With China's Help, Cambodia Strongman Set to Extend 33-Year Rule

- As Cambodians prepare to go to the polls on Sunday, a win is all but assured for strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen in an election that highlights China’s growing influence in Asia over the West.

Following a narrow election victory in 2013 over opposition leader Sam Rainsy and his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Hun Sen -- who’s been in power for 33 years -- has since disbanded the party, silenced his critics and forced the closure of most independent media.

In that time he’s grown ever closer to China, accepting cash from Beijing in return for supporting its geopolitical aims in the region – particularly regarding disputed territory in the South China Sea. When the U.S. and European Union pulled funding for the election, China stepped in with $20 million for equipment, including polling booths, laptops and computers.

As a staunch supporter of Hun Sen’s regime, Beijing has billions of dollars at stake. This month, U.S. security-research firm FireEye said it found evidence of a Chinese hacking team infiltrating computer systems belonging to Cambodia’s election commission, opposition leaders and the media.

Cambodia charges foreigners after pornographic dance arrests

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian prosecutors charged 10 foreigners Sunday with producing pornographic pictures after they were arrested at a party in Siem Reap town, near the country’s famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

Police said they raided a rented villa on Thursday where the foreigners were taking part in what organizers billed as a pub crawl and found people “dancing pornographically.” While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but 10 were released.

The 10 arrested are five British nationals, two Canadians, one Norwegian, one New Zealander and one from the Netherlands. A statement on the arrests posted on the National Police website Sunday included photos showing clothed young adults rolling around together on a dance floor.

The prosecutor of the Siem Reap provincial court, Samrith Sokhon, told The Associated Press by phone that those charged face up to a year in prison if convicted.

He said after producing the photos, the foreigners shared them on social media.


“Any people producing pornography is contrary to Cambodia’s traditions,” he said.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office confirmed they were in contact with British nationals in Cambodia.

“We are assisting five British men arrested in Cambodia and are providing support to their families,” the office said in an emailed response to questions from the AP. ContinueReading

Call him Lord Prime Minister: Cambodia wants PM's title used

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — For years, some Cambodian media have referred to the country's longtime leader simply as Prime Minister Hun Sen. Authorities warned Thursday that has to stop.

Starting in August, all media must use his full, honorary, six-word title — "Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen" — in the opening lines of print articles, radio and TV stories about the leader.

The title translates roughly to "Lord Prime Minister and Supreme Military Commander" and was bestowed on Hun Sen by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni in 2007.

The Information Ministry held a nearly three-hour meeting for journalists Thursday to announce the new guidelines and warn that legal action will be taken against media that don't comply. Officials gave no specifics on the punishment for flouting the rule, which they said was important to show respect for leaders who hold Cambodia's highest titles.

The new rule appeared aimed specifically at media viewed by the government as pro-opposition and pro-Western. Pro-government media typically refer to officials with their honorary titles.

It comes amid a series of moves by Hun Sen's government to put legal pressure on its critics and political opponents.

During his three decades in power, Hun Sen has long exerted strong control over the media, and expressing public dissent in Cambodia remains risky. The government has tightened controls on telecommunications and threatens prosecution of online critics, especially those commenting on Hun Sen and his family.

"We want you to state the full title of leaders in the story's lead or first sentence," said Ouk Kimseng, an under-secretary of state at the Information Ministry, who led the meeting. Subsequent references can drop the long title, he said.

The ministry has issued similar warnings before, which were largely ignored.

The rule also applies to several ruling party officials.

Hun Sen's wife Bun Rany was given a royal title in 2013, "Samdech Kittipritbandit Bun Rany Hun Sen," which translates to "Celebrated Senior Scholar Bun Rany Hun Sen." It refers to an honorary Ph.D. that was given to the first lady, who never formally graduated from university.