Sam Rany, Ph.D.

Fri, 17 January 2014 Kevin Ponniah UN human rights envoy Surya Subedi yesterday said he was “alarmed” by anti-Vietnamese language used by the opposition party to rally its supporters, a message he said he had conveyed to Cambodia National Rescue Party leaders during his visit. Speaking at a press conference to conclude his visit, Subedi said he had told CNRP leaders that tolerance and racial harmony would be crucial for the future of Cambodian democracy. “I am alarmed by the anti-Vietnamese language allegedly used in public by the opposition,” he said. Subedi also noted attacks on several Vietnamese-owned businesses during violent clashes between striking garment workers and authorities on January 3. “Dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of person of another colour or ethnic

By Zsombor Peter - January 17, 2014 The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a spending bill that would suspend some funding to Cambodia until the government carries out an independent investigation of July’s disputed national election and reforms its electoral system, or until the opposition ends its boycott of parliament. The bill also instructs the World Bank not to “reengage” with Cambodia until the election dispute is settled and to report to U.S. lawmakers regularly on what the Bank is doing to help the thousands of families evicted in recent years from Phnom Penh’s Boeng Kak neighborhood.  The bill, if approved by the U.S. Senate in the coming days, would follow through on threats some U.S. lawmakers had made to cut aid funding over Cambodia’s flawed election, which returned Prime Minister Hun Sen to power but tainted the ruling CPP’s win due to evidence of widespread irregularities. While the U.S. hasn’t rejected the results of t

By Emily Wilkins - January 16, 2014 Cambodia was ranked the best country in the world for healthy eating habits due to its low rates of diabetes and obesity, according to a report released Wednesday by Oxfam International. However, the report, which ranks food health and availability across the world, emphasizes that Cambodia’s top ranking is nothing to celebrate, as its healthy diet is directly linked to food scarcity. When Cambodia’s score on healthy eating was combined with its scores for adequacy of nutrition and percentage of underweight children, Cambodia dropped from first place to 74th in Oxfam’s ranking. “What’s clear is that the amount of food available is far more of a priority concern for the country,” said Lucy Brinicombe, senior press officer for Oxfam. About 15.4 percent of Cambodia’s population is undernourished and 29 percent of children are underweight, the Oxfam report says. The report measured countries on two additional criteria: aff