ASEAN HEADLINE-CYBERCRIME | CAMBODIA: Indian govt issues ‘cyber slavery’ advisory to overseas travellers heading to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Hong Kong
Ministry of Interior Secretary of State Chou Bun Eng, who also serves as Vice-Chairwoman of the NCCT. NCCT
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The National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the Indian government to educate and alert its nationals heading to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Hong Kong about the problem of “cyber slavery” in the region of Southeast Asia while also stipulating that Cambodia should not presently be viewed as a cybercrime hotspot.
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“We support the Indian authorities’ education campaign, which advises travellers and their citizens to be cautious when travelling to Cambodia and other Asian countries,” said Chou Bun Eng, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Vice-Chairwoman of the NCCT.
“It is helping to reduce the risk of online crime and human trafficking, and we have called on all foreign parties to cooperate with Cambodia in educating, advising and disseminating measures to prevent online fraud,” she said.
However, Bun Eng added that it is unacceptable if these efforts to educate the public paint Cambodia as a location rife with cybercrime.
“All foreign parties and other NGOs should disseminate the guidelines in a way that should not tarnish the image of another country,” she said.
She said that Cambodia encourages all foreign visitors and investors whose intentions are good to visit the Kingdom.
“But we do not encourage individuals to come here who intend to commit crimes in Cambodia,” she added.
The remarks were made after the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed India’s Civil Aviation Ministry regarding several measures to be taken to combat “cyber slavery” in countries across the region, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Hong Kong, saying that it’s essential to alert travellers and spread awareness of the issue at all of India’s airports.
Bun Eng also noted that Cambodia has rigorously strengthened measures to prevent illegal migration of Cambodian workers and she added that authorities are working closely with local officials to provide better security and fight terrorism, cross-border crime, human trafficking, money laundering and drug trafficking in the Kingdom.
In line with the government policy formulated under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, authorities are strengthening enforcement of immigration laws, both to control the entry and exit of foreigners and to record data about foreign residents in Cambodia, in part to ensure their safety, she said.
A senior MHA official was quoted by Indian media outlet “News 18” on Monday as saying that with an increasing number of travellers heading to countries notorious for “cyber slavery” the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to instruct all airport operators to educate, alert and raise awareness among passengers flying abroad.’
Soth Koemsoeun / Khmer Times
