tuesday, march 9, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3622 / 4000 RIEL Covid QR code logs 100K Mom Kunthear to Covid-19. People who had visited the ported 24 more cases of Covid-19 linked were linked to the February 20 com- location could quickly be identified. to the February 20 community trans- munity transmission have recovered HE Ministry of Posts and Tel- “Data from the system also shows mission, bringing the total to 501. and been discharged from hospital. ecommunications said 12 who should be in self-quarantine, The 24 include five Vietnamese na- Among the seven are three Chinese hundreds rally days since the “Stop Covid- and if they have left home [despite tionals and seven Cambodians, with nationals and four Cambodians. 19” QR code was introduced, quarantine]. This reveals that they the rest being Chinese. As of March 8, Cambodia had re- after poultry 99,224T locations have registered and have violated quarantine,” it said. Of the 24 patients, three are receiving corded a total of 1,011 Covid-19 cases, people have scanned the code nearly The ministry reiterated its call for treatment in Kandal province, 12 in with 493 receiving ongoing treatment. plant plucks five million times. individuals who are in self-quaran- Phnom Penh, one each in Kampong Separately, Kampong Cham Pro- The ministry announced on March 8 tine not to leave home or quarantine Cham and Kampong Thom provinces, vincial Administration has appealed 32 from jobs that through the use of the system, scan- facilities for the mandatory 14 days in and the rest in Preah Sihanouk province. to people who have been in close or national – page 3 ners could receive information about a order to stop the spread of the virus. In a press release, the ministry also location that might have been exposed The Ministry of Health on March 8 re- said seven Covid-19 whose cases Continued – page 3 Swiss okay free trade deal with rising shipping costs taking Indonesia SWISS voters on March 7 narrow- the bite out of ly backed a free trade deal signed with Indonesia, opening up a vast mango exports potential market with the world’s business – page 7 fourth most populous country. Controversy surrounding the importation of Indonesian palm oil and its sustainability fuelled enough concern in Switzerland to trigger a public vote on the agreement. But the deal scraped through the public approval test with 51.7 per cent of the vote, on a 51 per cent turnout. Supporters voiced relief at the result but said they would have to be more sensitive to environmen- tal issues in any future votes on trade agreements. human tragedy: Under the deal, tariffs will be gradually removed from almost all no peace after of Switzerland’s biggest exports to Indonesia, while the Swiss will war in Syria abolish duties on Indonesian industrial products. Ten years on Salty tears Anyone importing Indonesian With just over 20,000 tonnes of salt delivered during the ongoing harvest season in Kampot province, prospects are WORLD – Page 10 palm oil must prove that it meets dim for a repeat of last year’s 85,000-tonne result. Sunday night’s showers have reportedly caused the harvest to be sTORY > 6 certain environmental and social suspended for a while. HENG CHIVOAN standards. The agreement was signed in 2018 and approved by the Swiss parlia- ment in 2019, but opponents were especially critical of Bern’s move to Trade deficit with VN shrinks 6% reduce palm oil import duties and secured a public vote on the deal. May Kunmakara $3.054 the previous year, from $2.382 billion in 2019. “I’d even go as far as to say Palm oil is a key ingredient in a according to Ministry of Cambodia Chamber of that neighbouring countries wide range of products from food CAMBODIA narrowed its Commerce statistics. Commerce vice-president Lim are the best export destina- to cosmetics, but it has long been trade deficit with neighbour Cambodia exported $385.79 Heng told The Post on March tions due to their easy [acces- controversial. and fellow ASEAN member million worth of goods to 8 that neighbouring countries sibility] for our commodities Environmentalists say it drives Trees turned state Vietnam last year even Vietnam in 2020, surging offer the Kingdom a hot mar- – agricultural products for deforestation, with huge swathes as the Covid-19 pandemic 14.88 per cent from $335.82 ket for agricultural goods. the most part such as paddy, of rainforest logged in recent dec- sacred monks triggered tighter border million in 2019, and imported “The surge in our exports to corn, rubber and legumes. ades to make way for plantations. control over fears of spread- $2.634 billion, down 3.10 per Vietnam reflects the commit- “And while we chiefly ship The deal contains exceptions for via ceremonial ing the novel coronavirus. cent from $2.718 billion. ment between our two gov- out raw materials, things agricultural products, notably to Trade between the King- The Kingdom’s trade defi- ernments in promoting cross- remains all in all good for our protect Switzerland’s sunflower ordination rites dom and Vietnam was worth cit with Vietnam reduced to border trade and above all the farmers. If we didn’t have and rapeseed oil production. $3.020 billion in 2020, inch- $2.248 billion, marking a advancement of people [who lifestyle – page 13 ing down 1.1 per cent from nearly six per cent drop live in] border [areas]. Continued – page 6 Continued – page 7

THE PHNOM PENH POST Don’t miss our NewMinistry census doubles analysis down reveals on SpecialNational Report commitmentdrop in domestic to Preymigration Lang InsideInside page page 5 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Bald head slap More aid sent to border provinces viral video ends

