“It’s really, really hard to stop her from using electronic devices and watching YouTube,” says NGO worker Neang Sovantha of her 5-year-old daughter, Sovath Ousa.

“If we don’t hand her a smartphone, she will not eat rice.”

Sovantha says she is worried that excessive smartphone use will give Ousa poor eyesight, and that it is already leading to fewer interactions between mother and daughter.

“[She] becomes lazy, not wanting to talk or get involved with us,” Sovantha says. “It’s really bad.”

She has tried to persuade her daughter every way she could think of, but the 5-year-old’s thirst for YouTube remained until recently.

About three months ago, Sovantha and her daughter went to see an action comedy film at a movie theater. In one scene, a snake burst out of the protagonist’s eye. Her daughter was terrified.

“I took the chance and told her that if she looks at her smartphone too much, a snake will also come out of her eyes,” Sovantha says. “Since then, she only goes on her smartphone once or twice a week.”

She doesn’t feel good about manipulating her daughter, but it is hard to know what else to do, she says.

The American Association of Pediatrics has said that excessive time spent watching electronic media is linked to obesity, lack of sleep, school problems, aggression and other behavioral issues. It recommends less than one or two hours a day of “entertainment screen time” for children.

Last year, the World Health Organization also issued guidelines for children under 5 advising that “sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better.”

Replacing screen time with physical activity and interacting with caregivers would improve motor and cognitive development, WHO said.

“Some researchers are convinced that we are facing an addiction unlike any other,” a 2016 study in Frontiers in Psychiatry said, noting similarities between smartphone use and other addictions. “If we observe the equivalence of its symptoms with the criteria for substance addiction or pathological gambling, a great parallelism is confirmed … We consider that, in effect, we are facing an addiction.”

Rosdra Kanchaly, director of Caring Heart Daycare in Phnom Penh, says about 80 percent of children arriving at her center seems to have some trouble learning to speak, and suggests excessive smartphone use is to blame.

The center caters for children aged 3 months to 6 years, and Kanchaly says social interaction among children is key to their learning.

“Children who spend most of their time on screen might have problems with verbal communication or social interaction because for children if they use their eyes focusing too much on a phone, they lose their focus on speaking — [acquiring] speaking ability will be slow,” Kanchaly says.

The children also seem to have fewer social interactions in their living situations because in many households both parents need to work, she adds.

Hem Vibol, who has two children aged 7 and 3, says cutting smartphone use completely is too hard and seems counterproductive.

Instead, she tries to steer her children to watch educational videos and limit the time they spend on screens, she says.

“I let my kids watch videos on YouTube to learn English words, and to keep them silent when I’m busy,” Vibol says.

She acknowledges that without setting hard limits, her children’s appetite for YouTube is hard to control. So she puts a password on her phone and scolds her children if they don’t listen when she tells them to stop watching a video. Avoiding smartphone use at night has also helped, she says.

“If I let her watch videos before she sleeps, the first thing she asks for right after waking up is the phone again,” she says of her youngest. “It is no good.”

យោងតាម​ញត្តិដែលមាន​ស្នាមមេដៃ​ពលរដ្ឋ​ចំនួន១៤៤ ​ដាក់ទៅ​ក្រសួង​បានឲ្យ​ដឹងថា ​ចាប់ពី​ខែមិថុនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩​ ដល់ខែកុម្ភៈ​ ឆ្នាំ២០២០​ ក្រុមសហគន៍​ និងសកម្មជន​ការពារ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ​បានចុះ​ល្បាត ចំនួន០៩​លើក ដោយ​ប្រទះ​ឃើញបទ​ល្មើស៩៨​ករណី។

ក្នុងញត្តិ​ដដែល​បានឲ្យ​ដឹងថា ​សហគមន៍​ប្រទះឃើញ​ ប្រភេទ​ក្ដារបន្ទះ ​អារជ្រៀក​រួចមាន ​៤១៨បន្ទះ ដែលក្នុង​នោះរួមមាន​ប្រភេទ ​ឈើទាល ​គគីរ កកោះ​ ផ្ដៀក ពពេល​ និងស្រឡៅ​ជាដើម។

អ្នកស្រី ​ស៊ឹម សេត ​អាយុ៤៩ឆ្នាំ​ជាជនជាតិ​ដើមភាគតិច​កួយ ជា​អ្នកស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​ដើរល្បាត​ព្រៃមកពី ​ភូមិប្រមេរ៍ ​ឃុំប្រមេរ៍​ ស្រុកត្បែង​មានជ័យ ​ខេត្តព្រះវិហារ​ បានប្រាប់​ឲ្យដឹងថា​អ្នកស្រី ​និងក្រុមល្បាត​បានអង្កត​ឃើញថា​មានការ​លួចកាប់​ព្រៃឈើ​ និងដាក់​អន្ទាក់​សត្វព្រៃ​ខុសច្បាប់​នៅតែបន្ត​កើតមាន​ឡើង នៅ​ដែនជម្រក​សត្វព្រៃ​ព្រះរការ​។ ដូចនេះ​ ពួកគាត់​បានសម្រេច​ចិត្តរួម​គ្នាមកដាក់​ញត្តិដើម្បី​ឲ្យក្រសួង​ជួយចាត់​វិធានការ ​ទៅលើ​ជនល្មើស​។

