The UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Cambodia has applauded Cambodia's willingness to combat terrorism and yesterday expressed optimism, along with Cambodian officials, for its future efforts at the close of a two-day meeting in Phnom Penh on countering terrorist financing.

“Our law is good, but nowadays we lack analysis and implementation of the law,” Ministry of Interior deputy secretary Sreang Lapres said.

The anti-terrorism statute was adopted from the UN’s own conventions and protocols on terrorism, he said.

“Cambodia is not proudly announcing itself as expert yet, but Cambodian police are moving forward to becoming specialists in combating terrorism,” Lapres added.

Cambodian courts have prosecuted anti-terrorism cases in the past, including one against the Tiger’s Head Movement, which was convicted of planning to blow up the Ministry of Defence and state television station TV3 in 2009.

To contact the reporter on this story: Khouth Sophak Chakrya at [email protected]