In recent years, Cambodia has pumped billions into infrastructure and development projects in an effort to graduate from “least developed country” status. Less has been spent on education, healthcare or safety net programs, and experts say little progress has been made in eliminating the worst forms of child labor, a scourge that has persisted for decades.

Despite remarkable economic achievements — the Kingdom is on track to exit LDC status in 2029 — a yawning gap between the rich and poor remains, with the young and urban poor shouldering much of the burden.

Along Phnom Penh’s popular riverfront, where the Tonle Sap joins the Mekong River, the site of underage snack sellers is common.

Theara, a weary-faced 13-year-old, began selling peanuts six years ago to help support her family. 

“I’ve been selling since I was 7 years old because my mother is sick and cannot earn an income,” she said. “My mother is bedridden. My father used to work as a motorbike taxi driver, but now he is also sick, so I am the only one earning money.”

Her 3-year-old sister often accompanies her, and the two cycle the capital’s busy waterfront district until late evening. When peanut sales run slow, Theara supplements her income with commissions paid by tourist boat operators. 

“When I call a Cambodian customer, the boat owner gives me 1,000 riels,” she said. “If it’s a foreign customer, I get 8,000 riels. I have to call for the boats sometimes because there are days when I don’t have money to buy peanuts, so I just call for customers.”

Theara dreams of becoming a doctor. On top of school, work and preparing the family meals, the aspiring physician dedicates at least an hour every night to schoolwork.

“I usually manage to sleep around 1 a.m., because I have to organize all the work at home and study,” she said. “If I don’t study, I’m afraid I won’t achieve good results. I want to be a doctor when I grow up, because my parents are always sick, and I want to be able to take care of them and help others.”

Theara is far from alone. The site of children hawking goods around the capital is common. Nearly all of them support aging parents and younger siblings.

Remarkably, the government doesn’t consider such work illegal, and the Ministry of Labor has registered few official cases of child labor in recent years, a spokesperson said.

“The definition of child labor is when children work for wages, receiving payments from employers or bosses,” said Katta Orn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training. “However, in our Cambodian culture, children help their parents in farming, agriculture, and trade; this is not considered child labor.”

Officials, while acknowledging that poverty is a powerful driver, urge families to keep children off the streets and in school.

“We discourage families from allowing their children to work, as it affects their education and well-being,” he said. “We urge families to send their children to study instead of having them abandon their education due to difficult living conditions.”

Experts say the government downplays the seriousness of the issue, and the problem persists due to a lack of political will.

“Child labor severely impacts the rights of children and contradicts their fundamental rights outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” said Yi Kimthan, Deputy Director of the International Organisation for Migration in Cambodia. “The use of child labor is a violation of children’s fundamental rights that includes health, safety, quality education, participation, and access to protection.”

The government must do more to tackle the problem, said Dr Quach Mengly, an education specialist. The practice robs children of a full education, while long hours outside the home expose them to harms like violence, drug use and exploitation.

“The government must prevent children from working at night, especially younger children,” he said. “There should be clear and regular monitoring in entertainment venues where children might be selling goods. We need to closely track where these children come from, who sent them, and whether they are being trafficked or not.”

The long-term costs of child labor are profound. Studies show a high correlation between low education rates and crime, leading to increased police and prison costs. Dropouts typically earn less money compared to those who graduate, and low income rates are a key contributor to intergenerational poverty. All of those factors weigh on state coffers.

“Some children are studying while helping their parents, but some are working without any education,” Dr Mengly said. “Sometimes they sell all day and night without making any sales, so they resort to begging on the streets. Sometimes, they are not selling because they want to, but because they are under coercion. There are many things we do not know.”

The government has vowed to do more. On International Children’s Day last year, the prime minister rededicated efforts to end the practice, promising to raise public awareness, improve police training and ramp up labor inspections.

Even so, the government cannot solve the problems of poverty and child labor alone, officials said.

“We have programs to assist homeless children as well as impoverished children, and we also have committees in various provinces and cities,” said Touch Channy, spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation. “However, children are often reluctant to let us see them. Most do not want to come to our centers because they feel it means losing their freedom.”

For most, the idea of leaving behind a family for the security of a government shelter is unthinkable.

Sophorn, 14, a peanut seller from Prey Veng province, quit school at 11 when her family moved to Phnom Penh. Her mother also sells peanuts. Her father is a scavenger.

“I start selling around 5 p.m. and return home around 2 or 3 a.m.,” she said. “I work no matter what because I want to help my parents. I see how much they struggle.”

Cambodia — In past decades, the family of Heur Sophy, 44, made their living with the flow of the seasons in the northern riverlands of landlocked Stung Treng province.

During the rainy months in the Sesan district village of Kamphun, her father and grandfather would farm the rice fields. In the dry season, they turned to fishing, harvesting much of the family’s annual intake of protein from their nets along the river. From her early memories of life on the water, Sophy could remember her relatives easily filling their boat with night-time fishing excursions from the rich natural fishery. 

However, the once-thriving routine of her family and more than 500 other families in Kamphun commune began to change with the construction of the 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II dam, which became operational in December 2018 and altered the river flow and fish habitats. Now, the fishing practices that once sustained entire communities produce only a dwindling, meager catch.

“The water flow has become unpredictable. Fish migration patterns are disrupted, and fish populations have declined,” Sophy said.

Today, Cambodia’s domestic energy mix is largely dominated by hydropower and coal, which respectively account for 46% and 48%  of supply. Meanwhile, solar arrays in the sun-drenched kingdom currently provide just about 5% of the country’s electricity.

However, this mix could be dramatically overhauled in the years to come. According to the kingdom’s master plan for energy development, by 2040 a growing use of solar photovoltaic arrays could produce the largest share of electricity on the national grid at nearly 30% of the country’s electricity. This would also come amidst lower investment in hydro or fossil-fuel-fired power.

Even as falling costs and improving efficiency of solar developments have driven up its feasibility,  bureaucratic hurdles and political reluctance have historically limited its full potential in Cambodia. If the master plan comes to light, it would mean an about-face from current policy that appears to favor large-scale and often controversial hydroelectric projects.

