Hun Sen Calls in Sick, Kingdom’s Economy Struggles, Snake-Ate-My-Baby Story Exposed
Good morning, Cambodia. It's Friday, November 19, and this is your Weekly Dispatch.
BIG TIME: Hun Sen had a week. He hosted global leaders to his city, completed a successful ASEAN Summit, and found time to deftly play off the competing interests of Beijing and Washington. Then, he got Covid-19.
BAD TURN: Manufacturing is down, tourism has yet to rebound, and the trade deficit is going the wrong way. Now, Moody’s has downgraded the Kingdom’s financial outlook from stable to negative, citing lackluster economic everything.
CINEMA STAR: Davy Chou won Best Director at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for “Return to Seoul.” It was the first win by a Cambodian director, and the only film to take home two awards — also Best New Actor — at this year's awards.
THE LEDE
Game On
The Strongman called President Biden’s bluff.
The American leader pressed Cambodia to improve its human rights record, release “unjustly” jailed political prisoners and pull back the curtain on Chinese-funded construction at Ream Naval Base — or jeopardize billions in U.S.-bound exports.
In return, the government dismissed the Ream inquiries and banned Voice of America from the prime minister’s closing remarks at last week’s ASEAN Summit.
Some observers suggest the Kingdom needs a stronger U.S. relationship to counterbalance China — and the release of Theary Seng, the imprisoned Cambodian-American activist, or more transparency at Ream, will open that door.
It’s Hun Sen’s move.
Sick Days
A Covid-19 diagnosis turned The Strongman into The Ailing Outsider, marring the 2022 ASEAN Summit and derailing the prime minister’s plans to attend global conferences in Thailand and Indonesia.
The positive test forced Hun Sen from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok, where he was scheduled to meet Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron. It also sidelined him from the G20 summit in Bali, where as ASEAN chair he was invited to observe.
Hun Sen met with dozens of world leaders, including Biden, in Phnom Penh. No others tested positive.
Long Layover
Two top wildlife officials face 145 years in an American prison for illegally exporting endangered long-tailed macaques to researchers in the United States.
Authorities arrested Masphal Kry, 46, deputy director for the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity, at a New York airport as he was on his way to a wildlife conservation conference in Panama.
Officials alleged he and his boss, Omaliss Keo, 58, director general of the DWB, earned nearly $10 million by selling wild primates as captive bred.
The government said it was “surprised and saddened” by the arrest.
TALKING POINTS
Slow Road
Moody’s downgraded the Kingdom’s financial outlook from stable to negative, citing lackluster economic growth, a surge in spending and an exploding trade deficit. The ADB revised 2023 growth down from 6.5% to 6.3%.
Take Two
Another billion-dollar tollway is being built with funding from China. The $1.6 billion Phnom Penh–Bavet Expressway will help link Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok. The road is expected to open in early 2027.
Speed Demon
Police investigating a hit-and-run found 200kg of meth in a luxury truck with RCAF license plates. Witnesses said the speeding pickup veered into the oncoming lane and hit a vehicle head on. No injuries were reported, and the driver and passenger escaped.
Screen Prizes
Davy Chou, the Cambodian-French filmmaker, won Best Director at the 15th Asia Pacific Screen Awards for “Return to Seoul,” his second feature-length movie. Park Ji-min, who played the film’s main character, Freddie, won Best New Performer.
Scaly Tale
A garment factory worker said a huge snake swallowed her newborn baby in an elaborate ruse to gain maternity benefits. Her plan was exposed by police after social media and local TV covered her story. In fact, she was never even pregnant.
Water Born
An unidentified construction company in Koh Kong is filling the sea and destroying mangrove forests. Alarmed residents who complained to authorities were told the area, previously protected, was privatized in March 2021.
Art Life
Khmer Art Action in Siem Reap will present the Asian Youth Theatre Festival from Nov 24 –27. The National Museum is showing “Life of the Buddha,” a showcase of lost paintings from Kandal pagodas until Nov 30. Battambang’s award-winning Phare Circus is performing at The Factory until December. And Sin Setsochhata, granddaughter of Sin Sisamouth, will perform at The Golden Voice book launch Nov 30 at Bophana Center.
BACKPAGES: From The Cambodia Daily Vault
Forestry Plan Missing Some Documents
November 16, 2002
Several forest management plans the World Bank agreed to make public on Monday on behalf of the government’s forestry department were still missing from the Bank’s public information center Friday.
Ranariddh Blasts Kem Sokha, US Institute
November 14, 2002
National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Wednesday accused former Funcinpec senator Kem Sokha and the US-based International Republican Institute of having “dreams” of destroying his party and overthrowing Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Brothels Ordered Closed for Water Festival
November 14, 2002
Brothels throughout the city have been ordered closed during next week’s Water Festival, and the municipality has also banned sex workers from soliciting customers in public areas, Phnom Penh Vice Governor Map Sarin said Wednesday.
Former Senator Opens US-Backed Human Rights NGO
November 13, 2002
Former Funcinpec senator Kem Sokha, who left the royalists in the wake of months of party infighting and widespread disillusionment, on Tuesday officially opened an NGO he says will teach Cambodians their rights as national elections draw near.
WEEKEND READING
Asia’s scamdemic: How COVID-19 supercharged online crime
Internet predators are often the prey in Thailand’s lawless border zones.
Photos: Joe Biden and Hun Sen, AKP. Setsochhata Sin, Facebook.
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