PM Promises No Land Taxes If Re-Elected
By Pin Sisovann and Whitney Kvasager
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Prime Minister Hun Sen reassured the nation's rural population on Saturday that they will not have to pay land taxes if his ruling CPP is reelected in the 2008 national elections.
But one political observer on Sunday said that Hun Sen's promise would also reassure wealthy officials speculating on land in rural areas that their newly acquired property investments would be exempt from taxation.
"If I continue to be the prime minister, I would continue to defend farmers, and would not let anyone levy taxes on land," Hun Sen said in his speech at the inauguration of two bridges in Kompong Thom province.
In the speech, which was broadcast on television, Hun Sen assured viewers that his pledge was not an empty promise made to garner votes, though he also warned that if he were unseated, he would be unable to help farmers taxed by a new premier. "After the 2008 election, if Hun Sen is not the prime minister and the CPP loses the election and if the new prime minister taxes you, don’t come to me for help," he said.
Hun Sen, who has raised the specter of a rural land tax on several occasions—and notably ahead of the 1998 election which the CPP narrowly won—said on Saturday that he was opposed to such taxes, "because farmers are poor."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said that poor fanners would not be the only people to benefit, and that the government should take the time to map out who owns how much land and tax accordingly.
"High-ranking officials would also benefit because they have bought a lot of land from farmers," he said.
"People with a lot of land should be taxed," he said, adding that land left unproductive should especially be taxed.
Koul Panha also said that Hun Sen's promise sounded like an election-time appeal to farmers who make up most of the country's population.
Sam Rainsy Party member Mu Sochua said that if Hun Sen does not intend to impose land taxes on farmers, "It should be the policy of the government and not a promise in exchange for votes."
But one political observer on Sunday said that Hun Sen's promise would also reassure wealthy officials speculating on land in rural areas that their newly acquired property investments would be exempt from taxation.
"If I continue to be the prime minister, I would continue to defend farmers, and would not let anyone levy taxes on land," Hun Sen said in his speech at the inauguration of two bridges in Kompong Thom province.
In the speech, which was broadcast on television, Hun Sen assured viewers that his pledge was not an empty promise made to garner votes, though he also warned that if he were unseated, he would be unable to help farmers taxed by a new premier. "After the 2008 election, if Hun Sen is not the prime minister and the CPP loses the election and if the new prime minister taxes you, don’t come to me for help," he said.
Hun Sen, who has raised the specter of a rural land tax on several occasions—and notably ahead of the 1998 election which the CPP narrowly won—said on Saturday that he was opposed to such taxes, "because farmers are poor."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said that poor fanners would not be the only people to benefit, and that the government should take the time to map out who owns how much land and tax accordingly.
"High-ranking officials would also benefit because they have bought a lot of land from farmers," he said.
"People with a lot of land should be taxed," he said, adding that land left unproductive should especially be taxed.
Koul Panha also said that Hun Sen's promise sounded like an election-time appeal to farmers who make up most of the country's population.
Sam Rainsy Party member Mu Sochua said that if Hun Sen does not intend to impose land taxes on farmers, "It should be the policy of the government and not a promise in exchange for votes."
13 comments:
Isn't there such a thing in the Constitution that bribery is against the laws? Why would farmers worry about property taxes when many of the farmers loss his/her property to the high ranking officials, or to the neigbor?
This Hun Sen guy is witty and cunning in conning the people. I'm sure people will be jumping into his boat.
Hahah! What does Ah Kwang Mkack try to pull this time? His illusion will not work this time. This time, Ah Kwang Mkack will go down for sure. What does he means, no land taxes if he would get reelected? Hahhaha. The farmers are already landless as a result of Ah Kwang Mkack policy of foreign investment and CPP land-buying high ranking officials.
In 1993, Ah Kwang Mkack stubbornly hung on to power like a difficult baby.
In 1997, Ah Kwang Mkack led a coup against the first prime minister.
In 1998, Ah Kwang Mkack harrassed and abused the voters and got his way like a stinking dog.
In 2003, Ah Kwang Mkack continued his harrassment and abusement of the voters and even allowed the illegal Vietnamese immigrants to cast their votes for him as well.
In 2008, enough is enough, Ah Kwang Mkack! People don't want your stupid lowly azz around anymore, ah lowly poor-performing ineffective primate in the world.
Go live with your wife and worship her puzzy until your other eye is blind, Ah pler pler who can't even think of anything except by the ideas of the self-serving advisors.
Have some self respect, ah plee pler. Just like you said before, even without Hun Sen, CPP will go on. Well let's put that conviction of yours to the test.
In 2008, Hun Sen will wi again, no doubt. but only one condition if HunSen choose to loose his seat this time. It's because he want to step down himself and have his CPP's man take his place. CPP will go on...
I'll vote for it and no need to me me to the test. You'al just wait and see with you little eyes.
Just heard that speech, it thinks a good news.
but with more reflexions, it's very dangerous for Cambodia:
- Firstly high ranked officials can take more bribes from the rich people who have hundred or thousand of hectares of lands
- Secondly if no taxe on land, Cambodia will lose more lands at Cambodia-vietnam border because it can not efficiently govern lands along borders from North (Stung Treng) to South (Kampot) of Cambodia
- Thirdly it's the hun sen'tricks to deliver freely Cambodia border lands to Vietnamese people after completed 1985 frontier's signatures with vietnam
- Forthly it can not be beneficial for the poor Cambodian people because they have no real proofs (land taxes receipts) that can defend theirs estates
- Fifthly it encourages the rich people to taker over land by force
-...
Did Bush not use tax as tool to win his second term? Did you fool vote for him?
Yipee ! No land tax for all that makes more than $100 a month. Everybody must pay land tax. Now where did I heard something similar to this before? a tax break for the people?????
I'm so glad we have someone like Hun Sen to defend the farmers, peassants and average khmer.
I knew all that education Ph.d he has would benefit Cambodia.
Hey "Ah Plee Plerr", I am not against anyone voting for Ah Kwang Mkack or the See Pach Pach, OK. It is your freedom of choice. At least I have that much honor to allow you the freedom. However, for the rest of the poor Cambodian folks, after 30 years of poor mismanagement of the CPP and especially the leadership of Ah illiterate Kwang Mkack, it is only natural that enough is enough. I am sure a "PLEE PLER" guy like you and the illegal Vietnamese settlers will no doubt vote for Ah HUN SEN to continue because you guys like to protect your own interests and have the rights to exploit the ordinary Cambodian poor folks. So you do again, Ah Plee Pler Le Ker. Hahahahha.
Well said 1:35AM!!! We need to account all illegal Youn. We need immigration laws like the US. We need to pin them down.
He is going nowhere if he still control the police and the army! OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Knom Bath ahh PLEE PLER and ahh LAANIEE LAAKNEW...but I still think HunSen is going to be in power still. Not even American can help to tople him down. As long as China and Viet back HunSen up. He'll still win 2008 election no matter what it takes.
What law?
the pleur, you are 100000000% right..eeyore
and the hun sen world for 2008 just another way of scaming the poor innocent khmers, it might still work this time,,, because on khmers wake up ..they still sleep i don't know when..we'll see for how long khmers will wake up with an axes..eeyore!
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