N U MB E R 3471 ssue I

Thursday, july 23, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL China to Nat’l body finds 40% get tough on foreign of abortions illegal teachers covid-19 impact Long Kimmarita by unlicensed practitioners. service providers and the women died while five mil- CHINA on Tuesday issued draft on poor shown The figures were revealed women who seek their as- lion suffered short-term or rules to toughen oversight of HE National Mater- at a three-day workshop or- sistance from the disrepute permanent disabilities due to hundreds of thousands of for- in new survey nal and Child Health ganised by the Reproductive that weighs them down. improper abortions, she said. eign teachers who could be Centre (NMCHC) Health Association of Cam- Cambodia Midwives As- NMCHC deputy president fired for acts such as “words national – page 4 said seven per cent bodia (RHAC) and funded sociation president Chhay Pich Sothy told The Post on and deeds” considered harmful ofT Cambodian women of by the Safe Abortion Action Sveng Chea Ath said at the Wednesday that abortions to the country’s sovereignty. reproductive age have had an Fund (SAAF) to destigmatise workshop that over 21 mil- are not against the law. Foreign teachers will also be abortion in the past five abortions. lion women in the world had However, he said all women banned from “illegally engag- years, and 40 per cent of the The proposed goal was to unsafe abortions in 2011. ing in religious education or procedures were performed rescue legitimate abortion About 50,000 of those Continued – page 2 preaching”, according to the guidelines drawn up by the education, foreign, public secu- rity and science ministries. The rules have been submitted for public comments until August 21 before final approval. In recent years Beijing has tried to make China’s education Thailand set to system more patriotic, elimi- nating what it perceives to be gift 140km rail immoral foreign influences. The new guidelines would to cambodia require teachers to undergo at business – page 6 least 20 hours of training on top- ics such as the Chinese constitu- tion and teachers’ ethics when they take up employment. They follow a spate of deten- tions of foreign teachers in recent years for sex and drug abuse. The guidelines say teachers should be fired for such crimi- nal offences. Those found to be violating the rules must be reported to educational authorities. The guidelines also require oz posts record all foreign teachers to possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, number of new at least two years of teaching experience and relevant lan- covid infections guage teaching qualifications. Nesting croc Schools that illegally hire WORLD – Page 10 Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered animals which only exist in Southeast Asia. There are estimated to be fewer than 500 of them foreign teachers without the in the world, with many living in Cambodia. Fauna & Flora International right qualifications or approv- al, or mislead the public about teachers’ qualifications, can be fined up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) per teacher. Man hacks wife, dumps body in pond Teaching in China can be a lucrative career path for for- Kim Sarom and his wife, Srun Chantrea, them to help find her. District police called in the eigners, especially if they are 29. She was a nurse at a pri- After a while, the suspect suspect and Chantrea’s father young graduates. A KAMPONG Thom man was vate clinic. The couple had walked towards a pond behind for questioning at the police Demand for foreign English arrested on Tuesday on two sons and a daughter. The the house about 60m away. station until 2pm, and the teachers in particular remains charges of hacking his wife to police have sent the case to Having found the body, the father was allowed to return robust, and many command Local cinemas death and throwing her body the provincial court. suspect reported it to police home. salaries that are much higher into a pond behind a house That same day, a police and doctors arrived at the The officer said the suspect than average teachers. to reopen with in Prasat Balang district’s Sala official who asked not to be scene to carry out a forensic confessed to killing his wife More than 400,000 foreign Visay commune. named said the suspect told investigation. They conclud- during an argument. Having teachers were working in China, ‘new normal’ Provincial police chief Chea neighbours and Chantrea’s ed that Chantrea had been killed her, he threw her into a 2017 survey by State media Poeun on Wednesday said relatives on Tuesday that she hacked in the neck with a the pond behind the house found, but only one third were lifestyle – page 13 the suspect is 30 years old had gone missing and asked machete. and returned home. employed legally. AFP

THE PHNOM PENH POST Low mekong river water level stirs public concerns National – page 2 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Tonle Sap River yet to reverse Police put ‘gov’t’ Niem Chheng water level in the lower parts [of the river] and makes the impostors on show ISHERMEN and fish- water flow slower,” he said. ery conservationists Ministry of Water Resource are concerned about and Meteorology spokesman to warn citizens low Mekong River wa- Chan Yutha said on Wednesday terF levels which have prevent- that the indicator which signi- Kim Sarom Tbong Khmum province. ed the annual reversal of the fies the reversal of the Tonle Sap Mony and Somaly were Tonle Sap River’s water flow, River’s flow is when the water TBONG Khmum provincial sued by their victims. Tbong an important event which level of the Chaktomuk River police on Tuesday held a press Khmum provincial police in- eventually fills the Tone Sap reaches 7m, which usually oc- conference accompanied by vestigated the case and de- Lake with water and fish. curs from June to October. two criminals convicted of tained the two in early July. Some parts of the lake are He said the lower water lev- impersonating high-ranking The provincial court con- drier than they’ve ever been els in the Mekong River this officials to remind the public victed and sentenced them to during the rainy season. year were caused by last year’s to be wary of scammers. prison, Sok Kao said. Chak Choeun, a fisherman El Nino effects and this year’s The suspects, 65-year-old Citing Mony, Sok Kao said in Stoung district’s Peam Bang When less water flows into Tonle Sap Lake, it increases poison levels infrequent rainfall. male Suon Mony and his assis- that he posed as the secretary commune in Kampong Thom and affects fish species. FRESH NEWS Yutha said typhoons play tant, 36-year-old female Khorn or deputy secretary of different province, has been fishing in fish, and people from Stoung banned for the breeding season. a role in the water levels as Somaly, were previously sent to ministries, while Somaly would the area for years. But now, he district would often travel to “The water levels of the Me- well, and their scarcity in Asia the provincial prison for their pretend to be his secretary. is facing a severe lack of fish. fish there. Although the area kong should be higher than this year has contributed to crimes, which included cheat- Mony would ask victims to In the past, he used to catch is now dry, there are still peo- they are now. Tonle Sap wet- prolonging the dry season. ing lower-ranking officials out send money to Somaly and around 6kg of fish per day and ple along the dock, waiting land areas should be filled However, frequent rains are of money in exchange for fake when they received it, the part- sold them for about $7. Now for their fortunes to change. with water, enabling fish to expected in mid-August. promotions and raises. ners in crime would escape. In he catches only one or 2kg. He said they may disappear breed and move to the Me- Savath said many govern- Provincial deputy police total, they defrauded officials “This year, it is dried up. I soon due to the dry spell. kong River,” he said. ments blame climate change for chief Chak Sok Kao said on of tens of thousands of dollars. cannot catch anything. There “Some people left to work Savath said this is the sec- low water levels. But the hydro Wednesday that Mony, the The scheme worked for was water here last year, but in garment factories or con- ond consecutive year the wa- dams along the Mekong River mastermind behind the many years, Sok Kao said. there is nothing now. Some struction in Phnom Penh. No ter flow reversal of the Tonle cannot be ignored, he said. scheme, was from Svay Rieng He said the pair had been fishermen have left to work in one will force us to leave Tonle Sap River has been late. When “We accept that climate district’s Check commune in imprisoned once before for construction and some have Sap Lake. We will leave by our- less water flows into Tonle Sap [change] is one of the fac- Svay Rieng province and Som- the same crime and contin- gone searching for fish deep- selves if the situation remains Lake, it increases poison levels tors. But if the dams had not lay was from Tbong Khmum ued their operation upon er in Tonle Sap Lake. like this,” Choeun said. and affects fish species. been constructed along the district’s Srolob commune in their release. “We still can catch a little Fisheries Action Coalition He attributed the prob- Mekong River, the water flow fish and sell it for up to 10,000 Team (Fact) executive direc- lem to the dams constructed should be naturally normal,” riel [$2.50]. It is not enough tor Om Savath told The Post on along the Mekong and cli- he said, adding that the low even to buy rice,” he said. Wednesday that fish products mate change. water levels would affect the He said Peam Bang com- can’t be evaluated yet as high- “When there are many dams government’s rice export plan mune used to be filled with volume fishing is currently along the river, it reduces the and increase fishery crimes. Having an abortion ‘not a sin, source of shame’

