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Tuesday, april 14, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL Factories Cambodia at Covid-19 continue operation crossroad, gov’t warns on NY day Khorn Savi with the tally remaining at 122 since we comply, we can maintain family April 10-16 travel ban to prevent an the first case was recorded in Janu- happiness with no infections. exodus of people across the country Long Kimmarita HE Ministry of Health has ary. Of the number, 77 patients, or “The other way is to disobey the before and during the Khmer New warned that Covid-19 could 63.11 per cent, have recovered. guidelines and consequently put Year, despite the holidays having been MINISTER of Labour and Vocational spread in communities and Bun Heng said Cambodia had so [communities] at high risks. Then postponed amid the pandemic. Training Ith Sam Heng said on Monday lead to deaths if people do not far taken samples from 8,909 Cam- we lose happiness, with infec- Bun Heng said disobedience could that 95 per cent of factories and enter- followT its guidelines and travel restric- bodians for Covid-19 testing. tions spreading in families and result in widespread infections. If prises are continuing their production tions imposed by the government. To contain the pandemic, he communities. that happens, he said the Kingdom as normal, with workers remaining at Speaking during a press confer- warned that people have two op- “Widespread infections could will face shortages of medical sup- work on the first day of the Khmer New ence on Monday, Minister Mam tions, either they protect them- eventually cause our brothers and plies and health workers, potentially Year holidays. Hun Heng said the Covid-19 situa- selves by following the guidelines or sisters’ deaths,” he warned. leading to a tragic disaster. The government has postponed the tion in the Kingdom is “fragile” and risk spreading it in communities. The warning came after people He stressed that in case of a fatal New Year celebrations and imposed a that the government is not compla- “We are at a crossroads. We can reportedly flocked to their home- pandemic, bodies of Covid-19 pa- travel ban across the Kingdom until cent with the relatively low number decide whether to follow the instruc- towns hours before the govern- tients would be buried or cremated April 16, the last day of the holiday, in of infections. tions of Samdech [Prime Minister] ment-imposed travel restrictions immediately and families would not a bid to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak The ministry reported no new in- Hun Sen and the ministry and thus came into effect on Friday. in communities. fections or recoveries on Monday, halt the spread of Covid-19 or else. If On Thursday, Hun Sen ordered the Continued – page 5 A sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government will make up for the lost holidays with five off-days for civil servants and employees in the private sector at an appropriate time. “I commend employers and workers for their collaboration and compliance with the government’s directive. This shows we are united in the fight against Covid-19 with employees working as normal during the New Year holidays,” Sam Heng said in a Facebook post. Ministry spokesman Heng Sour said the compliance was a positive sign. “Workers and employees who take days off during the Khmer New Year will have to be kept in quarantine for 14 days after the holidays and won’t be paid their salaries for the duration,” he said. Sour said approximately 860,000 workers are working in the garment, textile and footwear sectors. More than 10 factories had shut down while over 100 announced a suspen- sion of operations. Garment Manufacturers Associa- tion in Cambodia (GMAC) deputy secretary-general Kaing Monika told The Post on Monday that workers will continue to work as normal during the last three days of the holidays. “A large number of our workers came to work. [The government] will make up for the lost holidays. This encour- ages them to continue working. “We have also observed that other sectors are also continuing their operations as normal,” he said. Collective Union of Movement of Workers president Pav Sina said he was happy that most workers had fol- lowed the government’s directive. He said the compliance could help them avoid infection as none of them has contracted the virus thus far. “Their workplace is a safe one. We know some workers are not happy because they used to have time off, but they need to understand that The long and short of it their gatherings from one village to Guinness world record holder of the world’s smallest living woman, Jyoti Amge (left), greets a police officer as she appeals to citizens to stay inside their homes during a another could cause a major out- government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the coronavirus, in Nagpure, India, on Monday. AFP break,” he said.

THE PHNOM PENH POST Endangered, but not in the National News Kingdom – Silvered langur Inside page 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National K Chhnang families call for return of military-seized land Soth Koemsoeun people have been farming mander of the Kampong Chh- there since 1989. nang Sub Military Region Op- REPRESENTATIVES of over He said after the people pro- eration Zone and president of 40 families in two communes tested and filed a complaint the Cambodian Veterans Asso- in Rolea Ba’ier district, Kam- with the authorities for help, ciation of Kampong Chhnang, pong Chhnang province, have the ministry appointed four said on Monday that the land asked the authorities to help military officials to verify the has been in dispute for years. them take back more than villagers’ claims. People claim the land, but it 50ha that had been handed to Soon after, an announce- is a location for the arsenal and the military for its use. ment was made that the the Council of Ministers hand- The families are from Trok Council of Ministers had ed it over to the soldiers. Lech village in Sre Thmey handed over the disputed “I cannot make any deci- commune, and Preah Ream land to the military. sion, I just manage the mili- Raingsey village in Chrey “I am not protesting to get tary. However, we would like Bakk commune. back all 200ha of state land. to end this dispute as soon as One of their representatives, We are just asking for only possible,” he said. Prak Sophorn, told The Post 50ha to be granted to the Kampong Chhnang provin- on Monday that the military people. They can do what- cial governor Chhour Chan- has encircled their property ever they want with the rest. doeun said he had several times in the two villages. We only want our farmland confirmed the announcement The goal of remote teaching is to provide students with the opportunity to continue their studies while The dispute, he said, dates back to we can grow crops as from the Council of Ministers nullifying the health risks of gathering in a classroom. heng chivoan back to 2015 when forces of before,” Chhen said. about handing over the land the Kampong Chhnang Sub- Nou Khean, the Sre Thmey vil- to the soldiers but the villagers military Region Operation lage chief said the disputed land have refused to listen and have Zone took over 200ha in the had been occupied by villagers continued to protest. area for the K-88 arsenal of the since 1989, with some holding He said he and the national Ministry: Take private Ministry of National Defence. land titles and some not. defence ministry team were The villagers claim that “The land was first occupied thinking of a solution for both 50ha out of the 200ha is farm- by the soldiers for two years sides as soon as possible to end land for growing rice, vegeta- [1985-1987] and they left with- the long-standing conflict. schools, exams online bles and other crops. out a word. The people started “Now, I will send an expert “We have been claiming the farming on the land in 1989. team to investigate the situ- Voun Dara gather in high-risk locations. Naron said. land and protesting for many “The government also agreed ation directly on the site and “In the spirit of ensuring the The minister said the aca- years, but the soldiers have to hand over the land to the ask the soldiers and citizens INISTER of Edu- effectiveness of this measure, demic institutions that fol- refused to give back more people. By 2015, the soldiers on both sides what they want. cation, Youth the ministry has instructed low the instructions of the than 50ha and there is still no came back to claim their land After that, we will start dis- and Sport Hang that any academic institution ministry can issue the lower solution,” Sophorn said. and today both sides claim the cussing to end the dispute. We Chuon Naron on under the teaching and learn- secondary education certifi- A villager, Yoem Chhen, said land belongs to them,” he said. will try to resolve it as soon as MMonday advised private aca- ing through remote study cates and the upper second- the land is legally owned and Thon Thoeun, the com- possible,” Chandoeun said. demic institutions to adopt system or electronic system ary education certificates online teaching to provide shall arrange for themselves, that are acknowledged by students with the opportuni- the methods and calendars the ministry, but the aca- ty to continue their studies. of their teaching, learning, demic institutions will sign For students in grades nine and evaluation through the off on the documents. The Siem Reap storms cause havoc and 12 who have to take ex- remote study system or elec- ministry will inspect as nec- aminations, the ministry will tronic system in order to en- essary to ensure the quality allow them to take an elec- sure the quality and effective- of the diploma. at Angkor park, damaging homes tronic examination. ness of the teaching, learning The ministry also encour- Naron said because of and evaluation. aged all parents and guardians Khouth Sophak Chakrya Covid-19, the ministry has “For the students who have to motivate and monitor their encouraged private academ- to take the Grade 9 and Grade children’s studies through the TWO days of consecutive rainfall ic institutions to enhance 12 examinations, the ministry electronic system set up by with strong winds felled seven their teaching and learning will arrange the examination the relevant academic insti- large trees at the Ta Phrom and through electronic remote through the remote study tutions and should urge them Angkor Wat temples, and the learning systems. system in conformity with to do self-study at home. Angkor World Heritage Site in The goal is to provide the the calendar of each respec- Chuon Naron also stressed Siem Reap province on Sunday. students with the opportu- tive academic institution. The that academic institutions The storm damaged 89 struc- nity to continue their studies ministry will cooperate with must ensure the healthcare tures in Pailin and Banteay and to minimise risks that the academic institutions to and well-being of staff and Meanchey provinces, including students may face when they ensure the standard,” Chuon students given the coronavi- houses, schools and monaster- rus situation. ies, according to a Monday The ministry also asked report from local authorities. landlords to reduce their rent Apsara National Authority as a result of Covid-19 and find spokesman Long Kosal con- a “win-win” solution for all. firmed on Monday that seven The ministry asked the Na- Scots pine trees, as well as other tional Bank of Cambodia to smaller trees in the Angkor area, intervene with commercial collapsed on Sunday due to banks and microfinance in- strong winds. The temples them- A number of trees in the Angkor area collapsed on Sunday due to strong winds. SUPPLIED stitutions that have granted selves and homes in the area loans to some academic in- were unaffected, he said. destroyed a lot of products and Thma Puok district gover- stitutions to reduce interest “Among the collapsed trees, phones, totalling about nor Deab Chhun said on Sat- rates and delay payments as four were at Ta Prohm, one at $35,000 in damage,” Pov said. urday that rain and strong long as they possibly can in Angkor Wat, and two others in Last Monday, a woman was winds damaged 53 houses in order to ease their burden. a village in the area. However, killed by a lightning strike the district. “Among the 53 Ministry spokesman Ros it did not affect the temples. while driving in a rainstorm in damaged houses, 11 were Soveacha on Sunday said the Meanwhile, expert authorities Sala Krao district’s O’Andong destroyed,” he said. instructions are focused to en- are removing the collapsed commune. Ten homes were A school’s roof and a monas- courage distance teaching and trees,” said Kosal. also destroyed in the storm. tery were blown away in learning at all levels at private Pailin provincial informa- In Banteay Meanchey prov- Banteay Chhmar and Kouk academic institutions. tion department chief You Pov ince, Sunday’s storm, which Romiet communes during the The ministry announced on told The Post on Monday that concluded two days of con- same Saturday storm. April 8 that it would postpone rain and strong winds in the secutive rain, damaged 53 According to a Monday the schedules for the grades province damaged five houses houses in Thma Puok district report from the National Com- nine and 12 examinations in two villages in Pailin com- and 31 houses in Poipet town. mittee for Disaster Manage- and would announce the ex- mune on Sunday. Governor Keat Hul confirmed ment, lighting storms have amination dates later Local businesses also suf- 31 houses were damaged and killed six people this year. The ministry had planned fered damages. added that electricity poles col- Seven others sustained inju- the examinations for Grade “Rain mixed with wind on lapsed in Phsar Kandal and ries, two cows were killed, and 9 from August 3 to August Sunday afternoon caused many Nimith communes. over 2,000 structures were 10. Examinations for Grade commercial signs to collapse “The Poipet unified commit- severely damaged as well. 12 were scheduled to be held on motorbikes, completely tee commander and I are The report said Battambang from August 17 to September destroying three of them. intervening in fixing citizens’ province suffered the most 9. The ministry will determine “Five mobile phone sellers’ houses and giving food and destruction, followed by the new dates of both exami- shop roofs at Pahy market materials to prevent the spread Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap nations later. were blown away, which of Covid-19,” he said. and Pursat provinces. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Call for public cooperation in Covid-19 fight

Niem Chheng on the Viking Cruise Journey public about fake news. On “All state institutions have and made a stop in Kampong April 7, the director-general consistently taken action. HERE were no new Cham, testing positive for the of news station TVFB, Sovann But some people have not co- Covid-19 infections coronavirus. Rithy, was arrested in connec- operated well enough. They reported in Cambo- The Ministry of Health is- tion with the dissemination seem to be careless and don’t dia on Monday, which sued a directive to suspend all of critical information. pay enough attention to the keptT the national tally at 122. KTV venues, entertainment The Ministry of Interior measures. Analysts say the measures clubs, cinemas and museums focused primarily on the ap- For example, the provincial taken by the government to from March 17. proximately 70,000 Cambodi- travel ban has been respected limit infections have been It also banned the selling an migrant workers returning by many, but there are still sufficient, but more public of fake medicines claimed to from Thailand. With sub-na- people who don’t see the good cooperation is needed. be effective in treating Covid- tional level authorities, they points of this executive order Since a Chinese national be- 19. All Covid-19 rapid-test identified the migrant workers and the government-imposed came the first reported Covid- kits were banned and pri- and worked with health staff measures,” Phea said. 19 patient in Cambodia in vate hospitals were prohib- to quarantine them. He said possible reasons for January, the government has ited from providing Covid-19 The ministry’s General people not following the orders taken various actions to curb treatment. Department of Prison post- include lack of discipline and the disease. Bus and minibus operators poned prison visitations from lack of respect for the govern- Police blocked National Road 6 to prevent the spread of coronavirus at The latest measure was a were given instructions by the the border of Kandal and Phnom Penh on Friday. hong menea relatives. ment. But there’s also the be- province-to-province travel ministry on how they should Workers were told to con- lief that the virus doesn’t pose ban effective from last Friday accommodate passengers, examinations for secondary All foreigners attempting tinue as usual by the Minis- much of a threat to Cambo- to Thursday, which was im- while barbershops and beau- and high school students. to enter Cambodia now must try of Labour and Vocational dia, and people have personal plemented after the govern- ty parlours were given direc- Recently, the ministry have health certificates and Training after the Khmer New needs that, in their mind, over- ment postponed the four-day tions on how to prevent pos- closed all gyms and sports health insurance covering no Year holidays were postponed. ride government directives. Khmer New Year holidays. sible Covid-19 transmissions. clubs in the country. less than $50,000. Those absent from work are Ou Chanrath, a former law- More recent government Also on March 17, the Minis- All missions abroad for min- Similar measures were tak- required to undergo a 14-day maker from Takeo province, measures included prioritis- try of Tourism, which oversees istry officials were cancelled. en by the State Secretariat of quarantine. The ministry also said the government measures ing agricultural crop-grow- KTV venues, entertainment Further impacting the Civil Aviation (SSCA), which updated the phone numbers were reasonable, including the ing, acquiring face masks clubs and bars, concurred youth, the Ministry of Social informed all airline operators of workers. provincial travel ban. and medical equipment for with the Ministry of Health Affairs, Veterans and Youth that they were responsible The Ministry of Commerce However, he questioned doctors and directing officials and closed them, while add- Rehabilitation suspended the for returning passengers who urged private sectors not to whether all the measures were and citizens to avoid travel- ing beer gardens and drinking gathering of children, child tested positive for the virus increase the prices of goods, taken with a clear principle. ling to countries in Europe, parlours to the list. care in community centres back to their original destina- face masks and protective “Is the government itself fac- the US, and Iran. The ministry has also and visits by donors and for- tions. materials while suspending ing a problem? If we implement Many of the measures took banned the entry of foreign- eign volunteers. Following Prime Minister the export of fish and rice. many measures, we should be effect in March, with different ers from Spain, Italy, France, On March 18, tours to the Hun Sen’s recommendation, Kin Phea, the director-gen- able to support the people. ministries issuing directives Germany, the US, and Iran. Royal Palace were postponed the Ministry of Economy and eral of the International Rela- “In Thailand, they declared for their respective spheres Schools were first closed in indefinitely by the Ministry of Finance closed all casinos in tions Institute at Royal Acad- a state of emergency, and On March 13, the Ministry Siem Reap in mid-March, and Royal Palace. the Kingdom effective April 1. emy of Cambodia said the they released a lot of money of Public Works and Trans- later throughout the nation, The Ministry of Foreign Af- It also set up several groups actions taken by the govern- for the people. port temporarily banned the by the Ministry of Education, fairs and International Coop- to deal with the impacts of ment were sufficient to halt “I see that the Cambodian entry of passenger ships into Youth and Sport. eration restricted travel from the virus on the poor and pri- the spread of the virus. government has limited ca- the Kingdom. This measure It banned all teachers from March 30 and suspended vi- vate sectors. But he said the compliance pacity to help the people. But was in response to a British providing extra classes, post- sa-free measures, e-visas and The Ministry of Information by the general public was still I don’t know the extent of this passenger who had travelled poned training and delayed visas on arrival. informed and warned the lacking. crisis as I am not an evalua- 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National ASEAN to address pandemic Sar Kheng: Do not Ry Sochan “The heads of govern- neglect virus threat ments in the region will ex- HE leaders of ASE- change experiences on the Long Kimmarita tion for officials at all levels for AN and ASEAN prevention of Covid-19 dur- taking strict measures to halt the Plus Three are set ing the ASEAN and ASEAN MINISTER of Interior Sar Kheng spread of the virus. to meet via video Plus Three summits,” he reminded officials at all levels on Battambang provincial police conferenceT on Tuesday to said. Monday not to underestimate chief Uch Sokhon told The Post discuss initiatives and coor- The ASEAN Coordinating the Covid-19 threat even if con- on Monday that Cambodia has dinated action in response Council (ACC) on Thursday firmed cases have dropped and implemented measures to halt to the Covid-19 pandemic. also convened a meeting to more than 60 per cent of patients the spread of the virus and the In a press release on Sun- discuss the pandemic, with have recovered. majority of civil servants and cit- day, the Ministry of Foreign Indonesian foreign minister Speaking at a handover cer- izens had implemented them. Affairs and International Co- Retno LP Marsudi assuring emony of vehicles and protective He said although some mi- operation said Prime Minister that “the ASEAN diplomatic materials to provincial police sta- grant workers did not cooperate Hun Sen will raise the issue of machine continues to spin” tions at the ministry, Sar Kheng with the police at first they have Covid-19 impacts on socio- as member states join hands said until now, the virus has not come to understand and imple- economic development, glob- to contain the pandemic that yet subsided around the world ment the measures almost 100 al economic growth, security, has infected at least 15,000 with an increase of up to 80,000 per cent. trade and social affairs. people and killed more than cases and the death rate rising. “Our citizens have implement- The ministry said con- 500 in Southeast Asia. He said Cambodia recorded ed the instructions of the Min- certed efforts are needed to Hun Sen has called for a video conference with ASEAN and ASEAN Retno also called for the 122 cases total. Of those, 77 peo- istry of Health and the authori- Plus Three leaders to discuss Covid-19 efforts. Hong Menea promptly tackle the chal- protection of migrant work- ple recovered and 45 are being ties will continue to strongly lenges effectively. Nguyen Xuan Phuc as the ro- sponse to the pandemic. ers, who she said are the treated in hospitals. But no one implement measures to halt this “These two special sum- tating ASEAN chair this year. “We recognise the rapidly most vulnerable groups as has died. He chalked that up to spread,” he said. mits [ASEAN and ASEAN According to the press evolving outbreak of Covid- countries shut their borders the attention paid by healthcare Dr Hen Pheareak, who has more Plus Three] will be another release, Hun Sen will be 19, which was declared by amid the pandemic. workers, the relevant officials than 20 years experience in respi- milestone reflectingA SEAN’s accompanied by foreign the World Health Organi- The bloc’s foreign min- and people alike. ratory tract infections, said on a cohesiveness through joint minister Prak Sokhonn, sation on January 30 as a isters on Thursday also The ministry has, for its part, Facebook post on Monday that actions of mutual assistance, Minister of Economy and Public Health Emergency agreed to establish a Covid- delivered 95 vehicles in total. Of Cambodians had neglected their enhancing ASEAN’s respon- Finance Aun Pornmoniroth, of International Concern,” 10 ASEAN Response Fund the 50 delivered on Monday, 17 vigilance of Covid-19 to celebrate siveness to act promptly and Minister of Commerce Pan the ministers said in a joint that would be drawn in part were handed over to district po- Khmer New Year. He warned that effectively in control of the Sorasak, Minister of Educa- statement. from the existing ASEAN lice chiefs bordering Thailand, a widespread outbreak of Covid- disease, and fostering re- tion, Youth and Sports Hang Cambodian health min- Development Fund. 28 to those bordering Vietnam 19 could have occurred. gional resilience,” the press Chuon Naron, and Minister ister Bun Heng on Monday “We must prioritise the and five to those near the Laos “Cambodians neglect [the release said. of Health Mam Bun Heng. said the ASEAN meeting Covid-19 ASEAN Response border. rules] during the Khmer New Year It said the regional bloc is The regional bloc has held was a reciprocal exchange Fund to expand the scale of “We have overcome the dis- and the virus could infect people. keen to explore cooperation a number of virtual cross- of experiences with senior existing emergency stock- ease. Of all the patients, 63 per Be careful that the virus doesn’t with its external partners sectoral meetings over the political decision-makers. piles for pandemic respons- cent have recovered and 31 per infect the community,” he said. and the international com- past weeks. He said it is mutually ben- es with items such as face cent are still in hospitals. But this Pheareak previously told The munity to enhance readi- During a video conference eficial to share Cambodia’s masks, test kits and protec- does not mean we are neglecting Post that Cambodia could halt ness and measures to miti- on April 7, the ASEAN and political decision-making ex- tive equipment,” Malaysian or underestimating it. We have the spread of the disease with gate the impacts. ASEAN Plus Three health perience with other ASEAN Minister of Foreign Affairs to pay attention to it and take all the border restrictions for Khmer The virtual “special sum- ministers agreed on measures member states and its three Hishammuddin Hussein possible measures to prevent and New Year and that this could mits” follow an invitation by to strengthen preparedness, major development partners – was quoted by The Star as combat this disease,” he said. protect the Kingdom, ending the Vietnamese Prime Minister prevention, detection and re- Japan, China and South Korea. saying. He also expressed his admira- risk of infections.

The PPCBank headquarters in Phnom Penh. PPCBank completes subscription for the issuance of its first public bonds on CSX

PCBank, one of the leading months or so. The bonds will have a “At a time of high uncertainty project forward. PPCBank to complete the first phase commercial banks in Cam- tenure of three years, and the final and market volatility when secur- KT Han, managing director of of the bond issuance. We believe it bodia, obtained an approval coupon rate of the bonds will be 6.5 ing liquidity is more important than Yuanta Securities and the lead man- is an excellent start for the bank as on the subscription and al- per cent per annum. ever, PPCBank is now one of the few ager for PPCBank’s bond issuance, securing liquidity will be one of the Plocation results of its corporate bonds In response to the successful financial institutions in Cambodia said: “Despite unexpected develop- top priorities for banks in the coming from the Securities and Exchange endeavour, Shin Chang Moo, CEO with access to the newest source of ments throughout the bond issuance months. We plan to carry out the Commission of Cambodia (SECC) on of PPCBank said: “We are delighted long-term funding. process, such as the global outbreak second phase by carefully follow- April 10, 2020. with the successful completion of “Issuance of corporate bonds on of Covid-19 and the announcement ing the developments in regards to Considering the developments the subscription process for our first the CSX is expected to add not only of the new Prakas on the tax incen- Covid-19.” in regards to Covid-19, PPCBank public bonds on the CSX [Cambodia flexibility but also stability in terms tives available for listed companies, The listing date for the bonds is decided to issue a total of KHR 80 Securities Exchange]. I would like to of funding for the medium and long PPCBank showed strong commit- expected to be April 21, 2020. In billion worth of bonds in two phases: express my sincere appreciation to term”. ment to fulfilling its promise with support of the government’s guidance during the first phase, PPCBank raised the regulators [National Bank of Cam- Around the world, financial insti- investors and gaining the trust of and instructions on public gatherings KHR 40 billion and the remaining bodia, SECC and CSX], investors and tutions have been forced to respond the regulators who have already ap- and movement, PPCBank will host a KHR 40 billion will be raised during advisors who have made the issuance quickly to the outbreak, and PPCBank proved our project. listing event on April 21 with a the second phase over the next six of our first public bonds possible. managed to successfully move the “We are happy to have guided limited number of participants. sponsored THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Covid-19 situation in Silvered langur Cambodia ‘very fragile’

