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Tuesday, may 12, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL Public warned to remain kingdom sees drop in Landmine cautious of coronavirus Khorn Savi The appeal came de- will go, the best thing for us in the future,” she said. Relaxing restrictions too fatalities in first spite the Kingdom report- to do is to prepare our best The Kingdom has contained soon or opening business op- HE World Health ing no new cases of infec- response for when the next the pandemic well for the erations without proper plan- four months Organisation (WHO) tions for nearly one month. wave comes to Cambodia. past three months but it must ning in place would be detri- national – page 3 in Cambodia and WHO Representative to “I take this opportunity also be prepared for a poten- mental to the country, she said. Prime Minister Hun Cambodia Dr Li Ailan said to call for three important tial second wave, she said. Ministry of Health secretary SenT have called on the public in a press conference on things for all of us and the Ailan said the pandemic has of state Or Vandine said even to remain cautious about Monday that the Covid-19 people in Cambodia – be changed the world. Daily liv- though almost all Covid-19 Covid-19. They reminded the pandemic was not over. vigilant, be a champion for ing habits have also changed, patients in Cambodia have people that a second wave of “As we cannot predict res- the new normal and be ready including the way people the virus is a “real threat”. olutely how the pandemic for emergency responses studied, travelled and worked. Continued – page 2 Syria, Russia A decade of GI accused of status: Kampot pepper robust ‘war crimes’ AMNESTY International on Monday amid Covid-19 said it has documented 18 attacks in business – page 7 northwest Syria carried out by regime and Russian forces over the past year that amounted to “war crimes”. Russia-backed regime forces have since late April last year waged two deadly military campaigns against Syria’s last major rebel bastion of Idlib, which has become home for some three million people. A ceasefire has largely held since early March, but hundreds of thou- sands remain displaced and highly dependent on aid even as the jihadist- dominated region braces for a pos- Europe emerges sible outbreak of the coronavirus. The rights group said it document- from lockdown, ed 18 attacks on medical facilities and schools by either Damascus or Asia infections its Russian ally between May 5, last continue t0 rise year, and February 25, this year, in Up in flames and around the rebel stronghold. WORLD – Page 10 “Evidence shows that, in their Firefighters onboard a vessel try to extinguish a fire on a tanker ship docked in Belawan, Indonesia, on Monday. AFP entirety, the documented attacks by Syrian and Russian government forces entailed a myriad of serious violations of international human- itarian law,” it said. “These viola- tions amount to war crimes.” Loan restructuring sought Amnesty said they included three ground attacks and two barrel bomb attacks by Syrian government Niem Chheng as of May 8, around 110,000 came from or where they live, allowed to pay either interest forces, as well as air strikes by both debtors had asked to either as loans were given out at the or principal. or either side. THE Cambodia Microfi- delay loan repayments or discretion of each MFI. He said most debtors had It said the majority occurred in nance Association (CMA) on restructure it. He said loan restructuring requested between three and January and February 2020, during Panic, solidarity Monday said at least 110,000 “Ninety per cent of the could only be processed fol- six months’ grace period and the latest onslaught which from debtors who have been requests were approved by lowing individual requests agreed to pay only interests. December has killed around 500 in Polish sex affected by the Covid-19 microfinance institutions based on conditions set by Prasac executive vice- civilians and displaced almost a pandemic had requested [MFIs]. The number could the National Bank of Cam- president Say Sony said on million people. industry amid loan restructuring, with the jump to over two million,” bodia (NBC). Monday that there were less Syria’s war has killed more than number expected to increase he said. In March, he said the NBC than a thousand requests for 380,000 people and displaced mil- virus pandemic to over two million. Tongngy said he could not laid out nine conditions for loan restructuring among its lions since it started in 2011 with CMA spokesperson Kaing provide detailed information MFIs to follow in granting the brutal repression of anti-gov- lifestyle – page 12 Tongngy told The Post that as to what sectors the debtors such requests. Debtors are Continued – page 3 ernment protests. AFP

one month’s free VIP subscription Turtle shell found in THE PHNOM PENH POST Angkor park said to National News Inside page 4 For the first 1,000 Phnom Penh Post hold secret treasure readers who register! 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Activists allege forest clearing One detained, hunt on for accomplices in M’kiri wildlife sanctuary in Takeo axe murder Khorn Savi of the matter, but claimed the Kim Sarom back to see if the one who Nam Lear Wildlife Sanctuary is honked was their friend. ENVIRONMENT officials are not located in his commune. A MURDER suspect is in pre- When they rode back they set to probe an alleged land Before declining further trial detention at the Takeo pro- were suddenly attacked and clearing matter in Mondulkiri comment, he said the bulldoz- vincial prison while police are tried to escape, but their province after the local com- ers may have been used to on the hunt for his accomplices motorbike speeds were lower munity reported they had construct a road in the area. after they attacked and killed a than those of the suspects. found loggers bulldozing for- But O’Raing district governor man at Donkeo town on Fri- The suspects used an axe to est in the main area of the Nam Siek Mony confirmed to The day. hack Pul Roeun, 21, of Roka Lear Wildlife Sanctuary. Post that there was no plan to Takeo provincial court Knong commune, Donkeo Bunong ethnic activist Kroe- build a road in the sanctuary spokesman Lim Sokhorn told town. ung Tola told The Post on Mon- and that a road could only be The Post on Monday that the He died at the scene from day that on Saturday, about 20 built within the company’s suspect Khat Sangha is being wounds to his head and body. community group members land concession area. held in prison by investigating The two other victims sustained spotted loggers clearing about Mony said the company had Judge Chey Mala upon a minor injuries when their motor- 100ha with bulldozers in the received the land concession request from the court prose- bike crashed into a sand pile. The sanctuary in O’Raing district’s before Hun Sen’s 2012 directive cutor. “He has been charged for offenders then escaped. Dak Dam commune. was issued, but did not start murder under Article 199 of the Cheap said his officers went “The area that has been bull- any activity there until 2014. Criminal Code,” he said. to the scene and the two sur- dozed is home to many gigantic “It [Mega First Corp] received If the court finds the suspect viving victims described the trees, wild animals and some of the concession long ago. He guilty, he can be sent to prison suspects’ motorbikes. After the rarest plants in the world. [Tola] is not fully aware of the for 10 to 15 years. collecting information, mili- “The bulldozing activity has matter but kept shooting his Chan Cheap, the crime office tary police found one bike been going on for a week already. mouth off. They dare not violate chief at the Takeo Military matching the description they About 20 community group members spotted loggers clearing about Residents could not use GPS, so 100ha with bulldozers in Nam Lear Wildlife Sanctuary. supplied the law because it’s not only Tola Police headquarters, said on were given. A suspect was we don’t know whether the land who is monitoring but many Monday that around 8:00pm caught but his accomplices belongs to the state or a private run counter to a directive and Minister of Environment other organisations that are also on Friday, a group of six young escaped. Both groups of men company,” he said. issued by Prime Minister Hun Say Sam Al through Facebook. observing it,” he said. men were travelling on three are from Donkeo town. Citing a supervisor for a pri- Sen, who ordered an end to the “There were three bulldozers Provincial environment motorbikes. Their three vic- “We do not know whether the vate company, Tola alleged that practice in 2012. clearing the forest with Military department director Keo tims were on two motorbikes one we caught was the offender the group was bulldozing the He said he dared not report Police officers and soldiers [pro- Sopheak said he would look and on the way to a garden in because he claimed he was not forest for Mega First Corp Bhd. the matter to Nam Lear Wild- tecting] them,” he claimed. into the matter. Donkeo town. the one who committed the act. He said without elaborating that life Sanctuary director Vuth The Post could not reach any “On Tuesday, I will send my The alleged attackers honked We were not able to catch all the the company received a 9,000ha Sarom after having been Mega First Corp representa- officials to find out whether the their horns, and one of the vic- offenders but we know the sus- concession in 2014, but that only warned of legal action over a tives for comment on Mon- alleged bulldozing and logging tims told his friend to turn pects’ identities,” Cheap said. 6,000ha remained. similar matter. day. are taking place in the Nam Lear Tola said granting land con- The activist said he had instead Dak Dam commune chief Wildlife Sanctuary or on the cessions to private companies reported the matter to Hun Sen Chas Na said he was not aware company’s land,” he said. Boat crash: One dead, two missing

Kim Sarom members are searching for At around 10pm they took tried to search for them in the the two still missing. the same boat to return home water, but did not find anyone. A MAN was killed while two Koh Samrong commune along the river when another “The skipper of the boat that others are still missing after two police chief Kea Sokun said boat sailing at a high speed caused the accident escaped boats collided on Sunday night police worked very hard to hit theirs, causing passengers and authorities are searching in Koh Samrong commune, find the two, but by Monday to be thrown overboard. for him,” Sokun said, adding Kampong Siem district, Kam- they had still found nothing. In the dark, the passengers that the survivors claimed pong Cham province. He said a survivor of the tried to swim to the river bank that the boats did not have District police chief Ek Pan- accident told police that 10 some 200m away, but some of any lights. dorn said on Monday that people boarded a boat to them could not swim or were According to Fresh News, after the accident, police re- cross the Mekong for a wed- injured or unconscious from the missing victims are iden- covered the body of a male ding in Romcheck commune, the accident. The boat sunk tified as Rin Chea, 53, and One victim was killed and two injured during a motorbike chase victim. Police and family Kampong Siem district. and some went missing. Locals Thim Than, 52. involving six attackers, one of whom was caught. police ‘Hammer’ phase over, ‘Dance’ set to come

Continued from page 1 curb its spread. to normal, but citizens must “Studies have shown that She said the Kingdom is take daily prevention mea- Covid-19 spreads faster when recovered with no new cases now entering “The Dance” sures, including washing people gather. The spread recorded, the pandemic is not phase, when life starts to re- hands, wearing masks and during gatherings is aston- over. turn to normal but which can avoiding gatherings. ishing. The risk of spreading it Cambodia has overcome trigger a second wave of in- “Cambodia has overcome from one person to another is “The Hammer” phase of the fections if precautions are not The Hammer and the next great, especially when people virus, she said, as strict mea- taken seriously. phase is The Dance, which are moving from one place to sures were put in place to “Cambodia is getting back means if we do not live in the another,” she said. right way, we will fall down On Friday, Hun Sen remind- and possibly cause a second ed citizens in a Facebook post wave of infections,” she said. to focus on taking care of their She said citizens must re- health to prevent the spread main vigilant and suggested of Covid-19. suspending wedding par- “This disease is brutal and it ties, religious gatherings, and can spread from one person to night outings because it is another very quickly. Cambodia easy for the virus to spread in and the WHO are joining hands these settings. to fight against Covid-19. Vandine advised citizens “A treatment has not been to wait two to three more found yet. This brutal disease months to assess the global continues to threaten peo- situation. ple’s lives around the world. The rate of coronavirus in- A lot of countries are still in fections remains high glob- lockdown,” he said. ally, with tens of thousands of Hun Sen called on all people infected in a single day, citizens to wear masks or Vandine said, adding that more Khmer Kramas and wash Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine advises citizens to wait than four million people are in- their hands with alcohol or two or three months to assess the global situation. heng chivoan fected and 260,000 have died. hand sanitisers. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Debt relief requests set to skyrocket Continued from page 1

more than 400,000 customers. He said Prasac approved each request based on the conditions set by the NBC. “Most of the requests are from Siem Reap province because they [custom- ers] are in one of the four sectors pri- oritised by the NBC. But the number of those who requested loan restruc- turing is not high, I can say less than a thousand,” he said. Sony said Siem Reap was the first province to feel the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic because tourism is the main revenue earner there. “In responding to our clients’ requests, we assess their situation and discuss with them to find an appropriate solu- tion that is acceptable to both parties. “We have been addressing the issue based on the principal that they owed, type of clients, seriousness of the impact on them, and the actual situation of each customer by follow- ing the NBC’s guidelines,” he said. In Channy, the president and group managing director of Acleda Bank Plc, said on Monday that he did not have the figures in hand for the number of clients who have requested loan restructuring. Some requests, he said, are partially approved if customers are found to still have regular income. In March, the NBC issued a circular directing banks and MFIs to pay par- ticular attention to those in the four sectors most impacted by the pan- Water world demic – tourism, garment, construc- An intrepid delivery man braves traffic to transport a trailer full of bottled water.H ENG CHIVOAN tion and transport. Ratanakkiri villagers raze Siem Reap officials shut down timber two ranger stations in anger processing facility

