Social development
The poor
Cambodia’s future depends on its poor, discriminated, and marginalised people
I believe the future of Cambodia depends on how the country supports its poor, discriminated, and marginalised people. Inequality will always exist, but all countries that neglect their downtrodden will bear the weight of reproach and the constant risk that immense talent, prospects, and capabilities ...
Youk Chhang
More use of technology essential in education: minister
Governments around the world including Laos have been promoting and developing digital education systems, which is now an important global issue and a key priority for the education sector. Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune, recently shared her views and experiences on the topic ...
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
Military Chief seeks balance between health safety and livelihood security
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the country military chief, urged the civilian authorities to keep a balance between the need for health safety and livelihood security in implementing policies aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senior General conceded that the rate of infection of COVID-19 ...
Sai Wanna
Yangon poor lose livelihoods due to COVID-19 restrictions
The stay-at-home order because of COVID-19 is causing hardships for the most vulnerable in Yangon. Only one person is allowed to go out at a time and some streets don’t allow strangers to enter, causing hardships for street pedlars and gig economy workers. Most shops in ...
Zeyar Hein
Land to lose: coronavirus compounds debt crisis in Cambodia
As dark clouds approached her village in northwestern Cambodia one afternoon in July, Set Sreylon prepared for the monsoon that threatened to flood her new family home. While the rains were a concern, the 37-year-old feared a bigger threat to her property – the daily visits ...
Matt Blomberg, Mech Dara
Hundreds of Thai students rally to demand school reform
Hundreds of high school students demonstrated in Bangkok on Saturday to demand reform of an education system they say is outdated in the latest of more than a month of anti-authority protests. Protests that began on Thai university campuses have taken place almost daily since mid-July ...
Chayut Setboonsarng
Vietnam dodged the coronavirus bullet, so why are its workers struggling?
Along a busy highway on the outskirts of Vietnam’s largest city, a worn-out looking woman carrying all her worldly possessions in a handful of plastic bags picks her way through a web of swaying hammocks, looking for one that’s empty so she can lay her ...
Sen Nguyen
Legislative changes, eco-tourism could curb illegal wildlife trade in Laos
A survey on wildlife market in Laos has revealed its local communities’ massive dependence on the product for food and livelihood, threatening the survival of many species in the country. Nearly 90 percent of the households confirmed using wildlife, and the majority of the population was ...
Alok Gupta
What’s next for Thailand’s Covid-19 recovery?
After six months in lockdown, Thailand is encouraging citizens to return to its islands and beaches. The nation has had no local transmissions in the last two months. Businesses have opened back up and the government is now contemplating allowing 100,000 foreign workers to return to ...
Scott Rigby
Coronavirus pushing Cambodia back into poverty
Garment worker Ny Thea never expected she would be in such big trouble. Just recently she still earned about $300 (€253) per month in a clothing factory, and on top of that, she took in extra cash renting out a luxury car. But the coronavirus pandemic ...