Continued from page 1 dhist Cambodians disagree, as after they have received specific “The press and media play the religion teaches that kill- training and have been regis- an important role in spread- must seek safe abortion serv- ing any living thing is sinful. tered with the ministry, he said. ing abortion awareness to ices as permitted by the Minis- Abortion officially became Ministry of Information women and encouraging try of Health to ensure their legal in the Kingdom when adviser Kuch Nearadey said them to find proper abortion health and safety. the National Assembly ad- there is no shame in having services,” Nearadey said. “Abortion is not birth con- opted the Law on Abortion on abortions. She said some women con- trol. Women have the right October 6, 1997. She said women should fuse birth control and abortion to have abortions when they Sothy said legal and safe seek professional assistance and believe that abortions are The Ministry of Civil Service and the UNDP signed an MoU to get pregnant by accident, abortions can be carried out and avoid illegal abortions entirely safe given that they cooperate on job sectors and provide more effective and efficient service to people. Ministry of Civil Service have bad health conditions, for women who are in their which pose serious health have been legalised and are or are raped. 12th week of pregnancy or risks and can result in perma- mentioned in the media. “We do not ban abortions before. Women pursuing an nent damage. But she cautioned that al- but we do ban abortion servic- abortion after 12 weeks must The shame drives women though safe abortions are Government, UNDP es that have no legal authority provide sound reasons to the in Cambodia to seek unsafe legal and shouldn’t carry a to operate,” Sothy said. abortionist. abortion services, she said. stigma, multiple abortions sign MoU to optimise He said having an abortion Both State and private hos- Abortion pills can also seri- and pregnancies often have is not a sin, but many Bud- pitals can perform abortions ously harm women. adverse effects on health. public administration Voun Dara mutual goals to strengthen good governance and law, and THE Ministry of Civil Service sustainable and environmen- and the UN Development tal development while Cam- Programme (UNDP) signed bodia and the world are being a Memorandum of Under- affected by Covid-19.” standing (MoU) on Tuesday Beresford agreed: “Innova- to cooperate on job sectors tion in the public sector has and provide more effective to go beyond learning new and efficient services to peo- methods or tools as they are ple, a joint press release said. not sufficient on their own. The MoU signing took place “We need to understand at the ministry and was pre- how to create an appropri- sided over by Minister Prum ate environment for them to Sokha and UNDP Cambodia’s work and pay attention to the resident representative Nick core set of attitudes and skills Beresford. Some 30 other offi- that fuel innovation.” cials from the two institutions Both sides agreed to coop- attended the event. erate in four areas – creating “The purpose of the MoU funds for innovation, creating is to open a new chapter in study programmes about in- cooperation between the two novation in public service for institutions on reforming the Royal School of Adminis- public administration. tration, enhancing public ser- “We especially need to im- vices through the application prove public services through of digital technology in admin- enhancing the ability of officials istrative services, and changing on innovation, and creating in- some public service laws. stitutions for officials to test in- The UNDP used to coop- novative ideas to improve public erate with the government services,” the press release said. to strengthen laws and good Sokha said: “The cooperation governance in the first refor- between the two institutions is mation of public administra- to support each other to reach tion from 1990-2006. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Elephant death leads Landfill to meet S’ville’s needs to extinction concerns Soth Koemsoeun Khouth Sophak Chakrya a series of deaths and only 38 LANNING for a new elephants remain. 17.3ha landfill site A LOCAL Elephant conser- “After the death of Kham in Preah Sihanouk vation organisation in Mon- Khen, the number of domes- is underway as the dulkiri province has expressed tic elephants in Mondulkiri province’sP waste woes mount, concern about the declining has dropped to 37 and could Ministry of Public Works and domestic elephant population lead to the extinction of el- Transport undersecretary after a 53-year-old male pachy- ephants in that area if there is of state Kim Borey said on derm named Kham Khen died no protection and conserva- Wednesday. on Sunday from chronic ab- tion, and if the villagers con- The site is expected to cost scess disease on his back. tinue to adhere to the beliefs the State $5 million, with de- “Since 2017, the number of of their ancestors,” he said. velopment rights awarded to domestic elephants in Mon- Mondulkiri provincial envi- Heng Sambath Import Export dulkiri decreased subsequent- ronment department director Co Ltd, he said. ly and so far the breeding of Keo Sopheak said not allowing Construction is scheduled domestic elephants in Cam- domestic elephants to repro- to be completed 17 months bodia has not been success- duce naturally would risk their from July 1, he said. The ful,” said Khun Dlyon, director extinction. He said the number project will be located about of the elephant conservation of remaining domestic ele- 3km from National Road 4 organisation Elephant Liveli- phants is less than 40, and some in O’Oknha Heng commune, hood Initiative Environment. of them are too old to breed. O’Ta Sek village, in southeast- Dlyon said a survey carried out “We are encouraging elephant ern Prey Nop district. by his organisation found eight el- owners to engage in conserva- With its four planned pits ephants to have died since 2017. tion by letting their elephants able to accommodate more Five domestic elephants died breed naturally and stop using than 880,000 cubic metres of in 2017. Three died of illness, them as transportation,” he said. waste, the ministry’s aim is another was shot by authorities Kham Khen’s funeral was for the dumping ground to Transport ministry undersecretary of state Kim Borey said the new landfill will meet the rubbish needs of when it charged villagers and held on Wednesday by its meet the rubbish needs of the Preah Sihanouk province’s residents by its fifth year of operation. TRANSPORT MINISTRY another from Mondulkiri prov- owner Chreum Chrun and his province’s residents by its fifth a budget to improve waste operations. The province lacks a proper ince died after falling into a pit in family, as well as the villagers, year of operation, he said. management capacity and “Most of our residents un- dumping site, he said, noting Snuol district in Kratie province. following their traditions and The pits will be 130m-wide, hygiene for residents, im- derstand proper rubbish dis- that sluggish waste collection Two more elephants died beliefs, said Krang Tes com- 150m-long and 2-4m-high. prove public well-being, and posal procedures and don’t has driven people to dispose in 2018. One was sick and the mune police chief Yoem Ban. They will be equipped with for the environment to keep just throw things out willy- of their rubbish along roads. other died as its owner didn’t “According to the beliefs of piping systems to discharge up with the breakneck pace nilly as they use to. “Environmental issues in provide food when it was in rut Bunong indigenous people, water and gas, he said. of progress seen in Preah Sih- “Authorities have briefed Preah Sihanouk province can- (displaying behaviour associ- the funeral of an elephant is the He asked members of the anouk province,” Borey said. them on the environmental not be labelled as ‘improved’ ated with the urge to breed). same as the funeral of a person. Landfill Sub-Project Manage- Prey Nop district governor impact of improper rubbish given that several [landfill] sites There were 70 domestic el- “The funeral ceremony is ment Committee to work close- Sar Kakada said he supported disposal,” he said. remain under development. ephants in Mondulkiri prov- three days and three nights ly with all relevant parties and the project, adding that the Sok Sokhom, the director of “This inevitably leads to rub- ince 20 years ago, according according to ethnic traditions. keep tabs on finances and tech- levels of rubbish in the district Preah Sihanouk-based NGO bish being disposed of near to Dlyon. But indigenous The carcass of the elephant nical aspects to ensure smooth had receded recently as Covid- Cambodian National Re- the premises. We have to work peoples do not allow domes- will be buried near their home progress on the project. 19 compelled factories and search Organisation (CNRO), together and clean up the en- tic elephants to breed. Ageing with a proper fence around “The government delivered other enterprises to suspend lauded the project. vironment,” Sokhom said. and disease have resulted in the grave,” he said. a l Advertori 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Ministry set to reopen Covid impact report revealed 20 schools in August Khorn Savi Khorn Savi national School said in a Face- HE most pressing book post that it had fulfilled needs facing fami- THE Ministry of Education, all of the ministry’s conditions lies during Covid-19 Youth and Sport will allow and has been allowed to re- are money, food, and 20 high-performing private open during the first phase. loanT repayment, a recent eco- schools to reopen next month “Parents and guardians nomic impact study revealed. despite new cases of Covid-19 of students have to sign an Carried out by the Future Fo- in the country. agreement on the ministry’s rum think tank in collaboration Ministry spokesperson Ros safety standards before send- with Angkor Research and Con- Soveacha wrote in a Telegram ing their children to school. sulting Ltd, it involved interviews message on Wednesday that “A working group at the with 1,134 people in Phnom the schools are in Phnom Penh, school is preparing those doc- Penh and five provinces. Siem Reap and Battambang. uments and we will contact the Future Forum president Ou They must follow guidelines parents and guardians as soon Virak said the study was con- laid down by the ministries of as possible,” the post read. ducted in late April and early Education; Health, and the World The government announced May, and data in the study re- Health Organisation (WHO). nationwide school closures in flects the situation of citizens. He said the schools that re- March. Distance learning ini- A follow-up study began after open have to organise social tiatives have had mixed results, the first ended and will be and physical distancing on particularly in the countryside The study was carried out by the Future Forum think tank and Angkor Research and Consulting. future forum completed this month. campuses, and in buildings because of the lack of resources. “We interview the same impacts of Covid-19 on the in making loan repayments rice, cassava, vegetables, and and classrooms. Schools that Cambodian Independent households in the new study. economy, 1,087 households increased by 230 per cent. raising animals. fail to honour the agreement Teachers’ Association president We want to know about the re- and 54 village chiefs of 10 dis- “Additionally 83 households In total, around 20.1 per will be ordered closed. Ouk Chayavy is dissatisfied at sponse of the government be- tricts in Phnom Penh, Kam- reported they received some cent of the sample house- “Education establishments the reopening of private schools. cause when interviewed in late pot, Siem Reap, Svay Rieng form of support from either holds reported moderate to have to continue implement- She said the ministry April there were not so many re- and Kampong Speu province the government or NGOs be- severe food insecurity. ing mix methodologies – distant seemed very concerned with sponses from the government. were interviewed. tween January and April. This month, Prime Minister learning and online learning private schools and didn’t “Not so many [poor] people The study revealed that 94 “This aid was received in the Hun Sen announced that the along with classroom education. think to pay attention to State received aid then and the gov- per cent of village chiefs con- form of food, soap, or masks, number of poor people re- “Guidelines on the required schools whose students are ernment’s aid provision poli- firmed that Covid-19 had af- while 1,004 families reported ceiving support from the gov- conditions of enhancing basic preparing for Grade 9 through cy was launched in May. The fected their villages, including receiving no support. ernment had risen to 610,000 study in the context of Covid- 12 examinations next month. cash handout programme the closure of 1,083 household “The most urgent house- families, raising the assis- 19 in preparation for the safe- She said the association had for poor people was only an- enterprises (10.5 per cent). hold needs reported in April tance budget to $28 million. ty protocols required at the demanded that the ministry nounced recently,” he said. Between January and April, were money (55.7 per cent), Virak said he was concerned schools will be issued,” he said. reopen schools at the same At a press conference on the average household saw food (24.5 per cent), and a about the decline in house- Education Minister Hang time. But because Cambodia Wednesday, Virak said the a 40 per cent decrease in in- delay in loan repayments (4.5 hold incomes which mainly Chuon Naron recently in- has seen a recent surge of cas- goal is to learn about citizens’ come. When asked to reflect per cent),” the report said. came from salaries and small spected some international es, schools should not reopen. livelihoods. Have their situa- on the reasons for this change, Roughly one-fifth of house- businesses at home. But in schools in Phnom Penh to as- “Over the last few days, Cam- tions changed for the better respondents cited a lack of holds in the survey generated general, he said the fami- sess protective measures and bodia has seen a spike in Covid- or worse after getting aid from customers as the key issue. income from farming or fishing lies generated incomes from safety before deciding that 19 cases – from 20 to nearly 30. the government, he asked. The number of families Activities. The four main ac- many sectors, which is a sign those schools could reopen. We ask the ministry to reconsider In the first study on the who reported they were late tivities consisted of growing they can face difficulties. Westview Cambodian Inter- its decision,” she said.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT The Phnom Penh Post, the oldest independent media company communication skills in Cambodia, is seeking full-time candidates for the following • Work as a team with a positive, resourceful and sales-driven positions: attitude • University qualification in business, marketing or three years’ Sales and Marketing Executives: Four positions sales and marketing experience Sales experience and a good understanding of media or Main duties and responsibilities • media agencies will be an advantage • Maintain good relationships with clients to inform and update them on latest products and services • Good English, both spoken and written • Service clients • Able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines • Create branding activities for The Post Interested candidates are required to submit a photo-attached CV Represent The Phnom Penh Post when proposing and • and cover letter with expected salary to the Human Resources and soliciting advertisements and marketing campaigns Administration Department at the following address no later than • Find prospective clients and propose advertising campaigns July 31, 2020. • Build and maintain relationships with clients before and after sales Address: The Elements Condominium Level 7, Hun Sen Boulevard, • Understand customers’ needs/feedback/complaints and Chak Angre Krom commune, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh. update market intelligence Tel: +855 (0) 23 888 161 -162 • Assist clients in designing their advertisements and advise Email: [email protected] them on effective media planning www.phnompenhpost.com Meet monthly and quarterly sales targets • www.postkhmer.com • Perform other tasks as required by the commercial manager Qualifications/experience required Post Media Co, Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. • Enjoy meeting people and be self-motivated, energetic and Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. committed, with excellent inter-personal, presentation and Applications will not be returned.

SuIntelligentccessful P - eopleIn-depth Read - Independent The Post. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Drugs set alight after Missing rare croc found in police raids in four the Cardamom Mountains provinces seize 51kg Kim Viput Soth Koemsoeun has brought the issues under control in time. ILDLIFE organ- PREAH Sihanouk provincial Village, commune, district, isation Fauna authorities and the Ministry of town and provincial levels, he & Flora Inter- Justice on Wednesday burned said, had set up mechanisms national (FFI) a total of 51kg of drugs and to stop drugs and made daily, Wand the Cambodian Forestry 1,698g of addictive substances weekly, monthly, and annual re- Administration recently re- used to process narcotics after ports to the National Authority discovered a female Siamese police in four provinces car- for Combating Drugs (NACD). crocodile in the Cardamom ried out a series of raids. However, he said drugs Mountains after a community Minister of Justice Koeut coming from other provinces group found her nesting after Rith, Cheam Him, the head in the region and the world she laid more than 10 eggs. of the Preah Sihanouk pro- affected public security, order The FFI said on its website vincial council and Preah Si- and health and that it is neces- on Tuesday that the endan- hanouk provincial governor sary to take serious measures gered crocodile was first res- Kouch Chamroeun attended to solve these challenges. cued in 2017 and was kept at the ceremony in commune 3 “We have developed strate- the Phnom Tamao Wildlife in Sihanoukville. gies to control drugs in the Rescue Centre until 2018. Preah Sihanouk provincial province. We regard this issue Then, the FFI and the For- court prosecutor Seang Sok as a priority and have prepared estry Administration released said at a press conference on plans that include human and the crocodile into the Carda- Wednesday that drugs and financial resources to ensure mom Mountains. addictive substances serious- successful implementation,” According to FFI, a radio ly affected the nervous system Chamroeun said. transmitter was affixed to the and health of its users. Rith said Cambodia used crocodile to track her. Data A female Siamese crocodile released in 2018 was discovered nesting in the Cardamom Mountains. FFI “We burned exhibits to show to be a transit point for drugs showed that she stayed close the public about the drug but has now become a place to the release site until late in the past, but they likely another when it sees a human fore they are released to their activity and the work of the to produce and process it 2018 when she travelled down- moved away, it said. or an enemy.” natural habitats,” Han said. police. Some people wonder instead. He said drugs cause stream. She appeared on the ra- The director of the Of- He said the female croco- To safeguard this species of what happens when drugs are three main dangers – self-de- dar again in the spring (March, fice of Research, Education, dile, like all others living in the crocodile, the Forestry Admin- seized by police,” he said. struction, destruction of fam- April and May) of last year, be- Outreach and International wild in the Cardamom Moun- istration is working with FFI to He said the drugs on display ilies and communities, and fore disappearing again. Cooperation of the Phnom tains, have been protected by protect their shelters. A breed- were involved in 81 cases from destruction of the nation. She wasn’t seen again until a Tamao Zoological Park and the Forestry Administration, ing programme to help boost Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Koh “We have to take measures community group in the moun- Wildlife Rescue Centre (PT- the FFI and local communi- the species’ population has also Kong and Kep provinces. to combat drugs, starting with tains found her nesting in June. WRC) and member of the ties since 2000. been established at the Phnom Chamroeun said drug is- each individual. We have to In a news release, FFI said Cambodian Crocodile Con- “We have a patrol group Tamao Zoological Park and sues are global ones and say ‘no’ to drugs. Families and the eggs were unfertilised and servation Project, Sam Han, consisting of 31 people to Wildlife Rescue Centre, he said. transnational crimes posed communities have to cooper- could not hatch. The organisa- said on Tuesday that “the protect crocodiles. They pa- Siamese crocodiles are risks to the people, families, ate with police to stop drugs tion attributed this to the lack crocodile seems to be slightly trol weekly to trace them and critically endangered animals communities and the nation. and save addicts. of crocodiles in the area and thin as it takes time and effort protect them from threats in which only exist in Southeast He said efforts to combat “All law enforcement pro- the likelihood that male and fe- to protect its nest and eggs. crocodile sanctuaries. Asia. There are estimated to drugs have developed and fessionals have to carry out males rarely meet in the wild. “But it is a normal healthy “Officials observe crocodiles be fewer than 500 of them in changed remarkably and the their work properly and seri- Males had been released crocodile that can move yearly through radio trans- the world, with many living in drugs control committee in ously to [safeguard] the safety close to the same location quickly from one location to mitters attached to them be- Cambodia. Preah Sihanouk province of our people,” he stressed. Tax-evaded car costs Prism warning system upgraded man more than $100k Voun Dara

Khouth Sophak Chakrya to be legal, driving up the price THE National Committee for Disaster to more than $160,000. Management (NCDM) and the UN World A 30-YEAR-OLD military of- The Post contacted Hong on Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday ficer living in Phnom Penh Wednesday to ask for clarifi- announced the launch of an upgraded has sworn to stop buying tax- cation on the origin of the car version of the Platform for Real-time Im- evaded vehicles after his Lexus he bought, but he declined to pact and Situation Monitoring (Prism) 570 series 2015 SUV was fined comment. for crisis management and disaster risk more than $100,000 by Cus- However, he said he has reduction in Cambodia. toms and Excise authorities. deleted all the messages and The launch of the new technology and He had been driving the pictures he posted on Tues- monitoring tools for WFP’s Prism, which SUV for less than a month. day morning. was first unveiled in Cambodia in 2015, Loeung Hong, who lives in The General Department of was presided over by senior minister and Sangkat Phsar Depot 1, Tuol Customs and Excise (GDCE) NCDM first vice-president Kun Kim and Kork district’s Phsar Depot I of Cambodia announced WFP Country Director for Cambodia commune, posted photos on on July 8 that owners of tax- Francesca Erdelmann. Facebook on Tuesday along evaded vehicles and goods The WFP said the new version includes with the text: “I am Loeung should present themselves to impact and situation monitoring link- Hong, I swear that in the fu- negotiate their tax and excise ing field assessment information, early ture, I will not buy tax-evaded duties and penalties. warning systems, remote sensing tech- vehicles anymore. The GDCE gave 60 days nology and socio-economic vulnerabil- “I drove this SUV for almost from the date of announce- ity data to measure risk and impact. one month and then got caught, ment to all owners to solve Kim said introducing the system up- now I have pay 100 per cent im- their cases. grade in Cambodia evolved from an port tax plus a 10 per cent pen- If the owners do not settle agreement signed in November between An upgraded version of a monitoring system for crisis management and disaster risk reduction alty totalling $102,303.” on time, the cars and other NCDM and WFP about the need for more in Cambodia was unveiled on Wednesday. HONG MENEA He told KBN.news that he goods will be put up for pub- joint action for crisis management and posted the messages and pic- lic auction with the revenue disaster risk reduction in Cambodia. Erdelmann said WFP and NCDM have map-based dashboard to design risk tures on social media to warn going to the national budget. “This agreement establishes a collab- worked together since 2004, building on reduction activities and target disaster others not to follow his ex- An official from the GDCE’s orative framework to be ready to respond and complementing each other’s strengths responses,” she said. ample. “People must buy a car Department of Law Affairs, to disaster risk by developing the capacity and capabilities to provide life-saving sup- Kim said as an example, the Ministry with the proper tax to avoid be- Auditing and Public Relations, of national and sub-national officials. port to the people of Cambodia when they of Water Resources and Meteorology has ing fined, which leads to losing who asked not to be named, “We have provided training to NCDM were affected by natural disasters. predicted this year’s rainy season will a lot of money,” he wrote. told The Post that 846 vehicles officials to get real practice on using tab- “Prism combines impact monitoring and come sooner than last year. According to KBN.news, Hong without import tax have been lets to input data about impact, damage live assessment information by advanced In August and September of this year, bought the car for more than seized by GDCE this year. and loss due to disasters,” Kim said. notification systems and remote sensing rainfall will be scattered across the $60,000, but when the Customs Vehicle owners caught by He thanked the WFP and said the hu- technology to measure risk and impact. country from moderate to heavy. Some and Excise authorities found Customs officials have been is- manitarian agency fighting global hunger “Before a disaster, Prism enables provinces located in the lowlands near that it did not have a certificate sued GDCE invitations to pay has been working with the Cambodian NCDM to access the latest available the high mountains and areas adja- of import tax he had to pay a the import tax plus a 10 per cent government since 1979 to improve food climate hazard information, alongside cent to waterways will be at high risk of penalty of more than $100,000 fine to make the cars legal. security for vulnerable communities. vulnerability data through an intuitive, flooding. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,095 1.3469 7.009 107.03 4.2570 1.3861 31.65 0.7124 1.1521 1.2655

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: July 22, 2020 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 17,280 17,400 17,400 17,120 2 GTI 3,250 - 3,250 3,250 3 PAS 15,300 15,500 15,500 15,300 4 PPAP 11,520 11,620 11,620 11,520 5 PPSP 2,270 (SQ) - 2,270 2,270 6 PWSA 5,600 5,660 5,660 5,600 Thailand will gift 140km of rail Chinese company eyes waste-to-power to Cambodia for stronger link plant in Siem Reap May Kunmakara Thou Vireak Siem Reap town’s environment. AMBODIA will soon He said provincial authori- welcome another The Chinese-owned Mizuda ties will study garbage col- 140km of northern Waste Management Co Ltd lection and electricity pricing railway to connect has completed its feasibility as well as set up factory con- toC the Thai border to better study concerning its planned struction sites. facilitate the transportation construction of a waste-gen- General Department of En- of goods between the two erated power plant in Siem ergy director-general Victor countries. Reap province. Jona, told the Post in March Cambodia and Thailand of- Zhang Xiaozhong, a com- that despite waste-to-energy ficially launched rail recon- pany representative, pre- plants carrying high produc- nection link in late 2018. sented a research report on tion costs, the government is Vasim Sorya, undersecre- the project at a meeting with still pushing for investment tary of state at the Ministry of provincial governor Tea Seiha in the project, as the coun- Public Works and Transport, on Tuesday. try will face a lack of rubbish told The Post on Wednesday Zhang said the plant needs dumps in the future. that Thailand promised to provide the new rail after the The waste-burning launch that year. “The Thai side will hand plant provides quality over the around 140km rail in environmental cleaning August or September. It will strengthen our railways and and also electricity improve the quality of goods transportation between the about 210,000 tonnes of waste Jona said: “In the past, many two countries,” he said. per year to produce 12MW of companies have studied the Cambodia will soon welcome another 140km of northern railway to connect to the Thai border. SUPPLIED Sorya said that after the electricity, which is equiva- possibility of investing in waste- northern railway is upgrad- Bilateral trade between products and aluminium. ing transferred its 55 per lent to about 10 per cent of to-energy projects, but they ed, it will be able to carry Cambodia and Thailand was Cambodia’s imports from cent stake in Toll Cambodia the province’s total demand. were abandoned due to high 20 tonnes and increase the worth around $3.1 billion in Thailand mainly comprised to Royal Group, which then The company estimates production costs compared speed to up to 70km/h from the first four months of the fuel, motorcycles, cars, gem- changed the subsidiary’s that the province will pro- to other energy sources. This the current 30km/h. year, up 18.3 per cent over the stones and jewellery. name to Royal Railway Cam- duce 600 tonnes of waste per makes it difficult for the state to Connecting Phnom Penh to same period last year, data On June, 12, 2009, the Cam- bodia. day by 2022 and 1,000 tonnes buy and integrate [electricity] Poipet in Banteay Meanchey from the Cambodian embas- bodian government granted The government has spent per day by 2035. into the national grid network.” province and on to the Thai sy in Bangkok showed. a 30-year concession agree- some $226.6 million to restore Zheng said: “Both sides Disposal of solid waste in cit- border, the northern railway has Cambodia’s exports to Thai- ment to Toll (Cambodia) Co the country’s southern and have recognised the techni- ies and districts in the Siem Reap held boosted bilateral trade. land during the period sky- Ltd – a joint-venture between western railways to improve cal and operational benefits province currently produce 600 Thailand is Cambodia’s rocketed 106 per cent year- Australia-owned Toll Hold- transportation. Of the invest- of the waste-burning plant, tonnes of solid waste per day, seventh-largest importer of on-year to $687 million, as ing Ltd and Cambodia’s local ment fund, some $85 million which provides quality envi- with Siem Reap town respon- Cambodian goods after the imports inched up 5.6 per cent conglomerate Royal Group of came from the national bud- ronmental cleaning and also sible for 380 tonnes per day. US, Japan, Germany, China, year-on-year to $2.4 billion. Companies Ltd – to manage get while the remaining $141.6 electricity.” Siem Reap town presently Britain and Canada, account- The majority of Cambodia’s the operations of the King- million came from the Asian Seiha expressed his full sup- has three garbage collection ing for four per cent of Cam- exports to Thailand are gem- dom’s railway system. Development Bank and other port for the waste-to-energy companies – GAEA Plc, VGreen bodia’s exports. stones, jewellery, agricultural In 2014, however, Toll Hold- development partners. project because it will protect and Active Green Co Ltd. Private sector calls on gov’t for burden easing on trade

Thou Vireak clearance, and improve e-payment tion in Cambodia (GMAC) deputy they are charged per document/ tinue to discuss and resolve issues procedures. secretary-general Kaing Monika shipment, not by export value. All and agreed to hold an eighth meet- THE private sector has requested The private sector also requested told The Post GMAC raised the is- parties involved need to be trans- ing of the Customs-Private Partner- through the General Department of in the statement to promote the sue of transport and logistics. While parent,” Monika said. ship Mechanism at an appropriate Customs and Excise eight challenge implementation of SME customs physical infrastructure has been up- He said GMAC has been working time in the future. points to the government, to ease incentives mechanisms, expand graded and certain processes have with customs and concerned par- “We hope to have subsequent dis- the burden on exports imports dur- the number of members of the Best been simplified and modernised, ties such as brokers and forwarders, cussions to facilitate trade in Cam- ing the Covid-19 outbreak. Business Group, and simplify and costs not substantially come down and shipping companies since the bodia,” he said. The proposals include strengthen- modernise customs procedures. due to non-transparent fees. beginning of the year and progress Nhem thanked the private sector ing the implementation of service The proposals were cited during He said a number of middlemen has been made. for the input despite the challenges charges by the General Department a special meeting between General and brokers are involved in logistics. “It’s a little slow but we are opti- faced during the global coronavirus of Customs and Excise to: Reduce Department of Customs and Excise When the fees are not transparent, it mistic of the continuous improve- outbreak. the burden on investment in the director-general Kun Nhem and gives them an opportunity to play ments in the future,” Monika said. “The General Department of Cus- garment and agricultural sectors, Cambodia Chamber of Commerce around with the fees by inflating the Meng said in the press release toms and Excise is always willing to strengthen the effectiveness of pre- (CCC) president Kith Meng on Tues- amount. that after discussing the requested cooperate with the private sector in vention and suppression of tax eva- day, the CCC said in a press release. “It’s a serious cost issue for small- points meeting attendants agreed discussions to find a solution,” he sion, expand the scope of pre-arrival Garment Manufacturer Associa- value exports in particular because that each working group will con- said. THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business