អ្នកស្រី​ ស៊ឹម សេត ​បាននិ​យាយថា​៖ «មកពីខ្ញុំ​ស្ដាយព្រៃ​ឈើ ព្រោះ​ថាទៅចុះ​ ល្បាតពេល​ណាក៏​នៅតែមាន​អាណាធិប​តេយ្យកាត់​រហូត​រាល់ថ្ងៃ»​។

អ្នកស្រី​បានបន្ត​ទៀតថា​ ប្រជា​សហគន៍​នៅទីនោះ​រស់នៅ​ដោយពឹង​ផ្អែកលើ​ការប្រមូល​អនុផល​ព្រៃឈើ រួមមាន​ការប្រមូល​ជ័រទឹក​ជាដើម​។ អ្នកស្រីថា​ ការកាប់​ព្រៃឈើ​ខុសច្បាប់​ធ្វើឲ្យ​ប៉ះពាល់​ដល់ជីវភាព​ប្រចាំ​ថ្ងៃរបស់​ពួកគេ ​ដោយសារ​ដើមច្បោះ​ដែលធ្លាប់​ផ្ដល់ផល​ដល់អ្នកភូមិ​រស់នៅទីនោះ​មិនសូវ​មានដូច​មុននោះទេ​។

អ្នកស្រី​ ស៊ឹម សេត ​បន្ថែមថា៖ «​បញ្ហា​ប្រឈម​ខ្លាំង ទីមួយ​អាកាសធាតុ​ក៏ប្រែប្រួល​ មួយទៀត​បើអស់​ព្រៃឈើ​ភ្លៀងធ្លាក់​មិនគ្រប់គ្រាន់។​ ជីវភាព​ប្រចាំថ្ងៃ​ក៏វាថយចុះ​ព្រោះដើម​ច្បោះជ័រ​ហ្នឹងវា​ថយចុះ​ ព្រោះរាល់​ដងយកជ័រ​យកទៅ​លក់»។

អ្នកនាំ​ពាក្យក្រសួង​បរិស្ថាន​ លោក ​នេត្រ សុភក្ក្រា​ បានប្រាប់​ឲ្យដឹងថា​ ក្រសួង​បានទទួល​ញត្តិពី​ក្រុមសហគមន៍​។ លោកថា ​ក្រសួង​បានបញ្ចូន​មន្រ្តីចុះ​ទៅដែន​ជម្រកសត្វ​ ព្រៃព្រះរការ​ ដើម្បី​ស៊ើបអង្កេត ​និងធ្វើរបាយ​ការណ៍​ជាក់ស្តែង​បញ្ចូនមក​ក្រសួង។ ​ប៉ុន្តែមក​ដល់ពេល​នេះ ខាង​ក្រសួង​មិនទាន់​ទទួល​របាយ​ការណ៍​ជាក់លាក់​នៅឡើយទេ​។

លោក ​នេត្រ សុភក្ក្រា ​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖​ «ខាងក្រសួង​បានទទួលញត្តិ​ហ្នឹងហើយ។​ ហើយក្រសួង​បានបញ្ចូន​មន្រ្តីចុះ​ទៅស៊ើប​អង្កេតហើយ​។ ហើយឥឡូវ​ខ្ញុំអត់ទាន់​ប្រាប់អី​បានទេ ​ទាល់តែ​គេឡើង​មកវិញ​ទើបមាន​របាយការណ៍​ជាក់ស្តែង ​ប្រហែល​ជាក្នុង​អាទិត្យហ្នឹង​បានដឹង»។

គួរបញ្ជាក់​ថា ដីព្រៃ​ព្រះរការ​មានទំហំ​ផ្ទៃដី​ ៩០,៣៦១ ​ហិកតា​។ រាជរដ្ឋា​ភិបាល​បានដាក់​ព្រៃព្រះ​រការជា​ដែនជម្រក​សត្វនៅ​ឆ្នាំ២០១៦​ ដើម្បីធានា​ឲ្យមានការ​ថែទាំ​ទីជម្រក​សត្វព្រៃ ​និងប្រព័ន្ធ​អេកូឡូ​ស៊ី ព្រម​ទាំងលើក​កម្ពស់ការ​ចូលរួម​របស់សហគមន៍​មូលដ្ឋាន ​និងសាធា​រណៈជន​ក្នុងការរួម​ចំណែក​ដល់ការ​គ្រប់គ្រង ​ការពារ ​និងអភិរក្ស​ជីវៈចម្រុះ​និងធនធាន​ជាតិក្នុង​តំបន់។

On Thursday, the artists introduced their work for the upcoming showcase, which features creations made from recycled materials.

Leang Seckon, one of Cambodia’s leading artists, presented a 140-meter-long dragon made of household plastic waste.

“I used plastic in connection with nature — as in our everyday lives, when we live with both plastic and nature,” Seckon said.

He wants to promote a sense of responsibility toward nature, he said. “As an artist, I must work on in-depth projects that can foster the beauty of the environment.”

Cambodian-American artist Sopheap Pich, meanwhile, fashioned butterfly wings out of the drooping branches of a large derm chrey tree on the embassy’s compound.

Pich said that in other countries he had seen the branches of old trees propped up by supports; unlike in Cambodia, where, he said, such branches would be trimmed or cut off.

