Cambodian News

As Barack Obama prepares to enter the White House as US president in January, he will be facing a list of expectations. Within Cambodia, hopes range from improved US diplomacy, trade and technical assistance from the government and better enforcement of human rights and democracy from other organizations.
Cambodia’s relationship with the US was improving, even [...]

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 [...]

Officials from Cambodia’s key ministries welcomed the election of Barack Obama as US president Wednesday, saying they were optimistic his administration would continue the good relations that have grown between the countries in recent years.
“In the past, we have had a good relationship with the US government, regarding counterterrorism, also with the FBI, CIA and [...]

The newly appointed secretary-general of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party says she will face many challenges to expand its influence. The top challenge, though, continues to be the National Election Committee, said Ke Sovannaroth.
An imbalanced election law leads to discrimination against opposition supporters, messy voter lists, biased election officers and media broadcasts, and the ruling [...]

A number of Cambodian-American supporters of presidential hopeful Barack Obama voiced concern over his safety after they learned this week of an alleged plot to assassinate him.
Authorities on Tuesday arrested two men in Tennessee, Paul Schelesselman, 18, and Daniel Cowart, 20, on suspicion they had planned to shoot Obama and several black students. The two [...]

American voters gathered at the FCC restaurant in Phnom Penh on Saturday night to watch a recording of the third US presidential debate. As senators Barack Obama and John McCain prepared to square off, the atmosphere at the FCC resembled a party, with participants looking delighted, drinking, eating snacks and shouting their views.
The debate party [...]

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) – Keo Ramy, vice president of Cambodia’s second largest opposition party, here Tuesday defected to major ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
“I decide to join CPP after I have opposed it for over 20 years,” said the 45-year-old former leader of the Human Right Party (HRP). “We have opposed CPP [...]

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 6 — The Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) made moves to clarify a Thursday announcement by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, saying that the prince had resigned as president of the NRP, but has not yet decided to leave politics entirely, national media reported Monday.
On Thursday evening, Ranariddh hosted a dinner for local journalists and [...]

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Cambodia’s newly elected lower house of parliament held its inaugural session Wednesday (24 Sept) that saw the ruling party’s already firm grasp on power grow even tighter in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party now holds 90 of 123 seats, ensuring that the Cambodian People’s Party will have a [...]

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has sent a letter to former king Norodom Sihanouk requesting his help in resolving “serious problems” within and outside of the country.
The continuing border standoff over Preah Vihear temple and an impending deadlock between the ruling party and the opposition over the next administration are both damaging the country, Sam Rainsy [...]