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US: Cambodia Vulnerable to Terror Cells, Corruption


Cambodia's weak law enforcement makes it vulnerable to both terrorism and corruption, according to a US State Department report issued Tuesday.

Training and resources remain an impediment to the country's ability to investigate and prosecute terrorists, according to the State Department's annual country terrorism report.

"Cambodia's political leadership, however, demonstrated a strong commitment to take aggressive legal action against terrorists," the report said.

"There were no indications that specific terrorist groups operated in Cambodia, but porous borders and endemic corruption could make the country vulnerable to a terrorist presence," the report said.

The report highlighted Cambodia's efforts, with US help, to install computerized control systems at key entry points: the airports of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and the land crossings at Poipet and Koh Kong.

"The Cambodian government also cooperated fully with US requests to monitor terrorists and terrorist entities listed as supporters of terrorist financing," the report said. The State Department report comes on the heels of a visit to Washington last week by National Police Chief Hok Lundy, who met with officials from the departments of State and Justice.

He was issued a US visa for his visit despite an outcry from rights groups that the police general was involved in extrajudicial killings and human trafficking, among other crimes.

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