“In China and Japan, they will use a pedestal to support the branch; but this tradition I have never seen in Phnom Penh so far,” he said.

A row of bamboo sticks placed under branches transforms them into wing-like walls.

Members of the public who wish to view the artworks on days other than March 7 are required to make an appointment with the French Embassy.

Embassy press officer Tung Soklim said that if there was high demand, the exhibition would be opened to the public for a second day.

French Ambassador Eva Nguyen Binh said the inventive pieces had brought the trees in the embassy compound to life.

“These trees, through artistic proposals, become at the same time beings to which we pay tribute for their beauty and their fragility, refuges, witnesses of memory. They are like immobile terminals giving meaning to life,” Nguyen Binh said.

Next week’s exhibition — the embassy’s second Art in the Park event — features Ouk Chim Vichet, Gregory Gosselin, Riem Monisilong, Mak Remissa, Leang Seckon, Srey Bandaul, Meas Sokhorn, Sopheap Pich and Veasna Tith.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that an appointment was necessary to view the art on March 7. An appointment is required only to view the art on other days.

ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​អាជ្ញា​កណ្តាល​​​​​នៃក្រសួង​ការងារ​​ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី២០​ ខែកុម្ភៈ​ ឆ្នាំ២០២០​ បានសម្រេច​ផ្តល់ដំណោះ​ស្រាយ បី​ចំណុច​​ និងបដិសេធ​មួយចំណុច​ទៅលើសំណង​ជំងឺចិត្ត​ដែលអតីត​បុគ្គលិកបាន​ធ្វើការ​ទាមទារ​បន្ទាប់​ពីសណ្ឋាគារ​មួយនេះ​បានបិទ​ទ្វារកាល​ពីដើម​ឆ្នាំ២០២០​កន្លងមក។​

​​ ប្រធាន​​សហព័ន្ធ​​សហជីព​កម្មករ​​ និយោជិក​​វិស័យ​​​ទេសចរណ៍​​កម្ពុជា ​​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​​សណ្ឋាគារ​​ ​ The Great Duke ​លោក​ ​ទូច​ កុសល​​ បានឲ្យ​ដឹងថា​​ ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​អាជ្ញា​កណ្តាល​ បានផ្តល់​ជូនបី​ចំណុច ​រួមមាន ​ប្រាក់អតីត​ភាព​ការងារ​ ប្រាក់​ជូន​ដំណឹង​ និង ​ទូទាត់​ថ្ងៃឈប់​សម្រាក​ដែលនៅ​សល់ទៅ​ជាថវិការ​ ប៉ុន្តែ​ បដិសេធ​ផ្តល់ប្រាក់​សំណង​ជំងឺចិត្ត។​

ក្រោយពី​ការសម្រេច​របស់​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​អាជ្ញាកណ្តាល​ តំណាង​សហជីព​ កាលពី​​ថ្ងៃទី២៤​ ខែកុម្ភៈ​ បានជួប​ប្រជុំ​ជាមួយ​អតីត​បុគ្គលិក​ ៧៥នាក់​ ក្នុងចំណោម​១៣៩​​ នាក់ ​ដើម្បី​បោះឆ្នោត​សម្រេច​ទទួល​ ឬមិន​ទទួលយក​។​ អតីត​បុគ្គលិក​ ៦០នាក់​ ក្នុងចំណោម​ ៧៥​​ នាក់បាន​យល់ព្រម។​​

លោក​​ ទូច​ កុសល​​ បាននិយាយថា​៖ «​សេចក្ដី​សម្រេច​ហ្នឹងគេ​ឲ្យតែ​បីទេ​ គេអត់​ព្រមឲ្យ​ប្រាក់សង​ជំងឺចិត្ត​​។ ហើយម្សិល​មិញខ្ញុំ​​បានជួប​ប្រជុំជា​មួយបុគ្គលិក​ចំនួន​៧៥នាក់​ និងបាន​ធ្វើការ​បោះឆ្នោត​ស្ទង់មតិ​៦០នាក់​គេយល់ព្រម​ ​តែ១៥​នាក់ទៀត​គេអត់​ទទួល​សេចក្តី​បង្គាប់ទេ​»។​​

លោក​ ទូច​​ កុសល​ បានបន្ថែម​ទៀតថា ​មូលហេតុ​ដែលបុគ្គលិក​​ផ្សេងទៀត​ដែលមិនបាន​ចូលរួម​ក្នុងការ​ស្ទង់មតិនេះ​ ព្រោះពួកគេ​មានការងារ​ថ្មីធ្វើ ​និងមាន​ការពិបាក​ក្នុងការ​សុំច្បាប់។​​ ចំនែក​បុគ្គលិក១៥​នាក់ទៀត​មិនទទួល​យកសេចក្ដី​សម្រេចនេះ​ ដោយសារ​ពួកគាត់​យល់ថា​ តាមផ្លូវ​ច្បាប់​ពួកគាត់​គួរតែ​ទទួលបាន​នូវប្រាក់​សំណង​ជំងឺចិត្ត​ដែលមាន​ក្នុងមាត្រា​ទី៩១។​​ 

