PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday that Cambodia will not pay back aid money to the World Bank if the bank continues to refuse providing proof of alleged corruption that prompted it to cancel development projects in the country.
Hun Sen's comments come after World Bank representatives met with government officials last week in response to similar demands for proof. In a statement Sunday, the bank said it had provided the officials with "specific information and evidence" of corruption that led it to cancel three multimillion dollar (euro) development projects.
The prime minister, speaking to businessmen, indicated that Cambodia was not satisfied with the World Bank's explanations.
"How can I pay back (the money) when there is no evidence? They have preached to us about transparency but they are not transparent when it comes down to evidence requested by us," Hun Sen said.
The World Bank canceled some US$7.6 million (euro6 million) in funding for three development projects earlier this month after alleging it discovered fraud and corruption in their contracts.
The projects dealt with land management and administration, provincial and rural infrastructure, and provincial and suburban water supply and sanitation.
"These projects have been delivering results," the bank said Sunday. "However, in cases where corruption has been found, these results have come at higher cost or lower quality of work."
It World Bank also demanded that the Cambodia government pay it back any amount of money already disbursed under contracts "misprocured because of corruption."
In its statement Sunday, the bank said it was still trying to determine how much Cambodia owed.
The statement did not go into detail about the alleged corruption, which the bank said was to protect sources that provided it with confidential information.
Hun Sen prodded the bank to reveal its sources.
"What are they afraid of? If anonymous information can be taken as credible, where is justice in the world?" Hun Sen said.
Foreign donors have repeatedly criticized the Cambodian government, which relies heavily on external aid, for failing to tackle endemic corruption.
Last year, the government was forced to repay the World Bank US$2.8 million allegedly misappropriated through contracts to supply motorcycles to demobilized soldiers under a bank-funded project.
Hun Sen's comments come after World Bank representatives met with government officials last week in response to similar demands for proof. In a statement Sunday, the bank said it had provided the officials with "specific information and evidence" of corruption that led it to cancel three multimillion dollar (euro) development projects.
The prime minister, speaking to businessmen, indicated that Cambodia was not satisfied with the World Bank's explanations.
"How can I pay back (the money) when there is no evidence? They have preached to us about transparency but they are not transparent when it comes down to evidence requested by us," Hun Sen said.
The World Bank canceled some US$7.6 million (euro6 million) in funding for three development projects earlier this month after alleging it discovered fraud and corruption in their contracts.
The projects dealt with land management and administration, provincial and rural infrastructure, and provincial and suburban water supply and sanitation.
"These projects have been delivering results," the bank said Sunday. "However, in cases where corruption has been found, these results have come at higher cost or lower quality of work."
It World Bank also demanded that the Cambodia government pay it back any amount of money already disbursed under contracts "misprocured because of corruption."
In its statement Sunday, the bank said it was still trying to determine how much Cambodia owed.
The statement did not go into detail about the alleged corruption, which the bank said was to protect sources that provided it with confidential information.
Hun Sen prodded the bank to reveal its sources.
"What are they afraid of? If anonymous information can be taken as credible, where is justice in the world?" Hun Sen said.
Foreign donors have repeatedly criticized the Cambodian government, which relies heavily on external aid, for failing to tackle endemic corruption.
Last year, the government was forced to repay the World Bank US$2.8 million allegedly misappropriated through contracts to supply motorcycles to demobilized soldiers under a bank-funded project.
6 comments:
Before 1975, Hun sen was just a boy from a family selling stall foods. Since he came into Cambodia, he has swapted his wife for a Vietnamese'wife to have support from Vietnam, Now you look what Hun Sen has??? Everything in the world belongs to him!!!!!
12:42PM! That is no true at all, Stupid Head, and no one is going to explain to a dumbo like you!
AH HUN SEN gave Cambodia and Camboidan people a very hard time for the last 30year and still going. Now AH HUN SEN gave the international community a hard time especailly the WORLD BANK!
Cambodian learned to take alot of bullshit from AH HUN SEN and now the international community is doing the same!
I didn't know that so many international community respecting AH HUN SEN! This is outrageous! So when AH HUN SEN die and the international community will turn AH HUN SEN into God!ahahah
Here you go HS, your lawlessness or unjust juridical system has forced int'l doners from disclose sources of corruption to your administration. So many hitmen or assasins are behind you, if they can kill Chea Vichea, anyone that is disclosed can be the same. Another deadlock that will hurt the poor..... By the way HS's wife is Cambodian. To be fair, if our words are constantly madeup or uncorrect how can we accuse others? Cambodians don't even respect traffic rules, but they are blaiming the polices for bribery. Clean ourselves first before blaiming others.......
To: 1:56
What traffic law? Cambodia have roads? What kind of roads in Cambodia that require traffic law?
Do you see any road signs in Cambodia that warn people of any danger ahead? Why don't you tell Cambodian people about the real condition of those roads in Cambodia! Is it even safe to drive on those road? All the roads in Cambodia is a fucken death trap!
It is sad that after more 30 years of AH HUN SEN in power and Cambodian still don't know how to build road and even a decent road to drive on!
In Cambodia traffic accident is the number one killer!
So please tell AH HUN SEN to clean himself first!
You right my friend Hun Sen need to be cleaned with amonia? or may be accide?
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