Continued from page 1 health monitoring. endangered, WHO country director Li be allowed to keep them for Ailan said Covid-19 is a new their last rites. type of disease that could Phnom Penh, he said, could spread rapidly. She called on but plentiful see a small-scale spread Cambodia to take measures among communities after a to prevent infections in com- few cases of infections were munities. found a few days in a row. She said if it becomes more in Kingdom He warned that widespread contagious in the future, the infections are possible if the country will struggle with de- Voun Dara conditions, there are more ministry’s Department of mands for medical supplies than 3,000,” Serey Rotha said. Communicable Disease Con- and health workers. Many OME 3,000 Indochi- He said silvered langurs trol (DCD), the Phnom Penh virus-plagued countries, she nese silvered langurs eat fruits and leaves, and in municipal Department of said, had experienced short- – monkeys native to the process transport plant Health, the World Health Or- ages of hospital beds, venti- Southeast Asia and seeds to different areas, thus ganisation (WHO), and the lators and other protective consideredS endangered by the promoting plant growth in US Centres for Disease Con- gear. International Union for Con- forests. trol could not identify a clear “The World Health Organi- servation of Nature (IUCN) – He said the most threaten- source of infections. sation is working with Cam- are believed to be living in the ing factor to the silvered lan- Ministry spokesperson bodia’s Ministry of Health eastern part of Cambodia. gurs is their loss of shelter due Or Vandine said while most and others to make sure that Wildlife Conservation Soci- to wildlife sanctuaries being The biggest threats to silvered langurs are the transformation of Covid-19 cases are imported, we are better prepared,” she wildlife sanctuaries, forest fires and hunters. Birdlife ety country director Ken Serey transformed into agricultural those who are infected could said. Rotha told The Post on Sunday and agro-industrial land. province, there could be more ter and hunters using nets to transmit the disease to people that most of the silvered lan- Forest fires also present a than 3,000 of them,” he said. snare them. in their communities. gurs in Cambodia live in Keo threat to the monkeys, as well The BirdLife International BirdLife programme direc- “This is a very fragile situ- Seima, Lumphat and Srepok as hunters who sell them to Cambodia Programme has tor Bou Vorsak said his team ation. If infections keep wildlife sanctuaries. be eaten or used in traditional noticed the presence of sil- used to see silvered langurs spreading, we won’t be able The langurs gravitate to- medicines. vered langurs as well. along the Sekong River, Sre- to identify a clear source of wards the Sekong and Srepok Serey Rotha called on farm- The organisation said: pok River as well as in Lum- infections in communities. rivers, he said. ers and other citizens to help “They were found in moder- phat Wildlife Sanctuary. “The Ministry of Health’s “Globally, the population prevent forest fires and the ately dense forests and forests “Our organisation consid- working group is striving to of the silvered langur has de- poisoning and hunting of the along the rivers. In early April, ers bird conservation our conduct the most thorough creased by around 50 per cent silvered langurs. about 90 silvered langurs primary purpose, but we also research into various cases in recent decades. In Cambo- “According to an annual re- were noted by the rangers at look after and monitor other found recently,” she said. dia, although their numbers port, the Keo Seima Wildlife Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary wildlife and forests in the ar- DCD director Ly Sovann are also decreasing because of Sanctuary is home to 1,000 to and a number of hunting nets eas we conserve as well. said another 266 people had some threatening factors, the 3,000 silvered langurs. Thus, if and traps were seized.” “Our organisation is working come into direct and indirect population is still quite high. we add this number to those It said threatening factors at the Lumphat and Siam Pang contact with patients under “It is an endangered species, living in other wildlife sanc- to the silvered langurs were wildlife sanctuaries, and we al- quarantine. Of the number, Ministry of Health spokesperson but in Cambodia, due to the tuaries, such as Prek Toal and the loss of forests along the ways catch glimpses of the sil- 86 are at the highest risk Or Vandine speaks at a Covid-19 country’s many favourable other areas in Preah Vihear rivers that provide them shel- vered langurs,” he said. and have been placed under press conference. hong menea 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 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 4,063 1.3962 7.0532 108.00 4.3240 1.4156 32.71 0.6344 1.0932 1.2509 CDC okays Worker jobs cut as orders scrapped 15 more DVOCATES urge utive director Moeun Tola. brands to honour In Myanmar, around 20,000 their agreements migrants returned home from projects with cash-strapped Thailand last month after los- Afactories as hundreds of thou- ing their jobs due to factory sands in Asia face job losses. closures. this month Big brands are heaping extra And 684 workers who made hardship upon the low-paid products for H&M, Next and Thou Vireak workers who make their gar- others were fired last week ments in Asia as they look to after bosses at the Yongan gar- THE Council for the Develop- stem their losses from the Covid- ment factory in Yangon said ment of Cambodia (CDC) has 19 pandemic, advocates say. buyers had cancelled orders. issued final registration certifi- Scores of companies have Myint Thet Lae, one of the cates to 15 investment projects cancelled orders, even after laid-off workers and president since April 2 worth a total of workers finished making them, of the factory’s labour union, $225.5 million and which are and refused to take financial said the orders were cancelled expected to generate 7,620 jobs. responsibility, leaving cash- after bosses announced pro- The projects cover a variety of strapped factories unable to duction would stop from April sectors such as garments, plas- pay wages, said Human Rights 5 for several weeks to prevent tics, steel processing, flour and Watch (HRW). the spread of the virus. cassava processing, solar panel Hundreds of thousands of fac- “They said they tried nego- manufacturing and installation, tory workers in Cambodia, tiating with the buyers and a banana farm, a three-star hotel Myanmar and Bangladesh are the buyers didn’t want to con- and a hospital, the CDC said in a facing job losses as retail stores tinue. That’s why they’re firing press release. around the world close to pre- Big brands, such as H&M, are heaping extra hardship upon the low-paid workers who make their garments in us,” she told DPA. Sing-Specialists Medical Centre vent the spread of coronavirus. Asia as they look to stem their losses from the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP A Next spokesman said the Co Ltd’s $96.1 million project is a “Workers have received retailer last month committed 50-bed hospital on Street 81 in Boe- their March wages in many majeure event, which can be unforeseeable. Brands should adding that the government to honour orders that were ung Reang commune’s Village 10 in cases, but in April I think it’s invoked in certain cases to have prepared.” was urging factories to hold off due on or before April 10. That Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. going to be complete chaos,” free a company from its con- C&A spokesman Jens Voe- from closing entirely. gave suppliers enough notice Xigangyihao International HRW women’s rights division tractual obligations. lmicke told DPA that the com- Prime Minister Hun Sen to finish most of what was Investment Co Ltd’s $59.2 million senior counsel Aruna Kashyap Under German law it is dif- pany now intends “to accept all announced last week that the already in production. project is a 710-room three-star told DPA News. ficult to reach the legal thresh- goods that have left the factory” state would offer suspended H&M did not immediately hotel in Commune III’s Village 1 Firms have taken advantage old to get out of a contract this and “take delivery of as many workers $40 while factories respond to a request for com- in Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk of long-standing unfair buy- way, said European Centre for orders as commercially viable will provide an additional $30, ment, but HRW said the com- province. ing practices to protect them- Constitutional and Human to enable manufacturers to pay which is less than he had pany has committed to pay the Hong De Sheng (Cambodia) selves at the expense of work- Rights vice-legal director workers their wages”. promised earlier this year. agreed prices for goods already Steel Co Ltd’s $16.7 million project ers, she said. “Most brands Miriam Saage-Maass. The letter cancelling all The notice came after the Gar- produced or in production. is a steel processing plant in Ksem and retailers wield a lot of “Force majeure cannot be orders “was an immediate ment Manufacturers Associa- The pandemic shows there Ksan commune’s Trapaing Krasa- power over their suppliers.” used when contract perform- measure”, he said. “Since then tion in Cambodia said factories is an urgent need for social ing village in Kampong Speu prov- The German retailer C&A is ance is merely impractical or we are entering in talks with would soon be unable to pay safety nets and worker protec- ince’s Oudong district. among those to have cancelled economically difficult rather our suppliers to find individ- suspended workers the $38 Hun tions in developing countries, Other projects include Yql (Cam- orders. In a March 23 letter to a than truly impossible,” she ual, flexible solutions.” Sen had initially proposed. HRW’s Kashyap said. bodia) Investment Co Ltd’s $12.3 supplier in Cambodia, seen by told DPA. More than 110 factories Even at the best of times, For now, brands should million banana farm project DPA, the company said it was A company would also need employing about 96,000 work- most of Cambodia’s 800,000 work with governments, located in Prek Kak commune’s cancelling “all orders” due that to prove that the problem it is ers have applied to the Cam- garment workers – who earn donors and financial institu- Boeung Ket village in Kampong month through to the end of facing was unforeseeable, she bodian government to sus- a monthly minimum salary of tions to help workers through Cham province’s Stung Trang dis- June “with immediate effect”. said. “In my opinion one pend production because of $190 – have to work overtime the crisis, she said. “The very trict, Shine Hanuman Trading Co The letter argued that there could argue that the risk of the pandemic, said Ministry of to make ends meet, said Cen- least they can do is abide by Ltd’s $10.4 million cassava was a “consensus” that the pandemics was not unknown Labour and Vocational Train- tre for Alliance of Labour and their original contracts.” DPA processing plant in Boeung Beng pandemic qualified as a force in recent years and was not ing spokesman Heng Sour, Human Rights (Central) exec- NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK commune’s Phnom Roung village in Banteay Meanchey province’s Malai district, and Jintek Cells Technology Co Ltd’s $7.7 million solar panel manufacturing and installation plant in Kakab II com- KB finishes payment forP rasac stake purchase mune’s Prey Sala village in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district. May Kunmakara Cambodia,” said Senacheert. growing together, and taking Royal Academy of Cambodia He said Prasac stands as a advantage of changing market economics researcher Hong SEOUL-headquartered KB market leader with the largest conditions. Vanak on Monday said Cambodia Kookmin Bank (KB) on Friday operational network among “With KB’s investment, remains a target for foreign inves- finished paying $603.4 million MDIs, strong financial returns, Prasac will have more sophis- tors despite the global coronavi- for a 70 per cent stake in Pras- and a proven record of sustain- ticated products including rus spread. ac Microfinance Institution able growth in its loan portfo- digital financial technology He noted that the government’s Ltd (Prasac) and plans to buy lio and deposit balances. and enhanced banking expe- deep reforms related to trade facil- the remaining stake, the latter At the end of last year, it riences to respond to custom- itation and infrastructure improve- said in an announcement on reached $3.11 billion in total er needs for both existing and ments have been attracting signifi- Monday. assets, had a loan portfolio of new market segments espe- cant foreign investment to The purchase allows KB to $2.50 billion with more than cially small and medium Cambodia over the past few years. include Prasac – the King- 417,000 borrowers, attained a enterprises,” he said. “I see that government efforts dom’s largest microfinance non-performing loan ratio 0.4 KB president and CEO Hur have enhanced the ease of doing deposit-taking institution percentage points lower than Yin said the bank’s acquisition business, and have particularly (MDI) in term of total assets market levels, and had a of Prasac will serve as a water- improved infrastructure, electric- – in its subsidiary. deposit balance of $1.78 bil- shed for KB Kookmin’s expan- ity and the law,” he said. KB said it plans to buy the Prasac Microfinance Institution Ltd (Prasac) is the Kingdom’s largest lion with more than 742,000 sion of its retail banking net- The CDC has approved 40 remaining 30 per cent stake in microfinance deposit-taking institution (MDI) in term of total assets. accounts, he said. work in Asia, which is part of projects worth $900 million in the HENG CHIVOAN Prasac two years after the “The achievements of Prasac its global strategy. first three months of this year, transaction and finalise the ber, which received approval and the MDI. come from the strong support “With long-term plans to reported state-run news agency acquisition, local Korean-lan- from the National Bank of “Prasac management and from clients, regulatory bodies turn Prasac into a commercial Agence Kampuchea Presse. guage News Briefing Cambodia Cambodia on January 29. staff would like to warmly wel- and local authorities, as well as bank, we hope to develop it These cover diverse sectors reported in February. Prasac president and CEO come our new shareholder, the dedication of Prasac man- into a leading bank by trans- such as garments, footwear and It announced the purchase Sim Senacheert said KB’s KB Kookmin Bank, to drive agement and staff to our strat- ferring KB’s strong retail capa- travel products, furniture, kitch- of the stake from Sri Lankan- investment in Prasac reflects Prasac to become more effec- egy, including the delivery of bilities and make it a base to en equipment, electrical com- based non-banking lender a surge in confidence among tive and efficient in the expan- diversified products and serv- conduct business in South- ponents, hotels and shopping LOLC Holdings Plc in Decem- foreign investors in Cambodia sion of financial inclusion in ices, building a staff culture of east Asia,” he said. malls, it said. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Asia markets down as oil output deal struck

SIA markets fell on Monday Singapore fell 0.4 per cent, while with investors cautious on Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington news of an international were closed for a public holiday. The deal to shore up oil prices Cambodia Securities Exchange in- andA tentative signs of progress in dex closed 0.35 per cent higher. efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Earnings season Organisation of the Petroleum More whirlwind sessions are likely Exporting Countries (Opec) produc- this week, with new economic data ers dominated by Saudi Arabia and to reveal the extent of the economic allies led by Russia thrashed out a havoc unleashed by the Covid-19 compromise deal on Sunday to cut pandemic on the world’s top two production by nearly 10 million bar- economies. rels per day from next month. The US kicks off its quarterly earn- Oil futures surged in early Asian ings season from Tuesday with re- trade, with West Texas Intermediate ports from major banks. climbing nearly eight per cent and Analysts are predicting S&P 500 Brent up five per cent before both companies will report a drop in benchmarks pared their gains in af- profits ranging from six to 15 per ternoon trade. cent, with worse declines in the sec- The rally followed months of ond quarter. slumping prices after the Covid-19 China will release balance of trade outbreak sapped demand as coun- figures on Tuesday, while forecasters tries around the world put their expect a quarterly gross domestic populations under lockdown. product drop of 6.2 per cent when A Saudi-Russian price war also economic growth data is published saw the ramping up of production on Friday. as both countries bid to hold on to “With so much hope hoisted onto market share and undercut US shale China’s shoulders to lead the world producers. out of the Covid-19 recession, both Opec secretary-general Moham- Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) producers dominated by Saudi Arabia and allies led by Russia thrashed data points are likely to cause strong out a compromise deal on Sunday to cut production by nearly 10 million barrels per day from next month. AFP mad Barkindo called the cuts “his- market reactions,” said Oanda’s Jef- toric” in size but analysts said the infected more than 1.8 million peo- Service staff for having “saved my coronavirus outbreak will decrease. frey Halley. measures may not go far enough to ple and claimed more than 112,500 life, no question”. “Politicians need to walk a fine China has largely brought the secure a long-term rebound. lives globally. Washington’s top health adviser line making sure that shutdown ac- disease under control since it first “There remain concerns the agree- The weekend saw glimmers Anthony Fauci meanwhile said the tivity doesn’t cause permanent and emerged in the city of Wuhan late last ment could be a day late and a ‘barrel of hope that the crisis may have US could be ready to start gradually lasting damage to their domestic year, following drastic measures that short’ to prevent a decline in prices in peaked in some of the hardest-hit reopening for business from next economies,” he said. shuttered much of the economy and the coming weeks as storage capac- countries. month, despite the country leading Tokyo closed 2.3 per cent lower on cordoned off tens of millions of peo- ity brims,” said AxiCorp chief market Italy recorded its lowest death toll the world in both confirmed cases the back of a stronger yen and inves- ple at the epicentre of the outbreak. strategist Stephen Innes. in three weeks on Easter Sunday and and deaths. tor disappointment over a lack of as- But the country faces a fresh battle Investors are waiting for signs fatalities fell in France, while British Innes said: “The most critical set-buying from the Bank of Japan. against imported cases from over- that the world is winning the battle Prime Minister Boris Johnson left question for the economic outlook Seoul dropped 1.9 per cent, Shang- seas, mostly Chinese nationals re- against the disease, which has now hospital praising National Health is whether, and how quickly, the hai finished down 0.5 per cent and turning home. AFP

Tax revenues in Honour contracts: Appeal to garment buyers HCMC fall well May Kunmakara short of target THE Ministry of Commerce on aily tax revenues in Ho Chi Monday appealed to buyers of the Minh City, Vietnam have fallen Kingdom’s garment, footwear and Dby 31 per cent in the first travel products to honour all pend- quarter of this year because of the ing purchase agreements. Covid-19 pandemic, the chairman In an announcement signed by of its People’s Committee, Nguyen Minister Pan Sorasak, the ministry Thanh Phong, has said. said Cambodia became the world’s He told an online meeting last first country to link trade with la- week that the revenues had fallen bour standards. to 947 billion dong ($40.6 million) In 2001, the Kingdom partnered with against a target of 1.64 trillion. the International Labour Organisation The outbreak greatly affected the (ILO) to launch the Better Factories country’s socio-economy, especially Cambodia project which required all the city’s and its services and indus- exporting garment factories to be sub- trial sectors, he said. ject to ILO monitoring to ensure com- Its economy grew by just 0.42 per pliance with national laws and inter- cent in the period, down from around national labour standards, it said. seven per cent during the year-ago “We are proud of this initiative period. and will continue to ensure that the The worst affected of the city’s labour and social rights of our work- sectors are services and tourism. ers are upheld while we rebuild a The number of foreign visitors fell by sustainable supply chain,” it said, 42.2 per cent year-on-year. noting the reverberating effects of The number of new enterprises the ongoing health crisis on the Garment industry workers face an uncertain future as orders dry up. POST STAFF decreased by 15.7 per cent. global supply chain. Foreign direct investment was “We appeal to our partners – gar- of Asian Region network across six terms such as 90-120 days after de- and become stronger. More impor- down a third to $1.05 billion. ment, footwear and travel goods producing and exporting countries livery. tantly, our workers will also be able But Phong promised that after the buyers sourcing from Cambodia – made a similar appeal. “We seek your cooperation so that to survive and together we can re- pandemic subsides, there would be to stay committed to Cambodia and They called on global brand com- we can all uphold and honour our build our lives, our businesses and no outbreaks or community spread especially to our workers. panies, retailers and traders to be commitments to labour rights, so- the industry,” he said. and the city would come up with “We would like you to abide by responsible in their purchasing de- cial responsibilities, and to rebuild Cambodia exported $9.325 billion solutions to foster priority sectors your contracts and not to cancel or- cisions – to accept goods that have a sustainable supply chain. We ask worth of garment, footwear and travel including tourism and services to ders that have been placed on goods been delivered and to not retract or- that you honour the terms of the goods last year, up 11 per cent from ensure growth resumes. that have already been produced or ders or renegotiate their terms. purchasing agreements for the or- 2018, data from the Ministry of Science, It would also promote the use of are currently in production. GMAC secretary-general Ken Loo ders that have already been placed. Technology and Innovation shows. information technology, reform the “You have contributed to the social said all stakeholders in the textile glob- “Fulfil your obligation and do not As of the end of last year, there administration, stimulate tourism development of millions of Cambo- al value chains must come together renegotiate the payment terms. Re- were a total of 1,730 factories oper- demand, control the consumer mar- dians who are depending on these and help one another to ensure that ceive your goods and proceed with ating in the Kingdom. Of these, 1,069 ket and ensure people’s essential sectors for their livelihood,” it said. workers, businesses and the industry payment as agreed upon, for goods are in the garment, textile, footwear needs are met, help businesses ac- On Friday, the Garment Manu- survives during these trying times. already produced as well as for and travel goods sectors – of which cess support packages, and accele- facturers Association in Cambo- He noted that a number of buyers goods currently in production. 823 produced garments and textiles, rate the rate of public investment, he dia (GMAC) along with nine other have agreed to keep their orders but “I am sure that if we all cooperate 114 travel goods and 132 footwear, added. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK members of the Sustainable Textile have requested extended payment and work together, we will survive the data shows. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus SOFTWARE Hackathons sees netizens unite to combat coronavirus

Two hundred people joined forces for a virtual hackathon to share digital solutions amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

mpact Hub– a social enterprise for aspiring young entrepreneurs and innovators – has hosted a 48-hour virtual hackathon to findI tech-based solutions to support Cambodia in its fight against the Covid-19 outbreak. The “HacKH the Crisis” event saw more than 200 participants join forces, yielding more than 35 pos- sible solutions to issues ranging from agriculture, SME support to healthcare

and access to education. su pp lied PHOTOs Olivia Hough, managing director The two-day event drew participants from around the world and resulted in 35 contributions. of Impact Hub Phnom Penh, described the event was “just the beginning”. and hackathons help me follow my their symptoms with them. After the includes three medical students, de- into shifts and tackled different tasks. “We used this hackathon format passion. consultation, the app will allow the veloped the app in part to address the The resulting application is still in to facilitate collaboration, connec- “I am from Vietnam so it will be doctor to understand the patient’s disparity in healthcare between rural the prototype stage. tions and inspiration to build things helpful to have Cambodians join my condition and recommend treatment and urban populations. “Telehealth will be beneficial to – but of course, plenty of people have team so that we can roll the app out to them. The team – with members in Phnom both the healthcare workforce and already got started,” said Hough. there,” Nguyen told The Post from Soc Its team leader, Buontongi Nit, told Penh, Kandal and Preah Sihanouk the general population during this Pisethneat Pich, Slash Foundry tech Trang in Vietnam. The Post that his team of six, which provinces, as well as the US – was split Covid-19 situation because it will help talent and community manager said: Another project, MeetDoctor prevent doctors from contracting the “Cambodia currently is considered Cambodia, was developed by Khmer infection as they won’t have to go to a frontier market in terms of tech Health. It allows patients to consult the hospital. talent, and despite it being a small with doctors via smartphone. “It will also save personal protec- market, many local tech entrepreneurs MeetDoctor Cambodia allows us- tive equipment [PPE] during this time, are emerging and contributing well ers to choose a doctor by viewing as we know there is a PPE shortage to the ecosystem — the way we live their profile online and then sharing in the world for healthcare workers,” our lives, from transportation to food Nit said. delivery to cashless payments.” Slash Foundry’s Pich said: “The Among the most inspiring ideas to future of our current primary sectors, be developed was by Happj, a collec- agriculture and manufacturing are tive of four people, including just two at risk, due to competition in the programmers. ” regional and global markets, as well Its project leader, Henry Nguyen, as automation. said he was inspired to create the In the face of the “Covid-19 or not, the Cambodian Happj Farm app because of his fam- economy is going digital, with the di- ily’s difficulties amid the outbreak. Covid-19 crisis, a Low- rection and support of the government His family, of Kampuchea Krom via policy and incentives providing descent, grows avocados, cocoa and Touch Economy is alternative ways for it to grow.” bananas outside Ho Chi Minh City. Pich said he anticipated the post- Since the outbreak, Nguyen said, his expected. Practical outbreak economy to be a “Low Touch family has been forced to drastically Economy”, ­which will see consumers reduce the price of their crops. digital solutions will change their habits to have less inter- The Happj project aims to resolve action with people. that. The app allows farmers to post then be needed more “In the face of the Covid-19 their crops and the price, allowing crisis, a Low Touch Economy is to be customers to find nearby farms using than ever expected. Practical digital solutions Google Maps to purchase goods. developed by tech entrepreneurs “I love to code because it helps pisethneat pich / slash foundry will be needed more than ever,” Pich me make an impact on the world, Participants tackled challenges in sectors ranging from agriculture to healthcare. stressed. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Hope for pandemic peak as Spain reopening