Voun Dara Soth Koemsoeun vincial Military Police confis- cated 45 planks of first-grade OURTEEN people THE Siem Reap provincial For- timber in Snuol district on Fri- have been identified estry Administration on Mon- day after locals witnessed the for inciting more than day identified the owner of an crime and reported it to police. 70 villagers to burn illegal wood processing facil- Provincial Military Police com- downF two ranger stations in ity in Siem Reap town’s Chreav mander San Bunthan said on Taveng commune, Taveng commune after he escaped Monday that the officials did not district, Ratanakkiri province. authorities when they raided find any suspects and they’re still District officials will bring the it on Friday. searching for the owner. case to court, said Ministry Administration chief Mong “We seized the wood and of Environment secretary of Bunlim confirmed on Monday handed it over to the provin- state and spokesman Neth that officials had identified the cial Forestry Administration to Pheaktra. owner, who was operating his take further action after the Speaking to The Post on facility without the proper per- owner escaped. We are search- Monday, Pheaktra said some mits, but he couldn’t reveal the ing for the person,” he said. villagers grabbed land at a name because the investiga- Provincial Forestry Adminis- protected area and after the tion is ongoing. tration director Nuon Pov Ratana rangers intervened they set During the raid, officials declined to comment. the stations on fire. “This is confiscated two large chain- unacceptable, and the ring- saws and 36 first grade timber leaders must be held respon- logs which were impounded at sible for their action accord- the provincial forestry admin- ing to the law for destroying Ranger stations were torched in Ratanakkiri province by more than 70 angry villagers. ministry of environment istration office. state property. Bunlim said: “We want the “We have identified 14 peo- repeating the crimes. The ing huts to grab land at pro- Adhoc provincial coordi- owner of the facility to turn ple already as the ones who land that they already cleared tected areas. nator Din Khanny said on himself in and solve the issue incited the villagers to burn is to be seized. It also urged people to vol- Monday that while razing the under the law, or else we will the stations and we are suing “The enforcement of the law untarily dismantle their con- stations was against the law, send the case to the court. [them] in court,” he said. made around 75 violators furi- structions that were built un- rangers have also been slow “We questioned the workers Pheaktra said the rangers ous and they gathered to burn officially and return grabbed to ban people from commit- and we know the owner’s iden- worked with the Taveng dis- down the stations,” he said, land to the ministry without ting similar crimes, and this tity, but we won’t disclose it trict police to patrol the pro- adding that the two stations any conditions or else they caused their anger. while we wait for him to tected forest on Friday and are made of wood and that would be brought to justice. “When the people cleared appear,” he said. Saturday and put up signs some other property was also The ministry also rejected the area and built huts, offi- Provincial Military Police to deter people from logging damaged in the fire. documents claiming owner- cials did not stop them. They commander Por Vannit said on and clearing forest for private The ministry confirmed that ship of the protected land. thought that there was no Monday that provincial and ownership. no one is authorised to buy or Provincial Department of problem and they continued national Military Police coop- They also seized two chain- sell land in the protected area. Environment director Phon doing it. Then the officials erated with the provincial saws and demolished four It called on people who are Khemerin said the 75 people dismantled the huts. The court to carry out the raid huts that were built illegally. unaware of the laws to stop on around 40 motorbikes lateness in taking legal action before handing the case to the The illegal sawmill in Siem Reap People were made to sign their illegal actions, namely stormed the stations and made the people angry,” he Forestry Administration. was raided and shuttered by contracts promising to stop clearing, burning, and build- burned them down. said. In a separate case, Kratie pro- police on Friday. grk News 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Angkor turtle shell Landmine fatalities drop Khouth Sophak Chakrya up because they can easily China, Russia and Vietnam.” explode and endanger life. Meanwhile, a bomb dropped TWENTY-SIX people were “Landmines, cluster bombs, from an MK82 aircraft was re- held secret treasure killed and injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war moved from the ground by an and unexploded ordnance remain a risk for all of us. Not NPA team in community for- Long Kimmarita (UXO) in the first four months only do they kill and disable est land in Phak Nam village, of this year, the Cambodian people, they also hinder per- Koh Peak commune, Veun Sai RCHAEOLOGIST Mine Action Authority (CMAA) sonal and national economic district, Ratanakkiri province, Chea Socheat is said in a report on Monday. growth as well,” he said. on Saturday after villagers seeking help from The number represents a Thuch said millions of land- spotted it. international ex- decrease of 48 per cent com- mines and explosive rem- To meet the “mine-free pertsA to identify artefacts pared to the same period last nants were reportedly buried Cambodia by 2025” goal, the found inside the shell of a year when 50 casualties were in almost every part of Cam- government has pledged to turtle sculpture which was recorded. bodia, especially around mili- cover 10 per cent of spending recently unearthed at an ex- “Of the 26 victims, five tary camps and border areas. for all bilateral or multilat- cavation site at Kandal Srah died, 21 sustained serious On Sunday, 16 artillery eral demining projects. Srang temple in the Angkor and minor injuries, seven of shells were found by residents The government has also region of Siem Reap. whom had their limbs am- in Preah Vihear province’s Ro- laid out plans to complete ba- The turtle sculpture was dis- putated and will become dis- vieng and Kulen districts and sic data research in 73 districts covered on May 6 and archae- abled for life. They are still were destroyed on the spot by in eastern provinces this year. ologists found a white crystal being treated by the medical a CSHD demining team. From 2020 to 2025, Cam- dragon and a trident hidden team,” the report said. Chhuon Bora, a CSHD land- bodia still needs an addi- The turtle sculpture discovered on May 6 housed artefacts including a in a rectangular compartment crystal dragon and a trident. apsara NATIONAL authority Over the first four months of mine clearance technical offi- tional $377 million to clear located in the turtle’s shell. this year, the report said seven cial, told The Post on Monday: 806sq km containing mines, The Apsara National Author- “We did not attempt to dig have been conducted,” he said. demining operators including “The artillery shells were rockets cluster bombs, and explosive ity (ANA) said that on May 8, more out of it as we were ANA spokesman Long Ko- the Royal Cambodian Armed of between 60mm and 85mm remnants of war, the govern- its excavation team found an- afraid of damaging the original sal told The Post on Monday Forces, Cambodian Mine Ac- and were made in America, ment said. other smaller turtle sculpture. shape. The hole in the turtle that the discovery offers new tion Centre (CMAC), Cambodia Both turtles were kept in place where the artefacts were found evidence about Cambodia’s Self Help Demining (CSHD), at the excavation site to avoid is 10cm wide and 5cm deep.” history. Halo Trust, MAC, Norwegian any damage to their original He said the turtle had dirty “We are so happy we found People’s Aid (NPA) and APOPO shape. The second turtle sculp- spots on it, which experts these antiquities. They will had cleared 36,180,704sqm ture has not been opened. suspected might be grain or a help us understand the histo- and discovered 4,893 anti- Socheat, the project director substance that had melted to ry, purpose and arrangement human mines, 120 anti-tank and research leader of the ex- the sculpture. of the Kandal Srah Srang tem- mines, and 14,195 explosive cavation told The Post on Sun- Socheat said: “We need re- ple. This discovery is benefi- remnants of war. day that some of the artefacts searchers who are skilful in this cial for its archaeological and Senior minister and CMAA found in the turtle sculpture area of expertise and we have scientific data,” he said. first vice-president Ly Thuch are now being preserved at contacted Australian experts, The archaeological team also told The Post on Monday the Preah Norodom Sihanouk but none have arrived yet. discovered a wooden structure that landmines and explosive Angkor Museum in Siem Reap. “Due to the Covid-19 situa- on the temple’s terrace. remnants continue to affect “We opened the turtle shell tion, we may send some parts Socheat said in the future, the daily lives of Cambodians and found water and solid of the sculpture to other coun- archaeologists will construct in rural and remote areas. mud in it. Until we cleaned tries for experiments. If there a roof over the excavation site “Everyone must be careful everything out of there, we are any grains or ornaments, to protect the sculptures from when spotting them. Don’t Injuries and deaths from UXO declined by 48 per cent in the first four only saw mud and dirt. we will know after experiments heat and flooding. try to touch, play, or pick them months of this year. supplied THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Pursat court frees two after Cardamom mountain operation

Soth Koemsoeun land. They allegedly destroyed 10ha before authorities THE Pursat Provincial Court arrived, said Donin. temporarily released two sus- “We detained six and four pects who were arrested for confessed that they were bulldozing land in the Carda- responsible for supplying food mom Mountains. and tractor drivers. The two Officials at the provincial released men said they did not Department of Environment know about this issue and sent the two, who were among asked to be released. a group of six who were Police are still investigating arrested, to court after the people behind the act. The authorities detained them, land in the Cardamom Moun- Pursat Provincial Court tains is under the protection spokesman Heng Donin said of a royal decree so no one is on Monday. allowed to grab it for personal He said the investigating ownership, he said. judge decided to release the Wildlife Alliance Cambodia two because they were just said land grabbing is one of the employed to drive tractors for biggest threats to the Carda- someone else. mom rainforest landscape. “I do not remember their Roveang station rangers names, but the prosecutor did were recently involved in a not hold them because they land grabbing case, where they confessed that they were only confiscated five excavators, a The Kampong Chhnang court wants to know why three villagers were released the same day they were arrested for forest clearing. supplied tractor drivers,” he said. bulldozer and a trailer that The six suspects were held were all being used illegally. on Friday while they were The rangers arrested six K Chhnang court to probe using bulldozers to clear forest offenders as part of the case. release in alleged land grab

Voun Dara The Post on Monday that the leased the suspects, who are “The people and exhibits arrest was made by deputy all from Cholkiri district, be- were at the police station. HE Kampong Chh- prosecutor Long Sitha and cause the land they were ac- My officials did not release nang Provincial district police forces. cused of clearing belonged the people and I have report- Court will sum- He said after the three were to them. He said the court is ed that to the prosecutor,” mon officials from interrogated, the prosecutor investigating the matter and Hun said. theT provincial Department believed it to be a fisheries will summon the officials to He said when his officials of Agriculture, Forestry and offence and handed them testify. went to inspect the cleared Fisheries, and Cholkiri dis- to fisheries officials to file a Department director Ngin land, it had already been trict officials to clarify why legal case before they were Hun denied that his officials ploughed. three villagers were released sent to court. had released the three and “So when the land was on April 19 after they were ar- “It is not known why the maintained that they had ploughed, the case we exam- rested the same day for alleg- fisheries officials released the only received documents ined shows that they were edly clearing flooded forest three without going through concerning the case. not guilty. We did not pun- land in Peam Chhkork com- the prosecutor. Afterwards, “No one has the right to re- ish them because they had mune’s Kbal Anlong village in the prosecutor summoned lease people. My officials only ploughed their land.” the district. the fisheries officials to clarify received a report. They did District police chief Khim Provincial court spokes- the case,” Sivin said. not receive the suspects or Yong could not be reached for The released suspects said they were just hired to operate tractors. person Chhuon Sivin told The officials, Sivin said, re- any evidence. comment on Monday. wildlife alliance Cambodia Borei Keila market shop owners ask for rent reduction

