tuesday, january 26, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3592 / 4000 RIEL Siem Reap Airport ‘CHAIN’ Horticulture Thailand: Vehicles employees rally project extended emitting black against layoffs for 2021-2022 phase smoke face fines national – page 4 business – page 7 World – page 11 NBC issues $33B worth of NCDs May Kunmakara investment option for their short-term 10.9 trillion riel ($2.7 billion) last year. their goal was to support businesses moo told The Post on January 25 that liquidity needs to keep their business In March, the NBC introduced a de- as they battle the effects of the Covid- NCDs are a financial tool that contrib- HE National Bank of Cam- activities afloat amid Covid-19. duction of the interest rate on NCDs 19 outbreak on the economy. utes to the development of the sector. bodia (NBC) issued $33.4 Predominantly bolstered by a surge and four other financial measures to “The purpose of these policies is “NCDs are vital short-to-medium billion worth of negotiable in demand from commercial banks, open access to credit, providing fi- to support economic growth as the term money market instruments sole- certificates of deposit (NCD) the NBC issued $30.8 billion in dollar- nancial institutions with the liquidity country faces the Covid-19 threat. The ly available on the market. Banks have toT financial institutions last year, denominated NCDs last year, surging required for them to lend in support of NBC continues to closely monitor the high demand for NCDs to manage their marking a sharp increase of more 45.3 per cent from 2019, the central businesses reeling under the pandemic. development of the situation inside excess liquidity and provide guaran- than 40 per cent compared to 2019. bank said in its annual report. Speaking to the media via video link and outside Cambodia,” she said. tees for funding [in Cambodian riel]. This, it said, provided banks and NCDs issued in the local currency during the rollout of the measures, Phnom Penh Commercial Bank Plc other financial institutions another on the other hand clocked in at a mere NBC director-general Chea Serey said (PPCBank) president Shin Chang- Continued – page 6 One dead, three ill after eating worms found on palm tree Khouth Sophak Chakrya “According to the doctors’ foren- sic examination and statements ONE man died and another by the victim’s friends and rela- three fell ill after eating worms tives, Lean’s death was caused by they had foraged from a decay- eating too many worms, resulting ing palm tree in their village’s in poisoning,” Moeun said. paddy fields in Chamroeun Sen Kong village chief Som commune of Preah Vihear prov- Sourth told The Post that the ince’s Sangkum Thmei district. worms are considered to be a District police chief Chuon Moe- delicacy, especially those found un said all four are residents of the in palm and coconut trees, and commune’s Sen Kong village. he had never heard of them Moeun told The Post that on the being harmful to one’s health. morning of January 24, Mao Sourth said, however, that Lean, 28, and his three neigh- there are worms covered in bours – Poy Vin, 28; Dim Sophea, hairs with dark skin that can be 15; and Prach Pisey, 9 – had used poisonous if too many are eaten an axe to cut down a decaying and those worms are often palm tree in the middle of the found in decomposing wood or paddy to catch worms to eat. piles of rubbish. Citing Vin’s description of the “I like to eat the worms from incident, Moeun said the four palm and coconut trees. They A growing crowd had taken about 1kg of the are delicious and provide almost Farmers are being stopped by police during a rally in support of the ongoing farmers protest against the Indian central government’s recent worms from the decaying palm as much energy as beef. Some- agricultural reforms in Mumbai on Monday. AFP tree. They then deep-fried the times I eat them raw and it has worms for dinner after season- never caused me any health ing them with salt. problems,” he said. Approximately two hours Sourth said Lean’s death might Covid put billions in ‘decade-long poverty’ later they all began to feel dizzy be due to his having eaten some and suffer from headaches, of the poisonous worms on acci- THE Covid-19 crisis is aggravating ine- est to recover,” said the Oxfam report. robust recovery over the next year. stomach-aches and diarrhoea. dent if both were present in the quality, with the richest quickly getting Oxfam also highlighted the fact that Oxfam argued in its report that fairer In an attempt to get rid of the decaying tree and were carelessly richer while it will likely take years for the the impact of the virus is also being felt economies are the key to a rapid eco- symptoms, they immediately mixed with the edible worms. world’s poorest to recover, anti-poverty unevenly, with ethnic minorities in nomic recovery from Covid-19. made lemon tea mixed with According to a research paper group Oxfam said on January 25. certain countries dying at higher rates It calculated that a temporary tax on honey and drank it except for by the National Institute of In a report entitled The inequality and women being overrepresented in excess profits made by the 32 global Lean, who refused the drink and Nutrition of India published in virus, the group warned that the pan- the sectors of the economy that are corporations that have gained the most went to sleep. June 2000, palm worms are demic is the first time since records hardest hit by the pandemic. during the pandemic could have raised At around midnight, Lean widely considered to be edible began that inequality is rising in virtu- The report is timed to coincide with the $104 billion in 2020, an amount it said awoke with a severe stomach- by food experts and nutritionists ally every country at the same time. start of the World Economic Forum’s vir- was enough to have provided unem- ache and diarrhoea. His family and are a good source of protein, “The 1,000 richest people on the plan- tual Davos event – an entire week of global ployment benefits for all workers and tried to bring him to Sangkum carbohydrates, vitamin A and et recouped their Covid-19 losses with- programming will be dedicated to helping financial support for all children and Thmei District Referral Hospital vitamin E. No mention is made in just nine months, but it could take leaders choose innovative and bold solu- elderly people in low- and middle-in- but he died en-route. of any poisoning dangers. more than a decade for the world’s poor- tions to stem the pandemic and drive a come countries. AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Youths urged to participate National in Cambodia STEM Festival Inside page 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Thai overpass collapse injures Officials reconsider Cambodian migrant workers workers’ benefits in construction sector

Long Kimmarita ance under the NSSF to those working in the construction GOVERNMENT officials in sector. This is the work we conjunction with labour repre- have been doing with the gov- sentatives are addressing chal- ernment. In particular, we are lenges facing workers in the preparing a health and safety nation’s construction sector to policy for Cambodia with sup- upgrade working conditions, port from the labour minis- especially workplace safety try, but this policy has not yet and compensation benefits. been approved,” he said. Representatives from the Sophorn expected proac- Ministry of Labour and Voca- tive participation from the tional Training and Ministry government to address with of Land Management, Urban urgency the risks faced by Planning and Construction met construction workers. members of the International Labour ministry spokesman Labour Organisation (ILO) and Heng Sour told The Post that the local labour unions on January government was making prog- 22 to discuss measures for im- ress to improve occupational proving social protections for health and safety standards in construction workers. the construction sector. Sok Kin, president of the He pointed out that perma- Building and Wood Workers nent construction workers Trade Union Federation of are already entitled to receive Cambodia (BWTUC), said del- many benefits set by law, egates discussed establishing including NSSF insurance. fixed wages for construction Subcontracted construction workers and plans to include workers or temporary work- Seven Cambodian migrant workers were injured when an overpass under construction in Nokor Reach, Thailand, suddenly collapsed. CENTRAL them under the National So- ers receiving daily allowances cial Security Fund (NSSF). were not covered, but the Mom Kunthear full by their employer’s insur- Koung said Cambodian em- and Human Rights (Central) Kin added that partici- ministry is pursuing addi- ance. The workers who are bassy officials had visited the programme manager Khun pants also discussed health tional studies of these issues. EVEN Cambodian mi- still being treated and cannot injured workers and brought Tharo said most construction and safety-related challenges Meas Vichhekar, a construc- grant workers are be- return to work as yet will still along some donations for projects in Thailand were done faced by construction workers tion worker in Phnom Penh, ing treated for injuries receive their wages according them such as milled rice, noo- with foreign labour includ- in order for stakeholders, and expressed satisfaction that that range from mild to the law,” the embassy said. dles, canned fish, soy sauce, ing many Cambodian migrant the government in particular, stakeholders were taking up toS serious after an overpass Ministry of Foreign Affairs face masks, alcohol and mon- workers, most of whom work to find solutions together. issues pertaining to his profes- under construction in Thai- and International Coopera- ey. The embassy is cooperat- there without any health insur- “We know that the challenges sion. Enacting the discussed land collapsed on January 23. tion spokesman Koy Koung ing with Thai authorities to ance or life insurance. of the construction sector are provisions would improve their The Cambodian embassy in told The Post on January 25 help see to their needs. “Most Cambodian migrant many, but more importantly, health and living standards. Thailand said that of the seven that the collapsed overpass The Bangkok Post reported workers have no legal docu- we should find ways to en- “I am happy they are thinking workers, three were discharged was located in Moeurng on January 24 that police found ments and face job hazards sure that construction work- of us. I expect that we will also from hospital on January 24, Nokor Reach Seima district’s that the metal structure which that carry a high degree of risk. ers no longer have accidents be accorded the same benefits while two were cleared to leave Kok Suong commune in Thai- supported the overpass con- Often, safety equipment is not in the workplace. The con- such as through the NSSF. It by the evening of January 25. land’s Nokor Reach province. struction had caved in, possi- adequately provided for them cerned parties are committed would be great to receive safety Of the two still being treated, “According to Thai authori- bly from heavy cement being when they are carrying out to finding ways for employers insurance,” he said. one is a woman who sustained ties, these workers are cov- poured on it from above. The dangerous work,” he said. to comply with existing legal The land management min- severe injuries to her right leg. ered by insurance and are structure was apparently un- Citing his organisation’s es- standards,” Kin said. istry estimates that there are The other worker also has being treated at Maharat Na- able to withstand the added timates, he said there are cur- ILO’s National Coordinator currently more than 360,000 leg injuries, though less se- khon Ratchasima Hospital. weight and collapsed. rently a total of two million Tun Sophorn expressed sup- construction workers across vere, and is expected to be “There were no fatalities The builder has been ordered Cambodian migrant workers port for the government’s efforts the country. According to BW- discharged from the hospital due to the collapse. Authori- to dismantle the scaffolding, in Thailand, with around 30 to look after the best interests TUC’s Kin, many of them still in the coming days. ties and rescue crews have clean up the debris and to to 35 per cent of them work- of the country’s construction do not enjoy decent working “The hospital treatment for searched for people trapped continue to provide medical ing in construction or on workers with legal protections. conditions and some have the injured Cambodian mi- under the rubble of the bro- support for the injured. materials production for in- “We want to expand social also been subjected to exploi- grant workers was covered in ken construction,” he said. Centre for Alliance of Labour frastructure projects. protection and working insur- tation by their employers. THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Ex-CNRP Priority groups for jabs determined lawmaker Mom Kunthear

