Author Archive
Cambodia needs a neutral police force
Hong Kong, China — Cambodia’s national police commissioner, Gen. Hok Lundy, was killed in a helicopter crash on Nov. 9, Cambodia’s National Day. Hok was a member of both the Central Committee and Standing Committee of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and a close ally and senior advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose son [...]
Rockers Placebo to play anti-slavery gig at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat
BANGKOK (AFP) — Alternative guitar band Placebo are to headline the first rock concert at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple complex, putting years of catering to their fans’ teenage angst behind them to speak out against human trafficking.
The December 7 gig, held as part an of an MTV Exit campaign, will transform the 12th century Khmer [...]
Cambodia will not ‘wage war’ with Thailand over border: PM
PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday repeated his country would not “wage war” with neighbouring Thailand over a long-running border dispute that erupted into violence last month.
The premier urged patience from both sides as negotiators attempt to demarcate an agreed border between them.
“We don’t want to wage war. We want [...]
Farmers Want Campaign Promises Kept
Cambodian farmers called on government officials Wednesday to keep to their election campaign promises to improve agriculture, as a two-day meeting among regional representatives wrapped up.
The farmers said they were promised increased irrigation, more technical training and fertilizer and seeds, but were disappointed by the sector’s meager portion of the national budget.
“The budget for agriculture [...]
Typing? Consider Khmer Unicode Font
The development of the Khmer Unicode font has many benefits for Cambodia, according to Be Chantra, a communications officer of the Open Institute, a local organization that designed the font and the operating system Open Office.
“First of all, the Khmer Unicode font allows users to type faster and follow the Cambodian grammar, for example, you [...]
Multiple Parties a Worry for Opposition Voice
An independent election monitor expressed concern Wednesday that the increase of political parties in the National Assembly could weaken the political voice of the opposition.
In July’s elections, the Sam Rainsy, Human Rights, Norodom Ranariddh and Funcinpec parties all won seats, and if they remain disjointed, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, with its 90 seats, will [...]
Impunity Hurting Political ‘Maturity’: Official
Cambodia has the potential to be an industrialized nation, but corruption and impunity have kept it politically immature, a former US ambassador said.
Sichan Siv, who serverd as US ambassador to the United Nations, said Cambodia has slowly overcome its problems since the early 1990s, but certain impediments remain.
“The problems of corruption, crime and impunity still [...]
Khmer Rouge photo exhibition opens in Cambodia
In Cambodia, a unique photography exhibition is touring the provinces. The photographs were taken by Sweden’s Gunnar Bergstrom in 1978, when he was a guest of the Khmer Rouge. At the time Mr Bergstrom was a committed Maoist who believed Pol Pot was embarking on a project to create a perfect society. It was only [...]
World’s poorest nations meet in Cambodia
As trade officials from the 21 APEC nations prepare for this weekend’s high-profile meeting in Peru, their counterparts from the world’s poorest countries are doing the same in Cambodia. A two-day ministerial meeting of nearly 50 least-developed countries is underway, looking at how poorer nations can integrate into the global trade system. The Director-General of [...]
Cambodia urges unity among poor nations on trade
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday poor countries like his must continue speaking with one voice in the Doha round of global trade talks to ensure their competitiveness with developed countries.
He also lashed out at wealthy nations for maintaining trade barriers that hurt poor countries, such as farm subsidies [...]
