Commitment to Oz refugee deal confirmed

Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhon(L) shakes hands with Australian senator Concetta Fierravanti after a meeting yesterday in Phnom Penh. Pha Lina

Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn yesterday reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to a controversial agreement with Australia to accept refugees.

Sokhonn told Autralian Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells in a meeting that Cambodia will continue implementing the memorandum of understanding that was signed in September 2014.

Under the A$55 million deal, Cambodia agreed to accept an unspecified number of refugees held by Australia on Nauru Island if they volunteer to resettle.

Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said after the meeting that there are no plans for more refugees to arrive, despite previous reports of two interested volunteers.

“HE Prak Sokhonn reaffirmed that Cambodia keeps implementing the deal … But until now there is no information about any new refugees,” he said.

However, two refugees – one from Syria and one Rohingya from Myanmar – had expressed interest in resettlement, Interior Ministry immigration department spokesman Kerm Sarin confirmed yesterday, adding that he was not informed about any cancellation of their resettlement plan.

Contact author: Touch Sokha

MOST VIEWED

12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star
Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an
Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller
The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91
Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter
Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was
Candlelight Party disqualified from July general election
The National Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified the Candlelight Party (CP) from contesting the upcoming general election, citing a lack of valid documentation. NEC spokesman Khorn Keomono said the CP failed to fulfil one of the three main requirements: including original documentation proving their registration
1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years
The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is
New Law on Taxation comes into effect
Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom