Cambodia Boosts Coastal Security Under 'Safe Village-Commune-District' Policy

Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia, on July 21, 2026, convened a meeting to review the implementation of the "Safe Village-Commune-District" policy for the first half of 2026 and set directions for the second half. The meeting was presided over by H.E. Khieu Sakun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, H.E. Vong Phanat, Chairman of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Council, and H.E. Mang Sineth, Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province. H.E. Mang Sineth, Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province, expressed his admiration and high appreciation for the efforts of the administrative unity command at all levels of the province, as well as the departments and units around the province. He acknowledged their dedication in enhancing professional skills, technical expertise, and operational quality in promoting the "Safe Village-Commune-District" policy. Their tireless work has achieved commendable results in upholding good governance principles, maintaining security, public order, and social safety, as well as improving the quality of public services for the citizens. Special commendation was given for their efforts in combating various crimes, including transnational crimes, human trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, and technological scams. The Governor stated that under the leadership of Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, significant strides have been made. However, he acknowledged that challenges persist, such as non-traditional crimes, organized crimes, and technological crimes. He emphasized the need for constant vigilance, adherence to discipline, morality, virtue, professional conscience, and the development of comprehensive plans to effectively address these situations. This, he noted, is crucial to ensure the nation continues its path towards peace and prosperity in all directions and communities. H.E. Khieu Sakun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, praised the administrative unity command of the province for their work in reducing local crimes and thanked the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Police Commissioner for their effective operations in implementing the "Safe Village-Commune-District" policy. The Secretary of State also instructed commune and district administrations to cooperate with police posts, taking full responsibility to organize public forums more frequently each month to educate citizens. He noted that while 97% of crimes were suppressed, crime incidents have also increased. He highlighted the need to concentrate forces to address timely issues, especially in Commune No. 4, which is a hub for businesses and a large expatriate population. Furthermore, he commended the Preah Sihanouk provincial administrative unity command for their continuous crackdown on crimes, particularly online scams, strengthening public order, and addressing significant issues to reduce traffic accidents that impact society. He identified road conditions and human factors as the primary causes of traffic accidents. Regarding disputes, he urged for collective resolution outside the court system, encouraging local authorities to redouble efforts in resolving local disputes, particularly by strengthening citizen complaint offices to foster harmony within communities under the win-win policy. The Secretary of State reiterated that when organizing public forums to understand local challenges, a map of high-risk locations such as areas prone to theft, robbery, drug dealing, illegal gambling, and juvenile delinquency should be created to implement legal measures. He also stressed the importance of administrative services and identity issuance as integral parts of the "Safe Village-Commune-District" policy, emphasizing the need to study and research the nature of crimes in specific geographical locations. By: Ngou Somouny © All rights reserved by AKP Cambodia 2018