Long Kimmarita decline in customers. “If we cannot get a 50 per cent The market owner, whom reduction, then at least reduce TWENTY representatives of 70 shop owners refer to as Ta it by 20 per cent until the econ- shop owners who rent their Khoeun, had previously omy gets back to normal. We premises in the capital’s Borei claimed he wouldn’t budge on are not threatening him [the Keila market on Monday peti- the rent and if the shop tenants market owner], it is just that we tioned Prampi Makara district couldn’t afford to pay, they had cannot earn enough money at authorities, demanding the to leave, Rouen said. this time,” he said. market owner lower the rent “Sellers intend to pay our Khoeun could not be reached by 50 per cent for six months rent, but we cannot for the for comment on Monday. to offset losses caused by the past two months because of Prampi Makara administra- Covid-19 pandemic. the Covid-19 situation. We do tion chief Mob Sareth told The One of the shop owners, not have income, and we have Post on Monday that the author- Trem Cheang Roeun, said they used up our savings. ities would try to facilitate the had originally planned a pro- “We truly cannot pay for matter as soon as possible, but test to take place in front of the April and May. We’re asking the he wasn’t sure of the outcome. market, but it was cancelled. owner to lower the price just Sareth said the authorities Instead, they collected fin- for a while. If the situation gets alone cannot decide anything, gerprints and sent the petition, better, we would pay him back as it depends on the two par- an alternative that was recom- as normal,” he said. ties’ negotiation. mended by the authorities, to Chea Vutha, a motorbike “I have received their peti- adhere to social distancing. repairman who has been rent- tion. I am requesting the dis- Rouen said the authorities ing a shop at Borei Keila for 10 trict governor to invite the expressed a desire to help if years told The Post that his market owner and shop own- they completed the petition. family’s income has dropped ers to negotiate a solution. He pays $300 a month for his by more than half after some “We will try to accelerate the motorbike selling and repair of his relatives lost their jobs matter to make them meet one business and said shop owners or had their salary reduced. another according to district had no choice but to make a “We do not want a 50 per cent procedure,” he said. demand because they cannot reduction necessarily, we just want If a solution can’t be negoti- Shop owners from Phnom Penh’s Borei Keila market arrive at the Prampi Makara district hall to ask for a 50 afford to pay the normal rate the market owner to show some ated, shop owners said they per cent reduction in rent. hean rangsey while they suffer a massive empathy by lowering the rent. would plan a large protest. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 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 4,100 1.4108 7.0622 106.76 4.3145 1.4162 32.42 0.6415 1.0940 1.2439 GMAC issues dire warning, Equity markets rally as restrictions ease raises concerns over exports and death rates drop Thou Vireak ASIAN equity markets rallied South Korea, which had on Monday as traders looked been praised for the han- HE Kingdom export- past a staggering jump in US dling of its initial outbreak, ed $3.13 billion worth job losses to focus on govern- has been forced to shut all of garment, textile ments easing virus lockdown bars and clubs in Seoul after and footwear prod- measures and data showing a cluster of new cases, while uctsT in the first four months death rates falling in some of China on Monday reported of this year, up 1.67 per cent the worst-hit countries. the first new infections in compared to the same period Observers warned, how- over a month in Wuhan. last year, despite supply chain ever, that with the outlook In Germany, at least one disruptions due to the Covid- still murky, traders could be district had to re-impose re- 19 pandemic, said a report getting ahead of themselves strictions after an outbreak at from the General Department – while there are concerns of a meat processing plant. The of Customs and Excise. a second wave hitting South latest data out of the country The data breakdown shows Korea and China, which had indicated the infection rate that Cambodian garment ex- been slowly reopening their was rising again. ports amounted to $2.32 billion economies. during the period, down 3.4 per Official figures on Friday Fears of second wave cent year-on-year, while foot- showed a record 20.5 million However, Oanda Corp’s wear exports – $412 million – people were laid off in the US Jeffrey Halley said markets jumped by 18.06 per cent. last month, sending unem- would not likely be hit by At the same time, more than ployment soaring to 14.7 per such news just yet. $388 million worth of travel cent, the highest since the “Markets will likely ignore goods were exported, an in- Great Depression. the threat of Covid-19 part crease of 22.06 per cent. However, the reading was two, staying with the momen- However, Garment Manu- slightly lower than fore- tum of the peak-virus trade,” facturers Association in Cam- Cambodian garment exports amounted to $2.32 billion in the first four months of this year, down 3.4 per cent casts and Wall Street ended he said in a note. year-on-year, while footwear exports – $412 million – jumped by 18.06 per cent. pOST STAFF bodia (GMAC) president Van a healthy week with strong National Australia Bank’s Sou Ieng told The Post that produced products which are He said this requires the reduction, suspension of the gains as focus turned to plans Tapas Strickland remained the increase was buoyed by already under contract. government to make hard National Social Security Fund to lift restrictions that have upbeat as economies grind buyer orders made prior to In a statement, it said: “We ap- choices and difficult compro- (NSSF) until the end of next kept billions of people stuck back to life after months of the virus outbreak. peal to our partners – garment, mises in its policy to increase year, tax breaks, as well as un- at home for months in the US near standstill. He acknowledged that ex- footwear and travel goods buy- the sector’s competitive edge conditionally and automati- and the rest of the world. “A sharp pick-up in economic port figures would drop in ers sourcing from Cambodia – against Vietnam, Bangladesh cally waiving the one per cent AxiCorp Financial Services activity is being priced by mar- the coming months as major to stay committed to Cambodia and Myanmar. advance profit tax for export- Pty Ltd’s Stephen Innes said: kets, and should occur as long buyers in the US and the EU and especially to our workers. “The most important thing ers to remain competitive in “There is hope within this lab- as there is no second wave of have suspended orders from “We would like you to abide is costs – wages, raw materi- the international market. yrinth of statistical perversity. infections that necessitates the Cambodia. by your contracts and not to als and supplies – we must “To keep the free flow of “The vast majority of job re-implementation of contain- “There will be a drop in gar- cancel orders that have been all contribute to resolving the trade and to facilitate the losers anticipate being re- ment measures,” he said. ment exports in the coming placed on goods that have al- crisis, including workers. movement of goods, we must called. Temporary layoffs on “Markets are thus likely to months. I believe that foot- ready been produced or are “That is why GMAC asked further reduce bureaucracy in this scale have never hap- be increasingly sensitive to wear exports will sink, while currently in production. to reduce the minimum wage import and export processes. pened – like almost every data the track of new Covid-19 travel bags may either remain “You have contributed to by 30 per cent for two years or “We need to import raw ma- point in this jobs report – and cases in countries that have stable or fall. So far, there are the social development of mil- suspend any minimum wage terials, so we must keep trade the hope is that it leads to a begun to ease restrictions. no orders for the garment lions of Cambodians who are policy for two years – to allow open. If we can encourage more rather rapid return to work.” Progress on a vaccine/effec- sector confirmed. depending on these sectors factories to compete, retain investment in Cambodia, that Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney tive treatment would also be “The Covid-19 virus has re- for their livelihoods,” it said. existing jobs and generate new would be very helpful,” he said. and Taipei all ended up more a game changer.” sulted in major disruptions to Sou Ieng added: “GMAC jobs paid for by the free market. More than 180 factories in than one per cent. The improving sentiment human lives as well as the busi- would like to appeal to our “This would be comparable Cambodia have suspended Jakarta, Bangkok and Mum- lifted high-yielding, riskier ness environment and the glob- government to look at medi- to other sectors – agriculture, operations while another 60 bai also put on more than one currencies against the dollar, al supply chain,” said Sou Ieng. um-term strategy and pro- hotel, restaurant, et cetera – are at risk of closure. The situ- per cent in the afternoon, with the South Korean won, Last month, the Ministry of tect our garment, footwear that have no minimum wage. ation impacts 200,000 gar- and there were also gains in South African rand and Aus- Commerce appealed to buy- and travel goods production They will survive, and maintain ment workers directly and Singapore and Wellington tralian dollar among the best ers of garments, footwear and structure so that Cambodia and create jobs when the pan- two million others indirectly, – though Seoul lost 0.5 per performers. travel goods from Cambodia can be ready for business demic is over,” said Sou Ieng. a GMAC letter released on cent. The Cambodia Securi- But, with markets having to stay committed to all the when the pandemic eases.” He said he advocates cost Friday said. ties Exchange index fell 0.89 soared from their March lows, per cent. there are concerns the rally Shanghai gave up early gains may have run too far consid- to end marginally lower de- ering the uncertainty about spite a pledge by the People’s how quickly economies can Bank of China to “more pow- bounce back. PAS shipping volume expected to fall erful” policies to support the Bob Baur at Principal Global world’s number two economy. Investors LLC said: “Because Hin Pisei that the port received a total of Cambodia Logistics Associa- be no more growth.” In early trade, London, Paris so much future growth and up- 218,050 TEUs between Decem- tion president Sin Chanthy told His comments are in line and Frankfurt posted gains. trend potential is priced in, we THE volume of twenty-foot ber 30 and May 10 compared The Post on Monday that while with the Garment Manufac- However, Sri Lanka’s stock expect a period of relapse and equivalent units (TEU) that to 207,818 TEUs in the period the number of TEUs passing turers Association in Cambo- market closed within sec- consolidation through June.” has passed through the Siha- between December 31, 2018 through the Sihanoukville port dia (GMAC), which said as of onds of reopening following Oil prices slipped on profit- noukville Autonomous Port and May 12, last year. has increased, all modes of May 4, 180 factories in Cam- a seven-week trading halt, taking after surging last week (PAS) during the first 19 weeks During the 2019 period, transport in Cambodia are fac- bodia have suspended opera- having tumbled more than on hopes for a pick-up in de- of this year increased by almost TEUs increased 15.5 per cent ing major declines due to the tions while another 60 are at 10 per cent. mand and as inventories be- five per cent over the same year-on-year from the 179,913 disruption caused by the Cov- risk of closure. Traders took heart in figures gin to fall and producers slash period last year, but transpor- in the corresponding 19-week id-19 outbreak, especially in “There have been a lot of out of badly hit countries in- output. tation experts expect the figure period in 2018 between Janu- the past few weeks. cancelled orders in the textile cluding France, Germany and Innes added: “While price to drop in the second quarter. ary 1 and May 13. He said the partial econom- sector, so the number of TEUs the US showing death rates action is bound to be choppy TEU is an inexact unit of However, the number is fore- ic shutdowns in the US and passing through the Siha- continuing to sink, while as economies try to move out cargo capacity often used to casted to drop sharply in the Europe prompted by the pan- noukville port declined leaders ease up on restric- of lockdowns, it is probably describe the capacity of con- second quarter as most of Cam- demic will have a devastating accordingly,” he said. tions put in place to stop the safe to say that traders have tainer ships. bodia’s exported goods orders effect on trade flow, as they are A PAS report said 637,844 disease’s spread. planked a base on oil prices. Data obtained by The Post – garments, footwear and travel the Kingdom’s largest and TEUs passed through the port However, there is the ever- “Oil fundamentals are from port director-general Lou goods – have been cancelled by most important markets. “In last year, an 18 per cent increase present fear of another bout showings signs of improve- Kim Chhun on Monday shows buyers for a while. the second quarter there will from 540,793 TEUs in 2018. of infections. ment by the week.” AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business A decade of GI status: Kampot pepper robust amid Covid-19 Rann Reuy 251ha today – exclusively in Kampot and Kep – and more PRIL marked 10 years than 100 tonnes of the prized since Kampot pep- pepper was produced last year. per became the first The data also indicated that product to receive prices have increased signifi- GeographicalA Indication (GI) cantly. Black pepper cost $5.75 status by the Ministry of Com- per kg in 2010, while red pepper merce. was priced at $10 per kg and Due to its high price and white pepper cost $12 per kg. market favour resulting from The prices currently stand its GI label, local farmers and at $15 per kg for black pepper, investors are engaged in cul- $25 per kg for red pepper and tivating pepper in provinces $28 per kg for white pepper. across the Kingdom. KPPA president Nguon But market demand is very Lay said the prices have not uncertain as the price of pep- changed in three years. He Kampot pepper prices currently stand at $15 per kg for black pepper, $25 per kg for red pepper and $28 per kg for white pepper. SUPPLIED per not from Kampot or Kep, said he does not expect prices the two provinces recognised to drop as production costs marked products have not sales and put more money in largely unaffected, indicating However, he said the whole- as legitimate areas to grow remain high for those culti- reached their full potential. farmers’ pockets. the market’s confidence in the sale price dropped to lower Kampot pepper, has plum- vating the crop. He said the Kampot pepper The ministry’s Depart- quality of the latter, he said. than $2 per kg last month. meted, frustrating farmers. “The prices of Kampot pepper trademark remains weak in the ment of Intellectual Property “I believe in the high quality Kampot pepper is mainly Data from the Kampot Pep- cannot drop. If they drop, farm- market and suffers from qual- Rights director Op Rady said of Kampot pepper as all farm- cultivated in Kampot prov- per Promotion Association ers will just give up on the crop ity control issues. The KPPA’s Kampot pepper still has more ers are obliged to adhere with ince’s Kampong Trach district (KPPA) shows that member- because they are costly, and dif- selling price for the pepper is potential than unregistered [GI] regulations to ensure qual- and Kep province. ship has increased to 455 ficult to produce according to lower than retail market prices pepper products. ity in the long term,” said Rady. In 2016, Kampot pepper families from 118 in 2010. [GI] regulations,” said Lay. in international markets. He said the price of pepper Independent agricultural was granted the EU Protected The number of wooden He claimed that growers in Kampot pepper sold in is set by the free market. Low- economist Chan Sophal in- Geographical Indication des- stakes, which farmers anchor the KPPA fetch higher prices France costs €170 ($180) per er prices from farmers and vested in 5ha of pepper in ignation, which helped the into the ground for the pep- than non-association farmers kg, while farmers will typi- higher prices in the interna- Mondulkiri province, which he industry grow further. per plants to grow around, but since they have to adhere cally receive $15 for the same tional retail markets depend has maintained for six years. In 2017, the ministry said used by its members has in- to GI guidelines, it costs more amount, said Dr Ly Eang. on business technicalities, like He said he decided to plant 20,000 tonnes of pepper was creased from 27,012 in 2010 for them to produce the final He said the price of pep- the quality of the packaging. pepper because its price was produced in the country. to 727,317 this year. product. per in the international retail The price of general non-GI $10 per kg at the time. Local pepper demand ac- Land designated for Kam- However, Pharma Product market should range between pepper is highly affected by Even when the price counts for 300 tonnes per pot pepper cultivation has Manufacturing Co Ltd director $50 and $60 per kg, which he the current market turmoil, dropped to $4 or $5 per kg, year, while the rest is exported increased from 1ha in 2010 to Dr Hay Ly Eang said GI-trade- thinks would help improve but Kampot pepper remains Sophal would still turn profits. to international markets. Prime Minister Phuc tells Vietnam to restart economy

