By:
• Cambodianess

• October 27, 2024 , 10:30 AM

The raid carried out a few days ago by the police in Kampong Speu province, which was targeting a suspected online fraud center and led to the arrest of some 1,000 Chinese and South Korean nationals has been added to the too long list of similar operations, and one wonders when we’ll see the end.

This latest operation took place following the result of an investigation being broadcasted on South Korean television and in which this residential complex was being identified as a place of cybercrime site where South Korean nationals were, according to this investigation reported on television, were forced to engage in online scams.

For months and months, Cambodia has been the object of international suspicion due to these scandalous and criminal cases in which are mixed forced labor and online scams.

Granted, the authorities are reacting.

But one cuts here and it grows back there.

In the meantime, the image of the country is affected.    

A while ago, a young Vietnamese man who had come to Cambodia as part of a study visit confided to me that he had hesitated to participate, fearing to be kidnapped. 

A friend who recently returned from China told me having heard similar things from people on the street.

To help the country get out of the swamp, one must not overwhelm it. Yes. But the country must also help itself, to use the late King Father’s favorite maxim.   

How?

By decreeing total impunity for all those who, directly or indirectly, are involved in these sinister criminal activities that bring disgrace upon Cambodia and undermine its economic development.