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Thursday, april 30, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL

Commission mulls Ministry getting At 91, Myanmar reduced sentence Kingdom ready bodybuilder still for prisoners for digitalisation going strong national – page 3 business – page 6 lifestyle – page 12 Man held for molesting grandchildren Virus-like

Kim Sarom Lun told The Post on Wednesday the married and live separately. The sus- When the girl complained of pain syndrome arrest was made after a medical pect lives with his wife in the com- to her private part the next day, her PURSAT provincial anti-human examination found bruises on one of mune. Because one of his daughters mother grilled her before reporting trafficking police on Wednesday the girls’ private parts. “We are still lives nearby, her children always to the police and taking her to the hits French continued to question a 78-year-old questioning him and haven’t sent came to play at his house. hospital for a check-up. man who was arrested the previous him to court yet,” she said. Lun said the suspect always “We detained her grandfather after day for allegedly outraging the mod- Deputy district police chief Norng seduced his granddaughters with a medical examination,” Lun said. children esty of two of his underage grand- Sambath said the victims, aged eight money and cakes. And while the The man allegedly confessed to daughters in Phnom Kravanh dis- and 13, were siblings. eight-year-old was playing at his molesting the eight-year-old on sev- FRANCE has more than a doz- trict’s Leach commune. He said the suspect has nine daugh- house on Tuesday, the man allegedly eral occasions and raping the 13-year- en cases of children with Deputy provincial police chief Sim ters and two sons, all of whom are rubbed against her private part. old girl last year. inflammation around the heart, its health minister said on Wednesday, after Britain sounded an alarm about a new disease with possible links to the novel coronavirus. Olivier Veran said there was not enough evidence to con- Education programmes firm a link with the coronavi- rus sweeping the globe but France was taking the cases “very seriously”. Britain’s state-run National Health Service issued the alert at the weekend about a small elude two million students number of children presenting an unusual set of symptoms, Joshua Purushotman and Leakhena Khat including abdominal pain and inflammation that required OME two million students in admission to intensive care. rural areas cannot access the Cases have also been reported government’s recently launched in Italy, Spain and Switzerland, E-Learning and Distance Learn- Veran told Franceinfo news ingS programmes after schools in the radio, adding he had received Kingdom were ordered shut due to the an alert from Paris concerning Covid-19 pandemic. “about 15 children of all ages”. This is because the students either The French minister listed do not have smartphones [for E- the symptoms as fever, diges- Learning] or their households have tive problems and vascular not installed satellite dishes [for Dis- inflammation which can lead tance Learning] that allow them to re- to cardiac deficiency. ceive such broadcasts. “Fortunately, no child has When attempting to substantiate died from these complications this, Ministry of Education, Youth and which are fairly rare illnesses Sport spokesman Ros Soveacha de- that can come with inflamma- clined to confirm or deny the figure. tion of the heart,” Veran said. Instead, he said the ministry does Some of the cases “in France not have any plan as yet to help stu- as in England, but not all, have dents in rural areas to gain access to turned out to carry the corona- its learning programmes via smart- virus”, causing “some concern phones or television. and watchfulness”. “The ministry encourages students “I am taking this very seri- who cannot study through smart- ously. We have absolutely no phones and television to learn with medical explanation at this those who have such equipment. stage. “This means for families that do not “Is it an inflammatory reac- have televisions yet, the ministry en- tion which sets off a pre-exist- courages them to follow the educational ing condition in children who programmes at their neighbour’s hous- A UNESCO official estimates that only 1.23 million primary and secondary school students out of an average of three million would have this virus or is it another es with less than 10 people and practice benefit from the E-Learning and Distance Learning programmes initiated by the education ministry. afp infectious disease? There are a hygiene measures in line with advice lot of questions.” from the Ministry of Health,” he said. people who do not have money? They their parents are poor and they need ie’. What they do not know, they still The minister urged interna- But that’s not good enough, says work hard to survive day-by-day, how to help them earn an income. will not know,” she said. tional and French experts to Cambodian Independent Teachers’ will they afford a television? “I think even though the ministr y is On March 14, the government or- gather as much data as possi- Association president Ouk Chhayavy. “The distance learning that the doing the right thing by encouraging dered all schools – from kindergartens ble to establish if a link can be “Not all students in rural areas have ministry wants students to access will E-Learning and Distance Learning, to university level – to shut down. made between the coronavi- televisions as we all know. Even I as fail because many of them cannot ac- the knowledge students receive is not Lessons were initially moved online, rus and the new symptoms, a teacher do not have a computer or cess it. And even if they can, they don’t even 20 per cent. Distance Learning “which until now had not been television at home. So what about have the encouragement to study as is like ‘taking a cow to watch a mov- Continued – page 2 seen anywhere”. afp

THE PHNOM PENH POST ASEAN seeks to mitigate National News virus impact on tourism Inside page 4 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Call for CEO’s release in Siem Reap fraud case Long Kimmarita

UNDREDS of rep- resentatives of some 2,000 fami- lies in Siem Reap provinceH gathered again on Wednesday in front of the provincial court demanding a company owner return the money they had invested. The second protest came after Dim Suon Nat, the CEO of Enarita Development Co Ltd who has been detained in the fraud case, signed a let- ter on March 15 promising to return their investments once he is released. One of the protesters, who only gave her first name as Boramey, told The Post on Wednesday that in mid- March, the representatives also gathered in front of the court requesting Suon Nat’s release, but to no avail. The provincial court has said it would hear the case next month. The second protest came after Enarita Development owner Suon Nat signed a letter on March 15 promising to return their investments once he is released. facebook Boramey urged the court to expedite the case as Suon Nat no legal representation. No private lenders. told the protesters on Wednes- Suon Nat, 36, resides in es in the capital, Siem Reap had been detained for nine one dare interfere in his af- He wants the court to free day that the court would hear Phnom Penh Thmey com- and other provinces with months without a trial. fairs,” she said. Suon Nat so he can come for- the case on May 27. mune, in Phnom Penh’s Sen marketing managers in “We ask for Suon Nat’s re- Another protester who only ward to address the issue. “The court is not leaving Sok district. His company charge. lease because the court has gave his first name, Sopheak, “I beg Samdech [Prime Min- this case behind. You don’t had seven subsidiaries across The Siem Reap provincial detained him longer than said the more than 2,000 fam- ister Hun Sen] to seek justice know how complicated this the country and invested in court charged him with fraud what is allowed by law and ilies that had invested in the for the more than 2,000 fami- case is, but it will proceed several sectors including real and issuing fake cheques in nothing seems to be work- company are facing hardship lies,” he said. anyway. We will inform and estate, coffee, purified water July last year in a case that in- ing out. I don’t know why this as they need to repay loans Provincial court deputy summon relevant parties to and education. volved “millions of dollars” in case is complicated. He has with interests to banks and prosecutor Theng Samnang appear in court,” he said. The company had branch- the investment scheme. ‘My grandchildren will slowly become illiterate’ Continued from page 1 nel via Decho TV (DTV) which are not available to rural areas know where to send my grand- is owned by Cambodian DTV and only satellite television is children to study,” she said. and on April 19, the ministry Network Ltd, a subsidiary of the widely subscribed there. Yeurn said some of her signed a Memorandum of Thai Shin satellite company. Sovann also confirmed to grandchildren went to watch Understanding with the Minis- Information and broad- The Post that televisions in television with the neigh- try of Information to make casting director-general Phos rural areas “will not receive bours. But sometimes the classes available to students Sovann said that based on the educational programmes owners preferred to watch who do not have smartphones a 2008 census, 2.4 million if the households have not in- entertainment programmes to access Distance Learning households have televisions stalled the satellite dishes”. or do not switch on the televi- programmes via television, in the Kingdom. “Households in rural ar- sion to save electricity. which it launched with newly He said television chan- eas are only able to access “I regret and worry that my established channel TVK2. nels are accessible via free to the government’s Distance grandchildren will slowly be- Students living in rural areas air, cable, or satellite dishes. Learning programmes if they come illiterate. I’m upset and were told to access the chan- However, the first two options subscribe to DTV. concerned that they cannot “While we have expanded study anymore because I just broadcasting of educational don’t have money,” she said. programmes through satellite When asked what she would and cable television across do if the school closure is ex- the Kingdom, villages and A teacher tending to students learning the use of computers at the tended further, Yeurn said she Coconut School at Kirirom national park in Kampong Speu province. afp communes in some provinc- will have to find money to es do not have full coverage in rural areas is limited. outside urban areas. purchase a television because for cable television. “The coverage for high- “Those living about 10-15km she does not want her grand- “So the gap is filled by DTV, speed 4G internet connectiv- from the provincial towns will children to give up schooling. and if they don’t install it, they ity is only about 53 per cent of subscribe to satellite television The Ministry of Planning’s cannot access the education- the total geographical area in if they can afford it,” he said. National Statistics Institute al programmes,” he said. the Kingdom. So for some vil- Even though this may be estimates that in 2017, Cam- Sovann said there are seven lages and communes, there the case, and satellite televi- bodia had 3.4 million house- licensed satellite television will be no internet,” he said. sion services are widely avail- holds with 2.7 million of them providers in Cambodia but This clearly affects a large able in rural areas, each dish living in rural areas. It did not only three are fully operation- chunk of E-Learning students costs $85, plus an additional provide figures for the num- al – DTV, Skyone, and OneTV. from rural areas too. instalment fee. But unlike ca- ber of students living there. Telecommunication Regu- Cambodian DTV Network ble television services, users However, UNESCO press lator of Cambodia spokesman Ltd marketing manager Som of satellite television do not room English editor Roni Im Vutha said currently there Pavong Somphorn said since have to pay any monthly fee. Amelan said in 2017, the King- are 20 million mobile phones 2008 to date, his company had Still, many cannot afford to dom had some 3.33 million stu- or sim cards being used in installed 900,000 satellites dish- subscribe to such services or dents in pre-primary, primary, Cambodia, which comprises es across the Kingdom, with 80 even purchase a television. and lower and upper second- of 2G, 3G, and 4G subscribers. per cent of them (720,000 dish- Take Khem Yeurn, a 66- ary schools. “Seventy-seven However, he said the number es) installed in rural areas. year-old grandmother living per cent or about 2.56 million does not mean that the 16 mil- “Some 9,000 satellite dishes in Khvav commune in Takeo of them live in rural areas. lion Cambodian population has were installed in mixed urban province for example. “As such, we estimate that mobile phones as each person and rural areas as the signals She is now having to care for only 1.23 million primary and can own more than one. were strong enough for them her five grandchildren – three secondary school students He said only about 53 per to receive the broadcasts. of them studying in grades 2, [out of an average of three mil- cent of the country’s geo- “However, most subscrib- 3, and 5. But now they cannot lion] would benefit from the E- graphical area is covered by ers are in rural areas since study because she does not Learning and Distance Learn- high-speed internet. they cannot access cable own a television. ing programmes initiated by the “The internet only works television. About 15-20 per “I heard the children saying education ministry,” he said. well in urban and commer- cent of subscribers are in the they can study through televi- This means some 2.07 mil- cial areas, but its accessibility provinces, and 80 per cent are sion, but I don’t have one. I don’t lion will be left out. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Teaching clip deleted after Call for reduced Maha Nikaya sect protests sentences and

