The race to rescue Cambodian children from orphanages exploiting them for profit

Despite good intentions, Australians and others from western countries are often propping up Asian orphanages that separate children from families. Now there’s new efforts to tackle some of the consequences of ‘voluntourism’

A family in Battambang, Cambodia, supported by the Cambodian Children’s Trust which works to keep families together and stop children going to orphanages.
A family in Battambang, Cambodia, supported by the Cambodian Children’s Trust which works to keep families together and stop children going to orphanages. Photograph: Tara Winkler

Much was hidden from the tourists visiting Sinet Chan in her rundown Cambodian orphanage.

When they returned to their hotels, cameras full and best intentions sated, they remained oblivious to the reality of what they had just supported.

Chan, the nine-year-old who sang and danced for them, was being starved. She and the other children hunted and ate mice to survive. Tiếp tục đọc “The race to rescue Cambodian children from orphanages exploiting them for profit”

Cambodia tells US to back off after charging opposition leader

channelnewsasia

The prosecution of Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha is a message from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government for the United States, one that says “stop interfering with Cambodia’s internal affairs”.

 
File photo of Cambodia’s Kem Sokha when he talked exclusively to Channel NewsAsia about living in self-exile, his protest plans and whether he would be PM. (Photo: Jack Board)

“We’re not a slave but, like them, an independent country. We want to stand on our own feet. We don’t need someone to tell us to do this or do that,” said Cambodian government spokesperson Phay Siphan. Tiếp tục đọc “Cambodia tells US to back off after charging opposition leader”

Kem Sokha detained during Cambodia police raid

Al Jazeera

Government cites ‘secret conspiracy’ for nighttime arrest of main opposition leader Kem Sokha.

Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Kem Sokha casts his vote during June elections [Samrang Pring/Reuters]

Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested in Phnom Penh early on Sunday and the government of veteran Prime Minister Hun Sen said he was accused of treason.

The government said in a statement it had a video clip and other evidence that pointed to “secret plans of conspiracy between Kem Sokha, others and foreigners to harm the Kingdom of Cambodia”. Tiếp tục đọc “Kem Sokha detained during Cambodia police raid”

Cambodia shutters radio stations, expels US NGO

Al Jazeera Aug. 23, 2017

Khmer-language stations, Maha Nokor and Voice of Democracy, ordered closed as more media face legal threats.

Analysts said critical media are being targeted ahead of the 2018 polls [File: Reuters]

The government of Cambodia has shut down two independent radio stations and ordered the foreign staff of an American NGO to leave the country in the latest move against critics ahead of a general election next year.

The orders on Wednesday came a day after long-time Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened the Cambodia Daily, one of the country’s few remaining critical newspapers, with closure over an alleged unpaid tax bill of more than $6m, calling them “thieves”. Tiếp tục đọc “Cambodia shutters radio stations, expels US NGO”

Cambodia threatens purge of critical media and US charity

As general election looms, prime minister Hun Sen tells English-language newspaper Cambodia Daily to pay $6m tax bill or leave

Cambodian PM Hun Sen
Cambodian PM Hun Sen faces what many believe will be a close contest in next year’s general election. Photograph: Heng Sinith/AP

Cambodia has threatened to close three foreign media outlets and a US charity, accusing them of operating illegally or owing millions in back taxes, in what appears to be a coordinated purge of government critics.

The Cambodia Daily, one of three English-language daily newspapers in the country, was handed a $6.3m (£4.9m) tax bill and threatened with closure if it does not pay by 4 September. Tiếp tục đọc “Cambodia threatens purge of critical media and US charity”

The race to rescue Cambodian children from orphanages exploiting them for profit

Despite good intentions, Australians and others from western countries are often propping up Asian orphanages that separate children from families. Now there’s new efforts to tackle some of the consequences of ‘voluntourism’

A family in Battambang, Cambodia, supported by the Cambodian Children’s Trust which works to keep families together and stop children going to orphanages.
A family in Battambang, Cambodia, supported by the Cambodian Children’s Trust which works to keep families together and stop children going to orphanages. Photograph: Tara Winkler
 

Much was hidden from the tourists visiting Sinet Chan in her rundown Cambodian orphanage.

When they returned to their hotels, cameras full and best intentions sated, they remained oblivious to the reality of what they had just supported. Tiếp tục đọc “The race to rescue Cambodian children from orphanages exploiting them for profit”

Giấc mơ xuyên Á

BQN – Thứ Năm, 30/03/2017, 08:46 [GMT+7]

Sau 11 năm tỉnh Quảng Nam và tỉnh Sê Kông (Lào) chính thức khai trương cửa khẩu chính Nam Giang – Đắc Tà Oọc (ngày 21.2.2006), con đường 14D chưa có gì thay đổi. Bao giờ con đường ngắn nhất khai thông lên vùng cao nguyên Boloven trù phú, giao thương với các tỉnh Nam Lào, Đông Bắc Thái Lan và Campuchia trên hành trình xuyên Á vẫn là câu hỏi còn bỏ ngỏ!

HỤT HƠI HẠ TẦNG

Không thiếu quy hoạch, nhưng thiếu vốn nên việc hoàn thiện cơ sở hạ tầng để đón nhà đầu tư, phát triển kinh tế cửa khẩu vẫn là chuyện xa vời.

Cửa khẩu Nam Giang. Ảnh: T.D
Cửa khẩu Nam Giang. Ảnh: T.D

Tiếp tục đọc “Giấc mơ xuyên Á”

Đường sắt và giấc mơ kết nối Á-Âu

Cập nhật: Thứ hai, 17/10/2011 – 0h0′

(Cadn.com.vn) – Những vụ tai nạn đường sắt liên tiếp gần đây không ngăn cản được giấc mơ về một hệ thống đường sắt nối giữa Châu Á và Châu Âu.

 
Dự án Đường sắt xuyên Á (TAR) dài 117.000 km. Ảnh: Chinadaily

Những tham vọng

Tại những tuyến đường sắt bỏ hoang ở Campuchia, người dân địa phương đã tự sáng chế ra “xe lửa tre” chạy bằng hơi nước để di chuyển. Đó là hoàn cảnh của Campuchia hiện nay.

Hệ thống đường sắt Campuchia là một phần không thể thiếu cho dự án đường sắt nối Singapore đến Côn Minh (Trung Quốc), vượt ra ngoài khu vực Trung Á, và cuối cùng là nối với Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ và Trung Âu. Tiếp tục đọc “Đường sắt và giấc mơ kết nối Á-Âu”