Country Brief: Cambodia

Here is the brief analysis of Cambodia. Enjoy.


Cambodian Genocide (1975-1979)
1.7 million people lost their lives within 4 years. That is 21% of the country's population
Group responsible for mass murders: Khmer Rouge regime headed by Pol Pot
Pol Pot has been in power until 1997, died a year later in 1998. (not charged for genocide!)

30 years later (February 2009):
“Now, five leaders of the Khmer Rouge will face charges in a tribunal backed by the United Nations. The first, Kaing Guek Eav — known better by his nom de guerre, Duch — ran the Tuol Sleng prison camp in Phnom Penh, where out of 17,000 Cambodians who were imprisoned, fewer than 20 survived. Pol Pot's second-in-command, Nuon Chea, will also face charges, as well as the Khmer Rouge's former foreign minister and head of state. “ Time


Form of Government: Authoritarian (based on what I've read), however some say Cambodia has constitutional monarchy
Prime Minister (has executive power): Hun Sen (in power since 1998)
Ruling Party – Cambodian People's Party (since 1970's)
Per Capita Income (Average Annual Income) - $590

Government controls mass media (radio,tv)
freedom of speech is limited. People may end up in jail or be killed for expressing their opinions about the government.


Possible revenues from oil: ~ $1.7 billion per year.
The UN Development Programme’s resident representative Douglas Gardner said that at least 700 million barrels of crude oil are also estimated to lie off the country’s coast.


Population - ~ 14 million
80% of the population lives in rural villages
Life expectancy: 59 for males, 62 for females.
One Third of the population lives under $1 dollar a day.
preventable diseases such as typhoid, malnutrition, malaria, dengue kills 1 in 7 children before the age of five.


Literacy rate: 74% (s one in four Cambodians cannot read )


Shocking Facts:

- 16% of the population has toilets. The Rest 12 million does not.
- gov't offcials steal between $300 million to $500 million a year (where state annual budget is ~ $1 billion)
half of the budget comes from foreign donors.
Teacher's salary: ~ $40 a month. (student pay teachers on daily basis, before entering the class. You need answers for the final exams, don't worry in Cambodia teachers will sell you the answers.




Sources

Brinkley, J (2009).Cambodia's Curse. Foreign Affairs. 88, 111-122.

Joel Brinkley, former Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the New York Times, is Professor of JOurnalism at Standford University.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6929407.stm

http://www.livemint.com/2007/02/23180933/Cambodia-likely-to-see-oil-rev.html

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1879785,00.html

http://www.yale.edu/cgp/