The environmental tradeoffs of energy infrastructure development are perhaps most easily seen in the riverlands of northern Cambodia, where Sophy and other locals have struggled to adapt to the ecological decline caused by damming.

Near the Sesan II dam, where well-connected development groups are considering new proposals for additional major dam sites, families now make the best of what’s left in the natural fishery.

When Sophy was 15, a one-hour boat trip with her father could yield 80 to 90 kilograms of fish. Now, her family has to travel farther and spend twice as much time, only to catch a third of what they used to.

The same decline applies to their rice harvest during the rainy season. Locals and conservationists say the dams trap vital sediments needed for healthy agriculture around the Mekong River.

When she was young, her family’s rice fields along the Mekong river would yield 3 to 4 tonnes per year. It was more than enough for a “good life,” with extra to trade for profit, she said. 

Now, she said, it would be a miracle to get even half of that. The most she can hope for is around half a tonne per year. 

Unharnessed Sunshine

As with most forms of development, energy infrastructure planning depends on cost-benefit analyses. 

“The greatest challenge with large infrastructure projects is finding the right balance between the necessary tradeoffs and avoiding overburdening local communities with negative impacts,” said Courtney Weatherby, deputy director and research analyst at the Mekong-focused Stimson Center.

Rapid economic development and continued industrial growth are projected to quadruple electricity demand in Cambodia by 2040, according to the World Bank. This would require approximately $20 billion in investments to expand generation capacity and the transmission grid. 

As the kingdom faces the need for these more broadly focused upgrades, Weatherby said it would be a good time to drive toward sustainability.

“Cambodia has an opportunity to push for a greener energy future by requesting investment specifically in clean technologies like solar, battery storage, and closed-loop systems of pumped storage hydropower,” she said.

So far, large-scale solar farm development has moved slowly in light of the country’s immense amount of untapped shine. But that picture may be starting to change.

In 2018, Cambodia introduced a solar generation regulation, a new driver for the country’s solar PV system development. Cambodia’s grid-scale solar development started with just a 10 MW pilot in 2017. Today, nine solar power plants are connected to the national grid and are capable of producing up to 444 megawatts (MW), according to the Stimson Center’s Mekong Infrastructure Tracker.

That tracker also reveals 620 MW of capacity is on the way from two solar farms currently under construction, with an additional four installations planned.  

Cambodia is also set to enhance its renewable energy infrastructure with two new storage projects, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. Speaking at an August regional ministerial meeting in Jakarta, Rottanak announced the launch of a 2,000 MW battery system next year and a 1,000 MW pumped storage hydro project set for completion by 2028.

This announcement follows Rottanak’s remarks in July, where he highlighted the government’s encouragement of solar energy use, pointing to the reduction of import taxes on solar panels from 35% to zero as a key measure.

Still, experts say more is needed from both hardware and public policy to clear the way for a solar renaissance.

Han Phoumin, senior energy economist for the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), said rooftop solar already provides enticing benefits to homes and businesses, especially since the cost of PV modules has dropped dramatically, almost 96% from 2010.

To fully capitalize on that, Phoumin said households should be able to both consume and produce electricity on the grid. That would require EDC to invest in upgrades such as a digitized electricity system with a smart grid to manage weather forecasting and load-demand forecasting, he explained. 

“EDC would need a system that can automatically predict every minute in-and-out energy, a stabilized grid to avoid unexpected blackouts and battery storage to store unused power for later supply,” he said.

The Solar Push Amidst Industrial Growth and Global Sustainability Demands

With all that sun beating down, the vital garment, footwear and travel goods manufacturing sector may be the country’s best vehicle for change. That’s because producers are increasingly eyeing rooftop solar arrays to cut energy costs while meeting sustainability demands from international brands. 

The garment industry plays a significant role in Cambodia’s economic growth and is one of the largest energy consumers. Home to more than 1,300 factories employing about 840,000 workers, most of whom are women, the country’s garment sector contracts with major international fashion brands such as Adidas, Gap, H&M, Marks and Spencer, Nike, Tesco, and UNIQLO. 

Transitioning to solar energy could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Cambodia’s industrial sectors and align with global sustainability goals. This move will not only free Cambodia from a reliance on high-emission energy sources but also meet the growing demand for cleaner production methods from international buyers in the garment sector.

“Our clients are from European countries, and they demand us to operate with clean energy, “ said So Saveth, a general manager of the Footsteps garment factory in Phnom Penh, which has had an on-grid rooftop solar array since 2018. “From a business perspective, we want both financial and environmental feasibility.”

In Cambodia’s garment sector, wood accounts for about 70% of energy consumption, as revealed in the energy audits of 50 factories conducted during the EU Switch Garment project, which aims to boost competitiveness and reduce environmental impact. Around 300,000 tonnes of wood are burned and used by the garment sector each year in the production to produce heat and steam, producing roughly 368,000 tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

The U.N.’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C requires a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The global garment sector currently accounts for up to 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, but experts say the industry’s emissions could rise 49% by 2030 if current practices continue.

For industry players, all of these factors plus external pressure make a transition to sustainable production both necessary and unavoidable, said Ken Loo, the secretary general of the Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC), formerly known as the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia.

“We encourage our members to install rooftop solar, claiming it is a way to meet buyers’ demand and their commitment toward 100% renewable energy by 2050,” he said.

“If we meet the criteria from buyers, it means the factories could obtain more orders from buyers,” he added. “On the other hand, if we fail to meet buyer’s demand, the factory could lose the orders.”

Along with speaking directly to industry, Loo said TAFTAC also works with the government to push for better energy policy and make it more convenient when factory members want to install rooftop solar.

In July, TAFTAC joined a coalition of business advocacy groups that beseeched the government to cut fees applied to users of large PV systems, most of which are in the industrial sector. The EAC has not yet shown signs of any willingness to ease these restrictions. 

Heng Kunleang, the government spokesman for the EAC’s overseeing Department of Energy, did not respond to a request for comment. Officials managing the energy sector have said in the past that the capacity charge – a monthly fee applied by PV project size rather than usage – is necessary to keep the grid stable and funded.