THE Covid-19 pandemic is essentially and disrupted the global supply chain. attract foreign investors to Vietnam under control in Vietnam, so it is time Textile and garments, electronics and instead of staying put and waiting for to restart the local economy, said Prime machinery, transportation, and phone them to come,” he said. Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a meet- production had also suffered. The government had to make sure ing with businesses on Saturday. The government should cut taxes its administrative management Phuc told businesses to overcome and fees, said Soc Trang People’s Com- matched market operations so that their difficulties at a conference in mittee chairman Tran Van Chuyen. companies could overcome these dif- Hanoi themed Working together, over- “Companies should be allowed to ficulties and develop a transparent coming challenges, seizing opportuni- delay social insurance payments if and fair business environment, auto- ties, restoring the economy. 30-50 per cent of their employees were maker Truong Hai Auto Corp (Thaco) “It’s won’t be the most powerful or laid off during the crisis while their chairman Tran Ba Duong said. the most intelligent that survive, it duties such as social insurance, health The government, local authorities, will be those that adapt quickly to the insurance and unemployment insur- ministries and agencies must be situation,” he said. ance should be cancelled,” he said. united, he urged. He said despite the pandemic’s American Chamber of Commerce in “Policies should be eased on Lao impacts, the local gross domestic Vietnam chairwoman Virginia Foote and Cambodian companies so that product (GDP) in Ho Chi Minh City in said it was good to see companies and cross-border trade with them can help the first quarter of this year increased the economy back in action. local producers recover quickly.” by 1.03 per cent, while Hanoi’s also The government should review the Vietravel chairman Nguyen Quoc grew by 3.5 per cent and Hai Phong effectiveness of its stimulus packages, Ky said as Vietnam is now safe, the increased by 14.9 per cent. promote the use of e-government, government and regulators should Domestic GDP in the first quarter e-commerce, e-banking, fintech and work on a new campaign to attract Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter was up 3.82 per cent, was up 3.82 per cent, although it was although it was the lowest in more than 10 years. pUBLIC DOMAIN cloud computing so that the economy foreign tourists, especially visitors the lowest in more than 10 years. turned cashless, and loosen regulations from Southeast and Northeast Asia. “It is a proud result in the context of ing for GDP growth of more than five tivity to create sustainable profits. for small businesses to access low-in- Fares should be curbed for tourism many other economies in the world per cent this year while keeping infla- At the conference, he requested terest-rate loans and help foreign firms sites, domestic flight routes should posting negative growth,” said Phuc. tion below four per cent. ministries, provinces and cities to take enter the domestic market, she said. be re-opened, and airline operators Vietnam recorded the strongest He said attracting investment in the initiative in advising and taking Vietnam Chamber of Commerce should be permitted to re-connect to growth in ASEAN in the first quarter, he local economic sectors, especially measures to help businesses grow. and Industry (VCCI) chairman Vu overseas markets such as China, said, noting that in the field of health, from the private sector and foreign Tien Loc said the government should South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand the country had essentially taken the direct investors (FDI), enhancing Business responses pay attention to the development of and Malaysia, he said. pandemic under control thanks to exports, promoting public investment Procedures and policies on admin- domestic parts suppliers, and help Korea Chamber of Commerce and timely and effective measures. and encouraging domestic consump- istration, taxes and fees were the them improve the quality of corpo- Industry in Vietnam vice-chairman Economically, he said, despite the tion would help lift the economy. main concerns raised by business rate governance and human resourc- Hong Sun said South Korean and social distancing and supply disrup- “This conference is not a chance to associations and local authorities at es, implement sustainable business Vietnamese companies will forge tions, Vietnam was not overdepend- complain about the difficulties but the meeting. They asked the govern- models, go digital, and be more strong partnerships to build a new ent on a single market. to find solutions to remove them,” ment to cut taxes and fees while responsible to the community. supply chain. South Korean compa- said Phuc. removing administrative barriers to “Ministries and agencies should nies are committed to help the Viet- Recovery action plan He said the government would not boost business performances. join hands with the VCCI to help local namese economy recover and devel- Phuc told the conference that after help businesses increase profits, but Tourism had been hit the most by authorities and companies promote op in the future. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS the pandemic, the country was aim- it would help them to boost produc- the pandemic as it slowed production their images to multinationals and NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST MAY 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus Food & beverage Stone Head brewing up something special for Kingdom’s beer lovers

ith middle-hard body, it features ‘Wspecial caramel malt and floral flavours”. No, not a wine review, rather the description of the in-demand Cambodia-brewed Red Bus Amber Ale. And as the Kingdom taps into the growing popularity of craft beers – and with a local producer like Red Bus brewer Stone Head – Cambodia’s froth lovers looking for a “superior” taste experience are increas- ingly spoilt for options. Stone Head CEO Steve Can- non says embarking on a jour- ney into craft beer is to enter a world of quality and choice. “No matter what your mood, what you are eating or who you are with, there is a beer to match. If people want more Stone Head craft beer is sold in 60 outlets across Cambodia, including the popular Mojito’s in Phnom Penh. post staff than standard lager then craft beer is there for them, in many extra. It comes down to quality, a greater opportunity to take well as to support every opera- as “partners” rather than awards, including category different varieties. Those who preference and choice. pride in their choice to support tion we partner with. The depth customers. winner of “World’s Best Beer have tried craft beer will all tell “I think consumers are al- a domestic craft brewer. of our range of 12 beers, its “Customer service is key for 2017” at the World Beer you that the flavour and experi- ways looking for this. Whereas “There is both a large expat quality and our prices – as well us. Not only for the end user Awards in London for its The ence is undoubtedly superior to they may not have previously and tourist market here, as well as being a Cambodian brewery purchasing directly via our Dark Side Stout, Cannon says the mainstream options. gone for a ‘mysterious’ cask ale, as an emerging local middle – set us apart. website – with free delivery Stone Head’s commitment to “For those seeking traditional the opportunity now with both class looking for uniqueness of “We only use the best qual- within Phnom Penh – but also quality is reflected in its motto: craft ale brews, we have won- bottled and draught craft beers taste. This brings together people ity ingredients – our hops are our retail partners. Due to our “Great Things Take Time”. derful IPAs [India Pale Ale], pale allows greater flexibility and who are aware of the choices imported from various sources, volume, we are able to supply “Quality craftsmanship and amber ales, and witbiers. choice,” Cannon said. available, and they will continue primarily Germany, as well as at rates far lower than our com- takes time. Whatever is being IPAs are always a prominent op- to demand the opportunity to try New Zealand for the Motueka petitors, adding value for our produced, it cannot be rushed. tion in any range. The unique- ‘Uniqueness of taste’ local craft beers,” Cannon said. hops used for our Smiling Evil outlets, while providing great If you are as committed as we ness of our Smiling Evil Pale Ale Established in Koh Kong He added that he welcomed Pale Ale, which gives a unique prices for consumers. We can are to producing the best beer is proving very popular, as are in 2015 and supplying the Stone Head’s craft ale competi- floral and juicy citrus taste. even replace stock that is not possible, then time spent per- our stouts – an incredible beer Thai market since, Stone Head tors, saying the large number We search for the best, quality proving popular. fecting recipes and techniques experience – particularly the – whose handcrafted beer is of brewers – there are currently ingredients required for each “We want a relationship with is well spent. award-winning The Dark Side proudly brewed and bottled 12 in the Kingdom – was great recipe to be as good as it can all our partners so we can help “Each bottle and glass and our truly inspired Hazelnut in the Kingdom by Cambodians news for Cambodia’s beer scene. be,” Cannon said. them grow their business and should be as good as it can be, and Chocolate Stout. – began operating last May and “Craft beer is a community, ensure they receive value from with no compromises on “While some people will stick already supplies more than 60 and more brewers means more ‘Quality craftsmanship’ us beyond just price. We truly ingredients or time. We owe it to their usual Cambodian lager, outlets across the country, pro- choice for beer lovers. We Elliot Grace, Stone believe it is crucial to work to our customers and the craft many others have already found ducing 16,000 litres per month. launched in Cambodia with Head’s sales and marketing together to achieve success,” beer community as a whole to or are willing to try craft beer “We felt it was the right time a commitment to being the director, said the company’s Grace explained. uphold the ethos of quality and and are willing to pay that bit to give Cambodian beer lovers number one craft beer brand as ethos was to look at clients Having won numerous value for money,” he said.

