Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday for the stay-at-home measures imposed by day without a death from Covid-19, deaths were recorded worldwide, ac- sectors in time for the summer and first time since the health emergency local officials and has threatened to leaving the toll at 83. cording to an AFP tally using official return to business. began, said the worst was over in Italy leave the World Health Organisation The number of infections has figures – a number that has doubled The UK government said on Sunday and expressed sympathy for those in (WHO). reached more than seven million in the past month and a half. it would reopen places of worship for hard-hit Latin American countries. Tolls are also rising sharply in Mex- worldwide since Covid-19 emerged While almost half of the deaths have individual prayer on June 15. “Your presence in the square is a ico, Peru and Ecuador, while in Chile, late last year, forcing much of the globe been recorded in Europe, the US re- The EU said it could reopen borders sign that in Italy the acute phase of total deaths have now reached 2,290. into lockdown and pushing the world mains the hardest-hit nation with to travellers from outside the region in the epidemic is over,” Francis said Chilean health minister Jaime economy towards its worst downturn more than 110,000 deaths, followed by early July after some countries within as the Vatican confirmed it had no Manalich said on Sunday that some since the Great Depression. Britain, whose toll exceeds 40,500. the bloc dropped restrictions on other more cases of Covid-19 among its miscounting pointed out by the WHO However, fears of a second wave of Late on Sunday, the US daily death European visitors. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN VN Covid-19 test kit permitted to be sold in Europe A NEW Covid-19 test kit devel- for testing at the Institute of oped by researchers of Hanoi Hygiene and Epidemiology. University of Science and The test kits work in all cases Technology has been granted and produce exact results. certification that allows the Hoa said that the second ver- biological product to be sold sion was developed with reduced in the European market. imported materials and used The university said the test domestic equivalents. kit is one of the very first in the He added that the second ver- world that uses RT-LAMP to sion had received CE-IVD cer- detect the Sars-CoV-2 patho- tification (European CE Mark- gen that causes Covid-19. ing for In-Vitro Diagnostic Led by Dr Le Quang Hoa, a devices), which allows distribu- lecturer of the university’s School tion across Europe, on May 25. of Biotechnology and Food The letters “CE” are from the Technology, and Dr Nguyen Le French phrase “Conformite Thu Ha from Innogenex Inter- Europeene” which means national Science and Technol- “European Conformity”. ogy Ltd Co, the research team CE Marking on a product is found the reverse transcription a manufacturer’s declaration loop-mediated isothermal that the product complies with amplification (RT-LAMP) tech- the essential requirements of nique could be used to detect the relevant European health, the novel coronavirus. safety and environmental pro- Malaysia will reopen schools in stages, allow domestic travel and limited social activities from Wednesday. AFP Testing results could be seen tection legislation, in practice with the naked eye thanks to by many of the so-called Prod- the changes in the colour of uct Directives. the indicator chemicals. CE Marking is required for all The RT-LAMP technique can in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) devic- Malaysia to ease curbs, allow produce results within 30 min- es sold in Europe. CE Marking utes while the RT-PCR test kits indicates that an IVD device which are also developed by complies with the European Vietnamese researchers In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices domestic travel, social activities require about 120 minutes. Directive (98/79/EC) and that Moreover, the kit does not the device may be legally com- ALAYSIA will to restart commercial activity ments at salons, and are now “But I want to remind ev- give out false positives for mercialised in the EU. further ease its in stages, amid rising unem- making plans to return to bad- eryone that if there is a surge other types of coronavirus Hoa told online newspaper coronavirus re- ployment that has reached its minton courts, bowling alleys in positive Covid-19 cases such as Sars-CoV, Mers-CoV, dantri.com.vn: “This is the strictions from highest in a decade. and hotels across the country. during this period, the gov- HKU4, HKU1, OC43 or 229E only Covid-19 test kit utilising MWednesday, with nearly all Most businesses were al- Kuala Lumpur-based bank- ernment will not hesitate to which cause other diseases. the RT-LAMP technique to social, economic and reli- lowed to reopen last month, er Sharon Lee, 40, said: “I was impose the enhanced MCO in Dr Hoa said under the frame- receive CE-IVD certification.” gious activities set to restart with strict social distancing considering a staycation in the affected areas,” he warned. work of a study by the Viet- He said his team was devel- while adhering to strict so- protocols in place. However, Klang Valley for my birthday Kuala Lumpur had, as at namese Ministry of Health, his oping the third version of the cial distancing protocols and schools remain shut, while next week, but now I am going April, rolled out 260 billion team and Sao Thai Duong JSC test kit in a freeze-dried form, safety measures. large social gatherings and to scour for promotions in the ringgit ($61 billion) in stimu- produced two versions of the which helps simplify transpor- Prime Minister Muhyiddin inter-state travel are banned. east coast or even Sabah.” lus packages to cushion the biological products RT-LAMP tation, thus helping them to Yassin announced on Sunday But beginning on Wednes- The number of new corona- economic blow from the cor- Covid-19. send the test kits to Covid-19- that the government would day, inter-state travel will be virus cases has largely been in onavirus pandemic. The first version of the test hit areas in the Americas and allow domestic travel and allowed except for areas under the double digits across the The government says these kit was licensed by the health Africa which face shortages of small-scale social activities, full lockdown – also known as past eight weeks, with spikes plans – which have cost the minister for temporary circu- testing equipment. VIET NAM and reopen schools in stages enhanced MCO – said Muhy- mostly due to clusters among Treasury 35 billion ringgit in lation so that it could be used NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK under the “recovery move- iddin. Schools will also be re- undocumented migrants held direct fiscal injections – have ment control order” (RMCO) opened in stages but interna- in detention centres. saved 2.4 million jobs, en- phase, which runs from tional borders will remain shut. Sunday saw 19 new coro- sured cash flow to 11 million Wednesday until August 31. Non-contact sports aside navirus cases, taking the cu- people and propped up over “Health ministry statistics