COTTON CAMBODIA

Tiffani Nguyen

INTRODUCTION

Cambodia is located at the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand.

Cambodia has a population of over 14.8 million people.

The country has several minority groups including Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 hill tribes.

The main religious practice of the Cambodian people is Theravada Buddhism.

POLITICS Government type: multiparty coalition democracy under a

constitutional monarchy

Capital: Phnom Penh

Independence: November 9, 1953 (from France)

Chief of State: King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen

Leading political parties: Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC), Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), Sam Rangsi Party (SRP).

Cambodia suffered genocide under the Communist Khmer Rouge regime, led by Pol Pot from 1975-1978. Vietnam overthrew the regime and occupied Cambodia for 10 years.

UN-sponsored elections were held in 1993 to create the first coalition government after 13 years of civil war

ECONOMY

GDP $32.95 billion (2011 est.)

8.8 million labor force (2010 est.)

From 2004-2007, Cambodia’s economy steadily grew 10% per year, sustained mostly by the garment and tourism industries but has declined a as a result of the global recession.

In 2008, the garment industry made up 80% of Cambodia’s total exports, with about 62% of garments exported to the United States.

Currency: 4,006 riel per US $1 (exchange rate 2007). The dollar is Cambodia’s “de-facto” currency.

LEGAL SYSTEM

The legal system is based on civil law, customary law, and common law with a basis of Communist legal theory Cambodia

United Nations Transitional Authority in also functions in Cambodia.

As a member of the United Nations, Cambodia is also subject to compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction as well as International Criminal Court jurisdiction.

A combined UN-Cambodian tribunal was established in

2003 to oversee trials of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders

LEGAL SYSTEM

The legal system is based on civil law, customary law, and common law with a basis of Communist legal theory Cambodia

United Nations Transitional Authority in also functions in Cambodia.

As a member of the United Nations, Cambodia is also subject to compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction as well as International Criminal Court jurisdiction.

A combined UN-Cambodian tribunal was established in

2003 to oversee trials of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders

MAJOR FIBER PRODUCED

The most popular fabric produced in Cambodia is silk.

Put patterns of flowers and birds, mythical or realistic, often showing Khmer tales, scenes from Angkor Wat, and the life of Lord Buddha

They use natural dyes made from plants.

They get their red dye from lac insect nests, blue dye from indigo, yellow and green from Prohut bark, violet dye from violets, and black dye from ebony bark.

Cotton is also popular in Cambodia especially woven cotton.

Rationale

• Level 2- Activities related to Textile Manufacturing