Khouth Sophak Chakrya pardons of 273

HE Ministry of Edu- Voun Dara ly 40,000 inmates in prisons cation, Youth and across the country. Sport on Wednesday MINISTER of Justice Koeut Rith Rights group Adhoc spokes- decided to delete a led a meeting of the National man Soeng Sen Karuna pro- videoT clip published by pro- Commission of Cambodia to posed increasing the number fessor Long Sarin which com- review and request a reduction of inmates recommended for pared the two dominant sects in sentences or pardons for 273 reduced sentences and par- of Buddhism in Cambodia inmates that Prime Minister dons during major national – Maha Nikaya and Dhamm- Hun Sen can give to the King festivals, as the current prison ayuttika. during the Visak Bochea cere- conditions are overcrowded. In the video, Sarin raises ques- mony on Wednesday, May 6. “If we look at the legal proc- tions about the authenticity of The inmates are from 20 pris- ess we see that minor offences Maha Nikaya monks, which ons and the city-provincial prison should not be taken into cus- drew criticism from its leaders. and four correctional centres. tody while the prison is over- The decision to delete the The inmates include 24 women. crowded,” he said. video was made after Great On the occasion of Khmer New Sen Karuna suggested the Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong Year in mid-April, 155 inmates government should examine and Supreme Patriarch Non out of 399, including 18 women, the behaviour of inmates to see Nget – the two most powerful had their offences reviewed and if they have changed and under- leaders in the Maha Nikaya evaluated by a national commit- stand the mistakes they had sect – sent a letter to minis- tee of the ministry. made and if so, they should be ter Hang Chuon Naron stat- It was decided to request that considered for pardons too. ing the video had seriously Hun Sen further review the rec- When he chaired the Annual harmed the perception of ommendations before submit- Meeting of the Cambodian Maha Nikaya monks. In the video, which was The Ministry of Education removed a video that questioned the authenticity of Maha Nikaya monks . facebook We see that minor offences posted on social media, Sarin compares the levels of disci- the mythical world below the “Our company has repeat- influence the mindset of Bud- should not be taken into pline between the leaders of earth” while elevating the edly seen and listened to the dhist followers and youths custody while the prison is the two sects. monk leader of the Dhamm- video. We find the professor’s who practice Buddhism. In the video, Sarin says: “The ayuttika sect “to the top”. explanation did not denigrate “The ministry will scru- overcrowded. monk leader of the Maha Ni- In the letter, Nget and Vong Buddhism. tinise the video well for the kaya sect wears shoes, uses wrote: “The example used “Conversely, he [the profes- sake of students and the pub- ting it to the King for his National Council for Women at large phones and even has by Long Sarin that monks sor] wants to firmly support lic,” Kamboly said. approval to reduce sentences the Peace Palace on February 17, bodyguards. The monk leader of the Dhammayuttika sect Buddhism and show respect Chhot Bunthorng, a sociol- or grant pardons. Hun Sen urged the relevant min- of the Dhammayuttika sect practice discipline rigorously to Buddhist practitioners. ogy professor at the Interna- Ministry secretary of state and istries to speed up the prosecu- holds fast to strict discipline. like Dhutanga [a group of 13 More than this, before cit- tional Relations Institute of spokesman Kim Santepheap tion of imprisoned women. In the age of money, they can’t ascetic practices], is wrong. ing the examples in ques- the Royal Academy of Cam- could not be reached for com- He also opened up the pos- hold money, walk on paved Sarin degraded the monks of tion, he reached out to Vong bodia, said in general, de- ment on Wednesday, but he said sibility of renting a hotel if roads or even wear shoes. the Maha Nikaya sect. to apologise and explain his scribing hard truths about so- earlier this month that the par- there were not enough court- “When the monk leader of “He said monks practice teachings.” ciety has always harmed the dons are for lesser categories of rooms to conduct hearings. He the Dhammayuttika sect col- discipline in a lax manner Vong didn’t accept Bun interests and dignity of some offenders, including those with made the call as the number lects alms, he walks upright. and deviated from their dis- Dara’s clarification because individual or community. little time left, short-term of women inmates had reached We give him alms and invite cipline. This sounds very bad in his mind, it didn’t erase However, he said Sarin’s inmates, the elderly, and those more than 20,000. him to sit in our homes, and to monks and it makes it dif- Sarin’s wrongdoing. wrongdoing was not serious who are chronically ill or have “Samdech Techo Hun Sen he rescues creatures. ficult for them to gain respect. Nget requested the ministry enough to warrant legal con- disabilities. also urged the Cambodian “But the monk leader of Nget finds that the professor’s to reprimand Sarin, rectify his sequences. “Therefore, we have made a National Council for Women the Maha Nikaya sect should teachings are baseless. He teaching points, and make a “Professor Long Sarin could very detailed examination of and the Ministry of Women’s know that some of his monks lacks integrity, in-depth re- public apology to monks. make a public apology to the the inmates who could receive Affairs to further cooperate are not real, but impostors. search and has no right to be Ministry spokesman Dy chief of monks or an apol- reduced sentences and par- with the Ministry of Interior in “They [disguised monks] a teacher. Kamboly confirmed to The ogy in writing for the mistake dons,” he said. tracking down women who are arrive at houses asking for “His conclusion is contrary to Post on Wednesday that the and rectify the teaching. He Nouth Savna, the spokesman inmates or offenders to expe- alms before we even open our the true situation and opposed ministry decided to delete could cite other examples for for the General Department of dite the trial work, including doors. I don’t desecrate Bud- to the principles of the govern- and rectify the video after it comparison. Prisons at the Ministry of Inte- finding defence lawyers for dhism, but it is true. I once ment on religious harmony.” received the letter from Nget “If Sarin is subjected to rior, posted on Facebook on them,” said the prime minis- saw them, but I don’t know In response to the controver- and Vong. The video may be punishment, a jail sentence March 27 that there were near- ter’s Facebook page. how to catch them. I would sy, Uy Bun Dara, the general reposted after it is edited. or if he’s fired, it will affect like to speak the truth to the manager of E-School Cambo- “The video clip failed to un- the spirit of other teachers. Great Supreme Patriarch to dia, where Sarin teaches, sent dergo checks from the Minis- It would make all teachers uphold the religion,” he said. a letter to Vong on Tuesday ex- try of Education, thereby cre- doubt their capacity and tal- Nget regarded the compari- pressing regret, but he didn’t ating the disagreement. The ent for teaching and it will son as a slight to Vong. agree with Vong and Nget’s as- ministry would like to express weaken the education sys- He said Sarin sent Vong “to sessment of the video. its regret that the video can tem,” he said. Nigerian arrested for an alleged robbery

Soth Koemsoeun stabbed them, destroyed their property, and escaped with A NIGERIAN national was sent $3,500 at around 11:30am. to the Phnom Penh Municipal After receiving the com- Court on Wednesday for al- plaint, authorities requested legedly stealing $3,500 from permission from the Phnom his friend and his friend’s wife Penh municipal deputy pros- on Monday in Dangkor com- ecutor to surround the house mune’s Borey Chamkar Doung, in Borey Chamkar Doung. a gated community in Phnom Once they arrived, they were Penh, according to district po- able to detain the suspect. lice chief Chim Sitha. “Right after the detention, Sitha told The Post that his I asked the suspect about officials sent the suspect to the crime and he said it was court after they had finished not true. He said they want questioning him. to harm him and I did not Prey Sar commune police chief ask more. I have already sent Sum Sary said the authorities re- this case to Dangkor district ceived the initial complaint from police. Let the judge make a pregnant Cambodian woman the decision,” he said. on Monday morning. Phnom Penh Municipal Court A Nigerian national stands out front of court after he was accused of The woman and her hus- spokesman Kuch Kimlong could stabbing a couple and stealing $3,500. police band both claimed the suspect not be reached for comment. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Panic in ASEAN tourism Orchestrated drug Ry Sochan raid nets six suspects SEAN Tourism Ministers on Soth Koemsoeun Penh Municipal Court spokesman Wednesday recognised the Kuch Kimlong could not be reached urgent need to strengthen the SIX suspects were sent to the Phnom for comment on Wednesday. coordination mechanism to Penh Municipal Court on Wednes- A departmental report released on overcomeA challenges facing the tour- day by the National Police’s anti-drug Wednesday said the operation was ism sector after Covid-19 brought travel department after authorities raided led by its deputy director In Song and tourism businesses to a standstill. three locations in the capital and and Phnom Penh Municipal Court They said the pandemic has led seized nearly 4kg of drugs. deputy prosecutor Plang Sophal. to high rates of unemployment and The suspects allegedly processed, It said the targets were the Chbar adversely affected the lives of many trafficked and used drugs. Ampov market area and Doeum Sleng communities in ASEAN. Department director Lek Vannak village in Chbar Ampov district’s Ch- The ministers convened at a spe- said expert authorities launched an bar Ampov II commune, and Prek cial meeting via video conference operation on April 26 to simulta- Kampeus commune’s Srey Snam vil- with Cambodia hosting, led by Min- neously investigate the trafficking, lage in Dangkor district. ister of Tourism Thong Khon. storing and illegal use of drugs at The report added that authorities The goal was to find solutions to mit- Minister Thong Khon hosts a special meeting with ASEAN Tourism Ministers on three different targets. seized a total of 397.51g of drugs, in- igate the Covid-19 impact on the tour- Wednesday, during which ministers discussed post-virus plans for the sector. asean Authorities said they arrested a cluding 23.74g of methamphetamine, ism sector and jointly enhance coop- drug processing expert and an ex- 29.50g of MDMA, 183.17g of Ket- eration to impose a restoration policy implement and manage tourism as well as strategic plans and actions perienced drug trafficker during the amine, 6.3g of Nimetazepam, 154.8g and set future goals to boost tourism. with sustainability and inclusive- to rescue tourism during the early operation. of dried marijuana and 3,466.29g of Its joint statement said: “We are ness in the wake of the crisis. recovery stage as well as the post- “Authorities have already complet- unspecified substances. encouraged by the efforts individu- “We agree to support the develop- crisis recovery plan, the ministry of ed the questioning and sent the case The authorities also seized a ally and collectively implemented ment and implementation of a post tourism posted on Facebook. and suspects to court on April 29, but scale, two motorbikes, three mobile through various ASEAN government Covid-19 crisis recovery plan with- In Cambodia, 2,865 tourism business- I don’t know what the court’s deci- phones, a set of drug processing bodies in taking a united stand to out undermining efforts to safeguard es have been suspended or closed, af- sion will be,” Vannak said. tools, drug packaging materials and mitigate the impact of the outbreak. public health, which includes, but is fecting 46,369 employees, while 96 tour Deputy prosecutor and Phnom other drug paraphernalia. “We agree to implement clear poli- not limited to, building up ASEAN guides have suspended their licenses, cies and measures to bolster confi- tourism capabilities and engaging Fresh News quoted Khon as saying in a dence among domestic and inter- with industry stakeholders to boost press conference on Wednesday. national visitors to Southeast Asia, business and consumer confidence. In the second week of March, more including the development of clear “We agree to explore creative and than 190,000 Cambodian and internal standards and guidelines for a safer innovative solutions to stimulate the foreign tourists continued to tour the and healthier work environment to tourism sector, especially through resorts and tourist sites in Cambodia, protect our workers and communities the use of digital technologies, en- Khon told Fresh News last month. in the hospitality and tourism-related suring top-of-mind marketing ef- Every day, especially on weekends, industries, destinations and estab- forts and joint tourism promotion they continue to travel to tourism lishments in ASEAN member states.” programmes to advance ASEAN as sites with family, in small groups, The tourism ministers also agreed a single tourism destination,” the and individually, he said. to continue to cooperate with ASE- statement continued. In particular, young people con- AN dialogue partners, international The ASEAN tourism ministers tinue to visit eco-tourism and ad- organisations and industry stake- shared experiences on best practices venture tourism sites, coastal-island holders to build a resilient and pre- for the prevention of Covid-19 and areas and other destinations in their Police detained six suspects for drug use, drug trafficking, and drug processing and pared Southeast Asia to effectively its impact in each member country, provinces as normal. seized almost 4kg of miscellaneous drugs. anti-drug department THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Carbon credits up in forests

