Tharum Bun

Tharum Bun is a blogger by passion and communicator by profession. Blogging in Cambodia since 2004, Tharum is interested in media and technology and how the two fields making impact on citizens. He currently runs kokitree.

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Latest posts by Tharum Bun

Cambodia: Internet censorship targets artists

  30 January 2009

The Cambodian Ministry of Women's Affairs has threatened to block a Web site that contains artistic illustrations of bare-breasted Apsara dancers and a Khmer Rouge soldier. This censorship targets Cambodian artists who are more recognized not in offline exhibitions but through their presence on the world wide web.

Cambodian and Thai Bloggers on Disputed Preah Vihear Temple

  20 July 2008

Rising serious tension between Cambodia and Thailand started when UNESCO, on July 7, 2008, declared temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site. The 11th century temple has long been a subject to dispute between the two nations; in 1962, Hague-based International Court of Justice ruled that the ancient Hindu temple belonged to Cambodia.

Cambodia: Riding the Wave of Change

  26 June 2008

In a country where men tend to have more privileges in family and society, a new wave of change is about to begin. Sopheap Chak is another urban woman with initiatives and ambitions. The 23-year-old, originally from Kampong Cham province, is a prominent human rights activist. When she talks about changes she believes in it's as if she's a new hopeful inspirational leader.

Cambodia: Freedom of Flying

  31 May 2008

Educated in France to be an engineer, Santel Phin spent two years in Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world. In Cambodia, the 31 year-old Santel presently works at Phnom Penh International Airport for he likes terminal and pace of busy people. Born in Kratie, the first...

Cambodia: Advertisement that Attracts

  11 May 2008

A Cambodia blogger praises the government for the improved press rights and freedom of expression, but wants the Ministry of Culture as well as Ministry of Information to ensure that all commercial TV ads should be properly monitored before going on air.

Cambodia: Blogging from Siem Reap

  21 September 2007

Cambodian blogger and Global Voices Author Tharum Bun talks to fellow blogger Vireak from Seam Reap. Tharum asks Vireak about his motivations for starting and maintaining his blog. Vireak shares his unique ideas on the blogging scene in Cambodia.

Cambodian Blogger on Blogging

  30 July 2007

GV's Cambodian author Tharum Bun interviews Borin Ly, an Internet enthusiast and an avid blogger. Borin talks about his blogging experience and his motivations for creating the blog. Cambodia has a very active blogging scene, with more and more young people going online. People who have just started blogging might find Borin's blogging tips handy.

Internet Use Shaping Cambodia

  1 May 2007

With more than 50% of the population of almost 15 million people younger than 25, the future of Cambodia's internet as well as the youth lifestyle looks vibrant. An IT boom is accompanying the fast growing economy in Cambodia. Young people are playing with the latest technologies and are getting interested in the latest fashion trends. Government and non-government agencies are also exploiting IT for development projects.

The adventures of Phatry Derek Pan in Cambodia

  6 April 2007

Now settling in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, without close relatives to accompany him, where unlike his Seattle home there is no local McDonald’s, Phatry Derek Pan adapts to a new pace of life. Slim and charming Phatry speaks fluent English and holds an American passport. Wearing a T-shirt and...

Cambodia: Blogger evangelists urge youngsters to share knowledge and experience

  13 March 2007

Since its inception in last year, blogging training aka Personal Information Technology Workshop has introduced basic use of IT skills to more than 2000 students from 10 Cambodia's universities. A personal information technology workshop in session. Image from Kalyan Keo‘s blog. After a few months of preparation, the workshop of...

Re-writing the history of Cambodia

  14 February 2007

Cambodia’s most prominent literary scholar Keng Vannsak lately unveiled a shocking finding of the life of twelfth-century King Jayavarman VII. As a Buddhist ruler of the Khmer Empire, the sage king who governed the kingdom during its most glorious period in the history, is regarded with great respect and widely...

Cambodia: Be the first to tell

  2 February 2007

Too often, most people, want to be the first to be informed of events and situation happening around them or anywhere else in the other of parts of the world. In the world where technology is changing the way we live, we want to do more than just being the...

Missing in Cambodia: Eddie Gibson

  11 January 2007

It was in October 2004, when 19-year-old Eddie Gibson traveled to Cambodia from Thailand and went missing. Until today nobody knows the whereabouts of the English backpacker. The parents are now in Cambodia and they have offered a reward for information on Eddie Gibson. His last email to his mother,...

Meet The New Urban Cambodian Woman And Blogger: Keo Kalyan

  2 January 2007

In a country where long-time respected traditions dominate the way of life of the people, the role of women in education, social work and general lifestyle is still limited compared to men. “Women are supposed to stay at home, and always behave quietly and sweetly,” stated the Women’s Code of...

Google sends new year gift to Cambodia

  5 December 2006

Google users in Cambodia were surprised to find that when they visit www.google.com, the site redirects them to www.google.com.kh domain. In early December the largest web search company launched Google Cambodia domain that provides users the possibility of finding information in Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. “Today, to my...

Cambodia: Somaly Mam awarded Women of the Year by Glamour magazine

  13 November 2006

Somaly Mam works hard. She works hard to cope with her past. In her childhood, she experienced rape, torture, and violence. With her husband Pierre Legros, she founded the AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire) NGO in 1997 in Cambodia where trafficking in persons is one of the...

Cambodia at a glance

  10 October 2006

Spurred by the fact that weblog stimulates open discussion among people who have common interest, Cambodians take their concerned issues online to share with the world who are listening to them. Is weblog community an open space for debate? In what way can this new tool enhance the way citizens...

Cambodia: Personal Information Technology aka Weblog Workshop

  3 September 2006

More and more Cambodians are getting introduced to blogging through organized workshops at universities in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. The Cambodian blogopshere is probably as not big as any others in the region as the number of Internet users is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia....

Cambodia: New Story Tellers on the Internet

  20 August 2006

According to a research report released recently by Pew Internet, most webloggers don't consider themselves doing journalism. In most cases they are not up to what a journalist does. In Cambodian blogosphere, there exists a series of interviews done by digital citizens playing the role of citizen's media. Chan Bopha,...

Cambodia: Defining Modesty

  7 August 2006

After its absence for a decade, in this new millennium Cambodia sets to organize its first Miss Beauty competition. The nominated contestant will participate in next year’s Miss Universe contest. However, in an effort to preserve Cambodian culture, as suggested by the Ministry of Culture, swimsuit is not allowed, at...