Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Complaints now logged to avoid cover-up: Sar Kheng

Complaints now logged to avoid cover-up: Sar Kheng

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Interior minister Sar Kheng opens the fifth forum on partnership between the government and civil society on January 10. SAR KHENG VIA FB

Complaints now logged to avoid cover-up: Sar Kheng

The Ministry of Interior has since January 2022 received 700 complaints of various offences including human trafficking, with all entered into official records so they could not be covered up, said minister Sar Kheng.

Addressing the opening of a forum on partnerships between the government and civil society on January 10, Sar Kheng said the government is paying close attention to maintaining public order and combating crimes and human trafficking of all forms.

“The 700 complaints that we have received thus far are documented so they cannot be covered up,” he said on January 10, pledging that the government will not relent in its fight against these crimes.

He advised all capital and provincial governors to address any complaints in their jurisdictions transparently and correctly, without ignoring them or performing poorly, and without any collusion with perpetrators.

He added that even if the governors or police covered up these offences when receiving complaints or failed to address them, the ministry would still find out and enforce accountability through regular inspections and by summoning them over the cases.

“If these offences are covered up, it means that we support unscrupulous acts ... If we perform poorly and take things lightly, I will hold them accountable,” he warned.

Sar Kheng said civil society groups have also joined the government in seeking solutions to improve human rights, the judiciary, health education and the environment.

According to the minister, after the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (LANGO) came into force in 2015, a total of 1,556 associations and NGOs registered with the ministry: 868 associations and 688 NGOs.

As of the end of 2022, there were 6,091 local associations and NGOs registered: 2,623 associations and 3,468 NGOs.

At the forum, Sar Kheng also advised that the capital and provincial administrations take immediate action to stop a small number of associations and NGOs from deceiving people.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to