Cambodia has reaffirmed its stance on strictly adhering to the principles and norms of the Ottawa Convention Anti-Personnel Mine Ban, while clarifying that the Kingdom’s border areas remain dangerous due to landmines left over from past wars, posing risks to both civilians and military personnel. The remarks were made by Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first-vice president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), at the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, held on December 1, in Geneva, Switzerland. Thuch told the assembled dignitaries that over the past three decades, Cambodia has transformed from…
Author: Niem Chheng
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Royal University of Law and Economics staged the 2025 National Moot Court Competition, with a focus on International Humanitarian Law. The goal was to let university students practice directly in a courtroom setting, notably the ECCC, according to a November 30 press release. This year’s competition marks the third annual event the ECCC has organised, and attended by eight teams of law students from four universities: the National University of Management, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, BELTEI International University and the Royal…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $763 million investment programme to help Cambodia expand access to safe water supply and sanitation, strengthen water security and enhance the resilience and livability of its cities. The total amount includes a $20 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The investment, labelled as “The Livable, Resilient, and Water-Secure Cities Investment Programme” will utilise a multitranche financing facility to improve basic urban services in 14 cities and 12 districts across the Mekong, Tonle Sap and coastal regions, according to a December 1 press release. It will boost inclusive coverage of basic…
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia has been urged to offer substantive action on human rights concerns at the Thai border, following a statement which at least one analyst referred to as “perfunctory” and “meaningless”. The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the UN Office in Geneva welcomed the November 20 statement by special rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn, but noted that it failed to meaningfully address the issue of human rights in relation to the Cambodia-Thailand conflict along the border. “Muntarbhorn’s first public statement concerning the ongoing conflict between Cambodia and Thailand along the border was…
The Ministry of National Defence has confirmed a landmine explosion at a minefield near Chouk Chey village, O Beichoan commune, Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province. A Chinese man was reportedly injured in the explosion, which took place in the early hours of November 29, as he attempted to cross the border from Thailand into Cambodia. In a press release issued today, November 30, defence ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata explained that Cambodian troops from Military Region 5 heard the explosion at 3.20am. She noted that the incident occurred within a field of old unexploded mines that are remnants from the…
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni expressed his pleasure regarding the strong unity and solidarity displayed by the Khmer people in the face of threats to Cambodia’s territorial integrity. In a Royal address to the opening ceremony of the National Assembly session on November 28, the King stated: “Esteemed members of the Assembly and beloved compatriots! I am extremely pleased to have noted that the Cambodian nation has achieved strong unity and solidarity in the circumstance where our Kingdom of Cambodia faces threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity from invading enemies.” The King also sent his regards to the “brave…
While commentary from the Thai side has subsided due to the floods faced by the neighbouring kingdom, the border debate has been reignited within Cambodia, with a former opposition official claiming that Cambodia will lose territory through the current temporary border demarcation process. Um Sam An, a former senior opposition politician, has repeatedly claimed that Cambodia will lose several square kilometres of land. He has suggested that Cambodia has agreed to use a 1:50,000 scale map like one furnished by Thailand, and that the temporary markers currently being measured by Cambodian and Thai working groups will become official posts in…
Senior Minister Y Chhean, former Governor of Pailin province, and former Khmer Rouge commander, has responded to a social media post by former opposition politician Um Sam An. He considered Sam An’s claims that Cambodia is losing land to Thailand through current border demarcation work a “distortion of the truth”. Sam An, who was previously jailed for using fake maps to criticise the government, took to Facebook to criticise the border demarcation and surveying efforts, which began with the planting of temporary posts, particularly in Kamrieng district, Battambang province. He said he had seen claims by Chhean in the past…
The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has charged 9 suspects — Seven Vietnamese nationals and two Cambodians — in connection with a daring escape from the premises of the Svay Rieng Provincial Court on November 18. In a press release issued today, November 27, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office attached to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court stated that the office has received the case file regarding the escape from the Minor Crimes Police Office of the Svay Rieng Provincial Police commissariat. According to the release, the seven Vietnamese nationals charged are Pham Van Bao (Male, 29), Le Quang Thanh (Male,…
Two senior officials of the Cambodian Senate have shared the principles of Cambodia’s foreign policy with the Japanese Ambassador and a visiting Japanese political analyst. They explained that the Kingdom adheres to a policy of “building friendships, not making enemies and adhering to the principles of law and righteousness”. This position was explained by Thun Vathana, second vice-president of the Senate, and Chem Widhya, chairman of the Senate’s 5th Commission, during a November 26 meeting with Japanese ambassador Ueno Atsushi and Professor Hosoya Yuichi, a renowned expert in international politics from Keio University, Tokyo, according to a Senate social media…