Cambodia NGO CPCS agrees to call off meeting at request of MoI
Soth Koemsoeun Khmer Times June 1, 2023
PHNOM PENH – The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) has called off a meeting titled “Review of Current Humanitarian Efforts, and Seeking Effective Ways Forward” following a warning from the Ministry of Interior.
Sot Phlay Ngam, President of the CPCS, wrote a letter to the ministry on Tuesday, stating that the CPCS would call off the meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Siem Reap province.
“I’m a representative of the CPCS and would like to inform Samdech Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior, that the CPCS has agreed to cancel a meeting on the above-mentioned topics, following advice from the Ministry of Interior,” he said.
However, the CPCS did not specify the reason for the meeting in the letter, nor did it specify the content set out for the above topic.
Bun Honn, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, issued a press release urging the CPCS to suspend its planned meeting in Siem Reap.
He claimed that the planned forum could interfere in the internal affairs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states.
“It’s contrary to the ASEAN Charter, the Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations, and the statute of the Ministry of Interior,” he said.
He warned that in case of non-compliance with the spirit of the letter, the Ministry of Interior would take legal action according to the law.
General Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, said yesterday that he had not yet received any information and would study the matter.
The organisation was founded in 2008. CPCS is a Cambodia-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Asia.
CPCS website stated that it is focused on interventions involving, “leadership, learning, analysis, and facilitation bringing our experience as well as connections across the region as resources to support new thinking, new relationships, and new interventions.”
“Systematic analysis and facilitation for practical conflict resolution, by accompanying regional and national conflicts in Asia.”
“Investing in peace leadership for conflict transformation, through academics, diplomacy and peace leadership courses; and utilises practical learning for pragmatic change, connecting academics and practitioners from across the region to share learning and best practices.”
“As part of our commitment to continued learning, CPCS hosts regional forums and conferences to provide safe and dynamic spaces for practitioners and academics to share and learn from Asian peace processes and conflict transformation.”
“Emerging theory, best practices, and reflections from the region’s experts in mediation, negotiation, and facilitation of the peace process are made available through publications and videos available on the CPCS website and social media,” it added.
Khmer Times June 1, 2023
ASEAN Digest 
Recent Comments