Cambodia Morning News For December 29

China to Assist Cambodia With 2018 Elections After US, EU Withdraw Funding
China will donate equipment to assist in Cambodia’s elections next year, including computers and ballot boxes, according to Cambodia’s top electoral body, weeks after the U.S. and EU withdrew support amid a crackdown on the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
— Radio Free Asia

Court date set for Tax Department’s defamation case against Cambodia Daily deputy publisher
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has set a March 22 trial date for a public defamation case filed by the Tax Department against Cambodia Daily deputy publisher Deborah Krisher-Steele, which was filed by the Tax Department.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Telecom regulator to steer clear of service providers’ price war
After a year of toothless warnings against below-cost mobile deals – which it previously called “suspicious” and “unfair” – the country’s telecommunications regulator yesterday capitulated, instead beseeching operators to steer clear of confusing marketing and maintain the quality of their services.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Has Over 3,000 Construction Projects in 2017
Cambodian’s construction investment reached 3,052 projects on a surface area of 10 million square meters, worth of approximately $6.4 billion, an increase of 22.31% compared to 2016, which was $5.2 billion, according to the annual report of the Ministry of Land Management and Urban Planning.
— Fresh News

Kheng seeks constitutional ban on individuals harming Cambodia’s ‘interests’
Interior Minister Sar Kheng announced yesterday that he would introduce an amendment to the Constitution banning individuals from doing “anything to impact the national interests” of Cambodia, singling out ex-opposition figure Kem Monovithya as an example.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Ex-Beehive leader Sonando called in Kem Sokha case
Radio broadcaster and former Beehive Party President Mam Sonando was served a summons last week by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to appear as a witness in relation to a “treason” case filed against former opposition President Kem Sokha.
— The Phnom Penh Post

New wave of Cambodian domestic helpers ‘know risks’ that come with working in Hong Kong
High-profile cases of helper abuse, such as that of Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, have damaged Hong Kong’s reputation but the new recruits ‘have been adequately briefed’, says woman helping to integrate them.
— South China Morning Post

Farming project gets extension, $66M
The government and international funders have committed a further $66 million to a project to increase small farmers’ productivity, after yesterday claiming success in the program’s initial seven-year period.
— The Phnom Penh Post

CMAC Receives $1.2 Million from UNDP for Mine Clearance
Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 28 – Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) has received $1.2 million from UNDP for a one-year (2018) mine clearance project in Pailin, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces.
— Fresh News

New cement production plant opens in Kampot
Cambodia’s newest cement production facility, built and owned by Chip Mong Insee Cement Corporation, celebrated a soft launch on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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