from water sports will also be mulative total to 8,322, with 300,000 companies. show that the rate of infec- allowed, but entertainment more than 80 per cent of pa- On Friday, it announced an tion has been dropping and is outlets will remain shut. Large tients discharged. The death additional stimulus package under control,” he said in an gatherings are still prohibited. toll remained at 117. – the “national economic re- address broadcast nationally This follows the govern- Muhyiddin said the RMCO covery plan” – worth 35 billion across social media and tele- ment’s announcement on would require the public to take ringgit that will cost public cof- vision channels. Saturday that hair salons and up the responsibilities of the fers another 10 billion ringgit. The movement control or- beauty parlours would be al- “new normal” with regards to Malaysia expects the econ- der (MCO) was first relaxed lowed to open from Wednes- hygiene and social distancing. omy to go into recession this on May 4, six weeks after strict day, while open-air markets He added that if the recovery year, with unemployment set restrictions that closed most of and bazaars can resume op- phase is successful, it would to reach as high as 5.5 per cent the economy and the country’s erations from June 15. be replaced with a normali- out of the 16 million-strong borders were first imposed. Many Malaysians had al- sation period after August 31 labour force. THE STRAITS TIMES Dr Le Quang Hoa (in black) and his team developed the Covid-19 test kit The government has sought ready begun booking appoint- until a vaccine is found. (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK RT-LAMP to detect Sara-CoV-2. DANTRI.COM.VN Japan grants Laos $13.7M for virus response THE Japanese government has and the Ambassador of Japan nations, including Laos and This year marks the 65th provided grant aid worth 1.5 to Laos Keizo Takewaka, wit- Japan, so it is essential to make a anniversary of Japan-Laos dip- billion yen ($13.7 million) for nessed by representatives from concerted effort to minimise the lomatic relations and the fifth the purchase of medical equip- Lao line ministries. impacts of the deadly disease. anniversary of the bilateral ment to support Laos’ efforts The grant aid will be used to Japan has been making a strategic partnership. to cope with a further outbreak provide the Lao government continuous effort towards the Speaking at the signing cer- of Covid-19. with equipment such as ambu- realisation of Universal Health emony, Ambassador Takewaka An Exchange of Notes for the lances and hospital beds. Coverage as part of the Sus- said: “Japan, as a strategic grant aid project titled Eco- While Laos has managed to tainable Development Goals. partner of Laos, pays respect nomic and Social Development contain the spread of Covid- In line with the concept “No to and supports the efforts of Programme was signed at the 19, it is critical to strengthen One Left Behind”, the medical the Lao government to over- Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the health system nationwide equipment provided under this come this difficult situation. Vientiane late last week. in preparedness for a possible project is expected to be utilised “Through this grant aid, we The notes were signed and second wave of the virus. effectively throughout Laos, wish to go forward hand in exchanged by Lao Deputy The global spread of Covid-19 especially in local communities hand beyond the current dif- An Exchange of Notes for the grant aid project was signed at the Ministry Minister of Foreign Affairs poses a profound threat to both where the healthcare system is ficulties,” he said. VIENTIANE TIMES/ of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane late last week. VIENTIANE TIMES Thongsavanh Phomvihane the economies and people of all particularly vulnerable. ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Kingdom’s agro-processingwww.phnompenhpost.com potential www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNELThe Kingdom should help this sec- Opinion tor by favouring taxation, technical Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Nith Kosal and financial support to firms. Like- Ly Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief wise, the public universities that pro- Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua purushotman GRO-processing is the future vide agro-processing training and Joshua purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer of Cambodia’s agricultural stakeholders should contribute to the Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith industry. In recent months, improvement of research and devel- Deputy Chief of Staff Prime Minister Hun Sen has Sam Rith opment (R&D) with the enterprise to phak Seangly calledA on local and foreign investors Deputy Chiefdiscover of Staff a new product, technical, Business Editor phak Seangly to inject more funding into the sector, and technological innovation. May Kunmakara Business Editor and researchers from institutions like In terms of taxation, the Cambodi- Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara the World Bank agree. Increasing an government must make support- Sangeetha amarthalingam Deputy Business Editor Cambodia’s agro-processing capacity ing investment to the agro-process- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath has the potential to enhance agricul- ing industry a policy priority. pan Simala tural and socioeco4nomic develop- Deputy Head ofBoth Lifestyle Thailand Desk and Vietnam have Senior Reporters ment significantly. pan Simala given heavy policy support to their Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng But at the moment, Cambodia is Senior Reportersrespective agro-processing industries. Reporters wasting this potential. Meas Sokchea,The Niem Thai Chheng government, for example, Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long Agro-processing, which links the Reporters created Food Innopolis, a global food Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin pisei, Soth agricultural and manufacturing sec- Khouth Sophakinnovation Chakrya, Kim Sarom, hub focusingLong on research, Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung tors, takes raw and intermediate mate- development, and innovation for the Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin pisei, Soth Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan rials – including crops, livestock, fish food industry. The platform offers Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers and forest materials – and turns them multiple types of tax exemptions, Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea into finished, marketable products. including on research and develop- Web Editor Ry Sochan For example, Cambodia exports Cambodia exports rice to the international market. But other, potentially even more ment equipment, exclusive licences to Leang phannara Photographers rice to the international market. But profitable, opportunities exist. Cambodia could add value by processing its rice into other own land, permanent resident visa, Webmasters products like sake, vinegar, noodles, bread, or milk. afp other, potentially