As the sun sets behind the palace of Phnom Penh, foreign women stroll leisurely before the many cafes lining the Tonle Sap riverside.
Such a peaceful scene would have been unimaginable in the Cambodia of years past.
The country's long civil war drew to a close on Oct. 23, 1991, with the signing of the Paris peace accords. Since then, 20 years have passed.
During the two decades, the country has successfully pulled off four general elections with no major turmoil. The Khmer Rouge, the perpetrators of the genocide, surrendered in 1998, allowing the country to attain stability. Cambodia has attracted foreign investments and is achieving an average annual growth rate of 8 percent.
Ever since the new government was established, Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in office for 18 years, including the period of co-premiership. Of late, he has been criticized for becoming increasingly autocratic. The country also has its share of problems common in developing countries: confusion in its legal system, humanitarian violations, corruption, a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
Nevertheless, we rejoice in the fact that despite everything, peace has been achieved and maintained.
Cambodia is a country with a special significance for Japan.
When Japan returned to the international community after World War II as an economic power, Cambodia was the first country we were involved in as a third-party arbiter of a conflict.
In the international peace conference for Cambodia, Japan was the committee moderator dealing with the return of refugees and reconstruction. Since then, Japan has led the way of offering assistance. The Japanese government also set up a forum in Tokyo for the four conflicting Cambodian factions to meet and confer.
Cambodia was also the first site for Japan's participation in a United Nations peacekeeping operation. After much bitter debate at home, we sent our Self-Defense Forces to Cambodia. Japanese civilian police, cease-fire monitors and volunteer election monitors also took part.
It was a learning process, and we gained priceless experience. A Japanese policeman and election monitor were killed.
Japanese grass-roots assistance also gained experience in Cambodia. During the civil war, many Japanese NGOs worked in the refugee camps along the Thai border. Those NGOs continued their work after the peace accord, and offered assistance in numerous fields, like medicine, education and agriculture. More than 680 schools were built with Japanese assistance.
A Japanese film portrays a group of young Japanese people who had no goal in life, but take a hands-on role in the building of a school in Cambodia. Even today, Cambodia continues to be a place where young people can learn. There is so much that we learned, as we gave our hand in helping that country.
China and South Korea have been playing a large role in the Cambodian economy, but Japanese companies are finally starting to pay attention. Many of the people are still poor farmers, and it is a young country with over 40 percent of the population under the age of 20. We should continue to offer assistance.
Many people with experience in Cambodia are now doing great work in international organizations and in assistance field work. However, we cannot say that the present government is making full use of those people's expertise to contribute to peace or help developing countries. This is a great shame.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 23
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