HE death toll from ful from the open top of a aid groups are sounding the the coronavirus pan- moving convertible car. alarm on the potentially dev- demic has slowed in In Britain, which has logged astating consequences of a some of the worst- more than 10,600 deaths, severe outbreak. hitT countries, with Spain Prime Minister Boris Johnson The government has closed readying on Monday to re- said on Sunday he had been borders, forbidden movement open parts of its economy as discharged after “a week in between provinces and shut governments grapple with a which the NHS has saved my schools and restaurants to once-in-a-century recession. life, no question”, referring to stem the spread of the virus. Italy, France and the US the country’s state-run Na- Official numbers are low have all seen a drop in Covid- tional Health Service. with two deaths and 19 con- 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, Britain is now seeing daily firmed cases, but only 100 pa- with Italy – the European na- death tolls to match those tients are being tested daily, tion most afflicted – reporting previously seen in Italy and with half of the testing carried its lowest toll in more than Spain, after recording nearly out in the capital Damascus. three weeks. 1,000 fatalities on Friday and Experts accuse Damascus It came as Pope Francis de- Saturday. There were 737 new of minimising its death toll livered an unprecedented deaths reported on Sunday. for political motives. livestream message to a world Johnson, like Trump, had “There is a disaster in the under lockdown on Easter Sun- initially resisted stringent making,” said Emile Ho- day, and Britain’s Boris John- measures such as shutting kayem, Middle East analyst at son left the hospital, thanking down public places. the International Institute for medics for saving his life. Some factory and construc- Strategic Studies in London. More than half of the plan- tion workers in Spain were set to In Mumbai’s crowded Dhar- et’s population is staying return to work on Monday, with avi slum – one of Asia’s biggest home as part of efforts to stem police to hand out face masks at and the inspiration for the 2008 the spread of the virus, which metro and train stations. Oscar-winning film Slumdog has overwhelmed healthcare Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that the locked-down country was ‘far from victory’. AFP The fortnight of “economic Millionaire – more than 43 cas- systems and crippled the hibernation” is about to be es have been confirmed. world economy. two-weeks halt of all non-es- back on like a “light switch”. celebrated Easter from the lifted, drawing criticism from While sub-Saharan Africa Spain’s death toll has fallen sential activity. “We are hoping by the end of confines of their homes, some regional leaders and has not been as badly hit by the in recent days, but as a small In the US – now the world’s the month we can look around while Pope Francis delivered unions, but the rest of the coronavirus pandemic as some bump in deaths was reported worst-hit nation with a fifth of and say, okay, is there any ele- a livestream message from a lockdown restrictions in the other parts of the world, the on Sunday, Prime Minister all deaths and more than half ment here that we can safely hauntingly empty Vatican. nation of around 47 million economy is being pummelled. Pedro Sanchez warned that a million confirmed cases – the and cautiously start pulling “For many, this is an Eas- people will remain in place. Governments are under the locked-down country was government’s top infectious dis- back on?” Fauci told CNN. ter of solitude lived amid the Conflict-wracked Yemen re- pressure to keep populations “far from victory”. ease expert added to cautious President Donald Trump had sorrow and hardship that the ported its first case last week, safe while preventing eco- “We are all keen to go back optimism that the pandemic previously wanted the US to be pandemic is causing, from raising fears of a devastat- nomic collapse, amid warn- out on the streets . . . but our may have reached its peak. back to normal by Easter, but physical suffering to econom- ing outbreak in the war-torn ings of a downturn not seen desire is even greater to win Anthony Fauci said parts of most of the country remained ic difficulties,” he said. country. since the Great Depression. the war and prevent a re- the country could begin eas- at a standstill and churches One priest in Rio de Janeiro In Syria, where nine years But the World Health Or- lapse,” he said, as some com- ing restrictions in May, but took celebrations online. blessed the Brazilian city from of war have hit hospitals ganisation has warned coun- panies were set to resume warned that the world’s big- Many of the world’s more a helicopter, while another in and left them ill-equipped tries against lifting lockdown operations at the end of a gest economy would not turn than two billion Christians Portugal addressed the faith- to deal with the pandemic, restrictions too early. AFP Iran says $1.6B claimed by NK reshuffles top governing body US released in Luxembourg NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-un cer named as foreign minister earlier has carried out a major reshuffle of his this year, while his predecessor, career IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani But Rouhani hailed a victory in a State Affairs Commission (SAC), replac- diplomat Ri Yong-ho, was removed. on Sunday said the country had won “difficult situation” for Iran, which has ing more than a third of its members, Another former foreign minister, a legal “victory” over $1.6 billion of been battling the Middle East’s most official media reported on Monday. Ri Su-yong, was also taken off the its assets that had long been frozen deadly novel coronavirus outbreak. Kim has established an iron grip committee. on a US request in Luxembourg. Covid-19 has so far killed more on the levers of authority in his nu- Under Kim the North has made Tehran and Washington have long than 4,500 people and infected more clear-armed country since inherit- rapid progress on its nuclear ar- been arch enemies and tensions than 73,300 in the Islamic republic, ing power in his late 20s in 2011. senal, launching missiles capable have risen sharply since US Presi- official health ministry figures show. He is chairman of the SAC – the of reaching the whole of the US dent Donald Trump in 2018 with- Sanctions-hit Iran has requested a North’s highest decision-making mainland, and has been subject to drew from a nuclear accord and re- $5 billion emergency loan from the body – and five of \ increasingly stringent UN Security imposed stinging sanctions. International Monetary Fund (IMF) its 13 other members were re- Council sanctions as a result. In a separate dispute, a New York to battle the outbreak. placed at a meeting of the country’s Talks with the US have been largely court in 2012 ordered Iran to pay $7 But the US, which effectively holds rubber-stamp Supreme People’s As- deadlocked since the collapse of the billion in damages over the Septem- a veto at the IMF, has signalled it has sembly (SPA) parliament on Sunday, Hanoi summit last year over sanc- ber 11 attacks, arguing that it had no intention of allowing the loan, al- reported the state-run Korean Cen- tions relief and what the North would aided al-Qaeda by allowing its mili- leging that Iran would use the mon- tral News Agency (KCNA). North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has be willing to give up in exchange. tants to travel through its territory. ey to fund “terror abroad”. “This is a rather large scale of SAC carried out a major reshuffle of his State A budgetary report submitted to Iran has rejected the accusation Tehran in 2017 unsuccessfully at- membership shuffle,” said former Affairs Commission (SAC), replacing the SPA said 15.9 per cent of state more than a third of its members. AFP and refused to pay the money. tempted to repatriate the $1.6 billion US government North Korea analyst spending this year would be de- Rouhani said in a televised cabinet frozen in the Clearstream clearing Rachel Lee. tating given its weak health sector voted to defence, KCNA said, a mar- meeting Sunday that “our central bank, house, a financial company based Pictures carried by the official Ro- and widespread malnutrition. ginal increase over last year. our foreign ministry [have] recently won in Luxembourg. dong Sinmun newspaper showed “State emergency anti-epidemic The cabinet report acknowledged a very good victory in a legal battle”. A judge denied the demand at the hundreds of lawmakers sitting near campaign will continue to be in- that “serious mistakes” were found “$1.6 billion of our money was in time and ruled that the assets would each other without wearing protec- tensified to prevent the spread of in its work last year. Luxembourg and the Americans had remain temporarily frozen in the tive masks. Covid-19,” the cabinet report said. “They taught a serious lesson that put their hands on it,” he said. small EU nation. A cabinet report reiterated the There was no mention on KCNA if the officials in charge of providing After trying for months, “we suc- Billions of dollars in Iranian assets North’s insistence that “not a single of Kim presiding over the meeting economic guidance fail to fulfil their ceeded some days ago and freed this were also frozen in the US and Europe case” of the coronavirus pandem- himself, and he did not appear in duty,” the authorities’ economic money from the Americans’ grasp”, as part of efforts to push Tehran into ic that has swept the world since photos of it. goals will not be achieved, it said. he declared. a nuclear deal with world powers, emerging in neighbouring China “The fact that North Korea went North Korea “apparently wants The Luxembourg Court of Cassa- which was finally signed in July 2015. has been reported in the country. ahead with the SPA suggests the to show its institutions are working tion had devoted a hearing in April Trump in 2018 withdrew from Pyongyang put thousands of its country’s confidence in managing the and national safety is under control last year to the case of Iranian assets the so-called Joint Comprehensive people and hundreds of foreigners – coronavirus situation,” Lee told AFP. while trying to lower public expec- frozen there on a US request, report- Plan of Action and reimposed tough including diplomats – into isolation “The fact that the attendees were not tations about the economy by blam- ed the local Paperjam News. sanctions that have severely dam- and mounted disinfection drives as wearing masks only reconfirms that.” ing the ongoing global pandemic”, The court is yet to make its deci- aged Iran’s oil sector and its wider it sought to prevent an outbreak, The new SAC members include Ri Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha sion public. economy. AFP which experts say could be devas- Son-gwon, a former senior army offi- University in Seoul, told AFP. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Province in Philippines works on contact tracing VN lifting its HE Philippine government is set to disclose the identi- ties of confirmed Covid-19 Khmer out cases to speed up the trac- ingT of the patients’ contacts and their treatment in a bid to halt the of poverty spread of the new coronavirus that THE Mekong Delta province of Tra causes the deadly disease. Vinh has provided loans of more than Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles 46 billion dong ($2 million) to ethnic on Sunday said the Inter-Agency Khmer people for growing vegetables Task Force on Emerging Infectious and raising cattle since 2016. Diseases had adopted a policy of It enabled 2,559 households, espe- “mandatory public disclosure” of the cially poor ones, to escape poverty. personal information of Covid-19 Thach Thi Dung of Cau Ke district’s patients to enable the government to Hoa Tan commune is among those find all of their contacts and isolate who climbed out of poverty thanks them to stop the spread of the virus. to a loan of eight million dong from It is also expected that with the dis- the government-owned Vietnam closure, the patients’ contacts will vol- Bank for Social Policies. untarily come forward to be tested. She used the money to improve the In the past weeks, the task force soil in her land and switch to vegetable had to urge hospitals to seek the cultivation from rice. Now, three years patients’ consent before disclosing later, she earns an income of between their identities and condition. 3.5 and four million dong per month. Nograles, the spokesperson for Thach Vo’s family in Duyen Hai dis- the task force, said the Office of Civil trict received a loan and began to Defence was now in charge of find- grow vegetables, and now earns ing the patients’ contacts, taking 80-100 million dong per year. over the job from the Department of The province spent another 18 bil- Health (DoH). lion dong on works to improve the DoH undersecretary Maria Rosa- socio-economic status of the Khmer It is also expected that with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ policy of ‘mandatory public disclosure’, rio Vergeire said the new deaths and the patients’ contacts will voluntarily come forward to be tested. pHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER in Tra Cu district. recoveries included unreported cas- Kim Ngoc Suong, head of the dis- es and cases from the DoH backlog. ation, their level is different from It said clinical trials are going on to In an interview with Philippine trict People’s Committee’s division for “We are catching up on our back- ours. So we are doing everything test the efficacy and safety of exist- Daily Inquirer, Destura said: “If you ethnic minority people’s affairs, said logs, having expanded our testing [we] can,” he said. ing medicines such as anti-viral, an- want to test vulnerable communi- 14.5 billion dong was spent to capacities,” Vergeire said in a video The task force also warned the ti-bacterial and anti-malarial agents ties to determine how big the cases upgrade 18 streets, the drainage sys- briefing. public against “experimenting” with in treating Covid-19. of infection in [those] communities tem and a cultural house. However, she did not mention drugs touted as a cure for Covid-19. Nograles said the DoH had been are, you don’t need to test everyone. The rest of the money was used to whether the new cases were people Nograles said: “If it is not approved directed to issue updated guidelines “For example, if there four mem- lend to disadvantaged Khmer house- who caught the coronavirus during by the Food and Drug Administra- on the use of rapid test kits in the bers in one household, we col- holds for cultivating vegetables and the last 24 hours or backlog cases tion [FDA] and the Department of Philippines. lect sample[s] from all four. All of breeding cattle, she said. whose tests returned positive dur- Health, do not experiment with [it, The FDA has approved 32 Covid- those swabs are placed in one viral The population of the district is 62 ing the same period. as its] efficacy [is] unknown. 19 real-time polymerase chain re- transport container and it is held per cent Khmer compared to 31.5 in Without an explanation, it is un- “I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have action test kits for commercial use, as one test. If it comes out positive, the province. clear whether the virus is spreading the expertise. But this [is] the call of including the first Philippine-made it means one or all of them may be Since 2018 alone, the number of or the DoH backlog is just yielding the DoH. If it’s not an approved drug, test kit for the new coronavirus. [have been] exposed. poor Khmer households in the prov- positive results. do not take risks or experiment with GenAmplify, the rapid test kit de- “They are living in one house, ince has reduced by 10,000. However, Nograles said the gov- it,” he said. veloped by a University of the Phil- which means they have exposed The province has been focusing on ernment was satisfied with the DoH The warning came amid calls on so- ippines scientist, costs 1,320 pesos each other [to the virus], so there’s no providing electricity, education and handling of the health crisis. cial media for the government to con- ($26) or about a quarter of the price point in discriminating. All of them healthcare to its Khmer population. “So far, we are satisfied with the sider unlicensed an unapproved drugs of imported testing kits. Its FDA ap- must come under monitoring, even It has eight ethnic minority board- performance [of the] DoH. To put for treating Covid-19, such as Prodex proval came in time with the gov- the asymptomatic ones,” he said. ing schools and one vocational train- it in context, look at other countries and the Fabunan anti-viral injections. ernment’s rapid contact tracing. Destura is the founder of Manila ing school. and you will be surprised at how The FDA has said there are no However, Raul Destura of the UP HealthTek Inc, maker of GenAmplify. The Khmer language is taught at 134 many Covid-19 positives and deaths applications for the registration of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Currently, the company produces out of the province’s 143 pagodas. they have. these drugs and that these cannot has proposed “pooled” testing for 10,000 testing kits per day. It will soon The province has a Khmer popula- “Other richer nations are really make therapeutic claims or be sold every household as an alternative to expand that capacity to 16,000 kits. PHIL- tion of 320,000. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS struggling. If you compare our situ- to the public. mass testing. IPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK NETWORK Nurse’s funeral rejected: Controversy hits Indonesia THE funeral of a nurse in Indo- event has since circulated and tion on behalf of several resi- Police headquarters for ques- nesia who succumbed to Cov- sparked controversy on social dents, has since apologised tioning,” said Central Java id-19 in Sewakul village, West media platforms, with many publicly for the blunder. Police spokesperson Senior Ungaran, Semarang regency in claiming that the locals’ actions “I sincerely apologise. As an Commander Iskandar Fitriana Central Java was met with reflected their supposed “disre- RT head, I only voiced the will Sutisna on Saturday. rejection on Thursday after- spect” toward health workers of the residents,” he said at the Governor Ganjar said he had noon from several residents who had sacrificed their lives for Indonesian Nurses Association coordinated with several agen- due to concerns over the risk Covid-19 patients. office in Central Java on Friday. cies, including the Central Java of possible infection. “They claim to be humans, As of Sunday, Central Java Social Agency, to build several It is the latest in a growing but they’re not at all humane,” had recorded at least 200 con- heroes cemeteries meant for string of cases that shed light Twitter user @ForzaPSIS wrote firmed Covid-19 patients and medical staff members who on the stigmatisation of those in Javanese on Friday, along- 25 deaths. had died of the coronavirus who have contracted the dis- side a video depicting an In response to the rapid disease across the province. ease in the province. ambulance and other vehicles spread of the coronavirus, pro- The move was expected to The nurse, identified only as exiting Sewakul on Thursday,” vincial capital Semarang shut provide more dignified treat- NK, 38, was to be laid to rest said one comment. down several major thorough- ment of those who had dedi- next to her father’s grave upon An onlooker who recorded fares last month in the hope cated their energy to treating her family’s request. the footage could be heard that residents would remain Covid-19 patients, he said. As a medical team from Kar- expressing his gratitude that indoors and help flatten the “We’ve prepared the locations iadi Hospital – where NK used the burial was cancelled. curve of infection. and administrative permits,” to work – prepared for the bur- Central Java governor Ganjar The Central Java police, in said Ganjar on Saturday, stop- ial, dozens of Sewakul residents Pranowo has since apologised There has been a growing string of cases in Indonesia that shed light on cooperation with the Semarang ping short of revealing the loca- arrived at the scene and col- for the furore, reassuring the the stigmatisation of those who have contracted the disease – including police, have since apprehended tions for future cemeteries. lectively rejected the funeral. public that they had no reason nurses, doctors and other health workers. AFP three residents of Semarang “[Health workers] are aware Local neighbourhood unit (RT) to fear the burial of those who pranowo on Saturday. prevent similar issues from hap- regency who had allegedly that their jobs pose a great risk head Purbo spoke on behalf of had died of Covid-19. “Nurses, doctors and other pening again in the future, as rejected NK’s burial in Sewakul. to their safety. We have to give the residents that afternoon. “I’d like to say once again health workers never rejected well as to educate regents and They were charged under Arti- them our utmost respect. I Consequently, NK’s body that the bodies of Covid-19 a patient. How could we reject mayors across the province on cles 212 and 214 of the Criminal believe heroes cemeteries was later moved to Bergota patients are handled following them, who have sacrificed their the proper handling of bodies Code and Law No 4/1984 on would serve as the most Cemetery, the largest public safety standards,” Ganjar said lives to save us?” he asked. of deceased Covid-19 patients. infectious diseases. respectful memorials for the cemetery in Semarang. in a video posted on his official Ganjar went on to say he had Purbo, the RT head in “They’re currently being fallen ones.” THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA Amateur footage of Thursday’s Instagram page @ganjar_ issued a circular that aims to Sewakul who voiced the rejec- detained at the Central Java NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

