WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3721 / 4000 RIEL FOREIGN MINISTERS CHILLI EXPORTS SURGE MALAYSIA ANTICIPATES FORGE UNITED ASEAN NEARLY 50% TO OVER CORONAVIRUS WAVE FRONT AGAINST COVID 67K TONNES IN JAN-JUL TO PEAK NEXT MONTH NATIONAL – page 3 BUSINESS – page 7 WORLD – page 11 Cambodia sets 2021 growth forecast at 2.5% May Kunmakara the launch of the vaccination campaign petence or reliability of the econo- the Kingdom is working hard to keep could grow at about four per cent, for the adolescent group aged 12-17, mists and major institutions that pre- SARS-CoV-2 variants at bay, much like assuming that they’re able to be suc- CAMBODIA drastically downgrad- at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. sented more optimistic forecasts, other countries in the region. cessful in getting these new variants ed its economic forecast for 2021 to The downgrade reflects, inter alia, saying that Covid-19-induced disrup- “It’s had to do significant lock- under control. 2.5 per cent from the 4.1 per cent the pandemic’s impact on the key tions have derailed economic plans in downs, even though, Cambodia, by “Now, on the downside, it could be projection announced at the begin- economic sectors of Cambodia’s Cambodia and around the world, jus- now, has the highest share of the as low as just one per cent, particu- ning of the year, due to the deterio- trading partners and ongoing pro- tifying the updated growth figure. population vaccinated in much of larly if they’re not able to get a good rating Covid-19 situation. duction chain disruptions, he said. World Bank regional vice-president the region, or maybe the second- handle on the pandemic,” she said. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced He emphasised that the revision for East Asia and Pacific Victoria highest, after Singapore. the revised prediction on August 1 at does not in any way discredit the com- Kwakwa told The Post in mid-July that “Our estimates are that Cambodia CONTINUED – page 6 Anti-Covid drive steps up as Delta proliferates Long Kimmarita and Lay Samean individuals – to prevent the virus spreading. HE Ministry of Health According to the guidelines, has renewed its Covid- the authorities have to raise 19 prevention cam- awareness and attract public paign efforts in light of attention to the prevention of theT confirmed presence of the Covid-19 through methods Delta variant in Cambodia as such as T-shirts, hats and many locations across the advertisements on banners, country return to lockdown radio and TV with the message and curfew to stem its spread. “jointly responsible for pre- SEA how the land lies This comes as the Institut venting Covid-19”. Pasteur du Cambodge con- Vandine said the strategy was Construction of Morodok Techo National Stadium is 100 per cent complete, and the venue is ready to host the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA). YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM firmed another 42 Delta cases aimed at preventing another on August 3 in Phnom Penh wave of the virus and to pre- and three provinces, accord- pare everyone to adapt to the ing health ministry spokes- “new normal” with Covid-19 as woman Or Vandine. a long-term problem. The ministry on August 2 In remarks made while deliv- China’s Wuhan to test ‘all residents’ issued guidelines for a nation- ering Prime Minter Hun Sen’s al messaging strategy with the gifts to elderly people who AUTHORITIES in Wuhan on as the fast-spreading Delta with more than 400 domestic been found among migrant theme of “together we’re were vaccinated against Cov- August 3 said they would variant challenges its zero- cases reported since mid-July workers in the city, breaking a responsible for preventing id-19 in Koh Kong province on test its entire 11 million pop- Covid strategy and homeg- when a cluster among airport year-long streak without Covid-19 ”. August 2, Vandine said the ulation for Covid-19 after rown vaccines. cleaners in Nanjing, Jiangsu reporting domestic cases. The campaign calls on every- Delta variant was spreading in the central Chinese city – Beijing had previously province, sparked infections And the holiday destina- one from all walks of life to the community in clusters. where the coronavirus was announced its success in in over 20 cities across more tion of Zhangjiajie in central enforce and maintain Covid-19 She said the greatest con- initially detected – reported crushing the virus, allowing than a dozen provinces. China’s Hunan province preventive measures to break cern is that some Delta cases its first local infections in the economy to rebound and Senior city official Li Tao told abruptly announced on the chain of transmission. were found without any clear more than a year. normal life to