Disputes - international:
a 1 kilometer segment at the mouth of the Golok River remains in
dispute with Malaysia; demarcation with Laos complete except for
certain Mekong River islets and complaints of Thai squatters;
despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences
remain with Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic
rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia
accuses Thailand of moving boundary markers and obstructing access
to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in
1962; 2003 anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh resulted in the destruction
of the Thai Embassy and damage to 17 Thai-owned businesses and
disputes over payments of full compensation persist; groups in Burma
and Thailand express concern over China's construction of 13
hydroelectric dams on the Salween River in Yunnan Province
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 118,407 (Burma) (2004)
Illicit drugs:
a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit
point for heroin en route to the international drug market from
Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of
cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring
countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication
efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in
amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing
indigenous abuse of methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Togo
Introduction Togo
Background:
French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,
installed as military ruler in 1967, is Africa's longest-serving
head of state. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted
in the early 1990s, the government continues to be dominated by
President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party
has maintained power almost continually since 1967. In addition,
Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human
rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. While most
bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the European
Union initiated a partial resumption of cooperation and development
aid to Togo in late 2004.
Geography Togo
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and
Ghana