HOUSANDS of Cambodian forms party migrant workers have returned from Thailand in recent weeks, Niem Chheng with a total of 82 having tested positiveT for Covid-19 to date. FORMER lawmaker of the Of the 82 workers, 44 have recovered Supreme Court-dissolved Cambo- and been discharged from hospitals. dia National Rescue Party (CNRP) According to a Ministry of Health Ou Chanrath said he was set to press release on January 25, the re- submit an application to the Min- coveries included four migrant work- istry of Interior this week on the ers who were discharged from hospi- formation of a new party to com- tal the previous day after their second pete in the commune and general test came back negative. elections in 2022 and 2023. As of January 25, the Kingdom had Chanrath said many of the recorded a total of 458 Covid-19 cas- former CNRP members who have es, with 49 still being treated at the been banned from politics after Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital. the dissolution will join his pro- Covid-19 vaccines are scheduled to posed Cambodia Reform Party arrive in Cambodia in February with (CNP) once they have received Prime Minister Hun Sen announcing political rehabilitation. he will be the first to be inoculated to He said the new party name demonstrate their safety and boost was chosen out of the view that public confidence. The jabs will then Cambodia still needs to push be administered widely to those be- through much-needed reforms. longing to the six prioritised groups. “In every country, when it is Health ministry spokeswoman Or under one leadership for too Vandine said that as per Hun Sen’s long, both political and judicial directive all vaccinations will be done reforms are warranted. When the on a voluntary basis only. society faces many obstacles and The first priority group to be inocu- problems as it moves forward, lated are frontline healthcare workers Healthcare personnels at a quarantine centre in Kandal province. heng chivoan reforms are a must. who regularly interact with patients. “The current situation in Cam- The second group will be civil ser- elderly aged 65 or older, and the fifth ers and migrant workers as all of them prevention efforts, their chances of bodia is the result of almost 30 vants and members of the armed forc- includes those aged 18 to 64. have an increased risk of exposure and exposure and the overall risk to their years since the election in 1993, es because assistance from their ranks An inter-ministerial working group likelihood of infecting others due to the health if infected,” she said. and there are still many problems may be necessary in order to carry out has placed elderly people with un- circumstances of their employment. Vandine added that those who to address. It’s time to make the vaccination campaign as it expands derlying conditions such as high “We identified these [six] groups as have previously contracted the dis- reforms – in education, the judici- in scope to reach millions of people. blood pressure, heart disease or can- a first step. They account for 23 per ease should still be vaccinated and ary and other sectors,” he said. “Another group are local commu- cer in the fourth group as they are at cent of our entire population. that those who have been vacci- Chanrath said although he is the nity leaders and volunteers who will be a high risk of serious complications “However, we won’t receive enough nated already still need to continue founder, he will not stand as par- working together to assist with vaccina- or death from the virus. vaccines initially to cover everyone following the recommended health ty president. He noted, however, tion efforts and to monitor their com- People who are elderly but otherwise in these groups so we have ranked measures consistently – including that the proposed CNP will munities for any signs of an outbreak in good health are the fifth group. them by order of priority, taking into masking, distancing, hand-washing abruptly disband should former while vaccination is ongoing,” she said. The sixth group consists of people account the roles they may be re- and the quarantining of inbound CNRP leaders, either Kem Sokha The fourth group consists of the including drivers for hire, factory work- quired to fill in the nation’s Covid-19 passengers to Cambodia. or Sam Rainsy, return to politics. He denied that he forms the party in order to get any posi- tion, such as within the Supreme Council for Consultation and Recommendations, which was Kingdom’s anti-human trafficking work lauded established by Prime Minister Hun Sen following the 2018 gen- Niem Chheng progress to curb human traffick- eral election. ing last year, despite the focus of “What is most important is our THE Cambodian government the national agenda shifting to nation. In 10 to 30 years from has made significant progress Covid-19, the return of more now, what will we do to make our in combating human traffick- than 100,000 migrant workers next generations capable of lead- ing over the past year, accord- who have lost their jobs and ing the country?” he said, adding ing to US and Cambodian offi- income abroad, some of whom that only voters will decide if his cials, as the Kingdom prepares with Covid-19 infections. party is up to the task. to receive results of a new eval- The ministries have also Asked if he will compete in the uation from Washington. sought to enact measures to coming elections, Chanrath said: Chou Bun Eng, Ministry of deter instances of migration “Of course, we are preparing and Interior secretary of state and which might be vulnerable to we will get ready to fiercely con- permanent vice-chair of the trafficking, she said. test in the elections. In the future, National Committee for Coun- On January 25, the National we expect to be a party that chal- ter Trafficking (NCCT), told Police released information lenges the ruling party.” The Post that she had met with about Bun Eng and Murphy’s Kin Phea, director of the Royal US ambassador Patrick Mur- meeting, quoting the US Academy of Cambodia’s Interna- phy on January 22 to review ambassador as saying he was tional Relations Institute, said the government’s progress in pleased to get to know more Chanrath’s party name sounds combating human trafficking about Cambodia’s efforts and neutral and not intended to and discuss persistent chal- engage in discussions reflect- attack anyone. Phea agreed that lenges and solutions. ing on the process of combat- reforms are still needed in the She noted that the Kingdom ing trafficking. country and that Chanrath’s par- had exceeded previous recom- US embassy spokesman ty could play a significant role. mendations made by the US Chad Roedemeier said embas- “But it is too early to assess US ambassador Patrick Murphy (fifth from left), and interior ministry secretary of state Chou Bun Eng take and expressed hope that results a group photo after their meeting on Friday. interior ministry sy officials regularly meet with whether the party will succeed or of new evaluations would view Cambodian authorities and fail. It is a good move that he can the country more favourably. State says such a ranking shows Bun Eng stated: “With regard ties, and the government has civil society groups to discuss form a field for himself to play in “We have done more than that the Cambodian govern- to criminal justice, the courts made efforts to progress how they can work together to the political arena. It is a sign what the US has recommend- ment had not fully met mini- have accelerated processes beyond those areas. combat the scourge of human reflecting political space in Cam- ed. We hope that our hard work mum standards for the elimi- including sentencing. For law “We are also learning what is trafficking. bodia,” Phea said. will lead to better results than nation of human trafficking. enforcement, despite Covid- most important to the US side. “Human trafficking affects Political analyst Lao Mong Hay what we have achieved previ- Last year’s report noted that 19, investigations continue. Through our discussions, I people in every country on earth, said the word reform seemed to ously. We have tried very hard the Cambodian government We also continue to repatriate think we understand each oth- and the US is working with have negative connotation now- and have done just as the eval- was making significant strides victims who have suffered er well. The ambassador Cambodia to prosecute traffick- adays and may not inspire much uators wanted. We do not yet towards compliance. These from job losses and associated expressed understanding of the ers, protect victims and prevent trust when all successive reforms know if our progress has met efforts included continuing to hardships including having problems we face and the human trafficking crimes. by the government have been far their requirements as they prosecute and convict traf- been arrested and fined. We actions the government has “Through USAID, for over 10 from impressive. normally have their own con- fickers, establishing a new have done a lot of work.” taken. Still, he does not dare to years, the US has supported “The new party’s leadership ditions for scoring,” she said. five-year action plan to com- She explained that the US make any claims [regarding the [Cambodian] government will have a herculean task to con- Cambodia was ranked as a bat trafficking and developing issued recommendations for results] because the evaluator is and civil society efforts to tack- vince people that the devil they second-tier country on the US and utilising new technolo- the Cambodian government in Washington,” Bun Eng said. le the root causes of trafficking, have yet to know is indeed better Watch List each of the past two gies for victim identification to implement actions on 17 Participants agreed that Cam- support victims and raise than the devil they have already years. The US Department of and data collection. points comprising five priori- bodia made strong efforts and awareness,” he said. known,” he said. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Siem Reap airport employees protest layoffs

Long Kimmarita according to the legal procedures, but they did not listen, instead making ORMER employees of the accusations and holding protests. Siem Reap Intertional Air- “In fact, the layoffs of the 161 em- port and their union stand ployees by the airport were in re- firm by their protests and sponse to the Covid-19 crisis. If for- plansF to re-file a lawsuit over claims eign tourists do not dare to visit and that the airport operator has violat- employees do not have work, how can ed employees’ rights and pertinent [the company] have money to pay them? labour laws after workers were laid This is why the company decided to off in the fallout from Covid-19. layoff some employees,” he said. The announcement followed pro- Sokhom Chenda agreed the union tests on January 22 by almost 100 and employees have the right to pro- employees of Cambodia Airports, test and said he would do his best to the joint venture company con- resolve their dispute. He cited a report tracted to operate the Kingdom’s indicating that 131 employees had al- international airports, representing ready agreed to a monetary settlement 161 workers who were laid off in from the company, meaning there December. Protesters gathered and were few complaints remaining. held up banners in front of the pro- Ron Ravan, chief of the Siem Reap vincial Department of Labour and Airport Union and the Cambodia Vocational Training. Transport Workers Federation, said Mom Simsela, an employee with 19 that he wanted the relevant parties to years of seniority who was laid off by resolve the problem as a jointly rather the company, told The Post on Janu- than as individual cases. Collective ary 25 that it was unjust for the em- representation would better serve ployees as most of those who were workers’ interests and help them to re- laid off had many years of seniority. sist pressure to make individual settle- He added that during the layoff, ments that would be less beneficial. the company had violated employ- He said employees with many years ees’ rights by not providing compen- Almost 100 former employees of Siem Reap International Airport protests their layoffs by the airport operator. facebook of seniority should receive preferen- sation and benefits in violation of the tial treatment, but instead, when there law, and there had been examples of cut workers’ salaries by 20 to 50 per “Regarding the layoffs, the union acknowledged that airport staff had are layoffs, they are the first to go. favouritism and discrimination. cent and forced employees to resign and the company have available submitted a letter to the ministry “Those who were hit with the steep- “We will file a lawsuit with the or retire ahead of schedule. These procedures to appeal to the Arbitra- asking for intervention. est pay cuts were employees who had ministry again – and perhaps other factors have caused difficulties for tion Council,” he said. He said the ministry had delegated been there for many years, and then departments or the prime minister many people, especially those who “If someone does not agree with authority to resolve the dispute to his they were laid off first,” he said. – to urge the company to negotiate have bank loans to repay. the layoffs, they can continue to department, and he would attempt “When they were laid off, their full and settle with us. Our work con- According to Bun Ratha, director protest because this falls under the to mediate a solution acceptable to salaries were not used to calculate tracts were terminated without our of Siem Reap international airport, category of labour disputes where both parties. He noted that no one severance benefits, but rather, fig- consent, causing our loss of ben- the dispute is between employees both parties may defer to the labour was to blame for the hardships en- ures of just 50 or 80 per cent of their efits. This is not in accordance with and the company operating the air- law to negotiate an acceptable out- dured by both the company and its salaries were used. Furthermore, Cambodian law,” he said. port. He recommended disaffected come,” Ratha added. employees. employees with personal connec- According to Simsela, over the parties to take complaints to the la- Chan Sokhom Chenda, director of “We have contacted [labour repre- tions did not get laid off or receive past year and a half, the company bour ministry for resolution. the provincial labour department, sentatives] to facilitate to a solution pay cuts,” he added. THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Youth urged to join STEM fest China plans Koh Kong Voun Dara STEM skills in areas like tourism training centre climate change, technology INISTER of Ed- and medicine,” he said. Voun Dara “Through this cooperative ucation, Youth STEMEOC director Una agreement we will establish a and Sports Hang McCarthy-Fakhry said the CAMBODIA and China have centre for cultural exchanges and Chuon Naron festival is one of Cambo- signed a cooperative agreement innovative research into tourism encouragedM youths to partici- dia’s flagship STEM events encouraging vocational training between Cambodia and China. pate in the annual Cambodia with the mission of igniting in the tourism sector by organis- “The centre will participate in STEM Festival, which is held a passion for science, tech- ing work training exchange pro- the planning of tourism sector de- online from January 25-29. nology, engineering and grammes for students and staff velopment with the goal of turn- This year’s theme is “Pre- mathematics among young between the two countries. ing Cambodia into a global desti- pare for the Future” be- Cambodian students. Ministry of Tourism spokesman nation and attraction that warmly cause Cambodia will need “Last year’s event was Top Sopheak told The Post on welcomes all tourists,” he said. an increase of professionals an enormous success with January 25 that Cambodia needs Pacific Asia Travel Association in science, technology, en- over 13,000 visitors in at- better quality and increased Cambodia chapter chairman gineering and mathematics tendance and 200 STEM quantity of human resources to Thourn Sinan observed that hu- (STEM) in order to have the projects,” she said. sustain the tourism sector once man resources in Cambodia’s necessary human resources Environment minister it has rebounded post-pandemic. tourism sector are quite lacking at to drive future develop- Sam Al said this year’s fes- Ministry secretary of state Chea present, especially in the provinces ment, the ministry said. tival has made a significant Bora and Ministry of Culture and Fine with future potential for increased The 16th Annual Cambo- contribution to inspiring Arts secretary of state Som Sokun tourism such as Preah Sihanouk, Education minister Hang Chuon Naron. education ministry dia STEM Festival will light and encouraging youths to were present at the signing ceremo- Siem Reap, Kep and Kampot. up screens in a live-stream Chuon Naron and environ- growth will increasingly study STEM subjects to find ny for the cooperative agreements “In Preah Sihanouk province, we hosted by the official Fa- ment minister Say Sam Al, depend on these areas of innovative solutions based between the Coastal City Develop- see that the labour force already cebook pages of the STEM who both presided over the knowledge,” he said. on science and technology ment Company and Kuoy Lin Tour- serving the tourism sector is mostly Education Organisation opening ceremony of the The minister said his in order to help prepare for ism Institute in Koh Kong province. [workers from China],” he said. of Cambodia (STEMEOC) online festival on January ministry has continued to Cambodia’s future. “The focus of this agreement is Sinan added that Cambodia and the education ministry 25, spoke about the impor- develop teaching capacity “The rapid evolution of on encouraging and strengthen- also needed to develop better from 9am to 11am. tance and need for human and to strengthen STEM ed- technology has been chang- ing partnership cooperation in human resources in the fields of This festival has five care- resources and STEM skills ucation by including com- ing everything, including the tourism sector vocational training, marketing and advertising. fully chosen STEM topics re- in promoting Cambodia’s munication, information way we think, communicate, human resource development and “We are in the digital era, so we lated to some of the world’s economic development. technology and technology work and live,” he said. research in the tourism sector by have to train people with skills in most pressing issues. The Chuon Naron said STEM subjects in the curriculum. The minister said tech- organising training programmes the tourism sector that take that ministry sees the online education in all fields is very He added that this year’s nology and science are the for students and staff,” he said. into account in order to keep up festival as a platform to pro- important due to the rapid festival will test the ability core components of the Bora said the tourism sector in with the times,” he said. vide useful digital resources technological advances tak- of youths to use STEM skills Fourth Industrial Revolu- Cambodia was considered a pri- Sopheak of the tourism ministry in response to the Covid-19 ing place around the world. to help the country prepare tion and therefore a strong ority because it played an impor- added that at present, the ministry is school closures across the “In Cambodia, capacity for the future. catalyst for future econom- tant role by contributing to so- paying attention to training workers country this past year. development to prepare for “I would like to encour- ic development. The gains cio-economic development and in the tourism sector in an attempt The areas of focus are pub- the future is dependent on age the students who par- achieved in productivity environmental protection. to improve the quality of service here. lic health; physics and math- the impetus driving Cam- ticipate in this event to pay and efficiency will empow- He added that the tourism sec- “The tourism sector lives or dies ematics; biology and ecol- bodia’s worker’s efforts to close attention and accept er all of Cambodia’s sectors tor will also play a role in building based on quality of service. Good ogy; environmental science; gain these needed skills so new ideas. They should con- and transform the Cambo- a green economy in Cambodia in service means happy tourists. We technology and robotics; and they can fully contribute to sider pursuing opportuni- dian economy and usher order to meet the country’s UN need to continue to develop human chemistry and science. our development and eco- ties in these fields. Cambo- the country’s traditional in- 2030 sustainable development resources in this area to improve Education minister nomic growth. Cambodia’s dia needs more experts with dustries into modernity. goals (SDGs). our tourism sector,” he said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,073 1.2714 6.4808 103.80 4.0445 1.3273 29.99 0.7722 1.2149 1.3671