even more profita- Heng Chivoan,and Hong other Menea benefits. Investors also can Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea ble, opportunities exist. Cambodia Web Editor obtain additional funding from SIEM REAP BUREAU could add value by processing its rice Vietnam and Thailand. Just 10 per announced that there would be aLeang phannaranumerous government agencies. Offi ce Manager into other products like sake, vinegar, cent of Cambodia’s agricultural mate- reduction in electricity tariffs for Webmasterscon- Vietnam has made itself highly Sophearith Blondeel noodles, bread, or milk. rials are processed domestically – a sumers in six provinces that exportSous to Chanthy, attractive pang Vichea for foreign and local inves- PRODUCTION & PRINTING The benefits of linking agriculture figure that has remained relatively Vietnam in 2020. For agricultural SIEMSME REAPs BUREAUtors in terms of food processing by Head of Desktop Publishing with manufacturing is clear. A stagnant since 1998. operating in these provinces, the Officost ce Manageroffering preferential tax policies for Nhim Sokphyrak processing plant located in a rural This figure shows there are obvious reduced to $0.1370 per kWh and Sophearith Blondeelinvestors. Vietnamese processed agri- Desktop Publishing area, for example, could serve as an investment opportunities and room $0.1580 per kWh for large enterprises. cultural products are currently being Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING additional buyer for local farmers for gains in the agro-processing indus- exported to as many as 200 countries. Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing and potentially help to spur on agri- try in Cambodia. And the Cambodian Remaining constraints The Cambodian government must Nhim Sokphyrak cultural productivity. Such a plant government is making some efforts to But Cambodia is not yet ready to tru- also step up its support to R&D for HEAD OFFICE would add value and often quality to help this nascent sector along. ly take advantage of agro-processing.Desktop Publishingthis sector. Thailand attributes much local domestic products. And, cru- Under the Industrial Development According to a 2016 survey from CamSuon Savatdy,- ofChum its Sokunthy, competitiveness Danh Borath in the food cially, other economic activities asso- Policy, which is set to guide decision- bodian market research firm BDLITepN ThoeunK, Thyda,industry Tim Borith, toThan its Veasna increased investment ciated with agro-processing, like making from 2015-2025, the Kingdom there are many constraints for this sec- in R&D and technological innova- Post Media Co, Ltd. packaging, retailing, marketing, and plans to increase the export of proc- tor, such as irregular and insufficient HEAD OFFICEtion. Those innovations have facili- The Elements Condominium Level 7, transporting goods, all generate jobs. essed agricultural products to 12 per supply of raw materials, a lack of tated an industry that maintains low Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, The experiences of neighbouring cent by 2025. To achieve this, the gov- skilled workers for necessary mainte- physical costs and flexible manufac- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom countries provide the best argument ernment has set meaningful goals, nance and operation of the processing turing structures. But it is not easy to Penh, Cambodia for the kind of growth the agro- including identifying growth opportu- machinery as well as unreliable transPost Media- Co,do Ltd. so for Cambodia agro-processing Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 processing industry could create in nities for Cambodian agro-processing portation and poor road quality. The ElementsSM CondominiumEs that have Level 7, limited cash flows; Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 Cambodia. Thailand’s agro-processing businesses, and identifying priority Historically, transportation costHun has Sen Boulevardthey ,cannot Phum Prek improve Talong, their workforce, SIEM REAP industry makes use of 80 per cent of products for processing and export. been another big constraint. In Sangkat2013, Chakcapital Angre Krom, and Phnom technical Penh, progress. No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune the country’s agricultural raw materi- To attract foreign investment in transportation of goods in CambodiaCambodia In terms of improving financing, Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 als. In 2017, that sector was worth $102 Cambodian agro-processing, compa- cost $10/100km/tonne. That’s com- SIEM REAP two institutions could have a critical billion or 23 per cent of GDP. Vietnam’s nies registered as Qualified Investment pared with $7/100km/tonne in Viet- role to play: the Agricultural and COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune agro-processing sector was worth $44 Project (QIP) can benefit from a tax nam, and $5/100km/tonne in Thai- Rural Development Bank (ARDB) as Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 billion or 15 per cent of the GDP in exemption of 40 per cent and a tax hol- land, according to the World Bank. well as the forthcoming SME Bank. In James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT 2018. In Thailand, as many as 9,000 iday for three years as well as another In terms of logistical performance 2018, the ARDB provided $159.11 Advertising Department agro-processing companies employ priority period of three years. QIPs also Cambodia falls short of its neighboursChief Operatingas million Offi cer of total loans to local enter- Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Hun Channet, 017 578 768 more than 1.1 million people, and in benefit from Special Economic Zones – well. In 2018, Cambodia received aJames score Ong Soonprises. Teck And, the SME Bank will soon prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 Vietnam 9,428 processing companies these zones have privileges such as an of 2.58 from the World Bank’s LogisticsAdvertising Departmentoperate in the hope of stimulating Keo puthy, 012 966 605 employ more than 600,000 people. additional budget for infrastructure, Performance Index, which takes intoChap Narith, agro-processing017 996 241 and other SMEs with phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 public works, and civil servants who account factors like customs, infrastrucHun Channet,- an 017 initial 578 768 capital of $100 million. Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 Growth opportunities provide immediate assistance as ture, international shipments, logisticsprach Monnyreak,Cambodia 012 123 7777 can be doing more with CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION In comparison, the agro-processing required. Investors can also benefit quality and competence putting the CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION its agricultural production than it is Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager industry contributed only $589.83 from free trade agreements such as the country at a rank of 98 out of 160 coun- right now. But to capitalise on the Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy million or 2.4 per cent of Cambodia’s Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme, tries. While Thailand received a score of potential, it will take willingness on the Circulation Supervisor GDP in 2018, according to the the Generalised System of Preferrences 3.41 with rank 32 and Vietnam received ADMINISTRATION part of the government to put these Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 National Institute of Statistics. (GSP), and the ASEAN Free Trade Area a score of 3.71 with rank 39. Admin & HR Managerpolicy pieces in place to attract and Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 Currently, much of Cambodia’s to export commodities. And the lack of information onpich mar Socheat- support investment in this industry. ADMINISTRATION agricultural exports are raw products The Kingdom is also working to ket and market access, informal Assistantspay- to Admin & HR Manager Admin & HR Manager The author is a young research fellow at Future like cashew nuts, mangoes, rubber, reduce the cost of electricity, which ments, intensive manual and adminNhel Soaphea- pich Socheat and cassava. Rather than investing in constitutes a large constraint for istrative export procedures, and Forum, an independent public policy think tank Financial Directorbased in Phnom Penh. His research covers Assistants to Admin & HR Manager a domestic processing industry these processing businesses. In January, intense competition with imported Heang Tangmengfinancial subsidy policy and agricultural price Nhel Soaphea goods are sent to be processed in Cambodia’s Electricity Authority products remain big challenges. policy in Cambodia. Financial Director Chief Accountant Heang Tangmeng Sren Vicheka Chief Accountant Treasurers Sren Vicheka Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Treasurers Cheam Sopheak Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, IT Manager Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary Seng Nak, Vong Oun IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun TO CONTACT US [email protected] TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Vietnam’s millenials: Let’s talk about sex

UONG has had school in Vietnam, has result- condoms and abortion pills two abortions in ed in some relying on abor- easily available. two years. tion as a form of birth control, But the generation gap has No one had ever experts say. left young people without talkedH to her about sex – not Talking about sex is “sort of information and support as her parents, not her teach- forbidden”, says Hoang Linh, their sex lives evolve. ers – and her friends knew as a 23-year-old on a mission Parents edge away from the little as she did. to change outdated attitudes topic of safe sex and society “I was terrified when I found in a country unused to open “has no idea what sex educa- out I was pregnant . . . I think discussion about sex or gen- tion is and how to do it”, said if we had been told about safe der identity. Linh, who recalled her own sex, we would not have fallen Vietnam has a young popu- biology teacher attempting to into this trap,” the 20-year- lation and their sexual values cover reproduction without old explains. have vaulted the conserva- explaining what sex was to a She is not alone. A lack of tive barriers of a Communist group of confused 13-year- sex education at home or in country, with dating apps, olds. Together with three friends all in their early 20s, Linh runs sex education start-up We- Grow Edu from a co-working From demonstrations on how to use a condom to more nuanced discussions about gender roles, WeGrow space in Hanoi, where they Edu’s classes aim to deliver essential information. afp stash gift boxes filled with sanitary pads, pregnancy and pharmacy. While abor- She later learned a little turbation and STDs to con- tests and condoms – as well tion pills – meant to be signed about contraceptives when traception. as vital guides on how and off by a doctor – are also on dating her boyfriend, but not “[Adults] mostly try to avoid when teens might use them. offer in some chemists pre- enough to prevent her falling talking to us about the topic,” “It’s not difficult to get con- scription-free. pregnant again at 18. She was says Ngo Quang Huy, 17. traception in Vietnam but the Abortion rates, although able to use easily accessible A report by Human Rights social stigma around it is so declining, are still high, fam- pills for the abortion. Watch in February said that heavy,” she said. ily planning experts said. Vietnam’s sex education poli- In 2005, there were 37 abor- ‘Scared parents and teachers’ cies and practices fell short of Abortion as a contraceptive tions for every 100 babies Nguyen Van Cong, a 33- international standards, and From demonstrations on born, according to health year-old trained doctor and were silent on LGBT issues. how to use a condom to more ministry data cited by the UN founder of health educa- WeGrow Edu, partially nuanced discussions about Population Fund (UNFPA). tion programme “We Are funded by the US embassy in gender roles, WeGrow Edu’s By last year, the official Grown Up”, says his team has Vietnam, is now working with classes aim to deliver essen- figure had dropped to 12, al- taught thousands of school around 20 schools in Hanoi. tial information to Vietnam’s though the UNFPA says the kids about safe sex and birth As well as their gift boxes youth. actual number is thought to control to combat the “wor- with contraceptives for teens, For decades, Vietnam en- be higher given a quarter of rying trend” where “abortion children as young as four are forced a two-child policy but abortions take place in pri- is considered a contraceptive given books explaining the had little comprehensive in- vate practices. method”. basics of consent. formation on reproductive Huong, a pseudonym to While society has become And while the boxes are health and no access to free protect her identity, says she more permissive and young priced at $50, way out of family planning services. had no idea what to do when people have discarded taboos reach of the average Vietnam- That led to one of the world’s she discovered she was first surrounding pre-marital sex, ese parent, Linh said demand highest rates of abortion, said pregnant, aged 16, after hav- Cong believes parents and is high. Guttmacher Institute, a US ing sex with a friend, and had teachers “are always scared” “Even my friends, when pro-choice research organisa- to ask an older girlfriend for to discuss the topic for fear of they first received the gift tion based in New York City. help. encouraging sexual activity. box had to confess that it was The scheme was scrapped “It really hurt. [After,] I felt He spoke on the sidelines of their first time touching a years ago and condoms are . . . so insecure and empty,” a sex ed class at Hanoi school, condom,” she explained. Hoang Linh, the 23-year-old founder of WeGrow Edu, is on a mission to now cheap and available at she says of the procedure at a where teens were urged to “And that’s the case for most change outdated attitudes about sex. afp almost every supermarket private clinic. discuss everything from mas- people.” AFP Bangladesh police officers fight pandemic with yoga