“We are trying to convince the government how important it is to have a policy that makes it easier for our members in the garment sector because it is the demand from our buyers,” said Loo. “If we don’t have that, our buyers could leave us, leave Cambodia. Therefore, we need policies that support our sector for this transformation.”  

—

This story was supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network through the Strengthening Transparency in Infrastructure Development Through Environmental Reporting in Southeast Asia project.

Socheata Hean is a multimedia journalist in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her coverage is mainly on politics, human rights, education, environment, GEDSI, health, cultures, and arts — all of these align with the UN SDGs. These reports have significantly influenced decision-making at various levels, from government bodies to UN agencies and NGOs.

The summit, now in its seventh year, showcased the innovations of more than 50 local groups working on solid waste processing, plastic composting, water filtration and more. The aim: foster collaboration between environmental investors, entrepreneurs, government officials and the private sector.

“It is very important that people start talking about waste by reflecting on their waste management activities,” said Nuon Monica, an event organizer. “People need to be aware of waste management as a way to take control of their own lives. I believe this forum helps participants understand waste management and think critically about how they handle waste in their communities.”

Cambodia uses a staggering 56 million plastic bags every day, according to the Ministry of Environment, and produces more than 3,500 tons of waste. The environmental impacts are everywhere, from litter-clogged street gutters to trash-strewn rivers and haze-filled skies.

If the country is to get a handle on things, it will need to expand clean technologies.

“This exhibition is not just a showcase, but an exchange of knowledge on waste management,” she said. “It offers a platform where not only business owners can learn, but also pass on valuable insights to their employees.”

Raising awareness is key, experts say, and more needs to be done.

“It’s crucial to teach the younger generation to recycle, innovate, and create something new to support the environment,” said Ou Somna, a water and environmental engineer with a local company using coconut shells to filter polluted river water. “We must create awareness about the impact we, as Cambodians, have on our environment and inspire the next generation to take action in protecting it.”

For many attendants, the summit offered a welcome opportunity to connect with other environmentally conscious collaborators.

“This program brings together a wide range of environmental initiatives,” said Kim Chheng, 14, who manned a booth backed by his school’s 4R group. “It provides a valuable platform for learning and understanding Cambodia’s environmental challenges and potential solutions.”

The four Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, recover – are a key idea in waste management. They were a recurrent theme in the day’s discussions.

Min Samneang, a summit attendee, praised the event for bringing together so many environmental and waste management specialists.

“I learned a lot about transforming waste, including how to process kitchen waste into useful items like animal feed,” she said. “This knowledge is valuable for improving waste management practices.”

Soeun Ratana, a student at the Royal University of Agriculture, said he would return next year.

“The focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly products was very enlightening,” he said. “I learned how waste and plastic are recycled into valuable and usable items, which supports sustainable development.”

Penh Kem, the governor of Stung Sen city in Kampong Thom province, said he was attending the summit for the first time. Waste management was a top focus of the government, and he was attending to gain a better understanding of the issue.

“I believe this program is important, as it demonstrates a strong commitment to the well-being of the people, particularly in terms of waste management and disposal,” he said. “These are crucial factors that the Royal Government prioritizes highly.”

He learned a lot, he said, from the expert panels and discussions, and he would share those ideas with residents back home.

“I gained valuable experiences from the governors of Kratie and Battambang, as well as from organizations involved in implementing garbage management procedures,” he said. “These insights will help in spreading educational messages to the local people about effective waste management.”

Choeng Lily, a journalism trainee at Newsroom Cambodia, spoke with Sophem about his work as a plastic collector.

Q: What does Nisset Plastic mean? 

A: Nisset Plastic is the name of our group of students focused on tackling plastic waste. With so many types of waste out there, we decided to concentrate on plastic, which led us to choose the name Nisset Plastic. Our goal is to make a difference in reducing plastic pollution.

Q: What motivated you to begin collecting garbage in the sewers and on the streets? 

A: The main issue we face is the trash problem. When I started the group, I noticed how bad the situation was, with people throwing trash into sewers, on the streets, and in public spaces like the riverside. This motivated me to create this project as a way to set an example, especially for young people. Another inspiration came from seeing people, including students, littering at school. I want to instill the right mindset about waste disposal, particularly among youth. By gathering students and involving them in this initiative, they can learn and change their behavior through participation.

Q: Have you noticed any results from the campaign?

A: Of course, there are thousands of users, and it’s clear that many of those who have joined us do not behave badly. Even if they littered before, they won’t after receiving the message. Our outreach is extensive, reaching hundreds of thousands through the media, including press and television. When people see what we do, it touches their hearts. The situation has improved in some places, like the waterways, which were once littered but are now clean and orderly. However, some still continue to litter despite learning about the problem. We can’t stop them, as no one has the authority to enforce action against it.

Q: Will you continue your efforts in the future?

A: We are fully committed, and while we don’t know how long we will continue, we remain dedicated to this cause. Even though it’s a small initiative, it has a positive impact on society. So far, other youth groups have followed our lead, forming similar groups in other provinces and cities.

Q: What advice would you provide to young people who wish to start a movement like yours?

A: There’s no need for a large group, significant strength, or specialized knowledge to make a difference. In terms of the environment, starting anywhere at any time is fine. Simply not littering is already a valuable contribution. If you want to do more, you can form a team to collect rubbish like we did or teach the younger generation.

There were no Cambodian museums or art galleries in Sydney, where she grew up, and Khmer art was rarely discussed in her family — and even then, only by the elders.

“As a young person, I didn’t feel like it was that important because it was the older generation telling me that this is Khmer culture,” she said. “But in reality, Khmer culture is very big and multifaceted.”

It wasn’t until she began researching Cambodian weaving styles in university that she discovered pidan and began exploring her own Cambodian heritage.

“I never went to a museum or anything to see art, because it just wasn’t something that my family did,” she said. “So when I went to university, I was like, wow, this is so amazing. I saw it as an opportunity, because I didn’t see a lot of Khmer artists.”

