Cambodian News

Cambodia decided on Friday to deport Uighur asylum seekers out of its country despite of concerns from human rights groups for their safety if they are sent back to China.
The announcement was made just days before Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is expected to arrive in Cambodia for a two-day visit.
The Chinese Muslims from China’s [...]

Members of Cambodia’s Cham and Vietnamese groups in Phnom Penh welcomed word from the Khmer Rouge tribunal this week that regime leaders in custody will be charged with genocide, as well as other atrocity crimes.
In interviews with VOA Khmer Thursday, Chams and Vietnamese alike said they expected the charges of genocide to help bring reconciliation [...]

Svay Rieng provincial court has issued a summons to opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who is facing charges for allegedly leading a group of villagers to pull up demarcation posts near the Vietnam border in October.
Sam Rainsy has been asked to appear on Dec. 28, according to a summons issued Wednesday and obtained by VOA Khmer.
Sam [...]

The fight against corruption should not be viewed as antagonistic towards the entire government, a leading anti-graft advocate said Monday. Instead, laws, regulations and policies should be aimed at anyone involved in corruption, leaving aside those who aren’t.
“Don’t confuse them,” said Mam Sitha, president of the Cambodian Independent Anti-Corruption Committee.
“To fight against corruption is to [...]

Members of Cambodia’s Muslim community say an increase of US troops in Afghanistan will not end the war but could instead worsen the conflict and even spread terrorist acts.
“The war between the US and Afghanistan has lasted eight years already, but no result can be seen,” Mat Islamiyas, a university student in Phnom Penh, said [...]

It’s wedding season for Cambodia’s Muslims. Living alongside with their Khmer counterparts, Chams in Cambodia have their own customs and traditions of marriage—though with a little less celebration.
Unlike traditional Khmer wedding celebrations, in which sounds of wedding songs and musical instruments can be heard from the bride’s house, a Cham celebration contains no songs or [...]

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the Khmer Rouge tribunal has ruled that investigating judge Marcel Lemonde cannot be dismissed, following a motion by defense attorneys for two jailed leaders of the regime claiming bias.
Defense lawyers for Ieng Sary, the regime’s foreign affairs minister, and Khieu Samphan, its head of state, had claimed Lemonde was biased in [...]

On a recent Monday, Mat Haval, a 56-year-old Cambodian Muslim, prepared to leave for Saudi Arabi, to participate in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. She was content spending $3,550 for the trip, money she had saved since 1993, for a 40-day trip that is one of the pillars of the Muslim faith.
“Everyone has sins,” [...]

The UNHCR has not received any official requests from the Chinese government regarding reported asylum seekers from the Uighur minority, an official said Thursday.
China’s foreign ministry is investigating reports that 22 members of the Muslim Uighur community are seeking asylum in Cambodia, Reuters reported Tuesday.
The Uighurs have reportedly entered Cambodia and sought asylum through the [...]

The Khmer Rouge tribunal must ensure it is giving clear information to the public, to avoid upsetting Cambodians who have waited years for justice, an official from the Documentation Center of Cambodia said Thursday.
“People have been waiting for the court to happen for 30 years, so when people hear unclear or inadequate information, it makes [...]