return while a press conference on August August 3 that no one would The 43-page long report source of origin. China is battling its largest swathes of the globe have 3 that Wuhan is “swiftly launch- be allowed to exit the city, consists of a 10-point pro- “If we know where the dis- coronavirus outbreak in struggled with the pandemic ing comprehensive nucleic after closing tourist attrac- gramme detailing campaign ease is contracted from, we will months, confining the resi- that has killed more than four acid testing of all residents”. tions and encouraging visi- activities that should be under- take measures and track it dents of entire cities to their million people worldwide. Authorities announced on tors to leave last week. taken at the sub-national and homes, cutting transport links But the latest outbreak is August 2 that seven locally China reported 61 domestic national levels – as well as by CONTINUED – page 2 and rolling out mass testing threatening China’s success transmitted infections had cases on August 3. AFP EVENT DRAWS FOCUS GGGI, CAMGBC TEAM TO BREASTFEEDING AS UP TO FURTHER GREEN PRACTICE ‘IN DECLINE’ BUILDING MOVEMENT NATIONAL – page 3 BUSINESS – page 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST AUGUST 4, 2021 WWW.PHNOMPENHPOST.COM National Former CNRP officials Prey Veng villagers refuse ‘likely’ to seek political burial for Covid-19 victim rehab before elections Nov Sivutha Another reason, he ex- Khouth Sophak Chakrya plained, is that former CNRP FORMER opposition figure members have decided to HE body of a de- Kong Korm predicted that move on and do not want to ceased Covid-19 pa- one-third of the banned 118 be involved in overseas po- tient was finally taken politicians from the Supreme litical activities, especially by his relatives to his Court-dissolved Cambodia Rainsy’s proposed national Thometown in Tbong Khmum National Rescue Party (CNRP) unity government, which province after hundreds of will seek political rehabili- could lead to further diffi- villagers in Prek Khsay Kor tation prior to the upcom- culties. commune of Prey Veng prov- ing commune and national “I predict and I have also ince’s Peamro district refused elections in 2022 and 2023, heard some rumours that for- to bury him in the cemetery respectively. mer CNRP members may join behind their village for fears Korm – former acting presi- the CPP or form a new party,” that it would spread the virus dent of the long-defunct Sam Korm said. in their community. Rainsy Party and currently Chheum Kan, deputy di- Prek Khsay Kor commune honourary president of the rector-general of the Ministry police chief Ly Chantha told Khmer Will Party – made the of Interior’s General Depart- The Post that on the after- prediction after ex-CNRP ment of Administration, said noon of August 1, a Cambo- leader Sam Rainsy called 24 former CNRP members dian-Muslim man residing on Cambodians to consider have been allowed to return in Chak Khlanh village of forming a national unity gov- to politics while two were re- Peam Ro commune and dis- ernment following the exam- jected. trict had died after years of ple of Myanmar and for Prime However, Kan did not com- chronic illness. Minister Hun Sen to return ment on whether more for- He said the Peamro district power to the people. mer CNRP members would Covid-19 prevention com- Korm believed that the request political rehabilita- mittee also sent a medical politicians, who have been tion, saying only that they will team to examine the man’s Villagers gather to protest the burial of a deceased Covid-19 patient in Prek Khsay Khor commune of Prey Veng barred from politics for five be considered upon request. body using a rapid antigen province’s Peamro district on Sunday. FACEBOOK year after the dissolution, will On August 1, the prime test for Covid-19 and it came distance themselves from the minister refused to grant po- back positive. local authorities he learned the “deadliest” disease nor to prepare for the funeral. movement, which he said litical rights to former promi- As there was no place to that Covid-19 was the “dead- would a properly buried body However, the body was was proposed by an “overseas nent CNRP members Choung bury the man in Chak Khlanh liest communicable disease” present any risk of transmit- positive for Covid-19, so the outlawed group”. Chou Ngy and Nhim Kim village, the family of the de- and if any family has an in- ting the virus. district Covid-19 prevention The self-exiled Rainsy made Nhol because they had com- ceased requested that the fected member, no one dares Peam Ro district governor committee must find a safe the call on July 17. mitted additional offences in committee chairman bury his to come close because they Seng Teang told The Post place to bury him.