Now 31, Sok Linda is living in the northeastern United States and preparing for a solo exhibit in March at the Campbelltown Arts Center in Sydney. With each new show, pidan gains a few more fans, and Sok Linda moves one step closer to her goal of becoming a full-time artist.

Ancient Heritage 

The exact origins of pidan are unknown, but the artform is at least 1,000 years old. It’s defined by the use of intricate dyeing and weaving methods to create finely detailed scenes. Pidan are typically made from fine silk and depict landscapes of Angkor Wat or tales from Buddhist scripture. They were traditionally woven by women and donated to local temples as a way to make merit.

The practice fell into decline during the French protectorate, in the mid 19th century. It was all but obliterated under the Khmer Rouge.

“I was very interested in the idea that silk is something that was almost erased during the Pol Pot times,” she said. “Silk is one of the most resilient materials, one of the most resilient natural fibers.”

It makes an apt symbol for the resilience and strength of the Khmer people.

Modern Spin

Sok Linda first began pidan weaving in 2022. Her take on the ancient tradition reflects the change in times. She has simplified some of the more complex weaving and dyeing techniques, and moved away from its religious origins.

“The colors also differ,” she said, “and the stories behind the pidan are also very different. Instead of Buddhist stories, they are stories from my family.”

Despite the challenges of being an artist – the inconsistent paydays, the long hours, the formal rejection letters – she can think of no better career.

“I want to continue making art, and hopefully make bigger and better things, and get bigger exhibitions,” she said. “It’s a challenging but incredibly rewarding career to pursue. It’s not always stable, but that’s part of the excitement.”

Security forces, including units from the army, military and national police, were on high alert, Hun Manet said, and would remain in the capital through August as a preventive measure.

Opposition groups were reportedly planning protests in Phnom Penh against the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area, a government project to expand tourism and commercial interests in a far northeastern stretch of the country known as the Dragon’s Tail.

“The government will take decisive action against those who cause instability in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh,” the prime minister said. “It would be unfair to accuse the government of being dictatorial if it is simply trying to prevent instability.”

The Ministry of Justice warned the plans, which called for demonstration outside the Royal Palace on Aug. 18, amounted to a plot to overthrow the government, and those involved could face up to 30 years in prison.

Top officials are highly suspicious of grassroots political movements in the wake of events in Bangladesh, where months of student protests led to the recent ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the country’s long-serving authoritarian prime minister.

Renewed objections to the CVL Triangle, which was established in 1999, sparked demonstrations last weekend in South Korea, Japan and Australia. Protest leaders, fueled by historical fears of Vietnamese expansionism, have suggested the project would give Hanoi control over Cambodia’s border provinces, and they have demanded the government withdraw from the plan.

The CVL includes Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. 

Hun Manet accused opposition leaders of using deceptive political tactics to incite political instability and turn supporters against the government. Rights groups urged the government to engage the project’s critics, not persecute them.

“The government needs to offer a comprehensive explanation,” said Yong Kim Eng, director of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace. “It’s crucial that people know all the details of the project.”

Am Sam Ath, the executive director of LICADHO, said military support of the government was expected during tense political situations and conflicts, but it was not yet clear if the country faced any actual danger.

“Politicians need to consider the values of our country,” he said. “And remember that it is of the utmost importance that freedom and civil rights are not unduly restricted.”

Caldwell, a Scottish academic and vocal Khmer Rouge supporter, would be murdered in Phnom Penh soon after the group’s December 1978 interview. Becker and Dudman, miraculously, escaped unharmed.

The deadly events hang as the historical backdrop to Rithy Panh’s latest film, “Rendez-vous avec Pol Pot” — or “Meeting with Pol Pot,” in English — which opened in Cambodian theaters Aug. 9.

Sart Botuma, a journalism trainee at Newsroom Cambodia, spoke with Becker about the career-defining events and the film they inspired.

Q: What was it like meeting Pol Pot?

A: I was intimidated and fascinated. In 1978, the crimes, death and depravity of the regime were still largely hidden, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised at his charming smile and his outward appearance. He was well-dressed, well-groomed. Then he began lecturing me and I understood how paranoid and unhinged he was.

Q: How do you view post-war Cambodia? Especially the young people?

A: I’m glad Cambodians are learning their history, and that there are greater attempts to help them heal. However, to do so requires the freedom to ask questions, the freedom to be honest about feelings and to be allowed to become adults who can heal and think for themselves. I fear that freedom does not yet exist.

Q: What is it like seeing your work come to life on the big screen?

A: I am honored and grateful. And I’m also humbled that Rithy Panh made a feature movie inspired by my life and work. In “Rendezvous,” he expresses the truth of my visit without it being tied down as a documentary. Instead, it is a thoughtful, imaginative, frightening and ultimately humane story that captures so much of what I went through. I was in tears watching it at the premier in Cannes.

Q: What are your expectations for the film?

A: I expect Cambodians to embrace this movie. It was celebrated in France, drawing large audiences to theaters and receiving excellent reviews. In Cambodia, I imagine “Rendezvous” will be seen as a masterpiece. It is a very original depiction of that still unimaginably horrific chapter of Cambodian history – suspenseful, a work of art – I don’t know how he did it, but Rithy Panh is a national treasure.

The 57-year-old community leader has spent nearly two decades planting mangrove trees at Trapeang Sangke, a long, thick, stretch of flooded forests in Kampot province on the Gulf of Thailand. The project began in the early 2000s with just a few dozen trees, and it has since grown to include a fishing village and ecotourism resort that support dozens of families.

Sart Botuma, a journalism trainee at Newsroom Cambodia, spoke to Soem Him about the importance of mangroves, the power of community, and the uncertain future of Trapeang Sangke.

Q: Why mangroves?

Mangrove forests provide immense benefits to the community and the environment. The forests support a habitat rich in biodiversity, including fish, shrimp, crab and other species that provide livelihoods for fishers in our village and neighboring communities. The mangroves protect against rising sea levels, and they clean pollutants and toxins from the sea. One hectare of mangroves can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide. For this reason, mangrove forests are essential.

Q: How many trees do you plant every year?

We plant about 40,000 in Trapeang Sangke in a single year. It takes about three to four months for the trees to firmly take root.

