WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3573 / 4000 RIEL PM: Nov 28 event concluded Mom Kunthear as he addressed the nation from There were 41 people infected with aimed at identifying any new cases. his residence in Kandal province’s Covid-19 in relation to the November 28 His second reason involved the re- RIME Minister Hun Sen offi- Takhmao town on December 29. community event. As of December 29, cent return of Cambodian migrant cially declared that the “Novem- “I am pleased to announce that the only three of them remained hospitalised. workers from Thailand. Somewhat de- ber 28 community incident” – a November 28 community event has According to the prime minister, the fying expectations, testing had found HUN SEN PRAISES reference to the first confirmed come to an end despite having made first of the three reasons that had led zero new Covid-19 cases among the Pcase of Covid-19 local transmission – a prediction on December 15 that we to this decision was the fact that there returning workers. THAI HANDLING OF was now over as the situation had been might not be able to do so until early had been no new Covid-19 patients The third reason, Hun Sen said, is brought under control. or mid-January for three reasons, pri- found over the past 14 days despite SEAFOOD MARKET Hun Sen made the announcement marily,” Hun Sen said. an active government testing effort CONTINUED – page 4 COVID OUTBREAK NATIONAL – page 3 50 journalists killed this year in ‘barbaric murders’: RSF FIFTY journalists and media workers were killed in connec- tion with their work in 2020, the majority in countries that INTER-MINISTERIAL are not at war, Reporters With- out Borders (RSF) said on MEETING: TV TO GO December 29. The figure shows an increase DIGITAL BY 2023, in the targeting of reporters investigating organised crime, PAVING WAY FOR 5G corruption or environmental BUSINESS – page 6 issues, the watchdog said. It highlighted murders in Mexico, India and Pakistan. Eighty-four per cent of those killed this year were “deliber- ately targeted” for their work, RSF said in its annual report, compared to 63 per cent in 2019. “For several years now, Reporters Without Borders has noted that investigative jour- nalists are really in the cross- hairs of states, or cartels,” said Pauline Ades-Mevel, RSF edi- MORE ROHINGYA tor-in-chief. SENT TO ISLAND Mexico was the deadliest Singapore’s KrisEnergy on December 28 extracted the first drop of crude oil from Cambodian waters. MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY country, with eight killed. DESPITE HUMAN “Links between drug traffickers and politicians remain, and RIGHTS CONCERNS journalists who dare to cover these or related issues continue WORLD – PAGE 9 Cambodia extracts ‘first drop of to be the targets of barbaric murders,” said the report. None of the Mexico killings oil’, marking start of production had yet been punished, added RSF, which has compiled annual data on violence May Kunmakara KrisEnergy on December 29 partner in Block A. determination of the KrisEn- against journalists around the said oil started to flow from a “It has been three years since ergy team and the strong globe since 1995. SINGAPORE-based oil and gas “single development well” in we signed with the government cooperation of our contrac- Five journalists were killed in exploration company KrisEn- the oilfield and the flow rate the petroleum agreement to tors and suppliers. war-torn Afghanistan, it said, ergy Ltd on December 28 will take at least 24 hours to launch this project, and there “I convey my heartfelt appre- noting an increase in targeted extracted the first drop of crude stabilise. has been a steep learning curve ciation to all relevant ministries attacks on media workers in oil from Cambodian waters. “Production will increase to for all involved in what is a and authorities for their assist- recent months even as peace The highly-anticipated mile- plateau as four additional wells momentous event for the Cam- ance, cooperation and their talks between the government FRUITY ENERGY, stone extraction from the off- are progressively completed bodian people and an important dedication to get the Apsara oil and Taliban are ongoing. shore Cambodia Block A con- and commissioned,” it said. strategic and operational mile- development over the line. RSF also highlighted the SPIDERY LENSES: cession in the Khmer Basin’s Kelvin Tang, the CEO and stone for KrisEnergy,” he said. KrisEnergy is honoured to be a case of Iranian opposition Apsara oilfield makes the King- president of KrisEnergy’s With Covid-19 hanging over part of this historic occasion. figure Ruhollah Zam, who NATURE-INSPIRED dom the eighth oil producer in Cambodian operations, said the world, Tang said: “Pro- “Our task now is to complete