Day: April 27, 2023

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen this morning announced to revoke the sub-decree on Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin conservation signed on Feb. 27, 2023.

Addressing to the closing and opening ceremonies of training courses of the Royal School of Administration, Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that no need to implement this new sub-decree anymore as more dolphins have been found dead and hundreds of local villagers have been banned from fishing in the target areas.

“The new sub-decree signed on Feb. 27, 2023 have to be revoked and the old sub decree signed on Sept. 25, 2012 will be reused instead,” he said.

Samdech Techo Prime Minister stressed that even though the new sub-decree was annulled, strict monitoring of the target areas in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces will continue, especially against the prohibited fishing gear.

As of April 2023, Cambodia registered three births and two deaths of Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins, while in 2022, there were six new calves, but 11 deaths.

The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) are fully protected under Cambodia’s Fisheries Law. The population is ranked as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, the highest international threat ranking for endangered species.

The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins are a living natural treasure of Cambodia with about 90 individuals currently living along the Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has called on his compatriots, especially the youths and sports fans, to take part in enhancing the national dignity in the upcoming SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games to be hosted by Cambodia.

“I would like to ask all fans for understanding and participation in maintaining our national dignity. […]. The dignity of our nation will become a good habit for our country and be appreciated by foreign athletes and visitors,” the Premier said in a special voice message this morning.

Only a few days left toward the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2023 in Cambodia, and thousands of people will come to Phnom Penh capital and some provinces such as Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep, he continued, underlining that it is necessary to stick to maintaining good order through the respect of security and social order measures.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also urged all fans not to flock into sports venues to avoid any possible stampede, which had already happened in some countries, but they can enjoy live tournaments via big screens installed outdoors by the capital and provincial authorities.

Besides, the Prime Minister appealed to all fans to behave with dignity, not to insult, either directly or by social media, any team or any athletes, and to show solidarity with athletes from other countries. “We must do our best in the tournaments with respect of the rules, and whatever the result is, as the host, we need to behave properly toward our opponents,” he stressed.

As of today, only 8 days left for the Kingdom of Cambodia to host the 32nd SEA Games and 37 days to go for the 12th ASEAN Para Games, under the motto of “Sports: Live in Peace”.

A total of 12,404 sport delegates have registered for the SEA Games-ASEAN Para Games 2023 to be officially held from May 5 to 17 and from June 3 to 9, 2023 respectively.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodia and the Republic of Turkey are committed to boosting bilateral military cooperation to a new level.

The commitment was made in a meeting between Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Force (RCAF) H.E. Gen. Vong Pisen, Turkish Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Ms. Ülkü Kocaefe and Colonel Ismet KoNaRoGLu, Turkish Military Attaché to Cambodia, at the RCAF’s headquarters in Phnom Penh on April 26.

H.E. Gen. Vong Pisen highlighted the relationship between Cambodia and Turkey and was positive that it will be further strengthened for the benefit of the two sides.

Colonel Ismet KoNaRoGLu expressed his appreciation for the rapid development of Cambodia in all sectors, including the country’s military sector.

Cambodia’s military is not only capable of defending its sovereignty, but also able to dispatch troops to carry out humanitarian work under the United Nations umbrella for regional and global peace, he said.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

MS Westerdam Monument will be built at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) to remind of the docking of the cruise ship at the Cambodian seaport, after spending almost two weeks of limbo due to COVID-19 fears.

H.E. Lou Kimchun, Director General of PAS, told reporters during a media trip led by Mr. Puy Kea, President of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ), that the monument is to mark “A Small Country with a Big Heart”.

H.E. Lou Kimchun underlined that the Westerdam cruise ship is scheduled to revisit Cambodia in December this year.

Being declined by ports in many country, Westerdam cruise ship carrying more than 2,200 multinational passengers and crewmembers finally docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Feb. 13, 2020 with the authorisation from the Royal Government of Cambodia. The decision placed the international spotlight squarely on how Cambodia would respond to this challenging situation.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse