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Tuesday, april 28, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL NZ volcano victims to sue cruise ship firm

SURVIVORS of last year’s New Zea- based Stacks Goudkamp, said the firm Yousef said there was “no indica- when there was such high risk? Why “watching loved ones suffering in land volcano eruption are planning was preparing to launch legal action tion at all that Royal Caribbean was were they not cancelled?” she asked. excruciating pain, and having to to sue cruise ship company Royal against Royal Caribbean on behalf of paying attention to” the increased New Zealand has a “no-fault” pub- come to terms with – if they survive Caribbean Cruises Ltd for failing to survivors and families of the victims, risk of the volcano erupting before a lic indemnity scheme that compen- – what kind of quality of life they will warn of the risks involved in touring many of whom were passengers on group of passengers joined a day- sates both its citizens and tourists have, will they ever be able to get back the area, lawyers said Monday. the cruise liner Ovation of the Seas. tour of the island. involved in accidents. any sort of normality”. There were 47 people, mainly Aus- Yousef said at least one Australian The cruise company had billed the However, Yousef said the Australians Yousef said it was hoped the legal tralian tourists, on White Island when family and an unconfirmed number trip to White Island as “an unforget- caught up in the disaster had ongoing action would also hold Royal Caribbean it erupted on December 9 last year, of others will sue for alleged negli- table guided tour of New Zealand’s costs and losses that would likely far to account for its alleged failings. killing 21 people. gence, breach of contract and viola- most active volcano”. exceed those payments. New Zealand’s government has Many were carried off with horrific tions of Australian consumer law. “At the very least they should’ve “We’ve got people who are having to launched an investigation into wheth- injuries, including extensive external New Zealand authorities on informed their tour participants of the deal with absolutely profound and er anyone was at fault in the tragedy and internal burns from the explosion November 18 raised the Volcanic risk and let them decide if they want- unimaginable disability, the kinds of but the probe is not expected to con- that sent steam, ash and gases hur- Alert Level for White Island from ed to take the risk. burns that a lot of medical professionals clude before the end of this year. tling from the caldera. Level 1 to Level 2 – the highest level “We can go one step further and ask have never seen in their lives,” she said. Royal Caribbean did not respond to Lawyer Rita Yousef, from Sydney- before an explosion. why were they even running these tours Relatives have been grappling with a request for comment. AFP Covid-19 at ‘alarming rate’, health ministry says

Joshua Purushotman and say that the situation in Cambodia Sangeetha Amarthalingam is still at an alarming stage which means we have to be vigilant and HE Covid-19 risk level for very careful because the risk for individual transmission is individual [transmission] is not at an “alarming rate” in the low,” Vandine said. Kingdom and its probabil- The low number of cases in Cam- ityT is “not low”, warned Health Min- bodia has been somewhat baffling istry spokesperson Or Vandine. when figures in neighbouring states Leave now “Cambodia’s coronavirus scenar- have comparatively increased Kandal provincial authorities on Sunday ordered Vietnamese soldiers to remove nine camps situated in a ‘white zone’ close to the Vietnamese border in Koh Thom district’s Sampov Poun commune. POLICE sTORY > 3 io is classified as being at an early many-folds over the months. stage of the pandemic because of Since the initial spike of cases in ongoing transmissions worldwide. early March involving participants of A second wave can occur at any a large Muslim gathering in Malaysia, instance,” she said when respond- holidaymakers on the Viking river ing to The Post. cruise boat, and French travellers in ‘Jealous’ major held for killing wife Vandine said her assessment was Sihanoukville, new cases slowed before due to the people becoming more stopping completely on April 12. Kim Sarom “I don’t know when he will be sent Before the incident, he said the cou- relaxed because, as of Monday, there However, Cambodia has allegedly to court. Wait until the [investigation] ple was driving to a restaurant in have been no new cases reported for exported several cases based on A MILITARY officer was sent to the work is done,” he said, declining to Chak Angre Krom commune and 15 days in a row. And out of 122 cas- statements by China’s health depart- Phnom Penh municipal Military provide further details. had a heated argument in the car. es, 119 persons have recovered with ments, and airlines in Cambodia that Police for questioning on Monday Citing the suspect’s accounts, a During the altercation, the gen- three still hospitalised. shuttled three to five cases weekly to after “accidentally” shooting his wife Military Police officer who asked to eral accidentally discharged his K59 She warned that Cambodians China since the beginning of April. to death in Meanchey district’s Chak remain anonymous said the gen- handgun. Sareab died instantly were now throwing caution to the According to news reports quot- Angre Krom commune and fleeing to eral took his wife’s body to Sa’ang from wounds to her jaw. wind and moving freely, going to the ing the Guangdong Province Health neighbouring Kandal province. district’s Prek Koy commune after Kandal deputy Military Police markets, malls and restaurants with Commission, a 37-year-old Chinese National Military Police spokesper- the killing. He then reported the commander Touch Inan said the little social distancing. She urged national showed symptoms of Cov- son Eng Hy told The Post that the man incident to commune police, who case is now in the hands of the the people to continue with good id-19 after arriving in China from turned himself in hours after taking referred the case to the Phnom Penh municipal Military Police. hygiene practises and said this Cambodia on April 10. her body to Kandal the previous day Military Police as it was outside its “We’ve already sent the body and “should become the new normal”. On April 22, another Chinese for unspecified reasons. Hy identified jurisdiction. the car to the Phnom Penh Military “I don’t want to label the Covid-19 the officer as a 58-year-old major at He said the major confessed to Police. I don’t have any further risk as high or medium, but I can Continued – page 4 the Ministry of National Defence. killing Som Sareab out of jealousy. details yet,” he said.

THE PHNOM PENH POST Cambodia welcomes Business News sisal into crop portfolio Inside page 7 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Recent recruitment of 135 civil Vietnamese soldiers at border ordered to move servants set to be re-examined camps from ‘white zone’ Voun Dara Soth Koemsoeun two station posts to maintain security and to prevent of- COMMISSION set up Kandal provincial police chief fences along the borderline. by newly-appointed Chhoeun Sochet on Sunday After the inspection, Sochet Minister of Civil Ser- ordered Vietnamese soldiers encouraged Sreang to patrol vice Prum Sokha is to remove nine camps situ- the area regularly. re-examiningA the recruitment ated close to the Vietnamese Sochet could not be reached of 135 civil servants announced border in Koh Thom district’s for comment on Monday. by the ministry on February Sampov Poun commune. Koh Thom district police 18, said ministry spokesman The disputed area is a chief Sim Kheang said on Chhoeun Bunnarath. “white zone” which has yet to Monday that he had accom- The ministry issued a prakas receive official boundaries or panied Sochet and over 20 dated April 16 which will re- border markers. specialists to inspect the area peal Prakas No 769 dated Feb- A report from the National along the borderline. ruary 18 and Prakas No 1398 Police confirmed that Sochet “The police chief ordered the dated March 27. The recently led the commander of Border Vietnamese soldiers to remove repealed prakas dealt with re- Unit 605 Kim Sreang, a pro- nine camps,” he confirmed. cruitment and recognition of vincial deputy police chief, An official of the Vietnam- civil servants of the ministry. the district police chief and ese Embassy in Phnom Penh The new prakas is in accor- Dambok Chev checkpoint did not respond to The Post’s dance with Prime Minister forces to inspect the Dam- requests for comment on Hun Sen’s annotation dated bok Chev borderline, which Monday. March 31 and the Ministry of stretches for 4,700m from the Sreang could not be reached Economy and Finance’s Let- Bak Day border gate to the for comment. ter No 2219 dated March 26. A commission is set to re-examine the recruitment of 135 civil servants into the Ministry of Civil Service. Chamkar Chek area. But in a nearly 10-minute vid- On April 23, the Ministry of MINISTRY OF JUSTICE The inspection was meant eo posted on his Facebook page Civil Service held a meeting to during 2020 in response to “I would like to inform His which allows the number of to ensure the “white zone” on Monday, Sreang said he had review the new prakas, which the Covid-19 issue.” Excellency Prum Sokha that in active civil servants to exceed was not being violated by protested Vietnamese soldiers would cancel the recruitment Bunnarath told The Post on accordance with the annota- the number of retired civil Vietnamese planting crops on several occasions and re- of the 135 civil servants. Monday that the commission tion of Prime Minister Hun Sen servants for all ministries and on Cambodian soil. quired them to erect camps The ministry said: “The meet- is in the process of examining dated March 31, the decision institutions until 2023. The report said Vietnamese away from the “white zone”. ing resulted in the decision to the matter. is as follows – in the context of On April 23, the Ministry of soldiers had erected make- “I’ve protested since the first form a committee to examine “The commission is work- Cambodia suffering from the Civil Service released a state- shift camps along the bor- time they came to erect their the irregularities in the recruit- ing on its duty. As for how the Covid-19 outbreak, repeal Pra- ment to the public which derline and people had been camps, but they didn’t listen to ment of the 135 civil servants, in result will turn out, we do not kas No 769 dated February 18 said: “Due to the impact of seen travelling to and from me. They stayed in the camps line with the decision-making know yet. Please wait for the concerning the recruitment of the Covid-19 crisis, the re- the encampment. for nearly 10 days. spirit of the Royal Government official result from the com- 135 civil servants into the civil cruitment of new civil ser- Sochet told the Vietnamese “I told them to remove the and the principles of the Minis- mission,” he said. service ministry.” vants for 2020 into ministries, soldiers to remove the camps camps from the area and to erect try of Economy and Finance. Minister of Economy and Pornmoniroth further institutions, national bodies and place them far from the them 300 to 400m from the area “We are aiming to efficient- Finance Aun Pornmoniroth stated that Hun Sen had also and sub-national bodies has “white zone”. because we have not yet agreed ly control the number of civil sent a letter to Sokha on April decided to suspend the provi- been temporarily suspended The report added that the to plant precise markers,” he servants and staffing costs 20 regarding the matter. sion of a special framework until further notice.” Dambok Chev checkpoint has said in the video. Kol: Political will needed to fight ‘graft’ in the Kingdom

Niem Chheng But he said the improve- isations, media outlets and alone in Cambodia. Citizens and that corruption will disap- clear indicator to prove the ments abruptly froze after the trade unions. young people must join the fight pear,” he said. extent of the improvement, BEFORE former Transparency commune elections in 2017. Lastly, Kol said the country against corruption. Royal Academy of Cambo- but he said measures taken by International Cambodia (TI Kol counts Cambodia as needs to re-establish political “He has the right to express dia’s International Relations the ACU have been effective. Cambodia) executive director among the 20 most corrupt accountability mechanisms his concerns because he is an Institute director Kin Phea Phea also noted that citizens Preap Kol stepped down earlier countries in the world and the and ensure the survival of onlooker and speaker, but we said while corruption still are able to report directly to this month, he delivered a most corrupt among ASEAN opposition parties that are doers have done things to exists in Cambodia, it has Prime Minister Hun Sen 17-minute speech sharing his nations. functional and credible. fight corruption already,” decreased in the last 10 years. through Facebook if they sus- views on the fight against cor- “This is due to a lack of struc- “I think the government has Siphan said. He admitted that there is no pect corruption. ruption in the Kingdom. tural and essential improve- tried to fight corruption in cer- He said the private sector in During his time at TI Cam- ments in areas that carry funda- tain areas. In other words, cooperation with the ACU has bodia, Kol said he had laid a mental importance such as the they’ve done it selectively rath- also contributed to the fight foundation to fight corruption judicial system, rules of law, er than doing it holistically. against corruption. “So, fight- by building courage in people, political accountability and a “The written strategy of the ing against corruption is not raising awareness, motivating system of checks and balances. government to fight corrup- only done by NGOs. We work youths to join together and “In short, I am not satisfied tion, which includes education, together, step-by-step,” he encouraging the government with the results of Cambodia’s prevention and law enforce- said. to focus on eradicating it. fight against corruption. ment, sounds very good. But Former opposition lawmak- He said he has seen improve- “Nevertheless, I tried my the actual implementation of er Ou Chanrath said he had ment in tax reforms, which have best while in my position . . . in that strategy seems to focus seen civil societies fight against yielded 18 to 20 per cent more the name of a civil society offi- more on education and pre- corruption, but in the end, revenue over the past three years. cial and a citizen,” Kol said. vention and very little on law everything rests on the will of He also came away impressed He said the reforms that are enforcement,” Kol said. the government. with educational improvements, necessary for Cambodia will Government spokesperson “We have seen that corrup- as shown by recent high school only be achieved when there Phay Siphan said Cambodia tion in the last 20 years has examination results. is a genuine political will to has a three-tiered mechanism not decreased much. It keeps Kol lauded a payment reform fight corruption at the highest in place to fight corruption. continuing and everyone which allows government and levels of the ruling party. The steps are raising aware- knows that. civil servants to have their Kol wants to see reforms ness among the public, observ- “The judiciary is considered to salaries banked directly into which ensure the independence ing state institutions for cor- be the most corrupt. Secondly, it their accounts. This could stop of the judicial system, the Anti- rupt behaviour and taking is within the Ministry of Interior, salary cuts, which have hap- Corruption Unit (ACU) and the legal action in accordance and other institutions. The pened in the past, he said. National Audit Authority. with corruption laws. improvement has been small. “According to the Global Cor- He said Cambodia needs to “The ACU has deployed its Now we don’t see corruption ruption Barometer 2016, brib- amend the existing Anti-Cor- officials to local areas. So, we’ll openly,” Chanrath said. ery rates or unofficial fee pay- ruption Law to make asset start with education as a long- Chanrath said corruption ments for essential services declarations public for offi- term mechanism. Secondly, will continue if the leaders stay such as applying for ID cards, cials and their families. we have surveillance mecha- at their posts for too long. To civil registry, utilities and health He stressed the need to nisms at ministries. The last start solving it, Cambodia have decreased quite signifi- expedite the passing of the step is to eradicate corruption, must enforce democratic prin- cantly to below 50 per cent. Access to Information and not just prevent it. ciples by giving the power to “It used to be over 80 per Whistle Blower Protection “We have the will to do it. What the people to vote for their cent back in 2011. This is a laws as well and urged the Preap Kol said, we thank him for leaders in a genuine way. remarkable improvement,” country to ensure freedom of his attention to fighting corrup- “When there are more Kol told The Post on Monday. speech for civil society organ- tion. But this task is not yours changes of power, I believe 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National

along with active aggressive con- Testing increases in tact tracing and case finding by the rapid response team. For example, recent testing in the Kingdom as gov’t Phnom Penh was expanded to others in an entire building after a person was found to be positive. fights to deter virus “We also collected specimens through our existing surveil- Continued from page 1 tinue to follow-up on three lance system, such as those remaining contacts. with influenza-like symptoms. national, 41, was confirmed to To date, 11,576 samples have Out of 800 samples, none test- have Covid-19 after leaving been tested at the National Insti- ed positive,” said Li. Cambodia for Guangzhou, tute of Public Health and Institut Information is also gathered Guangdong province. Pasteur Du Cambodge. The fig- from other countries to see if The two cases are allegedly ure grew by some 1,500 from last there are cases that have a travel related to a 45-year-old business- week, with 723 samples per one history to Cambodia. So far, the man who was diagnosed with million population being tested. data indicate that Cambodia has Covid-19 in China on April 3. The increase in samples limited incidents, unlike in Japan In a media conference on April resulted from re-testing those and China, and is at an “early- 13, Vandine pointed out that the suspected to have been in close stage epidemic”, she said. man who lives in Phnom Penh contact with positive cases in “However, there is no perfect threw a dinner party just before Boeung Keng Kang I and Koh system. We cannot conclude he left the city, and that six close Pich in Phnom Penh. This is 100 per cent [that the situation contacts, including two Viet- part of the ministry’s Covid-19 is safe]. Our level of confidence namese, a Cambodian couple, clinical management and is not low and not perfect. and a Chinese national were hotspot surveillance. “I do see a risk of importation confirmed to have been infected Separately, the ministry has and local community trans- with Covid-19. conducted early warning tests mission if we don’t manage it All together, Cambodia had for severe acute respiratory well. I don’t think Cambodians Ministry of Health spokesperson Or Vandine warned that Covid-19 risk level for individual transmission is at five clusters – Muslim event infection and influenza-like an ‘alarming rate’ in the Kingdom and its probability is ‘not low’. heng chivoan are immune to Covid-19. We participants, Viking boaters, illnesses on factory workers need to be vigilant,” Li said. French tourists in Sihanoukville, who went home for the Khmer to take samples from suspect- lated and having shown no of having the virus. WHO encourages step-by- Thai migrant workers and the New Year despite the holidays ed carriers,” she said. Covid-19 symptoms. “The tests depend on indi- step unfreezing of restrictions Chinese partygoers. being postponed. In late March, Alibaba Group As for the tests carried out on vidual cases. Some turn negative but there are several criteria “We have traced the Chinese Surprisingly, none have shown Holding Ltd founder Jack Ma factory workers who returned after five days. Others, as in the Cambodia has to follow instead contacts here and so far, so good, any unusual symptoms. donated 20,000 test kits but home for Khmer New Year, 112 case of a French person was of making “radical” decisions. but people travel. This is a new Previously, nearly 500 samples there is no official data on the out of nearly 6,000 samples tested 10 times. We are still work- Among others, the Covid-19 virus and re-infection can recur were taken on a daily basis but overall number of kits cur- that were sent to the desig- ing on the details,” he said. infection has to be under control. even if a person is declared safe. the number has since dropped. rently available. nated laboratories for testing In any case, Institut Pasteur Li found that Cambodia was in “Since there is no official Asked to specify the number of Ministry spokesman Ly Sovann came out negative. confirmed that there is no “good shape” while demonstrat- communication, we have no test kits available now, ministry said only three contact traces “We are using the same sys- bottleneck and it is able to ing a good public health system information,” Vandine told secretary of state York Sambath remain to be concluded and that tem that detects malaria, cope with the current influx with its rapid response teams for The Post when asked to com- assured that there is “adequate the Covid-19 rapid response Severe Acute Respiratory Syn- of test samples. the initial stage reporting. ment on the Chinese cluster. test kits to last till September”. team had identified and followed drome and novel Influenza A In the meantime, World Health “The nation has to ensure The authorities have inves- “Between 100 and 300 sam- up on many of them. [H1N1] to monitor the peo- Organisation (WHO) represent- that the outbreak risk in a tigated the clusters although ples are taken daily by our In addition, some 2,000 out of ple,” Sovann said. ative Dr Li Ailan who made the highly vulnerable setting is they have yet to pinpoint the 3,000 rapid response teams 87,000 migrant workers remain However, he said there is not “early stage” classification last minimised and workplace pre- original source of Covid-19 for throughout the Kingdom. All quarantined as the rest have much detail on the re-testing week said multiple sources of ventive measures are estab- the Chinese cluster. They con- of them are medically trained been sent home after being iso- of contacts that are suspected information has been collected lished,” she stressed. US training for rangers postponed

Ry Sochan

HE Ministry of Environment said a standardised training programme for Cambodian rangers in collaboration with the US Department of State, US AgencyT for International Development (USAID) and the US Forest Service (USFS) has been post- poned amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Ministry spokesperson Neth Pheaktra told The Post on Sunday that the cooperation had A planned training programme with US experts was begun in early 2018, with training courses postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. us embassy provided to rangers under the theme “Go phnom penh Safely and Return Safely”. It said more than 1,200 rangers are patrolling “This project was implemented last year with each protected natural area around the clock the participation of 20 rangers from the Koh in collaboration with local authorities, NGOs, Kong provincial Department of Environment. associations and local communities. The first capacity building training provided by Earlier this month, the USAID and the min- US experts for our rangers was held for nine istry also launched the Greening Prey Lang days at the Bokor National Park,” he said. project to promote the use of technology to The project aims to enhance the efficiency, pro- conserve natural resources in Cambodia. tection and conservation of natural resources. US Ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Mur- “This programme provides rangers with phy said rangers could not rely on traditional skills and know-how to stop illegal wildlife methods alone in conserving and protecting trafficking and logging in Cambodia’s pro- the vast protected natural areas from encroach- tected areas while ensuring public safety in ment, logging and wildlife trafficking. the country,” the US Embassy in Phnom Penh “The answer is technology. And our partner- said on its Facebook page last week. ships are bringing the tools of modern tech- Pheaktra said the training focused on biodi- nology to do that kind of protection. We do versity, wildlife protection, primary treatment, not do it alone. There are many US govern- studying of map and law enforcement, forest ment agencies involved, USAID, US Forest fire management, techniques for equipment Service and even NASA,” he said. maintenance and camping arrangement. “There’s also civil society. We’ve got great part- “We expect the US will assist the Ministry nerships with really well-renowned organisa- of Environment in providing training for all tions. We’re using technology in their work as of our rangers,” he said. well. We also have the private sector,” he said. The ministry currently employs 1,260 rangers The Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary was and manages 60 protected areas covering more established in May 2016 and covers 431,683ha than 7.2 million hectares, which is equal to 41 across Stung Treng, Kratie, Kampong Thom per cent of Cambodia’s total land area. and Preah Vihear provinces. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Stranded workers in Parents protest tuition hike Khorn Savi

