The Bangkok Post is increasingly difficult to find in Phnom Penh because existing

distributors cannot make a profit.

A spokesman for the Thai Indochina Company which distributes the newspaper here said

sales are now half those of the UNTAC period.

The company said sales are down to "around 100-150 copies a day from 300 before."

Speaking from the company's head office in Bangkok the spokesman said: "We don't

make much money. If there was a demand we still could do it."

He said it was possible to order the paper but gave no details on how that could

be done and advised a call to the Thai Indochina office in Phnom Penh.

However, few details were forthcoming. The office manager said the company collected

the Bangkok Post from Silk Air at Pochentong Airport but she did not know where the

newspapers went.

A member of the distribution department of the Bangkok Post said newspapers were

sold at Transair Cambodia and at OCS Ltd at the Cambodiana Hotel.

He suggested contacting the local agent in Phnom Penh and said a representative of

the newspaper had recently visited the capital.

When the Phnom Penh Post visited the usual outlets, no copies of the Bangkok Post

were available.

The manager of the International House supermarket said the newspaper was not making

enough money and so had stopped supplying his shop.

• An English-language news program was launched last Monday on Cambodia's state

  television channel TVK. Information Minister Ieng Mouly said the 15 minute program

  at 9 pm would include local and international news.

• The first edition of the new Chinese-language Phnom Penh Times hit the streets

  recently and aims to provide business and general news.