In brief Apple pledges to be fully VN, New Zealand to use electronic carbon neutral by 2030 lAPPLE pledged on Tuesday to be carbon neutral across its entire business, including clearance for agricultural products its manufacturing supply chain, by 2030, in a stepped IETNAM and New two countries. up push to fight climate Zealand signed an At the same time, New Zea- change. The tech giant, which agreement to use land ambassador to Vietnam is already carbon neutral for electronic certifica- Wendy Matthews said the its corporate operations, said tionV in the clearance of agri- agreement would help trade the move would mean no cultural products in Hanoi on between the two countries be- climate impact for all its Tuesday. come faster, safer and cheaper. devices sold. As part of an Under the agreement, the “New Zealand has always environmental update, Apple Ministry of Agriculture and been the leading country in said it plans to reduce Rural Development (MARD), the world in the field of elec- emissions by 75 per cent by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) tronic certification. It has suc- 2030 while developing of Vietnam and New Zea- cessfully established an elec- “innovative carbon removal land’s basic ministries and tronic certification system solutions” for the remaining industries will facilitate the with many trading partners, 25 per cent of its clearance of agro-forestry and many of which are ASEAN comprehensive footprint. This fishery products through the ones,” she said. includes investing in projects use of electronic certification Matthews added the secu- to restore savannas in Kenya (e-Cert), which is an online rity exchange mechanism of and a mangrove ecosystem in method of exchanging con- eCert would help avoid risks Colombia to remove or store sensus information among of losing data, counterfeiting carbon. “Businesses have a government agencies. and wrongdoings. profound opportunity to help MARD deputy minister Le New Zealand and Vietnam build a more sustainable Quoc Doanh said: “As the celebrated the 45th anniver- future, one born of our global trade supply chain Deputy Minister of MARD Le Quoc Doanh said more countries were replacing their paper system with the sary of the establishment of common concern for the was increasingly complicated online solutions as the direct exchange of electronic certification data simplifies import-export processes for bilateral diplomatic relations agro-forestry, fishery and food products. AFP planet we share,” said Apple under the influence of the this year. By the end of 2018, CEO Tim Cook. “Climate action Covid-19 pandemic as well as ance, reduces costs, increases trading system and create a tries, promoting growth and New Zealand had 28 valid can be the foundation for a new growing technology, it is im- reliability and transparency. favourable roadmap for Viet- ensuring effective enforce- projects with a total regis- era of innovative potential, job portant to establish a fast, se- At the same time, the eCert nam to access other potential ment of laws and protect- tered capital of approximate- creation, and durable economic cure and reliable information could lower the possibility of markets.” ing the community through ly $101.94 million, ranking 41 growth.” Apple said it has exchange system through on- fraud in trading, he said, add- Doanh said the two coun- bringing high-quality prod- out of 20 countries and ter- commitments from over 70 line solutions.” ing: “The establishment of e- tries would continue to do ucts to consumers. ritories investing in Vietnam, suppliers to use 100 per cent He added more countries Cert system between the two other things to complete the The agreement would help while Vietnam has six joint renewable energy for Apple were replacing their paper will create more favourable agreement and put the certi- expand the administrative venture projects invested production. As part of the system with the online solu- conditions for import-export fication into practice. reform and the use of more in New Zealand with a total effort, Apple will also tions as the direct exchange businesses and customs of- MoF deputy minister Vu Thi electronic documents in Viet- registered capital of $25.62 establish an “accelerator” of electronic certification data ficers.” Mai said her ministry consid- nam as well as simplify and million in the fields of pro- fund to invest in minority- simplifies import-export pro- Doanh said: “eCert with ered this agreement to be a harmonise administrative cessing and manufacturing owned businesses to cesses for agro-forestry, fish- New Zealand is an impor- breakthrough initiative as it procedures in bilateral trade industries; hotel and dining contribute to the initiative, as ery and food products, as well tant step to help Vietnam in- has contributed to facilitating in order to further facilitate and agriculture production part of its $100 million as speeds up customs clear- tegrate more into the global trade between the two coun- goods exchange between the industry. VIET NAM NEWS/ANN commitment to promote racial equity and justice. AFP China cut-price electric vehicles aim to spark Grounded Boeing countryside revitalisation lTHE Chinese government 737 MAX inching has enacted preferential measures on new energy vehicles in rural areas that will towards flying again last until December, in an effort to boost sales and the THE grounded Boeing 737 documentation. All MAX air- rural revitalisation strategy. MAX moved another step craft manufactured since the According to a notice the closer towards flying again on crashes also will need to be Ministry of Industry and Tuesday as US regulators said personally inspected by FAA Information Technology released they would soon accept pub- staff. on Wednesday, a total of 10 lic comments on a roadmap “The FAA will not speculate domestic carmakers, including to recertify the jet. when the work will be com- Great Wall, Changan, Chery, The US Federal Aviation pleted. The agency continues BYD and BJEV, are to promote Administration (FAA) said it to follow a deliberate process 16 new energy vehicle models would issue a proposed air- and will take the time it needs throughout the countryside. The worthiness directive for the to thoroughly review Boeing’s automakers are offering MAX, which has been ground- work,” the FAA said. varying discounts, on average ed since March last year fol- “We will lift the grounding 2,000-5,000 yuan ($285-$715), lowing two deadly crashes. order only after FAA safety according to the China The listing published in the experts are satisfied that the Association of Automobile Federal Register will seek com- aircraft meets certification Manufacturers who will be ments on suggested design standards.” carrying out related events in changes and crew procedures The MAX has been ground- rural areas from late July. The “to mitigate the safety issues ed worldwide since March local governments will provide identified during the investi- 13, 2019, following an Ethio- subsidies to encourage gations that followed the Lion pian Airlines crash that killed villagers and reduce the Air and Ethiopian Airlines ac- 157 people. That catastrophe expense for them to trade for cidents,” the FAA said. came just a few months af- with new energy vehicles. Five The public comment period ter a Lion Air MAX crash that promotional events are being will be open for 45 days. killed 189 people. organised for rural residents in The FAA statement moves The MAX’s anti-stall flight Qingdao in Shandong province; the MAX a step further on the system, the MCAS, was Haikou in Hainan province; recertification path after the partially to blame for both Kunming in Yunnan province; agency on July 1 completed crashes. Chengdu in Sichuan province; test flights on the plane. But other technical mal- and Taiyuan in Shanxi province. While the FAA said the an- functions, including one in- From July last year, China’s nouncement is an “impor- volving electrical wiring, were new energy vehicle sales tant milestone,” the agency subsequently detected dur- retreated for 12 consecutive emphasized that recertifying ing the aircraft’s modification months after a steep cut in the MAX was not a done deal process, slowing down its re- government subsidies. In the and that there were addition- certification. first half of this year, the sales al steps even after the public The FAA, like Boeing, is un- of new energy vehicles comment period is complete. der scrutiny over its role in reached 393,000 units, a These include a final report the development of the MAX, decline of 37.4 per cent year- reviewing and addressing which has been sharply criti- on-year. CHINA DAILY public comments, and a re- cized by government auditors view of Boeing’s final design and on Capitol Hill. AFP 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

Growth in land prices subdued VN could tighten Hin Pisei rules on residences AND prices in Phnom VIETNAM’S Ministry of Pub- positive signs to Vietnam’s real Penh have seen the lic Security has proposed not estate market. But in the doc- slowest growth in a granting ownership certificates ument, the Ministry of Public decade due to the to allow condotels, tourist vil- Security said the environment Covid-19L pandemic, accord- las and officetels to be turned ministry did not yet clarify ing to a survey by real estate into residential projects. whether the property owner- firm CBRE Cambodia. In its report submitted to ship certificate for condotels, The CBRE Cambodia report Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan officetels and tourist villas will said land prices in the city Phuc on the shortcomings in be granted to the project own- centre in the second quarter laws over condotels, tourist er or for each apartment. of this year remained stag- villas and officetels, the min- “In case of granting to each nant and increased slightly in istry clarified issues regarding buyer in the project, there suburban areas. management and trading of would be many complex Average land prices in cen- the estates. problems in security and or- tral Phnom Penh’s districts It said some localities like der in the management and ranged from $5,500 to $5,000 Danang city and Ba Ria-Vung operation of the building, as per square metre – $5,000 in Tau province were propos- well as withdrawal upon the Prampi Makara and $5,500 ing to change land use pur- expiry of the project’s land in Daun Penh, Chamkarmon poses and issue certificates use term,” it added. and Boeung Keng Kang. of ownership for condotels, Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate In Tuol Kork and Sen Sok gradually legalising them Association (HoREA) chair- districts, land prices increased into residential apartments, man Le Hoang Chau said they by around two per cent to an Average land prices in central Phnom Penh’s districts ranged from $5,500 to $5,000 per square metre. putting pressure on social in- have repeatedly opposed the average of $3,500 and $1,425 HIN PISEI frastructure. This could raise conversion of condotels into respectively. stagnant land prices in the cap- increase thanks to booming not changed significantly many complex issues about a residential project because Average land prices in Rus- ital was the result of Covid-19. infrastrcuture develpment in since the beginning of this economic and social security. these are two types of land sei Keo and Chroy Changva She said land transactions are the areas, which have attract- year. He said there were three If the certificate is granted with different uses. districts stood at $1,250 and stalled because the pandemic ed developers to invest there. major factors influencing the to condotel owners, buyers He said a condotel is a project $1,150 per square metre re- has led to a suspension of trav- “Infrastructure develop- market – a drop in Chinese could mortgage their assets to belonging to tourism service spectively. In the more distant el by large foreign investors to ment is gradually turning ag- investors, Covid-19 and glob- get loans. This could cause risk land. It is developed for Viet- Dangkor, Meanchey, Chbar Cambodia. She said Covid-19 ricultural land in the suburbs al economic stagnation. of credit insecurity as most in- nam’s tourism needs, which Ampov, Por Senchey, Prek has also caused delays in some into residential, commercial “Land prices in Phnom vestors of condotel products is developing very fast and Phnov and Kambol districts, construction projects. and industrial areas, where Penh did not increase much mortgage their projects at needs high-class infrastructure. average prices is between $150 “It’s the slowest incease factories and enterprises are in the first half of this year, banks, the ministry said. Meanwhile, housing is the land and $500 per square metre. in land prices in the last 10 concentrated,” she said. but there may be some The ministry said many min- for residential residents, in ad- CBRE Cambodia managing years,” she said. Lucky Realty CEO Dith growth in the second half as istries believe they have suf- dition to accommodation, it director An Sothida told The She said land prices in the Channa agreed that land transactions have gradually ficient legal basis to manage needs more public utilities to Post on Wednesday that the suburbs have seen a slight prices in Phnom Penh have resumed,” he said. condotel apartments, tourist serve communities such as villas and officetels. But con- schools and hospitals. struction investment and man- Therefore, the conversion agement of these real estate from condotel to residential Bangkok property market takes $4.8B hit products have encountered projects would create a lack many difficulties which -cur of uniformity in tourism de- THE virus crisis has wiped a expected to shrink by up to 8.8 before the virus outbreak. tion index has been on the rent laws have not resolved. velopment infrastructure as whopping 150 billion baht per cent this year, while foreign- He also expressed concern downward trend for five con- The Ministry of Construc- well as long-term revenue of ($4.8 billion) off the value of ers – especially the Chinese – over the trend of non-per- secutive quarters now. tion said they did not pro- localities, he added. the residential market in Bang- were hit by lockdown measures forming loans in the property “The reason behind this, hibit condotels being turned Economist Dinh The Hien kok and surrounding prov- that hindered purchase or trans- and business sectors, saying it besides the Covid-19 situation, into residential projects but said the amendments to provi- inces, Krungthai Bank Pcl fer of ownership, he added. needed to be monitored. is the use of macroprudential current laws do not provide sions of laws for this new type of research revealed on July 16. The research centre estimates The Real Estate Information measures by the Bank of Thai- regulations for the conver- real estate were too late. In fact, Meanwhile, the reservation the value of the residence market Centre (REIC) reported that land that requires commercial sion of commercial and ser- there are many types of real es- rate for new apartments and in Bangkok and nearby prov- the current situation index, banks to employ the LTV [loan vice buildings to residential tate born before the laws but houses fell from 20 per cent in inces has dropped by 27 per cent which reflects property devel- to value] practice to limit the apartments. Therefore, proj- only on a small scale. This con- the fourth quarter of last year from 570 to 420 billion baht. opers’ confidence in the mar- loan granted to home buyers. ects wishing to convert into dotel was developed with too to 15 per cent in the first quar- Phacharaphot said busi- ket in Bangkok and perimeter “The LTV has greatly reduced residential products should large scale in many localities ter of this year before falling nesses may have to suspend areas, fell for the fifth succes- customers’ purchasing power be carefully considered and but lacks synchronised laws. again in the second quarter to construction of new projects sive quarter. while the supply of new prop- strictly comply with provi- This has not only made it 12 per cent. until the economy recovers. The REIC is a unit of state- erties is still climbing.” sions of the law on invest- difficult for local manage- Phacharaphot Nuntramas, “Unsold stock could expand owned Government Housing He said property developers ment and urban planning. ment but also for secondary director of the bank’s Compass by five per cent this year to reach Bank, which reports to the who are not listed on the Stock The Ministry of Natural Re- investors. The evidence was research centre, said the prop- 185,000 units, although devel- Ministry of Finance. Exchange of Thailand tended to sources and Environment in that recently, some condotel erty business has been hit hard opers have cut new projects by It said the index fell to 42.6 have less confidence in the cur- February issued new guide- project owners had broken by the Covid-19 crisis, with 40 per cent compared to the last as of the second quarter of this rent situation compared to their lines about the land-use their commitments when un- demand for new residences year,” he added. year, from 44.4 in the same listed counterparts, due to the regime and certification of expectedly announcing the still falling. He estimates the residential period last year. different size of capital and the non-residential construction suspension of profit payment Domestic consumers have market will take four or five Its director Wichai Wiratka- ability to take risks. THE NATION works, including condotels. to condotel buyers, he said. been affected by an economy years to return to levels seen phan said: “The current situa- (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK These new guidelines bring VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Currency short position with Aussie job rate The Australian unemployment rate A worse situation could also happen Since June, the AUD/USD price has risen dramatically again – jumping as the unemployment rate is expected (the value of the Australian dollar 0.3 per cent higher from 7.1 per cent in to touch eight per cent in the labour mar- compared to the greenback) has been May to 7.4 per cent in June – affecting ket in the last quarter​ of 2020 due to the moving in a really tight range between 992,300 workers, according to the Aus- continuity of the effects of the pandemic 0.68 and 0.70, with the current price sit- tralian Bureau of Statistics. that could further stifle the nation’s eco- ting at around 0.69. This fluctuation indicates that the fall- nomic growth. Based on this premise, there is a good out from the covid-19 crisis is not yet Subsequently, investors could interpret opportunity to have a short position on over, with a surge in infections in the state Australia as a weakening economy and the AUD/USD as the Australian dollar of Victoria, in southeast Australia, further seek opportunities elsewhere, causing the looks bearish. threatening the employment outlook, po- Australian dollar to depreciate and lose For more information on how to trade tentially prompting a need for more fiscal its value when compared to the value of AUD/USD and other products, contact Golden FX Link Capital business manager support to eradicate such a hit. the US dollar. Golden FX Link Capital. Chhea Chhayheng a l Advertori thursday, July 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

apartment for rent/sale Villa for RENT Office Space /Shophouse for RENT

Apartment for Rent Apartment for rent Garden Villa for rent in BKK1 Villa for rent Villa for rent in Bassac Garden City Office space for rent Shophouse for rent near AEON 2 Located at west of Independence Located near Russian Market, 2 2 floors, 5 bedrooms, spacious Located in Sangkat Boeung Pro- 2 floors, 4 bedrooms, large living On main street, size from Located in borey The Premier Monument, 2 bedrooms, open bedrooms, open living room, bal- living room, fully furnished, big lit, Khan 7 Makara, 6 bedrooms, room, fully furnished, modern 200sqm to 400sqm, 7 floors, Land near AEON 2, living room, fully furnished, nice cony, fully furnished, nice kitchen, kitchen and balcony. Good for living room, kitchen, many facili- kitchen, big balcony, 2 lifts, parking, open space, 6 bedrooms, good for office kitchen, lot of sunlight. lot of sunlight. residence or office. ties around, safe and quiet. safe and quiet. very safe. and business. Price: $1,200/month Price: $1,200/month Price: $7,000/month Price: $5,000/month Price: $3,500/month Price: $14/sqm Price: $1,500/month

