CPP Leaders Deny Division, Sand Mining Muddies Mekong, Hun Sen Stands Firm on Ream

Good morning, Cambodia. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

• PARTY POLITICS: Strong public support from the Minister of Defense and his family appears to have bolstered Hun Sen and placated Beijing. The succession plan is back on track, as is expansion at Ream Naval Base.

• SAND PEBBLES: At least 50 million tons of sand is mined from the Mekong River each year, about 10 times what nature can produce. Experts studying the unrestrained extraction expect horrific long-term results.

• SHELL COMPANY: Cambodia could become the world’s largest exporter of cashews, already to the tune of 670,000 tons worth $1.8 billion. The top tier has already been cracked, alongside India and Ivory Coast.

THE LEDE

Closing Ranks

The CPP leadership stood behind The Strongman’s succession plans, quickly squashing talk of an internal party rift after opposition leader Sam Rainsy theatrically endorsed the son of Defense Minister Tea Banh for prime minister.

Rainsy’s trolling followed reports of simmering dissatisfaction with Hun Sen’s dynastic ambitions and China’s distrust of Hun Manet’s education at West Point.

Tea Banh, whose son is governor of Siem Reap province, is a close partner with the Chinese government at Ream Naval Base.

The optics of dissent soon fizzled: The Banh family slammed Rainsy’s patronage as a political ploy designed to divide the party and destroy the country.

Foreign Offensive

A defiant Hun Sen reaffirmed his support for Chinese construction at Ream Naval Base, saying negative media reports were part of a foreign-run smear campaign designed to influence July’s national elections.

Satellite images have shown construction of a 685-meter pier nearly identical to the Chinese naval outpost in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa. Experts said the Ream pier will likewise be capable of servicing aircraft carriers and submarines.

The prime minister insisted the upgrades were required to modernize the Kingdom’s navy, and that once complete, the strategic port would be open to all nations. 

Going Green

More than 60% of the Kingdom’s energy comes from renewable sources, up from nearly zero a decade ago, and a host of new projects are expected to further boost the transition away from fossil fuels.

Solar farms will generate nearly 500 megawatts of power this year, increasing solar to 20% of installed power capacity. A dam in Pursat province will add 80 megawatts by 2026.

The government is also working closely with the garment sector to improve the industry’s carbon footprint. Industry leaders see green manufacturing as a strong competitive advantage in global markets.

TALKING POINTS

Mountain Lions

Land grabbing by crooked government officials is the gravest threat to the Cardamom Mountains, according to Wildlife Alliance, the international conservation group. Suwanna Gauntlett, the organization’s founder, said authorities profit by illegally clearing the forest, then selling the timber and the land.

Bank Shot

A record-breaking 3.3km bridge is the crown jewel of an ambitious $250 million plan to span the Tonle Sap River and connect Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Thom provinces. The development includes five smaller bridges, 58km of paved roads, and will be built and funded by China.

Slow Growth

Exports were down 8% over the first two months of 2023, with manufacturing hit the hardest. Orders of garments, footwear and travel goods to the U.S. — the Kingdom’s top buyer — plunged 20%, with similar drops reported across the E.U. Soft demand will persist through mid year, experts predict, as inflation and the war in Ukraine weigh on global spending.

Fruit First

Cambodia is working to become the world’s largest exporter of cashews. The Kingdom sold 670,000 tons worth $1.8 billion to overseas buyers last year, putting it in the running with India, Ivory Coast and Vietnam.

Low Visibility

Cambodia mines at least 50 million tons of sand from the Mekong River each year. That’s about 10 times what the river is capable of producing naturally, according to experts. The environmental impacts of the unrestrained extraction are not yet fully understood — but it’s undoubtedly bad.

Coin Drop

The government will award $10,000 in cash to athletes who win gold at the Southeast Asian Games in May. Silver medalists will receive $7,000, and bronze medalists $3,000. Officials hope the financial incentives will boost medal counts. The government this week paid out nearly $675,000 to podium finishers from the 2022 ASEAN Para Games. 

Old Bones

Cultural authorities identified 26 significant archaeological sites in Banteay Meanchey province, adding to more than 1,300 locations documented around the Kingdom last year. Experts said the discoveries represented a newfound government commitment to preserve Cambodia’s cultural heritage.

BACKPAGES: From The Cambodia Daily Vault

Families Deny Charges Over F’pec Killing

March 14, 2003
The family members of two brothers suspected of fatally shooting Funcinpec adviser Om Radsady provided alibis for at least one of the suspects on Thursday, saying that the suspect was at home on the day Om Radsady was killed.

King Denies Challenging Hun Sen

March 11, 2003
King Norodom Sihanouk, re­cently noted for his wide-ranging outspokenness, declared on Sun­day that he has no wish to compete with Prime Minister Hun Sen and praised the premier and his regime.

Policeman Allegedly Kills Himself After Rampage

March 10, 2003
A policeman on Friday shot and wounded a Funcinpec member and burned three homes belonging to Funcinpec officials in Kompong Cham province before killing himself, authorities said, describing the incident as a drunken rampage.

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Photos: Hun Sen, via Facebook. Cardamom Mountains, Andy Ball, via WikiMedia.
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