Q: What kind of work do the mangroves provide?

We sell mangrove saplings for 2,500 riel to local customers and 4,000 riel to foreign buyers. We make roughly 30% profit on each sale. Our costs include planting supplies, labor and transport. With the proceeds, we assist the elderly and disadvantaged. Some families cannot afford school books and materials, so we help them. We use money from the sapling business and the ecotourism business for that. Another thing we fund is crime prevention patrols, to stop the illegal destruction of mangroves.

There are never enough funds for all we want to do, and we are constantly asking the government and foreign donors for additional help. In addition to supporting our residents, the community also needs development.

Q: What are the biggest challenges the community faces?

Forest loss. Powerful interests are destroying the trees in the name of development. This results in the loss of fishing grounds, the loss of revenue, and the loss of opportunity. With fewer prospects, residents are forced to migrate in search of work. The future of our village is uncertain.

Q: What do you say to the young people?

The Trapeang Sangke mangrove forests belong not only to us. They are a critical contribution to the environment and the nation. They support a community of fishers and a way of life for dozens of families. They are an important tool in the fight against climate change. We need everyone to protect it, for our community and for future generations.

The river turns golden at sunset, and in the quieter stretches, away from the buzz of passing long-tail boats, Irrawaddy dolphins splash in the twilight.

Known as Mekong dolphins, the critically endangered Irrawady make their home in a 90-kilometer stretch of the river between Kratie town and the Laos border. Less than 100 remain, say experts, with around half the population believed to live in the waters around Kratie.

In the days before Covid, a community of businesses thrived on the tourists who came to see them, but since the country reopened in late 2021, travelers have yet to return.

“Sales are not good,” said Chhnang Salen, a 65-year-old fish vendor at the Kampi Rapids, a popular departure point for riverboat tours. “Due to the economic crisis, tourists do not travel anymore.”

Kampi Village, about 15 kilometers north of Kratie town, is ground zero for dolphin spotting, and the area is occasionally busy on long weekends and national holidays. Most other times, business is slow.

“The Kampi Rapids is only a stop,” Chhnang Salen said. “People don’t stay long before they take a boat to see the dolphins or continue on to Ratanakiri or Phnom Penh.”

Vendors have talked with local authorities about building more overwater huts to accommodate more visitors, yet so far, no decision has been made.

“There is only one place to visit,” said Sun Hean, a 77-year-old Kampi vendor. “If they do not let us build, how can we get more visitors?”

Vendors at Kampi are pressing the government to address a number of challenges, like limited transportation options to the area, poor roads and a lack of marketing.

Severia Bel, a 30-year-old journalist from Lithuania, recently visited Kampi and found preparing for the trip such a struggle that she considered not going.

“When I was looking into coming to Cambodia, there were some places I couldn’t find bus tickets online,” she said. “If you’re planning to go — and maybe you don’t know what you’re doing or you’re a bit nervous like me because I’m a woman traveling alone — you’re like, ‘Oh, what happens if I go somewhere and then there’s no transport.'” 

Compared to Cambodia’s larger neighbors, like Thailand and Vietnam, the transportation sector is still largely underdeveloped, said Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodian Tourism Association.

“Only a few big companies can afford to invest in digitalization,” she said.

The local tourism department is doing all it can with limited resources, said Chan Sokunthy, director of the Kratie Provincial Department of Tourism. The department offers vendors regular training and has increased the number of tourist destinations in the province.

“We are always working on it,” he said. Kratie now has more than 20 official tourist spots, including the Kampi rapids, Koh Trong and Koh Promcharey.

“The extra destinations help to extend visits,” he said. “At least they stay one night.”

Even so, many tourism businesses in the area are barely hanging on. Chhay Sivlin, from the Tourism Association, urged the government to make good on promises of financial support for the industry, otherwise, one of the country’s top tourism draws could wither away.

“Even in Siem Reap, most financing has yet to reach the private sector,” she said. “The loans have not yet arrived, or the conditions for lending are too strict. There seems to be nothing to facilitate and encourage the private sector.”

The animals provided a way to earn income at a time when money-making opportunities were scarce. The country was just beginning to rebuild. Most schools remained closed, cars were a rare sight, and a barter system based on rice served as the foundation for most common financial exchanges. Her parents worked long hours, spent frugally and saved wisely. 

It was in that environment that Val Kuchphalla was born and raised — and coming of age during those hard-scrabble years instilled in her lifelong lessons on the value of work and money.

Now, as a mother of two, it’s those lessons that she instinctively passes on to her son and daughter.

“We love our children, and we do not regret giving them money,” says the 41-year-old homemaker, who maintains the family’s finances. “But we have our conditions.”

Spreading the Wealth

As a teenager in the 1990s, astute savers like Val Kuchphalla had few financial tools available. Personal computers and the internet were expensive and rare, and phone technology remained years away. She relied on pencil and paper. 

“I developed my own way with handwritten records, operating like a bank account,” she said. “I tracked deposits and withdrawals, just like a traditional bank book, with dates included.”

Today she is a member of the Lady Saving Group, whose members work to improve the financial literacy of women. Like others, Val Kuchphalla began teaching her children the value of money early on.

As her son and daughter reached school age, she offered them financial incentives to earn good grades. “I promised them 40,000 riel if they ranked in the top three of their class,” she said. “For 4th or 5th place, the reward was 20,000 riel.”

Financial Lessons

Few Cambodians learn about money in school, said Tum Tola, a wealth literacy coach, who explained that most people learn about money management from their parents.

Until recently, the national school curriculum included few lessons on personal finance or financial literacy, topics that many parents view as critical — and a push for greater financial education has been growing in recent years.

In some cases, the private sector has stepped in, partnering with the government to bring money-management lessons to students.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education began working with Prudential Insurance. Through a program called Cha-Ching, children as young as 7 learn the basics of money management. While experts have largely praised the program, they say its limited reach means that many students will graduate without the skills needed to make smart money decisions.

“If people do not understand financial literacy, it doesn’t matter how much money they make,” Tum Tola said. “They will not be able to safeguard their assets or make wise use of their money.”