ABOUT 50 parents on Monday Malaysia may return protested again in front of the Paragon International School Long Kimmarita But Bun Heng said all of is a specific time frame set by to demand discounts for online them had to follow certain the two countries. Some have tutoring and claiming that dur- INISTER of conditions to ensure that the found good jobs and no lon- ing the Covid-19 crisis the pri- Health Mam return is Covid-19 free. ger want to come back. Others vate school raised tuition fees. Bun Heng said “The most important con- want to come back,” he said. They presented a petition Cambodia is ne- ditions are that [Cambodia] Prime Minister Hun Sen signed by more than 180 fam- gotiatingM with the Malaysian asked Malaysia to do what it took to Facebook to thank ilies. government to return fisher- takes to test them for Covid- the workers in Malaysia for Keng Narun, a parent of men and some 200 workers, 19. If a test comes backs neg- their understanding of the two students, said they are including prisoners. ative, that person can come measures to prevent Covid- demanding the school agree But they are required to back. But for those who 19 in Cambodia. to four conditions – keep the be checked and follow the carry the virus, they have to He posted that the govern- same tuition fees and scrap guidelines of the Cambo- be treated there until they ment would like to thank the eight per cent increase, A group of parents gather outside Paragon International School to dian Ministry of Health to recover. the more than 200 workers, extend the enrollment period protest increased tuition fees. hong menea confirm that they are nega- “It is like how we treat Ma- including 73 inmates, who which is set to close by the end that it had said clearly in its an- quirement for students to learn tive for Covid-19. laysian people in Cambodia. were recently suspended of April, agree to a requested nouncements that it would re- online from home requires par- Earlier this month, hun- Those who arrive in Cambo- from returning to Cambo- 30 per cent discount for on- duce costs for students whose ents to spend more time with dreds of Cambodians were dia are kept in quarantine for dia “while our country was line study during the Covid- parents suffered financially. their kids, which affects their stranded in Malaysia after 14 days so their health can be in the process of strict travel 19 outbreak, and improve the “Please come to the school to time to go out and earn money. that government banned monitored and they stay anoth- restrictions”. quality of education. resolve [the issue] and there’s “For us, the business people airlines from departing the er 14 days at home,” he said. “But at this time, the travel “We are faced with the no problem. If they need help, are suffering from the outbreak country to prevent a spread Along with the tests, Bun ban in the country has been Covid-19 crisis and an eco- we will help,” he said. of Covid-19 and there is no time of Covid-19. Heng also said he expects released, so the government nomic crisis, but the school The Cambodian Higher Ed- to go out for business as we Bun Heng also said at a the Malaysian government to decided that more than 200 management is raising tu- ucation Association (CHEA) need to look after the children press conference on Mon- care for the Cambodians until Cambodian workers could ition fees. Parents are dissat- recently issued a call for par- who have to study from home. day that an inter-ministerial they recover, free of charge, return home. But please give isfied and that’s why they re- ents to apply for discounts “When learning online, we committee had discussed and pay attention to them the Malaysian authorities quest that the school keep to at schools and not protest at have to stand and watch our the matter. the same way Cambodia has time to do a medical test to the same fees,” he said. their premises to avoid Covid- children. If the school does “The government has paid taken care of Malaysians hos- confirm that there are no The school has asked par- 19 contamination. not accept the demand, we great attention to our people pitalised in the Kingdom. positive signs of Covid-19. ents facing financial prob- At the same time, CHEA will only decide to change to stuck in Malaysia. The min- Ministry of Foreign Affairs “Please do not worry if you lems to apply for a discount said, private institutions are a school that we think we can istry [of Health] has already and International Coopera- are not infected with Covid- and attach along supporting also struggling and continuing afford,” he said. asked permission from the tion spokesman Koy Kuong 19, you may return to Cam- documentation for the school to pay staff salaries, building The tuition fees for the head of the Cambodian gov- told The Post on Monday that bodia soon. On the other to review. costs, interest and principle on school year 2020-2021 at ernment, requiring the Min- the Cambodian Embassy in hand, if Malaysia detects the The Post could not reach the bank loans and other expenses Paragon show that the in- istry of Foreign Affairs and Malaysia is working with Ma- Covid-19 in any of you, it is school for comment on Mon- while witnessing a drop in rev- ternational programme for International Cooperation to laysian officials regarding the necessary to stay there for day as security guards barred enue due to declining student children just learning to walk file a formal letter to Malaysia formalities. treatment until you have ful- entry to its premises. populations. is around $3,000, and from asking that 73 prisoners and “When our people want to ly recovered and are allowed However, Eang Sophalleth, Ly Sovath, who has three chil- grades 7 to 9 it costs $8,950 149 fishermen be returned to come back, it is up to health to return to Cambodia,” he the school’s honorary chair- dren in grades 5, 7 and 8 at the and from grade 10 to grade 12 Cambodia,” he said. checks and testing and there said. man told The Post by phone school, confirmed that the re- it is $9,420. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 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 4,100 1.4050 7.0824 107.20 4.3580 1.4195 32.49 0.6456 1.0846 1.2425 Minister urges China telecoms CDC approves 10 to build digital infrastructure more investment May Kunmakara projects in April EWLY appointed Thou Vireak Sandor commune in Koh Minister of Posts and Kong province and is expect- Telecommunica- THE Council for the Devel- ed to result in 170 jobs. tions Chea Vandeth opment of Cambodia (CDC) The Joyance International urgedN two Chinese telecom gi- issued final registration cer- Apparel Co Ltd’s $2.8 million ants – China Communication tificates to 10 new investment garment factory is located in Construction Co Ltd (CCCC) projects that are worth more Roka Koh commune, in Kam- and Huawei Technologies Co than $40.28 million and ex- pong Speu province’s Kong Ltd – to further invest in the pected to generate 5,602 jobs. Pisei district, and is expected Kingdom’s telecommunica- All 10 were certified from to generate 1,048 jobs. tions infrastructure in a move April 20-24. MMAS Co Ltd’s $5.5 million to bring Cambodia into the full The news brings the tally of bakery box factory is located realm of 5G digital technology. projects approved by the CDC in the SSEZ and is expected to The appeal comes as the this month to 36, worth a cu- create 167 jobs. Ministry of Information is set mulative $624.58 million and Long Purse Industrial Co to release the 700MHz fre- expected to generate 24,468 Ltd’s $5.1 million fibre optic quency band to the telecom- jobs, its data shows. cable production plant is lo- munications ministry in the Mountain Moon Millwork cated at the Giga Resources coming years to help it develop Co Ltd’s $1 million door and (Svay Rieng) Special Eco- the 5G network. window frame factory is lo- nomic Zone and is expected It was made during a meet- cated in the Sihanoukville to generate 275 jobs. ing between Vandeth, Huawei Special Economic Zone Xiangsong Printing Co Technologies (Cambodia) Co (SSEZ) and is expected to cre- Ltd’s $1 million equipment Ltd CEO Yao Yuya and CCCC ate 420 jobs. package factory is located subsidiary China Road and Lodi Pet Products Co Ltd’s in the Hi-Park Special Eco- Bridge Corporation (CRBC) $2.6 million pet product and nomic Zone in Svay Teap Cambodia Office general food factory is located in district’s Chrak M’tes com- manager Zhan Jinsheng at the Preah Sihanouk province’s mune in Prey Veng province ministry on Friday. Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth urged two Chinese telecom giants to further invest Cambodian Zhejiang Guoji and is expected to create 340 Vandeth said the ministry’s in the Kingdom’s telecommunications infrastructure in a move to bring Cambodia into the full realm of 5G SEZ industrial park along Na- jobs. digital technology. pIXABAY priority in the development tional Road 4 in in Prey Nop Cambodia Chamber of of telecommunications in- investment and collabora- sea or submarine fibre-optic joint-venture between the district’s Choeung Kor com- Commerce vice-president Lim frastructure is to ensure bet- tively develop telecommu- communications cable con- Kingdom’s Telcotech Ltd (a mune and is expected to gen- Heng told The Post that the ter quality, scope and cost- nications infrastructures in necting Cambodia’s Siha- subsidiary of Ezecom Co Ltd), erate 105 jobs. Kingdom will remain a desti- effectiveness of underwater Cambodia to be used as a noukville and Hong Kong. Malaysia-based Telekom Ma- Newprokin Ltd’s $9.4 mil- nation for investment due to cables, backbone networks, basis in minimising digital The cable will help boost laysia Bhd, and Thailand’s lion bags factory is located the US’ Generalised System of access networks, internation- gaps that will help bring the the Kingdom’s internet con- Symphony Communication in Taing Krouch commune, Preferences programme. al internet gateways and other Kingdom into the fourth in- nectivity, especially when it Pcl. in Kampong Speu province’s “I believe that a free trade groundwork. dustrial revolution. becomes a digital economy, Comprising a system of Samrong Tong district and is agreement between Cambo- “The management of tele- Huawei’s Yao said his com- said Huawei. 1,300km of optical fibre cable, expected to generate 2,877 dia and China is also the key communications infrastruc- pany has been investing in a Cambodia’s first undersea it boasts a capacity of at least jobs. to attracting foreign inves- tures is a key element, not only lot of telecommunications telecommunications cable was 30 terabytes per second. YS Packing Products Co tors. Our government is plan- for economic competition, infrastructure development officially laid in March 2017 at Last year, Cambodia had 16.7 Ltd’s $880,000 packaging fac- ning to finish negotiations but also national security and projects in Cambodia. a cost of roughly $100 million. million mobile internet users tory is located in the Giga Re- this year,” he said. political geography,” he said. In June, Huawei announced Known as the ‘MCT cable’ and 215,000 fixed broadband sources (Svay Rieng) Special As much of the world grap- He encouraged the two a plan, in partnership with (Malaysia, Cambodia, and connections, telecommunica- Economic Zone in Svay Teap ples with the Covid-19 pan- companies to increase their CCCC, to install an under- Thailand), the project was a tions ministry data shows. district’s Kandieng Reay com- demic with global trade and mune and is expected to gen- economies paralysed, 77 new erate 90 jobs. factories have launched oper- AIDC Trading Co Ltd’s $6 ations in the Kingdom, while million grain and fruit pro- only six have shut down. Government makes push for organic veggies cessing plant is located in the And in the first quarter of SSEZ and expected to create this year, the total number of Thou Vireak organic agricultural practices. using counterfeit or decep- ic vegetables have strong mar- 110 jobs. factories registering with the This will contribute to environ- tive labelling of food crops kets and fetch higher prices. KNPG Investment Co Ltd’s Ministry of Industry, Science, THE government introduced mental protection, health care, would be punished under “Even though we are taking $6 million white sand pro- Technology and Innovation an organic agriculture policy to safety and citizen welfare. applicable laws. slow steps to promote organic cessing factory is located in has reached 1,801, secretary boost production and export, “The prakas contains 16 Bun Sieng, CEO of Natural vegetables, we will be able to the Kiri Sakor Koh Kong SEZ of state Heng Sokkong said according to a prakas from the articles covering the scope of Agriculture Village, a local veg- strengthen our vegetable mar- in Kiri Sakor district’s Prek on Thursday. Ministry of Agriculture, For- organic agricultural practices etable distributor, told The Post ket in the future,” she said. estry and Fisheries on Sunday. in the production and on Monday that Cambodia’s Earlier this month, minis- The private sector expects processing of initial food organic farming rules and try spokesman Srey Vuthy the policy to help boost local crops and commercial organ- national logo for organic agri- said Cambodia needs to markets and curb vegetable ic agricultural products, cultural practices will boost the import about 32 per cent of its imports from neighbouring including fruits, vegetables cultivation and consumption vegetables from Vietnam and countries, said the ministry. and other food crops. of local vegetables. Thailand to meet domestic The regulation aims to raise “It will encourage farmers, “I think it’s a good sign that demand. confidence among producers farming communities and the government is promoting The Kingdom is expected to and consumers and ensures members of the private sector organic vegetables as it will be able to supply 716,113 quality, safe food products in who grow food crops to com- enable us to export more of tonnes of domestic vegetables line with organic standards. mercialise their food products them in the future to meet mar- this year, which would satisfy This will give a competitive through educational services. ket demand,” said Sieng. 68 per cent of the estimated edge to and promote local food “It will adjust the implemen- She said the policy’s endorse- total demand of over one mil- products on the domestic and tation of Cambodian organic ment will encourage consum- lion tonnes, he said. export markets, it said. agricultural rules to ensure ers to choose local vegetables Cambodia exported only “At the same time, it [the that all food products are of over those imported from 38.63 tonnes of vegetables in policy] also encourages the good quality and safe for neighbouring countries. the first three months of this participation of farmers, agri- human consumption and ani- “I think it will encourage year to France, the Czech cultural communities and the mal feed,” said the ministry. farmers to further expand veg- Republic and the Netherlands, The CDC has approved 36 projects this month, worth a cumulative private sector in promoting the It added that those caught etable growing, because organ- a ministry report said. $624.58 million and expected to generate 24,468 jobs. CDC THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Cambodia welcomes Antibody virus treatment in Q3 IG Biotech Group, a coali- and is expected to rise well The treatment being devel- tion of biotech and pharma- above current numbers over the oped will make use of antibod- ceutical experts, aims to bring next months – this treatment by ies, also known as hyper-im- sisal into crop portfolio to the Philippines an antibody- the third quarter of this year. mune globulins, found in based prevention and treat- Gonzalez said: “We have convalescent plasma obtained Hin Pisei ment for Covid-19 by the third focused on an anti-body treat- from former Covid-19 quarter of this year. ment due to the shorter time- patients. AMBODIA will soon The proposed antibody- line for development, and the Historically, this type of anti- start cultivating sisal, based treatment is meant to high degree of safety and pre- body treatment has been used an agave plant native alleviate active infections and dictability during trials. in previous outbreaks such as to southern Mexico provide short-term immunity “We are merely taking nature’s Sars-CoV-1 and Mers-CoV. whichC produces a strong fibre, or prophylaxis, against the [human immune system] Miranda said: “The results of after China Great Cause (Cam- virus, while the commercial answer to Covid[-19] and dis- various clinical trials on con- bodia) Investment Co Ltd re- production of Covid-19 vac- tilling it into a vial form which valescent plasma being under- ceived an economic land con- cine is still far at hand. can be administered safely and taken all over the world will cession in Preah Vihear province IG Biotech is a partnership conveniently,” he said. provide further data on clinical to build a processing plant. between IP Biotech Inc, an Noel Miranda – former efficacy of the treatment. How- The company imported the importer, wholesaler, and ASEAN Regional Coordinator ever, already, there is strong sisal – also known by the botan- retail administrator of vac- for Multi-sectoral Pandemic evidence available to show that ical name Agave sisalana – and cines in the Philippines in the Preparedness and Response this approach is highly likely to will start growing it on 180ha last 15 years, and local biotech of its 1,200ha plantation in the Minister Veng Sakhon visited the company’s plantation on Saturday. firm Secura International We are merely taking nature’s province’s Rovieng district. SUPPLIED Corp, which has a team of Sisal-made products could increase its cultivation,” he said. from 30 tonnes of sisal and experts in pandemic, infec- [human immune system] be available in the Kingdom Sisal-derived raw materi- cost between $1,500 and tious diseases and vaccine by the end of this year, said als are used to manufacture $2,000 at the current rate. development. answer to Covid[-19] and the Ministry of Agriculture, water-resistant and durable Cambodia Chamber of Com- The group is supported by distilling it into a vial form Forestry and Fisheries. silk fibres. The fibres can be merce vice-president Lim Heng VINS Bioproducts Ltd, an Indi- After visiting the company’s processed into ropes used on said he welcomed the expan- an biopharmaceutical com- and member of the scientific be successful.” plantation on Saturday, min- boats, sacks and silk fabric, sion of sisal growing in Cam- pany that produces antisera, team of IG Biotech – said the IG Biotech plans to collabo- ister Veng Sakhon told The Sakhon said. bodia because the plant could antitoxins and immunoglobu- treatment was intended to pro- rate with the Philippine Gen- Post that sisal production will The general manager and be exported in the future. lin-based products. vide individuals, especially eral Hospital/UP College of benefit the country’s econ- CEO of China Great Cause He said since sisal can grow IP Biotech chair Enrique healthcare workers, frontliners, Medicine on plasma collec- omy by generating jobs and (Cambodia) Investment on a variety of landscapes, Gonzalez said in a press state- and other high-risk individuals, tion, pre-clinical testing and increasing exports. Co Ltd, who declined to be farmers will be able to take ad- ment on Sunday that the a vital 30-day window of pas- conduct of clinical studies. Sakhon said the crop can be named, said the company is vantage of less fertile areas. group was “working around sive immunity to the virus. University of the Philippines grown in any soil condition, currently developing a total Brazil is the leading sisal the clock” to develop the Cov- The treatment also intends College of Medicine dean requires little water, and is re- of 5,871ha in economic land producer, accounting for 32 id-19 treatment and was on to prevent symptoms from Charlotte Chiong expressed sistant to hot climates. concessions as it seeks to per cent of the world’s total track to conduct clinical trials worsening in critical cases, interest in conducting the “I am optimistic about the cultivate enough sisal before production. The next largest by mid-year. said Miranda. “With the study. “We should see how we crops, and I hope that Cambo- opening the processing plant. producers are China (29.1 per Subject to the results of the increasing number of infected can explore this as a prophy- dians, particularly in the area Two-year-old sisal can be cent), Tanzania (17.8 per cent), clinical studies and upcoming frontline healthcare person- laxis for our frontliners. Per- [Preah Vihear], will grow this harvested three times per year Kenya (10.4 per cent) and regulatory approvals, IG Biotech nel, it is of the highest priority haps a multiagency research crop in cooperation with the and yield 25-30 tonnes per Madagascar (2.9 per cent), data and partners hope to offer it in to provide proven protection team can move this forward,” company. This is an excellent hectare, he said. Three tonnes from the UN Food and Agricul- the Philippines – where the and peace of mind to frontline she said. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ opportunity for Cambodia to of silk fibres can be produced ture Organisation shows. infection rate has yet to peak personnel and their families.” ASIA NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST APRIL 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus Banking ABA positions to keep supporting clients and Kingdom’s economy

