Cambodia
Most Cambodians have the proud boast that they are the Khmers, descendants
of the mighty Angkor Empire that ruled over much of Southeast Asia
and reached its pinnacle in the 10th and 13th centuries AD. The country
suffered invasions by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam)
resulting in the weakening of the empire. The country became a protectorate
of France in 1863. Subsequently, it became part of French Indochina
in 1887. It was occupied by Japan in World War II gaining full independence
from France in 1953. After 1975 the country came under the repressive
regime of Communist Khmer Rouge forces under Pol Pot. In 1978 Vietnam
came to the rescue of the people of Combodia and drove the Khmer Rouge
into the sidelines. A semblance of normalcy under a coalition government
was restored by the UN sponsored elections in 1993. Khmer Rouge elements
are extinct now in the country.
Travel overview
The violent past of Cambodia is now slowly becoming history. Tourists
have started flocking to the several attractions which are found in
this Southeast Asian country. While the historic Temples of Angkor
Wat is the main draw, the 12th century Buddhist temples at Preah Vihar
are irresistible attractions. The cities of Phnom Penh and Battambang
are known for their buildings dating back to colonial era. The ambience
of Phnom Penh is a grim reminder of the atrocities committed during
the Pol Pot regime. The Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide, the interrogation
center of the Pol Pot regime, is a must visit place. Not to be missed
are the captivating hill towns of Kirirom and Bokor. Sihanoukville
is known for its pristine beaches.
Capital: Phnom Penh
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between
Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season, dry season
Total Area: 181,040 sq km
Total Population: 13,995,904
Population Growth Rate: 1.729%
Sex Ratio: 0.953 male(s)/female
Literacy: 73.6%
Ethnic Groups: Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese and others
Irrigated land: 2,700 sq km
Languages: Khmer (official), French, English
Time Zone: UTC+7
Currency: riel (KHR)
Type of govt.: multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister HUN SEN
Major Political Parties: Cambodian People's Party or CPP, National
United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative
Cambodia or FUNCINPEC, Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP, Sam Rangsi
Party or SRP
Participation in International Organizations: ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB,
ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA,
NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews,
tapioca
Natural Resources & Minerals: oil and gas, timber, gemstones,
some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Industry & Transport: tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing,
wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Airports: 20
Railways: 602 km
Roadways: 38,257 km
Waterways: 2,400 km
Major Trade Partners: US, Hong Kong, Germany, Canada, China, France,
Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan
Exports: $3.38 billion
Imports: $4.446 billion