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: JANUARY 25, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,900 16,900 16,900 16,800 2 GTI 3,400 - 3,400 3,400 3 PAS 14,000 14,000 14,100 14,000 4 PEPC 3,000 2,990 3,000 2,990 5 PPAP 11,680 - 11,680 11,680 6 PPSP 1,440 1,460 1,490 1,430 7 PWSA 6,000 6,200 6,200 6,000 ARDB to lend $300M to agro-industry SMEs

Hin Pisei stock and aquaculture. man and CEO at Signatures of However, the government Asia Co Ltd, said ARDB’s cur- HE Agricultural and has yet to issue an in-depth rent loan disbursement rate Rural Development plan outlining how much ad- has rocketed from the year- Bank of Cambodia ditional capital it would allo- ago period. (ARDB) expects to cate to ARDB for the year, he While loans have contrib- disburseT $300 million in loans said, noting his intent to sub- uted significantly to increas- this year at low interest rates mit his own proposal. ing milled-rice processing and for small and medium-sized “We hope that the ARDB’s export capacity, he cautioned enterprises (SMEs) in the loans this year will be able to that the domestic rice sector agro-processing, agro-indus- reach $300 million, but that’ll now faces a large outflow of trial and agricultural sectors. hinge on additional capital paddy to Vietnam, which he The loans will further con- funding from the govern- said could impinge on the 2021 tribute to the government’s ment,” Thach said. volume of milled-rice exports. policy of promoting and en- He said government policy to He said: “We really appreci- couraging an upswing in do- promote agriculture has made ate and welcome the addition- mestic agricultural produc- the sector move at a brisk pace, al lending of ARDB, but we also tion to ensure food security especially when compared request the government take Agricultural and Rural Development Bank of Cambodia (ARDB) director-general Kao Thach. hONG MENEA and increase export capacity. with the year-ago period. additional consideration into ARDB director-general Kao Last year, ARDB disbursed controlling paddy production Royal Academy of Cambodia, national currencies to inject boost exports,” Vanak said. Thach told The Post on Janu- about $245 million to rice and outflows, irrigation and said ARDB plays a key role in into the national economy. In a show of support for farm- ary 25 that the state-owned millers, exporters, livestock new seed development – given the development of agricul- “Increasing ARDB’s fund- ers and investors in the agricul- enterprise plans to increase and agricultural SMEs, he how very imperative these are ture by subsidising those in ing will, in turn, garner much tural sector, ARDB in May cut lending for the agricultural said. This represents a 45 per – to help boost exports of Cam- need to uplift the industry. enthusiasm among farmers the annual interest rates from sector to the extent possible to cent jump from 2019. bodian agricultural products He stressed the significance and investors in its lending, six to five per cent for working capitalise on its development, Chan Sokheang, vice-pres- to international markets.” of ARDB’s position in contrib- and accelerate Cambodia’s capital and from 6.5 to 5.5 per buoyed by an expansion in its ident of the Cambodia Rice Hong Vanak, director of In- uting to national economic agricultural diversification to cent for capital investment, capacity to grow crops, live- Federation (CRF) and chair- ternational Economics at the growth and collecting inter- meet domestic demand and free of service charges. Halal office to woo Muslim tourists NCDs offer short-term,

Thou Vireak Chhay Sivlin said the proper risk-free market access management of halal products THE government will soon – especially food – will play an Continued from page 1 NCDs are short-term inter- establish the Department of important role in attracting tour- est bearing debt issued by Halal Affairs under the purview ists to Cambodia down the line. “NCDs also work as a the NBC. They can be de- of the Ministry of Commerce’s She said: “We applaud this benchmark interest rate since nominated in Cambodian General Department of Con- attentiveness to tourism prod- it is the only risk-free rate on riel or in the US dollar and it sumer Protection, Competition ucts which will better prepare the local market,” he said. provides an option to com- and Fraud Prevention (CCF). us to welcome Muslim tourists In Channy, president and mercial banks and microfi- Cambodian Halal Steering after the Covid-19 situation group managing director of nance institutions to invest Committee (CHSC) deputy has improved. We’ll have more ACLEDA Bank Plc, told The Post their short-term liquidity, chairman Osman Hassan told products available to serve the on January 25 that the benefits according to the NBC. The Post that CHSC on January tourism sector.” of NCDs include high-quality The minimum denomina- 21 conducted a meeting to dis- Developing halal products is liquid assets, zero-weighted tion for investment is 200 mil- cuss the draft sub-decree No crucial to woo Islamic tourists – a assets for solvency ratio, no lion riel or $50,000, the cen- 160 dated July 29, 2016 which major global market, she said. provision for expected credit tral bank says. The maturity established the committee. The Cambodian Halal Steering Committee discusses sub-decree No 160 “They’ll have loads of oppor- loss, interest earnings and col- of the NCDs ranges from two establishing a new department under the Ministry of Commerce. CHSC “This discussion focused on tunities for leisurely sightsee- lateral for overdraft. weeks to one year for riel-de- revising some of the articles in may also see a new composi- stricter management of halal ing, and if we can manage “The crux of why NCDs en- nominated ones and from two the sub-decree to include new tion due to changes and pro- products and inspections of halal food well, we’ll be able to joyed an uptick last year was weeks to six months for those [details concerning the halal motions to new positions. small and medium-sized enter- entice them [Muslim visitors] due to how quite a few banks denominated in US dollars. affairs department’s] compo- We’ll then set up a halal affairs prises [SMEs] to properly put to stay in Cambodia for a long and financial institutions The interest rate of NCDs sition,” Hassan said. department under CCF.” halal labels according to Cam- time,” Sivlin said. were able to use the NCDs to is determined by the NBC He noted that the meeting Once the sub-decree is for- bodian technical standards.” According to Oun, the com- manage their short-term sur- and varies from day to day was chaired by Council of Min- mally implemented, Oun said The general consensus merce ministry has registered plus for one-to-three months, according to market condi- isters secretary of state Tekreth the halal affairs department among the private sector is and issued certificates for 666 or as the collateral for their tions, it says. Samrach. will be operational immedi- that the measure will chip in halal products in Cambodia. [riel-denominated] loans According to Serey, NCDs CCF director-general Phan ately, and its judicial police to the promotion of tourism He said: “Halal products from the NBC,” he said. were introduced late in 2013 Oun told The Post that the gov- officers will inspect legal data products and allure tourists comprise foods and other com- ACLEDA Bank’s holdings of with the express aim of pro- ernment would also amend the and enforce halal labelling after Covid-19 cases have been modities that will help boost NCDs gained around eight per viding banks and financial sub-decree to fine-tune the laws at all enterprises. brought under control. national economy growth, and cent to $567 million last year institutions an instrument to composition of the CHSC. He said: “After the composi- Cambodia Association of Trav- will especially support the SME from the $527 million held in improve the management of He said: “This committee tion is all set in stone, we’ll have el Agents (CATA) president sector in Cambodia.” 2019, according to Channy. their liquidity. THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business ASEAN replaces Horticulture project gets Phase III HK as largest

