Latest news with #Cambodian
The Star
2 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Shattering glass sandbags: Meet the first Cambodian woman UN commander in Lebanon
PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Lieutenant Colonel Sorm Leangy broke new ground, as Cambodia's first female unit commander deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. At just 33 years old, Leangy's journey from a small Cambodian village to leading a contingent of 180 personnel — including 38 women — offers valuable insights into the evolving role of women in peacekeeping and military leadership. Since 2018, Leangy has served in five UN missions across Mali and Lebanon, earning respect through her resilience and leadership in environments traditionally dominated by men. Her story was then featured in UN Women, established in 2010 as a UN entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women worldwide. Her appointment in 2024 as unit commander during Cambodia's 14th rotation to Lebanon marked a milestone not only for her country but also for women in peacekeeping globally. Her leadership approach combines empathy, patience and decisiveness — qualities that challenge stereotypes about women's roles in military operations, according to UN Women. 'Women are fully capable of leading,' Leangy said. 'We contribute with understanding and calmness — but we're also able to take firm action when necessary,' she added, stressing the balanced qualities women bring to high-pressure leadership roles. Lieutenant Colonel Leangy began her military career in 2012 and graduated from the Cadet Officer School in 2016. She enhanced her expertise through various short courses at Cambodia's Peacekeeping Training Center, including UNLOG, UNSOC, demining and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training. In 2018, she furthered her international training by completing the GPOI course in Bangladesh. That same year, she was deployed to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as a food officer. She returned to MINUSMA in 2021 as a logistics officer and rose to the position of deputy commanding officer of the Cambodian Airfield Engineering Company in 2022. She then served in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) as the commanding officer of the Cambodian Multi-role Engineering Unit. Leading a large, diverse team in a high-pressure conflict zone, Leangy faced the dual challenge of proving her competence and overcoming initial scepticism. 'If I didn't succeed as a female leader, some might have used that to claim women aren't suited for such roles,' she explained. 'That kind of failure could have discouraged others from stepping forward,' she added. Through steady performance and clear communication, she fostered trust and respect among her troops. 'Everyone did their part and watched how I handled things. Eventually, the doubts faded — actually, they started supporting me,' she said. Leangy's experience also underscores the broader benefits women bring to peacekeeping. Drawing on her own missions, she highlighted women's ability to build strong connections with local communities, an essential factor for effective information gathering and conflict reduction. 'Women are able to form meaningful relationships with communities, help defuse tensions and take on important roles in delicate situations,' she explained. Her leadership was part of a wider push within the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and the UN to increase women's participation in peace operations. A barrier assessment conducted between 2022 and 2024 — supported by UN Women and the Elsie Initiative Fund — identified opportunities to strengthen gender-responsive recruitment and deployment practices in Cambodia. These efforts have already increased the proportion of uniformed women in Cambodia's peacekeeping contingents from 16.5 per cent in 2022 to 20 per cent in 2024. According to UN Women, it continues to provide technical support through regional projects promoting women's meaningful participation in peace and security across ASEAN. 'This collaboration shows that there's a growing global acknowledgment that having women in leadership isn't just about fairness — it also enhances the success of peacekeeping missions,' explained the organisation. Back in Cambodia, Leangy now serves as an administrative officer at the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC), where she helps mentor and prepare the next generation of peacekeepers. Her leadership earned her a Gold Medal from the RCAF, as well as a UN medal. To young women aspiring to similar paths, she offers simple but powerful advice. 'Believe in your potential. Be brave enough to face the obstacles. And never forget — women are just as capable as men in getting the job done,' she said. Leangy's story demonstrates that women's leadership in peacekeeping is not just a symbol of progress — it is a practical force for building peace and trust in conflict zones. As UN Women notes, increasing women's representation in peace and security roles strengthens the effectiveness and sustainability of peacekeeping operations worldwide. 'When women get involved,' Leangy concludes, 'we build peace.' Dominic Williams, British ambassador to Cambodia, wrote on his social media that he was pleased that the UK supported the UN Women Asia and the Pacific project. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