Long Kimmarita in pair arrested HROY Changvar commune police RIME Minister Hun Sen arrested two young men on March approved the provision of C8 after they were filmed riding more supplies and food as- together on a motorcycle along a public sistance to the seven prov- road as one of them hit a foreign man in incesP bordering Thailand to meet the head with his hand as they drove past. the daily consumption needs of re- The video of the assault was posted to turning migrant workers. social media and went viral quickly. Meanwhile, authorities in the Chroy Changvar commune police border provinces are continuing chief Chan Bunthoeun identified the two to bring workers in good health suspects as Lim Hong Leng – a 18-year- to quarantine in their respective old Grade 11 student living in a rented hometown rather than at centres house in Kien Khleang village of Chroy established along the border due to Changvar commune – and Rith Chan- crowding concerns. dara, a 17-year-old living in a rented The inventory of items to be pro- house in Mouy village of Chroy Changvar vided includes mosquito nets, blan- commune. kets, pillows, bedding, sarongs and The two suspects were quickly identi- scarves, 56,100 personal hygiene fied by acquaintances on social media kits, 68,000 cases of drinking water and the district police chief assigned and 29,200 cases of instant noodles. Chroy Changvar commune police officers These supplies had been re- to locate them. quested by authorities in the border “The two suspects have been sent to provinces where returning migrant the Russey Keo district police station. workers must undergo 14-day quar- For any further actions taken in this antine in designated centres. matter, that is under their jurisdiction,” Ministry of Health secretary of he said. state York Sambath told local media Bunthoeun said the suspects had that financial assistance for the bor- confessed that before the assault, they der provinces was also included to were out getting drunk and were driving be used for maintaining quarantine home when they saw a foreign man with centres and for transporting work- a bald head riding a bicycle in the same ers back to their home provinces af- direction they were headed. Migrant workers receive aid at a quarantine centre in Banteay Meanchey province’s Serei Sophoan town. Banteay Meanchey Administration ter they complete quarantine. Leng confessed that he drove next to Hun Sen recently told the military support of our returning migrant “After we received the new orders, the situation using ad hoc solutions the foreigner and Chandara slapped the to transport workers who appear to workers,” he said. the number of those who will go to He said if these measures were in- man on the head with as much force as be in good health to their hometowns His province also received about our quarantine centres will change, cluded in a national policy, he would he could. While they were doing this, to undergo quarantine there. He said 20,000 cases of instant noodles and because we will take some of them look to see some independent mon- two or three of their other friends were the decision was made in order to more than 20,000 cases of water and out of the centres and send them to itoring of the migrant return process hanging back waiting to record the action. ease the pressure on the quarantine canned fish. their hometown,” he said. and permanent quarantine centres Afterwards they all shouted and laughed centres in the border provinces. On March 8, around 1,000 people Dy Thehoya, Centre for Alliance of and accommodations should be at the foreigner and then drove away. Banteay Meanchey provincial had arrived at their homes and Labour and Human Rights Migrant prepared to avoid irregularities. Bunthoeun said the suspect had posted governor Um Reatrey told The Post continued with their quarantines Workers Protection Programme Of- “Sometimes issues are addressed a video of the assault on TikTok and on that as of March 7 his province had there, he said. ficer, said the measures taken to just for a short time and then after- Facebook. more than 5,600 returning workers Battambang provincial governor deal with returning migrant workers wards ignored. I see that quarantine Ek Sereyvuth, deputy Russey Keo under quarantine and that more Nguon Ratanak told The Post on were generally good. facilities along the borders are dif- district police chief in charge of criminal than 10,000 had already completed March 8 the government aid is essen- However, he urged the government ferent from those in Phnom Penh. offences, declined to comment, saying quarantine there. tial for poor migrant workers as many to make planning for this process Along the borders, quarantine takes police were still working on the case. “We received nearly 6 billion of them are returning home in need of more transparent and to set it down place in schools and people have Kim Sarom riel [around $1.5 million] for the financial and food assistance. in a national policy, not just deal with faced food shortages,” he said. UXO used as fishing Women lauded in fight against Covid tool kills ex-KR soldier Mom Kunthear Khouth Sophak Chakrya Vannak said that near the AS THE world celebrated International portion of Chien’s body con- Women’s Day on March 8, Prime Minister A FORMER Khmer Rouge sol- sisting of his upper torso and Hun Sen highlighted the important role dier died instantly while trying head, police found some piec- of women in the fight against Covid-19. to use a B40 RPG shell to make es of the B40 shell. They also In an open letter marking its 110th an- an explosive device for fishing. found another 60mm shell niversary under the theme “Women and Police said an error in his tech- casing next to the back porch Development in the Covid-19 Context”, nique caused an explosion. of the victim’s house, which Hun Sen said the government had made The accident occurred on the was the area where he often great efforts in promoting the advance- evening of March 6 in Trapaing processed explosives. ment of women since the country was Tav commune’s O Sramor vil- “It is fortunate that no other liberated from the Khmer Rouge geno- lage of Oddar Meanchey prov- members of his family were cidal regime on January 7, 1979. ince’s Anlong Veng district. injured or killed in this tragic “The theme of women and develop- Trapaing Tav commune po- accident,” Vannak said. ment in the Covid-19 context is a very lice chief Pheng Huot identi- According to Vannak, since meaningful and important one ... Wom- fied the victim as Srey Chien, 2002 around 10 people in Tra- en are an important part of the response a 66-year-old resident of O paing Tav commune have been to the socio-economic challenges posed Sramor village. killed or injured while attempt- by the Covid-19 epidemic. Huot told The Post on March ing to modify UXOs – mostly “This also highlights women’s active Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany. SPM 8 Chien had been warned the 60mm shells that were participation in development at all levels, several times about the dan- originally used in mortars. The sectors and circumstances, in line with the gious disease by protecting themselves, creased with each new mandate. gers of illegal modification of victims usually used a hammer government’s Rectangular Strategy Phase their families and communities. In the executive branch, he said there unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other tools to modify them IV, where women are the backbone of the “In the fight against Covid-19 . . . wom- had also been an increase in the number into explosives for fishing in and either set them off for fun national economy and society,” he said. en do their best to guide and manage of women serving as deputy prime min- rivers and lakes. or for fishing in the river. This year the government did not or- their family members well. isters, ministers, secretaries and under- “Most of the UXO he used to Located in the north of ganise an International Women’s Day The best and most important thing secretaries of state. make fish shells were 60mm Cambodia and once known event to avoid gathering as part of pre- is to guide one’s husband, children and In the civil service sector, the number and B40 – those were the as the Khmer Rouge’s final ventive measures recommended by the family members in how to implement of female civil servants increased from UXOs he collected from his stronghold – as well as the World Health Organisation and Ministry the three dos and three don’ts, which are 32 per cent in 2007 to 41 per cent in 2020. field,” Huot said. place where Pol Pot met his of Health. Some civil society organisa- highly effective measures,” she said. The proportion of female civil servants Anlong Veng district police end – Anlong Veng district tions celebrated the event either virtual- In his letter, Hun Sen said the govern- in decision-making positions increased chief Sim Vannak told The Post was one of the most intense ly or through small gatherings to comply ment has always made efforts to increase to 24 per cent in 2019. that after the incident, police battlefields over the final de- with the Covid-19 measues. the proportion of women in public in- At the sub-national level, there are two inspected the scene and found cades of the civil war. Or Vandine, spokeswoman for the health stitutions so that they would be more female provincial governors, six town-dis- that Chien’s body had been Much of the farmland in ministry, highlighted the heroism of women involved in leadership and decision- trict chiefs while female commune chiefs torn into three pieces by the the district remains contami- in their role in the fight against Covid-19. making at both the national and sub- rose from 42 in 2002 to 130 in 2017. powerful explosion and each nated with mines and UXO She said women have been playing an national levels. By way of example, he Since its inception in 2006, there have been piece was located more than which are still causing inju- important role by taking responsibility cited the fact that the number of women 387 women among the 7,040 Cambodians 10m away from the others. ries and deaths. for preventing the spread of this conta- in the legislature had significantly in- assigned to UN peacekeeping missions. THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Hotel can accomodate Thai plant’s workers on strike 500 Covid-19 patients Long Kimmarita Continued from page 1 Cambodge, Phnom Penh Wa- ORE than 300 Cambodian ter Supply Authority, private migrant workers out of a indirect contact with a 27-year- companies and all friends for total of 3,000 employed at old Cambodian man named taking an active part in pre- the GFN chicken process- Mey Sithan – a massage paring this,” he said. Ming factory in Nong Yai district of Thai- instructor at Sinh Jin Thai Manet said the centre is for land’s Chonburi province went on strike Hotel in Preah Sihanouk prov- Covid-19 patients with minor on the evening of March 7 after the fac- ince who has tested positive symptoms. This will make it tory terminated 32 Cambodian workers for Covid-19 and is being treat- easier for the health ministry in response to their demands for better ed at the provincial referral to gather human resources, working conditions. hospital – to come forward for medical supplies and essen- Yem Yot, a Cambodian working as a quarantine and testing. tial techniques to prevent translator at the GFN factory, was alleg- The provincial administra- the spread of the virus to the edly fired due to the factory not applying tion said the man had travelled wider community. for a visa extension on his behalf. from Preah Sihanouk province The health ministry has He told The Post on March 8 that recently on March 3 to places in Phnom also notified people who there were more than 300 workers, himself Penh and Kampong Cham. It have received the first shot included, who could not renew their visas said the 27-year-old took a taxi, of Covid-19 vaccine at the to continue working at the factory. tuk-tuks, motorcycles and au- National Paediatric Hospital Yot said the factory had not followed to-rickshaws and had visited in Phnom Penh and who are the normal process for issuing visas for Prey Totoeng Market. currently stranded in Preah him and 31 other workers. The factory, At the GFN chicken processing factory in Thailand’s Chonburi province on Sunday. Central In a new development on Sihanouk province – one of he said, claimed that it had not applied March 8, Covid-19 patients at the three major hotspots of for visa renewals for them because they excuse to [fire] me,” he said. Bangkok who asked not to be named briefly Phnom Penh quarantine cen- the February 20 community had incited other workers to revolt and According to Yot, Cambodian migrant told The Post by telephone that the embassy tre in Prek Pnov district have transmission – that a second protest and that they had performed workers at the GFN factory have pro- was currently investigating the matter. been transferred to The Great shot would be available at the their jobs poorly. tested several times since October 2020, Leung Sophon, an official of theC entre Duke Hotel, formerly Inter- provincial referral hospital. “Upon hearing this news, the other due to the factory’s alleged exploitation of for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights Continental Hotel. The ministry said they had workers went on strike demanding that their labour and violations of their rights. (Central) in Thailand who went to the Hun Manet, deputy com- provided medical informa- the factory’s owner treat the 32 of us fair- A Cambodian worker who asked not to factory in person, said the factory had mander of the Royal Cambo- tion about the patients to ly. We’ve protested, but there weren’t any be named said the factory had frequent- accused the 32 workers of leading the dian Armed Forces, said in a relevant medical specialists mediators there at night. There has been ly oppressed its workers and exploited other workers in protests. Facebook post on March 8 in the province. The informa- no solution so far,” he said. Cambodian workers, depriving them of He said the reality was that all of the that within 33 hours the hotel tion had also been sent to the Yot called on the Cambodian government their rights and benefits. workers had participated in demanding was converted into a treat- ministry’s information tech- to intervene, saying this will help Cambo- He sees the dismissal of these 32 work- their rights and benefits to which they ment centre that can accom- nology team. Patients have dian people who are being exploited and ers as an injustice and fears future termi- are entitled. modate up to 500 patients, in been informed to tell health deprived of their rights in Thailand. nation and increased oppression. “If the factory terminated them, they what he called a “major mis- workers three days before “We want to request legal compensa- “I am also worried because 32 workers should inform us according to the labour sion accomplished”. they want to receive the jab. tion if the company has terminated us. have not been issued working visas. We are law. It is illegal if they do it like this. Ac- “I would like to thank all The ministry said that from Another issue is that I want the company afraid it will be our turn later,” he said. cording to the law, the factory should in- brothers and sisters from the February 10 to March 7, it had to issue a letter for me properly so that I The Post was unable to contact any form us three to four months in advance army units, Military Police, vaccinated 71,185 civilians can find another job. I think if I protest representative of the GFN factory for because some of them still have valid National Police, health and la- while the Ministry of National and [then try to] return to work in the comment on March 8. visas. So, this factory is not [being fair] to bour ministries, Phnom Penh Defence had vaccinated 96,302 same place, they would find [another] But a Cambodian embassy official in Cambodian migrant workers,” he said. Municipal Hall, Electricite du members of the armed forces. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Man lands 92-year-old temple ‘condemned’ in court for Orm Buntheourn rape-murder HE Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said it approved the demolition of the 92-year-old of woman temple located at Svay Pope pagodaT in Phnom Penh at the request Kim Sarom of the pagoda’s chief monk after inspec- tions revealed that it was heavily dam- A SUSPECT implicated in the aged and structurally unsound. March 2 murder of a 23-year- The demolition went through de- old casino worker in Poipet spite concerns of some architects town is now in custody, police who said the “rare Buddhist structure” said. should have been preserved. Banteay Meanchey provin- A clarification by the culture minis- cial police’s Serious Crime try on March 7 said a working group Bureau chief Phoeurng Mans- had found that the temple was an ing said the suspect, Roeun old, tall structure which had been Thearin, 38, had been placed partially renovated and refurbished. in pre-trial detention by an It said some parts of the temple had investigating judge on the scratches, cracks, rust, faded colour- afternoon of March 7. ing and the temple itself was occu- According to deputy pro- pied by people who were living there vincial prosecutor Teng in an unclean manner without proper Samai, Thearin was charged hygiene. with premeditated murder “The temple has two floors. On the under Article 200 of the Crim- upper floor around the hall there are inal Code. people [who are squatting there with- Article 200 covers acts of pre- out authorisation]. meditated murder and if found “The ground floor is even worse guilty, Thearin faces a life sen- [with people] staying in a dirty and tence in prison. He stands unsanitary environment,” it said. The demolished structure at Svay Pope pagoda in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district on Monday. HONG MENEA accused of raping Huon Srey According to the ministry, the pa- and then murdering her. He goda’s chief monk had insisted on de- tecture. Recently, it said an inter-min- mon interests. being demolished because it was very then fled but the authorities molishing the structure. isterial working group also visited and “I acknowledge that critics have a rare. He said only three in this style re- apprehended him on March 4. “Monks and students from the collected art items and some other point, but please also think about the mained: one at the Svay Pope pagoda Mansing said on March 8 provinces live there and study togeth- objects from the temple to store them difficulties the pagoda faces. In fact, and another two in a pagoda in Kam- that the suspect is a resident er. With these old buildings that are at the National Museum. we have a school here and we need pong Cham province. of Tuol Pongro village in Phsar dilapidated, cracked and crumbling, Venerable Suon Teng, assistant to the space to build a place for monks “I don’t want the temple to be demolished Kandal commune of Poipet there is a real fear that they could the pagoda’s chief monk, said the and students to stay. This temple is because the architecture is rare in terms of town. He was sent to the pro- pose an eventual danger to people in temple was 92 years old, originally too old, it cannot be used,” he said. post-Angkorian Buddhist structures, so it vincial court on March 6 after the future,” it said. having been built in 1929. A Cambodian architect who asked should be maintained. Buddhist structures his arrest. The ministry noted that in 2018, Teng said the pagoda needed space not to be named told The Post on were very badly affected during the Khmer “In this case, there are up to a working group took pictures and to build a new building that would March 8 he regretted that the post- Rouge period, so it should be preserved as it two prosecutors questioning made sketches of the temple’s archi- be more useful and serve its com- Angkorian sculptural temple were is during this peaceful era,” he said. the suspect. The court ques- tioned him on March 6. But as the questioning was not yet completed, the court detained him at my office for one night. Dry-season rice ‘saved’ And then on March 7, I took him to the court,” Mansing said. Citing confession, Mansing using Takeo Lake water said Thearin had known the victim and he claimed to have Nov Sivutha been in love with her for almost five months, but she was not TAKEO provincial authorities aware of it. The victim worked have decided to drain water at a casino called Grand Resort from Takeo Lake to save 130ha in Poipet town. of rice in the villages of Khan Mansing said that Thearin Khao, Trapaing Leak and Svay had confessed that some time Russey in Donkeo town’s Baray after 8am on March 2, he went commune. up and knocked on the door The decision came after rep- of the victim’s rental house. resentatives of approximately The victim mistook Thearin 20 families from the area went for her friend knocking so she to provincial governor Ouch opened the door. Phea’s residence on March 7 to As soon as the door was open seek help. he grabbed her and pushed Phea confirmed to The Post her to the floor. He tried to that after receiving the request, calm her down but she contin- he instructed officials to carry ued to struggle. The suspect out an inspection and see if then raped her and because he there really was a shortage of was afraid that she would tell irrigation water due to Canal 15 the police, he then stabbed her drying up as they had claimed. in the throat with his knife. To address this, Phea allowed Farmer’s field in Takeo province. Supplied After killing the victim, the the pumping of water from suspect stole an OPPO phone, Takeo Lake in Daun Keo town According to Phea, the “The governor told us to look two diamond rings, a neck- to irrigate the villagers’ dry- authorities have been watch- at two measures, the first lace, $120 and 6,000 Thai season rice crops on a tempo- ing water usage from the lake would be to use the water in baht. He then took a taxi to rary basis. closely and generally acting Canal 15 and the other is to Siem Reap province. He also told officials to inspect with the utmost caution take water from Takeo Lake. If Residents didn’t discover her Canal 15 and to restore its func- because water levels in Takeo we take more water from Canal body until after 8pm that day tioning to ensure that there Lake, which is the primary 15, it may cause more rice and police were alerted and would be no shortage of water source of water for use by fields to dry up, at least tem- summoned to investigate at for irrigating the rice crops in people in the town, are also porarily. So, we took the water that time. The suspect was these villages next year. running low. from Takeo Lake,” he said. identified partly by tracking “Previously, people took water Daun Keo town governor Nhep Khoeun, a representa- his movements through secu- from Canal 15 and not from Kang Anan said that so far the tive of Svay Russey villagers, rity cam footage and he was Takeo Lake because there were villagers’ dry-season rice had said their dry-season rice finally apprehended at a guest- concerns about a shortage of been successfully irrigated and crops had been affected by house in Traing village in water in the town. But because that there are only about 10 to water shortages for more than Slakram commune of Siem Canal 15 no longer have any 20 days left before the dry-sea- a week. If there had been no Reap town on March 4. water, the provincial adminis- son rice will be harvested. timely rescue effort from the tration has authorised the He said about 60 families provincial authorities, he said www.phnompenhpost.com pumping of water from the lake there depend on Canal 15 to the rice would have been check the post website on a temporary basis,” he said. harvest dry-season rice. severely damaged. for breaking news THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Gov’t renews vow to guard Prey Lang Drive for Khmer Voun Dara MINISTRY of Environment study resources spokesperson Neth Pheaktra expressed thanks on behalf of the Cambodian government to its development partners for picks up steam expressing their concern over Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. He Voun Dara including draft content with said the government is highly titles and subtitles, course committed to solving all of the HE Research Creativ- descriptions, and a synopsis challenges happening in every ity and Innovation or abstract. wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia, Fund (RCI Fund) of Soveacha added that the RCI including Prey Lang. the Ministry of Edu- Fund aimed to increase quan- Pheaktra’s comments came Tcation, Youth and Sport is tity, enhance quality and ex- following the release of a state- preparing an agreement to pand equality of Khmer study ment by the US embassy provide financial assistance to resources for students. The expressing their concerns an initial group of 13 state and ministry has also prioritised about Prey Lang Wildlife Sanc- private higher education insti- the fund, which has also been tuary and the ongoing defor- tutions which have requested supported by the Ministry of estation of Cambodia. the ministry to prepare, write Economy and Finance. The US embassy said the and improve Khmer-language He continued that the insti- loss of forest in Prey Lang and textbooks. tutions have taken part in the throughout the country is The institutions have sub- project to promote a culture of linked to several factors, mitted 576 titles. research, encourage creativity including weak law enforce- Ministry spokesperson Ros and innovation in response to ment and opaque systems of Soveacha said on March 8 the labour market and globali- governance. that from October 19, 2020, sation and especially support The embassy said that to Rangers in Prey Lang in Kampong Thom province in September last year. HONG MENEA to March 2, 2021, 17 institu- enhancement of learning, address these challenges the tions applied for budgeting teaching and research or “one national, provincial and local entering protected areas to But actually, they favor poli- in Cambodia has improved. We from the RCI Fund to support subject, one textbook”. governments across all minis- monitor forest activities. cies that would cause more can see that large-scale natural preparation, writing and im- The education ministry said tries must be totally aligned in Pheaktra said the govern- disputes, anarchy and lawless- resource crimes no longer exist provement of textbooks. This that in principle, institutions their efforts to conserve protect- ment is enacting reforms ness,” Pheaktra said. in Cambodia. group represented 856 titles. must have enough textbooks ed areas, including Prey Lang. regarding protection, conser- Pheaktra said that recently “There are only small-scale “The Ministry of Education for students to study and re- The embassy statement said vation, modernisation, capac- the ministry had been cooper- crimes that the environmental would like to encourage state search and at least one title per that good governance is a nec- ity building for officials and ating closely with the National authorities and our partners and private higher education subject. There must also be at essary component of protect- strengthening law enforce- Committee for the Prevention will continue to prevent and institutions to apply for the least two copies in libraries or ing natural resources while ment – and it is doing so with and Crackdown on Natural crack down on. Some of Cam- RCI Fund for textbooks that textbooks are available online. noting that World Wildlife Day a high degree of responsibility Resource Crimes in the Prey bodia’s wildlife and biodiver- are beneficial for Cambodian On October 19, last year, will be observed internation- and transparency. Lang Wildlife Sanctuary with sity conditions remain stable students who study and re- the ministries established the ally in the coming month. He added that recently good results. and some are actually improv- search,” he said. RCI Fund to provide financial “Respecting freedoms of Amnesty International and He stressed that it should not ing today as law enforcement In a press release, the min- assistance to authors and re- speech and peaceful protest are Prey Lang Community Net- be misunderstood or misrep- against [forest or natural istry said on March 5 that the searchers who prepare, write hallmarks of successful democ- work issued a report about resented that Cambodia has resource] crimes increases,” 13 institutions have submit- and improve textbooks to be racies, and we believe these Prey Lang that was motivated only one large forest to be pre- he said. ted documents to the fund, used in higher education. rights should protect Cambodi- by bad intentions and was an served called Prey Lang. Cam- ans who are trying to preserve attempt to sabotage govern- bodia has many other large the Kingdom’s fragile natural ment efforts to protect Cam- protected forests. resources,” the statement said. bodia’s natural resources. As of 2021, Cambodia has 7.3 The embassy said ambassa- “They try to score negative million hectares of natural dor Patrick Murphy and the points and exploit those nega- areas under protection, which USAID director for Cambodia tive points by forgetting about is equal to 41 per cent of Cam- Veena Reddy met with Minis- the overall situation with natu- bodia’s total land – all of which ter of Environment Say Sam Al ral resource protection efforts needs to be protected and con- and other senior officials to and [the steps] that we have served, according to Pheaktra. discuss deforestation and the been taking. They pretend to “We can see that in the last ten restrictions in place on Cam- be the nation’s champions in years the protection and con- bodians that keep them from protecting natural resources. servation of natural resources Gov’t called to allocate nearly 1M hectares of disputed land in R’kiri Nov Sivutha one to three hectares. vant ministries about who had “We don’t care if the people been allocated land in 2002. THE Ratanakkiri Provincial had legally occupied the land He said that he has not yet Administrative Land Manage- before July 2020, when Sam- reported who was allocated ment Committee plans to dech [Hun Sen] allocated it to land in 2002 or how many fam- request the national govern- them. We just want to ensure ilies would be granted land. ment to allocate nearly they haven’t encroached on Din Korny, a coordinator for 900,000ha of disputed forested state land,” he said. Adhoc in Ratanakkiri province, areas covering nine districts in He added that the land is a kind welcomed the efforts by the pro- the province to people who rely of degraded land with brush- vincial administration and rele- on the land for their livelihoods. wood and dense semi-forest. vant institutions to demarcate Some of the land was allocated There is not a lot of forest. The and allocate the land in the prov- to people by the government in land is near villages and people ince. It is good that there will no 2002, but some of the land have kept clearing it to grow crops. longer be land disputes. remained state-owned and has Sam Oeurn said that once the He said that there had been been encroached upon. government has allocated the disputes between locals and The provincial deputy gover- land, a working group would powerful people. People had nor Nhem Sam Oeurn said on conduct an inspection for ver- encroached and cleared land. March 8 that the request was ification. If everything is in Other people had occupied made after the head of the gov- order, the working group will land for a very long time ernment had ordered a commit- ensure people don’t clear land before and after the Land Law tee to research and demarcate that doesn’t belong to them. became effective. the land that people had cleared Provincial department of “All of them still don’t have for personal ownership. information director Kol titles, so it is easy for them to He further said that people Phanna said that on March 5, fall into conflict. Once land is had used the land to grow the provincial administration clearly demarcated and regis- crops. While other people had held a meeting to prepare tered then it will be clear which didn’t live in the province but a report for the provincial land belongs to the people and they had land and crops in the administrative land manage- the state. There will no longer province. Some people had ment committee. The commit- be disputes. It will be easy to two to three plots measuring tee would then request rele- protect it,” Din Korny said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,061 1.2704 6.4837 108.46 4.0750 1.3412 30.50 0.7670 1.1925 1.3817