SITTING CROSS-LEGGED on Dhaka police’s diplomatic sonnel will participate in the mats in a courtyard, dozens of security division, which initi- sessions. Bangladesh policemen ated the yoga sessions on Sun- Yoga instructor Shama breathed in and out in sync as day. Makhing, who led some 100 they took part in mass yoga “It was important to keep officers in stretching and sessions organised to boost them stress-free during duty,” breathing exercises early on their health during the coro- he said. Monday, said the ancient prac- navirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases in the tice from India would support Police officers played a key impoverished nation were ris- the officers physically and role in enforcing a lockdown ing daily even during the lock- mentally. in the country of 168 million down, and experts fear there “They cannot skip duty,” people before it was lifted at could be sharper increases with said Makhing. “Therefore it is the end of May. the economy now opening up. important for the policemen But the virus has also infect- In congested Dhaka, main- to be fit. Yoga . . . can help with ed more than 6,000 officers taining social distancing has their breathing.” throughout Bangladesh, with been difficult for locals, add- The unit’s deputy chief 19 dying of Covid-19. ing to the pressure on police Muhit Kabir Sarneabat said In the capital Dhaka, at least and other law enforcement police were considering roll- 1,850 policemen got the dis- agencies, said Saha. ing out yoga and other physi- ease and 10 died, government “We were instructed to do cal exercises for officers in figures show. what could be done to mor- other divisions. “They are playing a vital role ally boost the force amid this Bangladesh has reported staying on the streets to main- crisis. This yoga is a part of more than 68,500 virus cases tain law and order,” said Rajon that mission for us,” he said, including over 930 deaths. Police in Bangladesh are using mass yoga sessions to boost their health and ward off Covid-19 after 6,000 Kumar Saha, a spokesman for adding that up to 1,200 per- AFP officers in the country were infected. afp THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Iranian photographer sees chance for solidarity RANIAN photographer Gohar Dashti has created a body of work that explores the relation- ship between nature, human Imigration and the ripple effects of conflict and social upheaval. The coronavirus pandemic presents, she believes, an opportu- nity to remind us of our mutual responsibility toward each other. With the pandemic creating a col- lective sense of unmooring from the familiar, what is important is that “it will make us understand that we’re all in the same boat”, she said. “This is a shared pain,” she said from Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US, where she has been based for several years. “I hope that from this situation, we will come to an understanding that the world is one. If a tree is cut in Africa, it impacts the life of someone in France,” said the 40-year-old pho- tographer and video artist. “It’s good that we understand the relationship between the world, economy and nature and maybe this epidemic has allowed us to think about all these issues again.” Nature and its relationship to man- kind trace a thread through Dashti’s 15-year oeuvre – exhibited worldwide and featured in prestigious perma- nent collections – with nature often acting as a foil for examining social issues and identity in her large-scale, Gohar Dashti says she hopes people in wealthy countries realise amid the pandemic that they are not unaffected by the suffering of others around the world. hamed noori/afp staged photographs. Dashti’s own life was marked by ing of others around the world. between people and the commend- conflict and its legacy. She was born She said: “What is much more impor- able efforts of medical staff, they have in Iran’s Khuzestan province at the tant to me is the view of countries with been able to manage the crisis. start of the Iran-Iraq war that ravaged high economic power. For them to “In my opinion, the people in Iran the oil-rich eastern region that bor- understand that they are not separate have shown a lot of solidarity – one ders Iraq and killed hundreds of . . . we all live in the same world. reason is that they are a people that thousands from 1980-1988. “Sometimes we see something like have known crisis,” she said. war in the media and think that it has ‘Not separate’ nothing to do with us – that’s Afghan- Resilience One of her series, Today’s Life and istan’s problem or that’s Yemen’s prob- Resilience to the anxiety triggered War, placed a couple going about lem. by uncertainty is something Dashti day-to-day domestic life – cooking, “But what’s happening now shows thinks we can learn from the pan- watching TV, hanging up washing – that it has to do with all of us. If a war demic. amid the trappings of a battlefield, breaks out in Yemen or in Afghani- She said: “The conditions created with tanks and soldiers looming in stan, it also has an effect on our lives, by the coronavirus all over the world the background. so we can’t stay silent.” teach us how to live with instability. Another series, Stateless, produced She said her compatriots in Iran, “In my opinion, artists and migrants in 2014-2015, features scenes similar which is facing the deadliest corona- can deal with these situations better. to those familiar in news coverage of virus outbreak in the Middle East, They know how to live and work with refugees and migrants but rendered had rallied in solidarity in the face of an uncharted future.” A photograph, taken in the US, placed within a natural setting in Iran as part of the Land/s photo project. COURTESY OF GOHAR DASHTI/AFP stark and semi-theatrical against vast the pandemic, drawing on resilience Thrown into her own state of uncer- and towering landscapes. from previous crises. tainty with exhibitions of her work world, experiencing a change of “Another activity that I love is to take Touching on ongoing conflicts, she “Iran, like all countries, was taken Land/s – a meditation on finding the pace. walks in nature. said she hopes people, particularly unawares by the virus and experienced familiar in foreign landscapes – can- “I am spending a lot of time with “More and more I think I should those in wealthy countries, will come very difficult conditions and continues celled or postponed, Dashti is still my four-year-old son, giving him les- pay more attention to and work on to recognise amid the pandemic that to see very difficult conditions. working on a film about the project, sons. Really, I feel like I have never nature and its relationship with they are not unaffected by the suffer- “But, really, with the cooperation but like many others around the spent so much with him,” she said. humanity.” AFP Thai robot dog hounds shoppers to sanitise A scurrying robot dog named K9 dis- ROC, which checks temperatures, and penses hand sanitiser to curious children LISA, a customer service-bot. and wary shoppers, one of the more unex- “For K9 especially, people just think pected measures Thai malls are taking as it’s really cute,” said Petra, adding that the kingdom relaxes virus restrictions. they hope to dispel any fiction-fuelled The hi-tech hound is controlled using fear of a robot takeover. 