យ៉ាងណាមិញ​ លោកយល់​ថា​បុគ្គលិក​ទាំងអស់​គួរតែទទួល​បានប្រាក់​សំណង​តាមមាត្រា​ទី៩១ ​ប៉ុន្តែដោយ​សារការ​តវ៉ាមាន​ភាពអូស​បន្លាយកាន់​តែយូរ​ដែលជា​ហេតុធ្វើ​​អោយបុគ្គលិក​ភាគច្រើន​ចាប់ផ្ដើម​ពិចារណា​ទទួលយក​ការសម្រេច​របស់ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​អាជ្ញា​កណ្តាល។​ 

លោក ​ទូច​​ កុសល ​បាននិយាយថា​៖ «​បើនិយាយ​មែនទែន​ទៅបើ​យើងទារ​បានបួន​ចំណុច​ហ្នឹងទើប​ពេញចិត្ត​ពេញចិត្តថ្លើម​​ តែដោយ​មើលទៅ​ដូចអត់ចង់​អូសបន្លាយ​ពេលវេលា​ទៅមុខ​ទៀតទេ​​ ចង់ថា​យកតែ​ប៉ុណ្ណឹងទៅ​ កុំអោយ​វែងឆ្ងាយ​ទៀត»។​ 

ក្រុមប្រឹក្សា​អាជ្ញា​កណ្តាល​ ទុកពេល​ឲ្យអតីត​បុគ្គលិក​ ចំនួន​ប្រាំបី​ថ្ងៃ ​​ដើម្បី​ឲ្យសម្រេច​ចិត្ត។​ នៅក្នុង​សប្តាហ៍នេះ​ តំណាង​សហជីព នឹងជួប​ប្រជុំ​ជាមួយ​អតីត​បុគ្គលិក​ម្តងទៀត​ ដើម្បី​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត។​

លោក​ ទូច​​ កុសល​ បានបន្ថែម​ថា តាម​ការប៉ាន់​ប្រមាណ​របស់លោក​ រង្វង់ទឹក​ប្រាក់ទាំង​អស់​ដែល​ត្រូវសង​ដល់បុគ្គលិក​ប្រហែល​៧០ម៉ឺន​ ទៅ១​លានដុល្លារ។​​

គួររំលឹក​ឡើងវិញថា​ អតីត​បុគ្គលិក​ចំនួន​១៣៩នាក់​បានធ្វើការ​តវ៉ា​នៅមុខ​សណ្ឋាគារ​ The Great Duke​​​ បួនលើក​ធំៗ ​បន្ទាប់​ពីសណ្ធាគារ​បានប្រកាស​បិទដំណើរ​ការ ចាប់ពី​ថ្ងៃទី៣១​ ខែធ្នូ​ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩​ ដោយមូល​ហេតុ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច។​​​

And every night, when the moon is beaming, the coldness of the night will run through his soul. And the whole tired body will get stiff, bent over in the cyclo frame that is not built for sleeping, especially not for an old man.

This is the typical life of a cyclo driver, working painstakingly from dawn till dusk to earn every penny for a living.

At the age of 88, Ngeoun Sok is a should-be-retired cyclo driver. He has been doing this job since the collapse of the Pol Pot regime in 1979. He is still barely surviving in poverty, without proper shelter, food or clothing, in the modern city of Phnom Penh.

He can’t afford to stop, he says. His 71-year-old wife, Ma Lai, has a chronic leg disease and hasn’t been able to walk for some years. She lives in Svay Rieng province while he toils in Phnom Penh, visiting each other just a few times a year. Sok spends every night in the capital on his cyclo in front of the Angkor Hotel near Phsar Kandal market with other drivers.

“I cannot sleep well at night since there are many mosquitoes flying around. Sometimes, there is a gangster or drug user who wants to steal something from me while I sleep. so I need to be careful and stick close to other cyclo drivers,” he says.

The income from the work is meager. The rise of more modern means of transportation has left little demand for the cyclo. Motodops, tuk-tuks and taxis have long overtaken cyclos in popularity. But Sok says they are too expensive for drivers to get started with, and it’s too late for him now.

He works so his wife can go to hospital, he says. But he can’t afford good doctors and her condition hasn’t improved.

He can earn 20,000 riel ($5) on a good day; after expenses, he might have 6,000 riel ($1.5) left. He wants to send at least 100,000 riel ($25) home a month, maybe as much as 200,000 riel ($50), but it isn’t easy.

Sok Kheng, another of the city’s aging cyclo drivers, is 86. Every day begins by circling Central Market, looking for customers. When he speaks, he shows a toothless mouth.

Before becoming a cyclo driver about a decade ago, Kheng worked as a manual laborer. Originally from Kampong Speu province, he spent his days as a farmhand, or carried people’s shopping around markets for a small fee. But as he got older, he couldn’t find those jobs anymore.

As an elderly, uneducated man, he moved to Phnom Penh to become a full-time cyclo driver, work he had done from time to time in the past, he says.

He makes at most 15,000 riel a day ($3.75), he says, but even that is dwindling as fewer people see the need for the old, slow cyclo.

As he waits for customers near Central Market, around 10 a.m., he wonders if he will be able to break even that day.

“So far today, I haven’t even made 5,000 riel ($1.25),” he says. “I need to spend at least 10,000 riel ($2.5) daily.”