Topics like investing and borrowing can be complicated, even for skilled financial managers, say experts, and in the hands of novices, poor decisions can have dangerous and long-term financial consequences.

In today’s environment, young people must learn to be self-reliant, said Kaing Tongngy, head of communications at the Cambodia Microfinance Association.

“A child with financial knowledge will not be poor,” he said. “They will know how to use money responsibly, to save, to make money as well as invest.”

For Val Kuchphalla, the mother of two, she believes her lessons paid off. As teenagers, her two children saved enough to buy mobile phones and even a motorbike. Her son graduated from the ACLEDA Institute of Business and her daughter is studying accounting.

Even so, she wonders if formal education in personal money management would have given them a stronger financial foundation. As adults, they make smart decisions and spend cautiously, she said, but like many adult children in today’s economy, they still need occasional financial help from their parents.

Hong Sengly, a journalism trainee at Newsroom Cambodia, talks to Andy about his 30 years of adventures in Cambodia.

Q: Can you recall the feeling when you first stepped foot on Cambodian soil 30 years ago? 

A: I’d been planning on coming to Cambodia for a long time. I first found out about Cambodia in 1979, when I watched “Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia” by John Pilger. In the 1980s I joined a couple of social groups, Action Cambodia and Friends of Cambodia.

It wasn’t until the U.N. came in 1993 that I felt confident about coming here on my own. I came for five days: two days in Phnom Penh and three in Siem Reap. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I’d never been to Asia before. I’d only been to Europe. I had to organize someone to drive me around, my hotels and tour guides, all from England, all by letter — not by phone, not by email — but through the post. 

When I arrived at the airport in Phnom Penh it was chaotic. Everybody got off the plane, walked into a small, little building and wandered around, then got their bags and went straight out. But my bags never appeared. I tried to speak to someone, “My bags, my bags.” I really didn’t know what to do, so I followed the crowds outside, where there was just a sea of faces staring at me. At the time, whenever a plane landed, crowds of people would go to the airport to watch. I walked out of the airport, worried about my bags, into literally a sea of faces.

I saw a guy with a sign — “Mr. Andy” — who had come to pick me up. We drove through the streets of Phnom Penh, which in those days were mostly unpaved. It was a little crazy. 

Q: You’ve posted a lot about Cambodia’s temples, culture and history. What makes you so passionate?

A: I’ve always loved history, and wherever I’ve gone in the world I’ve always visited the museums and historical places, because that’s an essential part of any country.

When I heard about Cambodia’s incredible history, I wanted to know more, but it was very difficult to find anything. So the idea of coming here, and getting a better understanding of the temples, the history, was very appealing.

In those earlier days, it was the adventure of getting to a temple and seeing what was left, then going to another, but all the time having an adventure and meeting people.

One of the biggest attractions were the people. The temples were wonderful, and the experiences I had were fantastic, but it was the people who really made the country attractive. Everywhere I went they were happy to see me. They were happy to interact.

Q: You visited some very remote places, like Koh Ker temple, during the early 2000s. What was that like?  

A: I wanted to explore beyond Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, to get into the countryside, and I needed somebody to take me, without spending too much money. The easiest way was by motorbike. So in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kampong Thom, Battambang, I made friends with moto drivers who could speak a bit of English. I would go to Kampong Thom and use it as a base for exploring Preah Vihear, Koh Ker, Preah Khan and Kampong Svay.

The thing for me was making friends. I would go and eat with their families, take them to restaurants, get to know the families, and most are still friends today.

So I had friends all over, and we would go and search for these ancient temples, many of them just piles of dirt and rock, but some were amazing. We had such fantastic adventures. I didn’t drive, I rode on the back — and we would go off for days, staying in peoples’ homes or small guest houses, and hopefully find these ancient temples in the forest, miles from anywhere.

The feeling of being probably the first Westerner to see those temples in 100 years, for me that was the excitement, but it also meant I met a wide variety of Cambodians. In some villages, they had never seen a foreigner before, and the kids would all run away and hide. It was just a great way to get to see the real Cambodia.

I didn’t mention the traveling: It was really difficult, it would take seven hours to get from Kampong Thom to Preah Vihear town on a bumpy dirt road. We would be covered in red dust. But that’s okay, because I made sure we stopped at as many places as possible to say hello to people. 

Q: You talk often about the movie “The Killing Fields.” What does the film mean to you? 

A: The film was released at the end of 1984, so I saw it in 1985, and it gave me my first real understanding of what had happened during the Khmer Rouge period. I had read some reports, but I don’t remember any books about Cambodia at that time. It was a dramatic interpretation of what had happened during the period. 

The film made it accessible for people like me, who lived in the West and had no idea of what was happening in Asia. The film made it easier for us to understand, and to appreciate, some of what the Cambodians had gone through. But at the same it was difficult, because it was Cambodians with Cambodians. It’s difficult to understand. But “The Killing Fields” was an absolutely vital part of my understanding of Cambodia. So it was a really big deal.

Luckily, I’ve been able to meet the director and some of the actors in the film. Because it had such a big impact on me, I still like to write about it. This year will be the 40th anniversary of its release, so it’s an important year.

Q: You have a page on your website dedicated to British deminer Christopher Howes. How did his story impact you? 

A: Did you know there’s a street named after Christopher Howes? It’s in front of the National University of Management. 

Christopher Howes is what we would call a typical British hero. Christopher Howes came from a place called Bristol, which is very close to where I used to live. In fact, after he died, and they found the body many years later, his father sent me a message and asked me to go to the funeral. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go. 

When I came to live in Cambodia, the men who killed him were on trial. I went every day because I thought it was very important. He had come to Cambodia to help demine the country, to make land accessible to Cambodian families so they could live their lives and grow crops. Demining is dangerous enough work, without being kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge.

The story is, his demining group was stopped by Khmer Rouge soldiers in a remote area. They said, “You go back, because you’re a foreigner. You go back to your base and get some money and bring it to us, and we’ll let your people go.” He refused to leave his team. He said no, you let my guys go, and I will stay here until they come back.

He put himself as the one to suffer, rather than his men. That’s a typical British attitude. Unfortunately, only a couple of days later, it appears that the Khmer Rouge commander in Anlong Veng gave the order to kill him.