5G, a technology promising super-fast “The robots are here to assist people, internet speeds with immediate reac- not to replace them.” tion times that is still in the initial But shopper Lapassanan Buranap- stages of roll out in Thailand. atpakorn was unconvinced, saying Mimicking an excited puppy, K9 roams that she found K9’s skeletal mechani- around the popular Central World mall in cal frame “creepy”. downtown Bangkok, drawing the atten- “I think the execution, like the robot tion of delighted children eager to get itself, is a bit scary,” said the 29-year- gel from a bottle attached to its back. old, though she admitted that giving “It’s convenient for people to wash out hand sanitiser is a “good idea”. their hands, just like a preventive meas- Thailand has gradually lifted restric- ure . . . especially in this Covid-19 situa- tion on businesses, which have taken tion,” said Petra Saktidejbhanubandh, a precautions such as seating customers marketing officer for mobile operator apart in restaurants or erecting plastic Advanced Info Service Pcl (AIS). dividers in massage parlours. AIS is aiming to roll out a 5G network The kingdom currently has 3,119 for smartphones by the end of the year. confirmed cases of the virus and 58 K9, a 5G-powered robot dog, greets a shopper with hand sanitiser at a Bangkok shopping mall. AFP K9’s 5G-powered comrades include deaths as of Monday. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Cyclist Talant Akynbekov (right) is one of 20 volunteers delivering needed insulin to Bishkek seniors. AFP Kyrgyzstan’s cyclists pedal past lockdown “APTLY PUT” ACROSS 50 Flying diver 22 ___ step farther 1 They whistle and point 52 It may be highlighted by a 25 Topmost points 5 Certain New Zealander meteorologist 26 One who’ll check you out to deliver medicine 10 “Hyper” ending 61 Parkay, for one 27 Itsy-bitsy 14 Deseret, today 62 Perform penance 29 Observer 30 Group values YRGYZSTAN’S coro- pulsory mask wearing. from the hospital and bright 15 How some might think or read 63 Neighbor of Java 31 City near Assisi navirus restrictions “I am one of these at risk orange vests that helped 16 Bad to the bone 64 Thickening agent in foods 32 Olympian’s award may have been ones,” she told AFP in the them pass cumbersome 17 Canned fish 65 Automotive window treatments 33 One who has a ball? relaxed in recent tumbledown courtyard of her checkpoints, the volunteers 18 “Silly” bird 66 Expressed by word of mouth 34 Sneak ___ (look quickly) weeks,K but 73-year-old diabe- Soviet-era apartment building. delivered up to 70 packages 19 Spool 67 Move quickly 36 Broke the fast 68 Cereal grass fungus tes patient Lyudmila Kuten- The emergence in March of medicine a day, said Omur- 20 Like a to-do list priority 38 “Silent Spring” killer kova isn’t yet ready to part of coronavirus cases in Kyr- kanova. 23 Dallas univ. 69 Embargoes DOWN 40 Make queasy ways with the man she calls gyzstan – one of the poorest “We are so thankful to them. 24 Place to park 41 Debate topic 1 The Babe “my guy”. of the countries that gained They literally saved us,” said 25 Pretend 46 A good place to belly up to 2 Case for combs, perfumes, etc. 28 Identity thief? 47 Most uncommon Her guy – 50-year-old Talant independence with the 1991 the doctor. 3 Snake’s tooth 32 Postgrad deg. 49 SUV part? Akynbekov – is one of 20 vol- collapse of the Soviet Union – Kyrgyzstan, a majority Mus- 4 Pre-Ayatollah rulers 35 All washed up? 51 “Shish” dish (var.) unteers who began delivering created unprecedented chal- lim country of six million, 5 Selleck role 37 Cookie maker Spunkmeyer 52 Burden insulin to patients by bicycle lenges for the Central Asian has 587 active coronavirus 6 “That was ___ of fun!” 38 ___ blue sea 53 Sister of Chekhov’s Masha and when the authorities locked country’s underfunded health cases, out of a total of just 7 “Aaah” companion 39 Come to a compromise Irina 8 Crafty move down the capital Bishkek in system. 2,032, Ministry of Health data 42 Seabird 54 Have on 9 High-mindedness March to slow the spread of In addition to chronic short- showed on Monday. 43 Old animated heroine Flux 55 Be up and about 10 Special Forces headwear the virus. ages of protective equipment, But health experts caution 44 Hackneyed 56 Dance partner? 11 You might get your mitts on it Now shops have reopened hospitals in the capital lacked that testing rates in the coun- 57 “Do ___ others ...” 45 Plane’s place 12 Told a fish story and buses are back on the the means to bring staff to try and surrounding region 58 ___ avis (uncommon thing) 46 College VIPs 13 “First lady of song” Fitzgerald 59 Lively spirit road, but vulnerable groups work as stringent restrictions remain low, and a second 48 Albanian currency 21 Certain Arab League member that face a grave health threat on movement entered force. wave later this year could be 49 Airline based in Stockholm 60 Feels achy and weak if infected still sorely need the Borrowing fridge space devastating. Omurkanova said the gov- Monday’s solution We need to do as much ernment is scaling up infor- mation campaigns about her as possible to safeguard patients’ vulnerability to the our diabetes patients and virus. “We need to do as much elderly citizens as possible to safeguard our diabetes patients and elderly volunteer culture the lock- from drinks companies, the citizens. [If we don’t] the con- down spawned. country’s top endocrinologi- sequences will be bleak.” “He is such a wonderful guy, cal centre was able to stock- For Akynbekov, who cycled so helpful and kind,” Kuten- pile insulin, which needs to be 30 to 50km every day during kova gushed after Akynbekov, stored at low temperatures. lockdown, the pandemic’s a fit, lean bike fanatic and But an agreement struck economic crush has meant cameraman by trade, ran the with the state postal compa- temporary unemployment – gauntlet of Bishkek’s morning ny to ensure deliveries in the the government cut funding Monday’s solution traffic to hand her a brown capital fell apart over lock- for new projects at the state package containing the vital down logistics. film studio where he worked. medicine. But he plans to continue “What would we have done Cyclists ‘literally saved us’ insulin deliveries, he said, without them?” she asked. Nazgul Omurkanova, the and hopes the cyclists’ efforts Kutenkova, who lives alone, centre’s chief doctor, said will earn them some space on said that her pension of less that ensuring deliveries for Bishkek’s choked roads. than $100 a month is not diabetes patients would have “It would be good if some enough to regularly take taxis been impossible without the of our younger drivers looked to pick up her medicine. 