Sou Sdei and welcome to Campuccino, your bi-monthly dispatch of key headlines in Cambodia with a dash of opinion.
To new subscribers, welcome! I’m Darathtey, a communication consultant, writer, and researcher. Learn more about my work here.
This issue is going to be a short one as I simply do not have much to say about the news. Well, that was a lie. I do have a lot to say but I don’t think I’m comfortable enough to say them publicly on topics such as conscription law, the border conflict, and other stuff. If you know, you know.
- Darathtey
The Cambodian government managed to negotiate the US tariffs down from 49% to 36%, which they called a success. While I’m not going to pretend that I fully get my head around this whole business with tariffs, words on the newsletter verse seem to suggest that 36% is still rather high. Regardless of who says what, I think an issue of this scale will take some time to show its full effect. I guess we’ll wait and see.
After all the war tragedies that Cambodia has been through and given my utmost privilege of not living through any of them, I’ve never thought I would witness the reintroduction of the Conscription Law. Apparently, the government announced that starting in 2026, Cambodians aged 18 to 30 will be required to enroll in 24-month military service. The goal? It seems we want to increase our military size. This particular law was the reason I was taking my sweet time to finish this newsletter because I was quite bothered by it. And that’s all I’m going to say about this matter.
Visually Pleasing
Arts & Culture
🇰🇭 Apparently, Cambodia's Minister of Culture expressed “deep concern” during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO Headquarters regarding the construction of a large-scale replica of Angkor Wat in Thailand’s Buriram Province. I guess Cambodians should start bracing themselves for the day when the French lodge their inevitable complaint about that massive replica of the Arc de Triomphe on Koh Pich, or when the Brits throw a proper fit over the tiny Big Ben copy at Borey Peng Huot Euro Park. You get the gist.
🎶 The border conflict with Thailand spilled into the entertainment sector as well. A few weeks ago, the government announced a ban of all Thai dramas from being broadcast on any Cambodia’s television channels. Following this instruction, Baramey Production announced the discontinuation of “the Rapper” Cambodia production. I actually didn’t know that the show was franchised from Thailand until this announcement. So, now you know.
📚 A local publisher Kampu Mera is launching their very first English language novella next week. The novella titled A Few Acres of Snow, by LinDa Saphan, is a work of fiction following the protagonist's journey across memory, migration, and identity between Cambodia and Canada. The launch will be at Bophana Center on July 22. This is a welcoming news for me as somebody who is writing predominantly in English but hoping to be able to publish here at home.
Campuccino is a bi-monthly dispatch of key headlines in Cambodia, written by @DarathteyDin.
I’d love to hear from you. If you have feedback or content ideas, please write to me at hello@darathteydin.com
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.