Apartment for Rent Renovated apartment for rent Villa for rent in North Bridge Modern villa for rent Villa for rent next to BBK1 Office space for rent Shophouse for rent Located at North West of Russian Located: Near Royal Palace Very big garden, 5 bedrooms, In Grand Phnom Penh, 5 bed- 7 bedrooms, large living room, Located at west of Olympic Located in Borey Penghout The Market, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, open 2 bedrooms, well renovated, large living room, fully furnished, rooms, large living room, modern partially furnished, big balcony, Stadium, size from 840sqm to Star Diamond, Road 60m, living room, fully furnished, nice Fully furnished, good security, western kitchen, big balcony, designed, fully furnished, modern some trees, very safe 500sqm, 2nd floor, 2 lifts, park- Land size:4.5m x 20m, kitchen and balcony. many facilities around. very safe and quiet. kitchen, big balcony. and quiet. ing, open space, very safe. House size: 4.5m x 12m, Price: $700, $900, and $1800/M Price: $750/month Price: $3,500/month Price: $1,700/month Price: $3,000/month Price: $16/sqm Price: $1,200/month

Address: #394 - 396 (Home City Building), Street 71, 089 200 300 Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia tel: Email: [email protected], www.towncity.com 012 390 390

Single Villa (Type deluxe) Villa LC2 for sale Single villa for sale Land for sale (LS:L84) Land for sale (LS:L68) Villa for sale (code VS.L24) Location: Borey Bassac Garden City Location: Borey Penghuoth The Star Location: Borey Villa Town, Hun Sen Land size: 20x30M, Land size: 618m2 Land size: 8m x22m Sangkat Tonle Bassac Natural, Street 371 Blvd, next to ISPP Location: Borey Kang Meng, Sangkat Soft title House size: 6m x12m Land size: 14 x 21.5m House size: 5.1m x 7.2m House size: 8.47m x 13.47m Prek Kompers, Khan Dongkor, Location: Prek Eng, Chbar Ampov, Location: Peng Hout Boeng Snor, House size: 10m x 12m Land size: 5.1m x 15m Land size: 12.3m x 23m Phnom Penh City Phnom Penh Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh Price: $1,500,000 (Negotiable) Price: $150,000 (Negotiable) Price: $750,000 (Negotiable) Price: $170,000 (Negotiable) Price: $200,000 Price: $350,000

Villa for rent at BKK1 Villa Queen for sale Mesong Tower for sale Land for sale (LS: L64) Land for sale (Code:LS:L64) Villa for sales (CodeVS.L21) Location: Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang Location: Borey Chipmong, Street 371, Location: Diamond Island, Tolebassac, Land size: 30x43M Land size: 40m x72m Land size: 8.59x22m 1, Khan Chamkamorn, in front of PC Market Chomkamon, Location: Sang Kat Prek Eng, Khan Location: Veal Sbov House size: 6x12m, location: N.98 House size: 12m x 21m House size: 9m x 12m House size: 47-66sqm Chbar Ampov Chbar Ampov St.E-01: Borey Peng Huot Berg Snor, Land size: 18m x 30m Land size: 14m x 23m Bedroom: 1 unit Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Chbar Ampov Price: $4,500/month Price: $1,000,000 (Negotiable) Price: $100,000 (Negotiable) Price: $320,000 (Negotiable) Price: $1,300,000 Price: $390,000

#113 Mao Tse Toung Blvd, No 2FD1 Phone: (+855) 95 955 777 Email: [email protected] www.c21mekong.com.kh facebook.com/C21Mekong

Land for sale Land for sale House for sale Link house for sale Flat for sale Villa LC1 for sale Land Size: 11.5m x 150m Land: Size 32m x 54m Land size: 5m x 20m Land size : 4.1m x 14m Land size : 4.2m x 20.5m Land Size : 5.2m x 14m Title: Hard Location: Chaom Chau House size: 4.2m x 15.2m House size : 4.1m x 12m House Size : 4.2m x 13m House Size : 5.2m x 7m Location: Prek Eng Khan Porsenchey Location: Preak Hor Location : Borey Leng Navatra Location : ​Borey Lim Chheanghak Location : Chea Sophara, Borey Peng Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Ta Khmoa, Kandal Sangkat Chaom Chau Veal Sbov Huoth The Star Premier Price: $400/m2 Price: $350/m2 Price: $65,000 Price: $67,000 (Negotiable) Price: $69,800 (Negotiable) Price: $84,500 (Negotiable)

Land for sale Land for sale House for sale Shop house for sale at Borey Peng Olympia condo SOHO type for sale Twin Villa for sale at Borey Peng Land size: 17,089m2 Land size: 16m x 22m Land size: 4.5m x 15m Huoth Boeung Snor Size : 45Sqm Huoth PC market Location: Dang Kao Location: Prek Eng House size: 4.5m x 10m Land Size : 4.5m x 21m Location : Sangkat Orussey, Land Size : 6m x 16m Phnom Penh Chbar Ampov Location Preak Hor Ta Khmao, House Size : 4.5m x 14m Khan 7 Makara House Size : 6m x 12m Cambodia Phnom Penh Kandal Location : Sangkat Niroth Phnom Penh Location : Chak Ang Re Luer Price: $180/m2 (Negotiable) Price: $120,000 Price: $51,500 Price: $290,000 (Negotiable) Price : $13,000 (Negotiable) Price : $385,000 (Negotiable)

#35, Street.P10D, Borey Peng Huoth The Star Polaris 1, Email : [email protected] Sangkat Niruoth, Khan Chbaampov, Phnom Penh, http://www.easypropertyrealty.com E-Mail: [email protected] / www.katappraisal.com #19DE0, St. 172, Sangkat Chey Chomnes, Khan Doun Penh. 089 888 366, 089 888 277 | 089 888 377, 089 888 755 Tel: 015 777 586 / 061 777 586 / 011 777 587 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com World Australia posts record Covid-19 cases Earth and

USTRALIA reported a record tine residents returning from overseas. Moon hit 502 new coronavirus infec- Victoria has effectively been sealed tions on Wednesday, nearly off from the rest of the country in an four months after the epi- effort to contain the virus, but new 800 million demicA initially peaked, with authori- cases have been detected in neigh- ties warning the country was entering bouring New South Wales state. a critical new phase. New South Wales Premier Gladys Be- years ago Most of the new cases were reported in rejiklian described the coming weeks as the southeastern state of Victoria, where “the most critical” since the height of the A GIANT meteor shower bom- authorities have struggled to bring an last lockdown, when the state held the barded Earth and the Moon outbreak in Melbourne under control mantle of Australia’s hardest-hit region. 800 million years ago with despite an almost two-week lockdown Several clusters have emerged in more than 30 times the force in Australia’s second-biggest city. Sydney, which health officials believe of the asteroid strike that killed Australia’s new coronavirus infec- sprung up after an infected man from the dinosaurs, new research tions previously peaked on March 28 Melbourne visited a popular pub. showed on Tuesday. when 459 cases were reported, ac- “We are not out of the woods by any Japanese scientists exam- cording to data. stretch, quite the opposite,” Berejik- ined images taken by the The country had since appeared to lian told a press conference. Kaguya lunar orbiter and bring the virus under control and had “We remain on high alert and we found that an enormous eased restrictions. Like neighbouring have some level of anxiety as to the asteroid – at least 100km in New Zealand, it had won plaudits for Melbourne residents will be required to wear masks outside from midnight on Thursday. AFP extent of community transmission.” diameter – broke up and its pandemic response. But Andrews said “further behav- could apply for a A$1,500 (US$1,070) hard- Berejiklian said new restrictions plunged into the Earth-Moon Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews iour change” would still be required ship payment if they contract the virus. would come into force on Friday to System, having a profound announced 484 new cases and two after analysis showed almost nine in There are growing fears about the tighten rules for bars, cafes, weddings impact on life on our planet. more deaths in the state on Wednes- 10 people recently diagnosed with virus spreading through vulnerable and funerals, warning they could still The probability of an aster- day, bringing its total of active cases coronavirus did not self-isolate be- populations after outbreaks at several be extended further. oid that size hitting Earth is to just over 3,400. tween feeling sick and getting tested. nursing homes, while inmates at six “A lack of compliance now has made roughly once in 100 million Australia has now recorded almost Just over half of the new patients also prisons have been confined to their us go down the compulsory path and years, and impact craters of 13,000 cases of the virus and 128 fatali- failed to stay at home while waiting for cells after a guard tested positive. we don’t apologise for that,” she said. meteor strikes created before ties in a country of about 25 million. their test results, he added, saying au- The outbreak has left Australia rat- New South Wales reported 16 new 600 million years ago have Melbourne residents will be re- thorities believed insecure work con- tled and dampened hopes of a speedy cases Wednesday, with one each also been erased by aeons of ero- quired to wear masks outside from ditions were a key driver of the trend. economic recovery. detected in Queensland and South sion and other geological midnight – making the city the first Andrews said casual workers across a An inquiry into how the virus spread Australia states. processes. place in Australia to mandate face range of industries, who do not get sick- in Melbourne heard this week that many No significant outbreaks have been But there is virtually no ero- coverings in public – in a new effort to leave provisions, were worried about cases were likely linked to infection con- detected in less-populated regions for sion on the Moon, allowing the slow the virus spread. “feeding their kids, paying their bills”, but trol breaches at hotels used to quaran- weeks. AFP team to reconstruct the his- tory of nearly 60 large craters. Researchers from Osaka University looked at the age the large craters were formed China says to retaliate by examining the density of NY vows lawsuit as Trump smaller craters within their ejecta range – where chunks against US closure of of rocks would have landed mulls sending federal agents after the main impact. They used scaling laws and its Houston consulate NEW York would go to court to collision probabilities to cal- CHINA on Wednesday called long been engaging in infiltra- stop US President Donald culate that the mass of mete- the abrupt closure of its con- tion and interference activi- Trump sending federal troops ors to strike Earth and the sulate general in Houston, ties. If we compare the two, it to the city, its mayor said on Moon was 40-50 million bil- Texas, a “political provocation” is only too evident which is Tuesday, as the US president lion tonnes – that’s 30-60 from the US and vowed firm engaged in interference, infil- puts law and order at the fore- times greater than the Chicx- countermeasures should tration and confrontation,” he front of his re-election bid. ulub impact event. Washington not reverse its said. Last week, the Department of This strike, approximately decision. The foreign ministry’s state- Homeland Security deployed 65 million years ago in what Foreign Ministry spokesman ment came barely an hour scores of Border Patrol police is modern-day Mexico, is Wang Wenbin told a press brief- after editor of the nationalistic and federal marshals – many in thought to have led to a mass ing in Beijing that the move Global Times newspaper Hu combat fatigues – to Portland, extinction of more than ordered on Tuesday local time Xijin tweeted that the mission Oregon, to tackle anti-racism three-quarters of life on “seriously violates” interna- was given 72 hours to shut, protests. Earth, including non-avian tional laws and norms govern- calling it a “crazy move”. On Monday, Trump said they dinosaurs. ing international relations. Hours earlier at about 8pm had done “a fantastic job” locking The team said the shower “China strongly condemns local time, police and firefight- up “anarchists,” and he threat- 800 million years ago struck New York Mayor Bill de Blasio vows to sue Trump if troops sent. afp such an outrageous and unjus- ers descended on the consulate ened to deploy the military- Earth just before the Cryo- tified move, which will sabo- in Houston following reports garbed law enforcement agents local protests has sparked to Homeland Security Acting genian period, which saw a tage China-US relations. We that papers were being burnt to other Democrat-led cities. anger and legal questions. Secretary Chad Wolf and Attor- planet-wide ice age between urge the US to immediately outside in open containers. He called the move neces- Local leaders who are ney General Bill Barr that the 720-635 million years ago. withdraw its erroneous deci- Local TV stations KPRC and sary, even claiming Chicago responsible for running local uninvited paramilitary deploy- Writing in the journal sion, otherwise China will KHOU showed fires in multiple was “worse than Afghanistan”, police forces say the deploy- ments violate the Constitution. Nature Communications, make legitimate and necessary open containers, with black but critics labelled it an elec- ment has escalated tensions. The White House denies accu- they said the knock-on effect reactions,” he said. smoke rising out of them. Fire tion year political stunt. Since the DHS force arrived in sations of abuse of power, insist- to life on Earth must have He said the US government trucks and police cars were “This president blusters and Portland, a video has shown them ing the agents are needed to been profound. has been stigmatising China seen parked outside the consu- bluffs and says he’s gonna do taking some demonstrators away protect federal buildings targeted “Our new finding suggests and launching unwarranted late, with firefighters unable to things and they never materi- in unmarked vehicles. by anti-racism demonstrators. that the flux of extraterres- attacks against the country’s enter the compound. alise regularly,” said New York Most of those detained have “If we left tomorrow, they trial elements might have social system, harassing Chi- The Houston Chronicle Mayor Bill de Blasio. been freed, but critics – includ- would burn that building down. influenced marine biogeo- nese diplomats, and intimi- newspaper said no injuries “If he tried to do it, it would only ing Oregon’s governor and We have them on video trying chemical cycles . . . severe dating and interrogating Chi- were reported. create more problems, it would senators – likened the federal it, several times,” said Wolf on perturbations to Earth’s cli- nese students, even Beijing and Washington have backfire, wouldn’t make us safer agents to “secret police” in Tuesday, calling the protesters mate system, and the emer- confiscating their devices. been engaged in an increas- and we would immediately take more repressive societies. “violent anarchists”, while gence of animals,” they said. He further claimed the US ingly hostile tit for tat spat on action in court to stop it. Oregon has sued DHS for simultaneously denouncing The Kaguya mission was has often violated diplomatic multiple fronts, including “From my point of view, this rights violations, while the local officials’ inaction. launched in 2007 and studied norms by imposing restrictions trade, diplomacy and over the would be yet another example state’s governor, Kate Brown, Since African-American man Earth’s satellite in then-un- on Chinese diplomats and coronavirus. of illegal and unconstitutional demanded that the officers be George Floyd was killed by a Min- precedented detail, including opening diplomatic pouches. Tensions have been ratch- actions by the President,” he withdrawn, calling the deploy- neapolis police officer on May 25, the dark side of the Moon and China’s diplomatic staff have eted in recent days after told reporters. ment a political “photo op.” sparking nationwide protests its magnetic field. AFP repeatedly received death and increasingly strong rhetoric Trump’s decision to have fed- On Monday, the mayors of six against police brutality, Trump bomb threats, he said. from senior US officials. THE eral law enforcement agents, major cities – Atlanta, Washing- has sought to paint the demon- www.phnompenhpost.com “Meanwhile personnel of STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS some of whom don’t wear iden- ton, Seattle, Chicago, Portland strators as radical leftists intent check the post website for breaking news the US embassy in China have NETWORK tification badges, intervene in and Kansas City – said in a letter on destroying the country. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN Philippines Duterte-critic journalist pleads not set to trial ‘lagundi’ in guilty in Philippine tax evasion case virus fight