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: March 5, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,800 16,720 16,900 16,720 2 GTI 3,350 3,350 3,350 3,350 3 PAS 12,880 12,500 13,120 12,500 4 PEPC 2,940 2,940 2,940 2,940 5 PPAP 12,220 12,400 12,400 12,220 6 PPSP 1,600 1,590 1,610 1,580 7 PWSA 6,220 6,280 6,320 6,220 Model border Kampot salt harvest trails behind markets set to Hin Pisei give VN trade AMPOT, Cambodia’s lead- ing salt producing prov- ince, is expected to yield a pick-me-up less of the commodity than reportedK last year on adverse weather Continued from page 1 conditions, provincial Department of Industry, Science, Technology and Thailand or Vietnam buying our agri- Innovation director Sok Kim Choeun cultural merchandise, we’d be in deep told The Post on March 8. water given our lack of storage” capac- With just over 20,000 tonnes of salt ity, Heng said. delivered during the ongoing harvest The government is pushing for the season in the province, prospects are construction of two border “model mar- dim for a repeat of last year’s 85,000- kets” in Kampot and Svay Rieng prov- tonne result, he lamented. inces along the shared frontier with According to Kim Choeun, Kam- Vietnam in a bid to fuel bilateral trade pot’s salt marshes cover 3,726ha – and ratchet up Cambodia’s exports. unchanged from last year. This comes after Da Market, the first With neighbouring Kep province of this kind, was inaugurated on Decem- producing 20,000 tonnes of salt last ber 24, 2019, in Tbong Khmum province. year, nationwide yield was more than And according to minister Pan enough to cover the Kingdom’s annu- Sorasak, Kampot’s model market al 100,000-tonne demand, he said. should break ground by the end of Salt production in Kampot and the year near the Prek Chak Interna- Kep covered 4,748ha in 2019 and tional Border Checkpoint that links employed 5,000 workers, the Min- the coastal province to Vietnam’s istry of Industry, Science, Technol- Kien Giang province. ogy and Innovation said in a report. Heng said the border markets will With suitable weather conditions, play a crucial role in promoting the each hectare can yield 20 tonnes of Just over 20,000 tonnes of salt has been produced in Kampot province during this year’s ongoing harvest season. HENG CHIVOAN country’s exports to Vietnam. “We’re salt per annum, it said. setting up model markets at the bor- Kim Choeun noted that hot be suspended for quite a while. issue for the salt industry as they ed more than 100,000 tonnes of salt der – the likes of Da Market of Tbong weather and other favourable cli- “If it rains in the next few days, were in 2020, he said the rains had each year, before tumbling for three Khmum and Prek Chak Market of matic factors prolonged last year’s we won’t collect anything at all in arrived much sooner. consecutive years in 2017-2019. Kampot. These model markets are harvest to August in Kampot and March,” he said. “[But] should the “Without any downpours from The government authorised the poised to accelerate the export of our Kep – which would span from Janu- weather remains favourable for now until May, I don’t expect Cambo- salt-processing community to im- agricultural products. ary to May most years – leading to three or four months in a row, the dia to face the type of salt shortages port 30,000 tonnes of the commod- “Of course, the government’s policy the lofty yields. salt harvest will not be spoiled.” that require large-scale imports as it ity in 2019 citing a paucity of salt, [implies that] we shouldn’t want to export He said: “The salt collected in Kam- Bun Narin, a salt producer in Kam- did a few years ago. This year’s yield according to the ministerial report. raw materials where we lose value- pot this year will not be as much as last pot, said March-April marks the peak will be very similar to last year’s, ac- But according to Kim Choe- added, but we cannot keep them as we year. Just at the start of March, there harvest season each year when tem- cording to forecasts,” he said. un, the Cambodia imported just don’t have enough storage capacity. were already two unexpected showers peratures rise, but March 7’s rains He said salt now costs 11,000- around 10,000 tonnes of the allotted “Once we’re able to bring in more – during the dry season. One in par- had washed away some of the salt. 13,000 riel ($2.75-3.25) per 50kg amount, as optimism in early 2020 investors into the processing sector, ticular that took place on the night [of While labour force and cultiva- sack, close to last year’s prices. surrounding the year’s salt output there’ll be a decline in the export of March 7] will cause the salt harvest to tion area are not as pressing an In 2014-2016, Cambodia harvest- ground the purchases to a halt. raw materials,” he added. ISPs revel in ministry’s legal threat to unlicensed telcos May Kunmakara by unlicensed firms,” the min- base gravitates more toward nications Regulator of Cambo- istry stressed, adding that to intermediary network provid- dia’s (TRC) website at trc.gov.kh. THE private sector welcomed date, 49 telecoms operators ers rather than end-users. The number of active mobile the Ministry of Posts and Tele- hold valid licences. Channda hopes that the phone subscriptions across the communications newest warn- Sok Channda, president and ministerial announcement Kingdom’s six operators was ing to unlicensed or otherwise CEO of Angkor Data Communi- will lead to positive changes in 20,481,051 as of the end of May, non-legally-compliant tele- cation Group Co Ltd (Mekong- the industry and offer a path- inching down 0.08 per cent coms operators as a necessary Net), lauded the move as a way out of the grey market. “I from the end of May 2019, the building block for sustainable proactive leveller in the business wish to see those who are unli- latest data from the TRC show. growth in the industry. playing field for the industry. censed to apply for one and This figure is the equivalent Endorsed by minister Chea “It’s truly a brilliant move on comply with existing laws. of 124.09 per cent of the total Vandeth, the March 4 part of the ministry to take “And the customers who population. announcement warned of action against unlicensed decide to splash out on [internet] The number of mobile internet legal action if telecoms opera- companies,” she said. from licensed [ISPs] will get high- subscriptions across Cambodia’s tors collude with or sell whole- Licensed internet service quality services,” she said. seven providers also recorded a sale internet access services to providers (ISP) are feeling the The ministry encouraged the 2.36 per cent drop to 14,863,435, unlicensed providers to offer pinch from their unlicensed public to double-check the legit- whereas fixed broadband internet end-users in retail packages. counterparts that undercut imacy of telecoms operators with subscriptions across the King- “The public must stop using sales, she fumed, pointing out the up-to-date list of licensed dom’s 37 providers logged a 33.07 Fixed broadband internet subscriptions across the Kingdom’s 37 providers the internet services provided that MekongNet’s customer firms posted on the Telecommu- per cent climb to 249,132. rose 33.07 per cent year-on-year to 249,132 in May. HONG MENEA THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business S-Oil acquires Container shortage, rising shipping 20% stake in hydrogen fuel costs takes bite out of mango exports cell developer eoul-listed S-Oil Corp on March Thou Vireak each of fresh and dried man- 7 said it had purchased a 20 per cent goes a day to China, weigh- Sstake in advanced hydrogen fuel cell GLOBAL shortage ing an aggregate 26 tonnes. developer Fuel Cell Innovations (FCI). of containers and He said: “We need to buy According to the South Korean refinery, rising shipping 150-180 tonnes of fresh man- the strategic investment will allow S-Oil rates during the goes each day from farmers to become the biggest shareholder of FCI Covid-19A outbreak has driv- to process. I buy them at 350 and secure technologies for next-genera- en up production costs for riel ($0.09) per kilogramme tion solid oxide fuel cells, or SOFCs. the Kingdom’s mangoes and to process, or 900 riel when Compared to conventional fuel cells, eroded their competitiveness they are [export-ready and] SOFCs have a competitive edge in price, on the international market, packed in paper.” as they use nickel as a catalyst, instead of according to two leading The Cambodia Rice Fed- platinum, to generate electricity. They can producers-cum-exporters. eration (CRF) also reported also turn more than 50 per cent of fuel Heng Sreng, general man- major hindrances to rice ex- into electricity, compared to an efficiency ager of Boeung Ket Planting ports for the first two months level of around 40 per cent for conven- and Industrial Co Ltd, told of this year stemming from tional cells. The Post that his company’s the container shortages. S-Oil CEO Hussain al-Qahtani said: production and export of According to CRF, the King- “This investment heralds our full-fledged fresh and dried mangoes dom exported 76,222 tonnes foray into the hydrogen economy and it went smoothly during the of milled rice worth $64.53 is anticipated to drive our sustainable hardest phases of the crisis. million during the period, growth. Our company will also vigorously “Our mango-export pur- down 44.16 per cent from join hands in the government’s efforts to suits have been getting on the same period last year, a cut carbon emissions.” well as usual, but there’ve drop the federation blamed Based in Daejeon, FCI is a joint venture been interruptions in ship- The Kingdom exported 43,680 tonnes of fresh mangoes in January-February. hENG CHIVOAN squarely on the “nearly 500 between Korea and Saudi Arabia with ping traffic and a dearth of per cent” jump in shipping some 40 SOFC patents. The company has containers, coupled with Hun Lak, CEO of Richfarm sion from the Chinese side. “Container shortages don’t costs from 2019 levels. collaborated with Italy’s fuel cell maker persistently rising transpor- Asia Co Ltd, worries that ris- We currently export small pose much of an issue when Cambodia exported a to- Solid Power to develop products tailored tation fees during the Covid- ing inland transportation quantities of fresh mangoes to it comes to exporting fresh tal of 1,599,922.37 tonnes to Korea and overseas markets. 19 outbreak. costs will make it harder for the Chinese market through mangoes by ship within of major non-milled-rice On top of the investment from S-Oil, FCI “Spiralling shipping costs some Cambodian compa- Vietnam and we’ll ship [di- Asia, it’s just that shipping agricultural products in will shore up investments worth 100 billion may have increased the cost nies to compete as his com- rectly] to China soon.” costs are higher than they January-February, an in- won ($87.8 million) and establish a produc- of production, but my com- pany prepares to ship the While intra-regional ex- once were. Only when ship- crease of 569,493.88 tonnes tion capacity of more than 100MW by 2027. pany’s dehydrated [mango] Kingdom’s maiden direct ports in Southeast Asia do ping to Europe or the US or 55.27 per cent compared On the Korea Exchange, S-Oil’s share production line remains export of fresh mangoes to not face the same container will the scarcity of ships and to the same period in 2020, price surged 1,300 won or 1.50 per cent fully operational,” Sreng China soon. shortages as those to Eu- containers take its toll,” he according to Minister of Ag- to close at 88,100 won on March 8 for a said, adding that the firm He told The Post: “[Direct] rope, Lak voiced concern said. riculture, Forestry and Fish- market capitalisation of 9.92 trillion won, exported 20-30 per cent exports of fresh mangoes to that the trend would inevi- According to Sreng, Boe- eries Veng Sakhon. Fresh with 1.56 million shares traded. THE KOREA more mangoes in January- China have not yet started – tably emerge in the region ung Ket Planting and Indus- mangoes accounted for HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK February year-on-year. they’re awaiting a final deci- as well. trial exports one container 43,680 tonnes. Indonesia reforms foreign investment More sensitivity urged in THE Indonesian government recently revoked an implement- future trade deal strategy has laid down the ground rules ing rule allowing investments in for its new law on job creation, liquor companies following Continued from page 1 companies would have been widely seen as an ambitious massive opposition from main- at a disadvantage, noting that regulatory reform to lure for- ly religious leaders, he said. For palm oil, customs duties the EU is negotiating a deal eign investments and stimulate Eko told The Straits Times: will not be removed but instead with Jakarta. the pandemic-hit economy. “These policy flip-flops will reduced by between 20 and 40 President Joko “Jokowi” Wido- not only hurt the political per cent, on a volume limited Re-think on future deals do signed 49 “implementing position and image of the gov- to 12,500 tonnes per year. Swissmem, the national rules” last month to provide offi- ernment in the eyes of the Campaign posters backing association representing the cials with specific details on how public but also investors as the deal showed a Swiss bear engineering industry, said the the law would be applied in there’s uncertainty in the con- hugging an Indonesian tiger deal would “considerably ease practice and guide businesses sistency of the regulations.” to symbolise the partnership, Swiss companies’ access to on how they should operate. Singaporean lawyer Joel while those against showed this promising market”. He had signed two others The new legislation aims to synchronise overlapping labour, tax and other Shen, who lives and works in an orangutan and baby cling- It was the first time that Swiss late last year, soon after the law key laws deemed unfavourable to businesses and investors. THE JAKARTA POST Jakarta and helps internation- ing to a tree trunk, surround- voters have directly had their was passed on October 5 amid and investors. procedures and the supply of al clients, including from Sin- ed by flames. say on a free trade agreement. violent nationwide protests Under more simplified proc- energy or raw materials. gapore, run businesses in The agreement aims to boost Organic winegrower Willy over workers’ rights and envi- esses, businesses considered Analysts say the job creation Indonesia, applauded the ties with Indonesia, which Cretegny, who spearheaded the ronmental concerns. low-risk need only have an law is not only important to streamlining of business despite its population is only campaign for a vote, told broad- The regulations include identity number instead of a investors, but also to the pres- licensing, relaxing of foreign those on foreign workers and full licence to operate. ident to secure his legacy in his ownership restrictions as well The free trade deal with local hires, the implementa- Companies are also not second and final term in office as labour and tax reforms. tion of special economic zones required to apply for new per- and to realise his vision to He recalled a closed-door Indonesia will considerably and a new framework that gov- mits for foreign workers with transform Indonesia into one business conference in Jakarta ease Swiss companies’ access erns which business sectors valid visas from another com- of the world’s top five econo- in 2014 where a seemingly are open or restricted to for- pany if these employees are mies by 2045. annoyed government official to this promising market eign investors. directors, commissioners or Flanked by heavyweight had told participants to go and Minister of Law and Human work in roles linked to voca- ministers, an enthusiastic invest in Vietnam, after hear- Switzerland’s 44th biggest eco- caster RTS he was not disap- Rights Yasonna Laoly said last tional training, the digital Jokowi promised global busi- ing praise about the South- nomic partner and 16th big- pointed by the defeat because month: “The job creation law economy or oil and gas. ness leaders at a World Eco- east-Asian neighbour’s attrac- gest export market in Asia. “the debate on the principle of was meant to be a positive stim- Among the most fundamen- nomic Forum dialogue on tive investment climate. In 2020, Swiss exports to Indo- free trade” was now open. ulus to grow the national econ- tal changes was the removal of November 25 that the new law But the government is now nesia amounted to just 498 mil- Green lawmaker Leonore omy, which will in turn create the “negative investment list” would cut red tape so as to willing to listen and respond to lion Swiss francs ($540 million). Porchet said her party would many job opportunities.” introduced in the 1980s in fast-track investments and grievances from foreign inves- Switzerland is an export-led campaign hard against the “It’s a breakthrough and a favour of a positive list, which ensure legal certainty and tors, which is a departure from economy, drawing almost half next deal in the pipeline, with way for the government to allows foreign ownership in competitiveness. the previously entrenched its national income from South America’s Mercosur seize investment opportuni- key sectors, including tele- He said: “Significant support mindset, said Shen. abroad. trade bloc. ties from abroad by simplify- communications, transporta- from the business community in He added: “While it is not a Indonesia is a growing Lawmaker Fabio Regazzi, ing permits and eradicating tion and energy. its implementation is essential.” magic wand that makes Indo- economy with an increas- who headed a cross-party Yes bureaucracy,” he added. Depending on their invest- But Institute for Development nesia’s problems miraculously ingly affluent middle class, campaigns, said the tight result The legislation, commonly ments, foreign investors are also of Economics and Finance disappear, it does send a strong offering considerable poten- was sobering. known as the “omnibus law”, eligible for various fiscal incen- economist Eko Listiyanto message to the international tial for Swiss firms. In future, pro-trade deal move- aims to synchronise more tives such as corporate income warned against rushing through business and investment com- Switzerland’s government ments would have to “be more than 70 overlapping labour, tax reliefs and non-fiscal incen- the regulations, especially with munity that Indonesia is open urged a Yes vote and President sensitive” to environmental ta x a nd ot her key laws deemed tives such as supporting infra- little or no public consultation. for business.” THE STRAITS TIMES Guy Parmelin had insisted that issues and working conditions, unfavourable to businesses structure, simpler licensing As a case in point, Jokowi had (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK without the agreement Swiss he told ATS news agency. AFP 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business BGRIM logs 21% profit jump in 2020

