Fifteen years after signing the Paris peace accord that ended its civil war, Cambodia has emerged as a full-fledged member of the international community. It joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1999 and the World Trade Organization in 2004.
The Cambodian economy, seriously damaged by the 20-year-long war, is showing signs of recovery. The nation's economic growth rate hit 10 percent in 2004 and 13.4 percent in 2005, although per capita GDP remains below $500.
Yet, Cambodia is plagued by serious human-rights problems. That became clear from presentations by Japanese and Cambodian participants at a recent symposium held in Tokyo by the People's Forum on Cambodia ("Reviewing 15 Years After the Paris Peace Agreement").