N U MB E R 3423 ssue I monday, may 18, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL Financial bills heading to NA Long Kimmarita Sen, the Friday Cabinet meeting The Berne Convention allows au- points, he said without elaborating. tries of the Asia-Pacific Group on also passed draft laws on legal mu- thors of creative works to control how On money laundering, Siphan Money Laundering,” he said. HE Council of Ministers has tual assistance in the penal sector, their work is used and by whom. said the government was simply He said because the law is deemed approved six draft laws overlapping taxations involved with Government spokesman Phay fulfilling its obligation as a member urgent, it will be sent to the NA for including that on anti-mon- profit tax, tax evasion and tax avoid- Siphan told The Post on Sunday that of the regional bodies, and not as a approval within seven days and come ey laundering, terrorism ance between Cambodia, Malaysia the draft law on money laundering, response to a recent EU proposal to into force no later than a month after financingT and counter-proliferation and South Korea. terrorism financing and counter- blacklist Cambodia. being promulgated by the King. financing. The bills are considered In a press release, the Council said it proliferation financing was ap- “These legislative efforts are not NA spokesperson Leng Peng Long urgent and would be sent to the also passed a bill concerning the ap- proved in their entirety. to satisfy any group. It is the govern- confirmed toThe Post on Sunday that National Assembly (NA) for delibera- proval of Cambodia to be a member The bill concerning legal mutual as- ment’s efforts and the National Bank the legislative body will immediately tion in no later than a week. of the Berne Convention on the Pro- sistance in the penal sector was passed of Cambodia to improve and adopt Chaired by Prime Minister Hun tection of Literary and Artistic Works. with changes of wording on three laws that apply to member coun- Continued – page 3 Traffic police chief suspended for drunk driving

Soth Koemsoeun crashed had enough light but he was driving under the influence of NATIONAL Police chief Neth alcohol and he even insulted me. Savoeun has suspended Kampong “He was warned for shouting Thom provincial traffic police in the provincial hospital three department head Rom Sovichea months ago. When he acts like for drunk driving, damage to pub- that, it affects the values of offi- lic property and insulting Kam- cials that should be the role pong Thom governor Sok Lou. models for citizens,” he said. Savoeun said though suspend- Sovichea could not be reached ed from work, Sovichea has to for comment on Sunday. show up during working hours. “According to a voice recording National Police deputy chief posted on Facebook, at 9:12pm on Him Yan declined to comment Friday, Sovichea was drunk and he on Sunday. drove and crashed at the rounda- But according to Fresh News, bout of the Lok Ta Achar Leak Yan considered the Sovichea case statue. He then insulted Lou, say- an offence – driving under the ing that “because there was no All clear influence of alcohol, causing light installation in that area, it A 36-year-old woman (second from left) – one of 122 total Covid-19 patients in the Kingdom, was discharged from the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital on Saturday after testing negative twice. HUN SEN’S FACEBOOK PAGE sTORY > 2 destruction to public property and caused him to have an accident”. insulting others – that violated the Sar Kheng previously warned order of the National Police and Sovichea on March 26, saying he set a bad example in terms of was careless in fulfilling his duty respecting road traffic laws. and that he would be disciplined Yan said the National Police had if he continued misbehaving. Spraying disinfectants ‘harmful’ prepared a letter to Minister of Inte- He also warned Sovichea about rior Sar Kheng requesting Sovichea his behaviour, which included SPRAYING disinfectant on the streets, “Even in the absence of organic mat- spread the virus through droplets or be removed from his position. insulting a woman doctor in as practised in some countries, does ter, chemical spraying is unlikely to contact”, said the document. Kampong Thom governor Sok Kampong Thom when he went not eliminate the new coronavirus adequately cover all surfaces for the Spraying chlorine or other toxic Lou said on Sunday he supported to the provincial hospital to drink and even poses a health risk, the duration of the required contact time chemicals on people can cause eye and Savoeun punishing Sovichea. with his friend who got in a traf- World Health Organisation (WHO) needed to inactivate pathogens.” skin irritation, bronchospasm and gas- “The location that Sovichea fic accident. warned on Saturday. The WHO said streets and pavements trointestinal effects, it adds. In a document on cleaning and dis- are not considered as “reservoirs of The WHO is also warning against the infecting surfaces as part of the infection” of Covid-19, adding that systematic spraying and fumigating one month’s free VIP subscription response to the virus, the WHO said spraying disinfectants, even outside, with disinfectants on to surfaces in spraying can be ineffective. can be “dangerous for human health”. indoor spaces, citing a study that has The WHO said: “Spraying or fumi- The document also stresses that spray- shown it to be ineffective outside direct gation of outdoor spaces, such as ing individuals with disinfectants are spraying areas. streets or marketplaces, is not recom- “not recommended under any circum- “If disinfectants are to be applied, For the first 1,000 Phnom Penh Post mended to kill the Covid-19 virus or stances. This could be physically and this should be done with a cloth or readers who register! other pathogens because disinfectant psychologically harmful and would not wipe that has been soaked in disinfect- is inactivated by dirt and debris. reduce an infected person’s ability to ant,” it says. AFP 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Bun Rany bio detailed in Wife of Strong Man

Vong Sokheng In the press release, he also First Lady of Cambodia. congratulated Hun Sen and According to the book, Bun ETERAN journalist Bun Rany on a recent addition Rany spent time living in an Chhay Sophal’s latest to their family. army camp where she was book, Bun Rany, the “The release of the book is also trained in shooting, bombing, Wife of Cambodia’s a way to congratulate Samdech digging trenches and raiding StrongV Man, which chronicles [Hun Sen and Bun Rany] on the enemy groups. the life of Prime Minister Hun birth of their 21st granddaugh- The book mentions that she Sen’s wife Bun Rany, was re- ter,” he said. guarded the camp, gun in hand, leased in English on Saturday Sophal said he spent from 2015 just like the men serving with her. with more than 10,000 cop- to 2019 performing research for Besides her life in the public ies being distributed to outlets the book. He was granted face- eye, the book also gets personal throughout the Kingdom. to-face interviews with Hun Sen and offers a glimpse of Bun Ra- Sophal, the author of two oth- and Bun Rany to create a fuller ny’s day-to-day life. er historical books about Hun picture of their history. It offers insight into the many Sen and his family, was given He also confirmed that his roles she’s played throughout priority to write the book. 2018 book Three Brothers – New her life, including that of a reb- In a press release on Saturday, Blood Among the Heir which de- el, nurse, prisoner, wife, mother, he said: “I have received e-mails tails the lives of Hun Sen’s three and First Lady, all while Cam- and Facebook messages from sons-Hun Manet, Hun Manit bodia shifted between war and foreigners and requests from and Hun Many, will be printed peace. book shops in Phnom Penh to in English and Chinese in June. Sophal said: “Being a journal- write the biography of Cambo- His first book about Hun Sen, ist, I have taken time off from dia’s First Lady. So I’ve tried to Hun Sen: Politics and power in my core activities to record the produce the book in English. Khmer history for over 40 years, daily activities of Samdech Kit- “It is not easy to write and was first released in 2012 and tipritthbindit [Bun Rany] and print a book, but I do not know will be printed in English this interview her directly. what else to do since I have fall- August. “I’ve also saved documents en into news and book writing.” Sophal covers the ups and from many researching sources Sophal said the book was downs of Bun Rany’s life in his and references that allow me translated by an academic group latest book, from her days as a to compile these books for the Veteran journalist Chhay Sophal, the author of two other historical books about Hun Sen and his and edited by Americans. young army rebel to her life as next generation,” he said. family, was given priority to write the new book. facebook ‘Spell remover’, students, arrested in rape of minors

Khouth Sophak Chakrya as a spell remover and the victim took started having sex with me until it was Additional testimony from the Thavry said through the complaint her to him because she thought her done again and again. The next day, he underage victim said she is the bio- of the victim and the additional an- THREE men have been arrested in mother was under a spell. did the same to me. He called two of logical daughter of the spell remover swers from the other two victims Siem Reap for allegedly raping a Upon arrival, the suspect gave his students to have sex with me until and had been raped by her father’s against the three suspects, a case young woman, according to Siem the mother traditional medicine to it was done from one to another.” students, Soy Som Bun and Sean was filed to the Siem Reap Provin- Reap Provincial Anti-Human Traf- drink and then took his hand and Thavry said through the victim’s Kosal, since she was 14 years old. cial Court on Saturday afternoon. ficking and Juveniles Protection touched the victim’s head. He told complaint, the police checked the The two suspects also took nude Prosecutor Keut Vannareth told deputy police chief Duong Thavry. her not to worry about her mother’s suspect’s house and found several photos of her on their phones. After The Post that the three suspects Thavry said on Sunday that the condition saying that if her mother empty drug tablets and Viagra in the that, they used the photos to threat- have been temporarily detained suspects are Pin Im, 46, a resident took his medicine for just a few days suspect’s room. They also found por- en her, forcing her to have sex with since Saturday, each charged with of Krabei Riel village-district, Siem she would be better. nography and videos in the phones them repeatedly,” she said. two offences – “raping a minor” Reap province, and two accom- Citing the victim’s statement, of the three suspects. According to another girl, she was under Article 239 of the Criminal plices, Soy Som Bun, 34, and Sean Thavery said: “Then, Pin Im, gave “Through the pornography and made to squeeze her breasts and Code and “pornography” under Kosal, 36. The three were arrested me a glass of water to drink. After videos, police officials found two masturbate by Pin Im. One day he Article 39 of the Suppression of Hu- on Thursday based on the victim’s about 15 minutes of drinking, I felt other victims, one of whom was the took her hand to touch his genitals man Trafficking. complaint. a strange sensation, feeling passion- biological daughter of the suspect until ejaculation but he did not have “The three suspects are current- Thavry said according to the victim, ate love all over my body. who is 17-years-old, and another intercourse with her. This happened ly being detained in Siem Reap on the afternoon of May 9 she took her “My legs and hands seemed weak. 13-year-old girl – the daughter of a when she took her mother to him to prison awaiting trial at a later mother to Pin Im’s house. He is known He then took me into the room and patient,” Thavry said. cure an illness in April. date,” he said. Last Covid-19 patient healthy, discharged

Khorn Savi import the disease. So we must be careful along the borders and PRIME Minister Hun Sen has the airports and ports have to called on the people to remain be monitored and inspected. vigilant against the Covid-19 “The government has epidemic even though Cam- installed checkpoints along bodia no longer has any the borders and at various air- patients. ports. Brothers and sisters The last recovered woman from abroad have to hold let- was discharged from the ters confirming that they have Khmer–Soviet Friendship Hos- no Covid-19 and then they can pital on Saturday. enter the country. Hun Sen on Sunday applaud- “When entering the coun- ed the 36-year-old woman – one try they have to be subjected of 122 total patients – when the to a 14-day quarantine,” Bun Ministry of Health announced Heng said. that she had recovered and was Banteay Meanchey provin- discharged from the hospital The woman was discharged after testing negative twice. pm via facebook cial health department direc- after two tests came back nega- tor Keo Sopheaktra told The tive for Covid-19. thank everyone for fighting importation of Covid-19. Post on Sunday that the last But he said that even though Covid-19 together,” he said. Minister of Health Mam Bun recovered woman continues Cambodia had no new cases, The Ministry of Health also Heng said when applauding to be kept in quarantine at the people must practice regular announced that in the past the woman on Saturday that Poipet town hospital, waiting hygiene, wear facemasks, and month, Cambodia had not Cambodia has to focus its for a third negative test later wash their hands with soap or confirmed any new case and attention on preventing the this month before being gel. They have to continue all patients had recovered 100 import of Covid-19. allowed to reunite with her keeping a distance from one per cent. He also said a number of family as normal. another and stay at home Still, the announcement said people from abroad had She confirmed that the whenever possible. Cambodia has work to do to returned to the country, espe- woman had been treated for “There is no medicine to treat prevent a second wave of cially from Thailand. more than a month before she the disease yet. [I] would like to infections, especially avoiding “We think that most of them was proclaimed recovered. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National M’kiri authorities on track to arrest gaur, banteng killers

