Political instability has “hampered peace in Cambodia” and offset gains from the Kingdom’s peacekeeping activities overseas, according to a global “Peace Index” released yesterday by the international think tank Institute for Economics and Peace.

The report measures 23 different indicators, like political stability, degree of terrorism and involvement in conflict, to derive an index number for 163 countries and territories.

Cambodia’s index shifted slightly towards peace in 2016, largely as a result of the Kingdom’s financial contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, said institute founder Steve Killelea.

However, growing hostility between the CPP and CNRP has offset nearly all its contributions.

“The likelihood of mass anti-government protests is remote but the number of people unjustifiably detained will no doubt continue to increase,” the authors wrote.

The report did not take into account more recent developments, such as the government’s moves to arrest acting CNRP president Kem Sokha. Killelea said that if these kinds of actions continue, Cambodia is likely to slip in the rankings.