ran a popular social media SOLUTIONS IN 2020 the 10-member ASEAN, with Apsara’s first drop of oil marks gressing Apsara to first oil has drilling of the four remaining channel that rallied regime only Singapore and land-locked a 10-year journey from when been a tremendous achieve- LIFESTYLE – page 13 Laos not producing crude. KrisEnergy initially became a ment and a testament to the CONTINUED – page 6 CONTINUED – page 9 THE PHNOM PENH POST Lake filling in Phnom Penh National draws concern from CSOs Inside page 5 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST DECEMBER 30, 2020 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National Court begins hearing of Rainsy, activists on incitement charges Kim Sarom THE Phnom Penh Municipal Court began hearing the case of Sam Rain- sy, former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), and 21 alleged accomplices on charges of treason, incitement to cause social chaos and incitement of the military to en- The education ministry allowed private schools to reopen on Tuesday. HEAN RANGSEY gage in rebellion. The hearing was held on December 29 under tight security conditions both inside the courtroom and out- Private schools side the municipal court building. Thirteen of the 22 defendants at- tended the hearing, while nine oth- ers remained at large after fleeing Cambodia to take up residence in reopen after end various countries abroad. The 22 include Rainsy, who was Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy in Phnom Penh in 2015. HENG CHIVOAN defended in court by lawyers Sam dock. Aside from that, I had already committed to its agenda, nor did he Sokong and Lor Chunthy, along with stopped talking about party mat- bear any love for them now given his lawyers Sin Savorn and Yong Phanit ters and politics. I don’t understand present circumstances. of ‘Nov 28 event’ who had been assigned by the Bar what I’m supposed to be guilty of “I said some things about Covid- Voun Dara firmed case ofC ovid-19 local transmis- Association of the Kingdom of Cam- now,” he stated to the court. 19 in a Facebook messenger group. sion – Prime Minister Hun Sen said it bodia to defend him. Phary told the judge that he had I said the Cambodian government RIVATE educational institu- was time to begin reopening schools. The day’s proceedings, overseen a Facebook account, but he never had [wrongly] allowed a plane into tions have been allowed to School closures have a taken a huge by Presiding Judge Ros Piseth, began “friended” any of the former leaders Cambodia and I criticised Cambo- reopen from December 29 toll on Cambodia and the world alike, with the questioning of one of the de- of the CNRP. dia’s Ministry of Health,” he said. while the 2020-2021 aca- the prime minister said. He noted that fendants in the case, Long Phary, 58, He recounted to the court that he After Judge Piseth had finished Pdemic year for public schools will while some children had been able and a former councillor for the CNRP first heard about the establishment questioning Kheang, he announced resume on January 11, according to to continue attending schools and in Prey Veng province’s Kampong of the National Salvation Movement that the hearing would adjourn and a notice from the Ministry of Educa- some had been able to take classes Trabek district, by prosecutors Seng in the US on January 28, 2018, from he scheduled its resumption for Jan- tion, Youth and Sport. online, many others were completely Heang and Sam Rithy Veasna. a programme on VOA Radio, but he uary 22, 2021. All schools are required to continue without such opportunities. He told the judge that he had been had never joined the movement. After attending the hearing, the head implementing health safety measures. “I have approved the request by acquainted with Rainsy and his wife He also said that around the time of of human rights organisation Adhoc, In a statement, minister Hang Chuon Naron on December 29, and Tioulong Saumura, but that he had November 19, 2019, when Rainsy had Ny Sokha, gave an interview to report- Chuon Naron said the decision ap- January 11 is set for resuming the 2020- only heard the names of other se- claimed he would return to Cambo- ers outside the courtroom, saying that, plied to all private schools which had 2021 academic year,” Hun Sen said. nior party officials and had never dia, there was a former CNRP official apparently, the individuals questioned previously been permitted to open He described the complex cir- met them personally. in Prey Veng who attempted to get had no further involvement with the during the first and second phases cumstances the world is facing as He admitted that prior to the CNRP him to gather people together to go CNRP after the Supreme Court had of reopening earlier this year.