[Thai and Cambodian] NGOs call for observers, and end to hostilities

6/05/2011
Achara Ashayagachat
Bangkok Post

JAKARTA : Thai and Cambodian non-government organisations have jointly called for a ceasefire between the two countries and urged Asean to quickly deploy observers in the disputed border area.

Suntaree Saeng-ging, secretary general of the Thai NGO Coordinating Committee, and Thun Saray, president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, announced the joint statement, which was signed by some 40 organisations from both countries. They also called on Asean to pay more attention to the plight of displaced people from both countries and to settle the conflict through negotiations.

The current border conflict has forced villagers, especially women and children, to abandon their homes and threatened to prolong the sporadic episodes of violence that started in February. Because soldiers from both sides continue exchanging artillery and small arms fire, it was crucial for Asean leaders to play a leading role in ending the conflict, the two activists said.

Thai and Cambodian NGO representatives attending the Asean Civil Society Conference and Asean People Forum, which are running parallel to the Asean summit here, met with the press to air ideas on how to end the border conflict and on ways the two countries might cooperate.

Asean urged to end border row quickly

5/05/2011
Achara Ashayagachat
Bangkok Post

Thai and Cambodian civil society organizations have jointly called for a ceasefire between the two countries and encouraged Asean to quickly deploy their observers to maintain the permanent ceasefire to end the suffering of the people along the border.

Suntaree Saeng--ging, secretary general of the Thai NGO Coordinating Committee, together with Thun Saray, president of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, jointly announced that the current border conflicts have caused internal displaced people, especially women and children, and a continuation of violence has been worried about the prolonged armed conflicts.

The two NGO leaders took the opportunity at the Asean People Forum here to issue a joint statement to express their sorrow for those affected, injured and killed in the border disputes which have been aggravated since early February.

“As soldiers from both sides have been exchanging shells and bullets, human rights of the villagers from border communities remained violated—the rights to food, security, and education are not guaranteed,” said Mr Thun.

Advocates Divided on Worth of Asean Commission

Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho. (Photo: VOA, Khmer)

Soeung Sophat, VOA Khmer
Washington, D.C Monday, 28 June 2010

“Because in the Asean way of doing things, a consensus must be reached and countries cannot interfere with each other’s internal affairs. This is what I believe is a major obstacle.”

After years of effort by civil society, the establishment of the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights was seen as a milestone. However, activists and critics now say they have concerns the body, which was formed in October 2009, might not live up to its goals, and they are divided on it current value.

Human rights violations remain a problem in Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia, particularly Burma. The Asean rights commission was supposed to be a major step toward strengthening rights in these countries. But at least four prominent activists interviewed by VOA Khmer agree that the main obstacle for an effective commission will be its lack of protection mechanisms and independence.

“I haven’t seen this commission doing any investigation at all,” said Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho.

Unlike human rights commissions of other regions, the Asean body has been active only in human rights promotion—through teaching, dissemination, and research—but it lacks protection measures, she said.

“Because in the Asean way of doing things, a consensus must be reached and countries cannot interfere with each other’s internal affairs,” she said. “This is what I believe is a major obstacle.”

The commission’s own literature says it should “promote and protect human rights” within Asean, via 10 representatives from member nations “accountable” to their own governments. But at the same time, representatives can be replaced at will, raising concerns the body is vulnerable to political interference by its own member states.

The chair of the commission is currently Vietnam, for example, a country that itself is often criticized for rights abuses and restrictions of freedoms.

“These kinds of commissions can be created for window dressing and actually succeed in creating cynicism among a lot of people about whether or not human rights in worth pursuing,” said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Right Watch.

“I perfectly well understand that it will take time in the best of cases to create a successful mechanism, but I don’t think that Asean is serious,” he said. “They are just a bunch of dictators running various countries, and people who would be dictators…just don’t have any interest in allowing anything out of their control. Even a country like Singapore, which is very liberal economically, is very controlled politically. So it has very serious limits, and I don’t have particular high hopes for this.”

Asean officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Despite these apparent shortcomings, Ou Virak of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said that having a commission is better than nothing, noting that the ambiguity of the commission’s founding document could work in favor of civil society advocates.

“I think that it is good to have the commission, because it is a political institution,” he said. “The agreement that created this commission is a political document, meaning that it evolves according to the trends of Asean politics. This means that if Asean becomes more open to human rights, the agreement can be interpreted in a broader way. The role of the commission can thus be made more effective.”

Activists disagree on the extent to which civil society can play a role in helping shape the commission’s long-term effectiveness.

Adams said he doubted the commission will do any good for Cambodia’s civil society, noting that groups and activists here already have strong support.

“It will be more helpful to other countries,” he said. “Cambodia does have a very vigorous civil society. It was opened up by the Untac process, and it’s been sustained by…the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights office, by donors, diplomats, and most of all by the courage and tenacity of Cambodian groups themselves. And I wouldn’t expect them to get anything from the Asean process what they can get already.”

Ou Virak acknowledged that the lack of real power would hurt the Asean rights commission’s overall effectiveness, but he also said civil society can push for a greater role in the future. The association is an evolving institution, he said, and it can make inquiries that help reveal human rights deficiencies and create political pressure on governments.

The CCHR plans to work with other NGOs to file a joint complaint about Cambodia’s human rights violations to the commission, after similar proceedings were pioneered by rights groups in the Philippines earlier this year.

Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhco, said his group is also hoping to file complaints with the commission, especially concerning the alleged shootings of Cambodian civilians by Thai soldiers along the border, should such violations continue.

The Asean commission will hold two meetings this year and has reviews every five years. The next review is in October 2014, and until that time rights groups say they have little hope in shaping its structure and workings.

The next five years are likely to see little progress in the commission’s work, Thun Saray said. Still, he said, in the long run, progress in other regions, like Africa and the Americas, where there are human rights courts, could help build momentum for Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Kek Galabru suggested patience, especially with a commission that is just beginning. The ultimate test will be its ability to bring justice to victims of rights abuse, she said.

“I think that it is most important for a human rights institution to have power to investigate, make findings, and then to deliver justice to the victims,” she said. “Only after it has fulfilled this role is it of any use.”

NGO representatives to attend the UN Geneva Human Rights meeting

28 Nov 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Representatives for Human Rights NGOs plan to attend a yearly meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, at the beginning of December. The meeting will also be focused on the current situation of human rights violation in Cambodia.
Major NGO activists who will attend the meeting include: Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, Licadho president, and Thun Saray, Adhoc president.

Prior to her departure, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek said that she plans to raise a number of issues during the upcoming meeting. “Land dispute problems in Cambodia, freedom of expression, freedom in the various lawsuits, and the freedom to receive information, even though these freedoms are the bases of the convention for the people’s rights and political rights, I want to see Cambodia clearly put into application this convention,” Dr. Pung Chiv Kek said.

Yim Sovann, SRP MP and SRP spokesman, said that he wants to see SRP MPs being invited to attend the meeting also. “To find a resolution, we must do all we can so that Cambodia does not lose face due to human rights violations because it strongly reflects on our economy, as well as on social and political development in the country,” Yim Sovann indicated.

There is no indication as to whether the Cambodian government plans to send a government representative or Om Yentieng, chairman of the government human rights committee, to attend this meeting.

Tith Sothea, a government advisor and a member of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers said: “I can say that the human rights situation in Cambodia is good, and criticisms on the human rights situation in Cambodia deteriorating is a wrong evaluation. We cannot accept them,” he claimed.

The yearly UN Human Rights Council meeting will take place in Geneva, Switzerland. It will take place on 01 December and it will be attended by 40 important countries that are members of the advisory committee.

The upcoming review of the respect of human rights situation is taking place at the same time when various sources, such as the civil society and international organizations, are criticizing land-grabbing, use of violence in raids, tightening of the freedom of expression, lawsuits against government critics, and lifting of parliamentary immunity of opposition MPs – such as the cases of Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mr. Ho Vann and Mrs. Mu Sochua – that took place in 2009.

