Police Wrap Up Training in Artifact Protection

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 July 2009

The US FBI and national police on Friday wrapped up four days of training to prevent the theft of cultural artifacts.

The training included speakers from the US National Parks Service and State Department. The US supplied $12,000 worth of computer and electronic equipment “designed to assist the force with the apprehension and prosecution of those involved with the theft of artifacts and relics,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

Police underwent two days of training in Siem Reap, the gateway city to the temples of Angkor Wat, and two days of training in Phnom Penh. This was the second of two planned training courses.

FBI training abusive cops of the repressive Hun Sen regime?

FBI Director to Visit Cambodia

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original from Phnom Penh
29 January 2008

FBI Director Robert Mueller will pay an official visit to Cambodia Wednesday, for talks on counterterrorism and other law enforcement measures with Prime Minister Hun Sen, officials said Tuesday.

Mueller is on a regional tour, with stops expected in China and Vietnam, according to the US Embassy.

The FBI was criticized by human rights groups after it established an attaché office in Phnom Penh in 2007 and invited National Police Chief Gen. Hok Lundy to Washington.

Critics said police were the perpetrators of abuse, and cooperation with them made rights work more difficult.

Part of Mueller’s visit will be to attend a ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the legal attache office, the embassy said.

Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak called the visit “a good sign in strengthening the cooperation between the FBI and the Cambodian police.”

“The Ministry of Interior, under the leadership of the government, especially the Cambodian police, have cooperated very well with the US FBI,” he said. “This cooperation focuses on cross-border crimes, including terrorism, drugs, sex, weapons trafficking and piracy.”

The FBI has trained hundreds of Cambodian police in understanding terrorist tactics and strategies, he said.