Patrocinio Rivera tional Cooperation Agency. BGRIM noted that it was also ANGKOK-LISTED industri- honoured with five awards for its al power producer B Grimm sustainable development from four Power Plc (BGRIM) regis- organisations in December, high- tered a 21 per cent increase lighting the company’s dedication. inB net operating profit last year even The company said it obtained an as the Covid-19 pandemic wrought “excellent” (five-star) rating from the havoc on the global economy. corporate good governance survey BGRIM chairman and president Dr of listed companies conducted by Harald Link said the 2.617 billion baht the Thai Institute of Directors As- ($85 million) in earnings –attributable sociation, was ranked in the Thaipat to B Grimm Group of which BGRIM Institute’s ESG100 List for a third con- is a member – was largely due to the secutive year last year and won the increase in generating capacity and Sustainability Disclosure Award 2020. power sales to industries in Thailand. It added that it was selected for the BGRIM last year added 162MW in ca- Sustainable Stock List (THSI) by the pacity which boosted its output by six Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) per cent to 14,451GWh. for a third consecutive year and that The 66-year-old businessman it scored 100 out of 100 by the Thai said power demand from BGRIM’s Investors Association for the quality industrial clientele in the kingdom of holding its annual general meet- witnessed a strong rebound in ing of shareholders last year. September-January over the corre- BGRIM said its power projects un- sponding period a year earlier. der development have progressed BGRIM’s customer base continued with the Bo Thong Wind Farms 1 & 2 to broaden as new industrial clients – with a combined installed capacity with a total requirement of 15MW of 16MW in northeastern Thailand’s were connected to the company’s Mukdahan province – 80.8 per cent BGRIM reported 2.617 billion baht in net operating profit last year, up 21 per cent from 2019. SUPPLIED supply system last year, Dr Link said. complete and on schedule to begin This year, the Swiss-born industrialist ments under the “Doing Business commercial operation of a large- This was the first green credit its commercial run in the first half of said, BGRIM expects more than 40MW with Compassion” philosophy. scale solar farm on 40ha of land in in Thailand and the CLMV region this year. in additional industrial demand to fur- Practised for more than 143 years Banteay Meanchey province’s Siso- (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Meanwhile, it said, work on its ther consolidate its customer base. by B Grimm Group, Dr Link said the phon town in Cambodia, which it Vietnam) to be certified by the Cli- nine SPPs construction have re- The full-year performance of philosophy highlights cooperation noted is despite Covid-19 and recent mate Bonds Initiative, which consti- corded nine-to-32 per cent in prog- large-scale solar farms in Vietnam with partners in all business groups flooding in the area. tutes part of an independent global ress, with some of them set to start and a reduction in the price of natu- at home and abroad, as evidenced BGRIM added that this marked environmental movement, he said. commercial operation in the second ral gas contributed to BGRIM’s ro- by a variety of partnership pacts the first Thai power-plant project to The Japanese-led Asian Develop- half of next year. bust results last year, Dr Link said. clinched over the last six months. operate under a PPA entered with ment Bank (ADB) and Phu Yen TTP BGRIM added that it is set to pay Natural gas prices – the main fuel According to BGRIM, these in- state-owned energy utility Electricite on October 9 penned the $186 mil- a dividend of 0.30 baht per share for of BGRIM’s power plants – dipped clude a partnership with Univen- du Cambodge (EdC), for a period of lion loan to develop and operate the the second half of last year, after of- 10.4 per cent year-on-year to 244 tures Plc (UV) which engages in real 20 years and backed by a guarantee 257MW solar farm in Hoa Hoi com- fering an interim dividend of 0.15 baht per million British Thermal estate investment and development from the government of Cambodia. mune of the southern Vietnamese baht per share, hence maintaining a Units (BTU) last year, the German- business with various products The company announced on No- province of Phu Yen, according to full-year dividend pay-out at 45 per raised philanthropist pointed out. and services; and an alliance with vember 18, 2019 that B Grimm So- Viet Nam News. cent of net operating profit. Bangkok-listed state-owned en- the Provincial Electricity Authority lar Power 1 had entered into a share The Vietnamese daily reported The closing date for dividend eligi- ergy giant PTT Plc expects natural (PEA) and its subsidiary PEA EN- purchase agreement to acquire all that financing comprised a $27.9 bility is March 10, with the dividend gas prices to further contract to an COM International (PEA ENCOM) the shares of Cambodia’s Ray Power million loan funded by Metro Ma- payment slated to be made on May average of 225 baht per million BTU to pursue business opportunities Supply Co Ltd for a total consider- nila-based ADB, a $148.8 million 11, the company said. this year, according to Dr Link. such as independent power supply ation of $300,000. syndicated loan (B loan) funded by On the SET, BGRIM’s share price In addition to its goal of increas- (IPS) projects, micro grid systems Dr Link said the conclusion of the commercial banks – with ADB as inched down 0.75 baht or 1.59 per ing power purchase agreements and smart micro grid system. syndicated green loan for the Phu lender of record – and a $9.3 mil- cent to close at 46.50 baht on March (PPA) capacity to 7,200MW by 2025 On December 15, through its Yen TTP JSC solar farm project in lion loan from Leading Asia’s Private 8 for a market capitalisation of from the current 3,058MW, he said wholly-owned subsidiary B Grimm Vietnam was another of BGRIM’s Infrastructure Fund (LEAP), which 121.22 billion baht, with 13.20 mil- BGRIM has advanced its achieve- Solar Power 1 Co Ltd, BGRIM began “proud achievements” last year. is supported by the Japan Interna- lion shares traded. Kien Giang keen to be sea-based economic giant by 2025