Time Will Tell for Obama, Cambodians Say

By Win Thida, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30 April 2009

As US President Barack Obama passed his 100th day in office, Cambodian officials, businessmen and diplomats said the new administration had little impact for them so far, but they were looking to him to help the world recover from the economic crisis.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the Obama administration has had no influence on Cambodia.

“Our small country has not felt any influence,” he said. “If it does, it will take a long time.”

Thun Saray, director of the rights group Adhoc, said no big changes had yet occurred in economics, politics, diplomacy or human rights.

“I don’t see any big change so far,” he said. “I think it’s probably too short a time, because economic issues need more time.”

During the US election, Obama vowed to Americans he would lead them in change, as large problems such as the financial crisis and prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan loomed.

As a global economic and military power and significant donor to countries around the world, the president’s personality has been of importance for other countries.

Phnom Penh businessman Mong Rithy, whose Mong Rithy Group invests in agro-industry, said even though there was not yet a big change, in one year’s time Cambodia could see improvements.

“A hundred days is really a short time, but he came into office during the financial crisis and we are far away,” he said. “We have to wait until next year to see. From what we hear, Obama has made a lot of effort.”

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy shared a similar view and said he hoped Obama’s administration would soon produce good results for Cambodia.

“Obama cannot do things immediately in Cambodia, but we see in his political agenda that he wants peace, and that is a good sign,” Sam Rainsy said. “Another thing is that he has taken proper action in dealing with the global economic crisis, so he will help restore the world’s economics, and that means he’s helping restore Cambodia’s economy as well.”

Obama, who is 47, came into office during a world financial crisis that is affecting the lives of Cambodian people. He has remained under the gaze of many around the world who believe that improvements in the US economy will improve their own situation.

Groups in Geneva to Lobby for UN Envoy

Left: Prof. Yash Ghai, UN Special Envoy on Human Rights in Cambodia, Right: Hun Sen, Strongman and Violator of Human Rights in Cambodia

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
12 September 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

[Editor's note: Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho, recently traveled to Geneva, where the ninth annual meeting of the UN's Human Rights Council is considering whether to continue the mandate of a UN rights envoy to Cambodia. She spoke to VOA Khmer by phone from Geneva.]

Q. What is the aim of your trip?

A. I have come to Geneva with Adhoc president Thun Saray and four other Khmers, who live in the foreign countries and have helped facilitate our participation in the Human Rights Council annual meeting in Geneva. The Human Rights Council is opening a meeting from Sept. 8 until Sept. 23. In the meeting they will also bring the Cambodia issue to discussion, regarding the mandate of the UN representative on human rights in Cambodia. We civil society want to see the term of the UN representative to be continued in Cambodia. We don't want to see them cut this term out of Cambodia.

Q. Alongside the discussion about the term of the UN representative on human rights, what are the specific things that the meeting is focusing on?

A. In that meeting they are not only focusing on the Cambodian issue, but they are also talking about children and women's issues, as well as some other issues. But in that meeting, they have raised our Cambodian issue. We really want the term of the UN representative on human rights in Cambodia to be continued, as we know that the Cambodian government doesn't want this mandate to be continued. So our civil society strives hard to talk about it with the Human Rights Council members in order to lobby and negotiate with our Cambodian government so that the Cambodian government can allow the mandate to continue. Whether the UN representative on human rights can continue its mandate depends on the Cambodian government's permission.

Q. The Cambodian government plans to close the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Cambodia. Is the Human Rights Council in Geneva reacting to this plan?

A. The permanent Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Cambodia won't be discussed in this Geneva meeting. It could be discussed between our government and the United Nations, and should not be discussed at the Human Rights Council. The Human Rights Council is talking about the mandate of the UN Special Representative on Human Rights. We have received unofficial information that perhaps our government won't oppose this suggestion. But the UN secretary-general, he doesn’t want the UN Special Representative appointed by him anymore. So he wants to see the UN Special Rapporteur instead of a UN special representative. For the mandate, we really want to see that the position of the UN Rapporteur remains the same as the position of the UN Special Representative’s position, in coming into Cambodia to monitor the human rights situation and then reporting to the Cambodian government on how to change those institutions in order to respect human rights.

