Rhona Smith is ending her term as Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia by the end of September this year. She has made sure that all her reports are heavily justified to prove that Cambodia is in constant human rights crisis.
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s continued push for dramatic reforms and structural change needs to be sustained and extended to all branches of the government. A whole-of-government approach is needed.
The public mood and discourse have shifted from the speculative return of the outlawed opposition leader to the domestic reform agenda. Actually, reform is the core issue of contemporary Cambodian politics.
Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad started his state visit to Cambodia yesterday and today he will meet his counterpart Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen. The meeting between the two leaders has historical significance in many ways.
Parliamentary diplomacy is relatively new to Cambodia and recently it has gained traction. Under the strategic vision of “reforming at home and making friends abroad based on independence”, Cambodia’s foreign policy is set to be more robust, smart and flexible.
Last week saw a flurry of statements, actions and announcements being made by Prime Minister Hun Sen to push up by several notches, the fight against illegal logging, corruption, abuse of uniformed positions and crackdown on illegal gambling.
Lately, there has been too much sound-bites and public discourse about the supposed impending return to the country of one fugitive politician.
On 17 August 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on the evolving situation in Hong Kong stressing that the Kingdom respects the long standing “One China Policy”.
The recent controversial report entitled “Collateral Damage” published by LICADHO and Sahmakum Tean Tnaut has stirred public debate and created misunderstanding on the whole situation of the microfinance in Cambodia.
The appointment of a veteran diplomat Patrick Murphy, who has broad and deep knowledge of Southeast Asia and well experienced in dealing with regional stakeholders, presents an opportunity to open a new chapter for the troubled bilateral relationship between the US and Cambodia.
Such baseless assumptions are counterproductive to the bilateral relationship and the US’s engagement in the region
Prime Minister Hun Sen this week has asserted his determination to use the so-called 5th principle of institutional reform, referring to “institutional surgery”.
The stream of stories swirling around allegations of a deal that would allow for a Chinese military presence on Cambodian territory, is an example of what Washington has become: a Möbius maelstrom that lives by and decries that which it invented: “fake news.”
The fissures that have emerged over the last three years — not only within the Conservative Party, but throughout the political system and society in general — have left the UK deeply damaged.
Border control is an urgent issue for Cambodia as it potentially causes political instability and public protests. Money laundering and the inflow of toxic waste are cases in point.
The rumors being spread each time the Prime Minister has an ailment, minor or major, hospitalization or outpatient treatment, have become a subject of hot political issue and national security concern.
The Prime Minister Hun Sen sent a clear message last Friday that Cambodia would not become a dumping ground for any form of waste, generally referring to toxic waste such as medical waste, bio waste and electronic waste.
The current bottlenecks of Cambodia’s trade strategy are the narrow export market, complex regulations and informal fees, and high trade logistics cost.
Last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the withdrawal of the Kingdom’s access to EU’s EBA preferential trade scheme is not a big concern. He said the key concern was the inability of his officials in carrying out their assigned tasks.
To close the stable door after the horse has bolted, aptly describes the Government authorities’ efforts to scrutinize all building permits in the aftermath of the collapse of a under construction seven story building in Sihanoukville nine days ago.
Asean leaders have adopted the Indo Pacific Outlook at the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok this month to show their unity and centrality to claim Asean leadership and ownership in shaping regional architecture.
The role of the Asean members of Parliament in community building is increasingly vital, particularly in connecting Asean with the people and empowering them in transforming this regional organisation into a truly people-centered regional community.
The Asean leaders are to gather in Bangkok this weekend for the 34th Asean Summit. Under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainable Development”.
The three days Asia Media Summit which ends today, was a forum for some 600 delegates from 42 countries deliberated mostly on combatting disinformation, including fake news, how to adapt to digital revolution, envisioning the media in the 4th Industrial Revolution and media credibility.
Globalisation is under siege. Multilateralism is under threat due to rising protectionism and unilateralism, mainly in the US. It is a world in flux- full of uncertainty, unpredictability and turbulence.
Last week, the Garment Manufacturer’s Association of Cambodia (GMAC), said that a full withdrawal of the Kingdom’s everything-but arms trade status is unlikely.
Cambodia has suffered from the widespread public perception both at home and abroad of being a vassal or client state of China. Such wrong perception was driven by some Western media and exacerbated by the opposition leaders.
At the beginning of the previous mandate from 2013 to 2018, Prime Minister Hun Sen delivered a five-hour speech to his new cabinet lineup, in which he made it crystal clear that reform was the main agenda.
The World Bank’s latest report shows that the estimated growth rate for Cambodia in 2018 was 7.5 percent- it was the highest growth in the past four years.
The reheating allegations on possible Chinese naval base in Koh Kong province, Cambodia, is nothing but a warmongering prophecy.