20 bike volunteers – part of a out for us more often,” Akyn- She is also reluctant to gamble larger collective that delivered bekov said. “We show respect with her health on public trans- food supplies to pensioners to [motor] transport and we port despite new restrictions on and disabled people. demand that respect in re- passenger numbers and com- Armed with documents turn.” AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Taylor Townsend discusses race and tennis AYLOR Townsend says at one time or another she has been mistaken for ev- ery other US female black tennisT player, including Venus Wil- liams. “Everybody sees a black person and they assume that it’s Venus or Serena [Williams] or Sloane [Ste- phens],” the 24-year-old Townsend said in a Tennis United video while talking about the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, in the US. “I’ve been literally all of them down the list except for myself.” Townsend, who is ranked 73 in the world, recently had a fan insist she had to be the rising US star 16-year- old Coco Gauff. “I’ve had people argue with me to tell me that I’m Coco Gauff. I’m not Coco Gauff, but all of us look the same, all of us are built the same,” said Townsend. Townsend said she gets treated differently by security personnel at tournaments, which usually means extra screening at checkpoints to “make sure that I belong”. “Even from the aspect of, you walk through and nobody stops you, and I’m walking through and somebody has to check my bag, check my cre- dential, check my coach’s bag, check my coach’s credential. “This is our reality. It happens all the time – week in, week out, every tournament that I play in the States, overseas, it doesn’t matter. “This is not the first time this has happened,” Townsend said, re- ferring to the protests sparked by Townsend (left) says she is often subjected to extra screenings at security checkpoints to ‘make sure that I belong’. AFP Floyd’s death. “But this is one of the bigger events that has caused such a letes joined – and even led – protest walk down the street. I don’t want second-degree murder and man- in the same location as the NBA club’s mass eruption of people’s emotions. marches in cities across the US on my kid to have hate in his heart. slaughter, while three other officers championship rallies and parades. “It’s not going to change. I don’t the weekend. “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter have been charged with abetting On Saturday, NFL quarterback expect it to change. Hopefully, this A number of Milwaukee Bucks the colour. We’re not black, white, murder and manslaughter. Dwayne Haskins, of the Washing- [Black Lives Matter protests] just players marched and spoke on Sat- yellow. It doesn’t matter. We’re all On Wednesday, NBA star Stephen ton Redskins, attended protests in creates a safe space and an aware- urday at a rally in the city, including human beings.” Curry chanted the name “George Washington, DC. ness for people to want to talk about NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Giannis’s brother, Thanasis, and Floyd” as he and some of his Golden Haskins met with Mayor Muriel it. To be able to put yourself in some- who sported a shirt that read: “I can’t several other Bucks players includ- State Warrior teammates joined a Bowser before marching with dem- one else’s shoes.” breathe.” ing Brook Lopez, Sterling Brown, throng of protesters at a peaceful onstrators across the city. “We want change,” Antetokoun- Donte DiVincenzo, Frank Mason march in California. NHL star Zdeno Chara marched ‘All human beings’ mpo, of Greece, said in address to and Cam Reynolds also marched. As some protesters called for oth- through the streets of Boston to The actual Coco Gauff recently other protestors. They all wore shirts reading, “I can’t ers to “say his name”, Curry was show his support for the black com- attended a Black Lives Matter pro- “We want justice. That’s why we’re breathe”, a reference to Floyd’s last among those shouting: “George munity. test where she delivered a heart-felt out here. That’s what we’re going to words. Floyd was killed when officer Floyd!” “For the last 13 days I have been speech, adding her voice to those de- do today. That’s why I’m going to Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeled The march, which also included sick about George Floyd’s murder,” manding racial equality in the US. march with you guys. I want my kid on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Warriors Klay Thompson, Kevon said Boston Bruins captain Chara, Several US and international ath- to grow up and not to be scared to Chauvin has been charged with Looney and Damion Lee, took place who is from Slovakia. AFP Sydney makes surprise bid for Fury-Wilder rematch

AUSTRALIAN city Sydney has comments. possibility,” said Arum, who made an audacious bid to host Following a controversial previously promoted ring a blockbuster heavyweight draw in December 2018, Brit- great Manny’s Pacquiao’s bout rematch between Tyson Fury ain’s Fury, unbeaten as a pro- against Australian Jeff Horn in and Deontay Wilder, with pro- fessional, overpowered the US’ Brisbane. moters eyeing Boxing Day for Wilder in Las Vegas in Febru- “There are six big casino the trilogy superfight. ary, beating him in seven properties in Macau,” he add- Promoter Dean Lonergan rounds. ed. “We’ve talked to them. has tentatively booked Bank- Wilder has activated the They’re ready to put up money west Stadium in the city’s west rematch clause in his contract, for the Fury fight against Wild- for the bout, The Australian with a time yet to be fixed after er in November or Decem- reported on Monday. Semi- the original date of July 18 was ber.” autonomous Chinese city scrapped because of the coro- Lonergan said Boxing Day Macau is also in the running. navirus pandemic. would be symbolic, marking “I put a proposal to [Top Arum confirmed in a Sky 108 years to the day since Afri- Rank promoter] Bob Arum Sports interview at the week- can-American Jack Johnson about six weeks ago by way of end that Sydney was in the was crowned the first black email to bring down here the mix, along with Macau. Both heavyweight champion by world heavyweight title fight cities have got on top of Covid- beating Tommy Burns in a between Deontay Wilder and 19, and appear more likely to world title bout in Sydney. Tyson Fury,” Lonergan told the allow fans than the US or Brit- “Jack Johnson was the first newspaper. ain. Afro-American to crack the big “The day I suggested was Las Vegas could still host the time in the US. I think it would December 26 here so we would fight if spectators are allowed be incredibly significant if you [broadcast] to the USA on back into venues. did it down here to celebrate Christmas night.” “Our friends in Australia are what he did all those years ago Lonergan wasn’t immedi- talking about doing this fight, to chase Tommy Burns down,” Britain’s Fury (right) overpowered the US’ Wilder in Las Vegas in February, beating him in seven rounds. AFP ately available to confirm the probably in Sydney. That’s a he said. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST june 9, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport O’Brien feels the ‘Love’ in sixth English 1000 Guineas OVE won the English O’Brien at a press conference. 