Q. If the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Cambodia closes, what will be the affect to the civil society and the political situation?

A. We hope that the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Cambodia won't close its door. If the government does not allow this office to continue its work, it will affect a lot to the Cambodia people because we still have a lot of human rights issue that so far haven't been solved completely. So we need more cooperation with the UN, we need more technical support and human resources support. So I think we still need more support from them.

Interview with Cambodian rights activist Thun Saray

Friday, July 25, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

Violence has been a hallmark of Cambodia's election since the first was held in 1993 and, while overall the incidence of violence has been dropping, concerns remain.

Presenter: Karen Percy
Speaker: Thun Saray, with the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, ADHOC

Click here to listen to the audio program in English

KKF: Growing International Support For Khmer Krom Issues in Geneva

KKF Delegations with Professor Yash Ghai and representatives from LICADHO and UNPO
KKF Delegations Thach Ngoc Thach, Venerable Berong and Thhai Makara with member of High Commissioner for Human Rights in Asia and UNPO

Fri, 2008-03-21
Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF)

Members of the Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) have traveled to Geneva, Switzerland for the 7th Session of Human Rights Council (HRC), arriving earlier this week.

Mr. Thach Ngoc Thach, KKF President, Mr. Thach Vien, KKF Vice President of Europe Chapter, Venerable Thach Berong, KKF International Affairs Officer and Mr. Thhai Makarar, KKF Youth Committee headed to Geneva to submit a report to the HRC about the ongoing human rights abuses and religious violations committed by the Vietnam government.

Starting from 3 March until 28 March 2008, governments, indigenous peoples and international agencies gather to speak about human rights.

It provided a great opportunity for organizations to network, share information and provide support to one another.

Upon arrival, the KKF Delegations were met with surprising support from different organizations also attending the conference.

KKF met with Professor Yash Ghai, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Cambodia spoke about the religious violations in the Mekong Delta. During his speech to the HRC, Professor Ghai spoke about the issues KKF brought up.Click here to read his speech

The delegation also met up with representatives from Human Rights Watch, High Commissioner for Human Rights in Asia, Commissioner for Human Rights on Indigenous Peoples and Amnesty International.

They made an appeal to European Union delegations and ambassadors to support the Khmer Krom issues.

They also initiated a meeting Mr. Thun Saray, President of ADHOC and Dr. Kek Galabru, President of LICADHO.

According to the KKF delegation, the growing support by international agencies and organizations has provided a great moral boast and credibility to the work of the Federation bringing greater hope and a brighter future for the indigenous people of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

Security improvement … so claims the Ministry of Information

Security improvement

14 March 2008
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

On Wednesday 12 March, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) revealed its final results on security for 2007. According to General Khieu Sopheak, MoI spokesman, the situation has improved. He added that the directives issued by the government were followed. The following are the main points of the MoI report.

Immigration

The ministry, in conformance with the government recommendations, recognized as first and second phase immigrants, 22,600 foreigners from different nationalities (Vietnamese, Thai, Lao, Chinese, Australian, Indonesian, German and Bengladeshi). These people only benefit from a limited residency authorization. In all of 2007, more than 1.8 million foreigners came to the country, i.e. 19% more than 2006, and 95,000 came from Southeast Asian countries.

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Five suspects charged with the bombing of the (atrocious) stupa commemorating Vietnamese soldiers in Phnom Penh were arrested. The investigation is still pending.

The number of murders has increased in comparison to 2006, from 408 in 2006 to 458 in 2007. The number of cases involving armed gangs climbed from 641 in 2006 to 713 in 2007. However, the number of sexual violence has decreased: the number was 250 is 2007, whereas it was 262 in 2006. Altogether, 3,351 criminal cases were accounted for, i.e., 1,132 crimes and 2219 misdemeanor cases, and 4,600 people were arrested.

519 cases of sexual and human trafficking took place, i.e. 85 less than 2006. Sexual violence also decreased from 262 cases in 2006 to 250 in 2007.

