Asia Travel Information Blog

From April 17, 1975 to January 6, 1979, Cambodia was under the administration of a so-called government, called Democratic Kampuchea. Within this period, not less than one million of Cambodian people were perished of starvation, slavery, sickness and other arbitrary executions. To prevent such the atrocity in the future, in 1997 the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia (RGKC) requested assistance from the United Nations to establish a tribunal to bring those most responsible for genocide from 1975 to 1979 to justice.

Though categorized into as the crime of genocide, RGKC still decided not to bring most senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea to International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, for two reasons: 1. For the sake of Cambodian people; and 2. Cambodia was one of the founding member of ICC and ICC was established in 2002, which was after the era of Democratic Kampuchea. However, due to weakness in legal human resources and lack of quality facilities to ensure a smooth and fair and internationally recognized trial, RGKC invited participations from international judges and other court personnel, to work together with the Cambodian ones. Despite taking place in Cambodia, related international laws and international customary laws will be used during the course of the trial.

Hong Kong is a great place to visit for Western travelers new to Asia. The country is culturally Chinese, but with a heavy Western influence, so there is less culture shock than stepping off the plane at Myanmar or Cambodia. Hong Kong is also small and urban, so it is possible to see most of the highlights in just a few days by traveling around the island on foot or using public transportation. This guide will tell you how.

Cambodia – Which way to go

Cambodia is bordered by three countries, Vietnam to the East, Laos to the North and Thailand to the West. Therefore, there are three different border crossings you can use to enter the country and three different directions to travel through the country. There is no set route through Cambodia and each way is just as popular as the next.

Depreciation is the definition in accounting for a reasonable estimate, in monetary terms for the devaluation of an asset over a period in time. Since most assets are capitalized on the balance sheet, in financial statements, the “cost of depreciation”, is provided as an expense on the income statement.

Many debates on depreciation are continuing in accounting circles, since it is difficult to establish what would constitute a “reasonable estimate”. It was furthermore accepted, until recently, that land and buildings cannot depreciate, but appreciates. Recent developments, however, have now proposed depreciation on buildings.

Cambodia

Tax “write-offs”, on assets complicates matters further, since prescribed statutory rates for tax deductions are higher than depreciation rates, thus creating variances between tax values and book values of assets.

It is my contention that asset accounting can only be performed thoroughly, with the assistance of an astute accountant. The accountants expertise, on fixed asset registers, accounting standards and firm grasp of tax legislation is vital.

Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself.

Tuol Sleng

Cambodia

In 1962, the high school of Ponhea Yat was opened in the center of Phnom Pehn. The school consists of three buildings in a horseshoe layout with each building having three stories. In the 1970s, the name was changed to Tuol Svay Prey High School. In May of 1976, the school became the headquarters of the Khmer Rouge genocide campaign in Cambodia.

Overview

Cambodia’s capital, PHNOM PENH, sprawls west from the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. At first glance, the city is a confusing mess with no obvious landmarks. The main boulevards are choked with motos and other traffic and lined with generic low-rise, concrete blocks. Despite initial impressions, however, the heart of Phnom Penh, immediately west of the river, has a strong appeal. The French influence is evident in the colonial shop-houses lining the boulevards, with here and there a majestic Khmer building animating the cityscape.