The loss of the cyclo’s popularity has been a long time coming. Motorized tuk-tuks, originally known as remorques, began to controversially flood the city in the early 2000s. In recent years, smaller, metal-frames tuk-tuks, tied to smartphone taxi apps like PassApp and Grab, have overtaken the older vehicles.

Nevertheless, Long Sokhouy, 41, founder of the Cambodia Cyclo Association, says cyclos continue to have a unique role as a job of last resort for elderly men without money, skills or education.

Most cyclo drivers are older, typically in their 50s to 80s, and their living conditions are poor. Age and limited resources leave no other choice for many, she says.

Cyclos provide “a small window of employment opportunities for old people in need.” It is one way of addressing poverty in society, she says.

“The general income of cyclo drivers is 10,000 to 20,000 riel ($2.5 to $5 a day), which is really low compared to other jobs. Most of the uncles are sleeping on their cyclos, using public toilets and eating what they can find near the market,” Sokhouy says.

She says using cyclos can still be a convenient option for people who need goods transported for only a small distance from markets. But most remaining demand for cyclos is from tourists.

A slump in tourists from Europe and the Americas last year — arrivals from those two regions fell 5.9 and 6.1 percent, respectively, for the first nine months of 2019 — led to an even-worse-than-usual year for cyclo drivers last year, she says, estimating the drop in demand to be as much as 50 percent.

Both the cyclo — and drivers’ livelihoods — are in danger of disappearing, she says.

Her association, established in 2013, has about 150 members, and they receive help securing bookings with travel companies, renting and repairing cyclos, and getting extra support from the government.

About two years ago, the government began providing 7,000 riel a day to cyclo drivers in an effort to alleviate their hardship.

Sokhouy says the government also talked about providing shelters for cyclo drivers, but there has yet to be any action.

“In the last few years, government officers have said they want cyclo drivers to stay in pagodas, but there has been no update,” she says.

City Hall spokesman Meth Measpheakdey did not respond to questions about the proposal.

The cyclo is everything to a cyclo driver: job, house and hope. So through their roofless lives, the drivers persevere.

“My life here is really hard,” says Sok, the 88-year-old. But the cyclo is all he has to depend on.

“It’s my rice pot,” he says. “Without the cyclo my life would be a disaster, because I don’t know what else I could do at this age. I will continue doing this until the day I cannot hit the pedals.”

“My family always says there are many jobs better than being a journalist, and journalism is not suitable for a woman and not safe,” she says.

She started at The Cambodia Daily in 2009 and also worked at the The Phnom Penh Post as a business reporter. She recently became a freelancer so she can write news more freely, she says.

“I found that the job was not the same as before; I could not bring information properly to the public,” she says. “So I decided to become a freelancer, so I could report more or less independently.”

At work, a male-dominated field routinely behaves insensitively toward the women in it, she says. “You will see more men in your office and outside while reporting, and you will hear teasing or bullying words.”

Both in the newsroom and in the field, female journalists in Cambodia often find that they are alone. Significantly outnumbered by men, they encounter insensitivity and even harassment, they say. The people around them — especially their families, but even colleagues — suggest that the work is not for them, with too many safety and security concerns.

However, some of the women who have stuck with journalism in Cambodia say they take pride in defying the stereotypes.

Khan Leakhena, a reporter at VOD, says she sometimes doesn’t feel like a woman in her work — she chases interviewees among mobs of reporters, and is dressed to run.

But it’s work she loves and believes in. “This job can help people in my country,” she says.

The challenges have been frequent, she says. She has been harassed by locals during field reporting trips to the provinces, and even by other journalists on the job.

“When there is a male-dominant workplace, they always joke around about some topic about girls or something, which makes me feel uncomfortable,” Leakhena says. “Sometimes I might clap back, or I’ll just pretend that I don’t care so it won’t affect our teamwork.”

When she went on a reporting trip to Svay Rieng province in October for a feature on health and education, she faced unwelcome attention after an interview. “A local man kept asking me to drink beer and wanted to hold my hand,” she says.

Afterward, her parents told her to resign because they did not want her to continue traveling and face risks. It took a lot of convincing to gain their support again, she says.

At VOD, Leakhena is one of only two women in a news team of about 15, including all-male editors.

“When there is breaking news, they mostly send male journalists to report the news. They don’t think that sometimes women can do even better,” she says. “Please don’t underestimate women’s abilities.”

Despite the obstacles, however, Leakhena believes that female journalists are invaluable to the industry, and she encourages more women to join the field.

“Please don’t be scared to do what you want,” Leakhena says. “We don’t need anyone to empower us, just empower ourselves and do it.”

“Every time I see that I’m the lone female journalist in a crowd, I feel really proud of myself,”

One of her editors, Sun Sokhen, says VOD makes an effort to hire female journalists, and attributes the lack of women in the newsroom to a lack of interest among women.

“Female applicants are always rare,” he says. “Women themselves think that it is a dangerous kind of work and it is only for men … [and] her family might think it is too dangerous for her.”

He says he would like to have more women in the newsroom, because they would understand women’s issues better and “it is the nature of women to be good at communicating; the way they talk and their strategy to convince people are better than men.”

Sokhen adds that VOD has policies around gender-respecting behavior. Sometimes the male-dominant newsroom goes too far in making insensitive jokes, but “there is nothing serious about it,” he says.