1000 Guineas flat “They [the team] were all horse race on Sun- really sweet on her and Ryan day at Newmarket to gave her a beautiful ride. Lgive trainer Aidan O’Brien his “I think Ryan had her in a sixth win in the race. lovely smooth rhythm. Ryan Moore took control in “She is a very well balanced the final furlong, forging clear and very genuine and you could of long time leader Cloak of see that in the way she never Spirits while favourite Quad- eased up and ran to the line.” rilateral was third. The 50-year-old Irishman Love’s victory was O’Brien’s – whose Wichita finished run- fourth win in the last five run- ner-up to Kameko in Saturday’s nings of the race and her per- fastest ever 2000 Guineas – said formance shot her to favourit- the only doubts he had over ism for the Oaks, which is half a Love were due to the fluctuat- Jockey Ryan Moore took control in the final furlong, forging past leader Cloak of Spirits. afp mile longer, on July 4 at Epsom. ing dates of racing resuming. Moore and his mount re- He said: “It is a little bit tricky, about her staying the extra four the fourth time, Moore said ner Hermosa [trained by Watson – who at least had a turned to an empty winners a little bit stop and start . . . furlongs (800m) in the Oaks. they had always thought a lot O’Brien but Wayne Lordan decent ride after performing enclosure. No spectators are Usually you have a target then “The Oaks is going to suit of the horse after an impres- rode her as Moore opted for acrobatics to stay on Kenzai allowed under regulations put it moves and makes things a her very well,” said O’Brien, sive campaign as a two-year- another of his runners] in Warrior in the 2000 Guineas in place when racing resumed little bit complicated. who has won the race on sev- old last year. that she is very tough.” on Saturday – suggested there after being shut down by the “Some horses go forwards, en occasions. He said: “She is a very uncom- The jockeys of the placed might be a rematch with the coronavirus pandemic. some stand still and others “We always thought she plicated filly and a dream to horses had few complaints. winner in The Oaks. O’Brien watched the race don’t thrive . . . However all would stay. This is a very nice ride . . . She had the race under Andrea Atzeni said: “She “She ran a really good race from his stables in Ireland. the team was very focused starting point for her.” control early on and it was very [Cloak of Spirits] ran a blinder as she probably needs fur- “She is a lovely filly and we and put a lot of work into it. straightforward . . . I think it very . . . She showed the sceptics ther,” he said. have always thought she would She is a very special filly.” ‘Ran a blinder’ possible she will stay further. that she is a very good filly.” “I would not mind meeting get further than a mile,” said O’Brien has few worries After winning the race for “She is like last year’s win- Quadrilateral’s rider Jason Love again in The Oaks.” AFP Dixon wins IndyCar opener in Texas McIlroy, Rahm lead NEW ZEALAND’S Scott Dixon field at PGA Colonial climbed out of his car and donned a white protective face GOLF’S world No1 Rory McIl- down, and revised its remain- mask after seizing the cheq- roy and Jon Rahm of Spain will ing schedule. uered flag in the delayed Indy- highlight a strong field in Fort The first five events of the Car season-opening race in the Worth, Texas, in the US next restart, including the Charles US state of Texas on Saturday. week as the PGA Tour returns Schwab, will be played with- Dixon crossed the finish line from a three-month break due out spectators. first ahead of runner-up Simon to the coronavirus outbreak. The first tournament to have Pagenaud in the Genesys 300, Dustin Johnson and Justin fans will be The Memorial, July the first IndyCar race in eight Thomas of the US will also tee it 16-19 in Dublin, Ohio. months because of the coro- up on Thursday at the Charles After the Charles Schwab, navirus pandemic. Schwab Challenge at the Colo- the PGA Tour now will feature “Such strange times right nial Country Club course. the RBC Heritage (June 18-21) now,” said Dixon immediately The 148-player Fort Worth in Hilton Head, South Caro- after the race. “It was awe- field also includes world No3 lina; the Travelers Champion- some. The power out there. We Brooks Koepka, defending ship (June 25-28) in Crom- could just go for it.” champion Kevin Na and Phil well, Connecticut; and the After the Covid-19 pandemic Kiwi Scott Dixon took the chequered flag at the Genesys 300, IndyCar’s first main event. AFP Mickelson. Rocket Mortgage Classic (July led to a postponement of the One major change is that 2-5) in Detroit, Michigan. 2020 IndyCar campaign, the practice, then straight to quali- “I feel very lucky to do what I ner was checked out at the organisers are not allowing The PGA Championship will series finally got underway fying and straight to the race, do. A huge thanks to the Indy- onsite medical facility and any spectators at the event be played from August 6-9 in with no spectators in the grand- and then fly back out tonight. Car series and everybody released, but then missed the which runs through June 14. San Francisco and the US Open stands at the 2.4km Texas Motor That is very different. Normally involved to get us back on the race because he couldn’t get The PGA Tour cancelled 11 is rescheduled for September Speedway in Fort Worth. we have a couple of days of track. We had a lot of changes in his car repaired in time. tournaments during its shut- 17-20 in New York. AFP “I am bummed that the fans prep, so that was difficult.” the offseason with the delay.” Felix Rosenqvist was in con- aren’t here,” Dixon said. “I wish Dixon earned his 47th career tention when he crashed with everybody was here to celebrate.” win to move within just five Elbow bumps nine laps to go. Rosenqvist was Former Indianapolis 500 victories of Italian-born Mario Drivers and team members weaving through the field winner Pagenaud finished 4.4 Andretti of the US, who is sec- went through temperature when he got high on the back- seconds back in second and ond all-time with 52. He also screenings when they got to stretch and lost control. He reigning series champion Josef matched AJ Foyt’s record of 18 Texas Motor Speedway. Crew finished in 20th place. Newgarden placed third. seasons with a victory. members were required to wear There will be nearly a month’s Organisers decided to run Dixon led 157 of the 200 laps, face masks, and space was pro- break before the next race July the practice, qualifying and and had an earlier six-second vided for social distancing in the 4 on a road course at Indiana- 200-lap race all on the same lead over Newgarden wiped garage areas. Dixon received polis Motor Speedway. day to minimise the amount out by a caution for debris. elbow bumps instead of high The road course race will be of time the participants would Dixon said: “We had to make fives in the victory lane. the first of five IndyCar races be at the venue. some big bold moves . . . I can’t Last year’s pole sitter Takuma in a 15-day period next month, “Today was compact,” he said. tell you how good it feels to be Sato crashed on his warm-up including a doubleheader “We flew in this morning and back in the car. It has been such lap entering turn one. The weekend at Wisconsin’s Road Spain’s Jon Rahm (left) and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy will lead a we had an hour and 20 minute crazy times for so many people. former Indianapolis 500 win- America. AFP strong field when the PGA returns next week. AFP