Thou Vireak the project would deliver trading partner state-of-the-art techniques HE third phase of the to the Kingdom’s horticul- of Guangdong Cambodia Horticul- turalists to grow crops, fos- UANGDONG province, China’s ture Advancing In- ter a safer produce market largest foreign trader, recorded an come and Nutrition and contribute to improving Gimport-export volume of more than (CHTAIN-III) project was offi- rural livelihoods. seven trillion yuan ($1.08 trillion) for 2020 cially launched on January 22 “I would like to thank all after the province set a record for exports, in a bid to ramp up produc- stakeholders, local authori- according to Guangdong Customs. tion and shore up sustainable ties of target provinces, devel- Guangdong’s foreign trade with ASEAN, horticultural trade to improve opment partners – especially the US and EU – as well as cross-Straits the livelihoods of Cambodi- SDC – for providing financial trade with Taiwan — all saw year-on-year ans in remote rural areas. support for project imple- growth in 2020 despite the coronavirus A memorandum of under- mentation, turning non-crop pandemic and the tensions in Sino-US standing (MoU) was signed areas into safe vegetable pro- relations, the customs office said. to this effect by General Di- duction zones to supply the Guangdong, a major production base rectorate of Agriculture head market,” Sakhon said. for the world, reached a foreign trade Ngin Chhay and Alexandra With a total $10 million volume of 7.08 trillion yuan in 2020, Mandelbaum, director of budget, the eight-year run of representing more than 22 per cent of the Dutch development organi- CHAIN projects, from 2014- country’s total despite a slight year-on- sation SNV, at the ministry. 2022, has been put in place year drop of 0.9 per cent. The CHAIN-III project will across Kratie, Stung Treng, The province sold 4.35 trillion yuan seek to develop additional Preah Vihear and Oddar worth of products abroad, marking year- services to enhance the pro- Meanchey provinces, which on-year growth of 0.2 per cent and a record duction of safe horticultural are classified as remote and high, while its imports came to 2.73 trillion products, SNV said. plateau regions along the yuan, a year-on-year drop of 2.6 per cent. It remarked that CHAIN- Kingdom’s international bor- Guangdong had a trade surplus of 1.62 III is a follow-up to CHAIN- ders, according to Chhay. trillion yuan in 2020. With a total $10 million budget, the eight-year run of CHAIN projects, from 2014-2022, has been put in ASEAN has replaced Hong Kong as the II’s 2018-2020 run and place across Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. hENG CHIVOAN With special attention to CHAIN-I, which ran from women, he noted that in the largest trading partner of Guangdong, 2014 and successfully fina- ity in safe horticultural trade. able agriculture to increase Minister Veng Sakhon, who past six years, the project has which is home to myriad foreign-funded lised in 2017. By 2022, the project aims household incomes and nu- presided over the event, said provided a transformation for companies and joint ventures. The projects are funded to provide sustainable in- trition for Cambodians. CHAIN-III is in line with the nearly 10,000 farmers from Guangdong achieved trade volume of by the Swiss Agency for De- come growth to 15,000 He said: “We appreciate Agriculture Sector Strategic traditional subsistence agri- 1.09 trillion yuan with ASEAN last year, velopment and Cooperation homestead farmers, 3,000 and highly evaluate the Min- Development Plan 2019-2023 cultural systems to commer- up 6.5 per cent year-on-year, while the (SDC) and implemented by commercial farmers and istry of Agriculture, Forestry and its vision of transform- cial and semi-commercial province reached a total trade volume of SNV and the Cambodian 1,200 processors, as well as and Fisheries and all stake- ing Cambodian agriculture ones to supply the market. one trillion yuan with Hong Kong, a year- Ministry of Agriculture, For- improve food security and holders for their efforts to into a modern sector which He said: “The project fo- on-year drop of 8.8 per cent. estry and Fisheries, it added. nutrition for 72,000 farmer effectively promote Cambo- is endowed with competitive cuses on the value chain Guangdong’s foreign trade with the US Chhay said the overall goal households, he said. dian horticultural produc- advantages, inclusivity, cli- of horticulture in all target and EU saw year-on-year growth of four of the project is to increase Speaking at the event, SDC tion, especially over the past mate change resistance and provinces and promotes sus- per cent and one per cent, respectively. the income and nutrition of director Markus Burli said three years, seeing that local sustainability, and that cre- tainable household income Trade with Taiwan grew by 7.9 per cent smallholder farmers in rural his agency would continue to vegetable production sup- ates prosperity and wellbe- growth and improved house- over the previous year. CHINA DAILY/ASIA areas of target provinces by in- support the agriculture minis- plies more than 68 per cent ing for Cambodians. hold food security and cli- NEWS NETWORK creasing production and qual- try and help develop sustain- of domestic consumption.” He expressed his belief that mate change resilience.” Krungsri logs 2020 net profit of $770 million THAILAND’S Krungsri (Bank increase of 17.1 per cent, or of Ayudhya and its business 267.62 billion, from December units) has announced net 2019, attributed to an increase profits of 23.04 billion baht in savings deposits. ($770 million) for 2020, repre- Net interest margin (NIM) senting a 14.5 per cent drop recorded a 3.47 per cent, from from its net profit in 2019. 3.60 per cent in 2019, driven by The bank attributed the interest rate reductions following sharp drop to provisioning for assistance measures for custom- future uncertainties given the ers impacted by the pandemic. Covid-19 outbreak in mid- Non-interest income dropped December and the fragile out- 3.877 billion baht or 10.6 per cent look for economic recovery. from normalised non-interest The bank cited achievements income in 2019, resulting from including the status conversion lower fee and service income fol- of its Cambodia subsidiary, Hat- lowing the economic slowdown. tha Kaksekar Ltd, from a micro- Cost to income ratio finance firm to a commercial improved to 42.52 per cent bank named Hattha Bank; its from 45.1 per cent in 2019. ASEAN expansion by acquiring Non-performing loans (NPL) a 50 per cent stake in SB Finance ratio ended up at two per cent, Company, a subsidiary of Secu- compared to 1.98 per cent in rity Bank Corp (SBC) in the Phil- December 2019. ippines; investment in and stra- Coverage ratio hit a new high tegic alliance with Grab; and the of 175.12 per cent, from 163.82 successful launch of Kept – an per cent in December 2019. online savings management Capital adequacy ratio was at platform it said has been well- 17.92 per cent, compared to 16.56 received by target groups. per cent in December 2019. As of December 31, 2020, Krungsri president and CEO Krungsri, Thailand’s fifth largest Seiichiro Akita said the Thai bank in terms of assets, loans economy would take at least and deposits, reported 2.61 tril- two years before returning to lion baht in total assets. its pre-pandemic level. Krung- Other key highlights of Krung- sri Research forecasts the Thai sri’s consolidated 2020 results are economy will grow by 2.5 per a 0.8 per cent rise in loan growth, cent in 2021, from its low base or 15.058 billion baht, from of 6.4 per cent contraction in December 2019, driven by retail 2020 – barring heightened risk and SME loans which grew by 2.2 from the domestic outbreak. and two per cent. Corporate The bank said its capital was loans contracted by 1.5 per cent, strong at 276.26 billion baht, mainly due to loan repayments equivalent to 17.92 per cent of made by Thai corporates. risk-weighted assets, with 12.85 Deposit growth totalled per cent in common equity tier 1 1.834505 trillion baht, an capital. THE NATION (THAILAND)/ANN 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Rush as PTT SK Holdings to invest in advanced business’ IPO subscription materials, green, bio, digital sectors opens Jan 24 K Holdings, an investment- focused holdings firm within THAILAND’S Kasikornbank and South Korea’s SK Group, on Janu- Krungthai Bank have advised ary 24 said it will focus its invest- investors not to rush with their mentS on four business areas – advanced subscription to PTT Oil and materials, green, bio and digital. Retail Business (OR) shares as it For investment expertise and effi- is open until February 2. ciency, the company has reorganised They made the statement after its operations according to the four the subscription system of three sectors, it added. banks, namely Kasikornbank, CEO Jang Dong-hyun said in a press Krungthai Bank and Bangkok release: “2021 will be a meaningful Bank, crashed at 9am on January year for SK Holdings in this four-way 24 due to high user traffic. investment drive.” OR has set the price of its The company kicked off the year three-billion-share initial public with a 1.6 trillion won ($1.45 billion) offering (IPO) – including 390 investment in US hydrogen fuel cell million overallotment shares – company Plug Power. at between 16 and 18 baht ($0.53 Jang said not only will SK Holdings and $0.60) per share, including strive to enlarge its investment portfolio 595.7 million shares being of companies with high growth poten- offered to individual investors tial, but it will also foster an environ- from January 24 to February 2. ment where it can make progress to- OR is using the small lot first gether with a diverse range of partners. method to ensure that indi- The company’s advanced materials vidual investors would be able centre will search for semiconductor to receive the company’s and battery components businesses shares. The subscription to stay ahead in the field, which is amount has been set at 18 baht expected to see rapid growth on the SK Holdings kicked off the year with a 1.6 trillion won ($1.45 billion) investment in US hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power. YONHAP NEWS AGENCY per share. OR will refund the back of big data, artificial intelligence difference to subscribers if the (AI) and autonomous vehicles. ate holders in chemicals, new materi- team members have over 15 years of this acquisition successfully materia- final offering price is different SK Holdings touts its foresight in the als and polymers to make technology- experience in the energy business on lise, SK Holdings would be comple- from the subscription price. takeovers of SK Siltron and SK Materi- aware investments. average, according to SK Holdings. menting its CMO capacity, which so The refund will be made by als. SK Siltron, producer of key semi- As for the green investment centre, In the bio investment centre, SK far is limited to chemicals. February 17 (in case of cash pay- conductor component silicon wafers, the team there will look at new and Holdings is staking its hopes on a two- SK Holdings drug CMO subsidiary ment) or February 22 (in case of was acquired by SK Holdings in Au- renewable energy and energy-saving track business model of novel drug SK Pharmteco, albeit with facilities in cheque payment) if shares are gust 2017 from LG Corp. business models for new growth mo- development and contract manufac- South Korea, the US and Europe, can not allotted to subscribers. SK Materials, producer of indus- mentum and to rise to the global ini- turing organisation (CMO) work. only produce chemical drugs and not According to the Securities trial gas used in the manufacturing of tiative “RE100”, which aims to achieve SK Holdings has SK Biopharmaceu- biologics drugs. and Exchange Commission, semiconductors and display panels, 100 per cent renewable electricity. ticals for novel drugs that affect the Through Yposkesi, SK Holdings the fundraising aims to sup- was acquired by SK Holdings in Feb- Alternative food, recycling and the central nervous system. More recently, aims to become a top-tier CMO and port OR’s five-year expansion ruary 2016 from OCI. novel use of carbon dioxide are other in December 2020, the holdings firm a rival to Korean front-runners Sam- plan, such as increasing the The holdings firm also expanded its areas of eco-friendly business that SK invested $200 million in US biologics sung Biologics and Celltrion. number of PTT stations, fuel reach to copper foil, one of the key in- Holdings is following closely. firmR oivant for the latter’s AI-powered In the digital investment centre, SK distribution centres, retail gredients in electric vehicle batteries, SK Holdings’ hydrogen business “targeted protein degraders”. Holdings plans to fund emerging tech- stores and overseas business. by investing 100 billion won in China’s team, comprising some 20 energy In 2021, SK Holdings is pushing to nology-based businesses in areas such as The company will use the Wason in July. experts from relevant subsidiaries SK acquire France’s cell-and-gene thera- green mobility, data, global logistics infra- funds to repay loans and invest SK Holdings’ advanced materials E&S, SK Innovation and more, will re- py contract manufacturing and devel- structure and liquefied natural gas stor- in new businesses. THE NATION investment centre will recruit doctor- port directly to the CEO. The hydrogen opment company Yposkesi. Should age. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK India, VN agree need to enhance investment, trade ties

TRADE and investment ties between Minh City last week, Indian ambas- Four areas in which Indian compa- “Vietnam and India are both strong ism infrastructure, and Vietnam has Vietnam and India, both dynamic and sador to Vietnam Pranay Verma said nies have strength and technological emerging economies, with rich histo- good experience in promoting tour- rapidly developing economies, are not the Southeast Asian country is an know-how, infrastructure, energy ries and cultures, each focused on ism, and so “this is one of the areas commensurate with the potential and important trade and investment including renewables, IT, and phar- improving the lives of their citizens and that India can benefit from Vietnam- need to be enhanced, according to partner for his country, but bilateral maceuticals, are among the sectors realising their enormous potentials. ese investment”, he said. their officials and diplomats. trade and investment remains low they need to promote cooperation “We are both stronger when we Vietnamese ambassador to India Speaking at an online and face-to- compared to the potential. and engagement, besides healthcare work together to further eliminate the Pham Sanh Chau said the giant country, face webinar on the India-Vietnam “We need to . . . identify new areas and the digital economy, according barriers to trade and investment and with a population of almost 1.4 billion, Investment Forum held in Ho Chi and explore new opportunities.” to the ambassador. create even more favourable condi- would be a promising market for Viet- Deputy Minister of Planning and tions for businesses to succeed.” namese enterprises, especially in fields Investment Tran Duy Dong said: “In like textiles and food processing. order to take advantage of the oppor- VN investment in India Sumita Dawra, additional secretary tunities after the Covid-19 pandemic, Verma said: “When we talk about in India’s Department for Promotion it is time now for Vietnamese and an investment partnership, we tend of Industry and Internal Trade, said her Indian businesses to grasp opportuni- to focus on Indian investment in Viet- government had recently taken steps ties for cooperation and diversifying nam, but I think as Vietnam’s eco- to facilitate and attract investment. supply sources to together penetrate nomic capacity and economic profile Don Lam said: “Companies from both the global value chain deeper. grow, it is time to also focus on the countries still know very little about “Vietnam welcomes Indian business- possibility and potential of Vietnam- each other or about the opportunities es to invest in processing and manufac- ese investment in India.” in each market. Part of that is because turing, the automotive supporting Vietnamese investment in India is there is not a lot of promotion. But industry, information and communica- now only around $30 million, mainly events like today’s are a good beginning, tion technology, renewable energy, in pharmaceuticals, IT, building but we can always do more.” high-tech agriculture and innovation. materials, and chemicals while India’s The Indian consulate general in Ho “These are areas in which Indian is $1.9 billion including through third Chi Minh City has said it would soon businesses have strengths and are in countries, according to Verma. organise trade and investment meet- line with Vietnam’s desire to attract There are many sectors in India ings with all 27 provinces under its foreign investment.” open to foreign investment, includ- jurisdiction to invite Indian invest- Don Lam, deputy chairman of the ing Vietnamese. ment and expand the trade basket. Committee IV under the Prime Minis- He said: “Areas you have significant The webinar was organised by the ter’s Advisory Council for Administra- strength in, for example, urban infra- consulate in collaboration with the tive Procedure Reform and co-founder structure development, agriculture Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for and CEO of VinaCapital, said: “Viet- and food processing, I am very keen Administrative Procedure Reform, the namese and Indian companies can to see Vietnamese investors come to Investment and Trade Promotion Cen- leverage their respective strengths and invest in India.” tre of Ho Chi Minh City, and VinaCap- learn from the other in areas such as Another area is tourism infrastruc- ital Group, the forum attracted nearly The online and face-to-face webinar on the India-Vietnam Investment Forum is held in IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, renewable ture, he said. 500 Indian and Vietnamese compa- Ho Chi Minh City last week. VIET NAM NEWS energy and agricultural processing. India is looking at upgrading tour- nies. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26 , 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus Books

