Day: October 15, 2022

Authorities have detained two owners and the 15-year-old operator of a boat that sank, killing 11 children, Cambodian police said Saturday.

The small boat — carrying students ages 12-15 back from an English class — went down in the Mekong River late Thursday, floundering roughly 50 meters from its destination in southeastern Kandal province.

Local police chief Am Thou told AFP that three individuals had been detained for questioning over the incident.

“They may have to face legal action. We are looking into what charges they may face,” he said.

The police chief added that the three had been sent to Kandal provincial police headquarters, where their next steps would be determined.

Local officials called off the search for survivors Saturday morning, with the death toll rising to 11.

Two adult boat operators and two students were rescued Friday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen warned people to be cautious during the heavy flooding that has raised the Mekong River’s levels.

Such incidents are common in the Southeast Asian country, where people living along the river are often reliant on boats for transport.

Source: Voice of America

PHNOM PENH, Ten students were confirmed dead and one was missing, after a motorised boat accident, on the Mekong River, in southern Cambodia’s Kandal province, a senior police official said, yesterday.

The accident occurred Thursday evening, at around 7:00 p.m. local time, when the boat, with 15 people on board, including two boat crew members and 13 students, sank, about 50 metres off the shore, in Leuk Daek district, said Kandal police chief, Chhoeun Sochet.

“By yesterday afternoon, 10 bodies had been recovered, while four survivors, two students and two crew members, were rescued,” he told reporters. “Rescue efforts for the one missing are still going on.”

The accident happened, when the boat ferried the students from an English class to their homes, on an island village, Sochet said, adding that, high speed, overloading and neglect driving were blamed for the accident.

According to the Kandal Provincial Police’s report, the ill-fated students were aged between 12 and 14 years.

On social media, Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, expressed his condolences and urged people living along the rivers to be extra vigilant, particularly during the flood season.

Source: Nam News Network

AKP Phnom Penh, Cambodia today commemorates the 10th year anniversary of His Majesty the King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk (Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh)’s passing away (Oct. 15, 2012 – Oct. 15, 2022).

This morning in Phnom Penh, high-ranking delegations of the Senate, National Assembly and government as well as ministries and institutions took turn to lay wreaths at the late King-Father’s Memorial Statue, located in a public park, east of the Monument of Independence in Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, municipal and provincial authorities also held ceremonies to pray for the soul of Preah Borom Ratanak Kaudh.

In a message posted on his official Facebook post this morning, Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen expressed his sincere gratitude to His Majesty the late King-Father, stressing that the Cambodian people of all walks of life will never forget his royal sacrifice for the supreme interest of the nation, and wished his soul rest in peace.

His Majesty the King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk passed away on Oct. 15, 2012 at 01:20 am (time in Phnom Penh) in Beijing, China at the age of 90 from natural causes.

October 15 is set to be a national holiday in Cambodia to commemorate the late King-Father’s sacrifice for the nation.

Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk was born on Oct. 31, 1922. He was the only son of HRH Prince Norodom Suramarit and HRH Princess Sisowath Kossomak Nearirath Serey Vatthana.

Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk became the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia in April 1941. He led Cambodia for the full independence from France in 1953.

In 1955, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk abdicated to his father and founded the Sangkum Reastr Niyum (SRN), a country development movement. It won a great victory in the legislative election. At that time, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk became the prime minister of Cambodia, and head of state of Cambodia in 1960 after the death of his father.

On Mar. 18, 1970 during the official visit to the USSR, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk was ousted from the power by a Coup d’Etat. Then he became the President of the Cambodian resistance (FUNK).

In April 1975, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk became the head of state of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge regime), but he resigned in 1976.

From the fall of the Democratic Kampuchea on Jan. 7, 1979 to 1990, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk stayed out of the country and returned back in 1991 and became the King of Cambodia in 1993 until he abdicated in October 2004.

After the abdication, he often stayed in China for his medical treatment until he passed away.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press