journalists

The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 601

“In 2009, Cambodia plans to collect a 12.5% tax to produce more tax income than that reported in 2008.

“According to a secretary of state of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and journalists, who interviewed him, regarding the collection of tax from gabling sites on 19 February 2009, Mr. Chea Meng Chhieng, tax income from all kinds of gambling increased to US$20 million in 2008, but the income will not increase further as the Cambodian government wants, because, according to this secretary of state, the number of tourists entering casinos declined due to the global financial crisis.

“Responding to the demand of tourists, Cambodia decided to legalize the creation of many different kinds of casinos, like some with slot machines, which are growing like mushrooms in Phnom Penh and in different provinces.

“This draws criticism from the opposition parties and from some non-government organizations against the presence of gambling which causes social instability.

“There are more than 20 casinos in Cambodia, but most of them are located at border crossing points.

“Mr. Chea Meng Chhieng stated the importance of legalizing the gambling industry, as doing so will facilitate the monitoring of gambling sites.

“During the Council of Ministers’ meeting on 19 December 2008, the Prime Minister of the forth-term Royal Government of Cambodia, Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen, ordered the Ministry of Economy and Finance to observe all hotels that have entertainment clubs and all types of electronic entertainment centers, which are required to prohibit Khmer citizens to enter to gamble.

“If there is any violation of the rules, like permitting Khmer citizens to enter, the Ministry of Economy and Finance must revoke their licenses and immediately stop their operation within 24 hours.

“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen ordered the Director General of the National Police [Mr. Net Savoeun] and the Commander of National Military Police [Mr. Sao Sokha] to check the licenses of such places, and to stop their operation for not obeying the circular of the Royal Government issued on 4 December 2008.

“The Phnom Penh police chief, Mr. Touch Naruth, said that the Cambosix sites are legal gambling sites, and Naga World Casino is the only legal casino in Phnom Penh, but Naga World Casino does not allow Khmer citizens to enter, otherwise it would be closed and its license would be revoked immediately within 24 hours for disobeying the circular of the Cambodian government released on 4 December 2008.” Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #348, 24.2.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #123, 24.2.2009

• Israeli Delegation Plans to Visit Cambodia in March 2009 to Invest in Agriculture and in Telecommunication
• 10,000 Police and Soldiers Are Prepared to Protect the Government House from the [anti-government] Red-Shirt Group [in Thailand]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1881, 24.2.2009

• [Two] Hydro-Electric Dams [370 kilovolt and 300 kilovolt] Funded by the Japanese Government Were Inaugurated [Mondolkiri]
• Vietnam Inaugurates Its First Oil Refinery [in Quảng Ngãi Province, worth US$2.5 million]

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #348, 24.2.2009

• Cambodia Plans to Collect 12.5% Tax from All Kinds of Gambling to Exceed the 2008 Tax
• [Around 200] Kos Kralor Residents in Battambang Gather to Protest in Front of Samdech Hun Sen’s Resident to Find Justice [over a land dispute]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6586, 24.2.2009

• During the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Samdech Dekchor [Hun Sun] Plans to Meet the Thai King and Other Partners
• Police Raided a Drug Producing Place and Arrested Three [Taiwanese] Men and a [Vietnamese] Woman [Phnom Penh]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.16, #34, 24.2.2009

• The US Embassy Spends US$20 Million to Strengthen Justice and Human Rights in Cambodia [by assisting to develop and strengthen two human rights bodies: the National Human Rights Committee and the ASEAN Human Rights Committee]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4829, 24.2.2009

• Asia Development Bang Holds Meeting to Find Solutions to Assess Impact of Development Projects Implementation
• Four Suspects Are Arrested for Throwing a Grenade and Injuring Nine People [Battambang]
• Truck Rolled over a Man’s Head after a Motorbike Accident while Distributing His Wedding Invitations; His Bride Cried Vehemently [Phnom Penh]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.16, #3488, 24.2.2009

• The Club of Cambodian Journalists Calls to Search for the Perpetrators Who Murdered Other Journalists after the Arrest of Another Suspect Who Shot Dead the Editor-In-Chief of Koh Santepheap

Have a look at the last editorial – you can access it directly from the main page of the Mirror.

And please recommend us also to your colleagues and friends.

Back to top