D’s teamed up with Raintree to hold the Phsar Book! flash sale. supplied

D’s Books – Phnom Penh’s longest-running independent book store – opened in 2004. Post staff The shop stocks more than 50,000 titles Post staff

“D’s Books is managed by a female manage the store. I agreed of course!” entrepreneur, which also speaks to Mom recalls. Raintree’s mission to support local And it was when Goos sold his and women entrepreneurs,” said interests in the Kingdom that Mom Chan Penhleak, community manager joined the ranks of Cambodia’s D’s Books at Raintree. female entrepreneurs. The collaboration with Raintree “In 2011, Derrick decided to sell his comes as part of expansion plans for various businesses, and I didn’t hesitate D’s Books, with further such tie-ups to buy D’s Books. The shop and ’s Books – Phnom Penh’s planned, as well as online and Face- our books were like my children still igniting longest-running indepen- book sales, and bringing books to the then and still are. I’ve never looked dent book store – is looking public with stalls at outlets of major back and still love D’s and all our books to reignite people’s passion coffee chains. as much as I did all those years ago. Dfor books with events such as the “I have big plans for D’s future. “We pretty much sell all genres – Phsar Book!@Raintree flash sale. Fingers crossed that normality can classics, bestsellers, sci-fi, biographies, passion for Vantha Douk – known to everyone come back soon and all small busi- modern literature, sci-fi, children’s as “Mom” and the long-serving owner nesses can move past what has been books. We have some of everything, and manager of D’s Books – says such a difficult time,” said Mom. and for sure a book for anyone books are needed now more than ever. A real book shop for all book lovers, looking. Just come by and ask. “The Phsar Book! flash sale at Rain- D’s – which Mom says stocks more “Our children’s books are hugely reading tree was a huge success. It was great than 50,000 titles – first opened its popular because there aren’t many to connect with new people through doors on Street 240 back in 2004. places offering such a large variety at books, and I hope that having had “An American named Derrick Goos affordable prices. We supply all the big their love of books revitalised, they originally opened D’s Books. I began schools in Phnom Penh,” said Mom. The owner of Phnom Penh’s will keep coming back to continue working there from the first day it The market for books is expanding exploring all our books. opened as customer service staff, as the culture of reading in Cambo- longest-running independent book “Books are especially important helping customers find books and dia develops. The Big Bad Wolf Sale during the difficult current situation. keeping the shop neat and tidy. in January last year brought more store is redoubling her efforts to With people nervous about going out “I loved it, and from the first than one million brand new books due to the Covid pandemic, books help minute had a real passion for all in English to the Kingdom, while the make world-class books affordable pass the time and enable you to meet these wonderful books. 8th Cambodia Book Fair held at the new people and explore new worlds,” “Derrick saw that passion, and National Library the month before at- and accessible to all in the Kingdom. she said. when the job of store manager became tracted 170,000 visitors. Phsar Book! was held at the available, which was previously held “What has been really great to see Raintree modern office rental and by a foreigner, he asked me if I could over the last five to eight years is that events space venue in the capital from so many Cambodians have started to January 13-15. Open to everyone, the read more and more, and are coming three-day event was mostly attended to the shop. by professionals working in the Rain- “They want to read as much as they tree building and neighbouring offices, can and will stay for over an hour as well as university students. ” picking through our selection and Raintree hailed Mom – who says her reading different books. They contact “life mission is to build a reading cul- What has been really us a lot to ask about our stock and the ture for youth in Cambodia to see the great to see is that so particular books they are looking for. beautiful world outside of themselves” “This is so special for me because I – as an inspiration. many Cambodians have remember how amazed I was when “We were inspired by the passionate started to read more I first started by the hundreds of work that Vantha Douk, the owner of wonderful titles and covers, and all D’s Books, is championing – which is and more. To see them the reading I could do when I had a to make world-class books affordable share my passion for spare moment. and accessible to all in the country. “To see so many Cambodians “Raintree supports the learning and books is just fantastic share my passion for books is just development of our community, in- fantastic, and it makes me so happy,” Owner and manager of D’s Books Vantha Douk – known to everyone as ‘Mom’. Post staff cluding a reading culture in Cambodia. Vantha Douk / owner of D’s Books said Mom. 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World Greece, Aid groups urge US leader Biden to Turkey drop Yemen rebels from ‘terror’ list facing first

Defected Yemeni soldiers crisis talks join anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah since 2016 Saleh, in Sanaa. afp Greece and Turkey bowed to EU and NATO pressure and were set on January 25 to hold the first direct talks over their explosive eastern Mediterra- nean standoff in four years. The Istanbul meeting is not expected to make major headway after the two NATO neighbours’ gunboats collided in August as their dispute over energy and borders threat- ened to spiral out of control. But it adds to the positive tone that Turkish President Recep Erdogan has been set- ting as he tries to repair dam- aged relations with Europe in the face of a potentially more hostile US administration un- der President Joe Biden. And it could lay the ground- work for the eventual delinea- tion of one of the world’s most recently discovered regions of proven natural gas reserves. Greek Prime Minister Kyri- akos Mitsotakis said Athens was entering the so-called exploratory talks “with opti- mism and hope” – a comment echoed by Turkish foreign WENTY-TWO aid A January 24 joint statement seized the capital Sanaa and surgents, over fears the move listing would hit commercial minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. groups working in by 22 groups including Mercy much of northern Yemen in was worsening a humanitar- deliveries which make up Athens and Ankara held 60 Yemen on January 24 Corps, Oxfam and Save the 2014, sparking a Saudi-led in- ian crisis. most of Yemen’s food, fuel and rounds of talks between 2002 urged US President Children said: “This designa- tervention the following year. In their statement, the 22 aid medicines, and make money and 2016 that they broke off JToe Biden to remove the war- tion comes at a time when The conflict has since left groups said that “even with li- transfers and paying staff sala- without making progress in a torn country’s Huthi rebels famine is a very real threat to tens of thousands dead and cences and exemptions in place ries “even more difficult”. dispute that has lingered for from a terror blacklist, saying a country devastated by six millions displaced, in what for humanitarian work, the They added it could “hurt much of the past century. it could put millions of lives years of conflict, and it must the UN has called the world’s designation will have serious UN-led efforts to find a peace- Hostilities flared anew last at risk. be revoked immediately. worst humanitarian disaster. implications, causing delays ful solution to the conflict”. year when Ankara sent a re- The Trump administration’s “Any disruption to lifesaving Antony Blinken, Biden’s and uncertainty in our ability to This month Stephane Du- search ship accompanied by move against the insurgents aid operations and commercial pick for secretary of state, said deliver assistance [and] making jarric, spokesman for UN a navy flotilla into waters near had come into effect the day imports of food, fuel, medicine at his confirmation hearing it even more difficult to oper- secretary-general Antonio the Turkish shore which Greece before Biden took office, to and other essential goods will that he would “immediately” ate” in parts of Yemen home Guterres, called on the US to claims with EU support. resounding criticism from ex- put millions of lives at risk.” review the Trump adminis- to those most in need. reverse the Trump adminis- Turkey is furious that Greece perts, the UN and aid groups. The Iran-allied Huthis tration’s labelling of the in- They also warned that the tration’s move. afp is using its vast web of islands to lay claim to huge swathes of the Aegean and Mediterra- nean Seas. The two sides cite a range of decades-old treaties and inter- White House: Covid travel bans to be reinstated national agreements to sup- port their conflicting claims. President Joe Biden Biden has said the Covid- demic entered full force. NATO has set up a hotline will re-impose a Covid-19 19 death toll would likely rise More than 25 million to stave off a military conflict, travel ban on most non-US from 420,000 to half a million Covid-19 cases have been while Germany has spear- citizens who have been in next month – and that dras- recorded in the US since the headed efforts to solve the Britain, Brazil, Ireland and tic action was needed. pandemic began, according dispute through negotiations much of Europe, a White He said on January 21: to the Johns Hopkins Uni- that do not further isolate the House official said on Janu- “We’re in a national emer- versity tally on January 24. mercurial Erdogan. ary 24, as the new admin- gency. It’s time we treated it The milestone was reached These will not be easy as istration ramps up its pan- like one.” only five days after the US, the Athens and Ankara clashed demic response. In his last days in office, world’s wealthiest and hardest- over their agenda last week. Biden on January 25 was Donald Trump announced hit nation, recorded 400,000 Greece wants to limit the also set to extend the ban to that a Covid-19 ban on trav- deaths from the disease. discussions between the two travellers who have recently ellers arriving from much Biden has made fighting countries’ deputy foreign been to South Africa amid of Europe and Brazil would the coronavirus a priority ministers to continental shelf warnings that new, more be lifted – but the Biden ad- and is pushing for Congress borders and the size of exclu- transmissible coronavirus ministration immediately to approve a $1.9-trillion sive economic zones. variants are already estab- said it would reverse the or- relief package that would But Ankara also accuses Ath- lishing themselves in the US, der due to come into effect include billions of dollars to ens of illegally stationing troops the official said, confirming on January 26. boost vaccination rates. on some of its islands and wants the country’s media reports. Trump had announced an The president, who was to discuss aerial zones – a sep- The new president last initial ban on January 31, inaugurated on January arate dispute that saw a Greek week tightened mask wear- last year on non-US travel- 20, has said he wants 100 pilot killed when his jet collided ing rules and ordered quar- lers entering from China to million people vaccinated with a Turkish one in 2006. antine for people flying into try to stop the spread of the within his first 100 days in “It’s not right to choose one the US, as he seeks to tackle coronavirus. The ban was office, and he has called for US President Joe Biden signs executive orders as part of the Covid-19 [subject] and say: ‘We’re holding the country’s worsening extended to European coun- US citizens to “wear masks response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC exploratory talks on this,’” Ca- coronavirus crisis. tries on March 14 as the pan- for 100 days”. afp on Thursday. afp vusoglu fumed last week. afp THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN Lao ambassador hails leadership role of CPV ahead of 13th Congress he Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV) sound and clear-sighted leadership has driven the national revolu- tionaryT cause as well as helped the Southeast Asian country gain an in- creasing position on the internation- al area, said Lao ambassador to Viet- nam Sengphet Houngboungnuang. In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency, the Lao diplomat looked back on the historical significance of the CPV’s foundation on February 3, 1930 as well as its important role in leading the people in the cause of na- tional protection and development. He particularly laid stress on the CPV’s introduction of the “Doi Moi” (renewal) policy in 1986, holding that it played a crucial part in the country’s stable politics, impressive economic growth, and improved liv- ing conditions of people. Despite rapid and complicated developments in the global and regional situation in the past five years, Vietnam had attained re- markable achievements in various sectors thanks to the CPV’s, state’s and people’s high determination and efforts, Sengphet said. Vietnam was one of the 10 countries in the world posting the highest eco- nomic growth, with an annual average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.9 per cent in the past five years, the ambassador said, adding that without the Covid-19 pandemic, Lao ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang (right) hails the leadership role of Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY/VIET NAM NEWS the nation’s economy could have ex- panded by over seven per cent. last year, the country successfully illustration of the CPV’s sound and He expressed his strong belief that and people in the country, as well as Along with resounding successes in fulfilled its roles as the ASEAN Chair ingenious leadership in the past the Congress would have rosy im- international friends. the fields of culture-society, health- 2020 and AIPA-41 Chair, and did a year, Sengphet underscored. pacts on the country’s socio-econo- The CPV had paid due attention care, education and science-technol- good job as a non-permanent mem- The Lao diplomat also spoke high- my in the coming time, adding that to promoting democracy, transpar- ogy, Vietnam has seen breakthrough ber of the UN Security Council for ly of Vietnam’s meticulous prepara- Vietnam would realise its develop- ency and compliance with current progress in external affairs and in- the 2020-2021 tenure. tions for the upcoming 13th CPV ment goals of becoming an upper regulations, with documents to be ternational integration, helping im- Furthermore, the country’s econ- Congress, with a bundle of draft middle-income nation by 2030, and submitted to the congress being in- prove the nation’s prestige in the re- omy size topped $343 billion last documents compiled based on a high-income nation by 2045. troduced to all party members, of- gion and the world, he stressed. year with a per-capita GDP of more opinion collection from researchers, The ambassador said the Congress ficials, and people through various Although Vietnam was battered than $3,500. officials, party members and people had received special attention from means of media, he stressed. VIET NAM by Covid-19 and natural disasters These achievements are a vivid from all walks of life. all CPV members, officials, soldiers NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Thai prime minister gives private sector the nod to Thailand: Vehicles emitting black import Covid-19 vaccines smoke will face fines of up to $167 THAI Prime Minister Prayut vaccines’ quality, safety and In an attempt to reduce PM2.5 pollution, Chan-o-cha has allowed the effectiveness before allowing Thailand’s Department of Land Transport private sector to import Covid- private firms to vaccinate peo- will impose heavy fines on the owners of 19 vaccines, government ple,” he said. vehicles that emit black smoke exceeding spokesman Anucha Burapach- He added that the FDA had the safety standard. aisri said on January 24. summoned internal and exter- Department director-general Jirut He said private firms, how- nal experts to accelerate the Wisanjit on January 24 said the maximum ever, must first register vac- approval of Covid-19 vaccines. would be 5,000 baht ($167) and suspen- cines with the Food and Drug “However, we still cannot ease sion of vehicle use until it was fixed. Administration (FDA) by sub- regulations regarding the pro- Jirut said his department had been mitting documents regarding curement of vaccines because implementing the Ministry of Transport’s each jab’s quality, safety and it is a product related to the life policy to reduce dust particles less than 2.5 effectiveness for Thai people. of the people,” he said. THE NATION micrometres in the air in Bangkok. “The FDA will evaluate the (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK He said: “Since the beginning of fiscal year 2019 until January 2021, the depart- ment has inspected 689,333 vehicles in Bangkok areas and has suspended 8,762 vehicles from usage until they have their emission system fixed. “As for vehicles that emit high volume of black smoke but do not exceed the safety limit, the department issues warnings to the owners and urges them to inspect their Motorists can help reduce air pollution caused by black smoke and PM2.5 dust particles by having their vehicle condition and make sure they were vehicles regularly serviced at department-certified vehicle inspection centres nationwide. THE NATION properly maintained. “The department has opened vehicle and pay tax. electric or NGV- [natural gas for vehicles] inspection centres that also accept motor- “Motorists can help reduce air pollution powered vehicles which have low to zero vehicle tax payment at Phutthamonthon, caused by black smoke and PM2.5 dust emission. The department has promoted Romklao and Khlong Luang product dis- particles by having their vehicles regularly the latter approach by reducing the annu- tribution centres, in a bid to help reduce serviced at department-certified vehicle al motor-vehicle tax on low-emission vehi- Prayut said private firms must first ubmit documents regarding each the number of large vehicles entering inner inspection centres nationwide. cles under the Vehicle Act BE 2522.” THE jab’s quality, safety and effectiveness for Thai people. THE NATION Bangkok to have their vehicle inspected “Alternately, they can switch to using NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion Global recovery needs fresh www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng approach to EU-ASEAN relations Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Opinion Phak Seangly Dupito Simamora Business Editor May Kunmakara HE struggle to survive the Deputy Business Editor Covid-19 pandemic shows Sangeetha Amarthalingam how the world is just one big Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk village. We share different val- Pan Simala ues,T cultures and political views and Senior Reporters we also draw political boundaries to Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng separate one country from another. Reporters But the pandemic has shown us Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, that what we do as a community will Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Mom Kunthear, affect others. Thus, quoting Indone- Hong Raksmey, Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, sian Foreign Minister Retno Marsu- Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, di’s remarks at the annual press state- Soth Koemsoeun, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha ment, we need to recover stronger Photographers together to achieve a global recovery. Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey The EU’s discriminatory policies Web Editor and regulations on palm oil have hurt Leang Phannara economic and political ties between Digital Team the bloc and ASEAN’s palm oil-pro- Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy ducing countries. Considering the SIEM REAP BUREAU importance of these ties toward Offi ce Manager mutual recovery, it is imperative that Sophearith Blondeel the two sides come to the negotiation PRODUCTION & PRINTING table with clean slates and an honest Head of Desktop Publishing intent to work hand-in-hand. Nhim Sokphyrak The EU, for its part, must acknowl- Desktop Publishing edge the credible and scientifically Palm oil’s contributions to global emissions or biodiversity loss is minor compared to the overall emissions of developed countries. afp Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath proven claims that palm oil is one of Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna the best choices available. Productivity ples from poverty, created jobs and oil black will therefore be cleared ported by a readily available solution. is just one example. On the other hand, generated revenue that has improved once the EU acknowledges the capa- Palm oil’s contributions to global

