WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3593 / 4000 RIEL PM donates salary for Covid-19 battle Mom Kunthear mentation of measures to prevent “Due to the ongoing global crisis combat Covid-19 because it demonstrates Covid-19 transmission at public gath- caused by Covid-19 and its continued great solidarity and concern for the pro- PRIME Minister Hun Sen has announced erings and group events such as wed- impact on Cambodia, I would like to tection of the Cambodian people’s health. that he will forego seven months of his dings and other ceremonies. announce that I will donate my entire Following the prime minister’s after-tax salary – from February to August Hun Sen confirmed that his salary was salary after taxes to the health ministry announcement, some ministers and 2021 – and redirect the money to the Min- 10 million riel per month and that he for another seven months, from Febru- officials said they too would donate MORE THAN 200 istry of Health to help combat Covid-19. had to pay taxes of 910,000 riel per ary to August 2021,” Hun Sen said. their salaries to the health ministry. Meanwhile, the health ministry month on it and so he would be handing Hun Sen also thanked officials, civil Among the ranks of the generous were STRIKING SVAY requested that Phnom Penh municipal over 9,090,000 riel per month to the min- society and members of the armed forc- Minister of Labour and Vocational and provincial authorities pay close istry for a total donation of 63,630,000 es who are volunteering to donate all or RIENG LABOURERS attention to strengthening the imple- riel [$16,000] for those seven months. part of their salaries towards efforts to CONTINUED – page 5 BACK TO WORK NATIONAL – page 2 Treated with antibodies, Covid gorilla ‘recovering’ AN ELDERLY gorilla was recover- ing from a serious case of Covid-19 MINISTRY: STEEL after he was treated with cutting- edge synthetic antibodies, the San IMPORTS DROP 41% Diego Zoo said on January 25. Veterinarians are now identifying IN 2020, EXPORTS which animals to inject with the US zoo’s limited supply of vaccines. SKYROCKET 351% Winston, 48, was one of several BUSINESS – page 8 gorillas among the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s troop who were con- firmed positive for the virus on Janu- ary 11, based on faecal samples. It was the first known case of natu- ral transmission of the virus to great apes, and was suspected to have occurred because of contact with an asymptomatic staff member, despite the use of personal protective gear. “The troop was infected with a new, highly contagious strain of the coronavirus, recently identified in California,” San Diego Zoo Global, the non-profit that operates the zoo INDONESIA SEIZES Exposed on the road and safari park, said in a statement. Last year a total of 15 traffic accidents involving trucks transporting labourers resulted in four deaths and 353 injuries. About 20 Two research groups in Califor- per cent of total traffic accident victims in Cambodia are workers in the process of commuting back and forth to work. HONG MENEA STORY > 2 IrAN TANKER AND nia have identified a homegrown PANAMA VESSEL strain that they believe was driving the Golden State’s year-end surge OFF KALIMANTAN in infections. Because of his advanced age, his WORLD – PAGE 10 symptoms and concern about underlying conditions, Winston Cambodia’s population was examined under anaesthesia. Veterinarians confirmed the sil- verback had pneumonia and heart disease, and initiated a treatment that included heart medication, hits 15.5M: Latest census antibiotics, and monoclonal anti- body therapy. Voun Dara of the committee, said more lenges presented by the growth rate drop was attrib- Monoclonal antibodies are a lab- than 50,000 census officials Covid-19 pandemic. uted to the successful imple- made version of the body’s natural HE National Com- had contacted 3.5 million “According to the final [cen- mentation of the National infection-fighting proteins, and mittee for the Gen- families to gather informa- sus] results on March 3, 2019, Population Policy and efforts they are delivered by intravenous eral Population Cen- tion across the country. there are 15.5 million Cambo- to better educate the public infusion. RELAXING THROUGH sus announced on Officials from the Ministry dians, an increase of 16 per about the use of birth control Covid-19 monoclonal antibodies TJanuary 26 that the Cambo- of Planning’s National Insti- cent from 13.4 million people and family planning. have been approved for emergen- SPIRITUAL SOUND dian population had risen to tute of Statistics have revised in 2008. The annual growth The minister noted that cy use in the US, and were notably 15.5 million, an increase of 16 and analysed data in col- rate stands at 1.4 per cent for the population growth rate used to treat former president HEALING RELAXES per cent from the 2008 census laboration with technical 2019. The growth rate remains higher than the Donald Trump. THE MIND AND BODY figure of 13.4 million people. officials and international dropped from 1.5 per cent in median rate for Southeast But Winston’s treatment came from Minister of Interior Sar experts to complete the cen- 2008,” Sar Kheng said. a supply not permitted for human LIFESTYLE – page 12 Kheng, who is also chairman sus on-time despite the chal- He added that the annual CONTINUED – page 2 use, the statement said. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST To bee or not to bee: M’kiri National seeks GI status for honey Inside page 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST JANUARY 27, 2021 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National Probe launched into police Workshop addresses accidents involving chief over alleged extortion commuting workers Nov Sivutha Mom Kunthear Min Meanvy, public works ministry secretary of state and TEAM of special in- A ROAD safety training work- secretary-general of the vestigators has been shop being held from January National Road Safety Commit- dispatched by the 25-28 in Phnom Penh is seek- tee, said traffic accidents Ministry of Interior ing to raise awareness of the caused deaths and injuries Ato Takeo province to probe toll taken by traffic accidents every day, making it an issue allegations against deputy every year and implement more serious than Covid-19. police chief Hin Sokheng who steps for their prevention. “Federal and trade union lead- is accused of leading accom- Kim Pagna, director of the ers have played an important plices in confining people Asia Injury Prevention Foun- role in disseminating the risks of and demanding ransoms in dation in Cambodia, explained unsafe road behaviour and pro- exchange for their release. that hundreds of factory work- tecting workers by seeking advo- Chief of the ministry’s Gen- ers were injured each year – cacy to develop and implement eral Inspection Department, and some killed – in accidents effective road safety policy at the Iv Leang, said head of the which occurred while they industry level,” she said. Criminal Investigation Divi- were travelling to or from their Meanvy said the committee sion Seng Vannak and five jobs. He noted that women are will conduct a study in Febru- deputies had been assigned disproportionately affected. ary assessing the viability of to conduct the investigation Addressing trade union upgrading trucks used as from January 25-29. employees, Pagna said the worker transports. Leang sent a letter to Sar number of garment and foot- “I continue to call on all Kheng in September last year wear workers who died in traf- truck drivers to learn how to requesting an investigation fic accidents while travelling drive well, hold proper driver’s into the case following receipt to or from work in 2019 was licences, respect traffic signs, of complaints dated July 31 more than the combined and refrain from driving too from anonymous provincial number of deaths due to fast or drinking alcohol while Takeo deputy provincial police chief Hin Sokheng is under investigation for corruption. FACEBOOK police officers and members malaria and landmines. driving,” she affirmed. of the public. in exchange for their release. National Defence’s General on January 26 that he had “Each year, about 20 per cent Pamela Wharton, deputy The complaints accused In the first case, they alleg- Department of Logistics and heard mention of the case by of total traffic accident victims country programme director brigadier general Sokheng – edly demanded $200,000 in Finance. the court director the week in Cambodia are workers in the for the Solidarity Centre in the deputy Takeo provincial ransoms. In the second case They demanded that before. It was in the hands process of commuting back Cambodia, said it was a work- police chief in charge of crimes on December 31, Sokheng, Sokheng be held accountable of prosecutors, and the court and forth to work,” he said. er’s right to travel safely back – of a litany of charges includ- with lieutenant colonel Sak under the law and sought the would obtain details when “Even though we may consider and forth from work. ing betraying the public’s trust, Touch, lieutenant colonel Ros return of property stolen from formal filings are made. traffic accidents as a fierce, hid- “Raising awareness of this tarnishing the reputation of the Sen and accomplices, alleged- the detainees who were said “There has been a prelimi- den killer which takes people’s issue and highlighting safety provincial police, wilful negli- ly confined three Vietnamese to be Vietnamese investors. nary investigation, but prosecu- lives, regardless of colour, age, improvements needed to pre- gence of duties, incompetence and two Cambodian nation- According to the letter sent to tors have not yet submitted the status or role, we can still prevent vent travel accidents are an and corruption since taking of- als demanding $100,000.