Soth Koemsoeun

MINISTER of Environment Say Sam Al has urged relevant stake- holders to take part in protecting and conserving natural resourc- es in wildlife sanctuaries. This, he said, will facilitate carbon credit sales to raise money to support local communities. Sam Al made his suggestion when he led experts and rele- vant local authorities on a visit to Mondulkiri province to examine the protection and conservation of the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday Minister Say Sam Al wants to create more jobs in the eco-tourism sec- and Wednesday. tor to reduce dependence on forest products. environment ministry He said thanks to improved efforts to manage and conserve carrying out their respective no such thing as land encroach- protected areas, Cambodia has duties at each wildlife sanctu- ment, we protect well,” he said. sold carbon credits from that ary, but did not say anything Thot Sokha, a member of the sanctuary, the South Cardamom besides pushing them to work forestry community at the Mountains and the Tatai Wildlife hard in conserving the forests. sanctuary said on Tuesday that Sanctuary within the framework “Sam Al and other officials he was not aware of Sam Al’s Starting May 1, motorists will be subject to heavier fines for traffic violations. Traffic law violators will also of the voluntary market to the promised to work hard, espe- message to the officers, but he have their vehicles impounded for three days at the nearest police station. hean rangsey US company, Disney, for $11.6 cially in cooperating with devel- said local officials have done million since 2016. opment partners in the conser- little to prevent forest crimes “The government wants the vation of natural resources. and land encroachments hap- communities to earn more “In the past, there have been pening in the area. income and create new occu- some obstacles around the He said there are currently Hun Sen: Obey traffic pation options so they can patrolling of crimes because of not many forest crimes com- break free from their long- the limited number of task pared to before, but land standing dependence on for- force officers and the high encroachments are still hap- est products. number of perpetrators with pening in the area. He said a few laws to ensure safety “The idea is to create more weapons, making it difficult to days ago bulldozers cleared the jobs in the eco-tourism sector arrest perpetrators. path up a mountain. A fence Khorn Savi accidents happen in our peo- and chairman of the National as well as train the communities “There are few cases of forest was built on the land as well. ples’ families. Please, citizens Road Safety Committee Sar to manage and feed animals to crimes [here] but we have been “I think the leaders should S policemen across and young people, drive with Kheng in which he said the supply the market and for their cracking down consistently on come down to examine these the country prepare great care and with an under- National Police would allo- daily use and tourists that visit land encroachments. situations to know the actual to enforce higher fines standing of safety,” he wrote. cate 3,919 officials to help en- their communities,” he said. “We patrol regularly and the geographical situation, the job for traffic offences Fines for traffic offenders will force the new fines. The sanctuary’s director people with land next to the and the attitudes of officials and startingA May 1, Prime Minister increase three to five-fold to re- In total, 3,507 traffic police Prom Vibolratanak said on wildlife sanctuary have come to not just read the reports. I want Hun Sen called on the people duce traffic accidents in 2020. officers and 412 collabora- Tuesday that Sam Al had mes- request the building of fences the Minister to come down and to obey traffic laws. The cause for concern came tive forces will be deployed saged and encouraged officials and we also allowed that. There’s examine this,” Sokha said. In the Facebook post on because of a jump in traffic at 568 target locations to help Wednesday, he urged the fatalities and injuries last year with enforcement. More than people to ensure they have a compared to 2018. 1,000 of them will be deployed valid driver’s licence before If someone is caught violat- in Phnom Penh. they take to public roads. He ing a traffic law, their vehicle A statement on the National also said he expects citizens will be impounded at the Police website said Phnom to pay the appropriate taxes nearest police station and Penh municipal police chief and service fees. kept for three days. The per- and deputy national police “The restrictions (from May petrator can pay the fine at chief Sar Thet instructed po- 1st) are to ensure the avoidance the station. lice officers to enforce traffic of accidents, which can cause On April 27, National Police laws in an ethical and virtu- serious injuries and death. chief Neth Savoeun wrote a ous manner and to use ap- “We do not want to see traffic letter to Minister of Interior propriate speech. Construction worker murders neighbour, flees on motorbike Kim Sarom

A 28-YEAR-OLD woman was stabbed and beaten to death in a rented room in Meanchey district’s Stung Meanchey III commune in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. Seat Sorn was a garment worker from Mesang district’s Prey Romdeng commune in Prey Veng province. The suspect is a 28-year-old construction worker who lived one floor below Sorn’s room, said commune police chief Em Pheary. Police were first alerted to the area after receiving a report of a The unidentified 28-year-old suspect holds the cutting board and pot he stolen motorbike. The suspect used to injure his upstairs neighbour. police was detained for its theft before the victim was discovered. arrived at Sorn’s door armed they said the suspect had Upon learning of the murder, with a knife and threatened to escaped from the house nerv- Meanchey district police chief rape her. When she resisted, he ously,” he said. Meng Vimeandara immedi- stabbed her and struck her in After he became a suspect for ately ordered his authorities to the head with a cutting board the murder, commune police investigate the crime scene. and a pot. He then stole a sent him to the district police The police found knife motorbike parked 500m away office for further questioning. wounds on the victim’s chest, and escaped, he said. Sorn leaves behind a hus- back, throat, and head. “We gave the photo of the band, a construction worker Pheary said the suspect suspect for citizens to see and in Kampot province. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 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 4,102 1.3936 7.0738 106.50 4.3430 1.4143 32.41 0.6519 1.0864 1.2416 Ministry to prepare the country for digitalisation

May Kunmakara sponsive to the actual needs of the country’s development, [we HE Ministry of Posts need] to collect information and Telecommunica- from ministries and institutions tions urged a work- with representatives on the dig- ing group to draft ital government committee. aT digital government policy “The working group will framework in line with digital speed up the drafting process economy policy. so that it can be submitted to Minister Chea Vandeth said the government for review on Tuesday during a meeting and approval,” he said. at the ministry that it is work- A first draft of Cambodia ing on drafting the framework E-Government Strategic Plan to further study trends at the 2018-2023 was drafted in line Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth is working with his team to create a digital government policy framework. supplied regional and global level, and with the Cambodia ICT Mas- collect input from key experts terplan 2020 and Telecom- ally taking shape and creat- developing country like Cam- “Cambodia’s digital economy corn start-up company. Our who have expertise in the ICT Policy 2020. ing new business activities in bodia, new technologies pro- remains at the nascent stage . . . strategic vision is to create a preparation of such policies. The plan aims to encourage digital payments, online en- vide an opportunity to leap- [It] may need to spend the first robust digital environment “The working group in charge a shift to a digital economy tertainment and E-commerce frog, bypassing traditional five years bringing all the fun- that allows the country’s small of the draft to expedite the dis- and promote the use of digi- while increasing the number phases of development. damental elements together and large firms to connect to cussion of the policy concept tal technologies in the pub- of users adapting themselves “To keep pace with glo- for digital readiness, and an- global value chains,” he said. paper and to ensure this digital lic sector to boost efficiency, to the use of these technolo- balisation and global inte- other five to 10 years grow- That month, Prime Minister government policy is consistent fairness, transparency and gies in the Kingdom. gration, Cambodia without ing the digital economy into a Hun Sen announced a $5 mil- with the digital economy policy convenience for the people. Speaking at the first Nation- a doubt cannot avoid the technology-driven market.” lion a year entrepreneurship developed by the Supreme Na- In March last year, Minister al Consultation Workshop on impact of Industry 4.0 – the “On the subject, it is worth fund to support start-ups in tional Economic Council. of Economy and Finance Aun Policy and Direction of Cam- government must concen- clarifying that Cambodia has terms of financing, technical “In order to make the policy Pornmoniroth said the digital bodia’s Digital Economy in trate on finding opportuni- no intention of creating a Sili- expertise, marketing, produc- more comprehensive and re- economy has been gradu- Phnom Penh, he said: “For a ties and managing risks. con Valley or a targeted uni- tion and training. Okvau gold project raises $60M Cassava exports jump Thou Vireak achieve its stated plan of ex- slightly, but disappoint tracting its first gold from the AUSTRALIA-listed Emerald project in the second quarter Thou Vireak province is bought by traders and Resources NL (Emerald) has of next year,” he said. exported to Thailand, he said. achieved closure on a $60 Speaking at a press brief- CAMBODIA exported 1,115,365 During this harvest season, the million Okvau Debt Facility ing on goal setting and ac- tonnes of cassava to the inter- province has 112,543ha cultivat- put together by Sprott Private tion plans last week, Gen- national market in the first three ed with cassava, with an average Resource Lending II LP eral Department of Mineral months of this year, inching up yield of 26.43 tonnes per hectare, a (Sprott), a leading financier to Resources director general around 1.6 per cent from 1,097,803 report from the Battambang pro- the global mining sector, to Yos Monirath said the devel- in the year-ago period, said a re- vincial Department of Agriculture, finance Emerald’s gold project opment of the Okvau project port from the Ministry of Agricul- Forestry and Fisheries said. in the region, Sprott said in a is running smoothly despite ture, Forestry and Fisheries. In January, Minister of Agriculture, press release on Tuesday. the Covid-19 pandemic. The muted growth is mainly Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon It said the financial close He said the company has due to tightened border restric- said the Kingdom last year exported is a result of satisfying all finished construction on tions meant to curb the spread of 6.9 million tonnes of agricultural conditions, which included a road to the project as it Covid-19, it said. products worth about $1.9 billion. extensive technical and le- works to achieve its aim of Cambodia’s cassava exports in- On October 29, UN Development gal due diligence. The debt extracting its first gold. It is clude cassava chips, fresh cassava, Programme (UNDP) published project will allow Emerald also building a refinery. tapioca starch and cassava waste a report titled “Making the Case to draw down on the funds “We estimate that the to markets in Thailand, Vietnam, for Investment in Cassava”, which with the first $10 million The Okvau gold project is expected to be extracting gold by the project will be able to refine India, China and Belgium. said about $296 million is needed available immediately. second quarter of 2021. supplied one million ounces of gold,” Cassava is planted in May and in a public investment package for The staged drawdown of he said. “The ministry will harvested from November to the development of the Kingdom’s the debt facility has been provided access to a $100 taining perfection of security continue to promote ad- February each year. cassava sector, citing a lack of focus scheduled to meet the proj- million acquisition and de- for the Okvau Debt Facility. ditional gold exploration Battambang provincial Depart- on domestic processing. ect development timeline velopment facility provided “Additionally, Sprott’s eq- licences in the area around ment of Commerce director Kim It noted that investing in cassa- milestones. by Sprott to fund future de- uity commitment alongside the Okvau project and in- Hout on Wednesday said the out- va can result in higher yields than Additionally and as a fur- velopment and acquisition existing shareholders serves crease its business.” break hampered the province’s cas- investing in rice, rice production, ther measure of support, opportunities as previously to further strengthen the Monirath said the minis- sava exports to the Thai market in livestock, food and beverages, Sprott will purchase $3.5 mil- announced on June 26. company’s financial posi- try has issued 40 copper ex- the first three months of this year. and tourism sectors. Direct reve- lion in Emerald shares at the Managing director Morgan tion during current volatile ploration licences to private “The price of cassava is very nue growth from the cassava sec- same issue price as the recent Hart said: “We are extremely market conditions related companies to conduct ex- low this year as orders from Thai tor is estimated to be about $130 $75 million placement on a pleased to have met another to the ongoing coronavirus. ploration in the Kingdom. traders dry out due to the Covid- million over 10 years. post-consolidation basis. significant milestone along “Significantly, Emerald has Cambodia collected $21 19 issue,” said Hout. Cambodia exported 3.29 mil- The placement to Sprott the development pathway for now commenced the con- million in non-tax revenue He said fresh cassava costs lion tonnes of cassava last year, was approved by share- the Okvau Gold Project fol- struction of its fully funded, from the mining sector last around 250 riel ($.06) per kg and up 27 per cent from 2018’s 2.59 holders on March 13. The lowing the execution of all fa- 100 per cent owned Okvau year, up five per cent from dry cassava costs 700 to 720 riel. million tonnes, a report from the Okvau Debt Facility has also cility documentation and ob- Gold Project and expects to 2018, Monirath said. About 80 per cent of cassava in the ministry said. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business