Khouth Sophak Chakrya

ONDULKIRI provincial De- partment of En- vironment direc- The meeting is chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen. hun sen’s facebook page Mtor Keo Sopheak told The Post on Sunday that authorities are continuing to gather evi- ‘Law not adopted as dence to arrest the offenders who shot and killed a gaur and two banteng, which are response to blacklist’ rare and endangered species. Two female banteng were Continued from page 1 North Korea. found dead on Thursday Libya and four US terri- in an economic land con- convene an internal meeting. tories including American cession (ELC) at the Lim “We will immediately call a Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Royal Company located in meeting to review the contents Puerto Rico and Guam were Pou Chrei commune, Pech of the laws and assign them to left out following objections. Chreada district. the respective commissions Saudi Arabia, the current The skeleton of a gaur was for further study,” he said. holder of the G20 presidency, found by forest rangers in Keo On May 7, the EU requested was also spared from the list Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in its parliament to add Cam- after “pressure” from the oil- a protected area in Sre Preah bodia and 11 other countries producing powerhouse. commune, Keo Seima district. into a list of states that “pose In February last year, Cambo- “Two banteng were shot and significant threats” to its fi- dia was also re-listed in the “grey authorities found an AK-47 nancial systems for failures to list” of the Financial Action Task shell casing 50m from the dead tackle money laundering and Force (FATF), a decision Cam- animals. The gaur was also shot Two female banteng were found dead on Thursday in an economic land concession (ELC) at the Lim Royal terrorism financing. bodia said was “unfair”. with a rifle and was found in a Company located in Pou Chrei commune, Pech Chreada district. supplied Cambodia joined Panama, Minister of Interior Sar rice field,” said Sopheak. the Bahamas, Mauritius, Bar- Kheng, who convened a He said the banteng car- past two weeks. fined two restaurant owners. Sotheara said authorities re- bados, Botswana, Ghana, Ja- meeting for a final review of casses and the gaur skeleton On May 8, the Forestry Ad- Sabay Restaurant and Sam- trieved 296 dead water cocks, maica, Mongolia, Myanmar, the money laundering bill last were buried. ministration, working in col- ros Smanhngam Restaurant 7kg of wild boar meat, 5kg Nicaragua and Zimbabwe in month, said putting Cambo- “We have evidence to iden- laboration with the forestry were both are accused of ille- of Bengal monitor, 25 local the expanded list, which is dia on the FATF grey list de- tify two or three suspects but department’s wildlife rapid gally serving food made from birds, six dead green pigeons due to take effect in October. ters businesses from invest- we are still investigating to rescue team, the Fisheries Ad- wild animals, Em Sotheara, and 10 live turtles equal to Countries that were already ing in the country. find more evidence,” he said. ministration, the Royal Cam- the deputy director of the 4kg and 200kg of turtle shells on the blacklist are Afghani- The laws, he said, were The shooting of wild ani- bodian Armed Forces and Department of Agriculture, from the two restaurants. stan, Iraq, Vanuatu, Pakistan, drafted in light of progress in mals illegally has happened other officials from the Koh Forestry and Fisheries in Koh Their owners were fined 9 Syria, Yemen, Uganda, Trini- society and in line with inter- twice in Mondulkiri in the Kong Forestry Administration Kong, said on Sunday. million riel ($2,200) each. dad and Tobago, Iran and national standards. PM praises National Police, warns of challenges ahead Niem Chheng

PRIME Minister Hun Sen, Interior Minister Sar Kheng and National Police Chief Neth Savoeun showed their appreciation for the achieve- ments of the National Police but reminded that the coun- try faces many complicated challenges. The praise was part of the 75th anniversary of the Gen- eral Commissariat of National Police, which was created on May 16, 1946. Reading from a four-page letter, Hun Sen said the national police continue to cooperate with the Royal The praise was part of the 75th anniversary of the General Commissariat Gendarmerie on territorial of National Police, which was created on May 16, 1946. national police integrity protection, securing a peaceful boundary, friend- the opportunity to those who sures and affected by global ship, cooperation and devel- want to betray the country issues and outside factors that opment. They also protect through a coup d’état and require the Kingdom to against terrorists and tran- change the government in strengthen national and inter- snational crime. Cambodia. nal security. He continued that the He stressed that “the profes- He suggested the national national police struggle against sional consciousness and police stop all kind of offences, all kinds of manipulated patriotic spirit of the national including drug offences and actions to allow for a warm liv- police in serving the social trafficking of woman and chil- ing atmosphere for citizens interest is priceless”. dren, as well as improve their and serve the national devel- In his letter, Sar Kheng simi- capacity to fight against tech- opment. They protect against larly said that the national nology offences and exagger- the colour revolution, he said, police fights terrorism, money ated fake news. a term used to describe revolu- laundering and criminal The Commissioner of the tions in the 2000s. financing and that while National Police Neth Savoeun Hun Sen said besides facing crimes have increased, those said in his letter: “As Cambodia global issues, Cambodia has such as robbery, rape and the is in the middle between the been affected by political and illegal use of weapons were political geography of the economic pressure from a for- decreasing. Indo-Pacific strategy and Chi- eign country with the intent to Hun Sen said this year and na’s belt and road initiative, the interfere and destroy the Cam- next year, Cambodia might be internal security of Cambodia bodian Government and allow challenged with negative pres- becomes more fragile.” 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Official Ministry, ACU discuss case backlog shrugs off Voun Dara

N A meeting on Friday M’kiri land with Anti-corruption Unit (ACU) chief Om Yentieng, Minister of grab claim IJustice Koeut Rith requested the cooperation of the ACU to Khorn Savi help tackle the issue of back- logged cases in the municipal MONDULKIRI provincial Land and provincial courts. Management, Urban Planning Rith, who leads the com- and Construction director mittee tasked with solving the Mao Chamroeun has denied backlog of cases, will unveil allegations he collaborated the measures at 8:30am on with a third party to steal land Monday at the ministry. from indigenous people. “These measures were cre- A complaint dated May 11 with ated to tackle the issue of the thumbprints of more than 30 backlogged cases and over- indigenous people from Pou Tru crowding in prisons. village in Sen Monorom com- They will enhance the abil- mune, O’Raing district, claimed ity of the court system to pro- that on May 8, Chamroeun threat- vide better justice to citizens ened locals and forced residents by accelerating the cases,” to measure their land and cede it the ministry said in an an- to a man named San Saut. nouncement. The villagers further claimed Ministry spokesman Chin Chamroeun had threatened to Malin said: “The cooperation take the land on which no and support of all related par- residents had grown crops ties will be confirmed in de- “We denied that we do crop tail in a press conference on rotation and have land for buri- Monday morning when the als and even offerings. So, [we] plan will be revealed.” don’t allow the department Yentieng told The Post on ACU president Om Yentieng said speed, rights, and justice are the duties of the ministry while fighting corruption is the ACU’s job. justice ministry director to decide to share land Sunday that he had great re- to San Saut. [The director] can’t spect for Rith, who he says of the courts. He said speed, rights, and clean or wanting to be clean development plan first an- just walk up and point to land has steered the ministry in “It does not mean that all justice are the duties of the but not quick . . . these are two nounced in 2018. arbitrarily,” the complaint read. the right direction and spear- cases must be accelerated ministry while fighting cor- diseases that Rith’s measures “This is not just partici- The residents said that hav- headed the issue of prison without thinking of legal ruption is the ACU’s job. aim to treat. The justice sys- pating by observing. The ing threatened them, Cham- overcrowding. procedures, justice and fair- He said the two must join tem in Cambodia has paved ACU will give confidential roeun led department officials “Even though these mea- ness. Speed, rights, justice, hands to prevent opportun- a path under Prime Minister information to the minister and workers for Saut to meas- sures are to help the court and fighting corruption are ists from taking advantage Hun Sen’s Rectangular Strat- to help the ministry investi- ure the land and caused a dis- tackle the issue of back- the main points of the re- of measures implemented to egy Phase IV,” he said. gate, apart from some other pute to the point of fighting. logged cases, it goes further form enacted by the minis- ease prison overcrowding. The Rectangular Strategy is things that I cannot men- When residents gathered to as it strengthens the quality ter,” Yentieng said. “Wanting to be fast but not Hun Sen’s national strategic tion,” Yentieng said. protest they were stopped. But Chamroeun told The Post on Sunday that he had not threatened to take the land, saying that a handful of people PM places boundaries on were using these indigenous people to smear his name. Going down to measure the Supreme Council’s work land was attributed to an advance agreement between a Long Kimmarita representative of the people named Thok Thai Aun. AT A plenary meeting of the He claimed the representative Council of Ministers on Friday, said the people wanted only the Prime Minister Hun Sen restrict- plantation land. They allowed ed members of the Supreme him to coordinate the case with Council for Consultation and Saut to end the dispute. Recommendation from address- “For me to negotiate with ing disputes being handled by Saut I must have clear data on the courts or those already how many hectares of land the solved by the government. families have. Thai Aun, went He also said the Council can- to speak with the residents and not address any notices agreed to fix a date to measure released by the Council of Min- the land,” he said. isters and ordered it to tighten They divided duties and Thai its issuing of mission letters, Hun Sen said the Council will not be allowed to solve land disputes, Aun invited the residents to which are used to permit offi- disputes being processed, or disputes being mediated. facebook join her in measuring the land cials to investigate cases. while he invited the local In a press release issued monitor law implementation some disputes received by authorities, he said. after the meeting, Hun Sen of national and sub-national Council members concerned Neither Mondulkiri Provincial said the Council will not be level officials. irregularities in implement- Hall spokesman Sok Sera, O’Raing allowed to solve land disputes, If there are such restrictions ing the law. district governor Siek Mony, nor disputes being processed, or on the Council, it will narrow Civil servants interfered with Sen Monorom commune chief disputes being mediated by the scope of each member’s most of the disputes and the Thvan Trel could be reached for the judicial body. work and render them unable solutions ended up causing comment on Sunday. “The Secretariat of the to do everything the law injustice, he said. Adhoc provincial coordina- Supreme Council for Consul- required, he said. A f f iliated Net work for Socia l tor Eang Mengly said that tation and Recommendations “If this [person] or that [per- Accountability (Ansa) execu- seeking a solution to the dis- has to look into the goals and son] is removed, it is against the tive director San Chey told pute has been going on for objectives of members of the royal decree, which gives us The Post on Sunday that the some time. Adhoc, an NGO, body concerning disputes,” more rights concerning nation- restrictions on the Council’s has observed that another Hun Sen said. al and sub-national levels. work performance showed party that has a dispute with The body must not issue “The royal decree allows us that the body had become the residents has sought an mission letters in the above- to do certain things and Sam- more fragile and vague. excuse to avoid a solution. mentioned disputes. They dech Hun Sen changed this “This has never happened “I think that judicial jurisdic- must not send land dispute work in the sense that we are before. But we don’t think tion has the right to decide which cases between individuals to not allowed to do this or that,” that the voice of the Council relevant officials or institutions me for a solution,” he said. Sonando said. could solve the many prob- should solve the dispute. Council member Mam However, because the body lems facing the people. It is a “But does the land manage- Sonando, from the Beehive was established by the prime vague future for the body. We ment department have permis- Social Democratic Party, said minister himself, Sonando will have to see whether the sion from the courts? If there is on Sunday that the role of doesn’t take issue with the members will continue their permission from the courts, it is members was to act on a royal decision. work or pursue other options,” a reasonable thing to figure out decree and their duty was to He said he is concerned that he said. who is responsible,” he said. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National PM: Resumption of Sokha trial to be decided by court Niem Chheng

