FBI helped police understand terrorism, chief says

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer Original report from Washington09 January 2008
Sok Khemara reports in Khmer-(1.41MB) Listen Sok Khemara reports in Khmer
Since cooperation with a new FBI office began last year, Cambodian police have learned more about the strategies and tactics of terrorism, the chief of national police said in a recent interview.
Cambodian police have updated their expertise in the fight against terrorism, thanks to a series of meetings and exchanges of information with FBI agents, Gen. Hok Lundy (pictured) said in a rare interview last week.
There remains no terrorist threat in Cambodia, he said.
"How those tactics and strategies of terrorists have so far developed is included in the meetings and exchange of information with the US FBI representatives in Cambodia, so that we can be updated on the development of the terrorists," he said.
The FBI opened a legislative attaché office in the US Embassy in March 2007, drawing criticism from human rights groups for its close work with Hok Lundy, who has denied accusations of involvement in drug or human trafficking.
FBI officials in Washington said cooperation with Hok Lundy was necessary to better work in the region, assessing terrorist threats and conducting other law enforcement.
"We think that there has been significant knowledge gained from the cooperation in order to strengthen the security of the country," Hok Lundy said.