2 hours ago
- Business
Ishiba, Cambodian Leader Affirm Economic Cooperation
News from Japan Politics May 30, 2025 21:39 (JST) Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, met in Tokyo on Friday and issued a joint statement announcing an economic cooperation package. The package outlines items for cooperation, including holding business seminars and setting up investment consultation desks. The two leaders agreed that relevant government bodies of their respective countries will promote cooperation on each item. At a joint press conference, Ishiba said that Japan will "support Cambodia's democratic development through various efforts." Regarding special fraud groups based in Cambodia, Ishiba noted that his government "will strengthen cooperation to maintain public security." Hun Manet responded that Cambodia will continue to cooperate with Japan on the matter by sharing information on international crimes. The two leaders confirmed that Japan will consider providing free defense equipment to the Southeast Asian country under the official security assistance framework. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Nikkei Asia
5 hours ago
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Asian leaders gather for Nikkei Forum as globalization frays
Hello from Tokyo. This week, Nikkei hosted our flagship annual conference, the Future of Asia forum. Political leaders from across the region, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, attended the event. The conference marked its 30th anniversary this year, and Asia's economic and international landscape has undergone significant changes over the past three decades. Thirty years ago, I was a student preparing to leave Japan to study in the U.S., and the few years I spent at a university there -- one that welcomed many international students from Asia -- had a profound impact on my life. The Internet revolution, which gained momentum while I was studying abroad, made it easier than ever for people around the world to communicate. It was around that time that economic globalization, particularly in Asia, began to rapidly accelerate following China's entry to the World Trade Organization in 2001. When I was in Silicon Valley from 2006 to 2010 as a Nikkei correspondent, I interviewed many engineers and entrepreneurs who had moved there from Asia. The world felt exactly as Thomas Friedman described in his seminal book, "The World Is Flat." With the U.S.-China trade war and conflicts erupting around the world, the situation in Asia has unfortunately become increasingly siloed. Nations are struggling to strike a balance between the two superpowers. The administration of President Donald Trump is making it more difficult for international students to study in the U.S., alarming many students from Asia. What direction will Asian nations take over the next 30 years? To get a clearer picture, I encourage you to log on to Nikkei Asia and read what the region's political leaders had to say at the Future of Asia conference. My suggested reads 1. Uncertainty lingers over Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's ambitious spending plans, as inflationary trade policies under U.S. President Donald Trump rattle global bond markets. While strong domestic bond ownership and healthy forex reserves offer some stability, the impact of tariffs on government revenue -- combined with Indonesia's legal cap on budget deficits -- could constrain Prabowo's fiscal agenda. 2. Thailand is trying to leverage its cuisine's global reputation to become an international hub for halal food production and exports. It is 10 months into a five-year drive to break into the world's top five global halal exporters by 2028 and become the "Halal Hub of ASEAN" by the previous year. The kingdom's tourism authorities are also supporting the initiative because they see it as a way to attract more visitors from Muslim-majority nations. 3. China's Huawei is behind efforts to build a chip chemical company capable of rivaling global leaders like Shin-Etsu Chemical, JSR, Merck, DuPont and Dow, Nikkei Asia has learned. The aim is to turn recently founded Zhuhai Cornerstone Technologies Co. into an "end-to-end" supplier, part of a radical attempt to develop a fully self-sufficient domestic chip supply chain. 4. South Korea will elect a new president on June 3 after exactly six months of chaos triggered by conservative former leader Yoon Suk Yeol's failed move last December to impose martial law. As polls point to a win for the progressive Democratic Party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, they also show voters saying their top priority is fixing the country's sputtering economy. 5. At Expo 2025 Osaka, a team of top Japanese composers has transformed the 155-hectare site into a living, breathing soundscape, with immersive music tailored to each zone and responsive to weather conditions. From celebratory festival sounds to meditative ambient compositions, the Expo's sonic environment subtly shapes every visitor's experience -- right down to the moment they leave. Through the lens This week's top photo pick: The Fairy Pool Scenic Area of Jiuzhaigou National Park, in the Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of China, is pictured on May 27. The Fairy Pool is called Nen'en Sangcuo in Tibetan, which translates to "a place where fairies bathe." (Photo by Getty Images) Check out more of our photo coverage here Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