PRIME Minister Hun Sen has confirmed that former opposi- tion leader Kem Sokha’s trea- son case will be decided by the courts according to procedure, said government spokesperson Phay Siphan. On Friday, Hun Sen led a Cabinet meeting to approve several draft laws. Residents living around the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary in Mondulkiri province patrol their forest. RECOFTC He mentioned his recent meeting with Sokha, who visited Hun Sen last week to express his condolences for the passing of the latter’s mother-in-law. Mekong region under But Siphan said Hun Sen did not say what was discussed with Sokha. “What he [Hun Sen] said was threat, report claims that there was no other way outside the courts to decide Ry Sochan interests arrive intent on using The forests also help lower this this case. The government does forest land for mining or agri- risk of pandemics like Covid-19 not have a tendency or attempt RECENT report by culture,” the report said. and other zoonotic diseases, to interfere with court affairs,” the Regional Com- It added that the situation according to the advisory. Siphan said. munity Forestry can become dangerous for Ministry of Environment Ministry of Justice spokes- Training Centre (RE- some, and not everyone can secretary of state and spokes- man Chin Malin told The Post COFTC)A said villagers living effectively file grievances when man Neth Pheaktra could not on Sunday that the court will Sokha’s treason trial was postponed in March to prevent the spread of around Srepok Wildlife Sanc- things go wrong. be reached for comment on proceed with the trial normally, Covid-19 in the Kingdom. HENG CHIVOAN tuary had recently reported The report said: “When large Sunday. and that the meeting between illegal loggers in the forest companies are involved, the However, he was quoted on Hun Sen and Sokha played no When the Covid-19 situation is thought of requesting to and they took action by seiz- imbalance of power can be the ministry’s Facebook page role in its outcome. over and both sides request the resume the trial, but would ing some of the perpetrators’ stark. early this month as saying that Malin said: “The meeting and case to resume, the court will instead wait until the Ministry chainsaws. “And in Cambodia and other in April, 13 ringleaders and discussion with the Prime Min- do so,” he said. of Health and the government The area is protected by the Mekong countries, it is not easy perpetrators involved in ister was a separate matter. It is Sokha’s treason trial was announces that Cambodia is government and the villagers for communities to complain encroaching on several hec- not linked to court procedures. postponed in March to prevent no longer under threat from have exclusive rights to its rattan, because grievance mecha- tares of forest land in Biodiver- So court procedures will con- the spread of Covid-19 in the Covid-19. bamboo and other resources in nisms are absent, unclear or sity Conservation Corridors tinue as usual as set by law. Kingdom. Ky Tech, the lawyer repre- exchange for their forest patrols. ineffective. Meanwhile, land and wildlife sanctuaries in “His case is underway, but Chan Chen, one of Sokha’s senting the government, could In the May 5 report, RECOFTC and forest defenders often face Phnom Prich, Srepok, and Keo was delayed as per requests four defence lawyers, said on not be reached for comment on describes threats facing the threats and violence.” Seima in Mondulkiri province from lawyers from both sides. Sunday that his team had not Sunday. Mekong region and its people. Initiatives such as Reducing were charged and detained by According to the report, the Emissions from Deforestation the provincial court. main threats are caused by and forest Degradation Pheaktra said: “No one has illegal logging, agriculture and (REDD+), an organisation the right to occupy, buy or sell infrastructure development. which focuses on stopping land in protected areas. The It said empowering commu- deforestation and enhancing Ministry of Environment asks nity members to safeguard their forest carbon stocks, and For- citizens who are not well versed interests in protected areas est Law Enforcement Govern- in the law to not allow perpe- could become the norm. ance Trade (FLEGT), an EU- trators to deceive you and to The Ministry of Agriculture based plan to reduce illegal immediately stop illegal activi- recently transferred the admin- logging, are establishing ties such as clearing, burning, istration of large areas of forest opportunities to better peo- encroaching on forest land, to the Ministry of Environment, ple’s access to grievance mech- building huts, and growing which administers community anisms, said the report. crops in protected areas.” protected areas. An RECOFTC media advi- Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary Community members patrol- sory dated May 13 said 85 mil- was created by a sub-decree in ling their plots of protected land lion people depend on Mekong 2016 and covers 372,971ha. The may work sometimes, but for forests to survive, and one goal for the designation was to some, it’s a risky proposition. third of them are indigenous ensure the safety of wildlife, “While community protected to the area. provide ecological care, pro- areas have empowered people The advisory said the duce products and natural living near forests, some com- Mekong region shelters vast services for sustainable use, munities struggle to secure biodiversity and is essential to and promote community their rights when competing fighting the climate crisis. involvement in the area. S’ville roads nearing completion

