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24-Aug-2005
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October 28, 2004 - Hun Sen files complaint to Annan over criticism on terrorism PHNOM PENH, Oct. 28 (Xinhua)-- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has sent a letter of complaint to Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary General, over his staff's criticism against Cambodia's weakness in fighting terrorism. "I would like to bring to Your Excellency's attention that Cambodia has sufficient measures to combat terrorism. This is why, so far, Cambodia has no act of terrorism conducted on its soil," Hun Sen said in the letter addressed to Kofi Annan dated Wednesday, and it was released to the media on Thursday. Last Friday, Heraldo Munoz, chairman of a UN Security Council committee, told reporters that Cambodia "needs help urgently if it is to avoid becoming a breeding ground for terrorism," and added that Cambodia "could become platforms for the operation of Jemaah Islamiyah and other groups associated with al-Qaida." Repeating to his angry public statement on Wednesday, in the letter addressed to Kofi Annan, Hun Sen said, "The malicious statement released by Mr. Munoz on Cambodia is not only baseless but also came with an intention to discredit Cambodia. Mr. Munoz has his own fantasy, and it is sad that a person with such a profile would make an irresponsible and unsubstantiated statement." Hun Sen called the statement released by Munoz "nonsense and foolish." The premier, meanwhile, urged Kofi Annan to circulate his letter to all members of the UN Security Council as well to members of the UN General Assembly as an official document of the United Nations. Enditem October 25, 2004 - Cambodia Defends Its Fight Against Terrorism Cambodia’s government has said it was not being negligent in defending against terrorism, after a UN official warned the country could become a breeding ground for terrorists unless it gets international help fast.“We do have the will and have joined the international community through several activities ... to prevent any terrorist bases from being created in Cambodia,” Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said. “We’re not negligent on this.” He was responding to comments made last week by Heraldo Munoz, the head of the UN Security Council committee on al Qaida, who said Cambodia had no anti-terrorism legislation in place and lacks the capacity to enforce such laws if they were introduced. `This made it more likely that terrorist groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah, al Qaida’s Southeast Asian affiliate, could set up operations in the impoverished Southeast Asian country. “Cambodia, as well as other countries, urgently need international co-operation to enhance their capability to fight terrorism,” Munoz said. “Without that, they will be a breeding ground for terrorism.” Khieu Sopheak said that just because Cambodia doesn’t have anti-terrorism legislation “doesn’t mean terrorists can just come and hide in our country.” He said Cambodia had “already demonstrated preventative measures,” apparently referring to the closure last year of a Saudi-funded Islamic school outside Phnom Penh, the capital. Three terrorist suspects – an Egyptian and two Thais – allegedly used the school as a cover for training terrorists and planning attacks against US and other Western interests in Cambodia. A judge ordered their case be reinvestigated after their lawyer successfully claimed they could not be charged with terrorism because Cambodia had no anti-terrorism law. The judge changed the charges to attempted murder, and the suspects remain in jail pending a new trial. Khieu Sopheak said the Interior Ministry has sought help from other countries to draft an anti-terrorism law that would meet international standards. |