palm oil-producing countries in the development. All that happened bility of ASEAN palm oil-producing emissions or biodiversity loss is ASEAN need to take into account the without land expansion. The fact that countries in fostering sustainable minor when compared to the overall EU’s concern about the loss of tropical the Indonesian government has development and fulfilling the pre- emissions of developed countries. HEAD OFFICE wetlands and forests in Southeast Asia. enforced a land expansion moratori- mium market. This mutual under- Palm oil-producing countries have Post Media Co., Ltd. Thus, the formation of a joint work- um for oil palm plantations deserves standing will indeed be key to the repeatedly shown that they are up to The Elements Condominium Level 7, ing group (JWG) on vegetable oils applause. achievement of the UN’s Sustainable the challenge of reducing the indus- Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, that came about from the recent EU- The EU has long been viewed as an Development Goals (SDGs), which trial impacts. From protecting high Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom ASEAN Ministerial Meeting is a fresh antagonist by palm oil-producing have guided palm oil-producing conservation value areas to the Penh, Cambodia opportunity to have mutual contri- countries. It is essential for the EU to countries’ commitment to sustaina- reduction of emissions in industry Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 butions and find solutions to the glo- acknowledge that countries like Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 bility. After all, a holistic approach to operations, no other commodity has bal village’s challenges. Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 Indonesia have made efforts to pro- the environment and the UN SDGs such a high level of support from SIEM REAP The loss of forests in the tropics in duce sustainable palm oil, as evident are part of the ASEAN-EU consensus. governments to civil societies and No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune the past three decades cannot be in the sustainable certification Even further, should the EU and environmental groups. Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 denied as developing countries If banning palm oil is the EU’s COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT strode toward development and self- option, will it be willing to accept mil- Chief Operating Offi cer reliance. What is clearly deniable are Any earlier decisions on palm lions of palm oil farmers as migrants? James Ong Soon Teck arguments that blame the deforesta- Therefore, failure is not an option. Advertising Department tion on the palm oil industry. Fur- oil must be shelved as the EU The JWG is a litmus test for the EU Chap Narith, 017 996 241 thermore, oil palm plantations have and ASEAN to deliver the solutions Hun Channet, 017 578 768 been attributed to forest fires and the and ASEAN countries look to needed to the problems and to deliv- Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 extinction of orangutans. er them in time. Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 As the palm oil industry has build back better Responding to Retno’s call for Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 matured in the past decade, the focus recovering stronger and together, Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 has been placed on protecting the known as ISPO. It is also worthy to ASEAN find agreement on this, a UN producing countries must strive for CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION overall landscape, not just for palm note that the Council of Palm Oil Pro- General Assembly resolution could making palm oil the most sustainable Acting Distribution Manager oil but for all forest products. In fact, ducing Countries (CPOPC) intends to easily make it a truly global norm for vegetable oil on earth. On the other Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Indonesia is the eighth-largest con- start a study on principles of sustain- all vegetable oils. In the meantime, hand, all vegetable oils should be giv- Circulation Supervisor tributor of the world’s tree canopies able palm oil that could form a any earlier decisions on palm oil must en space to feed the world. Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 and a prominent actor behind the framework to cover all vegetable oils. be shelved as the EU and ASEAN One condition should be met: all Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 initiatives to protect high conserva- The fact that the EU is the most eco- countries look to build back better. oils are answerable to one standard, ADMINISTRATION tion value (HCV) or high carbon conscious market and is willing to pay The devastated global economies including reducing their ecological Admin & HR Manager stock (HCS) areas to preserve the premium prices for sustainable vegeta- resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic impact, whether it be for food or fuel. Pich Socheat endemic fauna and flora. ble oil needs to be taken into account, should be rehabilitated using a proper THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Assistants Admin & HR Manager The palm oil industry has shown and there is no better venue for this to approach. The commitments made by Nhel Soaphea remarkable achievements. It has, for happen than at the JWG. nations and global corporations to The writer is deputy executive of the Council of Financial Director example, alleviated millions of peo- The rhetoric that has painted palm free us from fossil fuels must be sup- Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

