King Norodom Sihanouk

Born on October 31, 1922, the late King Norodom Sihanouk would celebrate his 94th birthday today. A controversial figure in the Khmer politics, the 2 time King of Cambodia was revered by his "children" as almost a god king. But to others, Khmers and foreigners, he was seen as unpredictable and not trust worthy. He is nationalist but his foreign policy leaning to communist countries of Vietnam and China, and North Korea was not appreciated.
   He was dismissed from Head of State in the March 18, 1970 National Assembly vote. He was crowned King again after the elections of 1993 organized by the UN, under the new Constitution.
A new page of history was turned.

PPA: 25th Anniversary

This October 23, 25 years ago the Paris Peace Agreement was signed to put an end to the conflict in Cambodia. 4 documents were signed by the 4 Cambodian warring factions (FUNCINPEC, KPNLF, DK and SOC) and 18 countries. The United Nations (UN) received the mandate to implement the agreement that help to bring peace, democracy, regain independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity to the nation, and provide human rights to the people. The UN help organize the elections, to assure that country was having a new Constitution and a government. The monarchy was restored and King Sihanouk was crowned.
    But after 25 years, true democracy is questionable, human rights somewhat abused, and true Peace is not there. Hopefully there will be positive change after the elections of 2017 and 2018;

100 days after

It was 100 days past now after the assassination of Dr Kem Ley, there is nothing new. Apparently the ball is the court's court. In the Police side, it is a complete silence. At the court, there were 2 sessions of interrogation of the suspect Chuop Samlap, and that's it. The Court also issued 2 summons for Mrs. Kem Ley, as part of the investigation. But she is out of the country now, in Thailand to be exact, awaiting for result of application for exile in Australia.
    Apparently, the case will go nowhere ...

Another Day to Remember

It was this day in October 9, 1970, 45 years ago that Cambodia had it course of history changed from the Kingdom to the Khmer Republic. The change was proclaimed without a single shot by a act of congress that was the outcome of the March 18 deposition of Prince Sihanouk. General Lon Nol was its first President. But the change occurred in the country already at war one side supported by the Americans and another by the Communist Vietnam.
    The Khmer Republic survived until April 17, 1975 after succumbing to the Khmer Rouge.