Insiders say landlords in Vietnam should switch to revenue sharing model VIETNAMESE landlords should con- fairly robust for 18-24 months be- sider shifting from their traditional fore the outbreak, it said. fixed-rent model to base rents and Trang Bui, head of markets at JLL revenue sharing like in many other Vietnam, said: “E-commerce’s growth countries to spread the risk, experts continued . . . I don’t think it deeply af- have suggested. fected bricks and mortar retail; it was In a recent report on the retail mar- more of a complementary option. ket, real-estate services firm Jones “The challenge we are seeing in Lang LaSalle (JLL) said: “Retailers the market currently is the overdue with the infrastructure to fulfil online rent payment from retailers and orders through home delivery are cur- tenants who have closed down. rently being perceived as beneficia- “Since this is an unprecedented ries of consumers’ reluctance to visit event – nobody saw anything like stores, and we are seeing an increased this coming – the language used in conversion of people to online. most leases about business inter- “Greater emphasis will be placed ruption and force majeure is a sec- on the shift towards a flexible omni- tion that people never thought that channel retail model and sustainable they would have to look at. fulfilment; strengthened partner- “Yet, over the last two weeks, those ships between landlords and retailers are the clauses that are being read, will need to emerge to achieve this. re-read, and turned upside down “No matter how adversarial the re- and inside out,” said Bui. Cambodia imported 879,394 tonnes of building materials worth $317.74 million in the first quarter of this year. HENG CHIVOAN lationship can be between landlords CBRE made a similar assessment, and tenants at times, the bottom line saying: “Retail is one of the sectors is that we are all in this together and most affected by Covid-19.” the need to find common ground is In a report, it said in the first quar- more important than ever,” it said. ter total revenues from food and Construction sector jittery Duong Thuy Dung, senior di- beverages and accommodation and rector at CBRE, said: “From the tourism services decreased by 9.6 per effects of Covid-19 that we have cent and 27.8 per cent year-on-year. seen, the local market will require A major reason for the difficulties after signs of virus impact more presence of online platforms faced by the retail segment was the drop and development of omnichannel in the number of international visitors. Hin Pisei beginning of the first quarter. ning and Construction was up 51 strategies which can serve a wider JLL said this most acutely impact- However, as the Covid-19 out- per cent compared to the same pe- range of consumers and categories ed luxury segments and super prime AMBODIA imported 879,394 break tightened its grip, construc- riod in 2019,” he said. and help push marketing.” retail destinations. tonnes of building materi- tion projects experienced some Noting that construction sites Retail is the segment most affected Domestic retail spending could suffer als worth $317.74 million in slowdown or came to a halt. “Ev- are currently not as active as in the by Covid-19 in the Ho Chi Minh City a temporary decline from consumer re- the first quarter of this year erything had been going well in first quarter, Sivpheng said the out- real estate market. luctance or inability to visit destinations asC the sector braces for impact from the first quarter, so the demand for break would hit the sector in the JLL said footfall at many malls and where infection risks are elevated. the ongoing health crisis. construction materials was huge.” second quarter. retail centres in the city declined by Non-essential goods items and Broken down by category, the King- He said construction activity had Last week, Ministry of Mines and 80 per cent year-on-year in Febru- leisure services will be hit harder dom imported 100,440 tonnes of steel been normal this year until mid- Energy spokesman Yos Monirath told ary and March. than perishables and essential dry worth $66.83 million, 384,609 tonnes March, but has dropped significantly a press conference that Cambodia Many malls closed due to Covid- goods, which have seen elevated of cement worth $24.57 million and since the beginning of this month. currently has five cement plants that 19 fears. demand as consumers stockpile to 394,346 tonnes of construction equip- Not only has the construction sec- are capable of producing more than Some international brands post- avoid personal shortages. ment worth $226.34 million, data from tor fallen, he said, the real estate mar- eight million tonnes per annum. poned plans to launch in Vietnam To support retailers, some land- the Department of Planning Statistics ket is stagnant. “I believe that all sec- “Cambodia has the ability to pro- this year, particularly in Ho Chi lords have offered rent discounts and Trade Information under the Min- tors will shrink in the second quarter, duce its own cement for domestic con- Minh City, the company said. in February and March of 10-30 per istry of Commerce’s General Depart- not just the construction sector.” sumption without having to import it The pandemic would affect plans cent, especially for general retail ment of Domestic Trade shows. Cambodia Constructors Association from abroad. We have enough cement to open nearly 280,000sqm of gross segments like food and beverages Most of the materials came from general manager and secretary Chiv manufacturing plants in the country, it floor area A(GF ) of retail space in and entertainment. China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sivpheng told The Post that construc- means that we have not to spend any Ho Chi Minh City this year and Others have considered reducing Italy and Germany. tion in the Kingdom did not decline in extra money on cement,” he said. 180,000sqm of GFA in Hanoi, it said. rents by up to 50 per cent depending Cambodian Valuers and Estate the first three months of this year. The Kingdom imported 4,667,077 Challenges could persist in the on the performance of their tenants. Agents Association president Chrek “In the first quarter, the amount of tonnes of building materials worth sector in the second quarter due to Some have also agreed to defer a Soknim told The Post on Wednesday capital investment in the construc- $1.70 billion last year, up from 3,181,142 the nation-wide social-distancing portion of the rent until the situa- that the Kingdom’s construction in- tion sector approved by the Ministry tonnes worth $1.07 billion in 2018, data campaign from April 1, it warned. tion improves. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS dustry was performing well at the of Land Management, Urban Plan- from the department shows. The retail landscape had been NETWORK Uncertainties swirl about Malaysia’s property market

MALAYSIA’S property market is “sail- sia movement control order, develop- overall property demand, the broker ing in the primary market. certain level but generally, confi- ing through a storm” with many ers cannot recognise progress billings, does not rule out the possibility of over- The sector is trading at compelling dence needs to return. uncertainties swirling about and buy- market/promote and secure new supply of properties from both pri- valuations with no clear catalysts in The pandemic situation is still ers are unlikely to commit to big-tick- property sales and are unable to con- mary and secondary markets, it said. the foreseeable future. revolving here and on a global scale et items like properties and hire pur- vert bookings into sales and purchase The report said the low crude oil The analysts are advising investors and early this week saw futures con- chases, Singapore-based UOB Kay agreements pending legal documen- prices, compounded by the Covid-19 to accumulate stocks with diversified tract for West Texas Intermediate Hian Holdings Ltd said in a report. tation. This impacts their earnings. pandemic has resulted in the central earnings exposure and lean balance crude oil price going below zero. This will result in weaker sales and The analysts are, therefore, lower- bank Bank Negara Malaysia revising sheets with Sunway Bhd and Malay- As for foreign buyers, CBRE-WTW 2020 forecast earnings, with prop- ing property sales targets and new its forecast for the country’s 2020 eco- sian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) as managing director Foo Gee Jen said erty developers likely to revise down- launches by developers, which will nomic growth to the range of -2 to 0.5 their top picks. given the current conditions, it is safe to ward their sales targets. effectively lower developers’ billings per cent, which would result in a Property consultants from the central say any foreigners including the expatri- “Some have already done so . . . and of unbilled sales and result in year- higher unemployment rate. region of the Klang Valley, Penang and ates would not want to be in other parts will strategise future pipeline launches on-year decline in earnings. “Bank Negara [Malaysia] expects a Johor said the recent events since late of the world except their homeland. to achieve optimum sales,” the report The report said the sector had, in rise to four per cent in 2020 versus 3.3 February, the pandemic and oil price Separately, Penang-based property prepared by analysts Farhan Ridzwan the past, underperformed relative to per cent in 2019, ” said the report. plunge will generally weigh heavily on consultancy Raine & Horne Interna- and Abdul Hadi Manaf said. the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index The chain reaction effect is that buy- consumer confidence going forward. tional Zaki & Partners Sdn Bhd senior It said some companies are “in dis- as a result of oversupply and afford- ers are expected to “refrain” from buy- Association of Valuers, Property partner Michael Geh said Penang prop- tress zones” but will be able to deliver ability issues. ing despite being “spoilt for choice” Managers, Estate Agents and Prop- erty is expected to see more realistic and positive operating cash flow despite The property index has plunged to amid the economic uncertainty. erty Consultancies in the Private affordable prices going forward. not securing new property sales. They by 30 per cent year-to-date, with the Some may pull out from sales book- Sector president Michael Kong Kok Knight Frank Penang executive direc- are also confident of meeting short- lowest low this year a 40 per cent ings secured earlier, the report said. Kee said consumer confidence is at tor Mark Saw, also from Penang, said term debts via cash in hand and drop, said the report. Owners may sell their properties at an all time low. the industrial sub-sector will continue progress profits in coming quarters. While the “chain effect” from the eco- discounts, which would result in pressed There may be some who may be to be a beacon of Penang’s economy. For the duration of the 2020 Malay- nomic uncertainties adversely hamper down prices, which would impact pric- tempted to buy when prices reach a THE STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK thursday, april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

