FOREIGN JOURNALISTS, WHO WERE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM CAMBODIA FOR FIVE YEARS UNDER AN ORDINANCE SINCE MODIFIED TO ALLOW ANNUAL VISITS, HAVE BEEN MADE TO FEEL WELCOME BY THE HEAD OF STATE, PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK, IN PERSON.

FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THE PRINCE HIMSELF HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A TOUR FOR THEM, SHOWING THEM VARIOUS PLACES OF INTEREST AND CAMBODIA'S ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE RECENT PAST.

LAST THURSDAY (14 NOVEMBER) THE PRINCE TOOK THE PARTY OF JOURNALISTS TO AN EXHIBITION OF LOCAL MANUFACTURED GOODS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, TO A BREWERY, TO THE INDEPENDENCE HOTEL AND TO A SWIMMING POOL.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NORODOM SIHANOUK, FORMERLY KING OF HIS COUNTRY, BUT, FOLLOWING HIS ABDICATION, ITS EFFECTIVE POLITICAL LEADER, CAMBODIA HAS MOVED FORWARD INTO THE INDUSTRIAL AGE AS WELL AS DOUBLING ITS RICE PRODUCTION; HIGHWAYS HAVE BEEN BUILT AND EDUCATION EXPANDED. A STRICTLY NEUTRALISED POLICY AIMS AT SAFEGUARDING THIS PROGRESS AMIDST THE TURMOIL AND CONFLICTS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.

THE CAMBODIA REGIME HAS SHOWN ITSELF SENSITIVE TO FOREIGN PRESS REPORTING. EARLIER THIS MONTH, PRINCE SIHANOUK TOLD CORRESPONDENTS REPORTING THE COUNTRY'S 15TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES: "I JUST WANT MY COUNTRY TO BE LEFT ALONE. WHY DO YOU ALL WANT TO COME AND WRITE ABOUT ME AND FIND FAULT WITH ME?"
AFTER THAT, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT IN FUTURE FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WOULD ONLY BE ADMITTED TO CAMBODIA EVERY FIVE YEARS TO COVER EVERY FIFTH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY. THIS WAS MODIFIED A FEW DAYS AGO TO ALLOW SELECTED JOURNALISTS - PLACED ON A "WHITE LIST" FOR HAVING REPORTED FAVOURABLY ON CAMBODIA - TO VISIT THE COUNTRY EACH YEAR DURING NOVEMBER.