Social development
Civil society
The Cambodian activists risking their freedom for the environment
Mother Nature is a group made up of young activists attempting to protect Cambodia’s environment from widespread destruction. But the group has increasingly been targeted, with some even jailed for their activism. Thon Ratha and Long Kunthea are passionate, young environmental activists for Mother Nature. They ...
Mech Dara & George Wright
US lawmakers urge Thai govt to drop restrictive provisions in NGO bill
Two U.S. lawmakers are urging Thailand to drop provisions of a draft bill restricting NGOs, saying it would harm civil society and negatively impact the delivery of humanitarian assistance to neighboring Myanmar. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s government is seeking to pass a controversial bill regulating not-for-profit ...
Nontarat Phaicharoen and Subel Rai Bhandari
Journalist Taken to Court Over Report on Illegal Timber Factory
A video report alleging a Battambang timber factory was illegally processing luxury wood has landed a local journalist in court. Lim Phally, a reporter for Los Seng News, said he had asked for a delay for court questioning that was scheduled today. He was sued after a ...
Khut Sokun
Saying no to illegal wild meat
A traveller kills a wild animal and posts its photo on social media with the caption: “How should I cook this red junglefowl?” Social media posts about hunting and cooking wild animals are becoming popular among young travellers. People might assume that a person who hunts ...
SUWITCHA CHAIYONG
Environmental activist group suspends work in Cambodia
A Cambodian environmental protection group is suspending operations in Cambodia amid concerns for the safety of its activists, many of whom have been detained and jailed on charges widely thought to be politically motivated, the group’s founder said in an interview this week. Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, a ...
Reported by RFA’s Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Richard Finney.
NGO’s want all Mekong countries to follow Cambodia’s lead on dams
Ten NGOs in Cambodia, working on water governance issue in Cambodia, have lauded the government’s commitment not to have any more hydropower dams on the Mekong mainstream which was recently made during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow, Scotland, the United ...
Son Minea
Myanmar Citizens Voice Support For Uprising Against Junta Despite Risks
Many people in Myanmar support the National Unity Government’s (NUG) declaration of war against the military junta despite the threat of added instability and inflation, sources in the country said Wednesday, a day after the shadow government leadership announced the move. The call to arms and ...
Reported by RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Justice in the balance as UN considers recognition question
With the United Nations expected to soon decide whether Myanmar is represented in the General Assembly by the military regime or the National Unity Government, another important question may hang in the balance: who will represent Myanmar at the International Court of Justice? The Gambia brought ...
ANDREW NACHEMSON
Gender Equality Advocate Retires, Paves Way for Second Wave of Activism
Ros Sopheap was sipping ginger tea and lemonade in July when she decided to retire after more than two decades of activism that pushed for gender inclusivity and women’s empowerment. She will step down as the head of Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) later ...
Hean Socheata and Sokummono Khan,VOA Khmer
NGOs urge transparency for $52 mil US donation for Mekong region
After United States Secretary of State Antony J Blinken announced the US pledge to donate $52 million to Mekong countries for development, NGOs have come forward asking the government to utilise the donation with transparency. NGO Forum executive director Tek Vannara said that the donation will ...
Son Minea