MBATTLED Philippine jour- nalist Maria Ressa pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to tax evasion, as President Ro- drigoE Duterte’s government faced growing calls to drop all charges against the veteran reporter. Ressa, 56, and her news site Rap- pler, have been the target of a series of criminal charges and probes after publishing stories critical of Duterte’s policies – including his drug war that has killed thousands. Lagundi is a proven treatment The award-winning former CNN for cough, which is among the journalist is on bail pending an ap- common symptoms of Covid-19. peal against a cyber libel conviction PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER last month for which she faces up to HE Philippines will start its six years in jail. clinical trials for lagundi as Ex-Rappler journalist Reynaldo San- Ta supplemental treatment tos was also found guilty in that case. for Covid-19 patients by August 1. In a video on Twitter after the hearing, According to Science and Tech- Ressa said she pleaded not guilty to tax nology Secretary Fortunato Dela evasion – one of five tax-related charges Pena, the trials have already she faces – in the capital Manila. been approved by the University Her application to quash the charge of the Philippines Research Eth- was rejected by the judge and Rappler ics Board. was added to the charge sheet, she said. The aim of the study, which will Ressa, who is also a US citizen, is ac- begin on August 1 or earlier if cused of providing incorrect informa- the FDA clearance is released, tion for a company tax return involv- Philippine journalist Maria Ressa talks to members of the media after attending a court hearing in Manila on Wednesday. afp is to show if it is good to address ing nearly 300,000 pesos ($6,000) in the Covid-19 symptoms. 2015, Rappler reported. influence” to convince the Duterte gov- has a history of clashing with media Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, He noted that just like tawa- “We’ll fight every step of the way be- ernment to drop all the charges against outlets critical of his administration, accused Ressa of “playing the victim” tawa, lagundi has anti-viral cause we will hold the line,” Ressa said Ressa, Santos and Rappler. called Ressa a “fraud”. and insisted the administration was properties which makes it a suit- defiantly in the video. “I’m not going “Presidents throughout the history He recently signed an anti-terrorism not involved in the decision on ABS- able choice for the symptomatic to voluntarily give up my rights.” of the US have used their leverage law that many fear will be used to silence CBN’s licence. treatment of Covid-19 patients. Ressa posted on Twitter selfies of against authoritarian governments dissent and threaten press freedoms. “The press can keep on reporting as long Lagundi is a proven treatment for herself and her lawyer, both wearing that violate the rights of US citizens It comes as the country’s top broad- as there is no violation and has the right to cough, which is among the com- face masks and shields, at the court. abroad; the current administration caster ABS-CBN prepares to lay off continue its operations,” Roque said. mon symptoms of Covid-19. Rights groups and press advocates should do the same,” the letter said. thousands of workers after it was The charges against her and Rap- The Department of Science say the charges against Ressa and Rap- “To do otherwise would only dimin- forced off the air over a stalled renew- pler were “politically motivated”, Res- and Technology is also conduct- pler, and a government move to strip ish America’s role as a leader of the al of its operating licence. sa told journalists at the company’s ing trials on the effectiveness of the news site of its licence, amount to democratic world.” A lower house committee has since headquarters after the hearing. virgin coconut oil in the recovery state harassment. An online petition launched by inter- rejected its application for another “It is meant to harass and intimi- of Covid-19 patients. Fellow alumni, teachers and staff from national press groups in support of Res- 25-year franchise. date, it is meant to be a war of attri- There are currently 68,898 Princeton University took out a full- sa and Philippine media has received Ressa, who Time magazine named tion to try to make us afraid to keep Covid-19 cases nationwide, includ- page advert in The Washington Post on more than 10,000 signatures so far. as a Person of the Year in 2018, warned reporting,” she said. ing 23,072 recoveries and 1,835 Tuesday calling for US President Donald But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. the broadcaster’s experience was a “And the best response to it is to deaths. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ANN Trump’s administration to “exercise its Earlier this month Duterte, who “cautionary tale” for the rest of media. keep reporting.” AFP Indonesia files charges over sailor death Thailand to allow four POLICE in Indonesia have charged three types of foreigners to recruiting agency bosses over the torture death of an Indonesian crew member found in a freezer aboard a Chinese fish- enter despite Covid-19 ing vessel, an official said on Tuesday. It comes a week after a Chinese super- THAILAND’S Centre for to let these people in, so work visor on the Lu Huang Yuan Yu 118 was Covid-19 Situation Adminis- can begin and the economy charged with killing 20-year-old Hasan tration (CCSA) has in princi- starts moving forward again. Apriadi and assaulting other Indonesian ple approved the sixth phase They are all required to un- crew working on the ship. of lifting restrictions on some dergo Covid-19 tests before The recruiters ran two agencies that groups of foreigners but is entering the country and hired Apriadi and at least nine others to waiting for detailed guide- must spend 14 days in quar- work on the Chinese boat, police said. lines on disease prevention antine under the supervision “The three suspects have been de- from related ministries be- of a public health officer; tained and charged under human fore an effective date can be 4. Medical tourists. trafficking laws,” said national police announced. All foreigners are required spokesman Awi Setiyono, adding that a CCSA spokesperson Taw- to undergo a Covid-19 test search was under way for two other se- eesin Visanuyothin said on three days before departure, nior company officials still at large. Wednesday that this was $100,000 health insurance, The trio also face charges that they done in line with proposals booking for an alternative knowingly put the crew members at risk, on boosting the economy State quarantine, access to police said. from several ministries. a liaison officer and use of Anti-trafficking experts say the fishing So far, CCSA has decided Southeast Asia is a major source of such labour and unscrupulous recruiters target the poor and ThaiChana application. industry is riddled with forced labour uneducated with promises of good wages at sea. afp that four groups of foreigners Meanwhile, the govern- and exploited workers can face non- will be allowed to enter the ment will allow Thailand Elite payment, overwork, violence and death. After interrogating dozens of crew tive embassies, said Riau province police country, namely: cardholders to enter provided Southeast Asia is a major source of members from China, Indonesia and the spokesman Harry Golden Hart. 1. Foreigners participating they undergo 14 days of quar- such labour and unscrupulous recruit- Philippines, police charged Chinese na- In June, two Indonesian crew mem- in trade fairs in Thailand, who antine at an alternative state ers target the poor and uneducated with tional Song Chuanyun with the killing. bers jumped off a different Chinese boat will be allowed to only stay site. So far, 200 people have promises of good wages at sea. Citing witness statements, authorities to escape what they described as abuse until the fair wraps up; requested access. Earlier this month police said they in- said Song had forced the victim to work and horrific conditions. 2. Foreign film crew who The foreign ministry is also tercepted two Argentina-bound Chinese despite being ill. He later allegedly tor- A month earlier, three dead Indone- will follow a specific itinerary, discussing ways of granting boats in the Malacca Strait, which sepa- tured the Indonesian and denied him sian crew members were thrown off a which can be controlled; access to tourists from Japan, rates Indonesia and Malaysia, after re- food or water for several days before he Chinese-flagged vessel into the sea. 3. Migrant workers from China, South Korea, Singa- ceiving information that a crew member died in late June. Jakarta later said it was told that the Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam pore and Hong Kong as well had died aboard one of the vessels. Song will be tried in Indonesia, while men had died of illness, while Beijing and Myanmar for the food as ensuring the safety of Thai They later found Apriadi’s frozen body the other crew members have since been described the sea burials as being in line industry and construction. people. THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA aboard the Lu Huang Yuan Yu 118. released into the custody of their respec- with international law. AFP The government has decided NEWS NETWORK 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion

www.phnompenhpost.com Pakistan’s fallen Buddha

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Opinion Ly Tayseng Rafia Zakaria Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman HREE years ago, Pakistan was Managing Editor Post Khmer celebrating statues of the Bud- Sam Rith dha. One of the world’s oldest Deputy Chief of Staff sleeping Buddha had been Phak Seangly unearthedT in Bhamala in Haripur. Business Editor May Kunmakara The unveiling of the sleeping Bud- Deputy Business Editor dha was strategic, meant to highlight Sangeetha Amarthalingam the end of an era. The ravages of the Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Pan Simala were now over, as was their theatrical Senior Reporters destruction of ancient relics that are Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng a part of world history. Reporters No longer would Pakistan be Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, known as a place where the unthink- Long Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, ing destruction of world history Soth Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy, occurs, no longer would Pakistan be Thou Vireak a place where there was no tolerance for the religious relics of other faiths. Photographers Even then-opposition leader Imran Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea Khan made a statement noting that Web Editor the issue “is a question of preserving Leang Phannara these heritage sites, which are an Webmasters asset for the country”. Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea SIEM REAP BUREAU That was in 2017, just a year after Offi ce Manager the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Sophearith Blondeel Act was passed. PRODUCTION & PRINTING The legislation made it mandatory for Head of Desktop Publishing anyone who found ancient artefacts to immediately inform the government. Nhim Sokphyrak Any person committing crimes against relics could be imprisoned for five years or fined two million rupees ($12,000), or both. AFP Desktop Publishing Even more importantly, it made it a Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath crime to “destroy, break, damage, destroyed. It had been found acci- people, against objects and against would and could find such a relic in Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna alter, injure, deface or mutilate or dentally, and it is evident from the history – as they have done before. the rural areas of northwest Pakistan, scribble, write or engage any inscrip- video that it was in good condition Solutions are hard things to find. On cannot be the solution. HEAD OFFICE tion or sign on, any antiquity or take when it was found. the provincial government’s part, a law The edicts of clerics in mosques manure from any protected antiquity It will never be in good condition has been passed and is being enforced. and their incitement to force the or important antiquity”. again. Even after the men have been After all, how are the police to know destruction of antiquities cannot be Even more crucially, the act specified punished, put in prison for five years that such a statue has been found countered so easily. Post Media Co, Ltd. that any person committing these or been made to pay two million and, then, in the current mess of the If Pakistan is really turning the page The Elements Condominium Level 7, crimes could be imprisoned for five rupees, the destroyed piece from so pandemic and heat and deprivation, on its terrible ‘Talibanised’ past, it Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, years or fined two million rupees long ago will never be whole again. respond and protect such an object? should make a more sincere effort. Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom ($12,000), or both. That is the thing with things that Then, there is the fact that while The area where the Buddha was Penh, Cambodia It is now time to enforce the act. are destroyed – they can never be the TTP’s hold has to some relative found is one where hundreds of Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Earlier this week, a video surfaced returned to what they were. extent been reduced, little can be ancient relics have been excavated. It Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 on social media showing a group of If the unveiling of the sleeping Bud- done about the people who still would make sense for the government Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 men unearthing an ancient Buddha to provide some funds for their excava- SIEM REAP sculpture. Then a man takes a ham- tion and proper storage in a museum. No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune mer and starts destroying the relic. The unveiling of the sleeping Acts such as these would state clear- Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Other men can be seen watching ly and for all that Pakistan accepts the COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT and making videos of the destruction. Buddha was supposed to part of its heritage that existed before Chief Operating Offi cer The act was allegedly carried out at Islam. If this sort of rational thinking James Ong Soon Teck the behest and provocation of a cleric represent the turning of the is not possible, the excavated objects Advertising Department who had told the men that even their could be given away to a museum in a Chap Narith, 017 996 241 nikah would be rendered invalid and page on the age of the TTP country that does not feel threatened Hun Channet, 017 578 768 they would no longer be considered by its own history. Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 believers if they did not immediately dha discovered in 2017 is any evi- exhibit TTP tendencies. It is easy to say that the era of the Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 destroy the statue. dence, Pakistan’s rediscovered Even as governments change and TTP is over. It is just as easy to unveil Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 After everything was over and the respect for history was supposed to wars end, people can remain the same, a Buddha and declare that the new Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 statue had been destroyed, police represent the turning of the page on hold on to the same prejudices and Pakistan is able to respect history and CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION arrested four men under the Antiqui- the age of the TTP. believe that the mere existence of a his- a heritage that is pre-Islamic. Acting Distribution Manager ties Act. The new tolerant Pakistan, torical relic is a threat to their beliefs. Much more difficult is the project Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 The director of archaeology and equipped with the particular legisla- Given the importance of unveiling of transforming a culture that has Circulation Supervisor museums, Abdul Samad, declared tion on protecting antiquities, was the sleeping Buddha in 2017, our gov- been so corrupted with religious Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 that those who had destroyed the not supposed to do such a thing. ernments evidently realise that there obscurantism that inanimate objects Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 statue would be duly punished. And yet, as these recent events is international import to the discov- are a danger to its very existence, its ADMINISTRATION A few hours later, officials tweeted point out, the production of a toler- ery and restoration of the ancient rel- idea of itself. DAWN (PAKISTAN)/ASIA NEWS Admin & HR Manager that the four men responsible for the ant Pakistan has not been so easy. NETWORK Pich Socheat ics that are found in Pakistan. Assistants to Admin & HR Manager vandalism had been arrested and Clerics in villages are still saying the In this respect, simply and only Nhel Soaphea were in police custody. same things that they have said to passing a law, whose existence is The writer is an attorney teaching constitu- tional law and political philosophy. Financial Director The Buddha, of course, is incite people to violence – against unknown to most of the people who Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

Local cinemas ready to reopen with ‘new normal’ guidelines

Theatres are expected to adhere to strict safety and virus preventon measures if they are allowed to reopen, including having mask and social distancing policies in place. supplied

Hong Raksmey travelling to theatres. out my kids, I’d watch a zom- about contracting the virus in sanitisation and ensuring all Lao adds that for cinemas, the Lao says some moviegoers bie movie like Train to Busan cinemas than which movies staff and guests wear masks. main challenges will be attract- T HAS been more than may be concerned that movies 2,” she says. will be playing. She says she She says that all staff will be ing audiences back and ensur- four months since mov- they’d like to see in the cinema To ensure moviegoers’ ex- wonders if cinemas will fol- trained in the precautionary ing they keep each other safe. iegoers have been able will only be available online. periences remain unique and low strict guidelines to keep measures, which include leav- With a fresh crop of movie ti- to experience the thrill of For Lina, watching a movie special, Westec Media will everyone safe. ing gaps in seats and maintain- tles lined up, she predicts that Ia horror film or comedy relief in the theatre is an experience remove movies which have “Even though I’m a regu- ing distances in common areas. audiences will return once while passing around popcorn that can’t be replicated on streamed online from its list. lar moviegoer, I’m not ready “We don’t dictate what audi- they are given the chance. and sipping ice-cold soda at smaller screens at home. Lao says: “The pandemic has to walk into a cinema unless ences do when they’re watch- “We think the new normal their favourite theatre. “While some people turn to affected a lot of movie titles, something safe has been done. ing a movie inside the hall but with new SOPs will not hold Phen Lina, a once avid Netflix and other online stream- causing them to be postponed Like social distancing, strict hy- cinema staff will ensure that back audiences from watching moviegoer, tells The Post that ing platforms, I prefer not to. or removed from theatres. giene, and a strict mask policy. audiences follow the safety a movie in cinemas. In fact, the “since the cinemas closed, I “The experience of seeing However, movie titles that are “I’m sure if cinemas are to precautions,” Lao adds. new safety precautions and haven’t been able to keep up a movie on your small screen scheduled to be released in be reopened, they will be re- She admits that reopening practices will give audiences with many new releases. This can never be compared to the cinemas will not be shown on quired to follow these prac- will come with certain chal- peace of mind,” she says. is one of the experiences I big screen with my favourite Netflix before that. tices. I believe they will do lenges. Lao says ticket prices will not miss the most.” popcorn and sharing screams “Titles that are available on that, but you know some peo- “From the distributor’s change, even though there will Movie theatres in Cambodia and laughter with other peo- streaming platforms like Net- ple are careless and can pose point of view, our challenges be limited space in each theatre may soon be given the green ple in the big hall. flix, Disney+ etc. have prob- a risk to others if they don’t include scheduling new mov- to ensure social distancing. light to reopen, according to “I love going to a movie as a ably been removed from the- cover their face,” Lina says. ie titles to be released. Lina is going to take a pa- Phanny Lao, the general man- family, so most of my choices atrical releases. Responding to these con- “As we do not have a fixed re- tient approach with her re- ager of Westec Media Limited, are Disney and animation. “We think audiences will cerns, Lao says all cinemas opening date for cinemas yet, turn to cinemas. “Let’s see the biggest film distributor in I’m looking forward to seeing still enjoy watching a movie in have to follow guidelines in- we face challenges in setting how it goes. I might not be Cambodia. Mulan and Peter Rabbit 2,” the cinema as it is a different cluding temperature checks movie release dates as well as the first one to line up, but The company distributes she says. experience, especially with of guests at entry, providing finalising movie materials. On I’ll definitely go later when I to all cinemas in Cambodia Lina typically brings her premium formats like IMAX, hand sanitisers, social dis- top of that, most Hollywood see cinemas and moviegoers and have a two-week slate of husband and two kids to the ScreenX, Atmos and 4DX.” tancing in halls and common titles have been postponed to adapt to strict hygiene [prac- releases ready to go once the- cinema with her. “If I go with- Lina is more concerned areas, frequent cleaning and the following year,” she says. tices] ,” she says. atres reopen. Lao tells The Post, “We do not have a specific date yet, but we’re hoping that cine- mas will be allowed to reopen before the end of the month.” The Closet, The Cave, Nec- romancer, Train to Busan 2: Peninsula, Mulan, Tenet, The New Mutants and A Quiet Place Part II will all be shown in theatres once they reopen. “We have a list of movies lined up for release once cinemas are allowed to reopen. We’re look- ing at eight new titles in the first two weeks and more to come in the following weeks,” she says. Online streaming platforms have disrupted the movie industry, with more people turning to their laptops for entertainment instead of Mulan is one of the movies expected to be relased in the city when theatres reopen. afp Cineplex employees prepare social disancing cues at a Phnom Penh theatre. supplied 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

When India banned TikTok, it closed a window to the wider world for legions of rural women outside the big cities who gained confidence and followers through their short videos. afp TikTok gave rural Indian women fun, fame, even fortune “MANNING THE OFFENSE”

HEN India never made eye contact with left school at 14 living in a ACROSS 63 Wing-shaped 31 Minuscule banned TikTok, people or even spoke much,” small town in Maharashtra 1 Company supplying Mr. Coyote 64 Budget item, often 32 Herringlike food fish it closed a win- Verma said. state that gets piped water for 5 Camp body of water 65 Rough Rider Roosevelt 33 “___ Las Vegas” (1964 Elvis dow to the wider Speaking a vast number of an hour a day and endures 9 Where Minos reigned 66 Philadelphia founder movie) Wworld for legions of women out- languages and dialects, around frequent power cuts. 67 Doggie bag morsels 34 ___ out a living (barely got by) 14 Violin holder side the big cities that provided 70 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion She would upload videos of 15 Distinctive flair DOWN 35 Seneca tutored him fun, fame and even fortune. people live in rural areas, a herself poking fun at her weak 16 “Correct-a-mundo!” 1 ___ and pains 36 Type of reaction The government outlawed world away from big cities such economic status and soon 17 Marching orders 2 Fall guy 37 Wee colonial the video-sharing platform, as Mumbai and New Delhi. amassed 300,000 followers. 20 Scratchy board 3 Top of the Catholic Church? 39 Like mechanics’ hands and 58 other Chinese apps, Amitabh Kumar from Social “A person who works with 21 “Don’t be ridiculous!” 4 Jotting in a journal 40 Language in Pakistan this month citing data secu- Media Matters, a group encour- a Marathi TV show called me 22 Most nimble 5 Zodiac lion 44 One-man band performances rity fears. aging “social media for social a star. I can’t tell you happy I 25 Droid cousin 6 Computer key 45 Short siesta TikTok is also reportedly change”, said that for many peo- felt,” she told AFP. 26 Charles is its prince 7 Actress Madeline 46 Overly sentimental under greater scrutiny else- ple in this huge hinterland, Tik- “I only studied until grade 28 Formal legal document 8 Get dressed for choir 48 It’s tired? 9 Wave top 49 Texan with a glove where including in the US Tok was a “glass ceiling breaker”. nine. I’m not a big person.” 32 Sinister, manipulative type 10 Rampant 50 Wall worker and Australia. “Instead of Bollywood and Bhandole said she wept 37 Fancy mayo 38 Trek to a lofty lookout point 11 Harold’s role in “Ghostbusters” 51 Make ___ in (show some Married soon after she com- rich people, finally there was when TikTok was banned. 12 Consequently headway) pleted college, 27-year-old a chance for common people 41 Turn away 42 Happy occasion? 13 French 101 word 52 Tree houses stay-at-home mother Mamta to create something in 15 sec- Conservative family 43 Carpenter’s groove 18 Forked letter 53 Sibilant attention getter Verma lives in a small town in onds which makes you laugh Archana Arvind Dhormise 44 Lambaste 19 Adam’s grandson 54 Poker dealer’s demand Madhya Pradesh state. or cry or think or engage,” he hopes the benefits she derived 46 “___ guy walks into ...” (joke start) 23 Cashless transaction 55 Edible fat One day, her daughter got told AFP. from the platform will last. 47 Mexican peninsula 24 Coin of Samoa 56 Newspaper section her to install TikTok on her Its different tools were sim- The 35-year-old from Pim- 53 Home of Stanford University 27 Neither-here-nor-there state 57 Gaze wantonly phone to watch the dizzying ple to use for those who don’t palgaon in Maharashtra sel- 58 Spoken thought, onstage 28 ___ all due respect 60 Process leather array of zany videos upload- speak or read English or Hin- dom left home for fear of cen- 59 Critters with powerful jaws 29 Place for a pothole 61 Mantel pitcher ed from across what used to di, and the app worked well sure from her conservative 62 Throat affliction 30 Trojan princess of a Mozart opera be the app’s biggest interna- tional market. Wednesday’s solution Instagram and YouTube are for “the big people”, Verma Here was for the first time a told AFP by phone, but TikTok space that rural India was she liked. She started to record and enjoying upload videos of her own. “I started with five likes on on low-speed internet. family and neighbours. my first video. That was a big “Twitter cracked the short- But then the home beau- boost for me,” Verma said. form storytelling in text – with tician became the “Rani Soon, she had more than 140 and then 280 (characters). Mukherji of TikTok” – a refer- a million followers and was I think TikTok did it with 15 ence to a famous Bollywood earning about 4,000 rupees seconds,” he added. actress – dancing and miming ($50) per video with her slick And it reminded the urban to famous songs, and gaining robot dance routines shot in- elite of India’s vast diversity and 75,000 fans. side her small, simple home. chasmic differences in wealth. She won a local competition Wednesday’s solution “It’s not a lot but my earn- “What we, people sitting in for one of her TikTok videos. ings from TikTok helped in Delhi, probably judged and Now she has landed a part in running the house and also made fun of was high-class a short film. in managing finances for the entertainment for a lot of peo- “I had never in my life gone new house. You know even 10 ple who never got a chance to up on stage and spoken or rupees is a huge amount for express themselves,” he said. even initiated a conversa- us,” she said. “Here was for the first time tion without having a mil- a space that rural India was lion thoughts in my head,” Breaking a glass ceiling enjoying.” Dhormise said. But it wasn’t just the money. “But being on TikTok and “Before TikTok, I didn’t have ‘Not a big person’ seeing all the love I was get- the confidence to talk to peo- Another minor star was Ru- ting gave me the confidence to ple. I would just do my work, pali Manoj Bhandole, 29, a keep that going, and be confi- and as a stay-at-home wife I housewife and mother who dent in the real world.” afp THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Games gone viral: Historic health scares at Olympics

