Law and judiciary
Myanmar journalists fined for defaming President Thein Sein
A Myanmar court has fined two journalists 1 million kyat ($800; £514) each, after finding them guilty of defaming the president. Nine other staff from the Myanmar Herald were acquitted in the case, which was filed by the information ministry last November. Keep reading ...
Freedom Park 11 jailed
Eleven opposition activists, including a US citizen, were handed lengthy prison sentences yesterday for their roles in a protest at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park last year that turned violent and left dozens injured. In a decision that came as a surprise to many, judge Lim Makaron ...
Phnom Penh court charges human rights worker Ny Chakrya
A Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor has decided to charge prominent human rights monitor Ny Chakrya in a case that rights groups have labeled a bald-faced attempt to suppress criticism of the Kingdom’s judiciary. The case stems from two Siem Reap Provincial Court officials who accused Chakrya ...
Lao National Assembly passes draft law on the prevention of cybercrime
The Lao National Assembly (NA) passed a draft law on the prevention of cybercrime after it was raised for debate at the ongoing ordinary session of the parliament. The approved draft will be revised in accordance with recommendations made by the law makers during the debate. Widespread ...
Laos National Assembly debates education law amendment
Government policy regarding compulsory education, foreign language teaching in primary schools, rights and obligations of teachers and students were highlights at the National Assembly (NA) debate on the amendment to the Law on Education. The assembly took a half day yesterday to debate the latest draft ...
Cambodian PM voices outrage over tycoon's assault on TV star
Cambodia’s prime minister has added his voice to growing outrage over a vicious attack by a businessman on a female TV star that was captured on video. Hun Sen called property tycoon Sok Bun’s actions intolerable and warned that his wealth would not help him escape ...
Thai junta urged to drop criminal defamation case against journalists
Proceedings have ended in the controversial trial of two Thailand-based journalists facing criminal defamation charges for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval forces in human trafficking. The charges against Alan Morison, the 67-year-old Australian editor of independent Thai news website Phuketwan, and reporter Chutima Sidasathian, ...
Cambodia's mining tax likely won’t budge
Cambodia’s new mining law is on track for adoption by the end of this year and will introduce a raft of reforms to the sector, a senior official said, although the country’s mining tax will likely remain the same. Meng Saktheara, secretary of state at the ...
Smuggling cases on the increase at border posts
The number of smuggling cases in Vietnam handled in the first six months of the year rose by 35 per cent compared to the same period last year, reported the National 389 Steering Committee. The statistics were released on 10 July at an online meeting of the ...
EU warns NGO law could cost $700m
The European Parliament yesterday passed a resolution urging Cambodia’s government to scrap the proposed NGO law, saying the Kingdom could lose $600-700 million annually in development projects if the legislation is passed. It stated the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations could see the country lose ...