BOASTING 200km of coastline According to provincial Party rine services, energy, and the High-capacity fishing ves- pearl farming. tourism services was at more and 143 islands, the Vietnam- Committee permanent deputy maritime industry, among oth- sels have been built to bolster Meanwhile, coastal areas in Ha than 7.8 trillion dong ($339.8 ese Mekong Delta province of secretary Mai Van Huynh, the ers, helping the province rank offshore fishing, contributing Tien city and the districts of Kien million), or 39.3 per cent of the Kien Giang is striving to branch province is prioritising build- second among the 13 Mekong to sustainable fisheries and Luong, Hon Dat, An Minh and target, and down 57.7 per cent out its maritime sector and ing its maritime sector to boost Delta localities in terms of the protection of the nation’s An Bien will develop zones for compared to 2019. become a sea-based econom- economic development while maritime economic develop- sovereignty over sea and farming molluscs such as blood Local tourism is seeing a ic powerhouse by 2025. protecting the environment ment last year. islands. cockles, saltwater mussels, green sound recovery thanks to stim- The move aims to contribute and strengthening national The sea-based economy With vast fishing grounds mussels and oysters. ulus measures. to realising the “Strategy for defence at sea and on islands. accounted for 79.75 per cent and a strong fleet, the prov- Attention will be paid to high- The province will sharpen its Sustainable Development of Major investments have been of the local gross regional ince’s annual seafood output tech aquaculture, the develop- focus on tourism infrastruc- Vietnam’s Marine Economy by made in several key industries, domestic product (GRDP) in tops 500,000 tonnes and its ment of quality staples with high ture at key attractions, includ- 2030 with a Vision to 2045”. such as seafood, tourism-ma- the year, he added. aquaculture yield was esti- economic value, and measures ing Phu Quoc island. mated at more than 264,100 to prevent illegal fishing. Vice-director of the Depart- tonnes in 2020. Local maritime tourism has ment of Tourism Bui Quoc Thai Kien Giang – which borders helped drive the tourism sec- said the province encourages all Takeo province’s Kiri Vong dis- tor thanks to renowned desti- economic sectors to build and trict and Kampot province’s nations like Phu Quoc Island. diversify local tourism products, Banteay Meas and Kampong Once a part of Cambodia, it is as well as join in efforts to form Trach districts in Cambodia – is also known by its Khmer name a major tourism centre. working to secure a total seafood Koh Tral, which translates as Regarding energy develop- catch and aquaculture output of “weaving shuttle island” for its ment, the province prioritises 800,000 tonnes by 2025. spindle-like shape. investment in wind power, According to the provincial A huge amount of capital has electrification, solar power Department of Agriculture been injected into Phu Quoc and many other sources of and Rural Development, farm- city for years, most of which renewable energy. ing areas in Phu Quoc city, comes from strategic investors It also plans to build coastal Kien Hai island district, the such as Vingroup, Sun Group, roads and improve logistics island commune of Tien Hai BIM Group and CEO Group. services, while working to pre- in Ha Tien city, and Son Hai According to the provincial serve ocean biodiversity and and Hon Nghe in Kien Luong Department of Tourism, the restore ocean ecosystems, district will focus on farming province welcomed more than protecting mangrove forests in groupers, cobias, yellow-fin 5.2 million visitors last year, tandem with the effective and Fishing boats are at anchor near Tho Chu Island, Phu Quoc district, in Kien Giang province. The southern pompanos, and seabass, as accounting for 55.8 per cent of sustainable exploitation of Vietnamese province is striving to branch out its maritime sector and become a sea-based economic well as blue lobster, mantis the goal but down 40.7 per cent marine resources. VIET NAM NEWS/ powerhouse by 2025. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY shrimp, crab and oysters for year-on-year. Revenue from ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Yemen’s Huthi rebels target Biden marks ‘Bloody Sunday’ Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil by signing voting rights order facilities in new escalation A missile and drone attack oil infrastructure. S President Joe targeted the heart of Saudi Ara- The defence ministry said Biden on March 7 bia’s oil industry on March 7 in March 7’s attacks targeted “the signed an execu- an assault claimed by Yemen’s backbone of the world econo- tive order aimed Huthi rebels, a new escalation my, oil supplies and global atU making it easier for US citi- in the six-year conflict. energy security”. zens to vote at a time when The attack on energy giant Earlier on March 7, the coali- new limits on their right to do Aramco’s facilities came as the tion said it pummelled Yemen’s so are pending in statehouses Saudi-led military coalition Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa across the country. bombed Yemen’s Huthi-con- with air strikes, with AFP cor- He announced the order in a trolled capital Sanaa after inter- respondents on the ground pre-taped speech marking the cepting a separate flurry of reporting huge explosions that anniversary of the 1965 civil cross-border Huthi drones and sent plumes of smoke rising in rights march in Selma, Ala- missiles. the sky. bama, when peaceful Black The rising hostilities under- “The military operation tar- marchers were attacked by po- score a dangerous intensifica- gets Huthi military capabilities lice. That brutal suppression tion of Yemen’s conflict between in Sanaa and a number of oth- brought national attention to the coalition-backed Yemeni er provinces,” the coalition said the issue of voting rights. government and the Iran- in a statement on Saudi state “Today, on the anniversary backed Huthis, despite a media. of Bloody Sunday, I am sign- renewed US push to end the That came after the coalition ing an executive order to make war. said it had intercepted a total it easier for eligible voters to The Saudi defence ministry of 12 drones and two ballistic register to vote and improve said it had intercepted a drone missiles launched by the rebels, access to voting,” Biden said. targeting a petroleum storage in a sharp uptick in cross-bor- yard at Ras Tanura – one of the der attacks on the kingdom. ‘Let the people vote’ People march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to mark the 1965 ‘Bloody Sunday’ attack world’s biggest oil ports – and The coalition said the drones on civil rights activists. AFP Biden’s move comes as sev- a ballistic missile aimed at were aimed at “civilian” targets eral Republican-controlled Biden’s order makes clear Aramco facilities in Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, the official state legislatures push to cur- that voting rights are an ad- city in eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Press Agency reported, tail voting access in response ministration priority, order- Shrapnel from the missile fell without specifying the loca- to Donald Trump’s election ing all federal agencies to re- close to an Aramco residential tions. loss and his repeated claims view ways to improve voting compound in the city, which is The two intercepted missiles of election fraud that are practices, with a particular home to thousands of company targeted the southern city of widely believed to be false. focus on voters with disabili- employees and their families, Jizan, the coalition added, It also comes four days after ties, the incarcerated and the energy ministry said. without stating whether there the US House of Representa- other underserved groups. The attacks did not result in were any casualties or dam- tives passed a sweeping bill But it contains few concrete any casualties or damage, it age. aimed at lowering voting bar- and immediate changes and added, without specifying who The rebels on Twitter claimed riers nationwide, a top Demo- might have limited impact on was behind them. they attacked military targets cratic priority but one stoutly the efforts in Republican states The Huthi rebels claimed on in the southern cities of Jizan opposed by Republicans. to restrict voting practices. Twitter that they had fired and Asir. The For the People Act “The president doesn’t have drones and missiles at Ras The Huthis have stepped up would expand no-excuse the executive authority to Police prepare to confront civil rights activists at the Edmund Pettus Tanura and military targets in attacks on Saudi Arabia in Bridge during Bloody Sunday in 1965. US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE voting by mail, make voter prevent a state from taking the area of Dammam, which is recent weeks as they escalate registration automatic, out- that kind of action,” an ad- websites that provide election “Elected officials in 43 states close to Dhahran. an offensive closer to home, to law partisan redistricting and ministration official said in a and voting information. have already introduced The kingdom’s oil-rich east- seize the Yemeni government’s impose new requirements on briefing on March 6. In his remarks on March more than 250 bills to make it ern region is home to most of last northern stronghold of so-called dark money dona- The order directs federal 7, Biden said efforts to un- harder for Americans to vote. Aramco’s production and Marib. tions to political groups. agencies to submit a “strategic dermine the 2020 election We cannot let them succeed.” export facilities. In a statement after its strikes, But the bill, which Biden plan” within 200 days outlining results, which led to the Janu- If the president’s influence In 2019, aerial assaults on two the coalition said that targeting supports, faces a deeply un- ways they can promote voter ary 6 attack on the Capitol, over state laws is limited, the Aramco facilities in the eastern civilians in the kingdom was a certain fate, needing 60 votes registration and participation. were now being followed “by administration briefer said he region temporarily knocked “red line”, adding that the to move forward in a Senate It also directs the federal an all-out assault on the right is doing all he can. out half of the kingdom’s crude Huthis’ actions “will not lead to divided 50-50 between Dem- chief information officer to to vote in state legislatures all “He’s leaving no cards on production, underscoring the an imposition of a political ocrats and Republicans. improve or modernise federal across the country”. the table,” she said. AFP vulnerability of Saudi Arabia’s settlement”. AFP Mozambique general denies Amnesty ‘war crime’ allegations

A senior Mozambique general on March 7 community,” he added, noting that the report denied a recent Amnesty International report had been written by “people who have never accusing government forces, a private security been here”. company and militants of killing hundreds of civil- It is the first time an official has commented on ians in the country’s insurgency-hit northeast. the publication since its release on March 2. Jihadists have launched a string of attacks on Bertolino also denied Amnesty’s claims that the towns and villages in the gas-rich Cabo Del- government had hired a South African private gado province since a first assault in 2017. military company to beef up its ranks after losing The violence has left at least 2,600 people “a number of battles”. dead, around half of them civilians, according The army has been struggling to regain control to the US-based NGO Armed Conflict Location of Cabo Delgado despite heavy deployments to and Event Data. the area. Amnesty International this week said locals Amnesty documented several gruesome killings were “caught” between Mozambican security by security forces, including summary executions forces fighting the insurgents alongside private of blindfolded villagers and the brutal shooting of militia – accusing all three parties of “war a naked woman recorded on video. crimes” causing hundreds of civilian deaths. The watchdog added that DAG mercenaries The deputy head of the Mozambique Armed fired guns from helicopters and indiscriminately Defence Forces Bertolino Kapetine dismissed dropped hand grenades onto crowds. the allegations on March 7. The jihadists – a shadowy group known locally “The report brings some untruths,” Bertolino as ‘al-Shabaab’ – are also accused of heinous acts told journalists during a state-organised press of violence with machetes, including numerous trip to Cabo Delgado. beheadings and desecration of corpses. “Our mission is to defend sovereignty and The South African-based DAG vowed to inves- Internally displaced persons await in line during a UN World Food Programme distribution at the ‘3 de fevereiro territorial integrity and we cannot mistreat the tigate the allegations earlier this week. AFP escola’ school in Matuge district, northern Mozambique, on February 24. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World Deal reached Ten years on, no peace in Syria over US troop