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Hong Raksmey

T DAWN, Men Theoun packs his supplies – rice, drinking water, a hammock, a rain tent, a plate, bowl and a pot –A and carries them on his back as he walks into the forest once again. Theoun grew up deep inside terri- tory controlled by the Khmer Rouge and he learned how to use a gun at a very young age and also how to sur- vive alone in the forest. Years ago he would head into the forest on hunting expeditions in or- der to obtain animal parts such as horns, ivory and leather to sell to Vietnamese vendors. Environment ministry secretery of state Neth Pheaktra (left) awards Theoun a certificate to recognise Theoun, now 41, said that “nor- his conservation efforts as a forest ranger. supplied mally I would manage to get one or two pairs of banteng and wild ox horns from a trip and I’d get paid be- tween 30,000 and 40,000 riel [$7.50 and $10] for them.” Today, Theoun is a forest ranger working for the government and when he goes hiking in the forest it is to fulfil his duty to protect the natural resources at Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary. “The local people understood that I was an experienced hunter and that I knew my way around the forest, so they recommended that I be hired as a forest ranger,” he says. Theoun has now worked for the Ministry of Environment as a ranger for well over 10 years – an even lon- ger period than he spent in his for- Men Theoun is a hunter-turned-ranger. supplied Theoun displays tools used by hunters to trap and kill wild animals. supplied mer career as a hunter. The main duties of the rangers are conservation achievements. from animals that he killed, though was out hunting alone he had many they don’t care – they point their guns to guard against hunting, electrified most of it was tossed aside. encounters with danger over the and shoot directly at us. A few years traps, snaring, logging and foraging for Solitary hunter “I did not have a motorbike to years. ago one of our rangers was shot but wild orchids as well as generally pre- Theoun says that when he was a travel or a truck to transport large “When I closed my eyes, my gun luckily he survived,” Theoun says. venting anyone from illegally entering young child growing up in one of animals. Going on foot in the jungle also slept. So I could not depend “We’ve caught criminals with guns the core protected areas. the Khmer Rouge’s last remaining is tiring and you need to travel light on it for protection all of the time. in their hands and dead animals at He blames the use of snares and strongholds, the forest was just a and so I carried the horns on my Some nights I would sleep up in a their feet. I’m glad I was never arrested electrified traps chiefly for emptying playground to him and his friends back and always left a huge amount tree. Once an elephant came and but if I had been maybe I would have the forests of wild animals. and guns were so common they of wasted meat there,” said Theoun. rubbed its body up against the tree chosen a different life sooner. Theoun says that back when he was treated them like toys. and I almost fell from the branches. “When I think back to what I did I a hunter, aside from a small market At the age of ten, Theoun would Team player “I managed to hold on but my feel angry with myself and I always for animal horns, there were few peo- sometimes run and hide to escape Theoun is still trekking through the gun dropped to the ground. Luckily ask hunters we catch why they keep ple hunting. And if they were hunting from the fighting. He used the dirt as same forests more than two decades it went off and that scared it away,” hunting,” Theoun says. for food then one animal might feed his bed, grass as his pillow and the later but as a ranger his activities there Theoun says. Theoun says that some of the their family for two weeks. sky as a blanket. and how he feels about them couldn’t Theoun warns, how- criminals they’ve encountered have Today, however, Theoun says that “Sometimes I had to run from gun- be more different than what he ever, that even when been his neighbours but that doesn’t wild animal meats are sold at the fire and I’d get lost in the forest for a experienced as a hunter. you are with a team stop him from enforcing the law. markets and are potentially being week. I got used to living in the forest Generally, the rangers of experienced “I work with a group of rangers and consumed by larger numbers of and shooting my gun,” he recalls. spend five days a week rangers the for- also people from WWF-Cambodia, so people, most of whom who aren’t At some point in the years after the patrolling the forest and est can some- it isn’t just one person who decides hunters themselves. Khmer Rouge finally gave up in late then get two days off. If times be a dan- and we always follow the law no mat- “I can see with my own eyes that the 1990 and many of its soldiers were they are on a special mis- gerous place. ter who it is,” Theoun says. wild animal population is far different absorbed into the ranks of the regular sion, they might extend their “We’ve got- Theoun often catches snare trappers from what it was previously. Two de- military, Theoun became a young adult stay up to 10 days. ten into gun fights these days and he is dismayed when he cades ago if I walked few kilometres and started his career as a hunter. “The two lives I’ve lived in the with criminals out sees some of the same faces over time. during the day I would see herds of “I started hunting near the Phnom forest are very different from each there. They see we “They get sent to court and then a animals, up to 20 or 30 at a time. But Prich border in Kratie on up to the bor- other. When I was hunt- are rangers few days later they are home and they now I rarely see them in groups larger der between Cambodia and Vietnam. ing, I was out there and return to the forest again and again. than maybe five or seven,” he says. At that time control over guns was still alone but when I We’ve arrested some groups more than Though the government rangers very poor and everybody out there patrol as a ranger once now and most of them are from have experience and expertise with carried one. A gun was just like a sling- I am with a team Kratie and Kampong Chhnang prov- patrolling the forest, apprehending shot,” Theoun says. that does ev- inces,” he complains. criminals and protecting natural re- Back then there were an abun- erything to- Theoun says that his change of sources, they will need to be trained dance of wild animals, Theoun says, gether” says heart came about gradually as he further according to the ministry. such as banteng, sambar and Eld’s Theoun. grew older and began to realise that “Rangers need training in new tech- deer as well as elephants and tigers. Being out if the situation in Cambodia didn’t nology. They should learn new tech- Theoun says that as a hunter he in the for- change the forests he’d spent so many niques and increase their knowledge would only shoot animals that were est with a years in would all be gone along with in order to strengthen their capacity to large enough for their parts to yield team is a the animals that live in them. protect the forest,” said Neth Pheak- a good price at the market. big advan- Pointing to the Kingdom’s flag and tra, secretary of state and spokesper- After he gunned the animals down tage, says the ministry’s logo on his uniform son for the ministry. he would strip them of those valuable Theoun. with pride, Theoun tells The Post that “I Pheaktra spoke in front of rang- parts, such as horns, and then usually When know some animal parts can fetch high ers from Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary just leave their bodies there to rot. h e prices today, but being rich doesn’t and Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctu- Sometimes Theoun hunted with mean anything to me. ary in Mondulkiri on January 17 in a friend but mostly he went out on “I decided to change my career a ceremony that awarded Theoun his own. He would set up his sup- from hunting wild animals to pro- and several other top rangers with plies so that he’d be able to stay in tecting them for a salary of just certificates from the ministry and the jungle for several days and he 80,000 riel and I don’t regret it for a WWF-Cambodia to recognise their could also eat some of the meat moment,” he says. 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

First-time volunteer Vanessa Simonson plants a stake to attach a recycled Christmas tree. AFP Recycled Christmas trees protect coast in US’ Texas oni Capretta stands Hunched over or kneeling, larly violent storm season. on a patch of coast they used untreated pine stakes Phil Klotzbach, an atmo- along the Gulf of Mex- and natural fibre twine to fasten spheric researcher at Colo- ico in the US state of some 3,000 donated Christmas rado State University, said: TexasT where just seven months trees firmly to the sand. “The 2020 Atlantic hurricane earlier the dunes were nearly season was extremely active. her height. Now they are gone. Storm season “The season had 30 named Her town of Surfside Beach After a few months, wind- storms – the most on record for comes alive during the sum- blown sand begins to pile up, an Atlantic hurricane season.” mer months, when Texans trapped by the branches and flock to the coast, but the land- needles of the recycled trees, Widespread damage scape’s saving grace is straight until eventually they are en- The coast around Surfside out of a winter wonderland – tirely covered over. Beach had not seen such se- “DAY AFTER DAY” the beloved Christmas tree. “It’s kind of a perfect fit,” vere damage since 2008, with The recycled evergreens are said Bryan Frazier, the parks Hurricane Ike. But because no ACROSS 51 Nosh pit? 23 Impoverished used to construct new dune director of Brazoria county hurricane passed directly over, 1 Small fight 53 Honey-tongued 24 After-market item barriers to protect the sensi- that has supervised this op- it received no federal aid. 5 Creeping ground cover 55 Manhattan feature 26 Hooks for landing fish tive area from the ravages of eration since 1978. “The storms were not direct 10 Thing to beat 58 Blunder 27 Apportion powerful storms. “Over time, once the sand hits,” said Capretta. “When 14 Bowed, in a symphony 62 They’re busy every 168 hours? 28 Royal headgear Every winter, the Save our builds up on top of those nat- they are direct hits, you get a 15 First name among hoteliers 65 Ocean eagle 30 Some Ikea purchases Beach association, which ural Christmas trees, those lot of government funding.” 16 Roof repair site 66 Reclusive Garbo 32 Lend ___ (listen) Capretta heads, gathers hun- Christmas trees will dete- Still, the coast here was rav- 17 Publication every 168 hours? 67 Sarajevo resident 33 Inscribed stone slab dreds of volunteers to rebuild riorate and actually fertilise aged by sea surges from four 20 Shopper’s binge 68 Chorus member 34 Obviously contrived its dunes – much of which was some of the vegetation that powerful storms. 21 Soft Italian cheese 69 Pull-over sound 37 Police operation 40 Dick and Jerry washed back into the ocean by will grow on top of it.” It began in early June, 22 Wine valley 70 Sea urchin’s snack 41 What semis do last year’s record storm season. The technique works so when Tropical Storm Cristo- 25 Reggae star Peter DOWN 42 More nervous For the inhabitants of near- well that the county regularly bal roared through the Gulf of 26 B-movie lead-pumper 1 Jig and band 47 Printer’s direction by Lake Jackson and popu- fields requests for informa- Mexico before heading up the 29 Affirmative motions 2 Get ready for surgery 48 Arrows’ mates lous Houston a bit farther tion, as it did in 2012, when Mississippi Valley river. 31 Soundly defeat 3 PC maker 52 Large lemur inland, the 40km of beaches Superstorm Sandy ravaged Late in August, Hurricane 35 Ex-heavyweight champ 4 Subway rider’s need, once 54 Like a cool fall morning 36 Flaps 5 On the ___ (secretly) in Brazoria county – which the faraway Atlantic coasts of Laura struck Florida and Lou- 55 Transfusion fluids 38 Go ___ bigger things 6 Poet’s dusk includes Surfside Beach – of- New Jersey and New York. isiana after claiming dozens 56 Kesey and Griffey 39 It changes its taste every 168 7 No slacker fer a welcome haven for fish- Coastal erosion is a particu- of lives in Haiti and the Do- 57 Fancy water-pourer hours? 8 Drive crazy ing and sun-bathing. lar problem here. minican Republic. 59 Function or position 43 ___ song (cheaply) 9 Good-luck animal The Gulf dunes also provide Between the powerful cur- By mid-September, meteo- 60 Word with hygiene or exam 44 Nymph of Greek myth 10 Prison section refuge to hundreds of species rents of the Gulf of Mexico rologists had run through their 11 Not merely paying attention 61 “Answer, please” (Abbr.) 45 British brew of birds, to the sea turtles that and the mouths of two riv- usual list of storm names and 12 Iris place 62 Baseball mitt part 46 Where to find fans lay their eggs there, and even ers, the coast features “some had to turn to the Greek alpha- 13 Debussy’s “La ___” 63 Supped 49 Warm and cozy at times to alligators. of the most rapidly depleting bet. And late that month, tropi- 18 Rough shed 64 Amounted (to) 50 Sunshine unit On a recent county-spon- shoreline anywhere in Texas”, cal storm Beta rumbled through 19 Elegant and fashionable sored “Dunes Day”, Capretta Frazier said. the Gulf before making landfall was busily dispensing advice Last year, the Christmas tree 90km from Surfside Beach. Monday’s solution to the volunteers who had barriers built by volunteers The devastating storm se- come to renew their defence helped protect homes and the ries ended in October with of the sandy coastline. shore road during a particu- Hurricane Delta. AFP

Monday’s solution

A volunteer walks by a dune rebuilding sign as recycled Christmas trees lay on the ground during Dunes Day on Surfside Beach, Brazoria county, in the US state of Texas. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Buccaneers stun Packers to reach Super Bowl

om Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first team in NFL history to reach a home-turf Super Bowl on JTanuary with a 31-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The 43-year-old Brady advanced to a record 10th Super Bowl appearance as a late Packers fightback stalled in a thrilling NFC Championship game. Brady threw for three touchdowns and 280 passing yards as opposite number Aaron Rodgers’ dreams of leading the Packers to the Febru- ary 7 championship game in Tampa ended in bitter disappointment. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and 346 yards, but the Packers were left ruing a decision to go for a late field goal instead of a possible game-tying touchdown in the closing stages. “It’s been a long process for the whole team, and today was just a great team effort,” Brady said afterwards. “We played sporadically a little bit but the defense came up huge and we’re going to need it again in a cou- ple of weeks.” Brady, who left the New England Patriots last March after two de- cades, will now be chasing a seventh Super Bowl ring in what would be another improbable chapter to his age-defying career. He could also become only the second quarterback to lead different franchises to a Super Bowl title if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quaterback Tom Brady looks to pass against the Washington Football Team during the first half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game on January 9. Six-time Super Bowl champ Brady completed 22 of 40 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns as the Buccaneers won their first playoff contest in 18 years.GETTY IMAGES/AFP Buccaneers win next month’s game at their own Raymond James Stadium. going to for a long time, especially Crosby’s kick sailed through, but “This is a game where we needed Brady and the Bucs’ aggressive “We’ll get to enjoy this a little bit the way it played out and the chances the Packers defense were unable to seven and didn’t come up with it a cou- play-calling also paid off in the and then get ready to go against we had,” a downcast Rodgers said. win the ball back, and a costly pass ple times,” Rodgers said afterwards. final minute of the half, when a whoever we play,” said Brady. “The finality of it all, kind of hits interference penalty helped the Brady meanwhile breathed a sigh decision to attempt a fourth down The Buccaneers will face either the you like a ton of bricks. It’s a gutting Buccaneers keep possession and of relief after a wobbly second half conversion rather than punt was Buffalo Bills or the reigning Super feeling in your stomach.” run down the clock. display which saw him throw three successful. Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Rodgers and the Packers had Packers head coach Matt LaFleur consecutive interception passes. On the following play, Brady hit The Bills and the Chiefs were play- fought back from a 28-10 deficit ear- explained the decision by saying he By that stage however the Bucs Scotty Miller from 39 yards for a touch- ing on January 24 in the AFC Cham- ly in the second half to make it 28- felt the Green Bay defense would veteran had already put Tampa Bay down that put the Bucs up 21-10 at pionship decider. 23, before a Ryan Succop field goal win the ball back. into a position to win with a com- half-time. from 46 yards put the Buccaneers “The way our defense was playing posed first half performance. Brady tossed a third touchdown to ‘A gutting feeling’ eight points clear at 31-23. it felt like it was the right decision,” Brady hit Mike Evans for a touch- Cameron Brate for a 28-10 lead early The top-seeded Packers meanwhile But on the next drive, the Pack- LaFleur said. “It just didn’t work out.” down on the opening drive, and in the second half after a Packers were left reflecting on a costly call late ers opted to kick a field goal from It was a flat ending for the Packers then put Leonard Fournette into turnover. in the fourth quarter that ultimately Mason Crosby from 26 yards rather and Rodgers, who also paid the price possession to rush over from 20 Green Bay hit back with touchdowns handed possession to Tampa Bay and than attempt a fourth down conver- for failing to make the most of several yards after Rodgers had levelled for from Robert Tonyan and Davante Ad- allowed Brady to close out the game. sion to set up a possible game-tying visits to the red zone which ended in the Packers with a 50-yard bomb to ams to make it 28-23, but it was too “This one definitely stings and is touchdown. field goals rather than touchdowns. Marquez Valdes-Scantling. little too late for the hosts. AFP Etzebeth makes back-row debut, Toulon Hertha Berlin general rise to third after beating Stade Francais manager Preetz, head