The Dark Side Stout won the ‘World’s Best Beer 2017’ award. post staff The Stone Head brewery is located in the Kingdom’s Koh Kong province. supplied The brewers currently offer a range of 12 beers. post staff THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Italian aid Europe emerges, Asia infections rise worker back WATHES of Europe be- But cautious re-opening nev- gan the long process of ertheless continues around Asia, re-opening from coro- with one of the world’s largest home after navirus lockdowns train networks set to gradually onS Monday, but the first new restart operations from Tuesday kidnapping infections in weeks at China’s as India eases its lockdown. ground zero offered a sober- The vast rail system, which SILVIA Romano, an Italian aid ing reminder of the dangers of usually carries more than 20 mil- worker kidnapped 18 months a second wave of cases. lion passengers a day, was halted ago in Kenya, touched down The mixed fortunes illus- in late March, leaving millions of in Rome on Sunday a day after trated the high-wire act gov- rural migrant workers unable to being freed. ernments face across the globe return to their homes after losing Intelligence agents located as they try to get economies their jobs in cities. her in Somalia, some 30km moving while keeping in check In the US, the disease has outside the capital, Mogadishu, a pandemic that has now killed moved into the White House and were able to work to release more than 280,000 people. inner circle, with a spokes- her, said Italian Minister of For- As Britain plotted a path to woman for Vice-President Mike eign Affairs and International normality and France and Pence testing positive. One of Cooperation Luigi Di Maio. Spain basked in relaxation of Trump’s valets was found to be Italian media stressed that restrictions, the Chinese city infected last week. Romano had been rescued Wuhan reported a second day Nevertheless, Trump’s advis- through joint efforts by Turkey’s of new cases after a month ers were out in force on Sun- National Intelligence Organisa- without a sign of the virus. day, appearing on talk shows tion, Italian and Somali intel- And neighbouring South to push for an end to locally ligence services, reported Turk- Korea announced its highest imposed lockdowns. ish state-run Anadolu Agency. number of infections for more Small anti-lockdown protests Romano, 24, touched down at than a month driven by a clus- Swathes of Europe began the long process of re-opening from coronavirus lockdowns on Monday. AFP have emerged in a number of Rome-Ciampino International ter in a Seoul nightlife district. US states, with some demon- Airport aboard a government With millions out of work was put in place, more than remain under wraps. was tempered by news on Sun- strators arguing the restrictions plane at around 2pm (1200 and economies shattered, gov- 31,800 have died in Britain – a Belgium and Greece were day that one person had tested violate their rights. GMT). Donning a surgical mask, ernments are desperate to hit figure second only to the US. among other European nations positive for the virus in Wuhan. Extended periods at home impermeable apron, disposable the accelerator, but most are Elsewhere in Europe, however, set to ease lockdowns on Mon- There were five more cases on have also given some people a gloves and boots, she was choosing a gradual approach officials have been emboldened day, two months after the Monday. chance to gather testimony on escorted off the plane by masked as fears about a resurgence of by declining death rates, with World Health Organisation Local health officials said the life in confinement, with the intelligence agents. the virus linger. France’s toll dropping to 70 on declared a pandemic. new infections were all from Museum of London launching She hugged her mother and In Britain, Prime Minister Sunday, its lowest since early last As governments across the the same residential com- an appeal for items that reflect other relatives and touched Boris Johnson said it was too month, and Spain’s daily fatali- world chart a course to recov- pound in the city and were the lives of Britons in unprec- elbows instead of shaking soon for the country to lift its ties falling below 200. ery, Asian nations that were mostly older people. edented times. hands with Di Maio. She was lockdown but he offered hope The French were able to walk among the first engulfed by South Korean officials ordered “When we knew there was then greeted by Prime Minister by unveiling a “conditional outside their homes without fill- the virus but have since nightclubs and bars closed after going to be a lockdown, we Giuseppe Conte. plan” to ease curbs in England ing in a permit for the first time brought it to heel are being a fresh burst of transmission started straight away talking Italy’s second all-news chan- during the months ahead. in nearly eight weeks on Mon- keenly watched for signs of a linked to a single person who about what we needed to col- nel SKY TG24 showed revelry in Johnson said the restrictions day, while teachers began return- second wave. visited five establishments on a lect something for the future,” her home neighbourhood in had brought “a colossal cost to ing to primary schools and some Much of China has begun to night out early this month. Beatrice Behlen, the museum’s Milan, where church bells wel- our way of life” but it would be shops were set to re-open. get back to a form of normal- The discovery left authori- senior curator, said. comed her arrival, and many “madness” to squander the Many Spaniards meanwhile ity, and Shanghai Disneyland ties scrambling to trace pos- “It could be something that people celebrated her return nation’s progress by moving too made plans to meet friends and on Monday threw open its sibly thousands of people who gives you comfort – one example from their balconies. early. family at outdoor bars and res- gates following a three-month may have come into contact mentioned often is maybe your Romano was 23 and working Almost seven weeks after a taurants, although virus hotspots shutdown. with a 29-year-old who has so favourite slippers – you’ve been as a volunteer for an Italian nationwide stay-at-home order such as Madrid and Barcelona But the enthusiasm in China far been linked to 85 cases. wearing them every day.” AFP charity NGO called Africa Milele Onlus at an orphanage in Chakama village in southeast Kenya. She was seized by gun- men from a small rural hotel in Kilifi town in November 2018. SK’s Moon: Anti-virus work with North a ‘priority’ Chakama is about 60km inland from the coastal town of SOUTH Korean President Moon Jae-in reconnecting inter-Korean railways . . . On April 27 the situation got very US and North Korea have been dead- Malindi, which is popular with called for anti-Covid-19 cooperation and arranging individual tours to the serious, with 21 deaths. locked since the Trump-Kim summit Italian tourists and expatriates. with North Korea as a way to break the North and reunions for separated fam- “I can’t verify how many more of collapsed in Hanoi, Vietnam, in Febru- During the attack on Novem- impasse between the two Koreas, and ilies, all remain worth pursuing despite these patients [with fever lasting more ary 2019. Observers have said with ber 20, 2018, the armed assail- for less dependence on the stalled the North’s apparent lack of interest. than two days] there were after April Trump’s focus on winning re-election ants shot and injured five peo- denuclearisation talks between “Still, North Korea has not responded,” 27 . . . but I’ve heard that there’s been this year, his interest in engaging North ple in the orphanage, including Pyongyang and Washington. he said. “I think [the North] is suffering an increasing number of patients suf- Korea appears to have waned. three children. “We should not only seek after the from various difficulties due to the nov- fering from an illness of an unknown Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jin- No details were released US-North Korea dialogue but search el coronavirus. With overall internation- cause,” said the source. ping on Saturday also offered to help about Romano’s release, or and do what can be done between the al exchange and diplomacy stopped, we Other Daily NK reports have sug- North Korea contain the virus, in his about the identity or motiva- two Koreas,” Moon said during a Q&A cannot just keep pressing North Korea. gested that a North Korean man who reply to an earlier message from Kim. tion of her captors. No group session following a special address to “Once the coronavirus situation crossed the Tumen River into China’s “China is willing to enhance anti- has claimed responsibility for the nation marking the third anniver- calms down, we will continue to com- Jilin province on April 20 tested posi- epidemic cooperation with the DPRK the kidnapping. sary of his inauguration. municate and persuade Pyongyang to tive for Covid-19, that 180 soldiers may and provide as much support as its “The state abandons no one,” Among various inter-Korean projects accept the offers,” he said. have died from “coronavirus-like capacity allows for the DPRK in line with Di Maio tweeted on Saturday. that Seoul has proposed to Pyongyang North Korea has insisted that it has symptoms” between January and Feb- the latter’s needs,” state-run Xinhua The kidnapping of foreigners since early this year, Moon stressed that not had a single confirmed case of ruary, and that 23 other people may News Agency reported Xi as saying. is relatively rare in Kenya, but joint quarantine cooperation is a “real- Covid-19. Many observers dispute have died in the country due to the He also expressed confidence of a have had a damaging effect on istic” project that can be done in the Pyongyang’s claim and have raised disease as of late February. “final victory” over the pandemic the country’s crucial tourist short term, as it does not violate UN-led concern that the country’s fragile President Moon added that Seoul and through the combined efforts of China, economy. sanctions against North Korea. health system may not be able to cope Washington are maintaining commu- North Korea and the international In April last year, two Cuban “Both South and North Korea are with a massive outbreak. nication with Pyongyang while admit- community. doctors were kidnapped in putting a lot of efforts into dealing with Daily NK, a Seoul-based online ting it is “not smooth at the moment”. Xi’s remarks were a response to a mes- northeastern Kenya and the coronavirus, and even if it is success- media outlet run mostly by North “We have hoped that once US-North sage Kim sent last week, lauding Bei- whisked to Somalia before $1.5 fully contained this time, many experts Korean defectors, on May 4 reported a Korea talks are reached, inter-Korean jing’s success in stemming the virus. million was demanded their expect a second wave of the pandemic. potential fever outbreak in northern relations could speed up. But unlike The Chinese leader, saying he was very release. Under the circumstances, if the two Ryanggang province’s Taehongdan what was expected at first, they are still glad to receive Kim’s “warm and friendly Kenyan police sources said Koreas cooperate on preventing such county, which has sparked fears of in the doldrums. It’s unclear when we message”, added that he highly values the kidnapping bore the hall- infectious disease, it will contribute to Covid-19 spread in the area. will achieve results, considering the the bilateral relations between the two marks of al-Shabaab, a militant hygiene and public health for all people A Ryanggang-based source told Dai- political calendar of the US,” he said, countries and intends to “strengthen outfit that has been waging an both in the South and the North.” ly NK: “There was an increasing likely a reference to the US presidential strategic communication” and “deepen insurgency against Somalia’s The president also stressed that oth- number of people with body tempera- election in November. exchanges and cooperation”. THE KOREA foreign-backed government for er inter-Korean projects, including tures of 38-40C in Taehongdan county Denuclearisation talks between the HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK over a decade. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Indonesian zoos make Malaysia extends movement appeal for funds to control order by four weeks feed hungry animals IN A desperate bid to save hun- and animal lovers in Indonesia ALAYSIAN Prime gry animals from being killed and around the world, Dr Rah- Minister Muhy- and fed to one another, the In- mat said: “We are fighting hard iddin Yassin on donesian Zoo Association has and desperately. We need all Sunday extend- kicked off a fund-raising drive the help from various groups. Med the country’s conditional as the coronavirus pandemic “We are in crisis and the stay-at-home order by anoth- takes a toll on zoo coffers. situation is worrying. If we get er four weeks, to June 9. Closed since the middle of no donations by the end of Muhyiddin said although March, the 57 zoos across In- May, the lives of the animals new Covid-19 cases are lower donesia had enough funds to will be threatened.” now than at the start of the last only three to six months, Asked what the worst-case movement curbs, the fight is mostly for feeding and provid- scenario would be, he said the not yet over. ing veterinary care for 70,000 last resort would be to euthan- “Even though we have animals and paying the wages ise the old and sickly animals. achieved positive develop- of 22,000 employees, associa- The meat that is fit to be eaten ments in the war against tion chairman Rahmat Shah and from animals that are abun- Covid-19, we haven’t fully told The Straits Times. dant, such as deer, would be fed succeeded yet,” he warned, The zoos, whose income de- to fitter animals and endan- adding that most Malaysians pends largely on ticket sales gered species like the Sumatran want the government to take from the 50 million annual visi- tigers and Javan leopards. the necessary steps to fight tors, make around S$10 million “We are the last bastion of the spread of the virus. (US$7.1 million) per month in to- endemic endangered Indo- “Therefore, based on advice tal. Some S$6 million go towards nesian species,” he said. “But from the Ministry of Health their upkeep and operations. that’s the last, last, last resort. and the National Security “The zoos may be closed, but “What choice do we have? Council, I wish to announce the animals still need to be fed Let’s say we have 500 animals, that the conditional move- and cared for and their cages and 100 of them are endan- ment control order that runs cleaned,” said Rahmat. “Our gered. If we are not allowed to until May 12 . . . will remain in priority is to keep the animals kill, all the 500 will die. We have force until June 9.” Malaysia first imposed movement curbs on March 18, as coronavirus cases began to rise sharply. AFP healthy, look after their welfare nothing to lose from killing the Malaysia first imposed and make sure their care and others because we can get them movement curbs on March pung, ahead of the Hari Raya be reopened are also being wash your hands or use hand maintenance can run normally.” again anytime, anywhere.” 18, as coronavirus cases be- Aidilftri celebrations in two discussed. sanitiser. And only go out The association wrote to The World Association of gan to rise sharply. Schools weeks’ time will not be al- A total of 6.64 million, or when necessary,” he said. President Joko Widodo over Zoos and Aquariums (Waza) and non-essential businesses lowed, nor will large open 43.6 per cent of Malaysians Malaysian health authori- two weeks ago seeking finan- website says euthanasia is al- were shut, and people were houses. have returned to work since ties said last week the country cial assistance but has yet to lowed under the code of eth- confined to their homes ex- Similar restrictions on trav- controls were eased on May is in a “recovery phase”, as the get a response. On their part, ics and animal welfare when cept to buy food, essential el and large gatherings apply 4, and more are expected to number of new daily cases the zoo operators have been all options have been studied, items or to seek medical to other upcoming festivals do so in the coming weeks, have mostly come down to using cheaper feed substi- but it must be carried out in a treatment. including Gawai and Kaa- he said. double digits in the last three tutes, shortened the working manner that ensures a “quick These controls were eased maatan, which are widely cel- “Do not be careless . . . As weeks. This is a marked im- hours of their staff and even death without suffering”. on May 4, allowing most busi- ebrated in east Malaysia. more people go back to work, provement from the triple slashed salaries by up to 50 “Euthanasia may be con- nesses to reopen and people However, he said, small the risk of infection is higher. digits recorded in mid-March per cent to cut costs. trolled by local customs and to travel for work. Schools, gatherings for the upcoming The coming weeks are criti- and the first two weeks of last The fund-raising drive, laws but should always be however, remain shut and festive celebrations, up to a cal,” he said adding that the month. called Food For Animals, was used in preference to keeping large social gatherings are maximum of 20 people, are government will not hesitate It reported 67 new cases on launched on May 2 and is the an animal alive under condi- still banned. Travel between allowed. He reminded people to impose lockdowns in areas Sunday, bringing the tally to association’s latest attempt to tions which do not allow it to Malaysia’s 13 states is barred to take the necessary pre- experiencing a spike in coro- 6,656. The death toll remained ensure the animals’ survival. experience an appropriate except for work purposes, cautions during such events, navirus cases. at 108, with no new deaths Over S$50,000, including a con- quality of life,” Waza said. and the country’s borders re- by practising social distanc- “So please abide by the gov- reported. The country’s recov- tribution from Dr Rahmat’s own For now, Dr Rahmat, as well as main shut to tourists. ing measures and using face ernment standard operating ery rate for the disease stands pocket, has been raised so far. animal groups interviewed, are Muhyiddin said the coun- masks and hand sanitisers. procedures. Avoid crowded at 75.5 per cent of confirmed Pleading for more support only hoping for the coronavirus try’s annual mass exodus to He said that guidelines for places. Practice social dis- cases. THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ from the government, com- pandemic to end. THE STRAITS TIMES hometowns, or balik kam- when houses of worship can tancing. Wear masks. Always ASIA NEWS NETWORK munity leaders, businessmen (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Vietnam’s An Giang aims for 2% poverty rate by year end

