Casino building part of ‘secret strategy’ to protect Cambodia borders
August 9th, 2012, The Telegraph, Construction, Disputed Land, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure
Hun Sen, the prime minister of Cambodia, has said allowing the construction of a spate of casinos on the border was part of a “secret strategy” to protect the country’s territory from its neighbours.
In a five hour speech addressing border demarcation issues with Vietnam, he told parliament: “I don’t like casinos, but the biggest goal for giving permission to build casinos is to protect the border. …
Cambodia’s border with Vietnam and Thailand is dotted with dozens of casinos and accompanying hotels catering mostly to foreign gamblers since Cambodians are not legally allowed to gamble. …
Cambodia and Vietnam officially began demarcating their 790-mile border in September 2006 after decades of territorial disputes stemming from French colonial times.
According to Hun Sen some 434 miles have been demarcated so far.