Voun Dara A slew of ministers inspected infrastructure in Preah Siha- the progress of 34 roads Sunday. nouk province. ROAD infrastructure projects They included National Defence “The work of installing sew- in Preah Sihanouk province, Minister Tea Banh, Minister of ers is 91.56 per cent complete. which have proceeded for the Land Management, Urban The remaining 11 days will be past six months are some 96.6 Planning and Construction easy work. Concrete work is per cent complete, Preah Siha- Chea Sophara, who is also the 86.44 per cent complete. nouk Provincial Hall spokes- chairman of the National Com- Another 15 days is also man Kheang Phearum told mittee for Coastal Management applauded,” he posted. The Post on Sunday. and Development, Minister of Phearum said the develop- That is 4.5 per cent faster Public Works and Transport Sun ment project of 34 roads around than expected. Chanthol, Minister of Environ- Sihanoukville totalled Phearum said province and ment Say Sam Al and Preah 82.145km. The roads began to city infrastructure develop- Sihanouk provincial governor be built after the groundbreak- ment that began on November Kouch Chamroeun. ing ceremony was presided 16 included paved roads, traf- Having inspected the progress, over on November 16, last year, fic sign painting, planting of Sophara also posted the by Prime Minister Hun Sen. trees, lamp post installation achievement of road construc- He said the installation of and laying of granite stones. tion on his Facebook page. sewers started on January 3. “The work of installing sew- “The National Committee Seven local companies had ers is 91.56 per cent complete for Coastal Management and collaborated to complete the and concrete work is 86.44 per Development would like to construction of the roads at a cent complete,” he said. inform [you of] the progress of cost of over $200 million. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 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 4,106 1.4015 7.0997 107.08 4.3470 1.4233 32.06 0.6458 1.0813 1.2199 Exports of paddy, white rice DTAs with M’sia, and fish are back on the table SK in works to Hin Pisei streamline trade HE Cambodian gov- May Kunmakara between countries that al- ernment has decided low access to markets. They to lift the ban on the THE government has en- determine the tariffs and du- export of paddy, white dorsed a draft of Double Tax ties that countries impose on riceT and fish to international Avoidance (DTA) with South imports and exports, which markets starting on May 20. Korea and Malaysia to pave reduce or eliminate trade The decision was made at the way for free trade agree- barriers and facilitate the un- a Cabinet meeting chaired ments (FTAs), and increased hampered flow and exchange by Prime Minister Hun Sen trade and investment. of goods and services. on Friday, on the heels of an The draft, which was ap- “FTAs are more complex announcement made last proved during a Friday Cabinet and comprehensive and more week to allow for the export meeting chaired by Prime Min- linked to encouraging trade of white rice. ister Hun Sen, will be sent to flows rather than avoiding It overturns a ban imposed the National Assembly soon. double taxation. However, early last month which aimed Cambodia Investment Man- the Kingdom’s efforts to ex- to ensure food security and agement group CEO Anthony ecute both can only support price stability in the Kingdom Galliano told The Post that the economy at a time when during the Covid-19 pandemic. DTAs abolish and discourage they’re needed most,” he said. On March 30, Hun Sen or- incidents of double taxation, Late in November, Cambo- dered the suspension of white promote bilateral investment, dia and South Korea signed a rice and paddy exports from clarity and transparency, stim- joint feasibility study agree- Cambodia from 11:59pm on ulate global trade, and, most ment on a potential FTA aim- April 5 to ensure a stable do- importantly for Cambodia, at- ing to expand bilateral invest- mestic stockpile to meet do- tract foreign investment. ment volume between the mestic consumption needs. He said the Kingdom’s ini- two countries. Cambodia Chamber of tiative to negotiate FTAs with The agreement was signed Commerce vice-president Lim China, South Korea, and the by Cambodian Minister of Heng said: “The government is Eurasian Economic Union is Commerce Pan Sorasak and constantly monitoring the sit- timely and strategic, given re- South Korean Minister for uation of farmers’ cultivation, cent adverse developments im- Trade Yoo Myung-hee during stockpiles and global markets, The Cambodian government has decided to lift the ban on the export of paddy, white rice and fish to pacting the economy, especially the two-day ASEAN-Republic international markets starting on May 20. hONG MENEA so deciding to resume exports the EU’s partial suspension of of Korea Commemorative means that Cambodia has suf- The Post that the ministry is white rice and fish exports dependence and boost exports. preferential trade preferences. Summit, which kicked off on ficient capacity for domestic striving to strengthen and ex- will be a positive for the Cam- Cambodia exported 300,252 “The successful execution November 25 in the South consumption and exports. pand agricultural cultivation bodian economy. tonnes of rice – worth $210 of FTAs will increase eco- Korean port city of Busan. “While some countries and aquaculture to increase The export restrictions led million – to international mar- nomic growth, expand bilat- Last year, trade volume be- continue to restrict exports their potential to supply do- to ample local stockpiles of kets in the first four months eral trade, encourage foreign tween the two counties grew of agricultural products and mestic demand and to export food supplies, he said. But, of this year, up 40.46 per cent direct investment, and have noticeably to around $1.032 fisheries, reopening at this to international markets. keeping excessive storage year-on-year from last year’s a positive impact on employ- billion, up from 2018’s $756 time not only demonstrates He said he and his team may reduce the value of the 213,763 tonnes, data from the ment,” Galliano said, add- million, data from the com- Cambodia’s ability, but also make regular field visits and crops produced by farmers. ministry shows. ing that DTA agreements are merce ministry shows. its opportunity to expand to encourage farmers and com- “After the temporary restric- Meanwhile, the Kingdom complimentary to FTAs. On November 3, the Na- markets in many countries panies to increase their in- tions on exports to stabilise exported 3,475 tonnes of He said DTAs also provide tional Assembly ratified an around the world,” he said. vestment in agriculture and the quantity and value of food, fishery products in the first a mechanism to exchange agreement for the avoidance He added that the export aquaculture. This will not only the reopening of the exports three months of this year, an information between tax au- of double taxation and pre- of paddy, white rice, and fish create jobs for locals but will will help the economy recover increase of 0.72 per cent com- thorities and help prevent tax vention of fiscal evasion with would help partially offset the also increase the potential for to some degree,” said Vanak. pared to the 3,450 tonnes in avoidance and evasion. DTAs respect to taxes on income. economic slowdown in the local products to be exported. He said the Covid-19 experi- the same period last year. on the other hand are interna- The National Assembly services sector, especially in Royal Academy of Cam- ence has been a wake-up call Cambodia exported 14,100 tional treaties that help reduce also approved DTAs with the tourism sector. bodia economics researcher for farmers and investors to tonnes of fishery products instances of double taxation Singapore, China, Brunei, Earlier this month, Minister Hong Vanak told The Post on strive for higher-quality and to international markets last on income and property. Thailand, Vietnam and In- of Agriculture, Forestry and Sunday that the government’s safer agricultural investments year, down 2.25 per cent from He noted that FTAs are in- donesia and signed one with Fisheries Veng Sakhon told decision to resume paddy, to achieve domestic supply in- 14,500 tonnes in 2018. ternational law contracts Hong Kong. Contractors to be selected for HCMC airport resettlement area THE People’s Committee of Dong Nai the 87.3 billion dong package No 35 basic design documents. As soon as related to the bidding and are well pre- Around 70 per cent of the 15,500 peo- Province in Vietnam has approved a for building technical infrastructure the bidding document is approved, pared to participate. We determined ple who will have to move are farmers, proposal to select a contractor for for Zone 9 and 72.4 billion dong pack- we will notify and release it.” this is an open opportunity, but the and the rest are rubber plantation building technical infrastructure in a age No 27 for technical infrastructure Pham Van Cuong, director of Ho competition is also fierce because the workers and workers in other sectors. resettlement area in Binh Son dis- for Zone 1. Chi Minh City-based Bang Duong bids this time are very transparent.” The feasibility study for the air- trict’s Loc Son commune. Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director Investment, Construction and Trad- Tuan said the project management port has been approved by the gov- It is part of the land acquisition for of the province’s construction invest- ing Co Ltd, said Dong Nai’s plan to board had prepared carefully and ernment. the Long Thanh International Air- ment project management board, award contracts for 15 large pack- hopes it would find qualified contrac- It is a key national project that port, which is located 40km east of told the Dau tu (Investment Review) ages at the resettlement area was an tors who would provide the quality would have a significant impact on Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. newspaper that the selection of con- attractive opportunity for contractors the packages require. the southern key economic region. The total value of the packages is tractors for the above packages would amid the tough times caused by the Loc An-Binh Son is one of two reset- Once fully operational, it is expected over 1.03 trillion dong ($44 million). be done through open bidding on the Covid-19 pandemic. tlement areas to be built to relocate to handle 100 million passengers and The value of package No 24 for the national bidding portal. “Online bidding will make the proc- people whose lands and houses have five million tonnes of freight annually. construction and installation of medi- The bids would be conducted ess more competitive and transpar- been acquired to build the airport. In the first phase, a runway and um and low-voltage electrical systems, under the form of “single-stage two- ent. Contractors with real capacity will The first 700 households are set to one terminal along with required a transformer station and placement envelop” method (conducting twice have a high chance of winning bids.” receive their land lots in August. support works will be built to serve of telecommunication cables for the – once each for technical and finan- Cuong Thuan Idico Development More than 5,000ha of land are 25 million passengers and 1.2 mil- Loc Son-Binh An resettlement area, cial proposals), to reduce the time Investment JSC deputy general direc- required for the airport and 364ha for lion tonnes of cargo. worth 206.4 billion dong, has attracted taken to award bids, he said. tor Doi Hung Cuong said his com- the two resettlement sites. The first phase is expected to be great attention from contractors. “The Management Board is com- pany was keen to make bids. Some 4,800 households and 26 completed in 2025. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA There is also plenty of interest in pleting the bidding documents and “We keep abreast of information organisations are expected to relocate. NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business​ Interest sprouting in fruit, vegetable market Thou Vireak Palm Group Co Ltd, a leading have also increased mango tropical fruit juice manufac- purchases from farmers to up AMBODIA’S fruit turer, plans to invest in coco- to 100 tonnes per day. and vegetable mar- nut plantations and setup a “Before the coronavirus ket is trending up, factory in Cambodia to pro- spread, we’d buy just 60 providing an unpar- duce fruit juice in 2020. tonnes of mangoes per day alleledC opportunity for the “Thus, the growing food for processing,” said Sothea. Kingdom’s growers, who often processing industries, gov- To meet the rising food de- lack buyers for their produce, ernment support for the food mand in the international said a study by French-based processing industries, and market, Kirirom Food Product industry report search engine export demand for fruit juices expanded its operations and ReportLinker. may stimulate the growth of built an additional processing In its study Cambodia the market studied. plant on its premises, she said. Fruits and Vegetables Market “Bananas were the most “My company has expand- – Growth, Trends, and Fore- prominently cultivated fruit in ed to about 3,000sqm, with cast (2020 - 2025) released last Cambodia. Additionally, the 9,000sqm allotted to growing week, ReportLinker said the mango industry in the country [mango], and we have two Kingdom’s food and beverage became more resilient in re- factories in the same area.” market has grown significant- cent years, with a rising adop- Cambodia began exporting ly in recent years. tion of improved production yellow bananas directly to the Urbanisation, tourism and and supply chain practices. Chinese market in mid-2019, economic growth in the King- “Fruit-bearing vegetables, and fresh mango to South Ko- dom pre-Covid-19 had fu- such as tomatoes, were the rea early this year. elled growth in the fruit and most widely cultivated vegeta- Hun Lak, director of Long- Longmate Agriculture Co Ltd has invested $32 million in a yellow banana plantation on more than 1,000ha in Kampot province’s Chhouk district. HENG CHIVOAN vegetable market, drawing bles in the country. On the oth- mate Agriculture Co Ltd, a the attention of regional and er hand, beans held one of the yellow banana grower and ex- ing hard right now to encour- and two containers of banan- tonnes of fresh mango to six international brands. most prominent shares in veg- porter, told The Post on Sun- age investment in the sector. as to China through Vietnam markets – Vietnam, Thailand, The key processed food and etable imports in 2019. Some day that the agro-processing “And the relevant ministries’ per day. South Korea, France, Russia beverage products made and of the major vegetable produc- industry, food processing and promotion activities have Vietnam, China, Thailand and Hong Kong. consumed in the Kingdom ing areas in Cambodia include fruit crops are taking huge boosted the agricultural sector and Japan are the main import- The export of yellow ba- include fresh cut vegetables, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Siem advantage during the global and is diversifying investment ers of fresh produce from the nanas to international mar- dried vegetables, pickles, Reap, and Kampot,” it said. break out of Covid-19 disease. into new areas,” he said. Kingdom, said ReportLinker. kets last year reached 157,812 sauces, fruit juices and wine, Mao Sothea, a sales manager Now, he said, the private Longmate Agriculture Co Cambodia exported 72,182 tonnes, most of which were said the study. at Kirirom Food Product Co sector – including his com- Ltd has invested $32 million in tonnes of fresh yellow banan- exported to China and the “Owing to the ongoing in- Ltd, a mango processing fac- pany – is turning to the agro- a yellow banana plantation on as to international markets rest to Vietnam and Japan dustrial developments and tory, told The Post that Cambo- processing sector, which they more than 1,000ha in Kampot during the first three month of Last year, the Kingdom ex- government support, foreign dia’s fruit exports have grown believe has significant un- province’s Chhouk district. this year, data from the Minis- ported 58,162 tonnes of fresh players are looking forward to substantially in recent years. tapped investment potential. The company is currently try of Agriculture, Forestry and mango to six markets – Viet- establishing fruit processing “Nowadays, my factory is “My company’s yellow ba- investing in the first phase Fisheries report shows. nam, Thailand, Singapore, companies in the country. doubling its production level nana exports are smooth as by planting bananas on over During the period, the France, Russia and Hong “For example, Coconut during the pandemic. We normal – producers are work- 400ha. It exports between one Kingdom exported 25,806 Kong. Grab rolling out delivery service Patrocinio Rivera “Grab plans to expand the service to the rest of Phnom GRAB (Cambodia) Co Ltd, the Penh in the near future, with subsidiary of Singapore-based more merchant-partners to multinational ride-hailing be on-boarded soon,” it said. company Grab Holdings Inc, With much of the world launched its on-demand ev- adapting to new hygiene eryday goods delivery service practices and social distanc- GrabMart in Phnom Penh last ing amid the ongoing health week, it said. crisis, traffic to online gro- The service is the latest op- cery stores has skyrocketed, tion for the capital’s shoppers forcing them to adapt their who want groceries delivered business strategies to cater to to their doorstep. Similar pandemic demand. services are provided by Del- Earlier this month, Del- Grab was officially launched in Phnom Penh on December 19, 2017, ishop.Asia, DeliMarket.asia ishop.Asia general manager signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of and Nham24.com. Jonathan Meuret told The Public Works and Transport to support the development of the Kingdom’s infrastructure. HONG MENEA Accessible via the Grab app, Post: “The sudden and rapid the service offers under one- spread of Covid-19 has forced and drivers will have to keep MVL TADA Cambodia Co Ltd hour delivery of groceries, everyone to scale back on a distance of at least 2m, so (TADA) announced the TADA packaged foods, healthcare many social interactions and when the driver arrives, they Delivery online platform, products, beauty products, transactions we used to take will call the customer and which it plans to launch in gifts and other items, said for granted. then deliver the package from the coming months. Grab (Cambodia). “The simple act of going a safe distance.” Grab was officially launched By entering an address into outside to buy food and other Grab country head Hashim in Phnom Penh on December the newly-integrated Grab- essential items at a store now Alkaff said: “We are introduc- 19, 2017, signing a Memoran- Mart feature, the app displays requires more thought and ing new services to help Cam- dum of Understanding (MoU) items available for purchase precaution. Every day, our bodians get through the new with the Ministry of Public from nearby stores – includ- team is energised to keep realities of the pandemic and Works and Transport to sup- ing Thai Huot, Kiwi Mart, U- coming up with new solu- will use our technology how- port the development of the Care Pharmacy and Winest tions to execute safe deliver- ever we can to introduce and Kingdom’s infrastructure. Cambodia. ies and transactions.” scale new services to help ev- A report by the Telecom- During the initial launch Nham24 founder Chann eryone in need. munications Regulator of phase, the service will only be Borima noted the massive “This is also an opportunity Cambodia indicated an in- available in the capital’s Boe- increase in demand for food for our driver-partners to earn crease in mobile phone sub- ung Keng Kang, Tuol Tom- and grocery delivery services additional sources of income scribers in the Kingdom last poung, Daun Penh and Tuol during the outbreak. . . . At a time like this where year. The 16.12 million sub- Kork districts and in “some He told The Post: “When people need immediate solu- scribers reported last year adjacent neighbourhoods”, it customers place their order, tions to address mobility gaps was an increase of 18.5 per said in a press release. they have the option of ‘deliv- during this difficult time, our cent from 2018. “Customers will have to pay er in person’ or use ‘contact- on-demand services will be The number of registered their delivery driver in cash less delivery’, with the default there to help them,” he said. Facebook accounts in 2018 with orders limited to a maxi- option being contactless. Late last month, South Ko- also rose 29 per cent last year mum of $40. “With this option, clients rean-owned ride-hailing app to 8.8 million accounts. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business​ ADB: Philippine’s war chest against Covid-19 inches up to $16.7 billion HE Philippines’ war chest among the countries’ respective pop- against Covid-19 inched up ulation, the Philippines’ Covid-19 eco- to $16.7 billion in May, but nomic response per capita of $156.39 still lagged behind most of only surpassed Cambodia’s $127.39, itsT Southeast Asian neighbours if Myanmar’s $1.84, and Laos’ $0.48. spending was divided across the Seven Southeast Asian countries population, the latest data compiled had bigger Covid-19 response per by Asian Development Bank (ADB) capita than the Philippines, with economists showed. Singapore having the largest at The updated Covid-19 policy da- $7990.93, Thailand $1,188.77, Ma- tabase of the ADB’s economic re- laysia $1,031.32, Brunei $741.61, The Philippines had the sixth-largest Covid-19 package in Southeast Asia, after Thailand’s $82.5 billion, Indonesia’s $57.9 billion, search and regional cooperation Vietnam $274.02, Indonesia $216.58 Singapore’s $45.1 billion, Malaysia’s $32.5 billion and Vietnam’s $26.2 billion, while exceeding Cambodia’s $2.1 billion, Brunei’s department showed that as of May and East Timor $197.17. $318.1 million, East Timor’s $250 million, Myanmar’s $98.6 million and Laos’ $3.4 million. AFP 4, its developing member-countries As a share of gross domestic product had committed a total of $1.9 tril- (GDP), the Philippines’ response was included non-lending actions by cen- tors such as poor households and dis- tance from the state-run Philip- lion to fight the pandemic, of which equivalent to 4.5 per cent of GDP, com- tral bank Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas placed workers, farmers, micro, small pine Amusement and Gaming Corp 11 Southeast Asian countries ac- pared with Brunei’s 2.7 per cent, Cam- (BSP) such as the cut in banks’ reserve and medium enterprises (MSMEs), (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity counted for 13.4 per cent. bodia’s 7.8 per cent, Indonesia’s 5.5 per requirement ratio (RRR), among other and taxpayers, among others. Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to buy In the case of the Philippines, the cent, Laos’ 0.02 per cent, Malaysia’s 9.2 measures amounting to 220 billion pe- To avoid double-counting, the sum medical equipment and supplies, as sum of the government’s Covid-19 per cent, Myanmar’s 0.1 per cent, Sin- sos ($4.3 billion). of key economic measures against well as banks’ expected suspension policies and response to date slightly gapore’s 12.8 per cent, Thailand’s 15.7 Loan guarantees being extended the Covid-19 pandemic did not in- of all fees and charges imposed on rose from $16.5 billion last month. per cent, East Timor’s 8.5 per cent and to small businesses amounted to clude the 300 billion peso bond re- online banking platforms during the The Philippines had the sixth larg- Vietnam’s 10 per cent. 120 billion pesos. purchase agreement between the regulatory relief period. est Covid-19 package in Southeast In a background document, the au- Long-term direct lending to busi- BSP and the Bureau of the Treasury, Meanwhile, non-economic mea- Asia, after Thailand’s $82.5 billion, thors of the ADB database led by Jesus nesses, households, and state/local/ the BSP’s 62 billion peso expanded sures in the fight against Covid-19 Indonesia’s $57.9 billion, Singapore’s Felipe said they included the sum of the regional governments contributed purchase of government securities, included the government placing $45.1 billion, Malaysia’s $32.5 billion measures that provided liquidity, en- 14 billion pesos in support. as well as the 87.7 billion pesos in Luzon island under enhanced com- and Vietnam’s $26.2 billion, while couraged credit creation by the financial Also part of the Philippines’ econom- loans and grants secured from mul- munity quarantine (ECQ) since mid- exceeding Cambodia’s $2.1 billion, sector, and directly funded households, ic war chest against Covid-19 were 30.6 tilateral lenders such as the ADB March, suspension of flights from Brunei Darussalam’s $318.1 million, businesses, and/or state/local/regional billion pesos in direct financial support and the World Bank to date. “high-risk” economies, school clo- East Timor’s $250 million, Myanmar’s governments amid the pandemic. for the health sector and front-liners, The ADB database also took note sures, and restrictions on mass gath- $98.6 million and Laos’ $3.4 million. In the Philippines, actions to support on top of 464.4 billion pesos in non- of other uncategorised economic ering, noted the database. PHILIPPINE However, if the sum was divided normal functioning of money markets health dole outs for vulnerable sec- measures, such as financial assis- DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Europe taking more steps to reopen Rwanda ARTS of Europe took immunity” can be achieved. genocide more tentative steps Since emerging late last year, towards normality on the coronavirus has whipped the weekend, after the up a catastrophic economic ‘financier’ devastationP unleashed by the storm, which has left tens of coronavirus pandemic. millions unemployed in the US With the worldwide death toll and many are wondering when arrested past 310,000 and the global econ- a recovery will be possible. omy reeling from the vast damage With more than 88,000 deaths FRANCE on Saturday arrest- caused by lockdowns, the reopen- and 1.47 million confirmed ed Felicien Kabuga, one of the ings in some of the hardest-hit coronavirus cases, the US is the last key fugitives wanted over countries provided much-needed worst-hit country on the plan- 1994 Rwandan genocide, relief from the pandemic. et, and the administration of leaving him facing a likely The French returned to the President Donald Trump has trial at an international tribu- beach and Italy announced a faced intense criticism of the nal after a quarter of a cen- resumption of European tour- way it has handled the crisis. tury on the run. ism with outbreaks in Europe Former President Barack Kabuga, once one of Rwan- slowing, but the rising number Obama took a swipe at the da’s richest men, was living of fatalities in the US and Bra- response to the pandemic, tell- under a false identity in the zil were a grim reminder of the ing graduates at a virtual com- Paris suburbs, the public scale of the crisis, with more mencement ceremony that prosecutor’s office and police than 4.6 million infections many leaders today “aren’t even said in a joint statement. reported globally. pretending to be in charge” – a Agents swooped on his With the Northern Hemi- remark widely regarded as a home at dawn, finding an sphere’s summer approaching, rare rebuke of his successor. 84-year-old man “who has authorities are moving to help Trump is keen to reopen the been sought by the judicial tourism industries salvage US economy – the world’s largest authorities for 25 years”, said In France, the first weekend after the strictest measures were lifted saw many venture out into the spring something from the wreckage. sunshine – and hit the beach. AFP – despite warnings from experts the statement. Italy, for a long stretch the that infections could flare up Around 800,000 people – world’s worst-hit country, keen swimmers jumped into the world, with rallies in major mobile swab station as it seeks again if social distancing meas- Tutsis but also moderate announced that EU tourists the surf at daybreak. cities bringing together con- to test the more than 300,000 ures are eased too quickly. Hutus – were slaughtered over would be allowed to visit from “We were impatient because spiracy theorists, anti-vaccine foreign workers living in dor- Forty-eight of the 50 US 100 days by ethnic Hutu June 3 and a 14-day mandatory we swim here all year round,” activists and other extremists. mitories in the city-state. states have now eased lock- extremists during the 1994 quarantine would be scrapped. said retiree Gilles, who declined There were similar protests in The specially-equipped down rules to some extent. genocide. “We’re facing a calculated to give his full name. France, Switzerland and Poland. ambulance can be swiftly Much like Trump and his polit- Kabuga was arrested at his risk in the knowledge that the With the threat of a second Emergency teams raced to deployed and allows health ical allies, Brazilian President Jair home in Asnieres-sur-Seine contagion curve may rise wave of infections on their prevent a coronavirus “night- care workers to carry out swab Bolsonaro is also keen to end north of Paris and had been again,” Prime Minister minds, authorities in many mare” in the world’s largest tests on people as they stand lockdowns, which he claims hiding with the complicity of Giuseppe Conte said during a countries have asked people refugee settlement after the outside the vehicle. have unnecessarily damaged the his children. televised address. not to throng public spaces first confirmed cases in a Japan’s health minister said South American nation’s econo- The police statement “We have to accept it other- like beaches as they are made sprawling city of shacks hous- the nation will conduct anti- my over a disease he has dis- described him as “one of the wise we will never be able to accessible again. ing nearly a million Rohingya. body testing from next month missed as “a little flu”. world’s most wanted fugitives”. start up again.” Officials in parts of England on There have long been warn- for about 10,000 people. But the virus has continued Kabuga is accused of creat- In France, the first weekend Saturday warned people to stay ings the virus could race like The test results should help its deadly march in Brazil, where ing the notorious Intera- after the strictest measures away from newly reopened beau- wildfire through the cramped, experts better understand the the death toll passed 15,000 on hamwe militia that carried were lifted saw many venture ty spots and avoid overcrowding. sometimes sewage-soaked alleys extent of the coronavirus’s Saturday and it became the out massacres in the 1994 out into the spring sunshine Germany also saw the latest of the network of 34 camps in spread in Japan, with local country with the fourth-largest genocide. – and hit the beach. in a growing wave of anti-lock- southeast Bangladesh. media reporting it may also coronavirus caseload with He also helped create the In the Riviera city of Nice, down protests in many parts of Singapore has rolled out a shed light on whether “herd 230,000 infections. AFP equally notorious Radio-Tele- vision Libre des Mille Collines that incited people to carry out murder in its broadcasts. “Felicien Kabuga is known to have been the financier of the Democrats probe firing of State Dept watchdog Rwandan genocide,” it said, adding that he had spent time CONGRESSIONAL Democrats on Satur- said Linick was probing complaints that CNN reported last year that a whis- In recent months, Pompeo has moved in Germany, Belgium, the day launched a probe into US President Pompeo inappropriately used a politi- tle-blower had complained that the US foreign policy forcefully to the right Democratic Republic of Congo, Donald Trump’s “politically-motivated” cal appointee to perform personal tasks Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which – encouraging a drone strike that killed Kenya and Switzerland. dismissal of a government watchdog for himself and his wife Susan. guards US missions overseas as well as a top Iranian general and promoting a The head of France’s agency believed to have been investigating Sec- CNN, citing a senior State Depart- the secretary of state, had been theory, discounted by mainstream sci- for fighting crimes against retary of State Mike Pompeo. ment official, reported that Pompeo assigned questionable tasks for the entists, that the Covid-19 pandemic humanity, Eric Emeraux, told The announcement came after Trump himself had recommended the firing Pompeos, such as picking up takeout originated in a Chinese laboratory. AFP that the chase had been told House of Representatives Speaker and hand-picked Stephen Akard, a food or tending to the family dog. Linick, a longtime prosecutor, was renewed two months ago Nancy Pelosi late on Friday that he former aide to Vice-President Mike The State Department confirmed appointed in 2013 by Trump’s predeces- after new intelligence planned to dismiss State Department Pence, to succeed Linick. Linick’s firing but did not comment on sor Barack Obama to oversee the $70 emerged. Inspector General Steve Linick. By law, the administration must give the reason – or on whether Pompeo billion juggernauts of US diplomacy. Olivier Olsen, head of the It was Trump’s third abrupt dismiss- Congress 30 days’ notice of its plans to was under investigation. He played a small role in Trump’s association of homeowners in al of an official tasked with monitoring terminate an inspector general, in A State Department spokesperson also impeachment saga last year, handing the building where he lived, governmental misconduct and abuse theory giving lawmakers time to study confirmed that the new inspector gen- to Congress documents by Trump’s described Kabuga as “some- since last month. the move – and protest if warranted. eral would be Akard, an attorney who lawyer Rudy Giuliani with unproven one very discreet … who mur- “We unalterably oppose the politi- But previous such firings have gone served as a foreign affairs advisor to Pence claims about Democratic presidential mured when you said hello”. cally-motivated firing of inspectors through unimpeded, and those dis- when the latter was governor of Indiana. candidate Joe Biden and Marie Yovano- He said Kabuga had lived general and the President’s gutting of missed have been replaced by political Since last year, Akard has led the vitch, whom Trump removed as the US there for three-to-four years. these critical positions,” two senior allies of the Republican president. State Department’s Office of Foreign ambassador to Ukraine. Kabuga is accused of using his Democrats – Senator Bob Menendez Engel, who heads the House Foreign Missions, which handles relations with Trump repeated the charges to wealth and influence during the and Congressman Eliot Engel – said in Affairs Committee, and Menendez, the diplomats in the US. Ukraine’s president and pressed him genocide to funnel money to a statement. top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Rela- Pelosi said Linick was “punished for to dig up dirt while freezing military militia groups as chairman of The lawmakers said Linick had tions Committee, requested that the White honourably performing his duty to aid to Kiev, which is battling Russian- the Fonds de Defense Nationale apparently “opened an investigation House and State Department turn over protect the Constitution and our backed separatists. (FDN) fund. into wrongdoing by Secretary Pompeo records related to Linick’s dismissal. national security”. Since his acquittal by the Senate, The US State Department, himself”. They also asked to see files for inspec- “The president must cease his pattern Trump has fumed against a “Deep which had offered a $5 mil- The inspector general’s dismissal, tor general investigations “involving of reprisal and retaliation against the State” he sees as out to get him. lion reward for information “transparently designed to protect Secre- the Office of the Secretary that were public servants who are working to keep He has removed or demoted inspec- about him, said Kabuga tary Pompeo from personal accountabil- open, pending, or incomplete at the Americans safe, particularly during this tors general for the Pentagon, the intel- through the FDN “is alleged ity, would undermine the foundation of time of Mr Linick’s firing”. time of global emergency,” she said. ligence community and the Depart- to have provided funds to the our democratic institutions and may be Pompeo has raised eyebrows for fre- Pompeo is one of Trump’s most trust- ment of Health and Human Services, as interim Rwandan govern- an illegal act of retaliation”, they said. quently travelling the world on his ed aides – and a rare one never to come well as a senior health official who ques- ment for the purposes of A Democratic congressional aide, government plane with his wife, who publicly into the crosshairs of the mer- tioned Trump’s promotion of unproven executing the 1994 genocide”. speaking on condition of anonymity, has no official role. curial president. drug therapies for Covid-19. AFP AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Typhoon leaves Filipinos crying for help