British police came to investigate. They got the names of the people who did it and, almost 10 years later, a senior Khmer Rouge commander named Khem Nguon was sentenced to prison for his murder.

The page on my website is dedicated to Christopher Howes because he had all the attributes of a true British hero, helping a country that I loved and still love.

Q: You’ve talked a lot about Douglas Latchford, the British art dealer and smuggler. How did he shape Cambodia? 

A: This is an ongoing story. For many decades, Douglas Latchford was getting hold of Cambodian sculptures and selling them across the world. He would pay people in Cambodia to steal the sculptures and smuggle them across the border. 

He did this for 50 years or so, and he was able to take thousands of sculptures out of Cambodia while giving the Cambodian looters a tiny bit of money. Then, he would sell them for hundreds of thousands of dollars; so, he made millions, many millions, doing this.

Everybody thought he was a nice guy because he donated money to the National Museum. He would improve their lighting, or he would give them a few sculptures. That’s the way he did it.

He brought great disgrace on the U.K. Over the past few years, I’ve posted a lot on Douglas Latchford and his activities. I’ve posted many pictures of the stolen sculptures as a way of trying to regain some of the lost ground. He did a lot of bad things to Cambodia and I want everybody to know it.

I post on Facebook because a lot of Cambodians read Facebook. I want Cambodians to know about their culture, that it’s overseas in this museum, in that museum, and has been stolen by people like Latchford. Because it’s important we recognize the amazing ability of the Cambodians of the Angkor period. But many of these fantastic sculptures have left Cambodia, and to see them you must go to London or New York or Australia or France.

The Cambodian government is doing a fantastic job of getting them back. Other countries are looking at Cambodia and saying, “Wow, Cambodia is doing a brilliant job in finding and getting these museums and collectors to return these pieces.”

Q: It’s been 30 years since you first visited Cambodia. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen?

A: The most obvious thing is the construction in Phnom Penh. I’ve lived in Boeng Keng Kong for 16 years, and when I first moved here there were not any condominiums or any high buildings. It was all mostly villas.

Things like roads are much better. I remember those terrible roads I used to travel on. At least now, when you go to the main areas the roads are reasonable. The airports have improved. 

The obvious things have improved, but the people are the same, which is the essence of Cambodia. I think they’re still as welcoming and as happy to see me as before. It’s the people that make the country.

Note: The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

More than 65 high-school students faced off in the first Cambodian Debate League Open, held in early December at the American University of Phnom Penh. They clashed over topics such as the environment and criminal justice system. 

After two days of verbal duels, Porangporang Linos, a team of Phnom Penh high-school and university students, was crowned champion. Stunseed, a team from Western International School, took second place. 

“We really didn’t expect to do so well,” said Saraknita Tith, 16, from team Porangporang Linos. “But the team worked very hard and stayed mentally strong, and we made it through every round. This just shows that a little bit of dedication and perseverance goes a long way.”

The Cambodian Debate League was founded in early 2023 by Lam Lykeo, a high-school junior at AUPP, which has a secondary education program in addition to the university curriculum. 

A friend introduced her to debate during her sophomore year, and she was instantly hooked.

“People say you either love it or hate it,” she said. “I agree. Much of learning debate is losing rounds and listening to OAs, which basically highlight all your flaws.”

OAs, or “oral adjudications,” are the highly detailed critiques given by judges after debating rounds. They are often harsh, and accepting them — and the losses — were a challenge.

“Taking the ‘L’ in debate rounds, though it could sound sad and depressing, is actually quite the opposite,” Lykeo said. “Losing a round means you get to listen to great feedback and hone your skills. Though a lot of my debate  stories mainly consist of losses, I could argue that those losses taught me more than my few wins.”

The League follows the Asian Parliamentary format, which competes with five-member teams at larger competitions and three-member teams at smaller ones. Arguments are timed, and exceeding the limit results in severe penalties.

The face-offs are trials by fire, participants say. Even so, they teach skills that extend far beyond the podium — like how to win arguments and handle disagreements, and that mountains of hard work don’t always translate into victory.

“Debate teaches people that it’s fine to lose,” said Kimse Ear, 17, a core CDL member. 

“Debating culture in Cambodia is important, as it allows students to discuss certain issues and dilemmas that are happening in our society,” he said. “The debating culture allows people to easily make friends and allows them to feel safe to express their ideas and opinions.”

“The voting process exemplified a genuine political pluralism,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “offering Cambodian citizens and their respective political parties an equal and fair opportunity to engage in political contests within the confines of the law.”

More than 400 international observers witnessed the vote, in addition to tens of thousands of local monitors.

“The electoral proceeding was closely monitored by nearly 60,000 political parties’ agents and 90,000 independent national observers,” the Ministry said, “collectively attesting to the fairness and transparency of the process.”

China and Russia congratulated Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling CPP on the victory, but many Western democracies — including Australia, the E.U., France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States — condemned the outcome.

The U.S. asserted the election was “neither free nor fair,” and said it would impose targeted sanctions against the Kingdom’s leadership.

“Cambodian authorities engaged in a pattern of threats and harassment against the political opposition, media, and civil society that undermined the spirit of the country’s constitution and Cambodia’s international obligations,” the U.S. State Department said. “In response, the United States has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermined democracy and implemented a pause of certain foreign assistance programs.”

The U.S. did not offer details on the projects or people under review.

Chief among complaints were the lack of a credible opposition and the silencing of independent media. The government blocked several websites — including Radio Free Asia, The Cambodia Daily, and Kamnotra, an open-source database — ahead of the poll.

“The lead-up to the July 23 poll saw the disqualification of the main opposition party and further pressure on independent media and civil society,” the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh said. “This undermined the ability of all Cambodians to be informed, to express their views freely and to have a genuine choice in how they are governed”

Cambodia in recent years has jailed hundreds of opposition members, including Kem Sokha, leader of the country’s only credible opposition group.

“We call for the release of detained opposition members,” the French Foreign Ministry said following the vote, “and urge the Cambodian authorities to respect the fundamental rights necessary for the restoration of democracy.”

