Diplomatic Cargo Faces New Airport Scrutiny
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered X-ray checks of all unaccompanied diplomatic packages passing through Cambodia's international airports, according to a directive issued by the Information Ministry Tuesday.
The directive, which is aimed at combating terrorism, drugs and weapons smuggling, also allows for a diplomat's personal belongings to be confiscated and examined at an airport if there is a "high level" of suspicion, and if the diplomat consents to the search and is present at the scene
"The cargo of ambassadors, diplomats and embassy representatives, in small or large sealed packages that are not brought with them, must go through the X-ray and be screened," the Oct 23 directive states.
"And the members of embassies and ambassadors must go through the normal checking process like other normal people," it adds.
High-level national and international delegates who do not want their belongings at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh International Airports checked must request an exemption from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the directive states.
The UN's 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to which Cambodia is a signatory, states that diplomatic packages containing articles intended for official use shall not be opened or detained.
Chhay Bunna, immigration police chief at Phnom Penh airport, said the "Vienna Convention is less relevant in an age of global terrorism Airport police will now start X-ray screenings of all packages and cargo destined for diplomatic missions in Cambodia, he said.
"Now it is 2006. The situation has changed so we should be more careful," he said.
One foreign diplomat said it was unclear whether the directive really allows official diplomatic packages to be searched. "Every diplomat would support the means towards tight aviation security if it doesn't cross with the Vienna Convention and other international agreements," the diplomat said. "Personal belongings we have nothing to hide from them," he said.
But under the convention, "official diplomatic luggage cannot be monitored," the diplomat added. "If they are trying to monitor diplomatic mail, it is inappropriate and an act of hostility."
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the government still respects the Vienna Convention, and that the new measures are merely intended to boost security.
Security at Cambodia's international airports does not compare well with international equivalents, he added.
The US Embassy said it was aware of press reports about possible changes in airport screening but has not yet received an official communique from the Cambodian government with details.
A shipment of 140,000 assault rifle bullet heads were delivered to the US Embassy in June in a case of mistaken delivery, the embassy said at the time.
The shipment, which was supposed to contain artwork for the US Agency for International Development, was immediately reseated and returned to Cambodian customs, the embassy said at the time, adding that an airline had mislabeled the package.
(Additional reporting by William Shaw)
The directive, which is aimed at combating terrorism, drugs and weapons smuggling, also allows for a diplomat's personal belongings to be confiscated and examined at an airport if there is a "high level" of suspicion, and if the diplomat consents to the search and is present at the scene
"The cargo of ambassadors, diplomats and embassy representatives, in small or large sealed packages that are not brought with them, must go through the X-ray and be screened," the Oct 23 directive states.
"And the members of embassies and ambassadors must go through the normal checking process like other normal people," it adds.
High-level national and international delegates who do not want their belongings at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh International Airports checked must request an exemption from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the directive states.
The UN's 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to which Cambodia is a signatory, states that diplomatic packages containing articles intended for official use shall not be opened or detained.
Chhay Bunna, immigration police chief at Phnom Penh airport, said the "Vienna Convention is less relevant in an age of global terrorism Airport police will now start X-ray screenings of all packages and cargo destined for diplomatic missions in Cambodia, he said.
"Now it is 2006. The situation has changed so we should be more careful," he said.
One foreign diplomat said it was unclear whether the directive really allows official diplomatic packages to be searched. "Every diplomat would support the means towards tight aviation security if it doesn't cross with the Vienna Convention and other international agreements," the diplomat said. "Personal belongings we have nothing to hide from them," he said.
But under the convention, "official diplomatic luggage cannot be monitored," the diplomat added. "If they are trying to monitor diplomatic mail, it is inappropriate and an act of hostility."
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the government still respects the Vienna Convention, and that the new measures are merely intended to boost security.
Security at Cambodia's international airports does not compare well with international equivalents, he added.
The US Embassy said it was aware of press reports about possible changes in airport screening but has not yet received an official communique from the Cambodian government with details.
A shipment of 140,000 assault rifle bullet heads were delivered to the US Embassy in June in a case of mistaken delivery, the embassy said at the time.
The shipment, which was supposed to contain artwork for the US Agency for International Development, was immediately reseated and returned to Cambodian customs, the embassy said at the time, adding that an airline had mislabeled the package.
(Additional reporting by William Shaw)
1 comment:
HI KI-MEDIA AND ALL !
AFTER ONE WEEK OF TENSE AND RUDE DISCUSSION BETWEEN " THE PATRIOT & OWN SHADOW", OUR SURVEY CAME TO A FINAL CONCLUSION AS FOLLOWS:
1- ON KI-MEDIA PROFESSIONALISM OF CREATING AND REPORTING ABOUT POLITICS IN CAMBODIA:
-(i)FIRSTLY, YOUR REPORTS ARE RELEVANT AND CONFORM WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE PRESS ABOUT CAMBODIA POLITICS. THAT IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US KHMER LIVING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE MOTHERLAND.
-(ii)IN YOUR TITLE IN ORANGE, YOU INTENDED TO SHOW YOUR POLITICAL PARTY' S CHOICE. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM BECAUSE FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND IT IS YOUR POLITICAL RIGHT TO SUPORT MR. SAM RAINSY' S PARTY.
-(iii) IN ORDER TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL IN THE NET, IS KI-MEDIA LOOKING FOR A NEW DIRECTION?
2- ON KI-MEDIA READERS AND SUPPORTERS:
(i) WE CONCLUDED THAT MOST OF THE READERS AND SUPPORTERS LIVE ABROAD:US, AUSTRALIA, CANADA ETC...
(ii) DURING OUR ONE WEEK SURVEY, WE USED STRONG LANGUAGES AND WE APOLOGY IF WE MAY OFFENCE BUT IT WAS PURELY INTEND TO TEST THE WATER AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF ALL OF US.
(iii) THE SURVEY SHOWS THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES OF READERS:
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THEIR VIEWS COULD BE AS A LESSON FOR ALL AND THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY. THEY ARE BRAVE AND PATRIOTIC. CAMBODIA IS PROUD OF THEM!!!!
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IN CONCLUSION, WE AGAIN APOLOGY FOR THE ONE WEEK SURVEY THAT WE CONCLUDED RIGHT NOW.
LONG LIVE TO CAMBODIA AND CAMBODIAN LIVING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE!
STRONG LINKS AND BONDS OF SOLIDARITY BETWEEN KHMER AND KHMER!
MUTUAL RESPECT FOR THE SAKE OF THE MOTHERLAND!
THANK YOU FOR READING US! PLEASE FEEL FREE TO AGREE OR DISAGREE, OR TO INSULT. THIS IS JUST A SURVEY!!!!!!!
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