Koh Kong, once a sleepy, picturesque town along Cambodia’s southwest province, has been picked as Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010. Casinos, rumors of Thai billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra’s plans to build a mega resort, and a charming zoo currently make up the bulk of headlines coming from Koh Kong, but its untouched natural beauty and appeal to nature lovers makes it a future global destination along the likes of Bali and Goa India.
Lonely Planet’s top picks include: Alsace, France; Bali, Indonesia; Fernando de Noronha, Brazil; Goa, India;Koh Kong Conservation Corridor, Cambodia; Lake Baikal, Russia; Oaxaca, Mexico; Southern Africa; and south-west Western Australia.
Photo: Koh Kong, Cambodia by via Eternal Vagabond Flickr Creative Commons
Global Witness, a London-based NGO (Non-government organization), has been a thorn in the side of the Cambodian government for several years. Their notoriety came after a scathing report “Family Trees” detailed illegal logging activity and attempted to connect it to Cambodian government officials. Once based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, they shuttered in favor of the more hospitable political environment of London.
Their latest report, “Country for Sale” however, has only stirred more anger from Cambodian officials. The report accuses the Cambodia government of corruption in the promising but nascent oil exploration and mineral mining sectors. For their part, Cambodian officials called Global Witness “naive” and accused the group of pursuing a “malicious campaign” against Cambodia. The Cambodian government, they said was “working hard to establish a sound and comprehensive framework governing the extractive industries.”
Read More: WSJ, “Cambodia Graft Alleged”
Global Witness, “Country for Sale” (PDF)
Cambodia’s nascent but politically active blogging community is reporting that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent sacking of Army Chief Ke Kimyan (pictured) is not a normal reshuffle as announced, but the result of an internal power struggle between Hun Sen’s faction of the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and that of CPP President Chea Sim. Read the article by blogger Khmerization here.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is in Kuwait, in his first-ever visit to the oil-rich nation. “This visit will lead to the development in the future between Cambodia and Kuwait, and between Cambodia and other countries in the Middle East,” Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told AFP and other news agencies.
Hun Sen and Kuwaiti premier Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah are expected to sign agreements on Kuwaiti aid in building irrigation systems, roads and a recently approved Cambodian hydro-power plant.
In August, Kuwait’s premier visited Cambodia and signed trade agreements as well as land-lease deals that would allow Kuwait to grow crops in Cambodia for use by Kuwaiti interests. At the time, commodity prices were surging and Kuwait and other nations were scrambling to ensure food supplies. (See: ‘Rich Countries Launch Land Grab to Ensure Food Supplies‘, New York Herald) Cambodia is also interested in Kuwait’s help with oil exploration management. Both sides are expected to ink tourism deals that would encourage flights into both countries.
