Cambodia 20240513: Controversy, Transformation, Equilibrium

Mekong Memo Cambodia Weekly: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.

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Headlines:

Funan Techo Canal Still Making Waves

Diplomatic Strain, Labor Rights Crusade Collide

Govt Pushes for New Press Law as UNESCO Applauds Progress

At the Heart of SEA Geopolitics and Trade

Trade Gets Smoother with Single Window

Property Market Lures Diverse Investors

Poverty Slashed in Half

Opposition Politicians Nabbed

Cambodia Downplays Chinese Warship Presence

Carving Out a Southeast Asia Tech Hub Niche

Police Told to Level Up

Massive Pedestrian Zone in the Works

Honey Harvest A Sweet Source of Prosperity

Discovering Heritage at Theam’s Gallery

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Funan Techo Canal Still Making Waves

The proposed 180km Funan Techo Canal project, bankrolled and built by a Chinese state-owned firm, is still the talk of the town. The plan is to link Phnom Penh on the Mekong River with the sea by 2028, but it's ruffling feathers with Vietnam over potential cross-border impacts on water availability and agricultural production in the Mekong Delta. Turning existing narrow, low-levee canals into wider, high-levee ones will cut down on wet season flooding, hitting millions of people and biodiverse habitats hard. Despite Cambodia's propaganda blitz, the official rationale seems to be all over the place. Concerned parties should be working to get the canal designated as a mainstream project, kicking off MRC consultation processes to assess impacts and explore alternatives.

Read more: Stimson Center (Transboundary Impacts), The Geopolitics (Chinese Involvement), Radio Free Asia (Dependency on Vietnam)

Diplomatic Strain, Labor Rights Crusade Collide

The government's unwavering defense of judicial rulings and the global push for the release of jailed trade unionist Chhim Sithar show a growing diplomatic strain over human rights issues. A new program from the International Labour Organization offers a glimmer of hope for better labor conditions and social dialogue, however. Despite blistering international criticism, especially on freedom of assembly and expression, the government isn't budging on its stance of judicial independence. Cambodia is truly one of those places where global voices clash with claims of national sovereignty over human rights practices.

Read more: Radio Free Asia (Judicial Controversy), UCA News (UN Pressure), ILO (Labor Agreement)

Govt Pushes for New Press Law as UNESCO Applauds Progress

The government and media associations are beating the drum for a new Press Law to replace the outdated 1995 version, which they say has loopholes in the context of modern tech. The Ministry of Information and the Council of Jurists are hashing out the drafting of the new law. This comes as UNESCO Representative to Cambodia Sardar Umar Alam recently gave Cambodia a pat on the back for its strides in improving press freedom and collaboration between the government and civil society during a sit-down with Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra. Umar Alam specifically praised Cambodia's celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2024 and the release of a report on the state of press freedom.

Read more: Khmer Times (New Law), Khmer Times (UNESCO Praise)

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At the Heart of SEA Geopolitics and Trade

Cambodia is doing its best to keep its balance in the heart of a shifting geopolitical landscape, this week working on its ties with both Russia and the United States. The bonds with Russia are deepening, with high-level visits and stronger military cooperation, while economic engagements show Cambodia maintaining a hefty trade surplus with Russia. At the same time, calls for ramped-up US-Cambodia exchanges show a hope to mend and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties against a backdrop shaped by China's presence.

Read more: Cambodianess (Russia Ties), Phnom Penh Post (US Relations)