Those found guilty face penalties of 20 million riels, the NEC said, and five-year bans from voting or running for office.

Some Candlelight Party leaders, in protest of the group’s disqualification, have pressed supporters to mark ballots multiple times or not at all. The NEC has labeled such actions a violation of the election law’s spirit.

“The purpose of voting is to choose the party you like,” said Hang Puthea, spokesperson for the NEC. “To destroy the vote goes against the law. It is illegal.”

The National Assembly recently pushed through last-minute changes to the election law criminalizing calls to “destroy or damage the ballot,” amendments critics said directly targeted the opposition.

“Citizens should have the right to decide freely,” said Korn Savang, a coordinating officer for Comfrel, the election watchdog. “It should not be a legal obligation.”

The Candlelight Party unsuccessfully pushed the NEC to enact the changes after the election.

“The NEC is not doing the wrong thing, they are just following the law,” Kimsour Phirith, a Candlelight Party spokesperson, told Newsroom Cambodia. “However, the CNRP did not support the amendments, as the election is very soon, and lawmakers did not include relevant parties in the decision-making.”

This story was written as part of the Newsroom Cambodia mentorship program.

Read on The Guardian website https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/dec/13/how-cambodian-women-are-using-theatre-to-speak-out-against-domestic-abuse

“The construction of high-speed railways will not take long because Cambodia already has a rail system,” he said. “We need internal connections to reduce hardships, reduce poverty and increase income for Cambodian people.” 

Faster tracks would give rise to a domestic railway industry and improve the movement of goods through the southern port city of Sihanoukville.

Cambodia maintains about 650km of tracks, although their slow speeds make them unable to handle commercial transport. A southern line runs from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. A northern line stretches from the capital to Poipet, on the Thai border.

Cambodia is also considering a third line, from Phnom Penh to Bavet, on the Vietnamese border.

“I’ve told you again and again. Don’t follow me and ask me to come back home when I’m drinking,” shouted the actor. “I will kill you.”

It was a scene that mirrored Chenda’s own experience of years of physical and emotional abuse from her husband. For the next 30 minutes, around 60 neighbours and friends sat watching under a big tent in the north-western city of Battambang, while Chenda and a small group of domestic violence survivors performed a story familiar to many in Cambodia – complete with a violent partner, gossiping neighbours and unresponsive authorities.

Full story here: https:https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/dec/13/how-cambodian-women-are-using-theatre-to-speak-out-against-domestic-abuse?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1670919742

The Association of Southeast Asean Nations launched the plan — known as the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action on Women, Peace and Security — in Phnom Penh last week.

Minister of Women’s Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi said Cambodia had a long history of promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and it was working to incorporate the ASEAN plan into existing strategies.

“We need to make sure the national implementation of the RPA on WPS in Cambodia is consistent with the Cambodian context — that is our priority,” she said. “We cannot implement it into Cambodia’s national plan without careful consideration.”

RPA efforts are focused on providing safe environments and increasing women’s role in government and social development. The plan was launched in partnership with the U.S. and the United Nations.

Sarah Knibbs, director of U.N. Women in the Asia Pacific, praised Cambodia’s efforts.

“Cambodia has really been taking the lead and showing great leadership in advancing women, peace, and security,” she said. “Another important thing Cambodia has been doing is leading the way in promoting the roles of women in U.N. peacekeeping.”

In the early 1990s, Cambodia was the target of a massive U.N. operation with more than 15,000 peacekeepers. 

“Cambodia is now a very important sender of peacekeepers to the world,” Knibbs said. “It has been making a really big effort to have women very much engaged in peacekeeping. This is something where Cambodia has been leading the way in the region.”

Domestically, the results of Cambodia’s efforts can be seen in many measures. Boys and girls finished school at about the same rate, and women represented a significant percentage of the labor force. Women also represented more than 20% of parliamentarians, up from 6% after the country’s first U.N.-sponsored elections in 1993.

The coronavirus, however, slowed progress in some areas and worsened it in others.

Before Covid-19, about 20% of women aged 15 to 49 reported experiencing physical violence, according to the U.N. Those numbers shot up nearly 90% during the pandemic, said Seng Reasey, director in chief of Silika, a development and good-governance organization.

Adopting the ASEAN plan was important, she said, and complemented Cambodia’s existing efforts, but its success will be dependent on gaining the right support. 

“The level of effectiveness depends on the political will in implementing the national action plan,” she said. “We also need human resources. In the past, these were the challenges that prevented successful implementation.”

The 10-nation effort — backed by USAID and UN Women, the United Nations initiative promoting gender equality — took flight this week in Phnom Penh.

“Peace and security are the foundations of all development in society,” said Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs Ing Kantha Phavi. “Women and men suffer differently in war — both need to contribute their different visions during peacetime.”

ASEAN has faced growing transnational problems in recent years, including weather-related disasters and the rise of regional crime syndicates. The impact of those issues often fall disproportionately on women.

“The regional plan of action is very important because it marks the recognition by ASEAN member states of the importance of women, peace and security,” said Sarah Knibbs, officer in charge of UN Women for Asia and the Pacific. “Many issues we consider to be the new and emerging security threats, like climate change, human trafficking, pandemics and disaster preparedness, are really cross-border issues.”

Around 45,000 women were murdered by a partner or family member last year, according to the website Statista. Asia was the worst offender, with nearly 18,000 deaths.

President Joe Biden, in a sit down with Prime Minister Hun Sen, said improved bilateral relations depended on the Kingdom taking “concrete steps” to improve its rights record and democratic processes.

“We urge Cambodia to take meaningful steps to reopen political and civic space, including by resolving opposition leader Kem Sokha’s prolonged trial, and releasing other detained political and civil society activists, including U.S.-Cambodian citizen Seng Theary,” the Whitehouse said.

China is funding large-scale upgrades, including a deep-water port, at Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk Province. Washington fears Beijing is building a military outpost.

“The President raised concerns regarding the situation at Ream Naval Base and underscored the importance of full transparency about activities by the P.R.C. military at Ream Naval Base,” the Whitehouse said, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China.