fter a decade of unfath- omable violence and hu- presence in man tragedy that has made Syria the defining war of the earlyA 21st century, the fighting has South Korea tapered off but the suffering hasn’t. South Korea and the US have reached In 2011, Bashar al-Assad and his agreement on Seoul’s contribution to government briefly looked like an- the costs of the US troop presence on other domino about to fall in the the peninsula, Seoul said on March 8, whirlwind of pro-democracy revolts as the two allies kicked off annual joint sweeping the Middle East. military exercises. Ten years later, Assad is still there, The issue had bedevilled the two a pyrrhic victor offering no credible allies’ security alliance under for- prospects of reconciliation for the mer US president Donald Trump, Syrian people and exercising lim- who had a transactional approach ited sovereignty over a land left prey to foreign policy and repeatedly ac- to foreign powers. cused the South of “freeloading”. In late January 2011, the uprisings Washington stations 28,500 troops that toppled dictators in Tunisia, Egypt in the country to defend it from the and Libya became known as the “Arab nuclear-armed North, which invad- Spring” and the contagious nature of ed in 1950. the region’s revolts became obvious. They are a key part of US forces’ It took time for the wave of pro- deployment in Asia, but negotiations tests to take hold in Syria, where over funding had been gridlocked by demonstrations had been banned the former US administration’s de- for half a century and the govern- mands that the South pay billions of ment seemed more entrenched than dollars more towards their costs. anywhere else in the region. The Trump administration ini- Some of the first gatherings, such tially insisted on $5 billion a year – a as vigils outside the Libyan em- more than fivefold increase. Children take part in an outdoor activity outside a special bus used as a makeshift classroom, run by humanitarian NGO Syrian Relief, bassy, were ostensibly in support of at the Haranbush camp for displaced Syrians in the north of Syria’s northwestern rebel-held Idlib province in February. afp Under the previous deal, which the other uprisings and not a direct expired at the end of 2019, Seoul challenge to the four-decade-old Assad, wishing the London-trained Syrian war – No Turning Back. the continent. paid Washington about $920 million rule of the Assad clan. ophthalmologist the same fate as She wrote: “The great wall of fear In the chaos that followed the erup- annually. Prominent Syrian activist Mazen Tunisia’s Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, had cracked, the silence was shattered. tion of civil conflict in Syria, the most Seoul’s foreign ministry said the Darwish recalled: “We would call for who had to flee into exile – or per- The confrontation was existential – for violent group in modern jihad – the two sides had reached an agreement freedom and democracy in Tunisia, haps even Libya’s Muammar Gadd- all sides – from its inception.” so-called Islamic State – proclaimed “in principle” without specifying the Egypt and Libya, but we were actu- afi, who was later that year lynched a “caliphate” straddling Syria and agreed amount. ally chanting for Syria. by a frenzied mob. Exodus Iraq that reshaped global terrorism. It said in a statement: “The gov- “We became obsessed with find- The graffiti led to arrests and tor- What came next led to the planet’s Arch foes Iran and the US both ernment will resolve a gap that has ing the spark that would put us next ture, which in turn caused an uproar worst conflict in a generation. sent troops to Syria to protect their lasted for more than a year through in line,” he says, retracing the begin- that rallied a critical number of Syr- The displacement, which saw half interests, as did Turkey. Russia for its a swift signing of an agreement.” nings of Syria’s revolt. “Who was go- ians behind the protests. of Syria’s pre-war population of 22 part launched in 2015 its largest mil- The new deal must still be approved ing to be Syria’s Bouazizi?” March 15, the date which AFP and million forced to flee their homes, itary intervention since the collapse by the South Korean legislature. The closest equivalent to Mohamed many others use for the start of the was the largest induced by conflict of the Soviet Union, a move that US President Joe Biden has vowed Bouazizi, the young street vendor Syrian uprising, was not the first day since World War II. turned the tide in Assad’s favour. to revive frayed US alliances under whose self-immolation was the trig- of protests but the day that demon- Half of those displaced fled the Almost 400,000 people were killed his predecessor to counter the chal- ger for Tunisia’s revolt, turned out to strations happened nationwide and country, some of them swelling a in 10 years, according to the Syrian lenges posed by Russia, China, Iran be youngsters who spray-painted the simultaneously. wave of refugees reaching the shores Observatory for Human Rights, a UK- and North Korea. words “Your turn, doctor” on a wall Journalist and author Rania of Europe, a phenomenon whose based war monitor that has contin- The US Department of State said in in the southern town of Daraa. Abouzeid describes the moment scope affected public opinion, poli- ued to keep count after international a tweet: “America’s alliances are a tre- The slogan was a clear reference to that gives its title to her book on the tics and the outcome of elections on organisations gave up. afp mendous source of our strength.” It also did not state how much the South would pay. The two sides “will now pursue the final steps needed to conclude Gap between rulemaking, enforcement: Tunisia’s the Special Measures Agreement for signature and entry into force that will strengthen our Alliance and our shared defence”, it added. gender violence law struggles to get beyond paper The agreement came as Seoul and Washington kicked off their annual When Nadia told police about her nature. husband was finally arrested. violence, along with compensation. military training on March 8, which husband’s violence during a coro- Nadia immediately called the police, “Fortunately I found some sup- To improve the care of women has been scaled down from the usu- navirus lockdown in Tunisia, she who summoned her a few days later. port,” Nadia said. seeking police protection, the in- al level over Covid-19, with no large- nearly lost custody of her daughter, She was one among many Tuni- But by that stage, “I had nearly lost terior ministry has established 130 scale physical troop involvement. illustrating a chasm between a gen- sian women who suffered a surge in everything, even my daughter.” specialist brigades since 2018. The nine-day exercise is still likely der law and its enforcement. violence during the March-to-June The 2017 legislation, known as Law Specific education on such vio- to infuriate the North, which has Adopted in 2017, the celebrated law lockdown, as reported cases spiked 58, was drafted in consultation with lence is now provided in police long considered such drills rehears- greatly expanded the scope of pun- five-fold, according to authorities. women’s activists and associations. schools, while officers who attempt als for invasion. ishable violence against women and And cases remain high. In theory, it covers prevention, to discourage women from lodging “The upcoming annual training is a in theory provides wide-ranging sup- suppression and protection against cases face prison terms. afp computer-simulated command post port to victims, making the country a ‘Nearly lost everything’ exercise that is strictly defensive in na- pathfinder among regional peers. But Nadia says she was completely ture,” the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff But getting justice remains a battle blindsided by what happened next. said, adding that they went ahead with without any guarantee of success, While her initial interaction with plans after considering the pandemic. due to waning political will and the police was positive, things After his first summit with North scant funding. quickly turned sour. Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Sin- For several years, Nadia, in her for- Her husband was able to afford gapore in June 2018, Trump said ties, weathered threats and mistreat- a lawyer, while she is destitute and Washington would suspend the ment at the hands of her husband. fears he may have bribed the police “very provocative” joint military ex- With no income of her own, she or magistrates. ercises with South Korea. did not feel she could complain. The police requested she put to- But a second meeting held in Ha- “He would do it when drunk, then gether an evidence file herself. noi in February 2019 broke up early apologise,” Nadia said. After several weeks without any with no progress towards Washing- “He left for several months every progress and by now desperate and ton’s goal of Pyongyang abandoning year to work abroad, so I preferred terrified of losing custody of her its nuclear weapons programme. to do nothing” about the abuse, she daughter, Nadia turned to a wom- North Korea has put itself under added. en’s group for help. strict self-imposed isolation to try But things became intolerable The Association of Women Demo- to protect itself against the corona- during a three-month lockdown to crats (ATFD), which provides ev- virus pandemic, adding to the pres- forestall the spread of the coronavi- erything from shelter to legal help, sure on its moribund economy. rus a year ago. linked her up with a lawyer who Analysts will be watching to see “He was stuck in the house, found that the police station had whether it uses the military drills to stressed. He drank a lot,” Nadia said. not even sent her evidence to court. launch provocations against Wash- “One day my daughter told me of The file was then sent to a second ington as it seeks to test the new inappropriate advances” of a sexual magistrate and a few days later her Tunisian women demonstrate on Saturday in Tunis against violence against women. afp Biden administration. afp THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN New homes Thousands rally in Myanmar after for victims of floods in overnight raids on opposition figures south of Laos housands of Lao contractors are working to Myanmar anti-coup complete about 200 new houses demonstrators de- before Lao New Year next month fied an ongoing mili- so that some of the people who taryT crackdown on March 7, lost their homes during the dev- following overnight raids in astating flood that hit Attapeu Yangon in which an official province in July 2018 can finally from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party start to rebuild their lives. was beaten to death and sev- A provincial official, who eral others were detained. asked not to be named, told Myanmar has been rocked Vientiane Times that 700 new by unrest since a February 1 houses would be built by the coup ousted civilian leader end of this year. Suu Kyi from power and trig- The 700 houses are being built gered a mass uprising of peo- by the developers of the Xe Pian- ple opposed to the new mili- Xe Namnoy hydropower plant, tary junta. which was the source of the March 3 was the deadliest flood after a dam collapsed. day so far, with the UN saying The houses are currently at least 38 people were killed under construction in Dong- when security forces fired bakmai, Hinlath, Donebok- into crowds, shooting some maisaengchanh and Samong- protesters in the head. maipindong villages. The UN rights office also The official said: “Families who said it has verified at least 54 lost their homes during the flood deaths since the coup – though are now preparing to move into the actual number could be far specially built houses.” higher – and more than 1,700 The UN is financing the con- people have been detained. struction of an additional 66 Soe Win with the National houses and Thailand is fund- League for Democracy (NLD) ing 35 others. confirmed that some party of- Some families have already ficials were arrested in March Protesters hold shields with the word ‘people’ on them during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Sunday. AFP moved in after spending months 6 night raids, but the exact in temporary accommodation. number is unknown. 7 warned ousted lawmakers widespread international Payne also called for the im- and at least five in other cities The original plan was for about At least one community involved in a group called the condemnation as well as mediate release of Australian and regional towns, according 500 houses to be completed by leader linked to the ousted Committee Representing Py- sanctions against key military economist Sean Turnell, an to Facebook live feeds. next month but the situation NLD government, 58-year- idaungsu Hluttaw – which is personnel. adviser to Suu Kyi, who re- In Bagan, a UNESCO World changed when some people said old Khin Maung Latt, was claiming to be the legitimate Australian foreign minister mains in detention after the Heritage Site famed for its an- they wanted to choose a good killed during a raid at Pabe- elected government – that they Marise Payne announced on junta arrested him last month. cient Buddhist temples, secu- day for the start of construction dan township in Yangon, said are committing “high treason” March 7 that the country was Burma Campaign UK says rity forces shot a 19-year-old of their new house. Others want- Tun Kyi with the Former Po- and could be sentenced to suspending its defence co- at least 12 countries maintain man in the jaw and a woman, ed to move in during another litical Prisoners Society. death or 22 years in jail. operation programme with defence cooperation ties with 56, was hit by a rubber bullet, month, not April. “He was beaten and taken The junta has declared group Myanmar, which included Myanmar. rescue team member Ko Ko All of the families are cur- in a raid . . . and it seems he members personae non-grata English language training. said. rently living in temporary underwent a harsh interro- and says those who commu- Canberra is reviewing its aid ‘Willing to die’ Yangon-based activist housing but it is planned that gation,” he said, adding that nicate with them could face programme so that money is March 7 saw rallies across Maung Saungkha said coor- 200 will be in their new homes his body had been taken to a seven years prison. channelled away from govern- Myanmar against the military, dinated protests across the by Lao New Year, giving them cemetery. The coup and brutal mili- ment agencies towards not- with more than seven separate country were part of a two- good reason to celebrate. State-run media on March tary crackdown has drawn for-profit organisations. demonstrations in Yangon day general strike. AFP Following the collapse of the dam at the Xe Pian-Xe Nam- noy hydropower plant on July 23, 2018, homeless families were initially accommodated PPRP wins by-election in in tents and shelters before moving into temporary hous- southern Thai province ing in Sanamxay district. In cooperation with the Ayasit Srisuwan of Thailand’s 152,020 eligible voters, or 69.38 hydropower plant developers, Palang Pracharath Party per cent. Of the total ballots displaced people were moved (PPRP) won the by-election for cast, 1.66 per cent were voided to temporary housing in five the vacant Constituency 3 of while 1.77 per cent of voters villages. Nakhon Si Thammarat prov- did not vote for any candi- When the dam collapsed, the ince held on March 7, wresting date. resulting flood killed over 40 the member of Parliament The by-election was held people and many more went (MP) seat from coalition part- after Democrat MP Thepthai missing while thousands of ner Democrat Party. Senpong was disqualified by others were made homeless. The Election Commission the Constitutional Court ear- Several villages were wiped announced the unofficial vote lier this year. He was found out by the flood. count at 10:30pm on March 7. guilty of election fraud by the The dam has now been rebuilt Ayasit received 48,701 votes, Nakhon Si Thammarat provin- in a different location and is followed by Phongsin Senpong cial court. more structurally sound. It was of Democrat Party with 44,632 He has appealed against that built under the guidance of spe- votes, Sarawut Suwanrat from conviction. Chinese nationals who entered Vietnam illegally have been taken to quarantine areas. TIENPHONG.VN cialist engineers from interna- Kla Party 6,216 votes, and Api- The Democrats fielded his tional energy companies. rat Rattanaphan from Thai brother, Phongsin, as candi- All hydropower projects are Liberal Party at 2,302 votes. date for the by-election, but he Chinese illegally entering VN currently under scrutiny by The by-election on March 7 finished second.THE NATION (THAI- the government, with officials saw a turnout of 105,468 out of LAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK ordered to inspect all dams under construction and ensure Covid-19-negative in first test their safety. Attapeu province is in the far Thirty-five Chinese nationals They have been quarantined them to make health declara- south of Laos and shares borders who illegally entered VietnNam at the Cu Chi Field Hospital and tions at airports, coach sta- with Vietnam and Cambodia. and stayed at a hotel in Ho Chi will have samples taken for fur- tions, healthcare centres and The province borders Cam- Minh City (HCMC) have tested ther testing. industrial parks. bodia along Stung Treng prov- negative for SARS-CoV-2 for Nguyen Thi Quynh Trieu, As of March 7 morning, the city ince’s Siem Pang district and the first test, HCMC’s health- chairwoman of Ben Thanh has taken 25,853 random sam- Ratanakkiri province’s Taveng care centre said on March 7. ward, said after receiving the ples at crowded places like air- and Veun Sai districts, while The group were spotted by first set of results, the lockdown ports, train stations, bus stations. Sanamxay district borders local police when they hired has been lifted at the hotel. As many as 25,637 samples were Siem Pang’s Santepheap, rooms at a hotel located on Ly Authorities will continue to negative and the remaining 216 which is the northernmost The by-election on Sunday saw a turnout of 105,468 out of 152,020 Tu Trong Street, District 1, test people returning from samples are waiting for results. commune in Stung Treng. VIEN- eligible voters, or 69.38 per cent. THE NATION (THAILAND) HCMC on March 6 morning. social distancing areas and ask VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK TIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion

www.phnompenhpost.com It’s time to get serious about

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Managing Editor Post Khmer gender equality in the workplace Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Opinion phak Seangly Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa Business Editor HERE is no time to waste to May Kunmakara tackle gender equality at work. Deputy Business Editor Now is the time for commit- Sangeetha amarthalingam ment, courageous choices and Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk concertedT efforts from us all. pan Simala It has been more than 100 years Senior Reporters since the International Labour Organ- Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng isation (ILO) first established stand- Reporters ards on women in the workplace, Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, focussing on maternity protection. Long Kimmarita, Hin pisei, Mom Kunthear, A century on, much has changed, Hong Raksmey, pann Rethea, Voun Dara, and we can all point to women who Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, are successfully making a living, carv- Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha ing out careers, doing well in business Photographers and taking up leadership positions. Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey International Women’s Day should Web Editor be the perfect occasion to celebrate Leang phannara this success and to look forward to a Digital Team bright and prosperous future for all Sous Chanthy, pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy women who wish to work. SIEM REAP BUREAU Unfortunately the reality for so Offi ce Manager many women is different. Sophearith Blondeel Covid-19 is partly to blame, amplify- PRODUCTION & PRINTING ing pre-existing inequalities and often Head of Desktop Publishing having a disproportionate impact on Nhim Sokphyrak women’s employment. Women are Desktop Publishing also more at risk of being pushed out Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath of jobs into the more precarious infor- Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna mal sector or work that matches nei- Members of labour unions working in Thailand’s state enterprises march for workers’ maternity rights on International Women’s Day in ther their skills nor aspirations. Bangkok on March 8. afp However if we are to be honest, even before the pandemic hit, the sit- better educated than their male women in the world of work. work institutions. Ratification and uation was less than rosy. counterparts. And if this isn’t bad First, we must seek to tackle the implementation of the Violence and HEAD OFFICE Just over a year ago, before most of enough, women with children are huge disparity between women’s and Harassment Convention should be at Post Media Co., Ltd. us had even heard of Covid-19, ILO’s further penalised with regards to men’s unpaid care responsibilities. the top of the agenda for every country The Elements Condominium Level 7, flagship report A Quantum Leap for employment, pay and leadership Men need to do more and would ben- in the region – following the lead of Fiji, Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, Gender Equality for the Future of opportunities. These penalties are efit from a better work-life balance. which ratified it in June 2020. Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom Work highlighted how progress in carried throughout a woman’s life Increased support and investment at Lastly, steps are needed at every Penh, Cambodia closing gender gaps had stalled, and cycle, often contributing to poverty workplace level is also vital, through Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 level to support women’s voice, rep- in some cases reversed. during elder years, due to a lack of Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 policies that allow a more flexible resentation and leadership. Discrim- There are numerous factors pre- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 pensions and social safety nets. approach to working hours and ination in hiring and promotion SIEM REAP venting women from entering, Violence and harassment are unac- careers, as well as pathways to man- must be removed and affirmative No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune remaining and progressing in the ceptable and continue to have a detri- age care responsibilities and return to action considered to close stubborn Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 labour force. Top among them is mental impact on women’s participa- the workforce after care-giving gender gaps once and for all. We COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT unpaid care work, the burden of tion in employment and their ability absences, without unfair penalties. must also reach out to women every- Chief Operating Offi cer which still rests disproportionately on to reach their potential. It remains a Second, governments need to where, including those with com- James Ong Soon Teck the shoulders of women worldwide. depressingly widespread phenome- adopt – or in some cases make pounding identities who often face Advertising Department For all the efforts to advance gender non, irrespective of country, position sweeping changes to – legislation and marginalisation, such as migrant Chap Narith, 017 996 241 equality, between 1997 and 2012 the or sector, often extending beyond policies that enhance women’s access workers, members of the LGBTI com- Hun Channet, 017 578 768 amount of unpaid care work carried physical spaces into the digital world. to the labour market as well as higher munity, ethnic minority and indige- prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 out by women fell by just 15 minutes a Although the challenges are con- skilled and better-paid jobs and nous women as well as women with Keo puthy, 012 966 605 day while men did eight minutes a siderable, the good news is we know opportunities. This includes invest- disabilities. phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 day more. At this rate it will take over what needs to be done. ing in publicly funded, accessible, The opportunity loss of failing to Jessa piastro, 092 445 983 200 years for the gap to close and cer- Gender equality in the world of professional care services. Many tackle gender equality at work is enor- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION tainly far longer when the impacts of work requires a ‘quantum leap’ and countries have legislation in place mous. Despite the cloud cast by Cov- Acting Distribution Manager Covid-19 are taken into account. not tentative, incremental steps. If we but implementation is weak, so allo- id-19, there is no time to waste. Now is Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Women continue to occupy fewer are to reap the socio-economic bene- cating resources, increasing capacity the time for commitment to be shown Circulation Supervisor jobs and sectors than men. Those fits this will bring, then conscious, and holding duty bearers accounta- and courageous choices to be made. Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 working in the same occupation as proactive and concerted efforts are ble can go a long way. Together we can narrow inequalities Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 men are still systematically paid less needed. We must all play our part. Third, gender-based violence and and break down barriers. By doing so, ADMINISTRATION (approximately 20 per cent world- That means governments, workers harassment including sexual harass- women everywhere can realise their Admin & HR Manager wide). Globally, according to ILO and employers, women’s organisa- ment is unacceptable and must be full potential in a world of work where pich Socheat data, fewer than one-third of manag- tions, schools and academia, other addressed. ILO’s Violence and Harass- no one is left behind. Assistants Admin & HR Manager ers are women, a situation that has key partners, you and me. ment Convention provides a clear Nhel Soaphea changed very little in the last 30 The following are four key areas to framework and practical actions in this The author is ILO assistant director-general Financial Director years, although they are likely to be make transformative change for regard since it was shaped by world of and regional director for Asia and the Pacific Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co., Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co., Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co., Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Trees transformed into ‘sacred monks’ through ceremonial ordination

