Daily Update from Local Newspapers January 24, 2014

                                                           

1.                               Politics/Human Rights

Authorities Do Not Allow the Union to Make a Protest on 26 January

                                                                                                        

In a meeting between the representative of Phnom Penh City Hall and the 9 unions and associations on 23 January, the Phnom Penh authorities have rejected the request for making a protest to be held on 26 January so as to release the union representative and some other people who had been arrested. Mr. Sor Mora, representative of the 9 unions and associations, said a protest will be held on 26 January 2014 from 7am to 5pm with the participation of lots of people at Freedom Park which aims to demand the wage increase for workers at least 160 USD per month and request to free the 23 human rights activists and workers who had been arrested on 2^nd and 3^rd January 2014 without condition. (Kampuchea Tmey, 24 January 2014)

2.                 Diplomatic Issue

AFD Plans to Provide a Loan of 20 Million USD to Enlarge the Rural Clean Water Service

                                                                                                        

AFD plans to provide a soft loan of 20 million USD to the Cambodian clean water supplier association so as to accelerate and enlarge the clean water service to the poor people in rural areas, said Mr. Un Yuthy, Chairman of the governor’s council of Cambodian clean water supplier association. (Kampuchea Tmey, 24 January 2014)

AFD Continues to Provide Fund of 359 Million USD for Three Big Sectors from 2014-2016 to Cambodia

                                                                                                        

AFD continues to implement development project in Cambodia for the year 2014-2016 by focusing on three big sectors, Mr. Gregory Clemente, Director of French Development Agency (AFD) for Asia Department, said in a meeting with H.E. Aun Pon Moniroth, Minister of Economy and Finance. The project worth of 359 million USD (grant amount of approximately 14 million USD, credit concession worth of 160 million USD and credit guarantee from the state worth of 180 million USD). The project will be focused on the implementation of three big sectors including agriculture sector (rubber plantation and irrigation), infrastructure sector (rural road) and vocational training (tourism skill and other skills). (Kampuchea Tmey, 24 January 2014)