National government
Ministries and other national bodies
Anti-Corruption Unit says no evidence for Bavet checkpoint graft claims
Cambodia’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has been unable to find evidence corroborating claims that a Health Ministry official has been demanding bribes to allow vehicles to cross the Bavet International Checkpoint in Svay Rieng province, it said in a report obtained on 13 October. Dated 9 October and ...
Education Ministry staff ‘swamped’ with paperwork
A progressive budgeting policy used by the Education Ministry has overloaded local administrators with paperwork for which they often lack the expertise, according to a new report, which found the system was less efficient in 2014 than the year before. Released by the NGO Forum, and ...
Laos to host ASEAN ministerial meeting on rural development
Laos has confirmed its readiness to host the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication in Vientiane from 13-17 October. Speaking at a press conference on 6 October on preparations for the meeting, Deputy Minister to the Government Office and Vice Chairman of the National ...
Laos prepares for ASEAN chairmanship in 2016
Laos is ready to play the role of ASEAN chair and host the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits which will be held back-to-back in Vientiane next year. Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alounkeo Kittikhoun and Malaysian ambassador Than Tai Hing co-chaired an Asean Consultative Meeting (ACM) in ...
Farmers confront minister over alleged land grab
Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Myint Hlaing came under pressure from constituents on 23 September over allegations land had been taken from farmers and placed in his wife’s name. But the minister, who has previously been linked to large land grabs during his time as a regional military ...
Thai deputy PM takes over reform pick duties
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has assigned his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon to oversee the selection of members for the National Reform Steering Assembly and new constitution drafting committee while he attends the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on 22 September, Gen Prayut said he ...
Vietnam's Communist Party chief seeks to expand economic and security ties during visit to Japan
Vietnam’s Communist Party chief will embark on a four-day visit to Japan on 14 September, seeking not only investment opportunities but geopolitical assurances as China continues its aggressive maritime posturing, according to experts. Nguyen Phu Trong will also become the first party leader to have visited ...
Thailand constitution: Military's council rejects draft
A council appointed by Thailand’s military rulers has rejected a controversial new constitution drafted after last year’s coup. A new committee must now be appointed to write another draft, further setting back elections. The draft has been widely criticised, in particular a clause which enables a 23-member ...
Minister declares Vietnam map issue resolved
Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong has demanded an end to opposition politicking on the Vietnam border issue, following the second and “final” verification of maps used by the government to demarcate the eastern boundary against French charts. Namhong, also a deputy prime minister, on 3 September presided ...
Rice scheme civil claim 'still an option'
The Commerce Ministry has rejected widespread criticism on social media that it was too slow to act in demanding financial compensation from suspects in the multi-billion-baht rice-pledging scandal. Keep reading ...