South Africa’s Rugby World Cup win- coach Labbadia fired ner Eben Etzebeth started the first game of his career at blindside flanker in Tou- BUNDESLIGA strugglers Her- club’s youth academy. lon’s 35-13 victory at home over 14-man tha Berlin sacked both coach Schmidt said Hertha ex- Stade Francais on January 24. Bruno Labbadia and general pects to name a permanent Argentina fly-half Nicholas Sanchez was manager Michael Preetz on head coach “in the coming shown a red card on the stroke of half-time January 24 in a shake up fol- days”. after making contact with the head of the lowing their 4-1 thrashing at Preetz, 53, was shown the home side’s Baptiste Serin at a ruck. home by Werder Bremen. door after 25 years with Her- The three-time European champions The heavy defeat leaves tha, first as a player, then even- climbed up to third place as the visitors Hertha two points from tually becoming general man- remain in eighth, five points away from the relegation places in ager in 2009. the play-offs. the league table, which the He has been axed for failing Etzebeth was moved from lock by the club’s CEO Carsten Schmidt to move Hertha forward de- hosts’ coach Patrice Collazo minutes described as “a very precari- spite the spending of around before kick-off as Swann Rebbadj pulled ous situation”. €100 million ($122 million) in out in the warm-up. “After much deliberation, transfers last season, funded The Parisians’ coach Gonzalo Quesada we feel that a change of head by the club’s wealthy backer made 10 alterations from the loss at Tou- coach can give the team fresh Lars Windhorst. louse earlier this month. impetus,” Schmidt added in a Sports director and for- Collazo’s men led 15-6 just after the statement. mer Germany defender Arne half-hour mark as Nonu’s fellow ex-All Labbadia, 54, took charge Friedrich will take over Preetz’s Stade Francais flanker Gerbrandt Grobler (right) vies with Toulon lock Eben Etzebeth (left) in the Black Isaia Toeava and France fly-half French Top14 rugby union match both teams at Mayol stadium in Toulon on Sunday. AFP in April 2020 and kept Hertha responsibilities until the end Louis Carbonel crossed. in Germany’s top flight last of the season. Carbonel added to his account for one-man advantage and claimed a bo- his 20th appearance for Toulon. season, but the team has tak- Hertha face a tough run proceedings with the resulting penalty nus point in the second half thanks to Earlier, former New Zealand back-row- en just one point from four of fixtures next month with and his side led 18-6 at the interval. tries from hooker Christopher Tolofua er Luke Whitelock scored his first Pau try games in 2021. Bundesliga leaders Bayern During the first half, France captain and winger Bryce Heem. in the 32-27 loss to Brive. He is replaced by caretak- Munich and RB Leipzig, who Charles Ollivon left the field and failed a Lester Etien claimed his seventh try Etzebeth’s fellow World Cup winner er coach Pal Dardai, who are currently second. head injury assessment after a collision with of the season with a consolation effort Cheslin Kolbe made his injury return as was in charge of the first Both teams wil be visiting opposition back-rower Antoine Burban. for the capital city club before Etze- Toulouse hammered bottom side Agen team from 2015 until 2019 Berlin’s Olympic Stadium in Collazo’s side made the most of the beth completed the full 80 minutes on 59-0 on January 24. AFP before being moved to the February. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST january 26, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport FA Cup: Fernandes set piece knocks Liverpool out, Chelsea beat Luton

runo Fernandes’ lack of confidence will not superb free-kick sent have been helped by missing troubled Liverpool a penalty. crashing out of the Jordan Clark’s low shot crept FBA Cup as Manchester United past Kepa’s woeful attempted beat their bitter rivals 3-2 in save to give Luton a lifeline the fourth round, while Tam- and the world’s most expen- my Abraham’s hat-trick eased sive ‘keeper had to make a the pressure on Chelsea man- much more difficult stop to ager Frank Lampard in a win deny Harry Cornick an equa- over Luton on January 24. liser in the second half. Fernandes struck with 12 A brilliant team move finally minutes left at Old Trafford killed the tie off 16 minutes to cap a thrilling clash that from time as substitute Cal- left Liverpool searching for lum Hudson-Odoi crossed for answers after another painful Abraham to tap home from defeat. point-blank range. Jurgen Klopp’s side took Werner had a chance to the lead through Mohamed score just his second goal Salah’s first-half goal, but Ma- in 16 games when he was son Greenwood equalised be- tripped by Clark, but his fore the interval. dreadful spell continued as Marcus Rashford put United his tame penalty was saved in front after the break and, al- by Simon Sluga. though Salah equalised, Por- A trip to Barnsley in the fifth tugal midfielder Fernandes round awaits early next month came off the bench to fire his in what is likely to be Chelsea’s free-kick past Alisson Becker. best chance of a trophy this After slumping to fourth in season. the Premier League following Leicester and Everton were the shock 1-0 defeat against also successful over Champi- Burnley on January 21 – their Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford (left) shoots to score their second goal past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the English onship opposition to main- first league loss at Anfield FA Cup fourth round football match between both teams at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on Sunday. POOL/AFP tain their fine form. since 2017 – Liverpool have to The Foxes came from behind lick their wounds again. United levelled in the 26th sublime set-piece after Fabi- past the fifth round in Klopp’s relief for the Blues boss as Abra- to beat Brentford 3-1 to set up The English champions, minute when Rashford sent nho fouled Edinson Cavani. reign, but that will be the least ham’s finishing helped seal a a home tie against Brighton. who trail leaders United by six Greenwood clear for a low United will host West Ham of his concerns as he tries to 3-1 victory against Luton. Everton saw off Sheffield points, have won only one of strike past Alisson Becker. in the fifth round as their mo- spark a revival from his splut- The England striker struck Wednesday 3-0, with Domi- their last seven games in all Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men mentum continues to build. tering team. twice in the opening 17 min- nic Calvert-Lewin scoring on competitions and that lone netted again in the 48th min- “You know when you go a “There was a lot of good things utes, first firing into the far his return from injury. success came against Aston ute as a mistake from Liver- goal down the reaction of ev- and some mistakes around the corner before heading home Carlo Ancelotti’s men will Villa’s youth team in the FA pool’s young defender Rhys eryone was really good. We goals. If you want to win here from close range for his 10th face the winners of Totten- Cup third round. Williams allowed Greenwood played some really good stuff, you have to be absolutely top goal of the season. ham’s trip to Wycombe on Liverpool struck in the 18th to race clear and score. good goals. We have to de- and we were not,” Klopp said. However, it was not all plain January 25. minute when Roberto Firmi- Firmino’s cross was con- fend well against them and we sailing for Lampard’s men as Burnley beat Fulham 3-0 no threaded a pass to Salah, verted by Salah for Liverpool’s managed to react well,” Solsk- Relief for Lampard goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga at Craven Cottage and play who lifted his shot over Dean 58th-minute equaliser, but jaer said. Lampard has been under the was at fault for another slop- Bournemouth or Crawley in Henderson. Fernandes won it with his Liverpool have never got spotlight, but there was some py goal, while Timo Werner’s the last 16. AFP Atletico rack up another win to race seven points clear

Luis Suarez scored a brilliant scrappy victory over Elche. Suarez finished off a flowing comes more into view, yet his and into midfield where Mario be relieved to see Barca make team goal as Atletico Madrid But Atletico were undeterred move that had started almost team are showing an assured- Hermoso drove a searching it two consecutive victories came from behind to beat in the capital, as their consider- on Atletico’s goal-line before ness now that is offering little pass forward to Felix on the left. without Messi and since their Valencia 3-1 on January 24 and able advantage was restored substitute Angel Correa capped encouragement for Barcelona He slipped in Suarez, who loss in the Spanish Super Cup move seven points clear at the again, with a game in hand. another slick string of passes to and Real Madrid. opened his body and finished final last weekend to Athletic top of La Liga. “We don’t get carried away or end Valencia’s resistance. They had hope when Valen- from the angle. Bilbao, after an extra-time After Real Madrid thrashed think too far ahead, we think The visitors had taken an cia took the lead on 11 min- It was no fluke because the Copa del Rey victory over Cor- Alaves on January 23, Barca had about getting better,” said early lead in stunning fashion, utes, Racic running onto Jose third goal was almost as good, nella in midweek. earlier followed suit with a Atletico coach Diego Simeone. Uros Racic curling into the top Gaya’s pass and wrapping his some slick passing through Messi is still serving his pun- corner from 35 yards but Joao left foot around the ball to send midfield freeing Marcos ishment for being sent off in Felix equalised and Atletico it bending into the top right- Llorente down the right and he Seville but the Argentinian will came back, in a way that has hand corner. pulled back for Correa to side- be available again for January begun to feel expected. He celebrated by seeking out foot in. 27’s cup tie at Rayo Vallecano. Felix was replaced by Correa his under-pressure coach Javi In his absence, De Jong after an hour by Simeone after Gracia, but the advantage was Barca win without Messi stepped up, continuing his own assisting Suarez and scoring a short-lived as Felix stabbed in Barcelona won again without resurgence in recent weeks goal for himself that should on the volley at the back post the suspended Lionel Messi as with one of the simplest goals send a message to his coach, after holding off his marker goals from Frenkie de Jong and he will ever score and then an who has handed the 21-year- Thierry Correia from a corner. Riqui Puig were enough to secure assist, following a more impres- old a spell on the bench in With the more attacking a scruffy 2-0 win over Elche. sive run and cross for Puig. recent weeks. Renan Lodi and Yannick Car- De Jong poked the ball over “We are better this year. We’ve “Joao scored a goal, made an rasco playing left and right the line just before half-time at had to play all our games away assist, he came off and on wing-back in the second half, the Martinez Valero, which and in La Liga we have won all came Correa, who scored a Atletico opened up Valencia would have proved a suitably of them so I think we have done goal and was close to another. twice with two superb, sweep- scrappy winner before Puig well,” said De Jong. The competition is healthy,” ing moves. came off the bench to head in “For me, playing better is not said Simeone. The first started in their own a second late on. just about goals and assists but Valencia’s French defender Mouctar Diakhaby (top) heads the ball in the He knows the pressure will right corner with Stefan Savic, Despite an uninspiring per- I’m happy of course to score La Lige football match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. AFP mount as the La Liga trophy the ball played across the back formance, Ronald Koeman will and assist today.” AFP