The investigation team on trans-border crimes brought to an end to 18 criminal cases, including 10 drug trafficking cases, 6 human trafficking cases, one terrorist case, and one case of money laundering, thanks to the cooperation with the Australian general commission office,. Altogether 55 cases were resolved with the cooperation from foreign police agencies.

Deforestation

Interventions took place in Ratanakiri, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kandal and Phnom Penh, and they allowed for the seizure of 78,000-cubic-meter of illegally-cut wood. The government report stresses on an improvement of the situation.

Strikes

There were more strikes in 2007 than in 2006. Among the 102 strikes, 53 were organized by garment workers, and 49 were linked to land disputes.

Accidents

7,542 accidents took place, including 5,870 traffic accidents. These accidents led to 1,434 deaths and 10,400 people were injured, 343 fires took place.

Drug trafficking

The police investigated on 141 drug trafficking cases, charging 253 persons, the majority of whom are Cambodians. Three persons were killed during the police interventions. More than 13 tons of heroin were seized.

Prison

10,902 persons, including 64 women, are detained in Cambodian prisons. Their number has increased by 600 persons in comparison to 2006. Among these prisoners, 375 are foreigners, including 152 women. There are 630 children in jail, 43 of whom live with their mothers. 24 prisoners escaped from jail and 10 were caught back. A fourth prison will be built in Pursat, it will be focused on agriculture (?).

---

The positive tone of the MoI report is questioned by some observers. For example, Thun Saray, Adhoc human rights defense organization president, believes that this number does not give a clear image on security in Cambodia. He explained that in the countryside, some people are afraid to report their complaints, therefore the number of violent cases by the MoI is underestimated.

Democracy Narrowed in 2007, Group Says

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

The government has tightened its control over civil society in the past year, while the number of rights abuses has remained high, a group said Wednesday.

The freedom to organize and demonstrate has diminished, as has the right to life and security, the well-respected group, Adhoc, said in an annual report. In 2007, the group documented 574 personal or political rights abuses.

“While the political party in the coalition government has drifted apart and weakened, we see that the ruling Cambodian People’s Party has almost controlled the power alone, and it began to tighten the freedom of expression in public,” said Thun Saray, president of the rights group Adhoc.

“So, we have seen that the freedom of expression in public has become more and more tightened, compared to previous years,” he said. “Now that the CPP has ruled alone or shared little power with the coalition party, we are wondering how this will affect the democratic process, especially freedom of expression in public and the freedom of association.”

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith brushed aside the report.

“I don’t know if Adhoc is going to enter politics, as Kem Sokha has,” he said, referring to the president of the new Human Rights Party.

Cambodia had not declined in freedoms, he said, but was moving toward stronger rule of law.

Sam Rainsy on Hun Sen hosting Burmese PM Thein Sein: "It means Cambodia is just like Burma, which affects Cambodia's dignity"

Hun Sen shaking hand with his alter-ego, the Burmese dictator Thein Sein, during the 13th ASEAN summit meeting in Singapore (Photo: Reuters)

UN Envoy, Burmese PM to Make Overlapping Cambodia Visits

By VOA Khmer Stringers
Original reports from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
28 November 2007

The UN special envoy to Burma arrived in Siem Reap Wednesday on a three-day trip that will coincide with the visit Burma's prime minister, but officials said the two were unlikely to meet and denied Cambodia was playing an intermediary role.

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari is on a regional trip to gauge the political position of Burma's neighbors following violent crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrators in recent weeks, Agence France-Presse reported.

He was scheduled to visit Angkor Wat.

Lt. Gen. Thein Sien was scheduled to arrive Friday for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Hun Sen, the same day Gambari is scheduled to leave.

At the height of the pro-democracy crisis in September, Prime Minister Hun Sen called on Burma to avoid force in bringing order to protesters.

A spokesman said the government would not censure the leader on this visit.

"Normally, Cambodian culture never looks down on guests," spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

Thein Sein, who was appointed prime minister in October, is to meet Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

Critics said the government risked losing democratic credibility in hosting Thein Sein.

"It means Cambodia is just like Burma, which affects Cambodia's dignity," opposition leader Sam Rainsy said.

Keo Remy, Vice President of Human Rights Party, said Cambodia should push harder to promote democracy.

"Burma should not be welcome in Cambodia, because the Burmese government has been internationally condemned," said Thun Saray, director of the rights group Adhoc. "This country has dramatically lost face."

"I would like to call on the government to reconsider this issue," said Seng Theary, executive director of the Center for Social Development. "I think by justice, morality and diplomacy, we're going lose more than we gain."

Khieu Kanharith said critics were not familiar with Asean doctrine, which is traditionally one of non-interference.

"Asean protocol does not arrogantly say, 'I'm gonna teach this or that,'" he said.

Denials of Ieng Sary, Thirith Won't Hold Up, Experts Say

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 November 2007

While jailed Khmer Rouge leaders Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith have denied as "100 percent false" charges levied against them by the tribunal courts, experts said Wednesday accusations against them were supported by a wide array of evidence.

Ieng Sary said following his arraignment last week charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity were "unacceptable." Investigators say the charges will stand, though a hearing for pre-trial release is possible.

"Khmer Rouge leaders have escaped their responsibilities for 30 years, and they have refused this for 30 years, not just now," said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia. "Now that we have a Khmer Rouge tribunal, I wonder how they, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, can deny the accusations."

"I think their denial will not survive the accusation and the truth found by the Khmer Rouge tribunal," said Thun Sary, director of the rights group Adhoc.

Long Panhavuth, a tribunal observer for the Open Society Justice Initiative, said Wednesday the two had the right to deny the charges against them.

"But we believe, based on the evidence and documents collected by the co-prosecutors, that Khmer Rouge leaders will be made accountable for what happened during their regime," he said.

Old Worries, Little Gain in Visit of North Korean PM, Observers Say

Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
31 October 2007

The visit of North Korean Prime Minister Kim Yong Il Thursday, while diplomatically sound, is unlikely to yield much politically or economically, observers said.

Kim, who is not related to the "supreme leader," Kim Jong Il, is expected to sign several trade agreements that will strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

The visit will also signify a diplomatic gain for Cambodia, said Thun Saray, director of the rights group Adhoc, though there may better gains through stronger diplomacy with more prosperous South Korea.

"For ordinary people, they usually criticize [the government], saying that it seems that our country likes to go for countries that are rogue countries in the world," he said. "For me, I think that having a relationship with South Korea would bring more benefits."

While North Korea's status as an international pariah might be a concern for some, US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said any kind of normalized relations between North Korea and other countries tend to be good.

"It's a positive step for [North] Korea to be reaching out to other countries in Asia, and more normal relationships with other countries within the international community," Daigle said.

Kim Yong Il's four-day visit will likely yield agreements on bilateral investment and shipping, Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong has said.

That is likely to raise a specter of worse times, when the maritime relationship between made international headlines.

In June 2002, the French Navy captured a North Korean ship flying a Cambodian "flag of convenience" and carrying a huge shipment of cocaine. In December that year, a similarly registered North Korean ship carrying missiles, warheads and tanks was caught crossing the Arabian Sea.

During that time, Kim Yong Il, the man expected in Cambodia Thursday, was minister for land and marine transport, the Asia Times reported Tuesday.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, a former economic minister, said Cambodia's traditional friendship with North Korea is unlikely to yield economic or political benefits.

"Our leader always continues old routines, relationships with communist countries," he said. "But for our interests, the interest of the Cambodian people, it is not necessary to strengthen the friendship with North Korea more than necessary."

Cambodia's relationship with North Korea stems from former king Norodom Shihanouk's friendship with the deceased "eternal president" of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Sihanouk still maintains a palace in Pyongyang, and his bodyguards, a gift from Kim, are all North Korean.

Kim Yong Il is expected to stay for four days, paying visits to Prime Minister Hun Sen and other top government leaders, as well as trade officials and Sihanouk.