and Canada. Of course, Cam- inclusion. Those who have an bodian top professionals are account can benefit from the full on board too, playing a vital service, which includes a savings role in running our organisa- account or fixed deposit, money tion. This fusion makes ABA transfers and bank cards, as well unique, and special in terms of as many other offerings. Digital corporate culture, core values banking is in high demand with and execution capabilities. our exclusive ABA mobile app, ABA is also special when it internet banking platform, and comes to its mission of serving self-banking kiosks across the Cambodians and benefiting the country. country, because we give this paramount importance when Q What are your views and doing business. plans for 2020? Having said that, at this time we are also conscious of the When we discussed the busi- fact that ABA, along with other ness plan for this year back in In an exclusive banks and financial institutions, December, the economy was has a significant role to play in already expected to gradually interview helping Cambodian people and slow down due to the weaker companies to get through the demand for Cambodian goods with The Post, current Covid-19 crisis. and the partial withdrawal of Under the guidance and the EU’s EBA [Everything But the executive regulations of the National Arms] programme, as well as a Bank of Cambodia, the banking decrease in tourism. director of sector should keep working to Yet we projected ABA to the board of support the economy. From grow in 2020 by around 30 per this viewpoint, ABA is already cent in terms of assets, loans and ABA Bank, and positioned to help lead the way deposits, versus 50-60 per cent because of its financial resil- in the past few years. a former CEO, ience, international standard We also planned to open two best practices and commitment to three new branches this year. Madi Akmambet to the local economy. However, with the Covid-19 outbreak, the business environ- What segment is driving ment has changed considerably. explains the Q ABA’s business in the local We are regrouping to an- bank’s growth market? How is the retail ticipate a significant decline banking segment performing? in the economy in 2020, as we in Cambodia. see many businesses are being ABA has an exclusive busi- affected. ness strategy with two key Madi Akmambet, executive director of the board of ABA Bank. As you know, last month, What makes ABA stand business arms. The first the National Bank of Cambodia Q above other banks in focuses on retail individuals factor is the focus on customer poor planning or unfavourable Likewise, their customers can issued a circular allowing Cambodia? when it comes to deposits, needs. We bring our custom- market conditions, meaning it use our branch network and commercial banks to provide money transfers and other ers value by creating benefi- was not because of the bank, but digital solutions to top up their grace periods and loan repay- We have more than 50 account management banking cial, reliable and innovative as a result of other reasons. e-wallets. ment restructuring to custom- banks here in Cambodia and services. financial services. With that in This meant that the Non- Overall, banking services ers who have been affected by many of them are trying to dif- This sector is performing mind, we share our customers’ Performing Loans ratio stood at penetration is growing very Covid-19. ferentiate themselves from one exceptionally well. The total success as partners. 0.7 per cent as of the end of last fast. According to National And we have already started another. From this perspective, number of accounts almost year, which is much better than Bank of Cambodia 2018 data, offering support to our borrow- ABA stands quite differently. doubled last year and reached Could you share with us Q average in the banking sector. the deposit penetration of banks ers accordingly. Being a subsidiary of the more than one million, with how the bank manages reached 40 per cent and almost It is going to be a challenging National Bank of Canada, ABA around 98 per cent of that for its non-performing loans? How does ABA reach out to Q doubled in the previous three year, but we look forward with is the only North American retail customers. the unbanked population? years. We believe ABA contrib- confidence. bank in Cambodia. The second is lending, with We have a rigorous credit utes a lot to financial inclusion We have all the resources in Our other differentiation the strategic focus on micro- appraisal process, including ABA has been opening new in Cambodia. place to continue supporting points are distinctive branding business and small to medium- financial analysis and site visits branches every year since 2008. Cambodian businesses, including and modern branch design. sized enterprise [MSME] clients, by the bank’s loan officers. Today, we have established 77 How has been the growth Q with funding, branch network We are also continuously who form 92 per cent of our The key here is to understand branches across Cambodia, hav- last year in terms of profits and technologies. innovating both in products total loan portfolio. customers’ businesses and iden- ing a presence in almost every and revenue? We also strongly believe and business processes. ABA’s tify how exactly ABA can help province. in the Cambodian economy. speciality is in 12/7 over-the- ABA’s deposit portfolio rose them to achieve their business On top of that, we have an Last year, ABA showed a Q It is diversified, competitive, counter service availability, to $3.4 billion, while the goals. extensive network of around record high profit. Net income and open for investment, and it round-the-clock customer sup- loan segment touched $2.8 billion. Debt can be a double-edged 2,000 terminals, including ATMs, constituted $127 million, up 72 is thus well positioned to grow port channels and the flagship How was this achieved? sword – it can be beneficial Cash-in Machines and POS per cent compared to the end of again sooner rather than later. ABA Mobile application. but can also be financially chal- [points of sale]. 2018. As a result, the Return on We believe all this together It is our vision to be the lenging. We have more than 6,000 Equity ratio (ROE) was 33 per For the full interview with our competitive product bank that Cambodians trust to So we at ABA vigorously staff, and our loan officers can cent in 2019, which is the high- refer to our website offering and highly skilled staff take care of all their personal pursue only economically pro- reach customers even in remote est in the industry. or scan the QR code. brings a huge difference to the and business banking needs. ductive loans that add value to a areas up to 50km away from the overall customer experience. So we create and deliver customer’s business. branch. What are the hot-selling Q However, most importantly, products and services that are We position ourselves as a We have clients not only in banking products in ABA’s uniqueness comes from needed here in Cambodia. partner to our borrowers, and we cities and towns, but also in Cambodia at present? inside. We have a strong sales team, track how we fulfil this mission. districts and villages. The bank’s Board of Direc- an extensive branch network Through a market survey we We cooperate with money As mentioned, when lend- tors is mainly represented by and a state-of-the-art digital found that 92 per cent of our transfer agent services such as ing, ABA focuses on credit to French and Canadian people. banking platform. All this borrowers confirmed that ABA Wing and TrueMoney, whereby the MSME sector, which is the The executive management provides us with full “omni- loans helped them reach their our customers can use their main pillar of the Cambodian team is very diverse, consist- channel” capabilities to serve business goals. countrywide agent network to economy. We also open thou- ing of people from Kazakhstan, our clients. Another eight per cent did deposit and make payments to sands of new accounts every Uzbekistan, Nepal, South Korea Overall, the key success not fully succeed due to their ABA accounts. day, thus providing financial THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Pros join Coronavirus: Back to school in China hands to HILDREN in China’s of those who are unjustly ac- two most important cused of defending the lives cities went back to of honest people,” he said. take down school on Monday In Spain, which has had afterC more than three months some of the strictest measures at home, as coronavirus re- in Europe, children ventured cybercrime strictions eased and govern- outside for the first time since ments around the world be- mid-March on Sunday. WHILE cybercriminals will gan charting a path out of the While cases and deaths continue to use the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. plateau, the world remains pandemic for financial gain, Europe’s four worst-affected in wait-and-see mode as sci- cybersecurity professionals countries all reported marked entists race to develop treat- around the world are uniting to drops in their daily death ments and, eventually, a vac- fight them, said global cyber- tolls, offering hope that the cine for the virus. security company Kaspersky. outbreak may have peaked in Some governments are Speaking at a recent online some places – at least for now. studying measures such as webinar, Vitaly Kamluk, its But leaders and experts re- “immunity passports” as one director for Global Research and main divided on how quickly way to get people back to Analysis Team Asia Pacific, said to revive shuttered economies work – but the World Health the Covid-19 CTI League, a non- while maintaining a delicate Organisation (WHO) has profit, voluntary focus group balance between freedom warned that people who sur- made up of more than 150 dif- and safety. vive Covid-19 cannot be cer- ferent individuals and organisa- Italy and New York laid out tain they will not be hit again. tions from across the globe, has partial reopening plans, with Deborah Birx, the doctor who sought to take down fake web- France and Spain to follow suit coordinates the US coronavi- sites, detect coronavirus-related this week, while tens of thou- rus response, said the WHO malware and offer an incident sands of students returned to was being “very cautious”. response in case of an attack. school in Shanghai and Bei- Several countries, includ- Kamluk has personally devel- jing after months of closures. China’s Ministry of Education said students must have their temperatures checked at school gates and show ing France and Germany, oped Bitscout, an open-source ‘green’ health codes on an app that calculates a person’s infection risk. AFP Shanghai students in their plan to introduce virus trac- and free tool for anyone inter- final year of middle and high firmed across the globe – more in place since early March. a month of dusk-to-dawn ing apps to alert users if they ested in digital forensics and school were allowed back into than a quarter in the US. People will have to wear fasting that in happier times are near someone who has cyber investigations. their classrooms on Monday, Italy has the second-highest masks in public and rigor- involves large family meals. tested positive. “Any big trend or any big while in Beijing only high death toll at 26,000, followed ously observe social dis- Saudi Arabia said it would The technology has already event in the physical world will school seniors were back on by Spain, France and Britain, tancing measures when the partially lift its curfew but rolled out in Australia, sparking always have a reflection in the campus, furiously studying all at well over 20,000. country’s current restric- would maintain a round-the- privacy concerns, and has been cyber domain,” said Kamluk. for the make-or-break uni- Britain’s daily tally on Sun- tions are eased on May 4. clock lockdown in the Muslim widely used in Singapore. At the webinar, he pointed versity entrance exam. day was the lowest since “If you love Italy, keep your holy city of Mecca. In New York, Governor An- out how Covid-19 has dis- Students must have their March 31, while Italy and distance from others,” he said. El Salvador President Nayib drew Cuomo said the first turbed the normal IT eco-sys- temperatures checked Spain’s were the lowest in a Britain’s leader Boris John- Bukele on Sunday authorised stage of reopening would tem of organisations. at school gates and show month. France’s toll was a son was to return to work on the use of “lethal force” by po- start on May 15 if hospitalisa- The various quarantine meas- “green” health codes on an drop of more than a third on Monday after being hospi- lice and military against gang tions decrease. But for some ures resulted in more staff taking app that calculates a per- the previous day’s figures. talised by Covid-19, one of members “in self-defence, conservative-led states, that work computers to arguably son’s infection risk, said the Those encouraging figures nearly three million people and in the defence of the lives timeframe is too long. unprotected home networks, Ministry of Education. blew relief through a conti- known to have been infected of Salvadorans” in an effort Rejecting the advice of widening the surface of attack for Virus numbers in China nent frustrated by restric- worldwide. to curb violence, which has top disease experts, the US cybercriminals, and an increased – where the disease first tions designed to slow the The pandemic has forced seen a sharp rise during the state of Georgia has allowed number of employees access- emerged late last year – have spread of