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PLEASE CONTACT: Tel: +855 (0) 78 3333 03, 86 333 033 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World N Korea’s Kim puzzles Virus: Germans to wear masks world amid pandemic THE conspicuous absence Straits Times, explaining the in shops as nation opens up of North Korea’s enigmatic motive for the disappearing act. leader Kim Jong-un from this “The secrecy surrounding his UROPEAN countries month’s celebrations marking whereabouts and health put are working to find his late grandfather’s birth an- him back in the media lime- a balance in how far niversary has fuelled specula- light which he loves,” the source to ease coronavirus tion in the media and among said, requesting anonymity. lockdowns,E with Germany pundits about the strongman’s A second source with ties to enforcing mandatory masks health and whereabouts. both Beijing and Pyongyang in all shops from Wednesday, It all began last week when told The Straits Times at the out- as the crushing global eco- CNN, quoting a US official “with set: “Everything is fine. There nomic cost of the pandemic direct knowledge”, reported that is no problem at all.” But the becomes clearer. Washington was monitoring source, who correctly predicted Excitement over moves to- intelligence suggesting that Kim’s rise in 2011, declined to wards normality is being tem- Kim was in “grave danger” af- provide further details. pered by fear of fresh outbreaks ter undergoing surgery. The North’s third-generation of a disease that has infected US National Security Ad- hereditary leader was last seen more than three million people viser Robert O’Brien lent in public on April 11, at a Polit- and killed 214,000 worldwide. credence to the report when buro meeting of the Workers’ Even a gradual return to he told Fox News on Tuesday Party of Korea, reported North everyday activity is “risky”, last week: “We’re monitoring Korea’s state-run Korean Cen- warned French Prime Minis- these reports very closely.” tral News Agency. ter Edouard Philippe, despite Two days later, Secretary of This is not Kim’s first disap- a downward trend in virus State Mike Pompeo said in an in- pearing act. In 2014, he van- deaths in hard-hit European terview with Fox: “We are watch- ished for more than a month countries. ing the situation very keenly.” and North Korean state televi- From Wednesday in Ger- At least one pundit, a rela- sion later showed him limping. many, masks will be needed tive of a retired Chinese dip- His smoking, weight gain and to enter shops, which began lomat, claimed in her WeChat family history of cardiovas- to open last week after the account that Kim was dead. cular problems have fanned government declared the out- Others speculated that Kim speculation about the health From Wednesday in Germany, masks will be needed to enter shops, which began to open last week after the break under control. government declared the outbreak under control. AFP was in critical or stable con- of the North Korean dictator, Nose and mouth coverings dition after heart-bypass sur- who is believed to be 36. are already compulsory on ing of a meat shortage in the to be under control with no from the US Department of gery performed by a group of China is North Korea’s closest buses, trains and trams. US, the White House said new deaths reported for two Homeland Security into how Chinese surgeons. Daily NK, a ally and when asked to com- “We all need to take care President Donald Trump weeks straight and confirmed ultraviolet radiation destroys Seoul-based website, report- ment on reports that Beijing had that we don’t end up with would sign an executive or- fatalities at around 4,600. the virus. ed that he was recovering af- sent a medical team to Pyong- more infections,” said Lothar der compelling meat-packing Chinese state media on While that research has not ter the operation on April 12. yang, Chinese Ministry of For- Wieler, president of Berlin’s plants to stay open, despite a Wednesday said the top legisla- yet been published, people in Citing three people famil- eign Affairs spokesman Geng Robert Koch Institute. string of coronavirus deaths ture will next month hold its an- Indonesia are soaking up rays iar with the situation, Reuters Shuang told reporters: “I don’t Forecasts warn of the worst in the industry. nual meeting, which had been in the hope that the tropical reported that China had dis- know where the source of the in- global recession in a century, The US has reported its mil- postponed for the first time in country’s plentiful sunshine patched a team, which included formation is. No information is with demand for goods gut- lionth coronavirus case, and decades due to the virus. will ward off the disease. medical experts, to North Korea available on this specific issue.” ted, and travel and tourism at over 58,000, the country’s The rescheduled session on “I always avoided the sun to advise on Kim but the wire The US and South Korea have hammered. Covid-19 death toll is by far May 22 is a signal from the lead- before because I didn’t want agency added that it was unable since downplayed the rumours British Airways Plc became the world’s highest – surpass- ership that China has largely to get tanned,” said Theresia to immediately determine what over Kim’s health, but there has the latest airline to sound the ing the number of Americans brought its outbreak under Rikke Astria, a 27-year-old the trip by the delegation sig- been no official explanation alarm, saying it may have to killed in the Vietnam war. control, said Hong Kong-based housewife in Indonesia’s cul- nalled in terms of his health. for his disappearance. cut its workforce by a third, Italy, Spain and France have analyst Willy Lam. tural capital Yogyakarta. “But Korea JoongAng Daily re- “I think the report was in- while big banks are reporting been the worst affected Europe- “It’s a sign that China is back I’m hoping this will strength- ported that Kim did not at- correct,” US President Don- deep falls in quarterly profit. an countries, with each report- on its feet, and the economic en my immune system.” tend the April 15 event com- ald Trump said. In Lebanon, there were more ing more than 23,000 deaths. machinery keeps humming, Hundreds of New Yorkers memorating the 108th birth Kim is “alive and well”, Moon immediate signs of economic Nations from Russia to Nige- and a big reassurance to the were able to access walk-in anniversary of Kim Il-sung, Chung-in, a top security adviser crisis, with protesters con- ria also plan to ease lockdown people that the epidemic is virus and antibody tests for the North’s founder, after one to South Korean President Moon fronting soldiers in defiance measures, despite warnings over,” he told AFP. the first time on Tuesday, even of the younger Kim’s body- Jae-in, told CNN on Sunday. of a nationwide lockdown, from experts of a second wave Scientists are scrambling without serious symptoms or guards was suspected to have North Korean media has complaining they could no of contagion if restrictions are to develop treatments and a underlying health issues. The been infected with Covid-19. also broken its silence on its longer feed their families. lifted too hastily. vaccine, with myriad studies $300 blood test takes just two A North Korean activist said leader, publishing a letter And with warnings mount- China’s outbreak appears underway – including one hours. AFP on Twitter that it was because from Kim to South Africa’s the coronavirus had exploded leader dated April 27. in North Korea, and Kim had However, the North Korean gone into hiding to avoid be- strongman remains out of sight, ing infected. leaving speculation to continue. Amid the conflicting reports, “Kim might reappear some- Afghan peace process risks collapse there is at least one other pos- time soon, apparently in con- sibility – Kim is not ill and trol of North Korea. He might has fooled the world, which remain out of sight, potentially as violence flares amid new attacks went into a frenzy because he incapacitated, for a prolonged missed one of the most im- period of time. Or he might be TWO months after the US and worse, as Afghanistan also shelling. quences for continued attacks. portant days in North Korea’s confirmed dead or incapable of the Taliban signed a deal Wash- grapples with a coronavirus Analysts say the bloodshed The insurgents see the agree- political calendar. governing,” Duyeon Kim and ington heralded as the way to epidemic. was predictable – or inevitable ment as “an end-of-occupa- One day before the celebra- Leif-Eric Easley wrote in news end Afghanistan’s war, violence The peace “process isn’t dead – given the wording of the deal tion deal”, said Bill Roggio, a tions, Pyongyang flexed its publication Foreign Policy. is spiralling out of control and yet, but it is on life support”, and the sweeping concessions senior fellow at the Founda- military muscles and red a “The challenges and expec- experts say a fragile peace said Ashley Jackson, a research- the US granted its foe of more tion for Defence of Democra- barrage of missiles from the tations for allied responses to process risks collapse. er at the Overseas Develop- than 18 years. cies think tank. ground and fighter jets. each of these three scenarios Dozens of Afghan security ment Institute. Titled the Agreement for “The US wants out of However, to Kim’s disappoint- are not mutually exclusive . . . forces and Taliban fighters “It’s anyone’s guess how much Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, Afghanistan and it has ceded ment, the US and the rest of the Whatever the fate of the North have been dying almost daily time we have before it does the accord promises a full with- to all the Taliban demands.” world did not react or overre- Korean leader, close coop- with civilian casualties rising begin to irrevocably fall apart.” drawal of US and foreign forces Nishank Motwani, a Kabul- act, as everyone was too busy eration between the United across the country as both An Afghan official said that without the Taliban commit- based strategy and security dealing with the coronavirus States and South Korea is es- sides ramp up operations. on average, the Taliban have ting to a ceasefire or even any expert, said the Doha agreement pandemic, which has infected sential,” they said. The insurgents have been launched 55 attacks each day reduction in violence. had emboldened and legiti- more than three million people Only time can tell which emboldened by a deal that gave since the deal signing in Doha President Donald Trump has mised the Taliban, who think and killed over 210,000 globally. version of events is correct. them many concessions in on February 29, while a UN repeatedly said he wants US they have won the war so have “Kim Jong-un did not like it The rest of the world has little exchange for few commitments, agency reported that Afghan troops home quickly, and the little incentive to stop fighting. when the US ignored him. It’s choice but to wait for Kim to fuelling their surge of attacks in forces are causing more child Taliban realise that as long as “The Taliban fundamentally as if he and North Korea did reappear, or not reappear, in recent weeks, analysts say. deaths than the insurgents – they don’t hit the US or foreign believe that victory is theirs,” not exist,” a source with ties to public. THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ The timing could hardly be mainly from airstrikes and troops, there are few conse- Motwani said. AFP the Chinese leadership told The ASIA NEWS NETWORK 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Jakarta’s Covid-19 claims disputed Hospital visits in HE government has claimed that Jakarta, Indonesia’s epi- centre of Covid-19, has flat- Laos drop tened the curve of transmis- sion,T but experts say further studies LAO health authorities have flagged are necessary before coming to such public concerns about the dangers of a conclusion. Covid-19 as one reason for a general “We can explain in the latest de- decline in patient visits to Vientiane velopment that, particularly for hospitals over recent weeks. Jakarta, the new cases have rapidly While local people have been adher- slowed down and flattened,” said ing to the stay-at-home regulations to Covid-19 task force chief Doni Mon- contain the spread of the virus, many ardo after a meeting with President patients suffering headaches and Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Monday. other milder symptoms have shunned Doni, who also heads the National hospital treatment and instead sought Disaster Mitigation Agency, said the help from village pharmacies. implementation of large-scale social Setthathirath Hospital director- restrictions (PSBB) in the capital city general Dr Phayvanh Keopaseuth had contributed to that outcome. told Vientiane Times recently that “The president asked all of us to patient numbers have dropped this work even harder and encourage year when compared with the same communities to be more disciplined period of last year because of the and officials to be stricter, so we can coronavirus outbreak. start going back to normal life in “Although the number of patients July,” Doni added. has declined, we still have a dedicated Last week, Jakarta governor Anies medical team for emergency services Baswedan said the city administra- during the Covid-19 outbreak. tion had observed an “increase of “Last year, about 400 people per Covid-19 cases at a rate that is rela- day visited the hospital’s outpatient tively constant” for the past days. Jakarta’s data on burials based on Cover-19 protocol show that from April 12-14 as well as April 18-22 such burials reached 50 and department to receive advice and above daily. AFP He said there had been a “significant treatment, but this year there have decline” in the number of burials using University of Indonesia’s (UI) ensuring a wide testing scope. about 59 per cent of people in Jakar- only 300 patients,” he said. Covid-19 protocol, claiming it had sub- School of Public Health bio-statistic “Vietnam tests 2.17 per 1,000 ta had stayed at home on April 19. Meanwhile, Friendship Hospital sided from more than 50 to between 30 researcher Iwan Ariawan said with- people, while Indonesia tests 0.21 “However, modelling in Australia director Dr Sanong Thongsana said the and 40 burials per day. However, Jakar- out further information on the num- per 1,000 people. That means the shows that 80 per cent of the people facility also recorded a drop in patient ta’s data on burials based on Cover-19 ber of tests being carried out and the testing scope in Vietnam is 10 times need to stay at home to deflate the numbers as they handled 80 per cent protocol show that from April 12-14 as time gap between the collection of that of Indonesia. Vietnam’s claim of epidemic curve,” he said, referring to of road accident victims in Vientiane. well as April 18-22 – when Anies made swab samples and the announce- a decline in new cases, then, is more modelling by Sydney University pub- During the Covid-19 outbreak, traffic the statement – such burials reached ment of test results, interpreting a reliable, because it is testing more lished on preprint website arXiv. mishaps have declined significantly 50 and above daily. decline in reported Covid-19 cases people at risk,” Iqbal said. According to his team’s model- with the public staying at home. “Was it a temporary slowdown or was subject to a high risk of bias. Indonesia has only tested 62,544 ling, Iwan said that with the cur- Dr Sanong reemphasised the need a permanent trend? We will keep “For instance, with a reduced people as of Tuesday, resulting in rently imposed intervention, Ja- for everyone in society to maintain monitoring [the data]. Hopefully, number of tests being carried out, 9,511 testing positive. Data compiled karta would see its peak of cases vigilance and protect themselves this is a trend that is permanent, the number of confirmed Covid-19 by The Jakarta Post from the govern- in mid-May and if the PSBB was from the virus. All people need to fol- which means that [Covid-19 infec- cases will automatically decline as ment’s daily briefing showed that the to bear success, the capital could low the directives in Prime Minister’s tions] have been declining,” he said. well. [And that would not be] be- country tested an average of 2,300 gradually loosen up its restrictions Order No 6, including the national Central government data on the cause of a decline in cases among new people daily in the past week. starting from July. He warned of lockdown, to reduce the general risk city’s daily reported cases, mean- the population, but rather because Iwan of UI said that, based on his lifting the restrictions too early to of transmission of the coronavirus. while, show that the number has of a decline in the number of people team’s estimation, Indonesia would avoid a second wave of infections. Other actions include avoiding contact rather been fluctuating. On Monday, being tested,” he said. need to carry out PCR tests on three Another epidemiologist at UI, Tri with people suffering from acute respira- when Doni made the statement, the Iqbal Ridzi Fahdri Elyazar, the dis- million people to detect and isolate Yunis Miko, had doubts that Jakarta tory infections; frequent hand-washing, city recorded 71 new cases. It re- ease surveillance and biostatistics cases, but as massive testing was would return to normal in July, urg- especially after direct contact with ill peo- corded 133 new cases on Tuesday. researcher at the Eijkman-Oxford difficult, the PSBB could be the in- ing the authorities not to lift restric- ple or their environment; and anyone While acknowledging that the Clinical Research Unit, said any tervention the country needed to tions before there were zero new with symptoms should practice cough PSBB might be helping to slow down good news on a decline in new cases suppress infections. cases reported. etiquette – maintain distance, cover transmission, experts have warned in Jakarta had to be supported by Iwan said his team had tried to eval- However, he said he believed that coughs, and sneezes with disposable tis- against taking data on new con- accurate data, which would largely uate the efficacy of Jakarta’s PSBB by Doni’s statement could instil hope sues or clothing, and wash hands. firmed cases at face value, mainly rely on the country’s testing capac- using Google’s data, which showed among the people and rally support Enhanced standard infection preven- because the country’s lack of poly- ity to reveal new cases in a timely that the proportion of people stay- for everyone to work together in tion and control practices have also merase chain reaction (PCR) testing manner. He said a systematic epi- ing at home had indeed seen a spike curbing transmission, including by been put in place at hospitals, espe- capacity might lead to low and late demiology study that met scientific compared to January and February. following the PSBB rules. THE JAKARTA cially in emergencies, during the pan- reporting of new cases. standards was needed, aside from He said that, according to the data, POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK demic. VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Vietnam to pledge no forced labour VIETNAM plans to join the The NA Standing Committee Convention 105 (C105) on the agreed on the necessity to join abolition of forced labour the convention and highly developed by the International appreciate the dossier of acces- Labour Organisation (ILO), the sion which is set to be approved National Assembly (NA) Stand- at the ninth plenary session of ing Committee concluded at its NA next month. 44th session on Tuesday. Hoang Thanh Tung, chairman Minister of Labour, Invalids of the NA Legal Affairs Commit- and Social Affairs and NA tee, stressed the significance of member Dao Ngoc Dung said joining the convention as a Vietnam’s participation in the positive move after becoming a convention was in accordance member of ILO’s C29 on forced with the Communist Party of labour and other new-genera- Vietnam’s guidelines and the tion trade agreements. 2013 Constitution to ensure NA permanent chairwoman human and civil rights. Tong Thi Phong said the NA In addition, it shows Viet- Vietnam plans to join the Convention 105 (C105) on the abolition of Standing Committee agreed to nam’s political commitments forced labour developed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). apply the convention directly, AFP in implementing ILO member without reservation of terms states’ obligations and new- Labour in 2007 and C105’s mittee chairman Nguyen Van as well as develop the ratifica- generation free trade agree- standards have been incorpo- Giau said to effectively adopt tion of the convention in three ments, he said. rated into the commitments the C105, the government will languages – Vietnamese, Eng- He said the country’s partici- under the EU-Vietnam Free have to issue regulations detail- lish and French. pation in and implementation Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and ing the behavioural forms of The convention No 105 adopt- of C105 will not increase social Comprehensive and Progres- forced labour to create a trans- ed by ILO in 1957 has 10 articles. expenses, and will not change sive Agreement for Trans-Pacif- parent legal corridor for law The content of the Convention Vietnam’s international obliga- ic Partnership (CPTPP) with enforcement agencies, workers focuses on Article 1 and Article tions as it joined the ILO Con- Vietnam as a member. and businesses to quickly iden- 2; Articles 3 to 10 are procedural vention No 29 on Forced NA External Relations Com- tify the issue. rules. VIET NAM NEWS/ANN THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Japan must make applicationwww.phnompenhpost.com process www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng more user-friendly to aid businessesLy Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman improving the handling at Opinion Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer reception counters and the Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Editorial screening procedure are Deputy Chief of Staff Sam Rith urgently needed. Deputy Chief of Staff Phak Seangly HE spread of corona- For small and midsize busi- Business Editor Phak Seangly virus infections in nesses and the like, there is May Kunmakara Business Editor Japan is increasingly also a cash subsidy of up to Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara having an adverse two million yen ($18,780). It is Sangeetha Amarthalingam effectT on employment that Deputy Business Editor hoped that business operators Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath supports people’s livelihoods. will make use of such funds to Pan Simala The government should do Deputy Head of Lifestyleovercome Desk the difficulties. Senior Reporters its best to ensure that the Pan Simala As the government has Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng benefits of support measures Senior Reporters intermittently implemented Reporters are quickly and widely dis- Meas Sokchea, Niem Chhengsupport measures, various Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long tributed to those in need. Reporters programmes exist in parallel, Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth Tourism-related compa- Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kimmaking Sarom, Longthe situation compli- Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung nies, such as hotels, inns and Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hincated. Pisei, Soth The government needs Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan bus operators, have been hit to work out ways to fully Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers particularly hard. Restaurants inform the public. Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea and events-related business- Efforts by the private sector Web Editor Ry Sochan es are also in severe business are also essential. Leang Phannara Photographers situations amid self-restraint In the auto industry, which Webmasters on going out and other social Heng Chivoan, Hong Meneaemploys 5.5 million people, Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea distancing measures. There Web Editor including subcontractors, a SIEM REAP BUREAU was also a taxi company that Leang Phannara fund financed mainly by Offi ce Manager notified about 600 drivers A man wearing a face mask walks past a closed restaurant in Tokyo on Tuesday. RestaurantsWebmasters and major automakers will be set Sophearith Blondeel afp and other employees of their events-related businesses are also in dire situations amid social distancing measures. Sous Chanthy, Pang Vicheaup to support small and mid- PRODUCTION & PRINTING dismissals. SIEM REAP BUREAU size auto parts manufactur- Head of Desktop Publishing In the restaurant industry Companies allocate subsidies applications has been slug- going bankruptOffi as ce a Manager result of ers. This idea could serve as a Nhim Sokphyrak and the like, many business- to compensate the employees gish. The biggest factor is the the ongoing pandemicSophearith isBlondeel on useful reference for other Desktop Publishing es operators are midsize, they asked to take leave. The programme’s poor usability. the rise. industries. Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING small or very small enterpris- government has expanded The Health, Labor and Wel- Many small and midsize Some industries are short Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing es as well as sole proprietors, the scope of companies eligi- fare Ministry will drastically companies have only a few of workers, such as the distri- Nhim Sokphyrak with a high proportion of ble for the subsidies pro- reduce the number of items months’ worth of cash on bution sector having to han- HEAD OFFICE non-regular workers. Meas- gramme while also raising to be filled out in application hand. In particular,Desktop business- Publishing dle the expansion of online ures to aid them must be tak- the proportion of the amount forms and shorten the time es such as eateries,Suon Savatdy, hotels Chum Sokunthy,shopping Danh Borath due to self-restraint en urgently so that their busi- covered by subsidies as part required for payment from and retailers tendTep Thoeunto have Thyda, lit- Tim Borith,on Than going Veasna out. Temporary nesses and daily life do not of the measures to tackle the about two months to one tle cash on hand. staffing across industries can Post Media Co, Ltd. run into a dead end. coronavirus situation. month. Even so, it is more As a countermeasure, HEAD OFFICE the be another option. The Elements Condominium Level 7, The use of employment However, this programme time-consuming when com- government has established Each company should be Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, adjustment subsidies for has not been fully utilised. pared to Germany, where a system to extend loans with aware of their social respon- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom companies to let their About 200,000 consultations only two documents are effectively zero interest with- sibility to protect the lives of Penh, Cambodia employees take leave instead have taken place since mid- needed to apply for similar out collateral, butPost loans Media Co, have Ltd. their employees and make Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 of terminating their contracts February at relevant recep- subsidies. Further improve- not been executedThe Elements as expect- Condominiumefforts Level to 7, maintain employ- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 will serve as a significant tion counters nationwide, ment is required from Japan. ed due to a floodHun of Sen applica- Boulevard, Phumment. Prek Talong, THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ SIEM REAP option to prevent layoffs. but the number of actual The number of companies tions. StrengtheningSangkat and Chak Angre Krom,ASIA Phnom NEWS Penh, NETWORK No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune Cambodia Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 SIEM REAP COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 James Ong Soon Teck US failing in bid to strangle COMMERCIAL Huawei DEPARTMENT Advertising Department THAT the UK is standing by its deci- sure on in a bid to get them to let it The US Federal CommunicationsChief Operatingsome Offi cer US politicians are with the Chap Narith, 017 996 241 sion to allow Huawei’s participation in decide what companies they can do Commission’s order for 60 or moreJames tel -Ong Soonnotion Teck of a threat from China. Hun Channet, 017 578 768 Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 the building of its 5G network shows business with. Washington has been ecom operators to remove compoAdvertising- DepartmentThis obsession has robbed them of Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 the value it puts on its partnership tightening the screws on many coun- nents provided by Huawei has placedChap Narith, reason017 996 241 to such an extent that they Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 with China, as it is remaining firm in tries, its allies in particular. these operators in a very awkwardHun Channet,can 017 578 hardly 768 make any rational judg- Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 doing business with the Chinese tele- But all governments know the US has position and some of them may goPrach Monnyreak,ment 012 about 123 7777 what is business and CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION communications company despite not provided any evidence to back up bankrupt because of the huge amounts CIRCULATION what & DISTRIBUTION is politics, and what they can do Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager the US ratcheting up the pressure in a its claims that Huawei represents a of money they will have to pay to within their own discretion and what Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy bid to coerce it to do otherwise. threat to national security, and they also replace the equipment of Huawei. they cannot do. Circulation Supervisor On Tuesday, when asked about the pretty well know what the US is up to. The claim that these networks with ADMINISTRATION What they have forgotten is the fact Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 likelihood of the UK having a change Senior US government officials Huawei equipment pose a threatAdmin to the & HR Managerthat this globalised world is much Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 of heart, Simon McDonald, head of have traipsed around the world try- security of military installations nearbyPich Socheat more pluralistic and multi-polarised ADMINISTRATION the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign ing to peddle the supposed risks the has been made without a shred ofAssistants evi- tothan Admin it& HRused Manager to be, and the US is not in Admin & HR Manager and Commonwealth Office, said the Chinese telecom company poses, dence presented to back it up. Nhel Soapheathe position to call the shots on eve- Pich Socheat decision “is not being reopened”. despite countries already using Hua- Purging Huawei at the cost of the rything anymore, especially things Financial Director Assistants to Admin & HR Manager The UK is not the only country that wei’s equipment and technologies in networks serving the vast rural areas that concern the interests of other Heang Tangmeng Nhel Soaphea Washington has been putting pres- their 4G networks. of the US only reveals how obsessed countries. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS 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 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Jiangsu expats shed weight, raise funds for China street dogs CHARITY fundraiser sees ani- take part and must send in mal lovers working up a sweat their current weight once a to raise money for the forsaken week. They can also compete pups of Suzhou and Wuxi. in regular exercise challenges, While minds have under- with a host of prizes on offer. standably been focused on the Canadian expat Heather recent Covid-19 outbreak, a Bijloos, 44, has lived in Wuxi for kind-hearted bunch of expats the past eight years and is help- in Jiangsu province hasn’t for- ing to run this year’s event. gotten the plight of China’s “I first got into this after res- many homeless dogs. cuing several homeless dogs The group are running a 60-day from the streets,” she says. “If charity weight loss fundraiser for they were injured or sick, I animals living in two shelters-the would get them healthy again Suzhou Animal Protection Asso- before trying to re-home them, ciation and Wuxi’s Second although some of them became Chance Animal Rescue Society permanent family members.” (SCARS), with the challenge Later, she was approached by having started on April 20. someone who asked if she It’s the second year in a row could help run SCARS. that the fundraiser has been “The first time I visited the held, with the organisers hop- shelter, I ended up adopting a Mr Burma Sein Maung, has been pumping iron for more than 70 years and has no plans to slow down. afp ing to raise enough cash to con- dog straight away,” Bijloos says. tinue the shelters’ vital work. The mother-of-two has been Last year, the group raised involved rescue work ever over 45,000 yuan ($6,400) since, becoming one of a through a weight loss challenge handful of “go-to” locals who Myanmar bodybuilder still and sponsored dog walk. regularly get contacted to help Participants in this year’s rescue and shelter animals. going strong at the age of 91 event have to pay 100 yuan to china daily/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

