Cambodia
From dKosopedia
Category: Nations of the World
Cambodia is a small country in Southeast Asia bordering Vietnam to the east and southeast, Thailand to the west and north, and Laos to the north.
The name Cambodia is derived from that of the ancient Khmer kingdom of Kambuja (Kambujadesa). Kambuja or Kamboja is the ancient Sanskrit name of an early tribe in northern India, the Kambojas, named after the founder of that tribe, Kambu Svayambhuva, apparently a variant of Cambyses.
Contents |
Government
The current government of Cambodia emerged from the 1978 Vietnamese intervention in Cambodia to end Khmer Rouge mass murder and attacks across the border into southern Vietnam and the subsequent UN sposored peace agrrement between the new Phnom Penh government supported by Hanoi and the loose alliance of Khmer Rouge and monarchists supported by the U.S., China and Thailand.
Today, official Washington and journalists who take their cue from it politely describe Cambodia with the euphemism "fledgling democracy." The arrests of two important human rights activists, Kem Sokha and Yeng Virak, for criminal defamation charges related to a banner criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen, suggest that the chick may never leave the nest. In response to the arrest of Kem Sokha's arrest, U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said that, "Cambodia right now is at a crossroads. It must decide whether it's going to be a real democracy or whether it's going to move inexorably toward a one-party state."
Political Parties
Contemporary Political Elites
- Hun Sen, Prime Minister, leader of the Cambodian People's Party
- Norodom Rannaridh, samdech krom preah, leader of FUNCINPEC
- Sam Rainsy, opposition leader of the Sam Rainsy Party in exile in France
- Uch Kim-an, Cambodian Ambassador to France
- Ney Tol, Military Tribunal President General
- Cheam Channi
- Kem Sokha, human rights activist
- Yeng Virak, human rights activist
- Joseph Mussomeli, U.S. Ambassador
- Ly Sovann, Chief, Ministry of Health, Department of Infectious Diseases
Historical Political Elites
Provinces
- Battambang
- Kampot
- Kampong Cham
- Kratie
- Preah Vihear
- Prey Veng
- Ratanakiri
- Siem Reap
- Stung Treng
- Svay Rieng
- Takeo
Links
References
- Ker Munthit. "Cambodia's Fledgling Democracy Under Attack." Associated Press. Janurary 4, 2006.
- Peter Maguire. 2005. Facing Death in Cambodia. Columbia University Press. OSBN 0231120524.
![[Main Page]](../../../../upload/banner-blue-135.jpg)