Crime Against Travelers to Cambodia Up in 2009
Authorities Warn Cambodia's Robbery and Terrorism Risks Real
Jan 9, 2009
It said the update was made in the wake of a spike in reports of violent robberies in tourist areas and the discovery of three homemade bombs in a central area of the capital on January 3, which the Cambodian government has categorized as terrorism.
The bombing was not the first, DFAT warned, and tourists needed to be aware of a certain risk to their safety while traveling in the Southeast Asian nation due to terrorism, often blamed on small splinter groups such as anti-Vietnamese elements.
The Cambodian government is seen as close to the communist government of neighboring Vietnam and security is less tight in Cambodia.
DFAT simultaneously updated its crime warning, saying that reports of sometimes violent robberies in tourist centers including the gateway town to the Angkor Wat temple complex, Siem Reap, the capital, Phnom Penh and the beach resort town of Sihanoukville were increasing.
Bomb Attacks A Constant Possibility
"This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the summary and under … terrorism (improvised explosive devices in Phnom Penh) and crime," DFAT said in the statement.
Cambodian police have arrested one man and were seeking another in connection with the discovery of three explosive devices near the Ministry of National Defense and the nearby TV3 headquarters but detonated them without damage or injury.
The Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) later said the devices were made from aerosol cans packed with TNT, were not very sophisticated and would probably not have caused major damage. No motive was yet clear for the incident and Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith has so far declined to give further details, citing an ongoing police investigation.
"Terrorism is a threat throughout the world, including South-East Asia," DFAT said. "In recent years Cambodian authorities have disrupted a number of attempted bomb plots.
"The latest incident occurred on January 3, 2009 when three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in two locations in Phnom Penh. Two of the IEDs were destroyed while the third was disarmed. Terrorist attacks can be indiscriminate and may target Western interests or places frequented by tourists."
The previous confirmed bomb in Cambodia was in July, 2007, when a 10 kilogram bomb exploded at the Vietnamese-Cambodian Friendship monument located in a central Phnom Penh park, causing no injuries and little damage. Two other devices were detonated. In 2006 police detained six on charges of planning to bomb the annual Water Festival.
However Cambodia has avoided any major terrorist attack, and has been praised by countries including the US for its cooperation in the global fight against terrorism, but dissident faction of some anti-government groups have previously been accused of using violence.
Unlike in Thailand's restive south, Cambodia's ethnic Cham Muslims live peacefully within the majority Buddhist community and no attacks have been blamed on hardline Muslim militants prior to 2009.
Violent Crime Against Foreigners on the Rise
DFAT also warned travelers to be cautious because of increased reports of violent crime, and particularly robberies. It joins other governments including the US and British in warning travelers to be aware of the possibility of encountering violent crime as the use of drugs such as amphetamines increase in the kingdom.
"Opportunistic crime is common in Cambodia and the frequency of incidents is increasing. Thieves frequently snatch foreigners’ bags and pick-pocketing is a problem in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap," it said.
"Several foreigners have been injured in the course of these incidents, in particular when bags are pulled from passengers on moving motorbike taxis. Bag snatching, other robberies and assaults often occur during daylight hours.
"There have been recent reports of assaults and armed robberies against foreigners, especially in areas frequented by tourists and expatriate residents, including the Riverfront in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville (particularly at isolated beaches)."
In November 2007, French national Aurelia Lacroix, 28, died after being pulled off the back of a motorbike taxi in a bungled bag snatch, but the frequency of such incidents appears to be increasing.
In January, 2009 a Canadian aid worker died after being robbed at an automatic teller machine and a month later a man was shot in the remote northeastern province of Rattanakirri by would-be thieves.
Expatriates have also noted an increase in crime and local expatriate blogs such as expat-advisory.com, detailsaresketchy and khmer440.com have active strings reporting anecdotal incidents of violent crimes against foreigners.
Cambodian police have assured tourists security is a priority and urged them to report crime to the nearest police station, with the help of the embassy if necessary.
"Foreigners go to their embassies instead of using the Cambodian system and coming to us," a police officer from Chamcarmon station in the capital who declined to be named said. "We need to start an investigation within 24 hours to catch the culprit because we do not have good technology. We don't have CSI."
