In Cambodia, a battle for democracy, inclusiveness

CategoryPolity

Last Updated15/03/2023

The imprisonment of Opposition leader Kem Sokha who was found guilty of treason by a municipal court in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh has attracted criticism from the international community and human rights groups.

Due to the impact of Pol Pot’s dictatorship and the continuous cycles of war which officially ended in 1991, Cambodia is struggling to elevate its economy from a lower-income status.
Further, there have been growing concerns about democratic freedoms and inclusive development in the southeast Asian country.
There have also been concerns over the growing Chinese investment in Cambodia.
A 187-km-long expressway that connects the Sihanoukville port town with the capital Phnom Penh has been built with a Chinese investment of $2 billion which is now a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India is currently involved in restoring the 12th-century sites at the Angkor Wat temple in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia.
India is also engaged in extending technical training, livelihood support, and supporting local entrepreneurship.
However, the locals opine that India should help promote democracy within Cambodia as without democratic freedoms, the development initiatives fail to reach people.