A 2018 report by the Fojo Institute, a Swedish organization that promotes free and independent media, says female journalists in the country face a slew of challenges.

Its survey of 131 Cambodian journalists found a predominance of men in the field, particularly in the provinces and among freelancers; family pressures on women primarily around security fears; and more field opportunities given to men due to the assumption that women are more vulnerable. Two women surveyed said their husbands wanted to divorce them because of the demands of their work.

Sokhorng, the freelancer, says that in the face of obstacles, women journalists have learned to rely on themselves. “Everything depends on us, whether it’s taking care to maintain transparency and security, or even to encourage ourselves.”

Correction (January 24): An earlier version of this article misstated that Khan Leakhena traveled alone to Svay Rieng for a reporting trip in October. She traveled with a camera operator.

អតីតបុគ្គលិកជាង ១០០នាក់ នៃសណ្ឋាគារផ្កាយប្រាំនេះ បានក្រោកពីព្រលឹមមកប្រមូលផ្តុំគ្នានៅមុខសណ្ឋាគារ បួនថ្ងៃជាប់គ្នាហើយ ដោយអ្នកខ្លះ បានដឹកកូនមកជាមួយ ដើម្បីទាមទារសំណង។

លោក ​​អ៊ុំ​ វណ្ណា​ អាយុ៣៩ឆ្នាំ បានបម្រើការ១០ឆ្នាំ​ នៅសណ្ឋាគារនេះ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា​ លោកកំពុងជួបបញ្ហាយ៉ាងខ្លាំង ដោយលោកត្រូវការ ថវិកាសម្រាប់បង់ធនាគារ និងផ្គត់ផ្គង់គ្រួសារ ជាដើម។

លោក អ៊ុំ​ វណ្ណា​ និយាយថា៖ «​ការចាយវាយ ប្រចាំថ្ងៃ ប្រចាំខែ​ដូចបង់ថ្លៃផ្ទះ​ ធនាគារ​​ ឬការចំណាយលើបន្ទុកគ្រួសារ ព្រោះការបាត់បង់ការងារ ដូចការបាត់បង់ឆ្នាំងបាយ»។

អតីតបុគ្គលិកម្នាក់ទៀត លោក វ៉ន សុធ័ន បាននិយាយថា លោកបានបម្រើការ​ផ្នែកទទួលភ្ញៀវអស់រយៈពេល២០ឆ្នាំ​មកហើយ។ លោកបារម្ភ ពីការបាត់បង់អត្ថប្រយោន៍ច្រើន នៅពេលសណ្ឋាគារ​ប្រកាសបិទទ្វារ។

នៅក្នុងសប្តាហ៍នេះ លោក វ៉ន សុធ័ន បានក្រោកពីម៉ោង៥ព្រឹក ជាមួយកូនប្រុស អាយុ៧ឆ្នាំ របស់គាត់ មកប្រមូលផ្តុំ​មុខសណ្ឋាគារ​ ដើម្បីទាមទារ​ប្រាក់សំណង និងអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ផ្សេងៗ។ លោកថា អតីតបុគ្គលិក និងគ្រួសារលោក នឹងជួបការលំបាក​កាន់តែខ្លាំង ប្រសិនបើការចចារមិនត្រូវគ្នា។

លោក វ៉ន សុធ័ន​ លើកឡើងថា៖ «យើងមិនមែន​ជាអ្នកមានដែរ។ យើងខ្វះខាត ទើបយើងមកធ្វើការរកលុយ ដើម្បីប្រាក់ខែ​​បន្តិចបន្តួចហ្នឹង ហើយដើម្បី​យកទៅផ្គត់ផ្គង់គ្រួសារ។ ដល់ពេលជួបឧបសគ្គ​អញ្ចឹង យើងមាន​បញ្ហាខ្លះ​ដែរ មិនមែន​អត់ទេ»។

លោក​ ទូច​ កុសល​ ប្រធាន​សហព័ន្ធ​សហជីពកម្មករ​ និយោជិក​វិស័យ​​ទេសចរណ៍​កម្ពុជា ​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​សណ្ឋាគារ​ ​ The Great Duke បានមានប្រសាសន៍ នៅក្នុងសន្និសិទសាព័ត៌មាន នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍ថា ពួកគេ​នៅតែរក្សាជំហរ​ទាមទារ បួនចំណុច រួមមាន ប្រាក់អតីតភាព​ការងារ សំណងជំងឺចិត្ត ទូទាត់ប្រាក់​ជូនដំណឹង និង ទូទាត់ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាក​ដែលនៅសល់ទៅជាថវិកា។ លោកថា ភាគីសណ្ឋាគារ ស្នើបង់សំណង ជាបីដំណាក់កាល ប៉ុន្តែអតីតបុគ្គលិក មិនយល់ព្រមនោះទេ។

លោក ទូច កុសល បន្ថែមថា​ នៅរសៀលថ្ងៃព្រហស្បតិ៍នេះ តំណាងអតីតបុគ្គលិក នឹងទៅជួបមន្រ្តីនាយកដ្ឋានវិវាទការងារ នៃក្រសួងការងារ ដើម្បីធ្វើការដោះស្រាយ។