HE mayor of the national government to assist small town of Jipa- us financially for our long- pad in the Philip- term needs. But the immedi- pines’ Eastern Samar ate needs now are rice, food provinceT that was severely packs, water and housing devastated by Typhoon Vong- materials for the hundreds of fong raised frantic appeals displaced families and thou- for help on Saturday, saying sands more from the evacua- his constituents had no more tion centres,” he said. food and clean water. Evardone said a number of Jipapad, a fifth class munici- flood-damaged classrooms pality with an annual income of and barangay halls that were not more than 25 million pesos used as isolation rooms for ($500,000), was the worst hit persons being monitored for among the eight towns affect- Covid-19 also needed repairs. ed by Vongfong – known locally The towns affected by Vong- in the Philippines as ‘Ambo’ – fong were San Policarpo, Do- when it barrelled through the lores, Maslog, Oras, Arteche, province on Thursday. and Can-avid, said the Provin- “I am desperately calling for cial Risk Reduction and Man- aid not only from the national agement Office (PRRMO). and provincial government PRRMO head Josefina but from all good Samaritans Titong said that in addition to because we don’t have food four people who died, 14 oth- and water,” Mayor Benjamin ers were hurt during Vong- Ver said in an interview with fong’s onslaught. church-run radio dyVW in She said Vongfong displaced Borongan, the provincial cap- more than 127,900 individu- ital nearly 80km to the south. als in the province. “President [Rodrigo] Du- In nearby Northern Samar, terte, I know that we are in a Vongfong displaced nearly dire situation due to Covid-19 15,900 people in 16 of its 24 but our situation here right towns, said police reports. now is worse. We don’t have The two Samar provinces any electric supply, no com- Jipapad was the worst hit among the eight towns affected by Vongfong when it barrelled through the province on Thursday. SUPPLIED remained without power af- munication. Our people are ter Vongfong’s strong winds hungry,” Ver said. severe tropical storm on Friday east of Basco, Batanes province, “I’m worried about the Ver said 400 50kg bags of toppled several power lines. Floodwaters rose as high as and downgraded further into a by Monday afternoon heading people there, especially the rice and boxes of medicines Evardone had described a two-story house and most tropical storm on Saturday on toward southern Japan. elderly and children,” he told that were to be distributed to Vongfong as ‘Yolanda Jr’ of the town’s 13 villages re- its way out of the country. Officials said Jipapad re- Philippine Daily Inquirer. households during the Covid- because of the widespread mained underwater on Satur- By 5pm (0900 GMT) on mained isolated on Saturday Ver said almost everyone 19 quarantine were destroyed damage it had caused in his day morning, he said. Saturday, the Philippine At- as the road and the bridge in his town of 7,800 was dis- by floodwaters. province. Vongfong made landfall mospheric, Geophysical and connecting it to the main placed by Vongfong. He feared a diarrhoea out- Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ – about 30km east of Jipapad Astronomical Services Admin- highway was washed away by “We are calling our national break due to the absence of known internationally as Hai- on Thursday with winds of up istration tracked Vongfong rampaging waters. government, our provincial clean water. yan – was the strongest to ever to 185km/h. about 110km north-northwest Governor Ben Evardone government, even the private Evardone said the provincial make landfall and also swept Two people in San Policar- of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. said floodwaters and fallen sector to help us. This is the government could not provide through parts of Samar Island pio town and two others in It was moving at 30km/h with trees prevented a team from worst tragedy in the history much help to the town since in November 2013. It left more nearby Oras, both in Eastern maximum winds of 65km/h the Department of Public of Jipapad. The floodwaters its savings and calamity funds than 7,000 people dead and Samar, died at the height of and gusts of up to 80km/h. Works and Highways, the pro- reached so high that there were had been used up in respond- 130 billion pesos in damages. the typhoon. If it does not change direction, vincial government and Army families inside their homes ing to the Covid-19 outbreak. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS Vongfong weakened into a it is expected to be 730km north- from reaching the town. that were trapped,” he said. “We are appealing to the NETWORK SIA: Many changes in flight experience after Covid-19 PASSENGERS will have to department executive vice- in the earlier three quarters, adapt to a different travel president Lee Lik Hsin said: driven by robust passenger experience when air travel “The price of the air ticket is traffic numbers and business picks up again, as regulators really a function of demand transformation initiatives. and airlines look into how to and supply, and we will adapt SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong make flying safer, said Singa- these curves accordingly as we said in Friday’s briefing that it pore Airlines (SIA). get back out in the market and is uncertain exactly when and While the specifics of how restart our services. how the industry will recover. the aviation sector will evolve “And to the question of social But changes are expected in post-Covid-19 are still unclear, distancing in particular on areas such as consumer behav- SIA has created four working planes, it is still not deter- iour and business travel groups to prepare for potential mined at this time the efficacy trends. scenarios, it said during a of such measures. There are “Nobody is sure about how briefing on its financial results many discussions ongoing the pace of recovery will be like on Friday. between the various authori- and what are the kinds of reg- Executive vice-president of ties and airlines, but it is too ulatory improvements that operations Mak Swee Wah early to make an announce- countries in the world will put said: “Obviously, the concern ment on this.” in place to address the need to SIA has created a Restart Taskforce, comprising the four working groups, to look into areas such as travel now is on safety and health. SIA had on Thursday report- contain the virus,” said Goh. experience and regulatory development. THE STRAITS TIMES There are a few themes out ed an annual net loss of S$212 To address these issues, SIA there, for example, wearing million (US$150 million) for has created a Restart Taskforce, although he noted that other S$15 billion by issuing new sector, said Goh. masks, social distancing and the year ending March 31, the comprising the four working major airlines worldwide have shares to current shareholders He said: “There is a general contactless services. first loss in the airline’s 48-year groups, to look into areas such also undertaken major cuts. to raise about S$5.3 billion and belief that there will be growth “All these issues are now history. as travel experience and regu- “We are now operating at issuing mandatory convertible at some time. So obviously, being examined to see how Its full-year operating profit latory development. very minimal capacity, and bonds to raise up to S$9.7 bil- with all these changes, we will practical they are both on the plunged 94.5 per cent year-on- Goh said the carrier’s goal is to therefore there is virtually no lion. have to change the way to ground and in the air . . . so safe year, as the coronavirus pan- quickly adapt to new norms that revenue,” said Goh. Temasek, which now owns operate too. to say, it will not be the same demic led to a collapse in air are being shaped. This would This had thus required SIA about 55 per cent of the airline, “We believe there is an oppor- as the pre-Covid situation.” travel demand and a drop in enable SIA to emerge from the to cut costs while seeking has pledged to take up any tunity for us to look at all these In response to a question on fuel prices. crisis stronger when the aviation additional sources of funding, remaining shares and bonds different factors and ensure fares and whether they will The sudden change in for- sector eventually recovers. with the most major move that are not subscribed. that when we emerge, we are in increase because of social dis- tunes came in the fourth quar- On SIA’s current situation, Goh involving main shareholder The move has helped SIA to a position of strength.” THE tancing measures implement- ter. SIA said it had, in fact, described its flight cuts of 96 per Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd. have a balance sheet that is STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS ed on planes, SIA commercial achieved a strong performance cent as “very, very drastic”, SIA is seeking to raise up to among the strongest in the NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