THE Vietnamese Mekong Del- This year, the province, able poverty reduction. ta province of An Giang plans which borders Cambodia’s An Giang will build roads, to reduce its poverty rate from Takeo and Kandal provinces, schools, medical stations, 2.63 per cent to less than two will focus on improving living small irrigation projects and per cent by the end of this year, conditions and access to social clean water projects, especial- said the provincial People’s basic services for the poor and ly in ethnic, mountainous and Committee. near-poor. border communes, this year. Poverty measurements are The policies include soft Of the 29 ethnic minorities based on the national multi- loans, health care, education, in the province, Khmer, Hoa dimensional approach which housing, electricity, jobs, voca- and Cham are the three major includes per capita income tional skills and legal issues. ethnic groups. and access to basic social In the health care sector, the This year, the province will services such as education, province will invest more in implement projects that will health care, housing, clean facilities and human resources help the poor develop agri- water, hygiene condition and at the grassroots level and en- cultural production, diversify To meet poverty reduction targets this year, An Giang – also known by its Khmer name Moat Chrouk – will information. sure that all poor people are livelihoods and expand effec- spend more than 1.13 trillion dong ($38.2 million) for the national target programme on sustainable poverty To meet poverty reduction provided free health insurance tive poverty reduction models. reduction. SUPPLIED targets this year, An Giang – cards this year. Located at the upstream ar- trict, authorities have given poor situation two years ago households to access soft loans also known by its Khmer name The province will help 1,088 eas of the Tien and Hau rivers, instructions on animal breed- and now have a stable life as worth a total of more than 130 Moat Chrouk – will spend poor households rebuild di- which are two tributaries of ing, vegetable cultivation and they breed 10 cows and his wife billion dong since 2015. more than 1.13 trillion dong lapidated houses this year. the Mekong River, An Giang small trade to poor and near- sells fish at the market, he said. About 90 per cent of the ($38.2 million) for the national Provincial People’s Com- has favourable conditions for poor households, and helped “My family can now save 10 households have used soft target programme on sustain- mittee deputy chairman Le developing agriculture, tour- them access soft loans. million dong a month. I no loans effectively and have able poverty reduction. Van Phuoc said this is the last ism and trade, and services. Giap Tam Hiep’s family, longer need to go to the city to achieved sustainable incomes, The money will be from the year of the province’s five-year In the past, many poor which used to be a near-poor find a job,” he said. he said. central government’s budget, socio-economic development households in the province es- household in Phu Tan’s Phu Phu Tan Bureau of Labour, The district had 1,164 poor the province’s budget, loans plan (2016-2020), so the prov- caped poverty after they were Long commune, received a Invalids and Social Affairs households at the end of last from the Bank for Social Poli- ince will tighten measures to provided soft loans and other soft loan for breeding eels and head Vo Thanh Tung said the year, accounting for 2.2 per cy, the Fund for the Poor, and meet the targets of the national assistance. then breeding cows for meat. district has helped more than cent of its total households. other sources. target programme on sustain- In Phu Tan, an agrarian dis- His family escaped their near- 8,000 poor and near-poor VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Healthy oceans – Keepingwww.phnompenhpost.com Asia www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng and the Pacific afloatLy Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua purushotman Opinion Joshua purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff phak Seangly emories of idyl- Business Editor phak Seangly lic beaches and May Kunmakara Business Editor sonorous waves Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara may seem far Sangeetha amarthalingam Maway while we remain at Deputy Business Editor Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath home. Yet, we need not look pan Simala far to appreciate the endur- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Senior Reporters ing history of the ocean in pan Simala Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng Asia and the Pacific. For gen- Senior Reporters Reporters erations, the region has Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long thrived on our seas. Our Reporters Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin pisei, Soth namesake bears a nod to the Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Pacific Ocean, a body of Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin pisei, Soth Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan water tethered to the well- Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers being of billions in our Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea region. The seas provide Web Editor Ry Sochan food, livelihoods and a sense Leang phannara Photographers of identity, especially for Webmasters coastal communities in the Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea Pacific island states. Web Editor SIEM REAP BUREAU Sadly, escalating strains on Leang phannara Offi ce Manager the marine environment are Webmasters Sophearith Blondeel threatening to drown Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea PRODUCTION & PRINTING progress and our way of life. SIEM REAP BUREAU Head of Desktop Publishing In less than a century, cli- Offi ce Manager Nhim Sokphyrak mate change and unsustain- Sophearith Blondeel Desktop Publishing able resource management Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING have degraded ecosystems Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing and diminished biodiversity. A green baby turtle makes its way to the ocean on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, Indonesia. Keeping the ocean plastic-free will depend on poli- Nhim Sokphyrak Levels of overfishing have cies that promote a circular economy approach. afp HEAD OFFICE exponentially increased, Desktop Publishing leaving fish stocks and food tainable Development Goal centage of stocks fished at resent how extensiveSuon Savatdy, and Chum col Sokunthy,- free Danh will Borath depend on policies systems vulnerable. Marine (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. unsustainable levels has laborative our solutionsTep Thoeun Thyda, must Tim Borith, that Than promoteVeasna a circular econ- plastic pollution coursing Due to limitations in method- increased threefold from 10 be. Transboundary ocean omy approach. This strategy Post Media Co, Ltd. through the region’s rivers ology and national statistical per cent in 1974 to 33 per management and HEAD linking OFFICE minimises resource use and The Elements Condominium Level 7, have contributed to most of systems, information gaps cent in 2015. Generating ocean data call for close keeps them in use for as long Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, the debris flooding the have persisted at uneven lev- complete data on fish stocks, cooperation among coun- as possible. This will require Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom ocean. While the Covid-19 els across countries. Defeat- fighting illicit fishing activity tries in the region. Harness- economic incentives and dis- Penh, Cambodia pandemic has temporarily ing Covid-19 has been a num- and conserving marine areas ing ocean statisticsPost Media through Co, Ltd. incentives, coupled with fun- Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 reduced emissions and pol- bers game and we need must remain a priority. strong national Thestatistical Elements Condominium damental Level 7, lifestyle changes. Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 lution on the ocean, this similar commitment to data Economic activity from systems will serveHun asSen a Boulevard com- , PhumSeveral Prek Talong, countries in the SIEM REAP should not be moment of for the state of our shores. shipping must also be sus- pass guiding countriesSangkat Chak to Angre Krom,region Phnom have Penh, introduced suc- No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune reprieve. Rather, recovery While there is much we tainable. While the most con- monitor trends,Cambodia devise timely cessful single-use plastic Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 efforts have the potential to cannot see, images of plastic nected shipping economies responses and clear SIEM REAP blind bans. ESCAP’s Closing the rebuild a new reality, embed- pollution have become com- COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT are in Asia, the small island spots impedingNo action. 629, Street 6 DangkumLoop Commune project is reducing the ded in sustainability and monplace. Asia and the developing states (SIDS) of Through the Ocean Accounts environmental impact of cit- Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 resilience. It is time to take Pacific produces nearly half the Pacific experience much Partnership, ESCAP is work- ies in ASEAN by addressing James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT transformative action for the of global plastic by volume, lower levels of connectivity, ing with countries to harmo- plastic waste pollution and Advertising Department Chap Narith, 017 996 241 ocean, together. of which it consumes 38 per leaving them relatively isolat- nise ocean dataChief and Operating provide Offi cer leakages into the marine Hun Channet, 017 578 768 Despite a seascape celebrat- cent. Plastics represent a ed from the global economy. a space for regularJames dialogue. Ong Soon Teck environment. prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 ed in our collective imagina- double burden for the ocean: Closing the maritime connec- Translating internationalAdvertising Department Our oceans keep our Keo puthy, 012 966 605 tions, research shows that our their production generates tivity gap must be placed at agreements andChap standards Narith, 017 996 241health, the economy and our phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 picture of the ocean is CO2 absorbed by the ocean, the centre of regional trans- into national actionHun Channet, is also 017 578 768lives above the waves. In the Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 remarkably shallow. Insights and as a final product enter port cooperation efforts. We prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 key. We must fully equip post-Covid-19 era, we must CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION from Changing Sails: Acceler- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION the ocean as pollution. Beat- must also work with the ship- countries and all ocean cus- use the critical years ahead to Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager ating Regional Actions for Sus- ing this challenge will hinge ping community to navigate todians to localise global steer our collective fleets Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy tainable Oceans in Asia and upon effective national poli- toward green shipping. As an agreements into tangible toward sustainable oceans. Circulation Supervisor the Pacific, the theme study of cies and re-thinking produc- ocean-based industry, ship- results. ESCAP is ADMINISTRATION working With our shared resources Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 this year’s Economic and tion cycles. ping directly affects the health with member statesAdmin &to HR imple Manager- and commitment, I am con- Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 Social Commission for Asia Environmental decline is of the marine ecosystem. ment Internationalpich Socheat Maritime fident we can sail in the right ADMINISTRATION and the Pacific (ESCAP), also affecting dwindling fish Enforcing sustainable ship- Organisation (IMO)Assistants require to Admin- & HRdirection. Manager Admin & HR Manager reveal that without data, we stocks. Our region’s position ping policies is essential to ments on emissionsNhel Soaphea reduc- pich Socheat are swimming in the dark. as the world’s largest produc- mitigate maritime pollution. tion and environmental Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the UN Financial Director under-secretary-general and executive Assistants to Admin & HR Manager Data are available for only er of fish has come at the cost The magnitude of our standards. Heang Tangmeng secretary of the Economic and Social Nhel Soaphea two out of 10 targets for Sus- of overexploitation. The per- ocean and its challenges rep- Keeping the ocean plastic- Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 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 may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle

A sex worker named Medroxy sits in front of her computer at her apartment in Warsaw, Poland. afp Medroxy is one of the organisers of a fundraiser which raised $3,800 in two weeks for Polish sex workers. afp Virus: Panic, solidarity in Polish sex industry