OKYO 2020 organis- illnesses were also to blame. ers will this autumn The virus prevented Norwe- begin the task of gian 1,500 metre gold medal- devising safety pro- winning speed skater Adne tocolsT to allow the Games to Sondral from going for a dou- take place if the coronavirus ble in the 1,000 metres. pandemic is still raging. German figure skating medal But Tokyo 2020, which had hopeful Tanja Szewczenko been due to start on Friday pulled out over health fears and until it was postponed for a the International Olympic Com- year, will not be the first Olym- mittee (IOC) also got involved, pic Games to face a health cri- warning competitors against sis, although the scale of the the flu and advising them to challenge posed by Covid-19 take on plenty of fluids. is unprecedented. That outbreak of flu was Here’s a look at previous unrelated to the killer bird Olympics that went ahead in flu hitting southern China at Revelers in Rio de Janiero wearing Greek style costumes call for Zika virus prevention in 2016. afp the face of viral outbreaks. the time. the World Health Organisa- dramatic than the facts, with Americas by late 1968, eventu- tation of World War I. Nagano 1998: Flu Rio 2016: Zika tion (WHO), mainly in Brazil. no new cases reported during ally killing around one million Although the Spanish Flu killed There was an outbreak of Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olym- There was concern that the Games. people but had little impact five times more people than the influenza the last time Japan pics, the talk was dominated international visitors to the on the Games. number of soldiers klled in the hosted the Games – the Win- by Zika, a mosquito-borne Games could spread the virus Mexico 1968: Flu 1914-18 war, the impact of the ter Olympics in the central virus that can cause pregnant globally, even though the WHO The 1968 Olympics in Mexi- Antwerp 1920: Flu virus was overshadowed by the city of Nagano in 1998. women to give birth to babies assessed the risk as “minimal.” co took place during one of the Held in the aftermath of the global conflict. Nearly 1,500 schoolchildren with microcephaly – a defor- Some leading tennis players worst pandemics of the 20th Spanish Flu, considered to be A century on, Tokyo 2020 in the Nagano region came mation that results in abnor- and golfers – including golf century – the Hong Kong Flu. the most deadly in history and organisers have been at pains down with the flu and some mally small brains and heads. star Rory McIlroy – decided It spread throughout Asia af- claiming up to 50 million lives, to stress that if the Games go 200 people connected with The Zika outbreak began in not to compete due to fears ter emerging in the then British the Antwerp Games were seen ahead they will again stand as the Games were taken ill – al- 2015 and infected around 1.5 over the virus. colony neighbouring southern as a symbol of humanity’s ef- a beacon of triumph against though officials stressed other million people, according to The stories proved more China, and had reached the fort to rebuild after the devas- adversity. afp US celebrities found new women’s pro soccer team A GROUP of celebrities led by Hollywood star Natalie Port- man has founded a women’s professional soccer team set to debut in 2022, the women’s pro soccer league said Tuesday. Big names involved in the effort include tennis megastar Serena Williams, as well as Hol- lywood stars Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria, America Ferrera and Jennifer Garner. “A majority woman-founded group” led by Portman “has secured the exclusive right to bring a professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles to kick off in Spring 2022,” the Li Haotong tees off at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club in January. afp National Women’s Soccer League said. The team’s formal name is yet to be announced, but “the Golf’s PGA Tour Series-China group has formally coined Serena Williams is part of a group of celebrities led by Natalie Portman who itself ‘Angel City’ in honour of created a women’s pro soccer team tentatively based out of Los Angeles. afp its planned home in Los Ange- season cancelled because of virus les,” the statement said. led ownership group,” said Port- young people in Los Angeles.” It would become the 11th man, who won an Oscar in 2011 The NWSL, which had its inau- GOLF’S PGA Tour Series-China mental circuit in Canada, also China with players from five team in the NWSL. Currently, for her role in “Black Swan.” gural season in 2013, was the first season has been cancelled cancelled its season. different continents is just not there are nine teams in the “Sports are such a joyful way US professional sports league to because of the coronavirus pan- Both feeder tours attract up- feasible at this time. league, but one other team – to bring people together, and restart activities amid the novel demic and related travel restric- and-coming players from all “We will continue to evalu- the Louisville FC – is set to this has the power to make coronavirus pandemic. tions, officials said Wednesday. over the world and provide a ate what is happening with the rejoin the league in 2021. tangible change for female The league’s Challenge Cup The professional golf tour, pathway to the Korn Ferry coronavirus and hope the situ- The founding investor group athletes both in our commu- tournament has been held since which was a launchpad for Tour, which is one tier below ation alleviates itself so we can includes Williams’s young nity and in the professional June 27, with teams playing in China’s top player Li Haotong, the main US PGA Tour. again resume tournament golf daughter Olympia, and several sphere,” she said. two stadiums in the state of in January held the first of three “It’s a disappointment but I in this part of the world in former US Women’s National Portman, who has been Utah without spectators and qualifying tournaments. know our players and fans 2021,” Carlson added. Team players including Mia active in causes such as the without some of its biggest stars, But the pandemic struck and understand . . . that the health The PGA Tour Series-China’s Hamm, Lauren Cheney Holiday “Time’s Up” movement against including Megan Rapinoe. began to spread, eventually end- and safety of everyone associ- 2019 season finale in Hong Kong and Abby Wambach. Gaming sexual abuse in the entertain- The tournament’s final game ing any hopes of getting the 2020 ated with the series is of the was also cancelled last October, entrepreneur Julie Uhrman will ment industry, said that the is scheduled for Sunday. season off the ground, along utmost importance,” said Greg with officials on that occasion be the franchise president. franchise hopes “to make a The United States is a pow- with sport across the globe. Carlson, executive director of the citing “safety concerns” because “Today we take an exciting substantive impact on our erhouse of women’s soccer In May the Mackenzie Tour, series. of a wave of pro-democracy step by announcing the first community, committing to and the current world cham- the PGA Tour-backed develop- “And staging a tour based in protests roiling the city. afp women majority-owned and extending access to sports for pions. afp 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST july 23, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Play ball! Baseball starts under virus shadow O chewing to- says the sheer volume of bacco, no fighting, Covid-19 cases across the US no fans and in- may prove problematical for stead of a sprawl- baseball. Ning 162-game regular season “Major League Baseball’s marathon, an abbreviated 60- plan would work great in Ger- game sprint to the playoffs. many, South Korea, or Viet- The sport affectionately nam or New Zealand,” Bin- known as the US pastime ney told AFP. “I have sincere makes its long-awaited return doubts it’s going to work in on Thursday when the 2020 the United States. The num- Major League Baseball (MLB) ber of cases is just so high.” season gets under way. The absence of fans from But as the Washington Na- ballparks meanwhile has tionals prepare to host the forced teams to innovate. New York Yankees in a mar- Several clubs will have piped quee opening day match-up, crowd noise playing in sta- baseball is still adjusting to its diums during games, while new reality. others have installed card- After nearly torpedoing the board cut-outs of fans in the new season altogether, the seating. impact of Covid-19 will loom Players meanwhile will large when infectious disease also need to adjust to several specialist Anthony Fauci toss- rule changes that baseball is es the first pitch at Nationals launching this season in a bid Park on Thursday. to speed up play. Unlike other professional From this season, every sports leagues in North Amer- pitcher must face at least ica, which have reopened by three batters or finish an in- basing multiple teams at single ning, while for the first time a locations, baseball’s new sea- designated hitter will be used son will start with teams play- in both the American and Na- ing in their home ballparks. Ian Desmond said the Covid-19 pandemic has turned this baseball season into a risk he is not comfortable taking. GETTY IMAGES/AFP tional Leagues. It comes at a time when Games that go to extra in- swathes of the US are strug- A number of players, mean- young children and a mother protocols designed to prevent monstrate with umpires – or nings, meanwhile, will start gling to control a resurgence while, have already decided who has multiple sclerosis. outbreaks of Covid-19. who come within six feet of with a runner on second base in the coronavirus which has to skip the new season citing Zimmerman’s misgivings Players will be tested for the game officials – will risk ejec- in an effort to prevent mara- left more than 140,000 dead. concerns over the pandemic. were shared by Colorado disease every 48 hours while tion and discipline. thon games. Already MLB’s strategic deci- For the Nationals, Covid- Rockies outfielder Ian Des- masks will be mandatory for The shortened season may sion to require teams to travel 19 has already claimed Ryan mond. “The Covid-19 pan- players on the field. Rule changes also wreak havoc with the has run into difficulties. The Zimmerman and Joe Ross, demic has made this baseball Social distancing rules will Whether the MLB’s exhaus- conventional wisdom over Toronto Blue Jays were told by who played key roles in the season one that is a risk I am mean expanded dugouts, tive safety protocols will be which teams are likely to the Canadian government last team’s World Series-winning not comfortable taking,” the with back-up players spread successful remains to be reach the World Series. week that they will not be al- campaign last year. two-time All-Star said. out in seating normally re- seen. The most recent round While regular playoff con- lowed to stage home games. “With a pregnant wife and served for fans. of test results announced by tenders with deep rosters Canadian Minister of Im- Safe at home four young children who have Two staples of baseball – the league revealed six posi- such as the Los Angeles Dodg- migration, Refugees and Citi- Zimmerman and Ross have lots of questions about what’s chewing tobacco and sun- tive cases out of 10,548 tests, ers and New York Yankees can zenship Marco Mendicino an- both decided to opt out. going on in the world, home is flower seeds – are also ef- a 0.05 per cent positive rate. normally be expected to come nounced: “We have concluded “I’ll be staying safe at home where I need to be right now.” fectively banned. Under But public health experts good over the course of a long the cross-border travel required and pulling as hard as any- The players who have opted to baseball’s new safety code, are less sure. season, the shorter season for MLB regular season play one for the guys to defend embark on the new season will any spitting is forbidden. Zach Binney, an epidemi- could potentially open the would not adequately protect our championship,” said find themselves subjected to a Players or managers who ologist at Oxford College of door for any mid-tier team Canadians’ health and safety.” Zimmerman, who has three range of strict health and safety leave their positions to re- Emory University in Atlanta, that enjoys a hot streak. afp Sole in one! Players get a kick out of ‘footgolf’ fusion sport

HER eyes fixed on the flag In Malaysia, people start- It’s about beating the in the distance, Jamiatul ed playing footgolf in 2018 course.” Akmal Abdul Jabar takes a at the Bukit Jelutong course He also hoped the grow- run-up past her cheering outside the capital Kuala ing popularity of the sport friends and kicks a football Lumpur, which had been could give some help to ail- down a golf course in abandoned but was given a ing courses. Malaysia. makeover by Footgolf Golf has fallen out of favour This is “footgolf”, a novel Malaysia. in many countries, with fusion of two of the world’s Jeffrey Cottam, who co- young people largely unin- most popular sports that is founded the organisation, terested and few having the growing fast and attracting said initial attempts to start time to spend a whole day people to the fairways. the sport were resisted by playing the sport, leading to It follows the rules of golf, course owners who balked many courses closing. but players leave their clubs at the idea of letting foot- But footgolf is giving them at home and instead tee off ballers onto their greens. some much-needed reve- with their feet try to com- But he finally managed to nue – in the US, for instance, plete each hole in as few set up at Bukit Jelutong, and the sport is now played on kicks as possible. Jamiatul was having a go at the sport with her friends on a the company now manages more than 500 courses, Jamiatul was having a go converted course with 53cm holes outside the Malaysian capital two footgolf courses in according to the American at the sport with her friends Kuala Lumpur. AFP Malaysia – the second is in Footgolf Federation. on a converted course with experience,” Jamiatul, an Several World Cups have the southern state of Johor Danny Chia, a Malaysian 53cm holes outside the avid futsal player, told AFP. been staged, although the – with a third on the way. professional golfer who plays Malaysian capital Kuala “I’m planning to book 2020 edition originally due More than 2,000 people on the Asian Tour, also said Lumpur. another [session].” to take place in Japan has play each month in Malay- footgolf might help courses. The 38-year-old said she Thousands of players are been postponed to next year sia, Cottam said. “There are a still a lot of had considered golf “such a now kicking balls on footgolf due to the coronavirus. “Footgolf, like golf, isn’t golf courses out there that boring game” but was rath- courses in about 36 coun- The sport’s origins aren’t about strength and how are not doing very well,” he er taken by footgolf. tries, and the sport has been clear, but one of the earliest young you are,” he told AFP. told AFP. “You feel that this is some- governed by an internation- recorded tournaments was “It’s more technical . . . It’s “This could be a new ave- Jamiatul said she had considered golf ‘such a boring thing new, something to al federation since 2012. in the Netherlands in 2008. not about beating people. nue for them.” afp game’ but was rather taken by footgolf. AFP