EU deal key to recoverywww.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng of ASEAN airlinesLy Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief joshua purushotman riers. For example, ASEAN carriers that Opinion joshua purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer fly from Chiang Mai to Amsterdam Managing Editor Post Khmer sam rith Alloysius Joko Purwanto with a stop in Paris will be allowed to and Panayotis Christidis Deputy Chief of Staff sam rith pick-up passengers and cargo for the Deputy Chief of Staff phak seangly OLLOWING the Covid-19 out- leg between Paris and Amsterdam – a Business Editor phak seangly break, all 10 ASEAN countries freedom that does not currently exist. May kunmakara Business Editor have implemented strict air Similarly, EU carriers will be able to fly Deputy Business Editor May kunmakara travel restrictions which pro- from Dusseldorf in Germany to Sura- sangeetha amarthalingam hibitF the entry of foreign visitors. Deputy Businessbaya, Editor Indonesia with a stop in Singa- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk sorn sarath According to International Air Trans- pore, Kuala Lumpur, or Jakarta. pan simala port Association (IATA) estimates, air- Deputy Head ofThe Lifestyle agreement Desk would lift existing Senior Reporters lines in ASEAN countries may see their pan simala restrictions on code-sharing agree- Meas sokchea, niem Chheng revenue drop by $38 billion with a 49 Senior Reportersments between the respective states’ Reporters per cent fall in passenger demand in Meas sokchea,carriers, niem Chheng permitting them to code- khouth sophak Chakrya, kim sarom, Long 2020 compared to 2019 combined Reporters share freely on trunk routes as well as kimmarita, khorn savi, hin pisei, soth with a potential loss of 7.2 million jobs. khouth sophakon Chakrya, each kim other’s sarom, regionalLong and domestic koemsoeun, Voun Dara, sous Yamy,soung These estimates could be far worse kimmarita, khornnetworks. savi, hin pisei, This soth is expected to increase sovanny, thou Vireak, ry sochan depending on the observed affected the “point-to-point” traffic in both koemsoeun, Voun Dara, sous Yamy,soung Photographers markets, such as airports and tour- ASEAN and EU countries, thus sovanny, heng Chivoan, hong Menea ism, among others, and on further strengthening the position of both Web Editor ry sochan measures such as the restriction on regions’ airports, creating additional Leang phannara Photographers domestic trips in the Philippines and demand that can help build the criti- Webmasters Indonesia. heng Chivoan,cal hong mass Menea for new connections, includ- sous Chanthy, pang Vichea The scale of these impacts, far One strategy that can address the impact of low demand on ASEAN carriers would beWeb the Editor ing reopening connections aban- adoption of agreements between ASEAN and other world regions such as the ongoing SIEM REAP BUREAU greater than those of the Severe ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (EUCATA). afp Leang phannaradoned during the pandemic. Offi ce Manager Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) Webmasters Second, concerning airline consoli- sophearith Blondeel pandemic that hit the region in 2003, the number of airlines that compete those regions, should be able to sousmain Chanthy,- dation, pang Vichea ASEAN-EUCATA will eliminate PRODUCTION & PRINTING would be catastrophic for operators. in the heavy traffic routes such as tain their domination while smaller SIEM REAP BUREAUmarket access limitations. More Head of Desktop Publishing Small- and medium-sized airlines in between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta operators from Asia-Pacific will faceOffi ce ManagerASEAN and EU airlines shall be able to nhim sokphyrak other parts of the world including or Singapore. The impact can also be significant difficulties in maintainingsophearith Blondeelenter existing hub-to-hub operations Desktop Publishing Flybe in the UK, Trans State and significant domestically in the Philip- operations in those corridors. suon savatdy, Chum sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTIONto & PRINTINGcompete with the current players, Compass Airlines in the US, and Vir- pines and Indonesia, where domestic One strategy that can address the for example the Middle East and Gulf- tep thoeun thyda, tim Borith, than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing gin Australia have already filed for travel restrictions affect some heavy impact of low demand on ASEAN based operators. The creation of new nhim sokphyrak bankruptcy due to the pandemic. traffic routes. In those two countries, carriers would be the adoption of joint-venture operations should allow HEAD OFFICE The CAPA Center for Aviation has the need to decrease fixed operation- agreements between ASEAN andDesktop oth- Publishingcompeting players on hub-to-hub warned that unless government and al costs in the low demand period er world regions such as the ongoingsuon savatdy, routesChum sokunthy, to cooperate Danh Borath and engage in industry take coordinated actions by would push low-cost carriers to ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air tep thoeun thyda,joint tim Borith,marketing than Veasna and revenue-sharing, the end of May this year, most air- adapt their operation, meaning can- Transport Agreement (EUCATA). The which can reduce shares of existing Post Media Co, Ltd. lines in the world will be bankrupt. celling of some lower demand con- ASEAN-EU CATA negotiation HEAD OFFICEdominant players while at the same The Elements Condominium Level 7, Despite many uncertainties, global nections and/or abandoning some between the European Commission time decreasing average travel costs. Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, travel demand will probably bounce Finally, the entrance of foreign Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom back, at least partially, by the second operators into ASEAN domestic air Penh, Cambodia semester of the year and the aviation The entrance of foreign Post Media Co,operations Ltd. should not be seen as a Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 industry will experience some recov- The Elementsloss Condominium of sovereignty. Level 7, It is a fast and real- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 ery. Nevertheless, passenger demand operators into ASEAN air Hun Sen Boulevardistic strategy, Phum Prek to Talong, recover the entire avi- SIEM REAP could be much lower than the fore- Sangkat Chakation Angre Krom,industry Phnom while Penh, at the same time No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune casts, as the economic impacts of the operations should not be seen Cambodia sustaining connectivity within the Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 pandemic on ASEAN countries will SIEM REAP ASEAN region to maintain the com- be significant. The lower demand COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT as a loss of sovereignty No 629, Streetpetitiveness 6 Dangkum Commune of regional production may eliminate smaller operators and networks and the attractiveness of the Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 less-established routes. smaller hub airports. and ASEAN was initiated in June 2016 region as an investment destination. james ong soon teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT While lower demand is economi- Second, intercontinental traffic is and as of August last year, eight The strategy would also increase Advertising Department Chap narith, 017 996 241 cally bad for hub airports and bigger impacted more severely than intra-re- rounds of CATA negotiations haveChief Operatingregional Offi cer air transport market compe- hun Channet, 017 578 768 airlines, some smaller point-to-point gional trips in terms of passenger been conducted. james ong soontition teck – improving efficiency and prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 direct routes may disappear com- demand, financial loss and recovery ASEAN-EUCATA will be the firstAdvertising Departmentbringing down costs. ASEAN countries keo puthy, 012 966 605 pletely under this situation, and time. Currently, the drop in interconti- block-to-block agreement at an Chapinter narith,- on017 996the 241 other hand might need to set phon sok Chea, 012 717 404 instead shift to hubs resulting in the nental demand is caused by travel continental scale and will cover ahun wide Channet, up 017 cabotage578 768 principles that ensure jessa piastro, 092 445 983 consolidation of bigger hubs and air- restrictions, but in the future, this range of gradual regulatory converprach- Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 certain minimum of domestic shares CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION lines. At the same time, some smaller CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION demand will remain low mostly due to gence: market access, safety, security, ownership of the foreign companies Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager hubs would lose the critical mass to the severely damaged economic sector. air traffic management, social, con- and must elaborate and implement thenh rithy, 087 888 854 thenh rithy allow efficient transit operations and According to a recent IATA report, sumer and environmental protection, high market entrance standards in Circulation Supervisor the would be limited to serving mainly international traffic demand dropped fair competition, et cetera. This agree ADMINISTRATION- areas such as safety and security. nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 jakarta post/asia news network point-to-point connections. For 65.5 per cent for Asia-Pacific airlines ment should help ASEAN AviationAdmin & HR Manager Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 ASEAN countries, this consolidation in March this year compared to March industry recovery in two aspects.pich socheat ADMINISTRATION and dispersion should affect both last year, which is the highest drop First, the agreement should improveAssistants toJoko Admin Purwanto & HR Manager is energy and transport economist Admin & HR Manager at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and intra-regional and long-distance among the world regions. However, the right to fly between countries,nhel or soaphea pich socheat (intercontinental) air passenger trips. despite some decrease in traffic, air- what the International Civil Aviation East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta. Panayotis Christidis is Financial Directorsenior researcher at the European Commission, Assistants to Admin & HR Manager First, for intra-regional ASEAN air lines from Gulf and Middle East Organisation classifies as the “5th heang tangmengJoint Research Center, Seville, Spain. The views nhel soaphea trips, the consolidation might reduce regions, as well as hub airports of Freedom”, for both ASEAN and EU car- expressed are their own. 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 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Recreating art photo challenge keeping audiences engaged