HE coronavirus pandemic the product or service of their choice. tre (PIC), an Amsterdam-based lobby worker’s rights activist from the PIC. groups and public agencies, say- has closed down Poland’s “We’ve received 221 donations, group, said on Twitter it was “shock- She told AFP that she would help to ing sex workers are “marginalised, strip clubs and massage with some people contributing mul- ing” how many sex workers who were organise “an online workshop for peo- stigmatised and excluded and as parlours, leaving many sex tiple times,” said Martyna, who like paying tax on legal earnings were be- ple who want to start online sex work”. a result have been hit hard by the workersT struggling to make ends Medroxy is a member of the Sex Work ing excluded from official help. Medroxy said she had continued pandemic”. meet but also inspiring solidarity via Polska (SWP) coalition, which de- Two Dutch Christian parties in the to see clients in person, having only She says society refuses to recog- an online fundraising campaign. fends the rights of industry workers. ruling coalition and the opposition been out of work for a brief two weeks nise that “sex work is work”, leaving Similar ventures have also ap- “That’s made it possible for us Labour party recently called on the when the virus first struck Poland. sex workers in an unregulated arena peared elsewhere in the West, notably to help out around 60 people with government to do more to help sex “My going rate is 300 zloty per hour with no legal status, forced to exist launched by the Strass union in France small sums they can use to get gro- workers in financial straits. and I see a maximum of five clients a outside the benefits and tax systems. and Canadian organisations Maggie in ceries and buy medication.” day,” she said. Another cause for lament are the Toronto and PACE in Vancouver. Across the Atlantic, the returns are Webcam work That allows her to offer occasional haters, she says, who have respond- “Over a couple of weeks, we’ve raised even higher. The pandemic has also forced the financial help to her father and broth- ed with negative comments to her more than 16,000 zloty [$3,800]. It’s in- “We have currently raised industry to go digital. er, whose salaries leave much to be group’s call for financial assistance. credible,” one of the organisers of the C$87,226 [US$62,000] and approved Medroxy said: “A good number of desired. “They come from all walks of life Polish fundraiser, a purple-haired 22- or distributed C$80,750,” said PACE sex workers whose workplaces have She adds that some of her clients and from across the political spec- year-old who goes by her sex worker co-executive director Lyra McKee, closed have switched to doing live have responded to the pandemic in trum, the left and the right alike,” name of Medroxy, told AFP. adding that they had received 652 video performances.” surprising ways, including by keep- she told AFP. The crisis initiative started as do- online applications. Already experienced in the field ing face masks on during sex. There are no official statistics re- nation-only but a group of men and She told AFP the dollar amount having started in front of a camera “Another client requested a mastur- garding the number of sex workers women in the industry – a legal grey doled out to each worker depends four years ago, Medroxy said nu- bation session with the requisite social in Poland. zone in Poland – have since signed “on financial need and level of so- merous other sex workers have been distance of 2m between us,” she said. But sociologist Mariusz Jedrzejko, on to offer photos, videos or even en- cial marginalisation such as being a reaching out for advice. who studies the field, estimates there counters in return for contributions. person of colour or trans individual The same holds true in Amster- ‘Sex work is work’ are more than 60,000 sex workers, a Those interested can transfer cash or disabled individual”. dam, said porn and webcam per- Martyna is upset over the lack third of whom work full-time, in the to the group bank account and collect The Prostitution Information Cen- former Yvette Luhrs, who is also a sex of interest from humanitarian aid country of 38 million people. AFP Son: Actor Jerry Stiller dies at 92 Rhino killed as poaching attempts increase in India Veteran actor and comedian Jerry Stiller, who found fame on Broad- A rare greater one-horned rhino said, adding that it was a confirmed way and later in the smash US (Rhinoceros unicornis) has been killed poaching incident. show Seinfeld has died from natural as poaching attempts increase in one Officials said it was the first poach- causes aged 92, his son Ben Stiller of India’s best-known national parks ing case in the UNESCO-listed heri- said on Monday. during the coronavirus lockdown, of- tage site in a year. Previous years had Stiller and his wife Anne Meara ficials said on Sunday. seen numerous poaching incidents. starred on the stage and TV in the The lack of vehicles on the highway Officials said poaching attempts 1960s, writing and performing com- near Kaziranga National Park in As- have increased in and around the edy sketches and routines together. sam state – home to the world’s big- park since the start of the nation- He later played George Costanza’s gest population of greater one-horned wide lockdown late in March. short-tempered father Frank on the rhinos – amid the lockdown has seen Last month, more than five at- smash TV show Seinfeld, for which animals move towards the boundaries, tempts to slaughter the rare crea- he won the Funniest Male Guest Ap- making them vulnerable to poachers. tures were thwarted by park rangers pearance in a TV Series at the Amer- “It is suspected that the rhino was and a special rhino protection force ican Comedy Awards in 1989. killed at least two to three days ago,” set up by the state government. In 1997 he was nominated for an the park’s director P Sivakumar told Greater one-horned rhinos used Emmy award for the same role. AFP, adding that the rhino’s horn to be widespread in the region but He also played Leah Remini’s fa- was also missing. hunting and habitat loss has slashed ther in the sitcom The King of Queens Hunters can earn as much as their numbers to just a few thousand, and starred alongside his son Ben in $150,000 for one rhino horn or almost all in the northeastern state of the Zoolander films. around $60,000 per kg on a black Assam. “I’m sad to say that my father, Jer- market according to media reports, Their main haven now is Kaziran- ry Stiller, passed away from natural serving foreign demand for its use in ga, with 2,413 of the animals living causes,” his son said in a tweet. traditional Chinese medicine. there, according to a 2018 count. “He was a great dad and grandfa- “We have also recovered eight The 850sq km park, created in 1908 ther, and the most dedicated hus- rounds of empty cartridge of AK 47” after the wife of the British viceroy band to Anne for about 62 years,” automatic rifle, Sivakumar said. visited and complained that there Stiller added. “He will be greatly The rhino carcass was found near were no rhinos, is also home to ti- missed. Love you Dad.” AFP Veteran actor and comedian Jerry Stiller has died from natural causes aged 92. AFP a water body inside the park, he gers, elephants and panthers. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle LGBT members in Indonesia face forced exorcisms to cure ‘disease’ NDIN is haunted by mem- Forced exorcism is a common sto- ories of being forced into ry for gay and transgender people in an exorcism to “save” her the world’s biggest Muslim majority from being transgender – a nation, where a conservative shift ritualA that could become mandatory has seen the community increas- for Indonesia’s LGBT community if a ingly targeted in recent years. controversial new law is passed. Homosexuality is legal everywhere For two decades she has endured in Indonesia except conservative harassment and abuse as her fam- Aceh province which adheres to ily desperately tried to “cure” her. strict Islamic laws. Treatments ranged from being But it is still widely believed that bombarded with Quranic verses being gay or transgender is the re- while trapped in a locked room for sult of a person being possessed days, to being doused with freez- by evil spirits – and that these can ing water by an imam promising to be expelled by religious ceremony purge the “gender disease”. and prayer. But it is the exorcism that breaks Now, conservative Islamic law- her heart. makers have tabled a so-called Rumah Ruqyah cleric Ahmad Sadzali speaking about exorcisms for people from the LGBT community in Jakarta. Homosexuality is legal everywhere in Indonesia except in conservative Aceh province which adheres to strict Islamic laws. afp She was taken against her will to “Family Resilience” bill, which crit- a strange religious guru near her ics decry as sexist and anti-LGBT. Asian archipelago, which is home to “One guy I treated only did the me. And I see the exorcist in my dreams. hometown of Medan in Sumatra. Gay and transgender people would more than 260 million. exorcism twice and he is cured It left me very scared,” she reveals. He showed her a burial shroud com- be forced to undergo “rehabilitation” Exorcisms have long been used now. He married a woman just one In Aceh, same-sex relations can monly used to cover the dead and – an umbrella term likely to include for everything from tackling men- month later,” he recalls. result in a public whipping under prayed over her. exorcisms and other “conversion tal illness to clearing villages of al- Six clinics in Jakarta told AFP that local Islamic law and in 2018 police He then gave a stark choice – relin- treatments” – to purge what bill ad- leged apparitions. they performed exorcisms that would there rounded up a group of trans quish life as a woman, or go to hell. vocates say is a sexual deviancy. This means that the practice will “cure” LGBT clients, although none women and publicly humiliated “Nothing changed after the exor- play a key role if the new law is openly advertised the treatment. them by cutting their hair and forc- cism. I’m still LGBT, but my family ‘Expel evil spirits’ passed, warns Usman Hamid, Am- “How long have you been suffer- ing them to dress in male clothes. didn’t give up easily,” says Andin, Although now a Muslim-majority nesty International Indonesia’s ex- ing the disease?” one shop owner The same year, authorities in Su- 31, who asked that her real name nation, traditional tribal animist ecutive director. asks over the telephone, before re- matra’s Padang city ordered LGBT not be used. and shamanist beliefs have been in- “[It’s] the most likely option to be minding the caller that he cannot residents to have treatment to stop “It’s traumatising – the horror of corporated into the cultural and re- taken by officials in Indonesia when treat those with HIV. their “sinful acts” following mass that memory stays in my head.” ligious identity across the Southeast doing ‘rehabilitation’,” he adds. “God willing, I can help as long as demonstrations. For Aris Fatoni, who performs you surrender to Allah.” But there is still a vocal minor- exorcisms to rid patients of myriad ity pushing back against draconian medical and personal problems, ‘Sinful acts’ changes to legislation. mandatory conversion therapy will Surveys in recent years indicate Last year, lawmakers tried to push bring a business boom. intolerance and radicalism is on the through a criminal law overhaul that He claims he has “cured” around rise, with one 2017 study suggesting would have made pre-marital sex 10 such clients in the past decade. more than 80 per cent of Indone- a criminal offence, but the bid was During an exorcism, Fatoni reads sians support the country adopting shelved after a sharp backlash. from the Quran as he places his strict Islamic law. Similarly, proposals in the new hands on clients and then watches Dinda says her mother, who is bill are being fought by rights cam- for signs he believes suggest evil deeply religious, tricked her into vis- paigners. spirits are being expelled. iting for a family reunion – but when “Conversion therapy, such as ex- “It’s usually a strong reaction but the 34-year-old lesbian arrived, she orcisms, amount to violence against that means they’ll be cured quick- found a Muslim cleric there who per- LGBT people,” said Budi Wahyuni, a er,” he explains, adding that he’s formed an exorcism against her will. former commissioner at the Indo- witnessed vomiting and screaming “My mom believed I was possessed nesian women’s commission. in the process. by ghosts and that if I didn’t have an Andin remains unconvinced “However, if someone likes being exorcism then the evil spirits would things will get better. LGBT and they’ve only come here stay with me,” recalls Dinda, who Her family persists in trying to out of curiosity then there’s no reac- asked that her real name not be used. cure her – most recently sacrificing tion. Those cases are harder to fix.” Her sexuality remains the same a goat to do so. A cleric (centre) performing an exorcism on people from the LGBT community at a His colleague, Ahmad Sadzali, also but she no longer trusts her mother. She says: “Twenty years later, they clinic in Jakarta. afp boasts of successful conversions. “I get shivers every time my mum calls still want me to be different.” AFP Do it yourself: Ikea masturbation clip goes viral in China SWEDISH homeware group Ikea has lic cleanliness measures” and encour- just don’t understand,” another wrote. said it will take “more careful” security aged all customers to “browse stores It is not the first explicit video to measures in its shops in China after an in an orderly and civilised way”. cause a stir on China’s tightly control- explicit video of a woman masturbating The identity of the woman and the led social media platforms. in one of its stores went viral online. person who filmed it have not been A Beijing branch of the Japanese The pornographic clip shows a wom- revealed. clothing chain Uniqlo became infa- an pleasuring herself half-naked on Some Chinese social media users mous in 2015, after a clip of a couple various sofas and beds in the furniture have speculated it was a store in having sex in one of its changing store’s showroom, while oblivious Guangdong province, as Cantonese rooms went viral. shoppers walk by in the background. – spoken in parts of southern China Police arrested five people, includ- While uncensored versions of the – can be heard in the background ing the young couple in the video, video have been scrubbed from Chi- store announcements. over the matter, while Uniqlo firmly nese social media, the Swedish com- Baffled users online also pointed denied that it was a publicity stunt. pany’s response to the clip gained out that nobody is wearing face The clip “severely violated socialist nine million views. masks in the video, suggesting it was core values”, the Chinese Cyberspace “We resolutely oppose and con- filmed before the coronavirus out- Administration said at the time. demn this kind of behaviour, and break which brought China to a Chinese citizens can face up to ten immediately reported it to the police standstill from late January. days’ administrative detention for in the city of the suspected store,” “This woman is so brave, I don’t deliberate public nudity, while those Ikea said in a statement, without understand, [she’s] just doing it in who upload and disseminate obscene revealing the name of the branch. broad daylight,” read one Weibo post content online face up to 15 days’ On Saturday, it said it would take that gained more than 8,000 likes. detention and a maximum fine of Ikea plans on stepping up its security after a woman was caught on camera pleasuring “even more careful security and pub- “There are so many people around, I 3,000 yuan ($420). AFP herself in one of its stores’ showrooms. apa/afp 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle ‘Murder hornets’ seen Thinking caps in the US for first time DEADLY giant insect known as the “mur- der hornet” has been spotted for the first timeA in the US, prompting fears it could decimate the honeybee population and cre- ating a buzz on social media. Two of the wasps – the world’s largest hornet species – were discovered late last year in the western state of Washington, and scientists have since been trying to track the invasive insects to eradicate them. Washington State Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Karla Salp said it was unclear how the Asian giant hornets – Two of the wasps – the world’s largest hornet species – were discovered late last year in the western US state of Washington. pOOL/AFP which have orange and black markings and are nearly 5cm in “In general, people do not pupae and larvae. length – arrived in the US. need to worry,” she said. “As Paul van Westendorp, an api- “Normally, though, they are long as you don’t step in a nest culturist in British Columbia, unwitting hitchhikers on some- or approach a beehive they have said the only actual nest of thing [like shipping containers] taken over, there is a fairly low hornets found in North Amer- or someone,” she told AFP. risk that you will be stung. ica was discovered on Vancou- Scientists suspect there are “That being said, if you are ver Island and destroyed. probably more of the insects – stung, their venom is more A specimen was also found also known by their scientific toxic than that of local bees in White Rock, British Colum- name “Vespa mandarinia” – than and wasps, and they have bia in November. just the two spotted last year, more of it,” she added. The two hornets spotted in which is why a public outreach In Japan, where the insects Blaine, Washington were found campaign has been launched to are hunted and eaten, some 30 in December. One was alive help with eradication efforts. to 50 people die each year and flew off, Westendorp said, Salp said: “During this trap- from their venomous and while the second was dead. ping season and with the help excruciating sting. News of the “murder hor- “BUTCHER FOR A DAY” of public education and nets’” arrival in the US has set Mass slaughter encouragement to report sus- the internet abuzz in recent ACROSS 44 Fine table linen 13 Pre-deal chip pected sightings, we hope to But while the giant hornets days, with many lamenting 1 Supplant illegally 45 Not one 18 Calla lily, e.g. have a better idea of where are typically not harmful to that it couldn’t have come at a 6 Jazz lick 46 252-gallon measures 23 Infuriation they are as well as to eradicate humans, they do pose a great worse time, referring to the 10 Bear in a fairy tale 47 Common fundraiser 24 Nothing much, to farmers? them if we can.” danger to bee populations, coronavirus pandemic. 14 One deep in thought 50 Some gobblers 25 “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” singer Sherman Scientists warn that unless the which have been declining in “Now I gotta worry about a 15 Case for tweezers, scissors 51 Little green man 26 Increases insect is eliminated in the next many parts of the world. hornet killing me! the world is and such 54 It’s seen among the reeds 27 Indian coin couple years, it could spread in Chris Looney, an entomolo- ending,” said one Twitter user. 16 Place in Mongolia (with 29-Down) 55 Political patronage 28 Nautical direction North America and become gist at the department, has “Guys, I think we are going 17 Tower of London guards 58 Extremely dry, as land 29 See 16-Across 19 Steering wheel option 59 Creative starting point permanently established. explained that hornets slaugh- to be okay as long as someone 30 Martini feature 60 Sir Michael, the actor Salp said the hornets, which ter honeybees by literally bit- tells the Murder Hornets about 20 Roulette bet 31 Frugal one 61 Tireless carrier are native to East Asia and ing their heads off. the 6ft social distancing rule,” 21 Proper companion? 32 Sort of board 62 Thumb one’s nose at Japan, don’t usually attack peo- The hornets then occupy quipped another user. “With a 22 Dot above the i, e.g. 34 Mumbo jumbo 63 Work with the hands ple, but are known for decimat- honeybee nests for up to a name like that, I’m sure they 24 Whodunit helper 37 Courageous 25 Full, round coif DOWN ing honeybee colonies. week or more, feeding on the are reasonable.” AFP 41 Try to clean out the house? 26 Evangelist Billy 1 Boss on a shield 43 Famous mule of song 29 Prudish person 2 Sicced a lawyer on 44 Ready for the dentist’s drill 33 Apply thoroughly, as lotion 3 Like Goodwill goods 46 Sweet white wine 34 Monitor’s beat 4 NBA official 47 “Friends” paleontologist 35 Chowder type 5 Arrange beforehand 48 First Genesis victim 6 Fix a half hitch 36 Oil pricing grp. 49 Fairway warning Surfer punches shark twice, 7 Piece in the paper 37 Some Greek vowels 50 Unclean, like non-kosher food 8 Chinchilla’s coat 38 It’s abuzz with activity 51 Canal for 43-Down 9 Carryable amounts 39 Like light-colored coffee 52 Legendary Horne 10 Thick side whiskers 40 Cinematic showdown time 53 Skipped town survives attack in Australia 11 Came down and settled 56 Tribute with stanzas 41 Mars explorer 12 Popular shopping locale A FRENCH surfer has survived 42 Fall or spring period 57 Legged it a shark attack in Australia with only minor leg injuries by Monday’s solution punching it twice, local media reported. Dylan Nacass, 23, was surf- ing at Bells Beach, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, when the shark attacked on Friday, said Nine News. Video footage shows a shark swimming up behind two men as they paddle desperately to get away. Nacass told Nine the shark latched onto his leg until he punched it twice and he was released from its jaws. A French surfer has survived a shark attack in Australia with only minor leg injuries by punching it twice. CAMERON GRANT PHOTOGRAPHY/AFP Monday’s solution “I punched him one time, he stays in my legs. Two times, The incident was captured attacks, but fatalities are rare. after, he go,” he said. by Australian man Graham There were 27 maulings but Local man Matt Sedunary Blade, who was filming from a no fatalities off Australia last rushed to the Frenchman’s aid nearby lookout at the world- year, data from Sydney’s Tar- after realising he was in dis- famous surf break. onga Zoo shows. tress. “I actually saw it pop up Despite his ordeal, Nacass “He started screaming – I behind him and knew it was said he was eager to return to honestly thought he was jok- real,” Blade told Nine. the water once his injuries ing around with his friends,” Nacass walked away with have healed. he told Nine, adding that he only puncture wounds to his “I really want to go back “wasn’t going to ditch him”. right leg that required stitches. soon,” he said. “Just when my “Most people would do the Australia has one of the world’s leg, it’s OK. I’m going to go same thing.” highest incidences of shark back to surf soon.” AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Bangladeshi fencers not foiled by history

