Ben Sokhean
The Cambodia Daily
Contact Ben
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Ben:
Hun Sen Promises Cheaper Water Bills for Garment Workers
In yet another bid to shore up the garment worker vote ahead of next year’s general election, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday promised to lower their water prices and offered more details about a pending pension plan. → Read More
Water Authority Set to Reimburse Users For Miscalculated Bills
The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority on Monday promised to reimburse customers for recent water bills calculated on old higher prices, hours after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered an investigation into inflated bills. → Read More
Hun Sen Ramps Up Pitch to Garment Workers for 2018 Vote
Days after promising garment workers a minimum wage of at least $168 starting next year, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday made another pitch for their votes in the July national election with a “three asks” policy. → Read More
NDI Banned, Foreign Staff Face Forcible Expulsion
Foreign staff given one week to leave the country after the U.S.-affiliated National Democratic Institute was ordered to cease operations in Cambodia on Wednesday will be forcibly removed if they fail to leave on their own accord, a CPP official said. → Read More
Ministry Gives Conflicting Information on RFA, VOA Ban
Information Ministry officials on Tuesday gave contradictory accounts on whether the government is considering new rules barring radio stations from carrying broadcasts from U.S.-funded media outlets Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, adding to ambiguity surrounding the outlets’ fate in Cambodia. → Read More
SRP Senator Blocked From Commission
CPP senators voted on Monday to block Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) senator Kun Lum Ang from joining the Senate human rights commission, which was previously chaired by her jailed husband, former SRP senator Hong Sok Hour. → Read More
Overseas Voting Amendments Sent to Assembly Committee
The National Assembly’s permanent committee on Monday approved further study of amendments to Cambodia’s election law that would allow more than 1 million migrant workers to vote from outside the country’s borders. → Read More
In Charm Offensive, Hun Sen Promises Workers Raises, Pension
In a move likely to play well with a large swath of voters ahead of next year’s national election, Prime Minister Hun Sen on Sunday announced a raft of new benefits for garment workers including a big bump to their monthly minimum wage—from $153 to “at least” $168. → Read More
US Democracy NGO Joins Gov’t Doghouse
The National Democratic Institute became the latest U.S.-affiliated organization to face government allegations of wrongdoing on Wednesday night after its purported secrets spilled onto government-affiliated media. → Read More
Short on Funds, CNRP Finds Make-Do Solution for Signs
Until the CNRP scrapes together enough money to replace its soon-to-be-outlawed party signs, local-level officials have resorted to scissors and paint to alter the images on thousands of promotional billboards across the country. → Read More
ABA Bank ATM Blown Up in Kep Province; Suspect at Large
Police in Kep province are looking for a man who is believed to have blown up an ABA Bank ATM using gas canisters to remove the estimated $10,000 cash inside before speeding away early on Tuesday morning, police officials said. → Read More
CNRP Submits Revised Overseas Voting Law to National Assembly
CNRP lawmakers submitted legislation on Friday that would allow Cambodians overseas to register and vote to the National Assembly, downplaying ruling party concerns that the proposal was costly and impractical. → Read More
Kem Sokha Tours Country Gathering Post-Election Feedback
Taking stock of his party’s June commune elections losses, CNRP president Kem Sokha has embarked on a countrywide tour to gather feedback and intelligence the party can use to steer its national election campaign, party officials said on Tuesday. → Read More
Anti-Protest Police Train With Live Rounds
A Phnom Penh police unit responsible for intervening during protests and demonstrations publicized a training exercise featuring the use of live rounds on Monday, in what one opposition lawmaker labeled an intimidation tactic. → Read More
CNRP Will Propose Changes to Allow Voting From Abroad
Opposition lawmakers plan to submit proposed amendments to the national election law next week in order to allow Cambodians who work and live outside the country to register and vote from abroad. → Read More
PM Defends Minister, Slams US and Human Rights Watch
Prime Minister Hun Sen defended Social Affairs Minister Vong Sauth on Thursday, confirming that he had advocated using force against protesters in a closed-door CPP strategy meeting that Mr. Sauth later retold to reporters. → Read More
CPP’s Election Strategy: Cash, Power, Beatings, Minister Says
The CPP will win the next election using money and muscle and will beat and lock up its foes, Social Affairs Minister Vong Sauth said in a strikingly candid speech on Monday, citing instructions given by Prime Minister Hun Sen to senior party officials. → Read More
Government To Monitor Sam Rainsy’s Facebook Page
The Interior Ministry plans to monitor the Facebook page of former opposition president Sam Rainsy for violations of newly passed amendments to the Law on Political Parties, which will also force the CNRP to spend upwards of half a million dollars to erase his image from its signs. → Read More
King’s CPP Stand-In Enacts Party Law Changes
Senate President Say Chhum signed controversial amendments to the Law on Political Parties on Friday, effectively preventing former CNRP President Sam Rainsy from supporting his former party from overseas. → Read More
What’s in A Name? SRP Faces Rebranding
Controversial amendments to the Law on Political Parties have steamrolled through the legislative process and are likely to be signed into law this week, kicking up a chorus of concerns from the opposition, civil society and international rights groups. → Read More