Kheng Sokkunthea To imitate the acrylic paint- because there is always one ing by Cambodian self-taught artwork that would have been HEN it was artist Rena Chheang, a par- posted on social media daily. forced to close ticipant was seen sitting on Also, the audience can send from March 18 the floor with a scattering of their questions to the artist to May 4 due to paper cut-out sunflowers and and their curiosity will be an- Wthe impact of Covid-19, con- household utensils. swered in later videos. temporary art gallery, Sra’Art Her face was covered in oval- After the reopening on May came up with some creative shaped cut paper, bearing the 5, Sra’Art gallery still amazed ideas to engage the public resemblance of the faceless visitors with a live painting and art lovers from home. woman in the painting by the from the current exhibition to The social distancing activi- artist’s Nude Series 2019. paint on accessories (coffee ties that Sra’Art has brought to The fun and entertaining mugs, water bottles, shoes, its home-based audience in- contest only just started a few sunglasses cases, phone cov- cluded a visual gallery on Face- weeks ago, but noticeably it ers etc.) by many artists. book and Instagram, artist talks has amazed art lovers and The WOW exhibition will through videos, active social drawn an increasing interest of be on until the end of May media posts, and an art photo audiences as a lot of challeng- because many Sra’Art photo challenge that people could ing photos are already posted challengers opted to imitate explore and recreate the best of on Sra’Art Facebook page. the works from this exhibi- art right from their homes. This challenge will come tion and many people have The latter proved very popu- to a close at the end of May. no chance to see these re- lar and the gallery, which just It has proven popular among markable paintings yet. reopened on May 5, decided to Sra’Art’s regular audiences There are nine talented wom- continue the photo challenge and the public. The three en artists with a long-lasting until the end of this month. most popular posts will be and unique relationship with Because most of the photo awarded a free Sip and Paint Cambodia. Rena Chheang and submissions for the Sra’Art session (worth $25) at Sra’Art, Kanha Hul (Cambodian), Lau- Challenge were recreated including canvas, paintings, ren Iida (American-Japanese) from the “Women of the wine and other support from from Open Studio Cambodia; World” or WOW exhibition, a student from Royal Univer- Ji Young (Korean); Phailin Ca- the gallery also extended the sity of Fine and Arts (RUFA). diot (Thai-French); Helen Sea closing date of the exhibition Having travelled a lot before Ung (Cambodian-French); Is- which started in March. establishing the commercial abella Myers and Jenna Hang Gallery director and found- contemporary art gallery in (USA); and Ieva Ragauskaite er Cecile Eap was excited to Phnom Penh in October last (Lithuania). welcome visitors back with year, Eap has also noticed in- “We are still displaying more engaging activities than creased interaction from au- photographs, painting or mix before as she thought of ways diences after setting up some media projects depending Visitors to the Sra’Art gallery paint on ceramics at the reopening event. supplied to take art to the people if they indoor activities as some might on the artists. To celebrate cannot visit the gallery. not come directly to the gallery. International Women’s Day, the Kingdom as their home, to attach themselves to art. cultural heritage from the past “Since visiting an art gal- These activities have connect- we launched the Women of having lived here for many “We are the only commer- to the present,” Eap says. lery is out of the question, we ed audiences with artists. Art the World (WOW) exhibition years. Through their work, they cial art gallery in Phnom Penh Sra’Art is located close to came up with a creative way lovers can listen to the artists’ from March 7. have discovered the inner pow- at the moment. We are hoping the National Museum and to keep art lovers occupied — inspiring stories, discussions “The exhibition showcases er inside Cambodian women to show people that art has al- Royal Palace. It is two doors by challenging the audience about art, and future projects. a selection of artworks by only who are strong and unwaver- ways been a part of Cambodi- down to Wat Ounalom on to recreate famous artwork at The gallery also organised a women artists from various ing, no matter what situation an culture, but because of its Sothearos Boulevard. Please home,” Eap tells The Post. multimedia exhibition with a backgrounds and creative ex- they are confronted with. cruel past, art has taken time visit Facebook page (@ The French-Cambodian mix of paintings, paper cuts, pressions. Each of them has As a former producer, Eap to return to the limelight.” sraartstudio), Instagram ac- founder continued to pro- photo collages, and even an- expressed a deep connection believes that it is important to “We also expect to become count (@sraart_studio) or mote the new photo chal- cient paintings. to Cambodian traditions, sto- engage with locals and help a reference point for Cambo- website (www.sraarstudios. lenge called #sraartchallenge Similar to the tour at the ries of women’s challenges and change the mindset around dian art and artists, to be part com) ?or call 081 461 711. The which is inspired by the Getty Sra’Art gallery, the audience can empowerment,” Eap says. art. Her task is to encourage of the change and help Cam- gallery is opened from Tues- museum – the world of art, enjoy an online tour at home The women artists consider people, especially Cambodians bodians to be proud of their day to Saturday. research, conservation and philanthropy started by the J. Paul Getty Trust. The photo contest encour- ages audiences to use their imagination and easily avail- able materials that they can find to imitate the posture and recreate the scene in one of their favourite art pieces. “To join the challenge you just have to pick an artwork (painting or photograph) from a Cambodian artist (or Cam- bodian resident artist) and recreate it with your imagina- tion and whatever materials you have at your disposal. “Then send us the photo of the original art with the one you recreated or post it on our wall with the hashtag #sraartchallenge,” Eap says. Many of the photographs submitted imitated the pos- ture and scene from the WOW exhibition. The Sra’Art Gallery will keep its ‘WOW’ exhibition open until the end of May. supplied Recreating the look of a painting using only imagination. supplied THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle In Indonesia, filmmakers bet on homegrown superheroes

ARVEL’S Avengers may attacking the earth because that’s bring in billions at the not our problem. Hollywood is go- box office but Indone- ing to deal with that,” Anwar says. sia is taking on the likes “We’re dealing with our country’s Mof Captain America and Iron Man oppressors and their super pow- with its own superhero franchise, ers will come from our mythology,” tapping into growing global demand adds the 44-year-old, explaining his for diverse characters. twin passions growing up were films The first movie of the series, Gun- and Indonesian comic heroes. dala, which was directed by one of The success of Black Panther and Indonesia’s most prolific filmmak- Captain Marvel, which both grossed ers Joko Anwar and released locally more than $1 billion worldwide to critical and popular acclaim, is as well as Wonder Woman, which now set to play in cinemas across made more than $800 million, has North America. pushed US studios to search for With a back catalogue of more than more diverse stories and characters 500 Indonesian comics, the studio to reflect audience demand. Screenplay Bumilangit is hoping to The former featured a predomi- create its own Marvel-style “Cin- nantly black cast, was directed by ematic Universe” with films featur- African-American Ryan Coogler Iwan Nazif, creative general manager of Indonesian company Bumilangit, poses with a book of local superhero ‘Gundala’, at his ing interconnected characters and and tackled the battle for a fictional office in Jakarta. AFP settings. African kingdom, while the latter Gundala, based on a 1969 comic, two star female superheroes leads, Indonesia’s once-booming comic and his pet monkey sidekick. film-makers admit it is difficult to tells of an impoverished factory which is rare. book industry waned in the late “I never knew Indonesia had all compete with Hollywood’s vast fi- worker’s son who fights corruption Marvel are now making their first eighties as fans flocked to Marvel these superhero characters until nances. and injustice after a lightning strike Chinese superhero movie, Shang- and other foreign offerings. Gundala,” said film buff Septian Gundala was shot in just 52 days gives him superhuman powers. Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings But the country’s film-makers are Dwi Putri. and cost around $2.0 million. “The story that people are going to based on a character that first ap- confident the new series, which “And I didn’t think Indonesia could The most recent Marvel film see in our films is not about aliens peared in 1973. infuses this classic mythology and have a proper superhero movie with Avengers: Endgame had a budget of modern life, will have unique ap- decent script. The special effects more than $350 million, while DC peal at home and abroad. weren’t bad either.” Comics’ Joker, for which Joaquin “We’re not only trying to provide However with swathes of Indo- Phoenix won the Oscar for Best Ac- some nostalgia, but also to expose nesia on lockdown because of the tor, is estimated to have cost more younger generations to our own su- Covid-19 pandemic, the process than $55 million to make. perhero stories,” Bumilangit’s cre- has ground to a halt says produc- “It is extremely difficult to make ative general manager Iwan Nazif tion manager Imansyah Lubis, add- because of the budget and human said. ing that crews are unable to meet, resources limitations,” says Anwar. “I think the exposure is even shooting sites are closed, and even But despite this, and the challenges greater with the Gundala movie as buying or renting equipment raises of the novel coronavirus, he insists it raised the curiosity of both comic hygiene issues. “we are in the golden age of cinema”. and film enthusiasts about local su- Gundala grossed $4.7 million at perheroes,” he added. Pleasing die-hard fans cinemas nationally, more than dou- The second planned story follows Prior to the pandemic, Indonesia’s bling its production budget and a female character Sri Asih, who has film industry had been on the as- worldwide release will bring further the strength of 250 men and leads a cent after hitting a low point in the revenues. pack of other superheroes. 1990s, when there were almost no Still, mainstream success will The film, based on a 1954 comic local productions. mean winning over people like Iron book, is being produced by female But as the country of 260 million Man fan Disna Harvens. director Upi Avianto. sees its middle class expand and in- “I was honestly sceptical at first, Other characters in the pipeline comes rise there is growing interest but I didn’t find it cringe-worthy,” he include Mandala, a machete-wield- in cinema. said after watching Gundala. ing warrior who can destroy ob- The sector logged a record 50 mil- “As a die-hard fan of superhero jects without even touching them, lion ticket sales last year. movies, I hope I’ll live long enough A sketch of local superhero ‘Gundala’ by Indonesian company Bumilangit. The first and Si Buta Dari Gua Hantu, which But international blockbust- to see all the Indonesian superhero movie of the series is set to play in cinemas across North America. AFP tells of a blind martial arts fighter ers remain the big draw, and local movie instalments.” AFP Dinner with dummies: US eatery installs mannequins

THEIR eyes are vacant, their “This would allow plenty of chicken coop complete with smiles uncanny – but they’re space between real guests and crystal chandelier, and where dressed to the nines and they elicit a few smiles and provide a tasting menu can cost each don’t need a reservation for some fun photo ops,” he guest $248 before wine. some of the US’ finest dining. adds. The Inn has collaborated A Michelin-starred restau- The Inn, which says it is with local businesses to pro- rant in the US state of Virginia “known for being reverently vide the staging, costumes has found a fun – or creepy, irreverent” and which also and make-up for the manne- depending on your tastes – happens to be the only res- quins, strategically placed at way to enforce social distanc- taurant with three Michelin tables which must remain ing when it reopens at the end stars in the Washington, DC empty. of this month – costumed area, is scheduled to reopen “We’re all craving to gather mannequins seated among on May 29. and see other people right the breathing guests. The theatrical, life-sized now. They don’t all necessarily “When we needed to solve the mannequins are dressed to need to be real people,” problem of social distancing evoke the post-war ambience O’Connell mischievously and reducing our restaurant’s of the 1940s, with pearl neck- points out. occupancy by half, the solution laces, chequered dresses and “I’ve always had a thing for seemed obvious – fill it with striped suits. mannequins – they never interestingly dressed dummies,” The glamour needs to suit complain about anything and says chef Patrick O’Connell, the rest of the Inn, whose you can have lots of fun dress- owner of The Inn at Little Wash- sprawling grounds are distin- ing them up,” he adds. A Michelin-starred restaurant in the US state of Virginia has found a way to enforce social distancing when it ington, in an email. guished by features such as a “Unlike the real guests.” AFP reopens at the end of this month – costumed mannequins seated among the breathing guests. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Brother Godfried poses by crates full of Westvleteren beers at the shop of the Saint-Sixtus abbey, in Westvleteren, Belgium. AFP Belgian drinkers’ faith rewarded as monks get beer out

