Roundtable discussions were held to train and disseminate the content of the Laws on Combating the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction to monitoring institutions and non-reporting institutions, as well as the general public. SUPPLIED
A working group of the ad-hoc sub-commission tasked with implementing the action plan devised by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering released the outcome of the activities it has undertaken in its efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In a March 10 press statement, the working group said they are in charge of implementing Immediate Outcome 11, or IO.11, on the proliferation of financial sanctions.
They said they had organised two workshops and one roundtable discussion to train and disseminate the content of the Laws on Combating the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction to monitoring institutions and non-reporting institutions, as well as the general public.
The working group said the first workshop was held on February 26, with 100 participants from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, National Police, and other relevant institutions. The second was held on February 28, with 146 participants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce and the National Bank of Cambodia, among others.
The statement said the workshops had touched on the roles of monitory entities in enforcing all resolutions made by the UN Security Council, the duties of reporting and non-reporting entities, the process of asset freezing, punishments that could be applied on reporting entities, and reporting forms.
“The workshops explained the content of asset freezing decision No 11 and 12 dated November 2, 2020, issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court – which froze the assets of individuals and entities listed in the UN Security Council Resolution which had imposed sanctions on North Korea and Iran,” the statement said.
It said the sanctions against North Korea and Iran were "Standing Orders" which are valid permanently unless the court annuls them.
The working group also said they had collaborated with the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) to hold an awareness-raising roundtable discussion on March 7, with the participation of seven experts. The television programme was broadcast on March 9. The content of the discussion was similar to that of the workshops.
In February, the government refuted an “unfounded report” by a well-known North Korean monitoring website that accused Cambodia of permitting North Korea’s intelligence operations and illegal economic activities to occur in the Kingdom.
The piece – titled “North Korean spy ran hotels, casinos and travel agency in Cambodia: UN report” – was published in NK News on February 15, according to the foreign ministry.
The foreign ministry flatly rejected the article.
“Cambodia has complied with all UN Security Council resolutions, shut down all businesses and bank accounts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in [Cambodia] and halted granting work authorisation for workers from DPRK,” it said, using North Korea’s official name.