To tackle Covid-19, a Unitedwww.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng must deliver urgentlyLy Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman from strengthening its mecha- Opinion Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer nisms. The ASEAN chairman’s Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Lan Mercado statement tasked a coordinat- Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff ing role for its health sector Deputy Chief of Staff Phak Seangly HE number of active mechanism on border crossing Business Editor Phak Seangly Covid-19 patients in (that is, consular services and May Kunmakara Business Editor ASEAN passed transportation). However, a Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara 10,000 at the begin- cohesive and holistic approach Sangeetha Amarthalingam ningT of last week. As a collec- Deputy Business Editor that looks at all aspects of the Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath tive, ASEAN represents nearly health and safety of the people Pan Simala 650 million people, and with Deputy Head of Lifestyleof Desk ASEAN is the need of the Senior Reporters more people continuing to Pan Simala hour. The ASEAN Coordinating Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng be infected with each passing Senior Reporters Center for Humanitarian Reporters day, the ASEAN, it’s people, Meas Sokchea, Niem ChhengAssistance (AHA Centre) Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long economy and way of life are Reporters already has in place the man- Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth hit increasingly harder. Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kimdate, Sarom, network, Long and partner- Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung The ASEAN chair’s state- Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hinships Pisei, Sothto rapidly enable an Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan ment last February rightly emergency response. Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers called for “a cohesive and The ASEAN’s health sector Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea responsive ASEAN” in and AHA Center can play a piv- Web Editor Ry Sochan responding to Covid-19. The otal role in regional coordina- Leang Phannara Photographers statement underlines the need tion and cooperation of a unit- Webmasters to act together if ASEAN is to Heng Chivoan, Hong Meneaed ASEAN Covid-19 response. Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea successfully tackle this crisis. Web Editor The ASEAN Business Advisory SIEM REAP BUREAU The time to act is now. Indo- Leang Phannara Council will prove to be a use- Offi ce Manager nesia is calling for a special ASEAN holds the power to save millions of lives. Only with bold and decisive actions can we stopWebmasters a ful partner in engaging the pri- Sophearith Blondeel AFP summit on a regional Covid-19 catastrophe and shift irreversibly toward a sustainable, safer, and more equal Southeast Asia.Sous Chanthy, Pang Vicheavate sector in delivering essen- PRODUCTION & PRINTING strategy. The imperative of the SIEM REAP BUREAU tial services and supplies, and Head of Desktop Publishing hour is a well-articulated because they will struggle to that have significant social workers by mobilisingOffi ce Manager to support displaced workers Nhim Sokphyrak ASEAN response plan enacted get good quality health care, protection packages. resources from Sophearithfinance Blondeelinsti- in their value chains. Desktop Publishing immediately, addressing the but also because they’re more Swift action that takes into Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath tutions for crisis PRODUCTION response & PRINTING The ASEAN Coordinating health, humanitarian, social likely to be first-line casualties account needs of all people, and its recovery. Council (ACC) has been tasked Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing and economic needs of the of the ensuing economic cri- especially those likely to be We urge ASEAN member to monitor the collective Nhim Sokphyrak ASEAN people in line with “an sis. Informal and daily wage hit harder, will demonstrate states: response, present subsequent HEAD OFFICE orchestrated response and workers and women and girls ASEAN’s commitment to “a • To immediatelyDesktop upscale Publishing recommendations, and report collective action of ASEAN in are likely to be hit the hardest. peaceful and safe living envi- testing and treatmentSuon Savatdy, facili- Chum Sokunthy,to the Danh 36th Borath ASEAN Summit in curbing the spread of the dis- However, given the unforgiv- ronment for the people”. Not ties and make themTep Thoeun available Thyda, Tim Borith, June. Than Veasna To put out the immedi- ease”, as outlined in the ing and undiscriminating only the recovery from the to all people in need, espe- ate fires of Covid-19 and to Post Media Co, Ltd. ASEAN chair’s statement. nature of a pandemic, none of pandemic but also the future cially poor and vulnerableHEAD OFFICE move beyond, the ACC must The Elements Condominium Level 7, The existing health care us ─ no individual, no com- of ASEAN’s member states communities. take into account the views of Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, infrastructure in many mem- munity, no nation or region ─ hinges on decisive action on • Provide health care work- impacted communities, emer- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom ber states, epitomised by is safe unless all of us are. “ASEAN’s commitment to ers and others on frontlines gency responders, civil society Penh, Cambodia long-waiting queues and Thus, the actions must be collectively respond to the with adequate protection,Post Media Co, Ltd. and women’s rights organisa- Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 low-quality care, will need cohesive with ASEAN being outbreak of the Covid-19”. equipment andThe support Elements to Condominium tions, Level and 7, other partners in Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 significant ramping up to the platform. Tackling issues of To fulfill the commitments deliver essentialHun services. Sen Boulevard, Phumthe Prek region. Talong, SIEM REAP cope with the pandemic. The inequality – economic, gender, and protect the lives and • Ensure all peopleSangkat affectChak Angre- Krom,Meaningfully Phnom Penh, working No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune ratio of doctors is at 0.8 for or otherwise – is critical to ensures the well-being of its ed, especially lockedCambodia down together for a cohesive Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 1,000 people, and out-of- containing Covid-19. Prioritis- people, we urge the ASEAN: communities, have SIEM REAPenough response backed up by an pocket expenditure for ing assistance to those most at COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT • To act in unison and serve food and essentials.No 629, All Street work- 6 Dangkumemergency Commune fund, right poli- healthcare is at 44 per cent in risk including frontline as a platform for openly shar- ers losing incomes require cies, and open and honest Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 the region’s five most popu- responders, wage and care ing knowledge and coordi- social protection. collaboration will go a long James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT Advertising Department lous nations. workers who are largely wom- nating cohesive policy. • Enact solutions for the way in suppressing the out- Chief Operating Offi cer Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Current conditions paint a en, refugees, and migrants are • To set up a well-resourced special protection and well- break, especially for ASEAN’s Hun Channet, 017 578 768 grim picture for more than 36 critical to recovery for all of us. response where no one is left being needs of migrantJames Ong Soonwork- Teck least developed member Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 million people in Southeast There are successes and les- behind through an ASEAN ers, displaced people,Advertising and Department states as well as its most mar- Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 Asia who live in extreme pov- sons to be adopted. WHO’s fig- Emergency Covid Fund, others left marginalised.Chap Narith, 017 996 241ginalised communities. Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 erty, earning under $1.90 a ures indicate countries with pooling contributions from • Enact measuresHun Channet, to pro 017- 578 768 The ASEAN, whose 36th Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 day. A 20 per cent loss of stronger public health care member states and Dialogue Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 mote women’s voices and Summit on April 8-9 was CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION income due to the current cri- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION systems like Singapore, Thai- Partners. Build capacities of leadership, deliver gender- rescheduled as a result of the Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager sis may push 60 million peo- land, and Vietnam are more weaker public health systems sensitive assistance which pandemic, holds the power to Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy ple in East Asia and the Pacific successful at case manage- to protect the entire ASEAN. enables them, and to prevent save millions of lives. Only Circulation Supervisor into extreme poverty and ment while Indonesia has • To put in place stronger gender-based violence. ADMINISTRATION with bold and decisive actions Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 another 160 million into sur- amped up health spending to frameworks and fair and • Engage withAdmin civil & society HR Manager can we stop a catastrophe Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 viving on less than $3.20 a day. the tune of $4.5 billion. As part transparent structures to deal in impact assessmentsPich Socheat and and shift irreversibly toward a ADMINISTRATION The crisis is likely to further of economic stimulus packag- with transboundary risks response implementationAssistants to Admin to & HRsustainable, Manager safer, and more Admin & HR Manager imperil those already strug- es totalling $150 billion to now and to prevent future make the needsNhel of vulnerableSoaphea equal Southeast Asia. Pich Socheat gling with poverty, vulnerabil- date, Malaysia, Philippines, pandemics in the region. groups heard andFinancial met. Director Assistants to Admin & HR Manager ities, and discrimination dis- Singapore, and Vietnam are • To support small and In delivering a strong Heang Tangmeng The writer is the regional director Nhel Soaphea proportionately. Not only among the ASEAN countries medium businesses and esponse, ASEAN will benefit for Oxfam in Asia. 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 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 april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Around the NGOs