LEXING his oiled, hearty longevity down to a dis- saw as a young soldier in 1950 his fitness centre’s dwindling bulging biceps and ciplined lifestyle based around proved to be an epiphany, popularity. pecs, 91-year-old religion, diet and exercise. and there has been no look- “I get so angry and tell peo- one-time bodybuild- Buddhist prayers begin each ing back. ple to get out if they don’t take ingF champion Sein Maung workout before he greases up With his career skyrocketing bodybuilding seriously. I can’t admires himself in the mirror and starts gruelling sets of in the 1960s, he even starred control my temper.” before starting to pump iron chest presses, deadlifts and in two movies and became Like most in the city, the in his Myanmar gym. bicep curls. bodybuilding coach for Miss gym currently lies shuttered The barrel-chested nonage- Myanmar has a robust body- Burma beauty pageant con- due to coronavirus fears. narian’s career has spanned building culture, and competi- testants. Yet Sein Maung says he is some 70 years, both pre-dating tions held at malls often draw Meanwhile in 1962 – the continuing with his prayers, and outlasting the country’s enthusiastic crowds to cheer same year the military took protein-based diet and strict half-century of junta rule. on sculpted men in speedos over in a coup – he set up a fitness regime at home to But he describes the late – an incongruous sight in the gym in commercial hub Yan- keep his immune system as 1950s as his heyday, when he socially conservative country. gon that still runs today. strong as possible. bagged a medal at the 1958 Before he even knew it was Once there used to be around He shrugs off concerns Burmese ‘Mr Olympic’ con- a bona fide sport, Sein Maung 200 members, he says some- about the virus. test before being crowned says as a teenager he would what wistfully, but now only a “I know it’s mostly elderly ‘Mr Burma’ a year later. hulk heavy blocks of wood handful remain, mostly wom- people who are dying. But I’m “All of my brothers died in around his small village in ru- en also in their later years. not worried just because I’m their 70s, but I’m still here,” he ral Ayeyarwaddy region. He admits his fiery temper- in my 90s. I’m not afraid to Canadian expat Heather Bijloos with two dogs at the SCARS shelter in tells AFP proudly, putting his A bodybuilding show he ament might be to blame for die.” afp Wuxi, Jiangsu province. china daily Japan’s chimney sweeps keeping the public baths hot

DESPITE the still-chilly spring wind, This required getting into dark, coal- “The after-heat from burning wood there was work to be done. Supporting black chimneys and brushing the lasts for a long time, so the water themselves with a single lifeline, the men soot off with a bamboo broom. doesn’t cool down easily,” Ichikawa deftly climbed up the chimney to do a Nowadays, almost soot-free gas said. “That’s why the water feels so job that has become rare these days. boilers are the mainstream, and Sai- soft and mild on your skin.” Some children stood by with a cam- to goes out to clean about five chim- A total of 500kg of wood is needed to era to capture what to them must be neys a year. boil water that is pumped up from 100m a unique scene, but which used to be “No one else are doing this now, so below ground. Ichikawa starts boiling a rather common sight everywhere. I take pride in my job and will climb from 10am and adjusts the temperature The men going aloft are called up as long as my physical strength every couple of hours. It’s a tough job to entotsu-ya – chimney sweeps. And lasts,” Saito said. literally face the flames in a room more they do everything from cleaning to In the early morning of April 15, than 40C. His cheeks turn red from the reinforcing chimneys, as well as Saito climbed up a chimney to wrap heat. building and dismantling them. a steel band around the top to rein- “Many of my customers are elderly Yoshio Saito of Saito Entotsu Seibi force it against typhoons. The chim- people. They come all the way here, in Sumida ward, Tokyo, has been in ney belongs to the long-established so I have to make good, hot water,” this business for 62 years. Since being sento Nozaki Yokujo in Arakawa ward, Ichikawa said. apprenticed to his father at the age Tokyo, which has been in operation There used to be more than 2,600 of 17, Saito has been climbing up since 1954. The bathhouse’s third- sento in Tokyo at its peak, but now there chimneys almost every day. generation owner, Shunichi Ichikawa are only about 520. Amid the spread of Back then, many sento public bath- asked Saito, whom he has known for Covid-19, the combination of these pro- houses used to burn firewood to boil decades, to shore up the chimney. fessions is supporting the health and Elderly Japanese enjoy the heated water of a public bath thanks to the country’s water, and Saito and his colleagues Nozaki Yokujo is one of the few bath- comfort of people without baths in their almost extinct chimney sweeps. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN) would clean five or six places a day. houses that still uses firewood. houses. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ANN THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