the disease. more than half of humanity outbreak. thousands of businesses to ing their companies’ assets and dwindled as the country be- “We cannot continue be- into lockdowns to stop the “The gangs are taking ad- resume operations, and Okla- networks through their vulner- gins to cautiously lift control yond this lockdown – we risk virus from spreading – up- vantage of the fact that al- homa will let restaurants and able personal devices, he said. measures, although fears re- damaging the country’s socio- ending lives and tipping the most all of our public forces cinemas reopen from May 1. Now understandably compa- main over a potential resur- economic fabric too much,” global economy toward a re- are controlling the pandemic. “People are still going to get nies have to cut budgets and gence and cases imported said Italian Prime Minister cession not seen in decades. We will have to move resourc- it. But Oklahomans are safe choose cheaper cybersecurity from abroad. Giuseppe Conte as he un- Millions of Muslims are es to combat them.” and we’re ready for a measured solutions and have lost the abil- More than 205,000 corona- veiled a plan to emerge from marking a Ramadan like no “The government will be in reopening,” Governor Kevin ity to do incident response on virus deaths have been con- Europe’s longest shutdown, other – under restrictions for charge of the legal defence Stitt told Fox News. AFP location in case of a cyberattack. Social engineering attacks have also become easier during the global chaos as more people fall for simple tricks, and cyber- criminals are well aware of it. STC south Yemen self-rule declaration rejected Kaspersky researchers have detected a seven-year-old mal- THE Saudi-led military coalition on The STC, which is backed by key coa- thing,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator for “We reject any hostilities that will ware in Vietnam and in some Monday rejected Yemen separatists’ lition partner the UAE, on Sunday Yemen Lise Grande said in a statement. jeopardise the safety and stability of countries in the Asia-Pacific declaration of self-rule over the coun- declared self-rule in southern Yemen, “This tragedy comes on top of the Yemen,” he said. region resurrected through auto- try’s south and demanded “an end to accusing the government of failing to Covid-19 crisis, which comes on top of While the government and the STC mated behaviour and made relat- any escalatory actions”. perform its duties and of “conspiring” the pre-famine last year, which came are technically allies in the long war able by just adding phrases relat- The separatists’ move complicates a against the southern cause. on top of the worst cholera outbreak against the Huthis, the secessionists ed to the coronavirus situation. long and separate conflict, fought by the The government has condemned the in modern history. believe the south should be an inde- “Using names and popular coalition and the internationally recog- move and said the separatists – who have “The solution is clear. The parties to the pendent state – as it was before unifica- terms related to the current pan- nised government, against Huthi rebels long agitated for independence in the conflict need to find the courage to stop tion in 1990. demic simply elevates the prob- who control much of the north. south – would be responsible for the fighting and start negotiating,” she said. On Sunday Aden residents reported ability of these worms being Yemen’s separatists signed a power- “catastrophic and dangerous” outcome. The Riyadh pact on power-sharing for heavy deployments of STC forces in the opened by another user after it sharing deal in Riyadh last November The breakdown between the one-time the south had been hailed as averting the city and a separatist source said they is copied to a network share or a that quelled a battle – dubbed a “civil allies comes as the coalition has extend- complete break-up of the country, but had set up checkpoints “at all govern- USB drive,” said Kamluk. war within a civil war” – for the south ed a unilateral ceasefire aimed at fending with a lack of implementation, observers ment facilities, including the central Kaspersky said businesses that had in August seen them seize off the coronavirus pandemic – an olive have said it is effectively defunct. bank and port of Aden”. could protect themselves by control of the second city of Aden. branch rejected by the Huthis. Cracks emerged soon after it was Hussam Radman, a research fellow for deploying minimal dedicated “Following the surprising announce- Compounding the country’s troubles, signed, with complaints about food the Sanaa Centre for Strategic Studies, secure gateways to all employ- ment of a state of emergency by the at least 21 people were killed in flash shortages in the south, a sharp depre- said the separatists were already in con- ees, making sure everyone runs Southern Transitional Council [STC], flooding this month, with Aden’s streets ciation of the currency and a lack of trol of the military and security in Aden, an antivirus and Endpoint Detec- we re-emphasise the need to prompt- submerged and homes destroyed. funds to pay public sector employees. where they have popular support. tion and Response solutions, and ly implement the Riyadh Agreement,” The UN on Sunday said more than “We in [Saudi Arabia] and UAE strong- “But with this declaration, it will reports statuses to a central serv- the coalition said according to tweets 100,000 people across Yemen have ly believe that the internationally become responsible for the adminis- er, mandatory 2FA (two-factor from the official Saudi Press Agency. been affected by the torrential rains backed Riyadh agreement has guaran- trative side in the provisional capital authentification) and biometric “The Coalition demands an end to which had damaged roads, bridges and teed an opportunity for the brotherly that has witnessed an unprecedented authentication, and running any escalatory actions and calls for a the electricity grid, and contaminated Yemeni people to live in peace,” Saudi decline lately” in the provision of dedicated video-conferencing return to the Agreement by the par- water supplies. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel services and economic performance, servers on company premises. ticipating parties.” “Countless families have lost every- al-Jubeir said in a tweet. he said. AFP VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Indonesian zoos may soon have to feed animals to each other HOUSANDS of animals in Tony Sumampau said four zoos recent- Indonesian zoos are fac- ly signed up to join the PKBSI so they ing the threat of famine could solicit the government’s help. To as management struggles register for PKBSI membership, zoos toT afford animal feed as would-be must have contingency plans for un- visitors stay home to contain the expected risk in the future. spread of Covid-19. “We do have a contingency plan A survey conducted by the Indo- – but only for one to two months. It nesian Zoo Association (PKBSI) this has been already a month since zoos month showed that 92 per cent of started seeing zero attendance as a the association’s members in Suma- result of Covid-19,” said Tony. tra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Borneo The association has written to – 55 zoos – had stocks to feed their President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo and animals only until mid-May. related ministries and agencies, ask- The survey also showed that only ing the government to pay more at- Environment ministry official Indra Exploitasia acknowledged the possibility of sacrificing zoos’ herbivores to feed carnivores with the ministry’s permission. AFP three zoos would be able to provide tention to the condition and welfare food for one to three months, while of zoos and other conservation cen- This change has been implemented sources and Ecosystem Conserva- deliver government aid to zoos af- only two had enough for more than tres during the outbreak. by zoos that house many carnivorous tion, said zoos were required to feed fected by Covid-19.” three months. In the meantime, members are shar- animals, such as Taman Safari Indone- animals according to the animal However, she acknowledged the The zoos within the association ing strategies regarding animal feed sia (TSI) in Bogor, West Java, which has welfare protocols stipulated in a possibility of sacrificing zoos’ her- house more than 70,000 animals from management, including reducing 134 carnivores including Javan leop- ministerial regulation last year on bivores to feed carnivores with the 4,912 species endemic to Indone- the amount given to the animals and ards, lions and cheetahs. The zoo has conservation centres. ministry’s permission. sia and those from other parts of the changing the composition of the feed. stopped importing meat to feed them. “Some zoos have tried to adapt to If authorities decided to take such world. The captive animals include Sulhan, who is also a member of the “The tigers usually eat six days a the difficulties, such as by adjusting measures, the zoo would have to protected species such as the Suma- management of the Bandung Zoo- week, but now we only feed them the frequency of feeding and chang- ensure that the sacrificed animals tran tiger, the Bornean orangutan, the logical Garden in West Java, said zoos for five days. We may only feed them ing food composition without di- were, among other criteria, not Sumatran elephant and the anoa. could feed their animals for up to four four days a week if conditions re- minishing nutrient value,” she said. endemic or protected species and “Not all zoos receive money from months by using alternative foods. main like this,” said Tony who is also Indra said the ministry had sent could breed quickly. the government. Some are privately “For example, we used to feed a the director of TSI. letters to the coordinating econom- “This should only be the last re- owned and rely on the revenue from leopard every two days with three to Indra Exploitasia, biodiversity ic minister, the finance minister and sort,” Indra went on to say. “We ticket sales,” PKBSI spokesperson four kilogrammes of [beef and mut- conservation director of the Minis- the home minister regarding tax don’t want that to happen. We hope Sulhan Syafi’i told The Jakarta Post. ton]. For now, we’ve changed its diet try of Environment and Forestry’s relaxations for zoo management. the pandemic will be over soon.” THE The association’s secretary-general to beef and chicken.” Directorate General of Natural Re- “We’re preparing the legal basis to JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Strengthen int’l cooperationwww.phnompenhpost.com to www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng ensure stable global foodLy Tayseng supply Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman The G20 economies and Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer Opinion other major countries need Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Editorial to make every possible effort Deputy Chief of Staff Sam Rith to help developing countries Deputy Chief of Staff Phak Seangly N INCREASING through ways such as food Business Editor Phak Seangly number of countries aid and the promotion of the May Kunmakara Business Editor are placing priority agriculture industry. Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara on securing food for Japan depends on imports Sangeetha Amarthalingam theirA own nation and restrict- Deputy Business Editor for wheat and many other Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath ing exports. They are appar- grains, but so far Japan has Pan Simala ently concerned about the Deputy Head of Lifestyleseen Desk little impact. This is Senior Reporters stagnation of production Pan Simala because such countries as Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng amid the spread of infections Senior Reporters the US, Australia and Brazil Reporters with the new coronavirus. Meas Sokchea, Niem Chhengcontinue to export to Japan. Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long If such moves expand, the Reporters Japan has a state stockpile Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth world’s stable food supply Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kimof agriculturalSarom, Long products and Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung system could be shaken. It is Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hinis Pisei, self-sufficient Soth in rice. The Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan hoped that food-producing situation should be dealt Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers countries will restrain them- with calmly. Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea selves and cooperate with The Japanese government Web Editor Ry Sochan each other in an appropriate must cooperate with private Leang Phannara Photographers manner. enterprises such as trading Webmasters According to Japan’s Agri- Heng Chivoan, Hong Meneacompanies to ensure stable Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea culture, Forestry and Fisher- Web Editor food supplies. SIEM REAP BUREAU ies Ministry, exports are Leang Phannara Around the world, the divi- Offi ce Manager being restricted in at least 13 Webmasters sion of labour has been Sophearith Blondeel countries, including Russia, Sous Chanthy, Pang Vicheaestablished not only in the PRODUCTION & PRINTING Turkey and Vietnam. Items SIEM REAP BUREAU manufacturing supply chain, Head of Desktop Publishing covered in such restrictions Wheat is among items covered in export restrictions in many countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic.Offi ce Manager It is but also in agricultural prod- Nhim Sokphyrak significant that major countries and regions recognise the importance of a stable food supply. Developing are mainly grains such as Sophearith Blondeel ucts and processed foods. It Desktop Publishing wheat and corn. countries must be protected from severe food shortages. afp would not be beneficial for Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING World Trade Organisation food-producing countries to Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing rules prohibit the control of price volatility in interna- stable food supply. faces declines due to the cause this framework of Nhim Sokphyrak exports unless there is a criti- tional markets and threaten What is important is to pro- spread of the infections, interdependence to collapse. HEAD OFFICE cal shortage of food supplies the food security”. tect developing countries coupled with exportDesktop restric-Publishing There have also been pro- within that country. The UN Food and Agricul- that suffer from severe food tions in the food-producingSuon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy,tectionist Danh Borath moves regarding In a statement issued after ture Organisation, which has shortages. countries. Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith,medical Than Veasna supplies such as an emergency videoconfer- been providing agricultural Africa, for example, has a Meanwhile, a huge out- masks and protective suits. Post Media Co, Ltd. ence, the agriculture minis- assistance globally among large population to feed, with break of locusts HEAD in A OFFICEfrica and Japan should persistently The Elements Condominium Level 7, ters of the Group of 20 major other measures, also partici- one in five people suffering the Middle East is wreaking emphasise that free trade is Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, economies called for pated in the conference. from malnutrition even in havoc on agricultural crops. indispensable for stable Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom restraints on export restric- It is significant that major normal times. If the situation is left as is, the growth in the global econo- Penh, Cambodia tions, saying such moves countries and regions rec- The situation could wors- development ofPost a food Media crisisCo, Ltd. my. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 “could lead to excessive food ognise the importance of a en if agricultural production is a possibility. The Elements CondominiumASIA Level NEWS 7, NETWORK Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, SIEM REAP Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Phnom Penh, No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune Cambodia Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 SIEM REAP COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT China still attractive for foreignNo 629,companies Street 6 Dangkum Commune Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 James Ong Soon Teck ON APRIL 22, Exxon Mobil officially good infrastructure and good busi- government has effectively brought COMMERCIAL their DEPARTMENT businesses out of China. Advertising Department started an ethane programme in ness environment. It took only 18 the virus under control in China.Chief A Operatings Their Offi cer choice shows their confi- Chap Narith, 017 996 241 Huizhou city, South China’s Guang- months for Exxon Mobile and local production is resumed, the eco-James Ong Soondence Teck in the country, and time will Hun Channet, 017 578 768 Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 dong province, in which it has invest- cooperators of Guangzhou to finish nomic potential of China will beAdvertising ful- Departmentprove they have made a right choice. Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 ed $10 billion. all the preparatory work for the pro- ly demonstrated and global capitalChap Narith, 017The 996 241 fundamentals of the Chinese Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 It should be noted that the pro- gramme, which shows the city’s will be confident in investing inHun the Channet, economy 017 578 768 will prove they have made a Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 gramme started when the whole excellent coordination capabilities country. Prach Monnyreak,right 012 choice, 123 7777 as the country remains CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION world is fighting the Covid-19 pan- and services. On April 8, as soon as Wuhan CIRCULATION lift- an & DISTRIBUTIONimportant hub in the global Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager demic, global oil prices are low, and That’s only part of China’s compe- ed its lockdown, US enterprise Wal- industrial chain and a popular global Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy many oil enterprises have been cut- tence in doing business. Just like Exx- mart announced it would invest an investment destination. As China will Circulation Supervisor ting production. on Mobile CEO Darren Woods said at additional 3 billion yuan ($420 ADMINISTRATION mil- continue to open up, those keen and Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 Yet the corporation chose to make a the opening ceremony, besides infra- lion) in Wuhan. A joint report Adminof the & HR Managerfar-sighted multinational companies Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 big, long-term investment in China, structure, new laws and regulations American Chamber of CommercePich Socheat will surely gain more opportunities ADMINISTRATION which shows its confidence in China’s have also helped to make the Chinese in China, American Chamber Assistantsof tofor Admin mutual & HR Manager benefit and secure win- Admin & HR Manager economic potential and high expec- economy more attractive, which is Commerce in Shanghai and PriceNhel Soaphea- win results in the process of partici- Pich Socheat tations that China’s economy will why they decided to invest in the waterhouseCoopers on April 17 Financial Directorpating in China’s economic recovery Assistants to Admin & HR Manager continue to grow. programme. shows that 70 per cent of US enter- and development. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS Heang Tangmeng Nhel Soaphea Its confidence comes from China’s For the past three months, the prises in China do not plan to move NETWORK Financial Director Chief Accountant Heang Tangmeng Sren Vicheka Chief Accountant Treasurers Sren Vicheka Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Treasurers Cheam Sopheak Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, IT Manager Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary Seng Nak, Vong Oun IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun TO CONTACT US [email protected] TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Around the NGOs Krousar Thmey empowering children with hearing issues Pan Simala plaining the difficulties they had to transfer from home- S CHILDREN with signs to formal signs. As they hearing disabilities did not know about sign lan- face many chal- guage, they started developing lenges in terms of their own signs within the fam- communicationA and have ily, which is a common phe- specific educational needs, nomenon called home signing. Krousar Thmey has utilised Later on, the boy went to technology to create a mobile one of Krousar Thmey Special learning app as a resource for Schools for deaf or blind chil- disadvantaged children. dren, which were officially The newly launched ‘Words transferred to the Cambodian and Pictures’ app is dedicat- government in July last year. ed to helping children with “At school, Tina learnt formal hearing and speech impair- Cambodian Sign Language. To ments. Even their relatives be able to communicate with The newly launched ‘Words and Pictures’ app is dedicated to helping children with hearing and speech impairments. supplied and friends can access a tool the boy, his family had to learn in the app to practice Cambo- the new signs too. This influ- tionary with integrated sounds in Cambodian sign language choose the relevant words, including a translator from dian Sign Language. enced their communication and sign language pictograms and American sign language pictures and sign pictograms, Khmer to Cambodian Sign The app can also assist any- and weighed on his emotional to facilitate and enhance com- with an audio file for each and then prepare them ac- Language, and lessons for one interested in learning ba- well-being,” Ezdra tells The Post. munication between hard-of- word, in Khmer and English. cordingly,” she says. deaf children and those who sic written and spoken Khmer Tina’s life experience spar- hearing and deaf children, and In an individual dictionary As the application was only are hard-of-hearing. or English, as well as Cambo- kled the initial idea to tackle the their families or peers. feature, the user can also save released a couple of weeks ago, For over 25 years of its ex- dian Sign Language. communication challenge by As schools are still closed na- their personalised selections it is still quite early to have de- istence, Krousar Thmey has According to Juliette Ezdra, using technology as a means to tionwide and children are being of words. It is also convenient tailed statistics. However, over implemented a unique mix of a project and donor relations improve awareness about sign confined at home, the applica- to use without having to con- the weekend, the application special and inclusive educa- manager at Krousar Thmey language in Cambodia and tion’s release was accelerated nect to the internet. Once was trending among the top tion for Cambodian children Foundation, the organisation bring the ‘right’ signs to fami- to provide an entertaining way downloaded, the user no lon- three on Google Play Store in with sensory disabilities, so has worked with the Cambo- lies from the very beginning. for young children to learn and ger needs an internet connec- Cambodia, said Ezdra. that they will be empowered dian Sign Language Commit- The application was de- continue their studies at home. tion to run the application. “We have received very posi- to grow into independent and tee and the National Institute veloped as a learning tool “The project started before Ezdra says: “Thanks to the tive feedback from users so far, responsible adults. for Special Education to en- similar to the first words the outbreak. But considering personalised dictionary op- and especially from the fami- “It aims to promote learn- sure the relevance of the ap- and pictures dictionary that the current situation, we de- tion, children can learn a lies of children with hearing ing Cambodian sign lan- plication for children with many families have at home cided to speed up its launch range of words at their speed impairments, who are happy guage and education using hearing impairments. to help young children learn as we realised that many peo- or they can scroll through the to have a new tool to help their Cambodian sign language. To “It is important to create basic everyday words. ple, especially children who full dictionary to look at and communications,” she said. achieve this, Krousar Thmey adapted resources helping dis- Developed by Open Insti- are currently out of school, enjoy the pictures. The application is suit- is working closely with the advantaged children, We be- tute, Words and Pictures is a could find such an education “It targets anyone of any age able for all ages. Parents of National Institute of Spe- lieve that technology is a valu- result of collaboration with and communication tool very group who would be interested children without disabilities cial Education, as well as the able tool in providing access to a consultant who went to useful,” Ezdra says. in learning basic written and have also found the applica- Ministry of Education, Youth education and communica- Krousar Thmey to help jointly Words and Pictures is de- spoken Khmer or English, as tion as a very useful resource and Sport,” Ezdra says, not- tion, which is why we created develop the app. signed such that the applica- well as Cambodian and Ameri- for their children to continue ing that, “this project is still in this educative and innovative With a simple design, the tion can be set up in Khmer or can sign languages. Cambodian learning at home. an early phase and is not yet application,” she says. inclusive application features English only, or to have both or foreign youth and adults will Besides Words and Pictures, ready for public use”. The original idea for the over 500 words that are rele- languages appear on screen find the application useful.” Krousar Thmey is working on To download the Words Words and Pictures application vant to everyday-life situations, simultaneously. However, though the ap- another project for people and Pictures application, came to a consultant when she selected for their suitability to Available for free on both the plication is fairly simple, it with hearing impairments. please visit http://onelink.to/ met with a young deaf boy, Tina, the Cambodian background. Google Play and Apple stores, took a relatively long time to It is in the process of devel- krousarthmey. For more in- to whom the app is dedicated. The purpose of the applica- the application has signs dis- develop. “This is because it oping an e-learning platform formation, please contact pr@ Tina and his father were ex- tion is to offer a fun picture dic- played as pictograms available became a lengthy process to with multiple functionalities, krousar-thmey.org.

