Cambodia 20250901
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Headlines:
Border Clashes Test Truce
Landmine Dispute Hits Geneva
Evictions Spark Protests, Media Squeeze
Schools Manage Returning Children
Tourism Rebounds, Eyes on Techo Airport
Finding Opportunity in Supply Chain Chaos
Push Trade, Open New Gates
Farm Exports Rise, But Rice Price Dip Hurts
Wind Plans Face Indigenous Pushback
Concrete to Block Trawlers, Lift Catches
Crackdown on Wild Ad Claims
Trafficking Victims Expose Scam Parks
Border Clashes Test Truce
Villagers faced off against Thai troops and laid out barbed wire at Chork Chey as an interim observer team visited. Cambodia put unarmed officers on site to try and provide some support for residents and cool tempers, even as both sides say they want talks, and defense officials have kept Regional Border Committee channels open. What happens next over the coming few weeks is going to depend on whether both sides can keep clear of poking the other in an attempt to gain leverage.
Read more: Khmer Times (observer visit), Khmer Times (deployment), Khmer Times (dialogue), The Cambodia Daily(sovereignty)
Landmine Dispute Hits Geneva
A mine blast that injured a Thai soldier is the spark behind a treaty protest. Thailand filed its complaint in Geneva under the Ottawa Convention, saying that Cambodia is laying new mines in disputed areas. Phnom Penh says the claims are spurious and wants evidence. Officials say blasts come from legacy contamination that has long been mapped by deminers. Cambodia says it wants aid to clear explosive remnants from recent clashes near pagodas, schools, and farms so displaced families can get home (also see next article).
Read more: UCA News (treaty protest), CamboJA News (denial), Khmer Times (CMAA response), The Cambodia Daily(analysis), Khmer Times (ERW aid)
Evictions Spark Protests, Media Squeeze
Hundreds of families got eviction warnings in Prey Chan and Chork Chey after Thai units fenced in land plots, causing an uproar from residents. Cambodians say the land sits inside their side of the demarcation and promised to defend the residents. A senate delegation, a group of international chambers of commerce, and foreign correspondents toured the area, but provincial authorities banned live streams near troops after a reporter was arrested for alleged incitement... In nearby camps, displaced families are asking for peace and looking for some indication about when they might be able to return to their homes.
Read more: Khmer Times (villagers), Khmer Times (rejection), Khmer Times (delegation), Khmer Times (press arrest), Khmer Times (media tour), Khmer Times (refugees)
Schools Manage Returning Children
About 50,000 children who returned with parents from Thailand need seats, materials, and catch‑up plans. Education officials are trying to get kids in chairs quickly and efficiently, waiving paperwork, organizing remedial Khmer for the youngest students, and designing accelerated tracks for older ones.
Read more: Khmer Times (returnees)
Tourism Rebounds, Eyes on Techo Airport
Casino operator NagaCorp posted strong H1 profit on rising mass‑market play and near‑pre‑pandemic airport traffic. Hopes are now riding high on the new international airport opening in Phnom Penh this month. Siem Reap’s real estate and hospitality pipelines are still expected to stay soft with flights still below 2019 levels, but the Phnom Penh–Siem Reap expressway should help support more domestic travel.
Read more: SiGMA World (casino profits), Travel And Tour World (arrival slump), Cambodia Investment Review (Siem Reap), CamboJA News (airport shift)
Finding Opportunity in Supply Chain Chaos
Global supply chains are in flux, and Phnom Penh is trying to make hay by wooing relocations with tax breaks and easy integration into Chinese networks. Officials say both export values and the number of approved projects are up this year. A securities report estimates that up to 750,000 returnees coming home from Thailand could drive billions in Cambodian output by 2030 if they are supported with public works, certification, and hiring.
Read more: Khmer Times (relocation), Cambodia Investment Review (returnees)
Push Trade, Open New Gates
Trade officials came together at the RCEP Joint Committee in Kuala Lumpur to iron out implementation kinks as exports to the bloc continue to rise. In Sydney, an investment roadshow pitched Cambodian agro‑processing, electronics, and transport logistics to potential Australian partners. Senior ministers used a business forum to sell RCEP benefits and clean‑energy supply chain links with Australia. Agriculture opportunities are also growing in Malaysia for halal products, rice, fish, and dairy. A new international border gate with Vietnam will open for crossings in October, setting the stage for faster, simpler trade at the crossing.
Read more: Khmer Times (RCEP), Cambodia Investment Review (forum), Khmer Times (roadshow), Khmer Times(Malaysia agri), Khmer Times (VN gate)
Farm Exports Rise, But Rice Price Dip Hurts
Agro‑product shipments were good in H1, led by rice, corn, cassava, and a fast‑growing cashew trade into (mostly) China. A price drop in global rice prices is squeezing farmers, though, and the agriculture ministry is leaning on millers to pick up early harvests at agreed levels. As the cashew business is on the rise, industry-related groups are taking advantage of the momentum to roll out climate‑smart workshops for management of water, soil, and input costs, pitching better yields and higher quality for export processors.
Read more: CamboJA News (export jump), Khmer Times (rice support), Khmer Times (cashew CSA)
Wind Plans Face Indigenous Pushback
Six wind farms totaling 900 MW are in the pipeline, part of a national move toward clean power and away from coal. Bunong communities in Mondulkiri aren’t exactly thrilled with how things have been going. They say that consultation has been lackluster and land use clarity has been opaque. One 150 MW project - Kouprey Windfarm - is in the process of talks about wildlife mitigations, but residents say they want binding agreements on how cultural sites, agriculture, and livelihoods will be protected.
Read more: reccessary
Concrete to Block Trawlers, Lift Catches
Community fishers alongside government reps are dropping concrete blocks in the ocean to try to block illegal trawlers and create a welcoming environment for sea life to rebuild habitats. Early gains have been already been claimed in the Koh Sdach Archipelago. Fishers have been reporting improved catches since 14 structures went in last year, and an ADB‑funded program is expected to scale the project to a total of 5,000 units along the coast. Previous deployments in Kep cut illegal fishing activity, and local leaders see some opportunity for eco‑tourism around restored reefs. Enforcement is, as usual, the weak link.
Read more: CamboJA News
Crackdown on Wild Ad Claims
New advertising rules now require documented proof for “best” or “only” claims, with penalties for statements that falsely trumpet superiority. EuroCham says the change should raise trust, but companies will need internal review processes and standardized evidence to make sure they can back up their statements before campaigns go live.
Read more: Kiripost (ad rules)
Trafficking Victims Expose Scam Parks
Filipino victims have described forced online scams inside guarded compounds, with threats, debt bondage, and resale of staff between operators. A recent effort rescued two dozen people who said recruiters lured them with fake job offers at high pay before snatching their passports and putting them to work. They say that they were forced to meet production quotas at the risk of punishment. Advocacy groups want faster embassy help, more exit checks on people striking out for work abroad, and better investigation of recruiter networks.
Read more: Manila Standard (rescue), Maritime Fairtrade (testimonies)
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