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This week, we head to Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia where former Khmer rouge fighter Hun Sen has been in power for more than 30 years. On June 4, the Cambodians head to the polls in local elections seen as a barometer for the general elections due next year. Main opposition leaders say they are threatened constantly and live in fear. But the government continues to dismiss these claims and has reacted angrily to criticism from the West over its handling of power…
A programme prepared by Aline Schmidt and Jessica Sestili
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In This Story: Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 square miles) in area, bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
The sovereign state of Cambodia has a population of over 15 million. Buddhism is enshrined in the constitution as the official state religion, and is practised by more than 97% of the population. Cambodia’s minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 hill tribes.
The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. The kingdom is an elective constitutional monarchy with a monarch chosen by the Royal Council of the Throne as head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister.
Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953. The United Nations designates Cambodia as a least developed country.