The purpose is to offer a fun picture dictionary with integrated sounds and sign language pictograms to facilitate and enhance communication between hard-of-hearing and deaf children, and their families or peers. supplied

Students learn both Khmer and American sign language. supplied THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Egypt’s Nubians dream of return to Nile home

Indigenous to modern day southern Egypt and northern Sudan, Nubians trace their roots to an ancient African civilisation that eventually ruled Egypt during the 25th dynasty, some 3,000 years ago. AFP

ATMA ADDAR grew an villages remain close to the speak Nubian, a family of lan- studies researcher Hussein ritual of baptising a child in Even before the eviction in up in a Nubian fam- Nile banks, attracting tourists. guages that is not understood Kobbara. the Nile waters seven days af- the 1960s, smaller displace- ily, connected to her Since then, the ethnic mi- by non-Nubian Egyptians. “It is such a shame that ter he was born. ments had occurred in 1902, ethnic minority’s nority has complained of “Our integration into Arabic- this ancient language is not The woman calls on God 1912 and again in 1933, to richF history through its tales systematic discrimination speaking communities caused taught in schools or univer- to guard the child’s footsteps pave the way for the Aswan of a bygone life on the Nile, and cultural marginalisation the need to speak Nubian to sities. It’s clear cultural mar- as she wipes his face with reservoir. though regaled less and less – and dreamt of returning to fade over time,” said Addar. ginalisation that undermines the Nile water and sprinkles Egypt’s 2014 constitution in their original languages. its lands and reviving its tra- our ethnic identity,” said the sweets in the water. recognised for the first time She lives in the southern ditions and languages. ‘Cultural marginalisation’ 63-year-old. the Nubians’ right to return Egyptian city of Aswan and In ancient times, Nubian lan- ‘Returning without our souls’ to their lands, setting a time was schooled mostly in Arabic A need that faded guages were written using sev- Tales from the past In 2017, software developer frame that ends in 2024. – her only occasional brushes Indigenous to modern day eral different alphabets includ- Fluent speakers and academ- Momen Taloosh created a But so far the government with her mother tongue are southern Egypt and northern ing Coptic, Greek and Meroitic, ics have recently started hold- mobile language learning ap- has not taken any measures when she hears it spoken by Sudan, Nubians trace their academic studies show. ing language classes for the plication named “Nubi”. to deliver on its promise. the family elders. roots to an ancient African But the written languages Nubian diaspora living in cities “I am not fluent, having Instead, earlier this year, it “I usually get asked how civilisation that eventually were gradually abandoned like Cairo and Alexandria. lived in Alexandria all my announced compensation can I be Nubian when I can’t ruled Egypt during the 25th dy- and for centuries, they were Others have applied 21st- life,” said Taloosh. “But I be- packages for thousands of speak my own language,” the nasty, some 3,000 years ago. just passed down orally from century ways to boost the long to Nubia and I want the Nubians affected by the 1960s 23-year-old told AFP. They built a life of lush ver- one generation to the next. languages, using online vid- language to live on.” dam construction. “It was always a problem for dant expanses, spacious domed Among Nubians, they have eos and mobile applications. The application integrates It included providing social me.” mud-brick houses, clusters of lived on in Egypt with Kenzi One Nubian entrepreneur, the 24-letter alphabet and in- housing in other cities across The language, she says, is palm trees, distinct customs and Fadiji as the two main spo- Hafsa Amberkab, launched cludes popular Nubian prov- Egypt, cash, or the option to “unpractised by many in her tied to the Nile and spoke their ken languages, and those who the initiative “Koma Waidi” – erbs and songs in both lan- benefit from the state’s future generation”, born decades af- very own languages. use one language do not nec- meaning tales from the past guages translated into Arabic, development plans. ter the mass eviction of Egypt’s But after their eviction, they essarily understand the other. – documenting stories told drawing some 3,000 active Those Nubians affected by Nubians from their ancestral were resettled in arid desert Kenzi and Fadiji have been by elders and collecting dying users and 20,000 downloads. the earlier reservoir devel- lands to make way for the con- villages far from the Nile, forc- assigned the three-digit codes expressions. The songs include those opments have been offered struction of the Aswan High ing many to abandon agricul- ‘xnz’ and ‘fia’ by the ISO 639-3 Helped by Addar, she has crooned at weddings as well ownership rights of the land Dam on the Nile in the 1960s. ture and seek work in other Registration Authority, re- compiled since last year a dic- as others reflecting a deep where they currently live, or Built under late president cities across Egypt or abroad. spectively. tionary of some 230 words in sense of longing for the Nubi- temporary rights to use and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the co- Traditions closely tied to life During the 1973 Arab-Israeli the Kenzi language, written ans’ return to their lands. benefit from those lands if lo- lossal project aimed to har- along the Nile have waned war, the languages were used using Arabic letters to facilitate “My son, as you leave for the cated along the Nile. ness the Nile’s annual floods and younger generations have as a military code after late pronunciation for readers. old village, remember me when Activists insist however that and provide electricity for the become less acquainted with president Anwar al-Sadat ap- It has also been transcribed you get there . . . and do not for- such offers are no replace- burgeoning nation. their mother tongue that was proved the idea put forward into English, Arabic and get to greet it for me,” are the ment for a right to return. But tens of thousands of never taught in local schools. by a Nubian soldier. Spanish. haunting lyrics to one song. “This will always be the Nubians were uprooted from Although there are no offi- But Nubians have sought to “We derive the expressions, Nubians have long called for a dream and we have to keep their homes, rights and advo- cial figures for today’s Nubian revive the written form of the as we film old Nubians telling return to their ancestral lands. the language alive until we go cacy groups have said. community, advocacy groups languages in recent decades. tales of their old villages and In 2017, dozens set out back to our lands,” said Am- Their villages were then in- estimate its number to be three Efforts have culminated in the customs they practised,” on a singing march but the berkab. undated by Lake Nasser, the or four million, out of Egypt’s deriving a 24-letter alphabet, said Amberkab. demonstration was swiftly “Otherwise it will be like dam’s massive reservoir, and 100 million population. whose closest resemblance One video shows an elderly crushed and at least 24 peo- returning without our souls.” today, only a handful of Nubi- It is also unclear how many is the Greek one, said Nubian woman carrying out an old ple were arrested. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Syrian dancer and choreographer Yara al-Hasbani performs a dance on the empty Trocadero square in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris. afp Syrian dancer takes to quiet monuments

ANCER Yara al- Wearing a white mask, she “to admire the city without Hasbani is used to danced an arabesque in front noise and tourists but at the causing a stir ev- of the Louvre museum, an “atti- same time it was sad, as if it erywhere she goes. tude derriere” on the steps of Sa- was abandoned”. DThe Syrian choreographer cre Coeur and did a “six o’clock” Perhaps the most spectacu- has drawn crowds across with one leg right up to her head lar images come from Human France for her performances by the Arc du Triomphe. Rights Square – a cause dear to “IN THE COMPANY OF” in public squares and parks. Trained as a ballet and con- Al-Hasbani’s heart – at Trocadero But there wasn’t a soul in temporary dancer in Damas- looking out at the Eiffel Tower. ACROSS 51 Like the 1 percent, perhaps 26 away from the wind, on a yacht sight as she performed a series cus, al-Hasbani left her war- She has previously danced 1 In ___ of (replacing) 57 Lady’s husband 27 Castle defense of spectacular ballet moves in torn homeland six years ago at Place de la Republique, a 5 Like uncleaned fish 58 Highest-ranking Boy Scout 28 How procrastinators run front of the deserted grand and is now a member of the traditional rallying point for 10 ___ Bator, Mongolia 59 Nickname for Hemingway 29 Volcano fallout monuments of Paris for AFP. Atelier of Artists in Exile in the protests in the French capi- 14 alda of TV and film 60 Word with “do” or “cost you” 31 Out of whack With the French capital in French capital, where she has tal, where she created her 15 Comedian Lange 61 Bluegill fish 32 Colossal lockdown for nearly six weeks lived since 2016. first piece outside Syria in 16 Whimper 62 Hardly ___ (rarely) 33 fix, as a broken heart because of the coronavirus, “It is really strange to see memory of the hundreds of 17 It’s as good as a mile 63 Do a farrier’s work 34 It starts and ends with a line the 26-year-old had some of these monuments deserted,” children killed in a chemical 18 Backs, anatomically 64 Not verbose 35 Dwarf or giant ___ the most visited sites in the said the choreographer. attack near Damascus in Au- 19 It’s seen in many Christmas 65 Condition of misfortune 37 privileged group world to herself. She said it was wonderful gust 2015. afp specials DOWN 38 family member 20 far from dark 1 follower of Mary 39 Having no restrictions 23 Skybox setting 2 parts of hipbones 43 Walk like a 1-year-old 24 Concepts 3 port side when sailing south 44 Devious plan 25 Wet 4 amorphous 45 Stick-figure line 28 Wash up 5 Depress 46 Words before “calm” and “bright” Turkmenistan brushes off 30 Sunburn treatment 6 Royal cap 47 Word with “sayer” 31 Take down a notch 7 Spots with indoor trees, perhaps 48 Monte ___ 33 Bride’s new title 8 Name one by one 49 african river or country 36 perspiring 9 fist pumper’s cry 50 Strongman’s reference? virus, celebrates horse day 40 put in position, as a broken bone 10 advantageous aspect 52 If it’s outstanding, it’s really not 41 Colossal 11 attempt at a fencing touch good TURKMENISTAN flouted so- 42 andean of old 12 Waikiki welcome cial distancing conventions 53 Word with “soft” or “dinner” 43 Unmake a mess (with “up”) 13 Grown-up efts 54 place to pray introduced across the world in 44 More melancholy 21 poet’s palindromic preposition 55 Electronically scored duel the face of the coronavirus pan- 46 accessory for a smoking jacket 22 Cat’s nine 56 place to play catch demic with spectators packing 49 Mother of pearl 25 Little touches, as of paint a hippodrome for festivities honouring its national horse. Monday’s solution Footage broadcast by state television late on Sunday showed strongman President Gurbanguly Berdymukhame- dov presiding over races to mark Turkmen Horse Day – an important date in the Turkmen calendar. While Berdymukhame- dov, known as Turkmeni- stan’s Arkadag, or “Protector”, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov rides an Akhal-Teke stallion on the Day of the Horse in Ashgabat in 2018. afp watched proceedings from a sealed box, ordinary spec- early this year. a Symbol of Fidelity and Hap- tators filled out the stadium State television showed on piness”, into the respective and waved Turkmen flags. Saturday that races were also languages of their countries. Monday’s solution Gas-rich Turkmenistan is one held in front of large crowds Turkmenistan restarted its of the few countries in the world earlier in the week in the for- domestic football league with not to record a single Covid- mer Soviet republic’s second crowds earlier this month af- 19 case, although the govern- largest city, Turkmenabat. ter enforcing a brief hiatus ment’s traditional secrecy and Unlike in previous years, dip- as a pandemic precaution in the fact the country borders lomats and journalists were not late March. coronavirus hot spot Iran have invited to Sunday’s festivities. Turkmen Horse Day was cast doubts over the claim. Diplomats from Germany, thrust into the international Rather than toning down Turkey and the United Arab spotlight in 2013, when leaked celebrations honouring the Emirates did however at- footage emerged showing au- Akhal-Teke horse, which is a tend a Thursday presenta- tocrat Berdymukhamedov central symbol of state pro- tion marking the translation had fallen off his horse after paganda, Turkmenistan ap- of Berdymukhamedov’s 2019 winning a race held as part of peared to kick off festivities tome on horses, “The Horse – the festivities. afp THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport How Anelka, Drogba flamed out in China