Roth Sochieata ing chopped down. the robes of a monk and are “Our belief is that the cer- ordained as such, they may be NE dozen saffron emony ordains the trees as accorded greater respect and robes resembling monks and makes them holy. It left alone by loggers. those worn by Bud- gives the forest religious prop- It is hoped that the symbol- dhist monks had erties as it serves as a habitat ism of tying a monk’s robe alreadyO been placed on the for all creatures – both people around the trees will be pow- forest floor near the tall wild and animals,” said Vener- erful enough to convince trees before a few hundred able So Senath, one of the five some people not to harm the campers assembled at Prey monks carrying out the ritual. trees with the monk’s robes on Lang where a tree ordination Given that Buddhism is the because they are now sacred. ceremony was taking place majority religion in the King- Senath says that the tree this past February 14. dom – followed by roughly ordination ceremony can be This year’s tree ordination 95% of the population – it is done to any type of tree, but ceremony was celebrated with hoped that the symbolic ordi- usually they choose the big- Ministry of Environment of- nation of the trees will increase gest and tallest trees in the for- ficials, provincial authorities, people’s respect for them and est that provide a lot of shade, staff members from civil so- make them think twice before like tropical species of the Dip- ciety organization and NGOs, cutting them down. terocarpaceae family – known environment ministry forest The practice of tree ordi- as Chheuteal in Khmer. rangers, monks, students and nation has been going on in The tree ordination on Feb- citizens from a diverse array of Cambodia for the past few ruary 14 began with monks backgrounds as well as report- years and it is an expression of chanting, followed by the ers from various media outlets. respect for nature and a show rest of the assembled crowd. This year, to celebrate St. of support for government and After they finish their chant- Valentine’s Day – once a minor NGO wildlife and forest con- ing, the monks told people Catholic religious observance, servation efforts by the Bud- to unfold the monk’s robes but now widely observed in- dhist religious establishment. before taking them out to tie ternationally as a day dedicat- “As people have started to around the trees. ed to love – around 300 people value [trees] and understand People stand in a line with were led to Prey Lang wildlife the benefit of keeping them, each holding a monk’s robe sanctuary in Chhroy Banteay tree ordination was recently and then they step forward commune in Kratie’s Prek developed to help Cambodians and tie one robe around each Prasap district by Neth Pheak- express this widely held regard tree. After the robes are all tra, Secretary of State and for the forests and the natural tied to trees then the monks Participants take a photo before the tree ordination ceremony on February 14. Tall trees are usually chosen spokesman for the Ministry of world,” he tells The Post. continue with another round to ordain, especially the tropical Dipterocarpaceae or Chheuteal in Khmer. SOUS CHANTHY Environment, to celebrate the “The tree has always been of chanting and blessings. tree ordination. a part of our daily lives, but it “I am honoured to be a part to preserve and nurture the other parts of the country. Senath then mentions that Surrounded by an amazing has also played an important of this amazing event as I am people as well as encouraging “Prey Lang has 430,000 this is the second time that he expanse of wilderness, the role in our religion. Buddha able to help spread this mes- people to participate in forest hectares spread across four has been invited to this event participants in the tree ordi- sat meditating under a fig sage [about conservation] conservation and protection of provinces – Kratie, Preah Vi- with the environment minis- nation ceremony organised tree for 49 days before reach- to others and even more de- biodiversity in Prey Lang Wild- hear, Kampong Thom and try in Kratie province. by the environment ministry ing enlightenment. So we lighted to see that people are life Sanctuary,” Hong states. Steung Treng. “As [Pheaktra] has men- as part of their “Fall in Love should plant trees and pro- willing to attend this event for Pheaktra, the environment “However, though we’ve tioned, we have come to cel- with Prey Lang on Valentine’s tect them just as they in turn the sake of sharing their love ministry spokesman, says held this event here, I hope ebrate Valentine’s Day here in Day” camping event sat on have always given shelter and of nature,” Senath says. that the daily demands of ba- that through social media our order to write a new history the ground quietly with two sustenance to our people and The Ministry of Environ- sic survival for some Cambo- actions here today provide an for our people so that they hands pressed together in an our religion,” Venerable So ment first held tree ordination dians living near the protect- example to whole nation. Our remember to have affection act of prayer together. Senath explains. ceremonies in 2019 accord- ed areas is one of the things country has peace now but for nature and to understand Five Cambodian Buddhist Senath, chief monk of a pa- ing to Phok Hong of the Prey that force people to engage in now we must protect and con- that they must never destroy monks then performed sa- goda, says the benefit of - or Lang Provincial Committee of illegal logging. serve our forests and wildlife. the environment. cred chants and blessed the daining the trees comes from Preah Vihear Province. After the ceremony was fin- “Our Valentine’s Day cele- “Now we need to try to do saffron robes they had tied the fact that Cambodian Bud- “The purpose of the tree ordi- ished, Pheaktra gave a speech to bration this year in Prey Lang better and to help each other around some of the trees, in dhists are taught to respect nation was to preserve religious the assembled crowd saying that is an attempt at raising the to protect the trees that remain the hopes that this ceremony whoever wears the monk’s gar- traditions and to commemo- he hopes that this act will be an consciousness of all Cambo- and to replace those that have would save the trees from be- ment and so if the trees wear rate the forest that helped inspiration to many people in dians,” Pheaktra says. been lost,” Senath says.

Participants pay respect to the ordained tree as it is now symbolically a ‘monk’. More than 300 participants Venerable So Senath (left) and Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra (right) took part in tree camped out in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary on February 14 to witness the ordination ceremony. YOUSOS ordination in Prey Lang in Chhroy Banteay commune of Kratie’s Prek Prasap district on February 14. YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM APDOULRASHIM 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

A flock of flamingos rest in the wetland of Agios Mamas. Around 50 of the majestic pink birds are known to have died so far in the small lagoon in Greece’s northern Halkidiki peninsula. AFP Flamingos poisoned by illegal lead pellets

n A country road that the locals to nearly 60 different bird species. have dubbed ‘Flamingo Street’ Even more importantly, flamingos were re- Stavros Kalpakis walks alongside corded breeding here last year, the first time the tall reeds of Agios Mamas, a this has ever happened in Greece. smallO northern Greek lagoon, peering through binoculars. ‘Human interference’ The grizzled environmentalist puts on his “Prior efforts failed, mainly because of hu- waterproof waders and boots and steps into man interference with flamingo colonies,” knee-deep water. When he returns moments says Anna Panagiotou, head of the manage- “GET TOUGH” later, he is holding a dead pink flamingo – one ment authority for protected areas in the of dozens found in the area in recent weeks, broader Thermaic Gulf. ACROSS 52 Shakespearean auxiliary verb 21 Aristocratic killed by lead poisoning. “It would be truly disappointing if such a 1 Malt-drying oven 54 Carla portrayer, on TV 22 Smallest in magnitude “Around 50 of the majestic pink birds are positive development was thwarted by the in- 5 Some birds that cannot fly 56 Dear old guy 26 Blender setting known to have died so far in the small lagoon sistence of some of our fellow citizens in flout- 9 German wives 59 They are there, win or lose 27 From port to starboard in Greece’s northern Halkidiki peninsula some ing environmental regulations,” she adds. 14 Auditorium level 64 Best part of the cake, to many 28 Without strict oversight 580 kilometres north of Athens,” Kalpakis, The use of lead shot in wetlands has been 15 Sudden impact 66 “I’ll make a ___ of it” 29 ___ Park, Colorado head of the Action for Wildlife organisation, illegal in Greece since 2013, and the EU last 16 Get the joke 67 Long journey 31 Mighty tasty said. November said it would ban its use in all 17 Fascinated by, as a hobby 68 Minstrel show, e.g. 33 Slow, in music Of nearly a dozen flamingos retrieved by the wetlands under its framework regulation for 18 Italian volcano 69 Rowing team 34 Like a winked agreement group for medical attention, none could be chemicals. 19 Tibia neighbor 70 Slippery and hard to catch 35 Wintry rain saved. But Greek hunters still use pellets contain- 20 Good friend in peace and war 71 Business tendency 37 Moved parabolically “Flamingos eat small pebbles to help with ing lead, wildlife groups say. 23 Family member, for short 72 Final stages 39 Soaked through and through digestion, and they are eating the shrapnel According to the European Commission, 24 Shopping convenience 73 Bronchial symptom 42 Civilian clothes from bullets . . . it’s giving them lead poison- every year 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of lead are 25 Opposite of throw away DOWN 43 Drove to distraction ing,” said Ellie Bridgeman, a 20-year-old vol- released into wetlands around the bloc from 27 Beer variety 1 Elevator brand 48 Housed temporarily 2 Isn’t wrong? unteer working with the group. lead gunshot. 30 Sheepish statements 50 Mouselike mammals 3 ___ good example Tests confirmed that the cause of death was For their part, the local Greek hunting as- 32 They’re all grown up 53 Conclusion lead-in 36 Metabolism descriptor 4 Freshwater catch lead poisoning, which also threatens humans, sociation says the issue is being unfairly ex- 55 Word before noon? 38 Old Soviet news group 5 Expelled matter said Sofia Prousali, one of the organisation’s ploited in order to justify restrictions against 56 Vacuum’s target 40 True-to-life 6 Timeworn 57 Tablet brand volunteer vets. them. 41 What trying times may require 7 Fibula’s arm counterpart “We ran tests for avian flu and the West Nile “We have strong indications that the case of 58 Third-rate hotel 44 Baldwin of TV and film 8 Petunia part 60 Little Boy Blue’s instrument virus and they all came back negative,” Prou- the dead flamingos, regardless of its validity, is 45 Textbook division 9 Whipped sali said. used for anti-hunting aims,” the hunting as- 61 General location 46 Fasten again, as sneakers 10 Broke away 62 1994 Jodie Foster movie “All the birds that had these symptoms were sociation of Macedonia and Thrace said in a 47 Who I see in the mirror 11 Black-and-white divers 63 Terrier’s island found to have pellets in their stomachs,” she recent statement. 49 Night preceder 12 Terrible-looking tangelo 65 Cloister sister said, adding that there were likely other dead But Quentin, a 22-year-old French volun- 51 Giant Hall of Famer Mel 13 Cheerleaders, often birds hidden in the lush vegetation that have teer, says he has heard gunshots in the area. not been recovered. “Even though hunting was forbidden under Monday’s solution Agios Mamas is one of Europe’s Natura coronavirus restrictions, we would still hear 2000 wildlife diversity regions, and is home shots from poachers. It’s unbelievable.” AFP