តំណាងបុគ្គលិកសណ្ឋាគារ នឹងជួប តំណាងក្រសួងការងារ ដើម្បីធ្វើការដោះស្រាយ នៅរសៀលថ្ងៃ។

អ្នកនាំពាក្យក្រសួងការងារ លោក​​​ ហេង​ សួ​រ បានប្រាប់ Newsroom Cambodia កាលពីថ្ងៃអង្គារ ថាករណីបិទទ្វារសណ្ឋាគារ The Great Duke មិនមែនជាករណីក្ស័យធននោះទេ។ ក្រសួង នឹងបញ្ជូនករណីនេះ ទៅក្រុមប្រឹក្សាអាជ្ញាកណ្តាល ដើម្បីដោះស្រាយ។

សណ្ឋាគារ The Great Duke បានប្រកាសបិទដំណើរការ ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៣១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ដោយមូលហេតុសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ បន្ទាប់ពីប្រកាសបិទទ្វារ សណ្ឋាគារនេះ បានចាត់តាំងការិយាល័យមេធាវី អេចប៊ីអេស (HBS) ធ្វើការដោះស្រាយ។

មេធាវី​តំណាងសណ្ឋាគារ ​លោក ​​នៅ​​​​ ពិសិដ្ឋ​ មិនអាចទាក់ទងដើម្បីធ្វើអត្ថាធិប្បាយបាននោះទេ។

សណ្ឋាគារលំដាប់ផ្កាយប្រាំ The Great Duke បានប្រកាសបិទដំណើរការ ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៣១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ដោយមូលហេតុសេដ្ឋកិច្ច។ បន្ទាប់ពីប្រកាសបិទទ្វារ សណ្ឋាគារនេះ បានចាត់តាំការិយាល័យមេធាវី អេចប៊ីអេស (HBS) ធ្វើការដោះស្រាយ ជាមួយបុគ្គលិក ប៉ុន្តែមកដល់ពេលនេះ នៅមិនទាន់មានដំណោះស្រាយនៅឡើយនោះទេ។

លោក​ ទូច​ កុសល​ ប្រធាន​សហព័ន្ធ​សហជីពកម្មករ​ និយោជិក​វិស័យ​ទេសចរណ៍​កម្ពុជា ​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​សណ្ឋាគារ​ ​ The Great Duke បានប្រាប់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មានថា​ អតីតបុគ្គលិកសណ្ឋាគារ ធ្វើការតវ៉ា នៅថ្ងៃនេះ បន្ទាប់ពីរងចាំជាច្រើនថ្ងៃ ដោយពុំមានដំណោះស្រាយ។ លោកថា​​​​ ពួកគេនឹងបន្តធ្វើការតវ៉ា រហូតមាន ដំណោះស្រាយ។

លោក​ ទូច កុសល មានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖ «ចាប់ពី​ថ្ងៃនេះ ​បើសិន​មិនមាន​ការដោះស្រាយ​ឲ្យ​កម្មករ​យើង​ទេ គឺ​យើង​នឹង​ធ្វើការ​ដង្ហែ​រហូត។ ​ហើយ​យើង​ប្រហែល​ជាមិននៅ​ស្ងៀម​មួយកន្លែងទេ។ ពួកយើង​ដង្ហែ​ក្បួន​ទៅ​ក្រសួងការងារ ដូចជាកន្លែងប្រមុខរដ្ឋាភិបាល ​ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​ពួកគាត់​ជួយដោះស្រាយ​ឲ្យ​ពួកយើង​»។

លោក ទូច កុសល បន្ថែមថា ក្រុមអតីតបុគ្គលិក ទាមទារលក្ខខណ្ឌមួយចំនួន រួមមាន ប្រាក់អតីភាពការងារ សំណងជំងឺចិត្ត ទូទាត់ប្រាក់ជូនដំណឹង ទូទាត់ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកដែលនៅសល់ទៅជាថវិកា និងប្រាក់ខែចុងក្រោយជាដើម។

​​​​បុគ្គលិកផ្នែកភោជនីយដ្ឋាន អ្នកស្រី គង់ ច័ន្ទ ​ ​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា ពូកគាត់​បានទៅ ​ក្រសួងការងារ​​ កាលពីថ្ងៃ​ទី១៧ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ ដើម្បីធ្វើការចរចាជាមួយ មេធាវីតំណាងក្រុមហ៊ុន ប៉ុន្តែភាគីក្រុមហ៊ុនបដិសេធ​ សំណើរបស់ពួកគេ។​ អ្នកស្រីថា នេះជាការតវ៉ាលើកទីបួនហើយ ដើម្បីទាមទារឲ្យមានដំណោះស្រាយ។

អ្នកស្រី គង់ ច័ន្ទ និយាយថា៖ «​ដោយសារថ្ងៃទី១៧ ខែមករា​នេះ​ បុគ្គលិក​ក៏បាន​ទៅជួប​ជាមួយ​មេធាវី​តំណាង​​របស់សណ្ឋាគារ​នៅ​ក្រសួងការងារដែរ តែមិនមាន​ដំណោះស្រាយ​អ្វីទេ។ ទើបធ្វើអោយ​ពួកគាត់​ឈានចូល​ការ​ធ្វើកូដកម្មលើកទី៤​»។