The Star
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia will retain military presence at scene of armed clash
Cambodian and Thai military officers shake hands ahead of urgent discussions aimed at cooling tensions on the shared border. - FB via PPP/ANN PHNOM PENH: Cambodia will not retreat nor remain unarmed at the site of the May 28 exchange of fire in Preah Vihear province's Choam Ksan district, which left one Cambodian soldier dead. The Kingdom's position was made clear, in a Royal Cambodian Armed forces (RCAF) statement, released soon after the conclusion of talks between Lieutenant General Mao Sophan, Commander of the Cambodian Army, and Thailand's Lieutenant General Pana Klaewblaudtuk. 'The Cambodian side will neither retreat nor remain unarmed at the site of the clash, as Cambodian forces have been stationed there prior to the signing of the 2000 memorandum of understanding on the survey and demarcation of the Cambodia-Thailand land border,' said an RCAF press release. It explained that both parties agreed to continue resolving the situation through existing mechanisms, such as the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC), the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) and the 2000 MoU, to ensure the border area became one of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. 'Both parties will maintain the status quo, exercise restraint, and address issues through the JBC, with a meeting scheduled within the next two to three weeks to preserve good relations between the two countries,' it added. The Cambodian side urged mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasising the need to avoid further hostilities, like those that took place on the morning of May 28. 'Both parties agreed to the above points, and the negotiations concluded at 4.15pm on the same day,' said the release. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
Asahi Shimbun
8 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Cambodia police bust suspected base for fraud against Japanese
Cambodian authorities have detained more than 20 people believed to be Japanese at a suspected base for phone fraud scams targeting people in Japan, the National Police Agency said May 29. According to the NPA, Aichi prefectural police had learned that Japanese nationals were committing fraud by pretending to be police officers in the Southeast Asian country, and the information was provided to the Cambodian side through the Foreign Ministry. Cambodian investigators on May 27 searched the building in the northwestern part of the country and detained more than 30 foreigners, including many believed to be Japanese, the NPA said. Computers, smartphones and other items were seized from the building. The building is located in Poipet, near the border with Thailand, within a cluster of offices and simple accommodations, NPA sources said. The NPA believes the Japanese at the base pretended to be police officers, phoned potential victims in Japan and told them their bank accounts had been used for criminal activity. The fake officers told the targets to provide cash to prove their innocence. From January to March this year, 1,894 such cases were confirmed in Japan, with damages totaling about 17.17 billion yen ($119.33 million), according to the NPA's provisional figures. Local police busts of such special fraud bases have increased around Southeast Asia. From 2019 to 2024, a total of 178 Japanese were detained at 14 bases in four countries: Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. In 2019, 52 people were detained at a base in the Philippines, the largest number at any single base. Many of the detainees were apparenlty victims themselves. Several reports said tourists and other travelers have been tricked into entering Myanmar where they are forced to engage in fraudulent activities by criminal organizations. According to Aichi prefectural police, a 21-year-old man in the prefecture informed them through a related organization about the special fraud base in Poipet. The man had applied for a 'part-time job' via a major employment site last December. He received travel instructions from an intermediary who met him at Nagoya Station, and then took a flight from Kansai Airport to Thailand, according to the prefectural police. A car that picked up the Aichi man took him over the border to the base in Poipet, where he came under the supervision of Chinese nationals, police said. He said that he and more than 20 other Japanese were ordered to take part in special fraud by pretending to be police officers and making phone calls to Japan. The base was surrounded by walls and could not be entered from the main street without passing through three gates with security guards, he said. The Aichi man returned to Japan in early January and provided the information to police. Aichi prefectural police will dispatch investigators to Poipet to check the situation. (This article was written by Daichi Itakura and Toshinari Takahashi.)