Piseth says yoga enhances one’s health by increasing body flexibility and muscle tone and strength apart from reducing stress, various fears, and other disorders. SUPPLIED Krama Yoga goes online to relieve stress of pandemic Kheng Sokkunthea that we have opened online sessions. in stressful environments find im- “We all know that the world is provements in their general well- ITH the Covid-19 pan- fighting against Covid-19 and peo- ness when they practise yoga. demic now affecting ple are discouraged from being in “This exercise form certainly im- Cambodia, many busi- confined spaces with others or at- proves mental faculties and relieves ness establishments tending large gatherings. lower back and neck pains. It bal- Whave had to close temporarily to “So we offered our online course ances the body and helps one be- stave off the disease from spreading to promote good health and peace- come more optimistic,” Piseth says. in the Kingdom. ful minds during this period when He says students are normally The need for social distancing has movements are restricted. We hope taught based on their needs since also caused many to spend more time to keep people thinking positively some just want to tone their bodies at home than they usually do. And by strengthening their spirits. while others want to relieve stress or these changes have caused them to “Yoga is a great way to achieve this lower back problems. express frustration at having to give from the safety and comfort of your “Now, with the coronavirus situation, up the social activities and outdoor own home,” he says. we have even selected some special exercises that they used to enjoy. yoga styles that help provide one with But Krama Yoga Cambodia general Benefits a more positive outlook, increase their manager and yoga expert Lun Piseth Piseth says yoga is one of the most productivity and calm their nerves so says it doesn’t have to be this way. popular exercise forms in history. that they can work more effectively He says with the need for social And it also has the benefit of effec- and efficiently,” Piseth says. distancing, his company is now of- tively strengthening the human fering online yoga classes as an an- body and mind. Open to all levels swer to keeping healthy. Likewise, he says yoga enhances The yoga courses are open to stu- Local and expatriate yoga practi- one’s health by increasing body flex- dents at all levels. All that’s required tioners have enrolled in the classes, ibility and muscle tone and strength is to register and fill up a form with Krama Yoga Cambodia general manager and yoga expert Lun Piseth. SUPPLIED which have Japanese, British and apart from reducing stress, various personal details of the outcome one American instructors. fears, and other disorders. is seeking. After this, the coaches at students can choose the class says she usually practises yoga thrice Piseth says that previously, many “When people are forced to stay Krama Yoga will prepare the relevant they would like to attend, and a week. But, due to the government’s went to his studio for yoga classes. But at home and if they do not exercise, styles to suit the specific needs. make a reservation in advance via decision to close all exercise centres business soon dwindled as they feared their health would surely deterio- “Everyone can practise yoga. Krama [email protected]. during the virus outbreak, she decided contracting the novel coronavirus. rate. Some people rapidly change Yoga practitioners use games, songs, Five minutes before each class, to stop going to the yoga centre. Then, the company decided to offer and become rather negative in their fun yoga poses and laughter to initi- the Krama Yoga team will send you “Recently, I bought a yoga mat to one-on-one programmes in private thoughts while others grow more ate boys and girls from ages nine to an online link. Just click on it and continue practising at home after rooms. It allowed only one teacher fearful with each piece of negative 13 into a lifelong love for maintaining follow the instructions. learning that Krama Yoga is offering and one student or two-to-three peo- news they receive,” he says. good health and wellbeing. All you need is to have a good in- online classes. ple (family members) in a room. Instead, he says people should “Prenatal yoga uses postures that ternet connection and perhaps a “Practicing yoga alone is quite Through these private classes, so- use the time they spend at home to are designed for people who are large screen and speakers to be able different from having an instructor. cial distancing was maintained as improve their emotional strength, pregnant at between three to 8.5 to see and hear the instructor dur- This is because one can get lazy and yoga mats were placed at the rec- stay calm and not panic. Yoga, he months to strengthen their bodies ing the session. postpone practising the exercises. ommended 3m from each other. But says, can help one to achieve this as and control their emotions. This is The course is taught in Khmer and So I think that having an instructor, now, Krama Yoga’s online classes al- its exercises strengthen one’s body, especially so for the first 12 weeks of English and is offered in different ses- even online is better,” she says. low it to reach a wider audience. mind and spirit. pregnancy when most women are sions – a children’s yoga class, a gen- For more information, visit Face- “Since we first established our yoga “Practicing yoga is like nourish- highly emotional,” Piseth says. eral class, and a prenatal yoga class. book page @Krama Yoga Cambodia classes in 2004, this is the first time ing your body. People who work To attend the online sessions, A former yoga student, Tang Meng Ngo or call 012 250 817. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

Aldo Giaquinto fries up eggs in his portable kitchen – a stove packed in the trunk of his Toyota Land Cruiser. Giaquinto (left) and his wife Vera Kozlovskaia eat their breakfast in a park near a Walmart parking lot where afp they are living out of their car in Miami. afp Virus stalls globetrotters’ trip in Florida lot

HEY have been trav- tion technology in England, expire on Tuesday, however, eling the world for where they lived; he had a the couple is growing increas- four years on an am- fish and chips restaurant. ingly nervous. They have ap- bitious trek that has plied for an extension but so takenT them to 50 countries Swimming with the manatees far heard nothing back. on five continents. Their ambitious voyage be- So for now, their Toyota re- But the coronavirus pan- gan with a trip through the Nor- mains parked in front of a demic has stopped the dic countries. From there they Walmart store in Hallandale, couple in their tracks. And made the long crossing through 30km north of Miami. now they have been stuck Russia and China and then The car has become the in Florida for two weeks, liv- down to Southeast Asia before couple’s home. They sleep ing in their car in a shopping touring through Australia. and wash up in it. The ‘kitch- centre parking lot north of From there they sent Toto en’ is a stove in the trunk. In- Miami, their visas about to by ship to Uruguay. ternet connection comes free expire. The couple spent 2018 driv- from nearby stores. “We had a dream,” said ing slowly up through South Aldo Giaquinto, a 38-year- America to Panama, before ‘Good people’ old Italian, “and our dream heading north through Cen- The couple normally relies was to drive around the tral America, and then for on public facilities, like re- world with a car”. For four the past year driving through strooms on public beaches, years they were able to live Canada and the US. but “right now everything is that dream. All was going well. They closed”, Kozlovskaia said. That, But then came the pan- went swimming with Flori- fortunately, does not include demic. The travel restric- da’s huge but gentle mana- the nearby Walmart store. tions imposed by country tees. They were among the “It is a little difficult, but we try after country were like doors last tourists to visit the Flori- to keep positive, hoping for the slamming around the world. da Keys, the colourful island best,” she said. “We remember The couple’s car, ‘Toto’, has become their home as more businesses close in Florida. Luckily, Walmart’s doors are still open. afp And now, Giaquinto added: chain that extends down near there’s people in much worse “We’re stuck here in Flori- Cuba. situations, we are grateful with The couple’s Instagram ac- the Red Square in Moscow. long list of projects they hope da.” Then came the coronavi- everything we have.” count, @alvetoexpedition, The plan was to send the to undertake back in Italy to He and his wife Vera Ko- rus. Despite the setbacks, they tells of better times – visits to Toyota by ship to South Africa help the environment. zlovskaia, a 35-year-old Mol- have kept up their spirits and California’s spectacular Lake while they fly to Johannesburg. But for now, everything has dovan, quit their jobs in 2016 Stranded but ‘lucky’ especially appreciate the sup- Tahoe, to the Salar de Uyuni, At the end of the African leg of come to a halt. They hope to to set off on their far-flung And now, said Giaquinto, “we port of locals who drop by to the world’s largest salt flats, their trip, the couple looked get their visas extended and travels in a black Toyota Land are stranded here in Florida”. chat or offer food. in Bolivia, to the breathtak- forward to settling in Italy, then wait out the virus in Flor- Cruiser Prado nicknamed Still, he added, “our life “We are overwhelmed by ing Cerro de los Siete Colo- where they have an apartment ida until the crisis passes and ‘Toto’ – short for Toyota, but has not changed. Somehow the amount of people trying res (Hill of Seven Colours) in under construction. they’re able to travel to Africa. also a tribute to the late Ital- we’re lucky” and have stayed to help,” Kozlovskaia said. the Argentine Andes, to the And with so many new ex- “We will wait,” Aldo said. ian comic actor. healthy. “It’s amazing how many good mosques of Brunei, Cambo- periences under their belts, “Like everybody is doing.” She worked in informa- With their tourist visas set to people are around.” dia’s Angkor Wat temple and the couple has drawn up a afp Andrea Bocelli performs at empty Milan cathedral ITALIAN tenor Andrea Bocelli the cathedral steps with a heart,” he said. performed a solo Easter con- montage of images showing The Lombardy region, of cert from an empty Milan the empty streets of Paris, Lon- which Milan is the capital, has Cathedral streamed live to mil- don and New York. been the hardest hit in Italy’s lions of people around the “On the day in which we cel- coronavirus crisis, with more world in coronavirus lock- ebrate the trust in a life that than 9,000 deaths. down. triumphs, I’m honoured and “Andrea Bocelli is a true gift The Music for Hope perform- happy to answer ‘Si’ to the from God. This was beautiful ance, which was streamed on invitation of the City and the and just what I needed to see YouTube from Milan’s Duomo Duomo of Milan,” the visually and feel right now. Thank you cathedral, has been watched impaired star said in a mes- Mr Bocelli for sharing your gift more than 22 million times so sage played before the short of your voice and music with far. concert. us,” wrote YouTube viewer Accompanied by an organ- “Thanks to music, streamed Peggy Young. ist, Bocelli sang four songs live, bringing together millions Churches in Italy remain inside the magnificent Gothic of clasped hands everywhere closed and even prayers given Italian tenor and opera singer Andrea Bocelli sings during a rehearsal on a deserted Piazza del Duomo in building and ended with a ren- in the world, we will hug this by Pope Francis on Easter Sun- central Milan, prior to an evening performance without public at Milan’s Duomo cathedral. afp dition of Amazing Grace from wounded Earth’s pulsing day were livestreamed. afp 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

Thinking caps

“THREE WAYS TO GO?”