​អ្នកនាំពាក្យក្រសួងការងារ លោក​​​ ហេង​ សួ​រ បានឲ្យដឹងតាមប្រព័ន្ធតេឡេក្រាមថា​ ក្រសួងកំពុងធ្វើការសម្របសម្រួល និងរកដំណោះស្រាយ ជូនបុគ្គលិកទាំងនោះ។

លោក ហេង​ សួរ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖​​​ «ករណីនេះ នឹងរុញទៅ ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាអាជ្ញាកណ្តាលដើម្បីដោះស្រាយ ដោយសារតាមព័ត៌មានបឋម ករណីនេះមិនមែន ជាករណីជាករណី ក្ស័យធន»។

ចំណែក​មេធាវី​តំណាងសណ្ឋាគារ ​លោក ​​នៅ​​​​ ពិសិដ្ឋ​ មិនអាចទាក់ទងដើម្បីធ្វើអត្ថាធិប្បាយបាននោះទេ។​​​

សណ្ឋាគារ The Great Duke បានផ្លាស់ប្តូរឈ្មោះ​ពីសណ្ឋាគារ InterContinental តាំងពីខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៨។ បុគ្គលិកសណ្ឋាគារនេះ ធ្វើការតវ៉ាបន្តបន្ទាប់ ដោយសារបើកប្រាក់ខែយឺត ហើយបានឈានដល់ ប្រកាសបិទទ្វារ​ ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៣១​ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩។

Yorn said he had trouble remembering his lessons while he was sick, which deepened his stress and made his ailments even worse.

Like Yorn, many Cambodian university students are facing health issues because of the pressure they are under: The difficulty of balancing studies with work is leading to unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits, students and nurses said.

The problem is particularly common among students who have just begun living away from home, they said.

“This is my first time living alone, away from my family,” Yorn said.

He shares a room with three friends, and the transition has been challenging, the second-year Pannasastra University business student said.

He had no time to prepare proper meals, and usually ate instant noodles during class.

“I knew it was not good for my health, but I had no choice so I recklessly ignored it until it got worse,” he said.

To reduce the financial burden on his family in Oddar Meanchey province caused by his university studies, Yorn was earning some money through full-time, paid volunteering at the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which archives records from the Khmer Rouge. But it left him little time to take care of himself.

“Rushing to school, I didn’t have enough time to cook for myself; therefore, I usually found easy ways to have a meal like noodles, potatoes and fried eggs several times per week,” he said. “I did not realize that I had a stomach problem because I think all students are experiencing the same conditions like me during their studies.”

But his condition gradually got worse, he said.

“It was not easy,” he said. He felt like vomiting in the mornings, and his breath was smelling worse, he said.

Several other students — even those who are not working — said they faced a similar situation.

Cheng Ratanak Sombo, a sophomore majoring in teaching English as a second language, also at Pannasastra, said she developed stomach problems in grade 12 while studying hard to pass her diploma, and it got worse during her first year of university.

“I normally studied at home alone until I forgot to eat dinner. Instead of having rice, I had an energy drink to help me stay awake to study longer. In the past, I drank one or two cans every single day,” Ratanak Sombo said.

She continued this routine until one day she suddenly fainted in the middle of class. Her teacher had to get her medical help.

A doctor told her to stop eating junk food and eat more regularly. However, she found it hard to maintain an appetite, she said.

“The doctor did not allow me to eat any kind of spicy food, and [said] I should eat healthy food every day,” she said. “But my favorite snack is mango with spicy salt and energy drinks. I’m always dying to eat these things. It’s hard to blame anyone as I cannot maintain my self-control.”

A recent survey of more than 1,300 Cambodian university students found that rates of inactive lifestyles and unhealthy food consumption were “concerning.”

“Public policy and universities should promote healthy behaviors among the students,” said the study, conducted by researchers from the Khana Center for Population Health Research and the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

About 10 percent of respondents said they had eaten no fruits or vegetables in the past seven days.

More than 83 percent of respondents drank at least one glass of soft drink or sweet tea a day, and about 40 percent ate fast food at least once a week, according to the study.

The research, posted online last year, also looked at sleeping habits and found that more than 50 percent had moderate or severe problems sleeping, with a further 33 percent having mild troubles.

According to Man Kanda, a nurse who specializes in internal medicine, health issues due to poor diets are a noticeable and growing concern among university students.

Young people tend to pay little attention to what they consume, she said.

“When people don’t have proper and substantial meals, it can bring many disadvantages to their health,” Kanda said. Symptoms could include stomach problems, weak immune systems and mental problems, she said.

Kanda said that for students, eating regularly and getting enough vitamins were a must, no matter how busy they were.

She recommended getting to sleep before midnight, eating breakfast before 9 a.m., having lunch every day, and taking dinner at least four hours before going to sleep. Students should also drink milk and exercise regularly, she said.

Yorn, the Pannasastra student who suffered from stomach ulcers, said he was now making an effort to be healthier.

“Now I know that I need to take care of my health first; otherwise, I cannot concentrate on my studies or my work,” he said. “It stressed me out and affected my mood whenever I was not feeling well. Plus, my mom was very concerned about me. I felt bad for causing this trouble for myself and others.”

SOURCE: https://vodenglish.news/phnom-penh-lakes-on-the-brink-of-elimination-report/?fbclid=IwAR353yWiTQcAfkpF18FZ-1Gtg5fxybl9duMCy49E4yAgjaRBsQp4c5-fkUg