ELGIUM is only cau- Brother Godfried, of the return to business at the abbey, “ON THE WAY UP” tiously beginning to order, explained the rules. so early into Belgium’s tentative emerge from its coro- “At the red light they have to “deconfinement” process. ACROSS 52 Weeder’s tool 19 Painting and sculpting, for two navirus lockdown and stop, so that there are only two But, as Brother Godfried 1 Crouch 53 Day light? 24 Pusher’s chaser itsB bars and restaurants won’t or three people active here explained, the rules the mon- 54 Iran and Iraq do it 25 Happily ever ___ 6 Soft mineral open until next month at where the transaction takes astery has already put in place 10 Martial arts hero Jackie 55 Escalator, essentially 26 Aviary sound least. place,” he said. to restrict sales to non-com- 14 Brown shade 60 Barbell material 27 Left the ground for a moment But the prayers of a lucky few “We also work without cash mercial buyers were good 15 “Hold your horses!” 61 “Fine by me” 28 Be on the side of caution? drinkers have nevertheless and there’s plexiglass.” preparation to operate safely. 16 Successor of the mark 62 Modify 31 Slide through a card reader been answered, with the Rules come naturally to the 17 Roofer’s equipment 63 Ex-speaker’s name 32 Provide food, uptown 33 Computer communicator release of a new batch of per- faithful members of the Cister- Royal licence 20 House of Lords member 64 Old symbols of social status 34 Palindromic musician haps the world’s best and most cian Order, but do their cus- “The reservation system 21 Savings acct. addition 65 Migratory aquatic birds 37 Slammer exclusive beer. tomers understand self-con- allows us to regulate very well 22 “Bobby Hockey” DOWN 38 Majestic swimmer The monks of the Trappist trol? They seem ready to comply, how many people come here,” 23 Set in order 1 First instruction, often 39 Arm of the sea? Abbey of Saint Sixtus only sell for their share of the beer. he said, referring to the online 25 “A” or “an,” e.g. 2 Code writer of a kind 40 Play-___ (modeling compound) 29 “Don’t make me laugh!” 3 External their holy brew by appoint- For Flor Holvoet, the trip to sign-up system to deter re- 44 Nary a trace 30 Chess champion Bobby 4 Collapsible headgear ment, to individual consum- the monastery was at last a sellers and speculators. 45 Common noun suffix 31 Line from an operator? 5 Compose, say ers, and until Thursday their proper excuse to escape the And Belgium’s borders are 46 Kind of van or bus 33 Cornea irritant 6 Strong string outlet was closed. lockdown at home, and come closed, so beer fans from the 48 Berth places 35 Canal zone? 7 On ___ streak (winning) Belgium has had one of the out to pick up his crate. rest of Europe and beyond 49 Taper off 36 Exhibit sure footing 8 Cinema’s Chaney highest per capita death tolls “It was the first opportunity have not been able to swarm 50 Artful dodges 40 Morse code sound 9 Food label figures from the global coronavirus to get out of my house and do in on the new batch. 51 Firewood measure 41 Strong smell 10 Comedian known as “The pandemic in the world, and a trip like this, to drive all the “You have to know, we live by Entertainer” 53 For fellows only rules for social distancing have way here to get some world- the rule of Benedict, the Benedic- 42 Turned on the waterworks 55 Lots of secs.? 43 Airy shoe feature 11 Paul Newman Western been strict. famous beer,” he said. tine tradition, and that provides 12 “___ you with me?” 56 Metal-in-the-rough St Benedict’s rules, however, Lawyer Thomas Vuylsteke that monks . . . live by the work of 46 Dog’s best friend 57 Solemn promise 47 Firefighters’ quality 13 “Neither” counterpart say the monks must work to normally wouldn’t have time on their hands,” Godfried said. 18 Lovelorn utterance 58 Participate in a biathlon, say 48 Money spent in Albania support themselves, and the a workday to make a beer run, “In very concrete terms, this 59 Dirt-dishing newspaper Trappist Westvleteren beer is but his kids are off school and means that we have to live regularly voted among the he was babysitting at home. from our brewery. So for us, it Friday’s solution world’s best by fans. “I was out of beers, and last is very important that we can On Thursday, aficionados Friday I saw we can order some start selling again. Because who reserved a slot online – new, so I ordered them for me that’s what we live from.” and were willing to observe and my brother-in-law, and I The abbey was founded in safety rules – were able to pull decided to come and pick them 1831, when French monks up to the monastery and pick today,” he said. arrived in Flanders to join a up their quota. Some might frown on the hermit, Jan-Baptist Victoor, liv- ing in a Flemish forest. They made cheese and beer for their own need and in 1839, Belgium’s King Leopold I licensed them as brewers. The brewery has survived through several incarnations and the modern brewing hall Friday’s solution now produces small batches of three distinct Trappist tipples – Blond, 8 and 12. The recent explosion of inter- est in craft beers and rare brews – along with the scarcity – has contributed to the beer’s legen- dary status among hobbyists. In recent years, profiteers have tried to cash in by selling the beers at inflated prices, forcing the humble monks to A customer carries a crate full of Westvleteren beers while leaving the adopt their online order and shop of the Saint-Sixtus abbey. AFP pick-up system. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 18, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Last Dance: Prices of Jordan collectibles soar HE immense global $20,000 to $30,000 at the be- ketball shoes is maturing, success of the docu- ginning of the year. with support from a new mentary The Last “A lot of people who had a generation of enthusiasts as Dance amid the coro- sports cards collection as a evidenced by the emergence navirusT lockdown has boost- kid have been frantically go- of trading platforms and the ed sales of collectibles related ing through their attics to find prices realized at auctions to NBA icon Michael Jordan, those boxes and those bind- over the last three years. some of which are trading in ers,” laughs Geoff Wilson, “Sneaker collecting and the hundreds of thousands of founder of the Sports Card reselling used to be under- dollars. Investor platform. ground activities that were “Timing is everything,” says “I haven’t seen anything like enjoyed by a few sneaker Jordan Geller, a collector who this, where it’s well past his heads,” Geller said. “It’s much on Sunday will be richer by at career,” Ivy said, noting that more mainstream now.” least $240,000 thanks to the Jordan retired in 2003. The change has not escaped sale at Sotheby’s of a pair of Air The excitement extends be- the notice of manufacturers, Jordan 1 sneakers – the first yond Jordan himself. who have adapted their mar- model created especially by Sales of Bulls-branded items keting and promotional strat- Nike for Michael Jordan, who are up 400 per cent this month egies accordingly. made his NBA debut in 1984. compared to last year on the “Sneaker brands are cater- The game-worn pair could online sports merchandise ing to sneaker collectors by set an auction record for retailer Fanatics Inc. releasing more and more lim- sneakers set last year by Nike’s “For a lot of people my age”, ited edition sneakers, so with Moon Shoe, a pair of which between 40 and 50 years old, smaller quantities demand sold for $437,500. “Michael Jordan was the Babe goes through the roof.” The various Air Jordans Ruth of our generation”, Ivy But in Geller’s opinion, have been popular with col- said. “People in that age range nothing can compare to the lectors for 30 years, along are starting to get to a point in original Air Jordans, especial- with jerseys and trading cards their lives where they’re start- ly those that can be linked to featuring Jordan – who won ing to collect again.” the great man himself. six NBA titles with the Chi- Even younger fans, weaned “I think the Game Worn Air cago Bulls and is widely con- Prices for Michael Jordan memorabilia have soared with the success of the ESPN documentary The Last on the exploits of the late Kobe Jordan 1s are the most iconic Dance. afp sidered the greatest player in Bryant and LeBron James, are sneakers of all time,” Geller league history. dan’s entire career through Ivy predicted the interest Dance aired on April 19. feeling the allure of Jordan. said. “The fact that these Many specialists consider the narrative of the Bulls’ fuelled by The Last Dance will “That could be largely at- “The majority of our cus- shoes were game-worn by Jordan a key figure in creat- pursuit of a sixth NBA title, continue. tributable to the documen- tomers are millennials and Michael Jordan takes them to ing the market for collectible has ramped up interest in all tary because that’s a sneaker Gen Z, many of whom were a whole other level.” sneakers, with only non-sports things Jordan. ‘Iconic, mythical’ that’s been on the market for not necessarily alive when Will we ever crack the $1 personalities such as Kanye “I think this is a game- On the StockX shoe resale years,” says StockX economist Jordan played,” Einhorn said. million mark? West or Travis Scott able to changer,” Chris Ivy, direc- platform, the Air Jordan 1 Jesse Einhorn. “It’s a testament to Jordan’s “I think so,” said Ivy. “I’m compete with him today. tor of sports collectibles at Chicago model now sells for Likewise, a 1986 Fleer col- staying power as an iconic, working towards a consign- But ESPN’s 10-part docu- Heritage Auctions, said of the up to $1,500, compared to lector’s card sold for $96,000 almost like mythical, cultural ment in the future that I think mentary The Last Dance documentary series that was $900 in March. early this month at Heri- figure.” has the potential to get to a which weaves details of Jor- carried globally by Netflix. The first episode ofThe Last tage, an item that was worth And the market for bas- million dollars.” AFP ‘United by Emotion’: Tokyo 2020 unveils motto for Olympic Games TOKYO 2020 organisers on “Crowds of spectators who The official Olympic motto Monday rolled out the motto do not know each other prior is “Citius, Altius, Fortius” or for this year’s Olympics, “Unit- to the Games will come togeth- “Faster, Higher, Stronger”, but ed by Emotion”, which they er and learn that there is more each host city chooses its own said reflected the “universal that unites them than divides motto to accompany that edi- values” and “unifying power of them,” Tokyo 2020 said as it tion of the Games. sport”. unveiled the motto. London’s motto in 2012 was “Inspire a Generation”, whereas Athens in 2004 went for “Wel- come Home” – a nod to the birth- place of the Games in Olympia. Less well-received was Sochi, which plumped for “Hot. Cool. Yours”, sparking derision in some quarters. Tokyo said the motto would be beamed onto the Skytree DeAndre Baker of the New York Giants surrendered to police in Florida on Saturday and will face charges of tower in the Japanese capital armed robbery along with fellow NFL player Quinton Dunbar of the Seattle Seahawks. GETTY IMAGES/AFP to raise awareness as it will be seen for miles around. The opening ceremony will be on July 24 and organisers NFL players surrender to have stressed there is no dis- cussion about changing this date despite the coronavirus police on robbery charges crisis hitting global transport. Tokyo 2020 roll-outs have NATIONAL Football League party on Wednesday night in able to gather witnesses to not always been smooth. In (NFL) players DeAndre Baker and Miramar, Florida. prove their clients did not do September 2015, the Games Quinton Dunbar surrendered to His attorney, lawyer Brad- what the police claim. logo was ditched after accusa- Florida police on Saturday to face ford Cohen said: “Reports are Baker has played one season tions of plagiarism. charges of armed robbery. correct that DeAndre turned for the Giants, starting 15 Designer Olivier Debie said Baker, of the New York himself in this morning. games and making 61 tackles. the design was stolen from his Giants, and Seattle Seahawks “I am a believer in the sys- Dunbar has yet to play a logo for a Belgian theatre and Dunbar each face four counts tem and that if everything game for the Seahawks after threatened court action before of armed robbery. works the matter will be appro- they acquired him in March in officials withdrew the emblem, Baker also faces four counts priately resolved.” exchange for a fifth-round draft A tourist in Bangkok, Thailand sits in from of an ad for the Tokyo saying it “no longer has public of aggravated assault related Lawyers for both players on pick. Dunbar has 25 career Olympics which are set to open on July 24. afp support”. AFP to an alleged incident at a Saturday said they would be starts and 150 tackles. AFP