ACROSS 52 ___ Alamitos, Calif. 19 Gridlock component 1 Bunny slope device 54 The feminine side, in Chinese 24 Delicate pancake 5 “Best buds” circles 26 Try not to be taken by surprise 9 Mover of stolen goods 56 Harrison of classic filmdom 27 Always, to an old poet 14 Some old dances 57 Small choir 28 Tentacle 15 Sad item, for short 59 More than dislike 30 Popular search engine 16 Add more lubricant 61 Prepares for sailing 32 Cliffside dwelling 17 Chicago trans-portation 65 Cavern or cave, poetically 34 Band majorette’s move 20 “Indiana Jones and the ___ of 66 Mountain pond 36 Burial chamber Doom” 67 Feeling insulted 37 Type of training for a wee one 39 All-work, no-play student 21 Impertinent 68 Engage in discouragement 40 Bangkok’s country 22 “___ you with me?” 69 Had a reason to repay 41 Respectful title in India 23 “Monsters, ___” 70 Flying fish-eaters 42 Mutt 25 H.S. support group DOWN 45 Rugrats 26 Royal sleep disturbance, in a tale 1 Angle symbols 48 Legendary British king 29 PlayStation maker 2 Spanish dance with quick turns 49 Cauterize cattle 31 Singsong syllable 3 “2001” extras 50 Puts forth, as pressure 33 Horse farm hand 4 Invitation request, for short 53 Brief conflict 35 Like someone sawing logs 5 With a powerful influence 55 “Stop” or “stick” lead-in 38 Massive formation of bees 6 Lincoln’s nickname 57 The animated Shrek is one 39 Bodybuilder’s intake, sometimes 7 Tupperware covers 8 Subway support 58 Feel less angry, so to speak 41 Ice cream serving 60 Discomfort source 43 One or the other 9 Brown, stew, and serve in sauce 10 Hard to grasp 61 High roller’s pocketful 44 Become depleted 11 “Don’t delay!” 62 67 degrees, 30 minutes 46 H in Greek 12 Clandestine org. 63 “Addams Family” Cousin 47 Fill a hold 13 TV Tarzan Ron 64 “... ___ he drove out of sight ...” 51 Annoy 18 Boxing legend Monday’s solution

Monday’s solution THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Lewis Hamilton salutes racing comrade Moss

ORLD champion Lew- behaved like a racing driver should is Hamilton on Sun- behave.” day described Stirling Jenson Button, the 2009 world Moss, who has died champion, hailed Moss who always Wat the age of 90, as a “racing legend” “drove to the max”. and a “comrade from a massively “I’m going to miss our chats, your different time”. knowledge, your jokes, your help, Although Moss never won the For- your direction, your infectious smile mula One world title, he was regard- and seeing you push whatever you ed as one of motor sport’s greatest drove to the max even in your 80s,” drivers, with his 1950s heyday see- tweeted Button. ing racers compete in a variety of “Rest well Stirling. The racing world disciplines. will not be the same. My heart goes The 35-year-old Hamilton, a six- out to his wonderful wife Susie.” time world champion, became a Moss won 212 of the 529 races friend of Moss despite the pair’s age he entered across all motor sport difference and contrasting back- events, with 1996 Formula One grounds. world champion Damon Hill saying “Today we say goodbye to Sir that was a staggering achievement. Stirling Moss, the racing legend,” “He never won a world champion- reigning champion Hamilton wrote ship but he won a lot of races, some- on Instagram. thing like a third of all the races he “I certainly will miss our conver- entered. It’s a ridiculous statistic, he sations. To be honest, it was such a was legendary.” unusual pairing, our friendship. Hill, whose late father and two- “Two people from massively dif- time F1 world champion Graham ferent times and backgrounds but competed against Moss, reckoned we clicked and ultimately found that Moss’s victory in the 1955 Mille the love for racing we both shared Miglia, in which he covered 1,000 made us comrades. miles of open Italian roads at an “I am truly grateful to have had average speed of 97.96 mph (57.85 these special moments with him.” kph) in 10 hours, seven minutes and 48 seconds, to be “one of the all-time ‘Example of a racing driver’ great performances of our sport”. Meanwhile, three-time world Mercedes, one of Moss’s former champion Jackie Stewart, who came teams, mourned the loss of a “true into Grand Prix racing shortly after icon, a legend and a gentleman”, Moss’s injury-enforced retirement while Ferrari called him a “formi- in the early 1960s, told the BBC: “I dable opponent”. think he’s probably the best example Jean Todt, president of motor of a racing driver there’s ever been. sport’s governing FIA, said Moss was “He walked like a racing driver, “a true legend in motor sport and he he talked like a racing driver, he will remain so forever”. AFP British racing legend Stirling Moss drives his 1954 Mercedes Benz W196. Moss, 90, died on Sunday following a long illness. AFP ‘Peacock of the Fairways’ golf legend Sanders dead at 86

DOUG SANDERS, who missed one of Nicklaus prevailed on the final hole. ished two back of winner Jay Herbert. the most heartbreaking potential win- “I missed a 30-inch putt on the last Esquire magazine once chose Sand- ning putts in British Open history, green that would have won the 1970 ers as one of the US’ “Ten Best Dressed died on Sunday of natural causes. He British Open. It’s all anybody wants Jocks”. was 86. to talk about,” Sanders said. He liked to say the two most fre- The US PGA Tour Champions web- “I won 20 times on the PGA Tour, quent questions on tour were, “What site said he died in Houston, Texas. and if you gave me one birdie, four did Arnold Palmer shoot?” and Known as the “Peacock of the Fair- pars and a bogey wherever I could “What’s Doug Sanders wearing?” ways”, Sanders was one of the most put them, I’d have five majors. The Cedartown, Georgia native colourful personalities on golf’s US “But it’s that putt that everybody bragged that he owned over 300 pairs PGA Tour, capturing 20 titles including remembers. What can I say? It’s what of shoes. “Clothes make the man,” the 1956 Canadian Open. I remember most, too.” Sanders said. He had four close runner-up finishes Sanders likewise finished a stroke Sanders also played in 218 events in majors with the 1970 Open Cham- behind Bob Rosburg in the 1959 US on the senior Champions Tour and pionship at St Andrews engrained in PGA Championship at Minneapolis hosted his own tournament, the the memories of most golf fans. Golf Club. Doug Sanders Celebrity Classic. When he reached the 72nd green, he He was a stroke back of Gene Littler But it was the St Andrews miss for was left with less than three feet for par at the 1961 US Open at Oakland Hills, which he became most famous. to beat Jack Nicklaus by one shot. and one short of Nicklaus in the 1966 Years later Sanders was asked if he But Sanders nervously pushed his putt Open Championship at Muirfield. ever thought about missing that putt, The iconic golfer Doug Sanders (right) will forever be remembered for a missed short right of the hole, sending the tournament He also had the third-round lead at the he replied: “Only once every four or put to win the British Open in 1970 over Jack Nicholas. AfP to an 18-hole playoff the next day where 1960 US PGA Championship but fin- five minutes.” AFP With the Masters postponed an eager Woods looks back on his win last year FIFTEEN-time major winner Tiger CBS television on Sunday. take it off the grounds is the cham- Woods says he can’t help feeling like The US broadcaster replayed pion that particular week. the green jacket he claimed for win- Woods’ stunning comeback victory “So hopefully we’ll have it in ning the Masters last year doesn’t on Sunday with the five-time Masters November, and we’ll be able to com- belong in his locker anymore. winner adding his own commentary pete for it.” The 44-year-old Woods doesn’t like from his home in Florida. The Masters has been rescheduled the idea of holding onto the coveted Woods said it felt odd not to be in for November 12-15. sports coat due to the world-wide full training for a major and also to Woods says he was raring to go and coronavirus epidemic that led to the be keeping the winner’s jacket for would have been healthy for this 2020 Masters tournament being another seven months. year’s event. postponed until November. “This is not the way I wanted to “Yes, I would have been good to go,” The pandemic “has been a shock have the jacket for a longer period of Woods said. “Mind and body were to all of us. We know it’s still going to time,” he said. “Come Masters Tues- coming together.” continue to get worse. It’s a very dif- day, after our Champions Dinner, we “I’m used to having this four times ficult situation, a very difficult time, put our jackets back up in our lock- a year. I kind of get in that mode. And Tiger says he was raring to go into this year’s tournament but now the green jacket a unique time in history”, Woods told ers, and the next person who gets to it started happening again.” AFP will just hang in his closet for a while longer. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 14, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport

The opening Grand Prix of the Formula One season was nixed two days prior (left) and a Champions League match between Valencia and Atalanta in Milan (right) left 35 per cent of the Valencia team and staff infected. afp Coronavirus: The weeks that rocked sport

S the coronavirus pandemic own events to reschedule. has put much of the globe March 17: Euro 2020 postponed In contrast, the All England Club in lockdown, sport has Uefa postpones Euro 2020 until had the foresight to take out insurance not been immune, indeed 2021 though for a few days it insists which will protect it from such losses. Athe deadly fallout from a Champi- the name will not change. The tennis season will not resume ons League game in Milan and the Moving its marquee international until July 13 at the earliest. speed with which the disease spread tournament gives the governing through the UAE Tour peloton raises body of European football a window April 2: Political football worrying issues for the future. to sort out more pressing problems. As the British government struggled Here are 10 dates during the cri- With club football halted almost to cope with the spiralling crisis, health sis that tell the tale of how sport has everywhere, can it finish this season minister Matt Hancock pointed at the been hit. before player contracts expire at the highly-paid Premier League players end of June and sort out relegation, saying they should take a pay cut. February 19: Spreading the virus promotion and Champions League Players reacted furiously, but the Atalanta met Valencia in Milan in qualification in time for next season? decision of leading clubs to use a the Champions League just as infec- government scheme to furlough tion numbers began to rise in north- March 24: Tokyo Olympics off less-well-paid staff and the failure ern Italy. After an uprising from athletes and of players to agree to cuts, has made Thousands of Bergamo residents sports bodies, the Tokyo Olympics them an inviting political football. travelled to the game as others crowded became the first peacetime games Action in the Premier League was together at home and in bars to watch. to be postponed. halted in mid-March “It’s clear that evening was a situation The games, originally scheduled in which the virus was widely spread,” for July 24-August 9, will be held 12 April 6: Open and shut for majors Bergamo mayor Giorgio Gori later said months late. For the golf majors, it was a day of as the virus raged across his city. The International Olympic Com- scribbling out plans and pencilling Valencia said 35 per cent of their mittee, its member sports and Ja- in others. team and staff tested positive for cor- pan, faced a series of problems. The 149th British Open, which was onavirus following the trip to Milan. There was the loss of revenue from set for Royal St George’s Golf Club in broadcasting, sponsors and tickets that Kent in July, was cancelled for the February 27: Danger in the peloton would normally go to federations, many first time since World War II. The first sportsmen to come down of which were counting on the cash. Less than an hour later, the three with the virus were at cycling’s UAE There was the issue of athletes US-based major golf championships Tour, which was abandoned after two who had already qualified. announced rescheduled dates. Italian mechanics tested positive. Tests There was also the knock-on impact The PGA Championship is now immediately found six more cases. on other events. World Athletics quick- scheduled to be played August 6-9 ly announced it was rescheduling its in San Francisco. It was postponed March 13: F1’s chequered flag world championships, set for Eugene, from May. The opening Grand Prix of the For- Oregon next summer to 2022. The US Open was rescheduled from mula One season was called off two The Olympic flame, meanwhile, June to September 17-20 with the days before the race with teams al- was displayed for a week in a lan- Ryder Cup to be contested one week ready in Melbourne and practising. tern and then put in storage in an later at Whistling Straits as scheduled. Since then, eight more races have undisclosed location, ready to burn The Masters, which was to have either been postponed or cancelled brightly next summer. climaxed at Augusta National on and by Saturday, when Haas became Sunday, has been rescheduled for the latest outfit to furlough employ- April 1: Wimbledon’s net loss November 12-15. ees, half the teams on the grid had Wimbledon chiefs cancelled the put staff on enforced absence. grass-court Grand Slam tournament April 8: Bundesliga leads race for the first time since World War II. The majority of Bundesliga clubs re- March 15: The IPL declares Wimbledon’s move contrasted turned to team non-contact training. The Indian Premier League, cricket’s with the earlier decision by Roland With talks continuing over the annual money maker which generates Garros to reschedule the French Bundesliga resuming on May 2, the an estimated $11 billion, was post- Open major to the autumn. Germans seem to be leading the poned and rescheduled for April 15. French Open bosses admitted their race to become first major Europe- That won’t happen. tournament could face losses of £230 an league to return to action, even “Let’s say July-August is the earli- million ($284 million) but their uni- if it is behind closed doors, and of- est,” said Kevin Pietersen, the for- lateral decision raised the hackles of fer broadcasters a live fix for sports- mer England batsman. the ATP and WTA, which have their starved fans round the world. afp The first cases of coronavirus in sport occured at cycling’s UEA Tour in February. afp