Children play in Karmawlawyi village in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, near the border with India. Tonyei Phawng, king of the Konyak tribe, inside his home in Longwa village in afp Myanmar’s Sagaing region. afp Naga tribes left behind but dream of unity HE king of the Konyak tribe united homeland by force. man Shu Maung says, they will work sleeps in Myanmar, but eats The rebels splintered in the late 80s within the system to bring change. in India – his house, village into two main groups, one fighting for “You cannot live in your uncle’s and people divided by a the Naga cause each side of the border. house forever.” mountainT border which serves as a Civilians must pay taxes to help fi- The battle for the ballot box has vulnerable lifeline now severed by a nance the groups and many families already started. coronavirus lockdown. “sacrifice” a son to the resistance, Regional MP for the National The Konyak are just one of dozens says Myanmar Naga activist Jacob League of Democracy Kail, who of Naga tribes, a people yearning to Ngansa. goes by one name, is Naga but says reunite the 3 million living in India But Delhi’s relative investment his immediate priorities are educa- with their 400,000 estranged – and is chiselling away support over the tion, healthcare and food. much poorer – cousins in Myan- border, the 23-year-old admits with “Once we have those, then maybe mar’s isolated far north. sadness. the younger generations can take up Many from Myanmar cross the “They are brainwashed by the In- the fight again for the dream.” border to attend school, sell vegeta- dian government.” But analyst Bertil Lintner believes bles or visit a hospital, as it is a days- With India-Myanmar relations the best the Myanmar Naga can long journeys by foot to the nearest blossoming, these are ominous hope for is more autonomy within town in Myanmar. times for Naga nationalists. the country. Even in normal times, they live at The Southeast Asian nation is A united Nagaland is “never go- the mercy of Indian soldiers guarding A general view of Longwa village. Naga civilians living in Myanmar must pay taxes to hungry for new allies after being ing to happen”, he says, not least checkpoints against the threat of guer- finance rebel groups and many families ‘sacrifice’ a son to the resistance. afp snubbed by the West over the Roh- because the tribes are so divided rilla groups fighting for reunification. ingya crisis, while India is keen to among themselves. Tonyei Phawng claims to be the Days later, the border was shuttered, cleaving the Konyak tribe of 44 villages counter China’s regional influence At a viewpoint overlooking Longwa 12th generation of his family to rule not at the whim of Indian soldiers, but in two — alongside several other tribes. over its smaller neighbour. village, smartly-dressed Rongsen Ao the Konyak, whose feared tattooed due to the threat of Covid-19. The Naga on both sides enjoy The allies recently held joint-military was one of the last tourists to make warriors once brought home their While the Indian government was some degree of autonomy, but there exercises and Myanmar’s president in it to the border before it closed. enemies’ heads as trophies. providing some emergency rations, is a huge disparity of development. February signed numerous deals on Excitedly hopping from one side of His son, the crown prince, will one nothing had arrived from Myan- Indian roads lead right up to the his visit to the subcontinent — also a demarcation post to the other, the day take over in a lineage many be- mar authorities, Longwa-based tour frontier, bringing business and even re-affirming a pact to prevent rebels 65-year-old Indian Naga doctor said lieve possess supernatural powers. guide Nahmai Konyak, 34, said by some hardy tourists. mounting cross-border attacks. he had fulfilled a childhood dream Dressed in civilian tracksuit and phone. Over the border, off-grid villages Other Naga unionists choose poli- by seeing the frontier in person. trainers in his village of Longwa, the Those living hand-to-mouth in with few schools or amenities dot tics over force. But his smile faded when asked 43-year-old king described to AFP in Myanmar are finding it very diffi- thickly-forested slopes, connected The newly-formed Naga National about the Naga’s quest for a home- February how his Myanmar broth- cult, he said. by muddy paths in one of Myan- Party (NNP) aims to woo the Naga land. ers were often stopped at the border “We just can’t help them.” mar’s poorest regions. vote in Myanmar’s elections due “Everyone feels bitter about be- and detained. Retreating British colonialists left Thousands of Naga have taken up later this year. ing divided . . . but this is beyond our “Their rights are denied.” behind the frontier after World War II, arms over decades to try to win a Once they are in power, chair- control.” afp French language a victim of Covid-19 crisis in Canada

FRENCH has become a collat- a question of our Canadian French-language health eral victim of the coronavirus identity, it’s also a question of announcements in New Bruns- pandemic in Canada, forcing safety for consumers.” wick and Ontario provinces, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau The move has outraged rep- which have large French- on Tuesday to defend failures resentatives of Canada’s fran- speaking communities. to uphold laws requiring labels cophone minority, who called French speakers, he said, must and services in both official it “dangerous” and “disrespect- be able to understand messages languages. ful” to those who fought hard sent by government institutions, Commenting on his govern- over the centuries to preserve especially during the current ment’s decision to allow their mother tongue. pandemic which has killed imported disinfectants According to the latest cen- around 3,000 Canadians. labelled only in English to be sus, almost one quarter of Trudeau said not all compa- sold in this officially bilingual Canada’s 37 million people nies that have converted man- country, Trudeau pointed to speak French on a daily basis. ufacturing to make medical “the extreme situation in “Nothing justifies the lack of equipment or hand sanitisers, which we find ourselves”. respect for our two official lan- for example, have either bilin- “In certain situations, we are guages. It is a health and safe- gual staff or the capabilities “to ready to allow unilingual sig- ty issue,” said Senator Rene make that happen”. nage and labelling,” he said. Cormier. Similarly, Canada has had to “But we would certainly pre- Canada’s language commis- turn to new sources of imports fer that this not happen because sioner Raymond Theberge has for key supplies, which may not Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he would prefer bilingual labelling of imported medical supplies, our linguistic duality is not just also lamented a lack of public conform to labelling rules. afp but admits it’s not always possible. Some in Canada’s francophone community have taken offence. afp 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Pentagon releases Thinking caps ‘UFO’ Navy videos HE Pentagon has of- ficially released three videos taken by US Navy pilots showing mid-airT encounters with what appear to be UFOs. The grainy black and white footage had previously been leaked and the Navy had ac- knowledged they were Navy videos. The Department of Defense said Monday it was “releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulat- ing was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos.” “The aerial phenomena ob- Part of an unclassified video taken by Navy pilots showing interactions with ‘unidentified aerial phenomena’. dod/afp served in the videos remain characterised as ‘unidentified’,” a group co-founded by Blink- Harry Reid, whose state hosts the Pentagon statement said. 182 guitarist Tom DeLonge. the top secret Area 51 Air One of videos was shot in After a thorough review, the Force facility, welcomed re- November 2004 and the other Pentagon said it determined lease of the videos. two in January 2015. that “the authorised release “I’m glad the Pentagon is In one, the weapons sensor of these unclassified videos finally releasing this footage, operator appears to lose lock does not reveal any sensitive but it only scratches the sur- on a rapidly moving oblong capabilities or systems, and face of research and materials object which seconds later does not impinge on any sub- available,” he tweeted. suddenly accelerates away to sequent investigations of mili- “The US needs to take a seri- the left and out of view. tary air space incursions by un- ous, scientific look at this and In another video tracking an identified aerial phenomena”. any potential national secu- object above the clouds, one Retired US Navy pilot David rity implications. The American pilot wonders if it is a drone. Fravor who saw one of the people deserve to be informed.” “There’s a whole fleet of them. “UFOs” in 2004 told CNN the In December 2017, the Pen- “ABSOLUTELY!” Look on the ASA,” the other says. object moved erratically. tagon acknowledged funding “My gosh, they’re all going “As I got close to it . . . it rapidly a secret multi-million dollar ACROSS 52 Poker holding, perhaps 25 Not great, not horrible against the wind! The wind’s 120 accelerated to the south, and program to investigate sight- 1 Word attached to “one” or “your” 54 Absolutely positive 26 Affirm with confidence knots out of the west!” he said. disappeared in less than two sec- ings of UFOs, although it said 5 Bill of cowboy legend 61 Cutting-edge product? 27 Swimming pool division “Look at that thing,” the first onds,” Fravor told CNN in 2017. it had ended in 2012. 10 Russian legislature 62 Strip of gear 28 $100 bill, in slang says as the object starts rotating. “This was extremely abrupt, The three video clips – 14 What air fresheners fight 63 Caffeine source, perhaps 29 Bark like a dog The videos had previously like a ping pong ball, bounc- “FLIR,” “GOFAST” and “GIM- 15 Visibly stunned 64 Hebrides dialect 30 “Desperate Housewives” role been released by the New York ing off a wall. It would hit and BAL” are available to down- 16 Deputy on “The Dukes of 65 Child of Japanese immigrants 33 Some tennis shots Times and the To The Stars go the other way.” load on the Naval Air Systems Hazzard” 66 Organic necklaces 34 Without ___ (pro bono) Academy of Arts and Science, Former Nevada senator Command website. afp 17 Big cheese in Greece 67 “... ___ the twain shall meet” 36 He’s incredible 18 Protruding window 68 Tunes up for a bout 37 New York canal 19 ___-free (without punishment) 69 Spot in the distance 38 Lo ___ (noodle dish) 20 Pen or pound DOWN 40 Bad speller? 23 Revise 1 Living room staple 41 Shenanigan 24 Discourage 2 Garden with a snake 46 Airport posting (Abbr.) Corona, Lockdown, Covid: 25 Taco side 3 French sailor and writer Pierre 48 Prophet at Delphi 28 Prefix with “space” 4 Portrait holders 49 Steel city of Germany 31 Reproductive cells 5 1777 Pennsylvania battle site 50 Filthy ___ (illicit gain) 32 Starsky to Soul’s Hutch 6 Florida bird 51 Remove from the DVR The virus babies are born 35 The other team 7 The first bad brother 52 Overly inquisitive one 39 What a nice massage might 8 “Black gold” gp. 53 Athena’s shield FIRST there was Corona Ku- provide 9 Peddle 55 Phoenix roundballers mar, then Covid Marie – par- 42 Black and white snack 10 Menu heading 56 Use shears ents have taken to naming 43 Show willingness to listen 11 At the original length 57 __ Major (constellation) newborns after the coronavi- 44 Weeks in a Roman year? 12 Julianne or Demi 58 Negative words rus, apparently unperturbed 45 Button on some outlets 13 Late bloomer 59 Radar echo by the prospect of their chil- 47 Coin at an arcade 21 “Haste makes waste”, e.g. 60 “Don’t overdo it!” dren being forever associated 49 Put in office 22 “To Autumn” or “To Spring” with a deadly pandemic. When Colline Tabesa gave Wednesday’s solution birth to a healthy baby girl in the central Philippine city of Bacolod on April 13, she and the father John Tupas decided to mark the occasion with a show of gratitude. “This Covid-19 has caused great suffering around the world,” said 23-year-old Tu- pas, expressing relief after the uneventful delivery. “I wanted her name to re- mind us that Covid did not only bring us suffering. De- spite all of this, a blessing Colline Tabesa (left) holding her baby Covid Marie as she poses for a photo with her partner John Tupas (right). courtesy of Jona baron/afp Wednesday’s solution came to us,” he added. And so, Covid Marie it was. the doctor. dia reports quoted the father Weeks earlier, two moth- “To my surprise, they agreed.” Sanjay Bauri as saying. ers in southeastern India had Not to be outdone, a mi- Tupas, the father of baby had similar ideas, apparently grant-worker couple in In- Covid Marie, said that while encouraged by a doctor in the dia’s northeast stranded he had fielded criticism on hospital where their babies thousands of kilometres from social media for his unortho- were delivered. their home in the desert state dox choice, he would not be One was called Corona Kumar of Rajasthan decided to name swayed. and the other Corona Kumari. their child Lockdown. “She might experience bully- “I told them this would help “We named him Lockdown ing, but I’ll just teach my daugh- create awareness about the remembering all the prob- ter to be a good person,” he said. disease and remove the stig- lems we had to face during “We didn’t have second ma around it,” said SF Basha, this tough time,” local me- thoughts.” afp THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Fringe MLB players given second crack in South Korea EARS after giving up fore being scouted by his Seoul- on their dreams of based team and has spent Major League star- three seasons as their starting dom, the coronavi- pitcher, racking up 34 wins and rusY pandemic is offering jour- becoming their biggest foreign neymen US baseball players star – his 2020 contract is worth in South Korea a moment in nearly a million dollars. the spotlight. He never really had an op- Korea Baseball Organization portunity to “stick year after (KBO) clubs have more than year” in a big league, he said, 20 Americans on their books but the KBO had proved a who were only ever marginal “great” opportunity. Kiwoom Heroes infielder Taylor Motter played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins before deciding to move to South MLB players, or never made it With US coronavirus cases Korea to play professional baseball. afp to the big time at all. approaching one million and But soon they will be among the entire MLB season under only a few professional ath- threat, former teammates letes in competitive action were “jealous” of his chance anywhere in the world, with to play, he added. almost all sporting leagues on “The thought of having no hold in the face of the virus. baseball season back home is South Korea once had the hard to even comprehend . . . largest outbreak outside Chi- but that’s the situation we are na, where the disease first in right now.” emerged, but appears to have brought it under control with Spitting mad an extensive “trace, test and The KBO is made up of 10 treat” programme. professional clubs, all of them And the delayed baseball named for the conglomerates season – the country’s most that own them rather than popular spectator sport, after their home cities. being brought to the penin- The Heroes are an excep- sula by US missionaries – will tion, founded by business- start next Tuesday, albeit be- man Lee Chang-suk – who hind closed doors. was jailed for embezzlement In a world where sports in 2018 but remains the larg- fans are starved of live action, est shareholder – and chang- sports channel ESPN is in ne- ing their name according to gotiations for broadcasting their main sponsor. rights. South Korean baseball is re- That could give players like nowned for the passion of its the Kiwoom Heroes’ pitcher fans, who sing and cheer re- Jake Brigham a chance to lentlessly no matter the score shine. “from the first pitch to the last “I’m 32 years old,” he told pitch”, as Brigham put it. Heroes’ starting pitcher Jake Brigham has become the team’s biggest foreign star. His 2020 contract is worth nearly one million dollars. afp AFP. “I definitely have more Empty stadiums will be a baseball behind me than in marked contrast, he adds. “To having to wake up in the mid- covered while on the field or Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners and as well as South Korea. front of me but to get that ex- not have them [fans] here is dle of the night to watch. in the dugout, they are banned Minnesota Twins in a three- “I am not saying I was a posure would be nice.” really really gonna hurt every- Other restrictions have been from spitting – a rule that out- year MLB career from 2016, star over there by any means After a decade in the minors, day games.” imposed by the KBO – players raged Heroes infielder Taylor hitting 10 home runs with a cause I wasn’t,” he said of his Brigham was finally called up In Taiwan professional must have their temperature Motter. batting average of 0.191. time in the MLB. by the Atlanta Braves in 2015, baseball restarted earlier this checked twice before the “Asking us not to spit on Never quite good enough “I was a bench player who but pitched only 16.2 innings, month with cardboard cut- games, and umpires are re- the field is [like] asking us not to secure regular starts, his came off the bench to play. I with an abysmal earned run outs of spectators filling the quired to wear facemasks. to chew our food before we search for action has taken came here to kind of get back average of 8.64. stands, but livestreams have And while the players are al- swallow,” he said. him to Venezuela, Mexico to be that player that I thought He sought refuge in Japan be- drawn US fans despite them lowed to have their faces un- Motter played for the Tampa and the Dominican Republic I could have been.” afp French football mourns its revivalist: Robert Herbin

