Cambodia Morning News For October 25

Analysts say government use of Fresh News fits the authoritarian playbook
Once heralded as a force for democratisation, online media is often now used by authoritarian regimes around the world to serve their interests – a process that experts say appears underway in Cambodia.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Spotlight: Cambodia’s central bank encouraging use of Chinese yuan
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the country’s central bank, has been encouraging businesses and individuals to use renminbi (RMB), or the Chinese yuan, in order to further increase trade and investment volumes between the two countries, officials said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

Cambodia mulls pulling out as 2023 SEA Games host
Cambodia is said to be having second thoughts about hosting the SEA Games for the first time in 2023.
— The Star Online

Cambodian refugee deal a ‘bad joke’, says former foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans
The $55 million deal to resettle refugees in Cambodia is a “joke in bad taste” that has undermined Australia’s diplomatic influence, says former Labor foreign affairs minister Gareth Evans.
— ABC Online

Millers start to make use of $50M emergency rice fund
The government has already provided $9 million from its emergency rice loan fund to the Kingdom’s rice millers since the harvest season began in September, nearly triple the amount it provided when it first launched the initiative last year when millers showed little appetite for state financing.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Free Kem Sokha or elections tarnished, US Senator Ted Cruz warns Cambodia
Cambodia’s national elections in 2018 will not be considered “free or fair” if the government does not release imprisoned opposition leader Kem Sokha by next month, US Senator Ted Cruz warned on Monday (Oct 23).
— Channel NewsAsia

Griffith Asia Institute in Cambodia
The Griffith Asia Institute recently hosted a successful workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the theme of Contemporary Research Challenges in Southeast Asia.
— Griffith University (press release)

Cambodia cancels democracy
Despite the hopes once held for it by the international community, Cambodia’s long slide into becoming a one-party state is now effectively complete.
— Crikey

Government ups plot accusations with new video linking CNRP and US groups to ‘colour revolutions’
In the latest attempt to push its narrative of an impending “colour revolution”, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit released a sweeping, nearly hourlong video, broadcast on multiple television stations on Monday night, attempting to link the opposition’s activities to protest movements in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
— The Phnom Penh Post

PM Hun Sen to Attend Thai Royal Cremation Ceremony
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will lead a high delegation to attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony of the late king, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, to be held on October 26, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.
— Fresh News

Banks, businesses and MFIs latest suspects in ‘colour revolution’
Newly obtained National Police training documents reveal the government’s belief that a purported opposition-led “colour revolution” extends not only to foreign governments and NGOs, but to banks, businesses and microfinance institutions.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Candlelight’s hope flickering
With the main opposition party on the brink of dissolution and exiled opposition figure Sam Rainsy facing a fresh lawsuit, the future of his former eponymous party appears up in the air and possibly under threat from the government.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Feature photo World Bank Photo Collection/Chhor Sokunthea
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Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.