Monday’s solution

Sophia Prousali, veterinarian of the Action for WildLife group, treats a sick flamingo in Thessaloniki.AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Race on as elite clubs scramble to sign on Dortmund’s Haaland orussia Dortmund Despite coming off with a 2022 for around €105 million face a fight to keepE r- cut ankle at the Allianz Arena, ($125 million). ling Braut Haaland in Haaland is expected to be fit Dortmund stand to make at the close-season with to face Sevilla. least five times the€ 20 million severalB elite clubs reportedly He could break Kylian they paid Salzburg for Haa- eyeing the Champions League Mbappe’s record of 19 Cham- land in January 2020. record-breaking goalscorer. pions League goals scored by According to German maga- Dortmund host Sevilla in the a player before his 21st birth- zine Sport Bild, Haaland ad- last-16, return-leg on March 9 day. mires Real, who are seeking a holding a 3-2 lead after Haa- His phenomenal record of replacement for Karim Ben- land showcased his deadly 29 goals in 28 games this sea- zema, 33, whose contract ex- finishing with two well-taken son in all competition has pires next year. goals in the first leg. attracted the attention of Eu- Manchester City, owned by Dortmund forward Erling Braut Haaland controls the ball during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) quarter-final football match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund on March 2. AFP The Norwegian became the rope’s top clubs. Sheikh Mansour, have the fi- first player to score 10 Cham- “Only a maximum of ten nancial clout to sign Haaland March 6 when asked about is not the only star to leave optimistically told Sky he does pions League goals in just sev- clubs can afford to buy him with their striker Sergio Ague- signing Haaland. Dortmund this summer as not expect “crazy things to en games for a single club. and give him the platform he ro, 32, out of contract in June. “But that is something for England winger Jadon San- happen” on the transfer mar- The 20-year-old has scored wants after his time in Dort- A move to the Etihad Stadium the future. He has a long-term cho has long been targeted by ket this summer. eight goals in just five Cham- mund,” Haaland’s agent Mino would see the Leeds-born strik- contract at Dortmund and a Manchester United. However Watzke could did pions League games this sea- Raiola said recently. er follow in the footsteps of his lot of clubs come into play.” Like Haaland, fleet-footed not rule out losing either Haa- son in a staggering career tally Real Madrid and Chelsea father Alf-Inge Haaland, who German daily Bild echoed Sancho has a market value of land or Sancho if “extraordi- of 18 goals in 13 European are reportedly at the head of played for City from 2000-2003. Dortmund fans on March 7 around €100 million. nary things happen”. games for Dortmund and ex- a queue of clubs eager to buy Even club world champions by insisting “Under no cir- According to website Sport1, Europe’s top clubs are club Red Bull Salzburg. Haaland out of his Dortmund Bayern have expressed inter- cumstances should Haaland Chelsea head coach Thomas counting the cost of games He tuned up for Sevilla with contract, which expires in est in Haaland as a potential be sold this summer, even if Tuchel wants to buy both Haa- played behind doors due to two early goals at Bayern Mu- June 2024. replacement for Lewandows- a sheikh is waving €100 or 200 land and Sancho having been the Covid-19 pandemic. nich on March 6 before the ki, who is 33 in August. million. given a budget of €260 million Yet as Watzke pointed out, club world champions fought Release clause? “Lots and lots of things are “Haaland is Dortmund’s life for new players by Blues own- the elite clubs have wealthy back to claim a 4-2 win as Rob- There is reportedly a release possible, you can’t rule any- insurance policy” as his goals er Roman Abramovich. owners who “find ways and ert Lewandowski scored a hat- clause in his contract which thing out,” Bayern Munich often turn matches their way. At the weekend, Dortmund means to pump money into trick. applies from the summer of coach Hansi Flick said on It could be that Haaland CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke them”. AFP Juve’s McKennie, a rare US player Gerrard guides Rangers to firstS cottish title in 10 years Weston McKennie is a sym- his father worked with the Unit- bol of a new generation coming ed States Air Force at the Ram- Rangers’ first Scottish Pre- The former England and Liv- through at Juventus along with stein Base near Kaiserlautern. miership title for 10 years was erpool captain never won a Dejan Kulusevski, Federico He joined FC Phoenix Otter- confirmed March 7 after Celt- league title during his legend- Chiesa and Matthijs De Ligt. bach in 2004. ic’s 0-0 draw at Dundee United ary 17-year career at Anfield. The 22-year-old Texan On his return to the US, McK- left them 20 points behind their However, Gerrard has trans- became the first player from ennie played for Major League Glasgow rivals with six games formed Rangers’ fortunes both the US to play for the Turin Soccer side FC Dallas’ youth left to play. domestically and in Europe giants when he arrived from team for seven years before Steven Gerrard’s men have since taking his first senior Bundesliga club Schalke last moving to Schalke in 2016. stormed to the title without los- managerial role in 2018. summer on loan. ing a game to end Celtic’s stran- The newly crowned Scottish Coach Andrea Pirlo has First trophy glehold of a record-equalling champions have reached the hailed the young international For Schalke, McKennie made nine consecutive Scottish last 16 of the Europa League for as “a rock” in a difficult period 91 Bundesliga appearances, league titles. the second consecutive season, for the Italian champions with scoring five goals. Rangers were not even in the where they face Slavia Prague an ongoing injury crisis. Pirlo’s arrival, which came top-flight for four of those sea- on March 11. Juventus trail Portuguese Juventus’ US midfielder Weston McKennie air controls the ball during when Maurizio Sarri was sons after the club was demot- Rangers were denied rubbing the Italian Serie A football match on December 16. AFP club Porto 2-1 going into the sacked after more Champions ed to the fourth tier after being salt into Celtic wounds by win- second leg of their Champions “Now that he has been bought teeth because we haven’t got League disappointment, her- liquidated in 2012 due to finan- ning the title at Celtic Park in League last 16 tie in Turin on outright he can’t think that he’s many players available,” said alded in a wave of younger cial troubles. two weeks’ time in their next March 9. arrived; this is a starting Pirlo after the Porto defeat. players. “This club has been to hell league fixture after they Forward Chiesa, 23, pulled a point. That loss in Portugal came McKennie arrived along with and back over the past 10 dropped points for the 12th goal back for the Italians late in “If he thinks he has reached after falling to Napoli in the Barcelona defender Arthur, 24, years,” said Gerrard after March time in the league this season. Portugal, for a precious away the top he has made a mistake league. with veterans including 6’s 3-0 win over St Mirren put Caretaker manager John Ken- goal as they look to avoid crash- and is not on the right path.” Since then, Juventus have Miralem Pjanic, Gonzalo Rangers on the brink of a first nedy was taking charge for just ing in the last 16 for a second There have only been a hand- gotten back on track in Serie A Higuain and Blaise Matuidi all major trophy since 2011. the second time since Neil Len- consecutive year. ful of people from the US who with 10 goals in four games, leaving. “I’ve only been part of it for non resigned last month. McKennie helped Juventus have played in Serie A over the consolidating third place with Swede Kulusevski, 20, signed three, but I can certainly relate The same issues that have out of the group stage with a years, such as Michael Bradley a 3-1 win over Lazio at the from Parma, scoring on his and I’ve got that feeling and that dogged Celtic all season cost them goal in a 3-0 win at Barcelona at Chievo and Roma, Armando weekend. professional debut, with Chie- affection with the fans and I at Tannadice as the visitors domi- in December having lost the Frigo at Fiorentina and Alexi McKennie’s performances for sa, 23, arriving on loan from know what they have been nated but failed to find the net home leg 2-0. Lalas at Padova. club and country, where he Fiorentina. through.” with 27 attempts on goal. AFP It was the second Champions “You grew up watching these scored the quickest hat-trick in Spanish striker Alvaro Mora- League goal for McKennie hav- players, idolising them and US men’s soccer history with ta, 28, returned to Juventus ing previously scored one for playing them on video games three goals in 13 minutes in the where he played with Pirlo Schalke. and now they’re your team- CONCACAF Nations League in from 2014-2016. The Italians have won the mate, it’s a dream come true,” 2019, saw him voted the best Juventus have scored a total European title twice, but not said McKennie on playing US male soccer player of of 36 goals in all competitions since 1996, and Pirlo warned alongside the likes of Cristiano 2020. from new signings. that the Porto game was a “deci- Ronaldo. “It’s a big deal, I remember Morata has scored 16, includ- sive match we can’t mess up”. when I was in the U17 and I ing six in the Champions McKennie has found his feet ‘Grits his teeth’ wasn’t even considered in the League, Chiesa nine, McKennie in northern Italy and his move Despite niggling injuries and U17 World Cup or qualifiers,” and Kulusevski five each and from Schalke was made per- catching coronavirus in Octo- McKennie told former US Arthur one. manent on March 3, Juve buy- ber, McKennie has remained a captain Carlos Bocanegra on “Words can’t describe the ing him outright for €18.5 mil- reliable option for the Serie A hearing he had won the feeling of finally being able to lion ($22.3 million) on a deal champions, scoring five times award. raise a trophy,” said McKennie until June 2025. in 32 appearances. “To get to this point, it’s a big, on claiming his first trophy in “We chose him for his char- “McKennie is also not 100 per long journey for sure.” the Italian Supercup, adding he acteristics, we followed him,” cent fit, he has a hip problem, McKennie spent part of his hoped “it will be the first of Rangers fans celebrate with flags after the club win their first Scottish said Pirlo. but he is a rock and he grits his childhood in Germany where many”. AFP Premiership title for 10 years. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Man U shatter Man City’s winning streak as Liverpool crisis mounts anchester games as possible to be cham- want to win games and I saw United shattered pions.” that today. We still made mis- Manchester City’s Barring a dramatic collapse takes and that’s the problem,” record winning from City in the closing weeks, Klopp said. Mstreak with an impressive 2-0 United’s third win in the last Tottenham are back in the victory against the Premier four league meetings with their hunt for a top-four berth after League leaders, while Liverpool bitter rivals is likely to be Gareth Bale and Harry Kane hit a new low as relegation- remembered for cementing a scored twice in a 4-1 rout of threatened Fulham won at top-four place rather than Crystal Palace. Anfield on March 7. rekindling their title hopes. The revitalised Bale tapped Pep Guardiola’s side were on “When you come away with a in from Kane’s cross in the 25th an English top-flight record run 2-0 win and another clean sheet minute before Christian Ben- of 21 successive wins in all and a performance like this then teke headed Palace’s equaliser competitions heading into the you are delighted,” Solskjaer in first half stoppage-time. Manchester derby. said. “But City are too far ahead Bale restored Tottenham’s But United ruined City’s to think we can catch them.” advantage in the 49th minute 28-game unbeaten run in all With just 34 seconds gone, when the on-loan Real Madrid competitions thanks to an early Anthony Martial made a dan- forward headed home for his penalty from Bruno Fernandes gerous raid into the City area sixth goal in his last six and Luke Shaw’s second-half and Gabriel Jesus responded games. strike at the Etihad Stadium. with a needless, clumsy chal- Kane’s brilliant 20-yard rock- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, lenge that sent the French et made it three in the 52nd unbeaten in their last 22 away striker sprawling. minute and the Tottenham league games, moved above Fernandes stepped up to take striker netted again from Son Leicester into second place, but the penalty and squeezed his Heung-min’s pass in the 77th they are still 11 points behind shot past Ederson, who got a minute. City with 10 games left. hand on the ball but couldn’t It was the 14th goal Kane and Despite surrendering their keep it out. Son had been directly involved 15-match winning league run It was United’s first goal in in this term, beating the previ- in their first defeat since losing four games, putting City were Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (centre) is tackled by Manchester United’s Swedish ous Premier League record set defender Victor Lindelof (left) during their English Premier League football match on Sunday. AFP at Tottenham in November, behind for the first time in 20 by Alan Shearer and Chris Sut- City remain firm favourites to league games. as champions, Liverpool have between April 2017 and Janu- Mohamed Salah was at fault ton for Blackburn in the 1994- lift the title for the third time in In the 50th minute, Shaw now lost six consecutive home ary this year. for the only goal in first-half 1995 season. four seasons. broke from deep inside his own league games after third-bot- Liverpool’s best chance of stoppage time. Sixth-placed Tottenham are “We will be the news because half, played a one-two with tom Fulham’s well-deserved qualifying for next season’s Mario Lemina outmuscled two points behind Chelsea we lost. But the news is 21 vic- Marcus Rashford and fired a 1-0 win. Champions League may now Salah to win the ball inside the after their third successive tories in a row. We played much fine finish past Ederson from That dismal run is all the be in winning the European Liverpool box before firing low win. better than the game against just inside the area. more remarkable as Jurgen Cup as they sit eighth, four across Alisson Becker into the Newcastle are just one point West Ham which we won,” Klopp’s men had gone nearly points adrift of the top four, far corner. above the relegation zone after Guardiola said. Liverpool crash again four years without a league having played at least one game “We don’t have the mentality a 0-0 draw at second-bottom “We will try to win as many Likely to be replaced by City defeat at home in 68 games more than all their rivals. we are used to, but the boys West Brom. AFP Barca given fresh start as Laporta elected president Joan Laporta returned as Barcelona during Laporta’s seven-year spell in his face: “Now let’s go to Paris and see work this season while maintaining directors and the dressing room, led president on March 7 after winning charge. if we can make another ‘remontada’ his future will depend on results. by Messi and Pique. the club’s elections by a landslide, The 58-year-old will return after happen!” Koeman’s contract runs until 2022. “We are a great family,” Laporta with his central pledge to try to per- holding off competition from Victor Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain “I am not worried because I have a said. “We have a feeling of belonging suade Lionel Messi to stay. Font and Toni Freixa, the other two on March 10 in the Champions contract and when we know who is to this club and that feeling will make Laporta was last president at Barca candidates to gain enough support League last 16, with a 4-1 deficit to going to be the president of course we us all go together to face the chal- between 2003 and 2010, which to make the final stage. make up from the opening leg. will talk and I want him to show me lenges that lie ahead.” included overseeing the hugely suc- Laporta won 30,184 votes, Font Longer-term, Laporta’s task will be his way,” Koeman said on March 5. The last president Josep Maria Bar- cessful appointment of Pep Guardi- 16,679 and Freixa 4,769 from a total of to rebuild a club in crisis, with crippling Laporta’s main rival for the presi- tomeu was forced to resign in Octo- ola as coach and the iconic treble- 55,611 lodged by the club’s members. debts exacerbated by the pandemic, dency was Font, who was the early ber after the club’s members suc- winning team of 2008-2009. Amid champagne celebrations its reputation damaged and Messi con- favourite after claiming he would ceeded in achieving a vote of no In total, the club won four La Liga shared with his team on March 7 sidering leaving for free when his con- bring former Barcelona midfielder confidence against him. titles and two Champions Leagues night, Laporta shouted with a grin on tract expires this summer. Xavi Hernandez in as coach. But Bartomeu quit before facing the He has said he will do everything But the team’s progress under Koe- vote after overseeing a disastrous final possible to keep Messi at Camp Nou man and Laporta’s superior cam- year that included Messi attempting and campaigned heavily on the idea paign cast doubt over the promise, to leave, the team being humiliated by he was the best-placed candidate to with Laporta questioning last week Bayern Munich in the Champions convince the Argentinian, owing to why Xavi had not come out in sup- League and the club posting gross their relationship during his previous port of Font publicly. debts of €1.2 billion ($1.43 billion). time in charge. Xavi may have been keen to keep Bartomeu spent the night in prison In his victory speech, Laporta picked his options open and the Spaniard on March 1 after being arrested as up on Messi showing up to vote ear- caused a stir on March 7 by liking, part of a police investigation into lier in the day. “Seeing Leo, the best and then unliking, an Instagram post alleged corruption. player in the world, come to vote with of Laporta casting his ballot. Voters had been due to go to the his son is for me a sign of what we have Laporta will also have to make deci- polls on January 24 but were pre- said all along,” Laporta said. sions on Xavi’s other former team- vented due to restrictions in relating mates still at the club like Gerard to the pandemic, meaning the elec- ‘Leo loves Barca’ Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi tion was postponed. “Leo loves Barca and knows that we Alba, who have contributed so much Ballots on March 7 were held at six are a big family. Hopefully that can but whose peak years are now behind different polling stations in Catalonia help us encourage him to stay,” he them. and Andorra between 9am and 9pm, said while just over 22,000 voters were able A change of regime also leaves ‘Great family’ to vote by post for the first time. coach Ronald Koeman’s position Perhaps most importantly, his job Laporta’s victory was confirmed Joan Laporta (centre) delivers a speech at the auditorium of the Camp Nou complex uncertain, with Laporta insisting the will be to heal the deep mistrust that officially by the club at just before after winning the FC Barcelona presidency on Sunday in Barcelona. AFP Dutchman “deserves respect” for his has developed between the board of midnight. AFP