FRENCH football is mourning European run of Herbin’s Bernard Caiazzo paid tribute Robert Herbin, the inspira- Saint-Etienne side caught the to Herbin, saying: “We will tional coach of the flamboyant nation’s attention. always remember a great Saint-Etienne team that was The green-shirted team from international player but also narrowly defeated in the 1976 central France that featured an exceptional coach who European Cup final. future France and Tottenham brought the pride back to Herbin died on Monday Hotspur manager Jacques French football at a time when aged 81 after being taken to Santini, midfielder creator we were at a low.” hospital last week with heart Jean-Michel Larque and the “He showed us that ‘impos- and lung problems unrelated talented Dominique Roche- sible’ doesn’t exist in football,” to coronavirus. teau as a substitute were beat- St Etienne chairman Roland He played more than 400 en 1-0 by Bayern Munich at Romeyer said. matches for Saint-Etienne and Hampden Park in Glasgow. “That is how St Etienne beat later brought a cerebral Herbin recalled that he was the biggest clubs in Europe in approach to coaching, earning convinced everything conspired the 1970s. His greatest achieve- the nickname the ‘The Sphinx’ against his team that night. ment was to get a whole city as he dragged French football “It left a deep impression on and country behind the team. back into the international me. I have never got over it. I still He had unbelievable charisma spotlight. think about it today. I think the and power.” France’s national team good Lord wasn’t with us, nei- Herbin coached St Etienne slumped in the early 1970s, ther were the goalposts or the for 14 seasons in all, from 1972 Robert Herbin (front centre) poses with his Saint-Etienne team in 1976. Herbin thrust French football back into failing to reach the 1970 and crossbar,” he told AFP in 2015. to 1983 and then again from the spotlight after a long slump, coming within one goal of winning the 1976 European Cup Final. stf/afp 1974 World Cup finals, so the St Etienne board member 1987 to 1990. afp 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 30, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport NRL restart in jeopardy from players’ antics TATE authorities from A$10,000 to A$50,000 warned Australia’s Na- (US$6,500 to US$33,000), with tional Rugby League 60 per cent suspended, and (NRL) on Wednesday will be sidelined for at least thatS next month’s restarted one match if they reoffend. season could end immediate- Police have also fined ly if players continue to flout Mitchell and Addo-Carr coronavirus lockdown rules. A$1,000 each and charged the The NRL late on Tuesday pair with firearms offences announced fresh details of linked to the weekend trip. the ambitious programme The NRL season was sus- to resume competition from pended on March 24 after just May 28, but they were over- two rounds amid a govern- shadowed by the news of four ment shutdown of all non- players being fined for lock- essential gatherings in a bid down breaches. to stem the spread of corona- With players hoping to be- virus. gin training on Monday, New Under plans thrashed out South Wales Deputy Premier by the NRL and its broadcast John Barilaro said the NRL partners this week, the season was on notice. will be cut from 25 rounds to “This is the warning shot,” 20 – including the two already Barilaro told Sydney’s Daily played – with a four-week Telegraph. “When the game playoff series ending in a gets going again, no player Grand Final on October 25. can breach the rules. The three-match State of “Once the NRL competition Origin series between NSW is up and running, players and Queensland, normally Rohrwasser (centre) says he was unaware of the connotation behind his tattoo and will have it removed. Getty images/AFP must understand their actions played mid-season, will shift could have broader ramifica- to November for the first time. tions for the entire game.” Reports said all matches Patriots new kicker Rohrwasser in hot Barilaro has been an out- would be played in Sydney, spoken supporter of restart- although discussions were ing the season but expressed underway with state govern- water over tattoo deemed to be far right frustration at the actions of ments to let the three Queen- South Sydney’s Latrell Mitch- sland-based clubs and Mel- NEWLY recruited New England ment” organisation by civil American sentiment, a patri- soon as I saw what it was linked ell, Melbourne’s Josh Addo- bourne Storm train at home. Patriots kicker Justin Rohrwass- rights watchdogs. otic sentiment.’ Coming from to, at exactly that time I knew I Carr, Newcastle’s Tyronne Australian border authori- er has vowed to remove a tattoo In an interview with CBS Boston a military family, I thought that had to get it totally taken off my Roberts-Davis and Nathan ties said the NRL had applied which represents a far-right broadcast late on Monday, Rohr- really spoke to me.” body. I said cover it up but I Cleary of Penrith. for an exemption to allow the anti-government paramilitary wasser said he was not fully aware However Rohrwasser said he want to get it removed from my “People are working tire- Auckland-based New Zealand group, reports said on Tuesday. of the connotations of the tattoo soon discovered more about body. It’s shameful that I had it lessly to get rugby league go- Warriors to enter Australia but The 23-year-old was chosen which he got when he was 18. the “Three Percenters” on Sat- on there ignorantly. ing again and these players no decision had been made. by the Patriots in the fifth round He had initially believed the urday as he celebrated his “I’m sorry for all my family that jeopardise that,” he said. If the application is ap- of the NFL draft on Saturday symbol was linked to American selection by the Patriots. have to defend me. Putting them Mitchell, Addo-Carr and proved, the Warriors plan to and rapidly found himself colonists who fought the Brit- A post on Twitter pointed out in that compromising position Roberts-Davis went on a be based in rural Tamworth, embroiled in controversy over ish in the American War of the group’s involvement in a is one of the biggest regrets I’ll camping trip over the week- although it is understood a tattoo on his left forearm. Independence. white supremacist rally which ever have. To them I’m sorry, and end, while Cleary was pho- they are still waiting to find The tattoo represents the “It was described to me as the took place in Charlottesville, I’m going to learn from this. I’m tographed breaching social out what extra remuneration “Three Percenters” movement, percentage of colonists that Virginia, in 2017. going to take ownership of it . . . distancing rules in a room full they would receive for spend- a right-wing group which advo- rose up against the government “The first time I found out No matter what, that’s not who I of women. ing up to six months away cates for gun ownership and is of the British,” he added. “I was what it was linked to was Sat- am and hopefully you all will find All received fines ranging from their families. afp classified as an “anti-govern- like: ‘Wow, that is such an urday,” Rohrwasser said. “As that out.” afp NBA players set to resume workouts May 8

THE NBA informed clubs on Monday to allow for safe and controlled envi- clubs by the opening date. hibited from using non-team facil- that it plans to allow individual work- ronments for players to train in Another concern for the league is ities such as public health clubs, outs by players at team facilities no states that allow them to do so, and the potential fitness advantage fitness centres, or gyms. sooner than May 8 in areas where to create a process for identifying some teams could gain over others The NBA regular season was halt- allowed by government regulations. safe training options for players based upon the ability to conduct ed with more than a month remain- The league shut down its 2019- located in other states,” the league workouts in team facilities. ing in the campaign. The NBA play- 2020 season on March 12 after said in a statement. The NBA said it will work with offs, which last two months, were to Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive While advising that May 8 was the teams to “identify alternatives” for have opened on April 18. for the coronavirus and this marks target date for allowing players into any team that is prohibited from NBA commissioner Adam Silver the first small step toward resuming team facilities, the league warned it making its facility available to play- said he would not examine a time- the campaign, although no timeta- might push back the timing as ers due to government restrictions. table for resumption of games ble for that has been announced. developments warrant regarding In theory, that could include having before May, with speculation the The move comes as several state the deadly virus outbreak. players working out at facilities of league could go as late as early Sep- and local governments have started Team facilities would be available rival NBA clubs, possibly based upon tember in trying to stage a full post- easing stay-at-home orders on non- for workouts or treatment on a vol- where players reside or are located. season schedule. essential business activity. untary individual basis provided no The NBA said no more than four Scenarios for resuming games Georgia and Oklahoma were among government restrictions against players would be permitted at a while complying with coronavirus the first states with NBA teams to relax such activities are in place. facility at the same time and that no health restrictions have centred quarantine regulations, opening the That is expected to open the door head coaches or assistant coaches upon playing matches at a venue door to possible workouts at club for as many as 10 NBA clubs to have could participate in any workouts. with teams gathered at one location gyms and courts, with more states set players in team facilities, seen as Group activities, including prac- and players sequestered, poten- to follow suit in the coming days. secure environments, within a few tices or scrimmages, remain tially for months, to avoid catching Lebron James will join other NBA players in “The purpose of these changes is days and potentially several more banned, and players are also pro- and spreading coronavirus. AFP resuming individual practice. Getty Images/afp