Cambodian PM now full fledged military dictator: Report
Phnom Penh, June 28 : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has become a "fully fledged military dictator", according to a new Human Rights Watch report released on Thursday.
The report titled "Cambodia's Dirty Dozen", names the 12 military personnel who have been the "backbone" of Hun Sen's "abusive and authoritarian political regime", which he has led since 1985, reports The Guardian.
Many of this group of 12 have served in the Khmer Rouge military -- the Communist regime which saw the execution, starvation, and disease of an estimated 1.2 to 2.8 million Cambodians (between 13 and 30% of the population) between 1975 and 1979.
According to the report, Hun Sen has "remained in power by creating a cadre of ruthless members of the security forces to implement his vision and orders".
While Hun Sen has always been notorious for his autocratic rule and his use of force against anyone who defied him, his crackdown on the opposition, the media and civil society has escalated in the past year.
Hun Sen has dissolved the opposition party, the CNRP, shut down the Cambodia Daily newspaper, Radio Free Asia and dozens of local radio stations.
Journalists, opposition politicians and civil society leaders are now in jail and an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship has gripped the country, the report said.
"Hun Sen really has become a fully-fledged military dictator, a fact that he hopes to hide behind the fig-leaf of a national election in July that will be neither free nor fair," said Phil Roberton, deputy director of Human Rights Asia.
"At each step of the way in his years in power, Hun Sen has sought to centralise control over the military and police under his direct command, aided by this group of dangerous men," the Guardian quoted Robertson as saying.
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New Delhi: Since the closure of airspace in West Asia, Indian airlines have brought back around 15,000 stranded passengers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India), recovery flights began on March 2. These figures cover operations through March 5. On Friday, March 6, a total of 40 inbound flights returned people to India.
As many as 51 flights are scheduled to arrive on Saturday, March 7 which is the highest number since airstrikes in the region began on February 28, according to The Hindu.
Besides Indian carriers, Gulf airlines are also engaged in the airlifting activity. The Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways have operated some special flights and limited commercial services.
The ministry has set up a control room and helpline for passengers seeking travel assistance and can be contacted on 011-24604283 and 011-24632987.
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