LTHOUGH fencing is a ready to compete. We are happy to centuries-old sport and play as much as we can. It will be has been featured in Olym- really good for the fencers if we can pics since the beginning of take part in domestic and interna- theA modern games, it is relatively tional tournaments regularly be- new in Bangladesh. cause the national championship is The sport, which is only 13 years irregular,” said Fatema. old in the country, drew wide at- Due to a lack of financial support, tention after Fatema Mujib grabbed the Bangladesh Fencing Federa- a gold medal in sabre event of the tion cannot hold national champi- South Asian (SA) Games in Decem- onships regularly and cannot pay ber last year. much attention to new players for Despite the lack of facilities, regu- comparatively expensive outfit re- lar domestic competitions, quality quired to play the sport. The fencers coaches and sponsors, fencing is need at least 30,000 taka ($350) to considered as a discipline which buy a jacket, trousers, mask, sword can earn laurels from beyond the and shoes for the sport. South Asian region due to the na- In this respect, Bangladesh Navy ture of the sport which relies more and other services team are playing on players’ technique and intelli- a great role by providing the expen- gence rather physical prowess. sive gears to their players. Fatema Fatema, a 21-year-old Navy ath- is thankful to four-time national lete, believes achieving something champions Bangladesh Navy who beyond the SA Games is a daydream have provided all-out support to until the existing facilities are im- her since 2016. proved and junior fencers are given Ahead of the SA Games, the lady room to be groomed. from the northeastern Habiganj “We badly need support from all district struggled in the high alti- quarters – officials and coaches – to tude and cold weather of Kathman- become good fencers. Facilities such du. But she overcame all those hur- as long-term training under quality dles by running in open space and foreign coaches, a good number of drinking hot water on the match- domestic and international com- days to win the gold medal ahead petitions and backing of sponsors of opponents from Sri Lanka, India have to be ensured,” Fatema told and Nepal. The Daily Star. She beat an Indian Olympian “Without preparation, it will be a in semi-finals before beating left- daydream to win any medal from handed Rabina Thapa of Nepal international meets,” said Fatema. in the final, thanks to her experi- “We need to develop junior fenc- ence of practising against her male ers, who hardly get opportunities teammates who were tall and left- to play competitive matches. They handed. must be given room to compete in Fatema said she had learned a lot domestic and international compe- of things under the supervision of titions regularly.” the Cambodian and Iranian coaches Fatema took to fencing in 2012, during the SA Games training camp, thanks to her brother Saddam Mu- but she needs more improvement jib, also a fencer, who trained her to do well beyond South Asia. for one year. “I believe the technique and in- In 2013, Fatema, who had initially telligence I have is good enough to wanted to be a cricketer, went into compete in South Asian region but competitive circle and kept winning we need better equipment, indi- gold medals. She won four gold vidual sponsors and a good foreign medals in four successive national coach to improve our physical and championships in 2014, 2016, 2017 technical aspects if we really want to and 2018. achieve something at higher level of “As a fencer, I always keep my competitions,” said Fatema. THE DAILY Fatema Mujib grabbed gold at the SA Games, but she says her country’s fencers need more support. afp sights far ahead and I am always STAR (BANGLADESH)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK French Open could take place behind closed doors FRENCH tennis chief Bernard [which account for more than start of the rescheduled French Guidicelli on Sunday admitted a third of the tournament’s Open could even be pushed that Roland Garros, already revenues] – to go ahead. This back a further week to begin controversially pushed back cannot be overlooked.” on September 27. four months due to the coro- The spread of the coronavi- That would allow a two-week navirus, could be staged rus has halted all tennis since break between the US Open behind closed doors. mid-March and will not and Roland Garros. Guidicelli, who said that the resume until July 13 at the ear- “I have regular discussions French federation (FFT) had liest. with [ATP president] Andrea “no regrets” over its unilateral Wimbledon has already been Gaudenzi, [WTA president] decision to move the clay court cancelled for the first time Steve Simon and [ITF head] Grand Slam from May 24-June since the Second World War. David Haggerty and another 7 to September 20-October 4, The US Open, due to take call is planned next week to insisted all options remain on place in New York between see how we have progressed. the table. August 31 and September 13, “We are working well togeth- “We haven’t ruled out any is also in question with a deci- er, but it is still a bit early to option. Roland Garros is first sion expected in mid-June. precisely determine the sched- and foremost a story of match- Close to 500,000 fans regu- ule.” es and players,” he told the larly attend Roland Garros Guidicelli is adamant that “Journal du Dimanche”. every year. the FFT was right to shift the “There is the tournament However, an indication as to tournament back by four Spaniard Rafael Nadal hoists the Roland Garros trophy after his victory in Paris last year. afp taking place in the stadium, the thinking around the 2020 months with the death toll and the tournament on TV edition came on Thursday from the coronavirus in France million) in revenue, or 80 per one regrets it.” anxious not to harm major screens. when the FFT decided to reim- standing at 26,310 by Saturday cent of the FFT’s turnover],” “A tournament without a events, so that no Masters 1000 “Millions of viewers around burse all tickets bought for the night. added Guidicelli, describing date is a boat without a rudder or any Grand Slam would be the world are waiting. Organis- original date of the tourna- “Roland Garros is the driving himself as the “good father”. – we don’t know where we’re affected. ing it behind closed doors ment rather than transfer force of tennis in France, it is “We think of them first, pro- going. “The turn of events seems to would allow part of the busi- them. what feeds the players in our tecting them. We made a cou- “We positioned ourselves as have proved us right,” Guidi- ness model – television rights Guidicelli admitted that the ecosystem [€260 million ($280 rageous choice and today, no far in the calendar as possible, celli said. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 12, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge broke the two-hour marathon mark with a pair of Nike trainers that have competing companies crying foul. afp Nike’s rivals race to catch up in marathon

HEN Eliud Kipchoge was in ZoomX Vaporfly Next% shoes sport performance researcher at the “The sport is in a place where our are only one or two that may be get- made history by beat- featuring a single plate when she set University of Michigan, said the in- interpretation of results and perfor- ting close to Nike’s”. ing the two-hour mark a startling new women’s record of 2hr troduction of Vaporflys had been a mances will always be coloured by “It seems that most other compa- for the marathon, the 14min 04sec in Chicago a day later. tipping point. equipment qualifications. Do we nies have made shoes that are a step WKenyan was wearing a pair of con- Critics have been quick to question “Previously, the optimality equa- want that? Some do, as some see en- forward from their previous racing troversial Nike running shoes that the advantage Nike-wearing ath- tion for racing shoes was to provide gineering advances as a fun part of shoes, but I’d be surprised if any of has sent rival companies scrambling letes suddenly enjoyed. That led to a little bit of cushion at the lightest the equation. them are quite as beneficial as the to play catch-up in a business worth World Athletics eventually stepping possible weight,” Burns said. “Others don’t, as they see it as original Vaporfly 4% from three years billions of dollars. in to limit the thickness of the sole to “The new foam allowed engineers distorting the purity of the human ago, let alone the newer iterations.” The likes of Adidas, Asics, Brooks, 40mm (Vaporfly are 36mm) and one and biomechanists to re-think the performance. Everybody falls some- Adidas, Asics, Brooks and Saucony, Hoka, New Balance and Saucony embedded plate, while also insisting architecture of what was on some- where along that spectrum.” following Nike and Hoka, are releas- have recently released or are about that running shoes had to be com- one’s foot, and they demonstrated Nike seems to have a significant ing marathon shoes this year on sale to unveil their own carbon-fibre ver- mercially available from mid-March that substantial gains in perfor- headstart on other producers in re- to all runners, in time for the Tokyo sions of running shoes. to be allowed in elite competition – mance were still on the table with search and development, although Olympics, postponed to next year be- Critics claim the new shoes are the that is, no more prototypes. equipment modifications despite major rivals have scrambled to cause of the coronavirus pandemic. equivalent of mechanical doping, having been largely stagnant for the launch their own versions in a bid “The difference now is that we while supporters hail them as a revo- ‘Technology made sports evolve’ better part of four decades.” for a share of the ultra-competitive have rules somewhat regulating lutionary technical advance in foot- “My belief is that shoes with car- market. shoe design. It’s not total Wild West wear after decades of stagnation. bon-fibre plates are part of the long- ‘Absolutely unfair’ “To be fair, Nike has always been any longer. Given the World Athlet- Nike said its Vaporfly range, un- term evolution of running shoes Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 a leading innovator in athletic shoes ics regulations, it will be tough for veiled in 2016, was an “example of and part of the continued innova- Boston marathon and a former editor- and apparel,” explained Metzler. one shoe to stand out dramatically how product design can capture tion that has been at the centre of in-chief of Runner’s World magazine, “That’s been a part of their corporate from the herd,” argued Burfoot. the fascination of an entire sport- running shoe development since said he thought the unannounced in- identity since the 1970s as a means to But the Covid-19 outbreak could ing community and, more broadly, the early 1970s,” US-based journal- troduction of the Nike shoes in 2016, becoming the successful leader it is. favour Nike, Metzler argues. inspire new benchmarks of athletic ist Brian Metzler, author of “Kicksol- particularly at the US Olympic Mara- He said the controversial shoes “Several brands have delayed or potential”, boasting an improvement ogy: The Hype, Science, Culture and thon Trials and the Rio Olympics, had were “by far” the leaders in perfor- postponed shoe launches because in times by up to four per cent. Cool of Running Shoes”, said been “absolutely unfair”. mance and sales “because Nike is a of the pandemic and shoe sales and Elite athletes wearing versions “I believe those shoes are fair for “It was equivalent to letting one successful marketing machine” and marketing have decreased, partially of the Vaporfly, the carbon plates several reasons, but the biggest is that group of pole vaulters use fibreglass with a large percentage of the world’s because races, race expos and run- of which lend a propulsive sensa- they do not artificially create energy while everyone else was consigned best runners under contract “their ning stores have been postponed or tion to every stride, have set a rash but instead only maximise the force to bamboo or some other stiff mate- visibility and hype is much greater”. closed,” he said. of personal bests and Nike runners and energy a runner naturally puts rial,” Burfoot said. Burfoot argues that other manu- While there were “great new shoes” have practically swept the board in into his or her stride,” Metzler said. Burns, who competes interna- facturers had been left for dust. from several brands, he said he was long-distance events – they took 31 He argued that tennis, skiing, cycling, tionally in ultramarathons, said it “The world woke up to a new real- “not sure how much exposure they’ll of the 36 podium places at the six golf and football had evolved because was now a question of “how much ity. But it wasn’t easy for other shoe get this spring and summer”. marathon majors last year. of advancements in equipment. we want performances to be feats of companies to catch up to Nike – it All shoe companies, Burns said, Kipchoge was wearing an AlphaFly “The key is that, at some point, engineering”. took time, and trial and error – and will also be looking at the best way prototype boasting three carbon- all competitors must have access to He argued it was not too far along the we still don’t know how much they of riding out what is proving to be an fibre plates when he dipped under similar or equal technology to en- development curve that World Athlet- have closed the gap.” economically disastrous pandemic two hours in Vienna on October 12, sure an equal playing field.” ics could not further tighten regula- Running shoe expert Burns said in that has already seen factory shut- while fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei Geoff Burns, a biomechanics and tions if they deemed it necessary. terms of the rivals’ new shoes “there downs in Asia. AFP