Premier League star Didier Drogba (right) lasted just six months playing in Shanghai after finding himself in a dispute with ownership. Frenchmen Nicolas Anelka left Chelsea for a big payday in China but afp split after a frustrating year. afp

pay dispute, an eccentric to go to another team in Europe but position in defensive midfield or on game, leaving Shenhua without a themselves pawns in a boardroom owner and smashed-up I chose China because of the chal- the wing. coach for the match and empty seats dispute. furniture – and arguing with lenge,” he said at the time, after be- Anelka managed only three goals in the dugout. Zhu said his fellow owners had fans for refusing to bow. coming one of the world’s best-paid in 23 matches before both departed Anelka, who had no coaching ex- promised him a majority stake be- AWhen P remier League stars Didier players on a reported $300,000 a China in January 2013. perience, announced he was Tigana’s cause of his heavy investment, and Drogba and Nicolas Anelka made sur- week. replacement. But Zhu soon brought he threatened to withhold the for- prising moves to China in 2012, they Hundreds of Shanghai Shenhua ‘I don’t care’ in Argentine Sergio Batista as coach, eign players’ salaries unless they put Chinese football on the map. supporters mobbed the Ivorian as he So what went wrong? much to Anelka’s annoyance. handed it over. Carlos Tevez, Marouane Fellaini touched down in Shanghai. Shenhua, one of the traditional The former Arsenal, Real Madrid Drogba and Anelka missed several and others would ultimately follow “Shenhua’s nuclear bomb has ar- heavyweights of Chinese football, and Liverpool forward also became games between them towards the as money poured into the Chinese rived,” Shenhua goalkeeper Wang were owned at the time by video embroiled in a public row with a fan end of the season, ostensibly due to Super League, but the former Chel- Dalei said. gaming mogul Zhu Jun, who fancied after refusing to perform the custom- injury, but many suspected the dis- sea duo’s chaotic spell served as a Drogba lived up to expectations, himself as a player on occasion. ary bow following a defeat. pute was to blame. cautionary tale. obliterating opposition defences and Zhu made Anelka China’s first -di “I don’t care,” Shenhua’s skipper, Shenhua finished the season ninth Anelka lasted only one, turbulent scoring eight goals in 11 matches. rect import from the Premier League nicknamed ‘Le Sulk’ by British press out of 16 teams, despite Drogba’s year at Shanghai Shenhua while his Shenhua fans affectionately called and he also lured another famous because of his moody demeanour, fierce determination to win –af- fellow forward Drogba did barely six him ‘Devil Beast’. Frenchman, Jean Tigana, as coach. reportedly said. ter one match ended in a draw he months at the club. Anelka was already at Shenhua But the ex-Fulham manager was hit There was the odd high, such as a smashed furniture in the dressing Drogba signed in June 2012 at when Drogba pitched up having by a player revolt against his training 5-1 home thrashing of rivals Hang- room. 34, just weeks after he scored the also signed from Chelsea, in January methods and was sacked after just zhou Greentown with Drogba scor- “Wait for me, I’ll be back,” Drogba winning penalty for Chelsea in the 2012, on similarly vast wages. five games in charge. ing twice and Anelka laying on two told media after scoring on the final Champions League final against But while Drogba was a success Upon learning his services were no assists. day of the season. Bayern Munich. on the pitch, the Frenchman found longer required, Tigana departed the But it was only a glimpse of what Weeks later both he and Anelka “For me it would have been easy himself sometimes playing out of stadium before kick-off for a home might have been and the pair found were gone. AFP Bored commentators turn to pooches, rubber bones

Dogs chasing rubber bones, a commentary on his dogs as we term ‘normal life’. We abso- bit distracted over the shoul- told AFP: “It’s been much more most celebrated announcers, “competitive” road crossing they munched from separate lutely take it for granted and we der, and leggings is going to get popular than I expected. I was is asking his 268,000 Twitter fol- and the thrills of grilled chick- food bowls: “Olive, focused, are at last realising that,” Cotter there. She does it again, three just doing the parody voice I lowers to send him short vid- en have become the new cur- relentless, tasting. Nothing left said. titles in three days. Off past used when I was writing some eos for him to add mock com- rency for sports commentators but the bowl to lick now. Great Freelance rugby commenta- Vegas Gold for the lap of hon- comedy a few years ago. mentary. looking to entertain fans dur- rivals but great friends. You see tor Nick Heath, who usually our. Victorious!” “There’s some Brian Moore, One of Buck’s most popular ing the coronavirus lock- the swapping of bowls there at works for the BBC and Sky, has Barry Davies, a couple of dol- is a clip of chicken wings being down. the end.” gone viral with his hilarious ‘Two flies on a wall’ lops of Partridge. I saw my grilled while he says: “Look at With virtually no sport being His post of the eating contest “life commentaries” while Heath also muses on com- character as someone who this. They were already hot played anywhere in the world has been viewed by more than sport is on hold. petitive vegetable-buying in a could make two flies on a wall coming out. They’re back on due to the pandemic, under- 10 million people and was Filming people going about market, an “international 4x4 sound interesting.” the grill. employed TV pundits are keep- retweeted by Hollywood actor their business in south Lon- pushchair formation final” as Heath and Cotter are not “The sauce is inside the bowl. ing the sporting public amused Ryan Reynolds. don, Heath gives the run-of- mothers wheel their babies alone among the commentat- Reaching back in. Wanting with social media commentary A follow-up effort featuring the-mill activities a tongue-in- through a park and a “spaniel ing fraternity in turning to peo- more. They keep coming out of on the more mundane aspects the dogs fighting over an cheek sports flavour. speedway” commentary that ple’s daily routines to provide that bowl. How many can you of life. orange rubber bone has been His many comedic gems was so popular he has started light relief during the lock- give us, Andrew? Unbelieva- BBC commentator Andrew watched 18.4 million times. include people crossing the a website to sell T-shirts with down. ble.” Cotter has worked at the Olym- “So into the final minute and road to his excitable voiceover: the slogan on. In the US, Fox Sports com- Summing up the desire for pics and Wimbledon, but dur- Olive in possession, but this “Crossroad dash, light turns to His ironic take is inspired by mentator Joe Buck was working levity at such a worrying time, ing the health crisis he has kept is where Mabel is strong, red, we wait for the beeps, there British commentating icons, as on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Buck told The Washington Post: his voice in action by focusing chasing the game, using that they are. well as television character Super Bowl victory over the San “I didn’t know that it would take on his two labradors, Olive and intensity.” “Now then, JD Sports man, Alan Partridge. Francisco 49ers just weeks off. That’s where we are. I think Mabel. “It just shows how much we he’s got a decent start, leggings Heath, whose Twitter follow- before the virus took hold. people are starved for some- Cotter took to Twitter to share are all missing sport and what on the outside. Oh! JD Sports a ing is now more than 126,000, But now Buck, one of the US’ thing along these lines.” AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 28, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport New Zealand clubs push for rugby shake-up ew Zealand’s five Super Rugby clubs eyed a shake-up of the competition on Monday, an- nouncing a review they say is de- Nsigned to keep it relevant and sustainable. New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson said the review will look at a range of op- tions that would be beneficial for New Zea- land, while remaining committed to Super Rugby’s governing body, SANZAAR, and its broadcast partners “for the next five years”. “The review is about ensuring our Super Rugby remains relevant, sustainable and our fans are entertained and engaged,” he said. The 25-year-old competition, currently involving 15 teams and spread over 16 time zones and five countries, has been widely criticised for its unwieldy and fre- quently changed format. Robinson said a recent study had high- lighted areas of opportunity for Super Rugby in terms of revenue and cost and “we are now also factoring in the impact of Covid-19 to look at a range of scenarios for the clubs and competition”. The review, called Aratipu, the indigenous Maori word for “growth”, will be conducted by representatives of the five New Zealand Super Rugby clubs and their stakeholders. The Auckland Blues’ delegate on the re- view committee, Don MacKinnon, said the ongoing suspension for Covid-19 present- ed an ideal opportunity to reshape New Zealand’s role for the next 25 years. The impact of the virus “means we need to take a broader look at how we contin- ue the 25-year legacy of Super Rugby for New Zealand”, he said. “The scope of Aratipu will include the New Zealand Super Rugby competition – local and offshore – clarify Super Rugby’s role in the domestic high-performance pathway, review the ownership and eq- uity structure, and digital rights. “We will consult widely and think broadly.” afp NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson (centre) said he is looking at a range of options for revenue and cost while committed to Super Rugby. afp Field hockey: Singapore trailblazer for women in sport passes away at 72 Annabel Pennefather, a trators in Singapore and was former president of the Singa- very passionate in champion- pore Hockey Federation (SHF), ing the Olympic Movement who broke the glass ceiling on and women in sports. the local sports scene, died on “Her contribution was not lim- Monday morning. She was 72. ited to Singapore. She was also The former national hockey invited and elected to positions A former first-round pick, the now unemployed Jameis Winston will player, who headed the sports at the Commonwealth Games likely head to New Orleans to back up QB Drew Brees. Getty images/afp law practice at Withers Khat- Federation, Badminton World tarWong, became president of Federation, International Crick- the SHF in 2004. She was its et Council, International Hockey NFL: Winston to be first female president, leading Federation and World Athletics. the association till 2012. “We are grateful for all that SHF president Mathavan she has poured in, and will Brees’ Saints backup Devadas called her “an iconic miss her greatly.” character”, saying: “Her legacy Annabel Pennefather, the former president of the Singapore Hockey Singapore Bowling Federa- Jameis Winston, the former pickoffs in the same year. Federation, is credited with breaking the glass ceiling in her sport. afp to hockey in Singapore was tion president Jessie Phua, who Tampa Bay quarterback who When the Buccaneers signed Sengkang [the Sengkang Hock- outside the sport. national federations. Besides served on the SNOC executive lost his starting job to six-time Brady, a 42-year-old NFL leg- ey Pitch], and she was at the In 1999, she became the first acting as vice-president at the committee with Pennefather Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, end after 20 years with the forefront of women in sport. woman to be co-opted into the International Hockey Federa- from 2014 to 2018, said the latter is the newest recruit for the New England Patriots, Win- “I learnt quite a bit from her Singapore National Olympic tion before heading its judicial was a great mentor to many. NFL’s New Orleans Saints. ston was sent packing. in terms of promoting female Council (SNOC) executive commission, she was also a “[It’s a] sad day for all of us in The deal, confirmed in a The Saints needed a backup participation in hockey in Sin- committee in its 52-year his- member of World Athletics’ Singapore, as we lost a trailblaz- league Twitter posting and to 41-year-old quarterback gapore and that’s something we tory. She was then elected disciplinary tribunal and eth- er and ambassador for sports as expected to be signed later on Drew Brees, who has signed a worked very hard to achieve. SNOC vice-president in 2002, ics board, as well as an external well as a great champion for Sunday, ends Winston’s two-year contract extension “Even after she stepped becoming the first woman to judicial expert with the Bad- women in sport,” she said. month-long search for a new through the 2021 season. down as [SHF] president, we have held the post. minton World Federation. “Annabel was a class act, team. Winston, 26, will still have to could always call on her for She was also Singapore’s first SNOC president Tan Chuan- great athlete, intelligent, Winston, the top pick in the fight to become the No2 to any assistance and she would female chef de mission, serv- Jin said: “We are deeply sad- quick-witted, warm and grace- 2015 NFL draft, led the league Brees. readily give it, so I was very ing at the Commonwealth dened by Annabel’s passing ful and had such an abun- with 5,109 passing yards and 33 Taysom Hill, a versatile appreciative of that.” Games (2002) and Olympic and send our deepest condo- dance of patience. She will be touchdown (TD) passes last reserve, signed a two-year However, Pennefather is per- Games (2004). lences to her family. dearly missed but fondly season, but also threw 33 inter- contract extension worth $21 haps remembered more for Outside Singapore, she also “Annabel was one of the pio- remembered.” THE STRAITS TIMES ceptions, becoming the first million through 2021 with the her trailblazing achievements held positions in several inter- neer women sports adminis- (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK NFL passer with 30 TDs and 30 Saints on Sunday. afp