Latest news with #ThePhnomPenhPost
The Star
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Deported Cambodian blacklisted as ‘national security threat'
A Cambodian woman who previously worked in Thailand has been placed on a blacklist by Thai authorities, permanently barring her from re-entering the neighbouring Kingdom in the future. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/ANN PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian woman who previously worked in Thailand has been placed on a blacklist by Thai authorities, permanently barring her from re-entering the neighbouring Kingdom in the future. She was previously detained for two nights by Thai authorities on charges of illegally entering the country and begging. According to Thailand's The Nation media outlet, the woman, Wan Naree, who has a disabled left arm, had been begging in Thailand. On Wednesday (June 25), she and several others protested at their inability to return to Cambodia because of the closure of the Khlong Luek border checkpoint, opposite the Poipet checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province. The media reported that she shouted at Thai immigration officials and demanded that they open the checkpoint and let return to Cambodia. At that point, she was arrested, then charged with illegally entering the country and engaging in begging activities. She was detained for two nights, convicted by a court, fined and ordered to be deported. 'She has also been placed on Thailand's immigration blacklist as a 'threat to national security', meaning she is permanently barred from re-entering the Kingdom,' said The Nation. On June 27, she and several others were transported back to Cambodia. She stated that she would not return to Thailand. According to a post on the Facebook page of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Banteay Meanchey provincial administration, local authorities, and the Cambodian Consulate General in Sa Kaeo province worked diligently to negotiate with Thai authorities, resulting in the release of two women, including Wan Naree, and allowing them to return to Cambodia. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodian PM Manet thanks his people for maintaining dignity during Thai dispute
Prime Minister Hun Manet addressing the closing ceremony of a Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia event on June 23. - FN PHNOM PENH: As tensions over border disputes simmer between Thailand and Cambodia, the Cambodian leadership is continuing to urge the citizens of the kingdom not to discriminate against Thai nationals and to maintain their dignity. Thai residents in Cambodia have no reason to be concerned, noted Prime Minister Hun Manet. 'Up to this moment, the Khmer people have not looked down on or belittled Thai citizens living and working in Cambodia. I am very grateful to them for upholding such high moral standards. There are some cases [of discrimination] elsewhere, but they are not widespread because there are both good and bad people. "Please do not expand the issue. Relations between people and people, citizens and citizens, must not harbour hostility,' he said, as he addressed a June 23 meeting. He added that if Cambodian workers in Thailand face any discrimination, they should return to Cambodia, where buses are ready to deliver them home. 'This issue almost escalated. Recently, we saw children studying in Thai schools stomping and kicking the Khmer flag, and children in Khmer schools stomping and kicking the Thai flag,' he said. He emphasised that despite conflicts between governments or militaries, civilians must exercise restraint to avoid disputes at the public level. Recently, defence minister Tea Seiha made a similar appeal, even as the two countries' armies face off. On June 22, the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation advised Cambodians to avoid travelling to Thailand unless it was absolutely necessary. 'At the same time, we urge all Cambodian citizens and workers currently in Thailand to exercise the utmost caution, closely monitor information from official sources and avoid travelling to areas prone to dangers, such as gatherings or protests of any kind,' said a foreign ministry statement. Similarly, Thailand's foreign ministry has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Cambodia unless essential. The border dispute between the two countries has also escalated into the realm of trade. On June 23, the Thai government reportedly banned people and vehicles from crossing the Thai-Cambodian border in Thailand's seven border provinces, except for students and medical patients. Thai restrictions include the halting of all fuel and oil exports to Cambodia, although the Cambodian government had announced that it would pause all Thai oil and gas imports a full day earlier. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that these measures were aimed at curbing cross-border crime and online scams. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Hun Sen assures Cambodians that military are committed to peace
Cambodian soldiers drive BM-21 Grad self-propelled multiple rocket launchers along a street in Phnom Penh on May 28, 2025. - AFP PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian and Thai militaries met on June 8 and agreed to adjust their military forces to appropriate areas to reduce tensions and confrontations along the border. The stance is intended to ease the tense situation at the border after a brief May 28 clash killied a Cambodian soldier. Senate president Hun Sen took to Facebook to calm the sentiment of Cambodian people who expressed concerns about losing territory. 'Adjusting military forces in conflict-prone areas through mutual understanding between the military commanders of both Cambodia and Thailand is essential to avoid large-scale violent clashes. The people of both Cambodia and Thailand genuinely desire lasting peace and do not wish to see war,' he said. He added that efforts to find a resolution through dialogue have taken place at all levels — from the government to frontline military commanders — and are now bearing fruit. 'To our fellow citizens, please place your trust in the government's commitment to resolving conflicts through peaceful means, which remains the only viable path to avoiding bloodshed and fostering friendship and effective cooperation with our neighbouring country,' he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
07-06-2025
- The Star
Porn producers in Phnom Penh busted: 12, including a Malaysian, in custody
The raid took place in Phnom Penh's Prampi Makara district. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/ANN PHNOM PENH: The Phnom Penh Municipal Gendarmerie have busted a Phnom Penh pornography operation. The raid saw 12 suspects taken into custody. The authorities explained that the group were producing and distributing – as well as live-streaming – pornographic content. Rath Sreang, commander of the Municipal Gendarmerie, explained that the operation took place on Wednesday (June 4) at a flat located along Street 242, in Prampi Makara district's Boeung Prolit commune. The 12 suspects included six Chinese nationals, five Cambodians and a Malaysian. Computers, condoms and a range of sex toys were seized during the raid. Sreang said the 12 suspects were sent to court on June 6. It was unclear how long they had been producing pornographic content for. He confirmed that he ordered the raid, in coordination with Seng Mengsrun, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The Kingdom's Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation explained that anyone who possesses, distributes, sells, rents, displays, screens or publicly shows pornographic images shall face a term of imprisonment of from 7 days to 1 month and a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 riel (US$25 to US$50). The production of pornographic images or materials carries a prison term of from 1 month to 1 year and a fine of 100,000 (US$25) to 2,000,000 riels (US$500). If children are involved, a sentence of up to ten years may be imposed. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia's total public debt reaches US$12.18bil as of Q1
An aerial view of the capital's central business district. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post file PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government had a total public debt stock of US$12.18 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025, up 1.24 per cent from US$12.03 billion at the end of 2024, according to the Cambodia Public Debt Statistical Bulletin on Friday (May 30). Published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the bulletin showed that 99 per cent, or $12.06 billion, was public external debt and 1 per cent, or $118.33 million, was public domestic debt. The composition of the public debt stock comprised 48 per cent in USD, 18 per cent in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), 11 per cent in JPY, 10 per cent in CNY, 8 per cent in EUR and 5 per cent in local and other currencies, the bulletin said. During the January-March period this year, the government signed new concessional loans with development partners in a total amount of $78.81 million, which accounted for 3 per cent of the ceiling permitted by law, it said. "Overall, all the loans are highly concessional with an average grant element of around 50 per cent," the bulletin said. The bulletin said the Southeast Asian country had paid debt services to development partners in the amount of $237.8 million in Q1 of 2025. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said all the loans had been used to finance public investment projects in the priority sectors that support long-term sustainable economic growth and increase economic productivity. Cambodia's public debt situation is currently at a controllable level and continues to remain "sustainable" and "low risk" of debt distress, he said in the bulletin. The kingdom's total public debt is at 18.4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is far lower than the threshold of 40 per cent, according to the bulletin. - Xinhua
