Phnom Penh (dpa) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen slammed recent World Bank allegations of corruption as destructive and called for independent oversight of future projects, a spokesman said Thursday.
Spokesman Ieng Sophalet said Hun Sen had met with the bank's executive director in Cambodia, Joong Yung Choi, and angrily challenged him to show proof that some members of Cambodia's government had been involved in corrupt practices.
The bank cancelled 43 contracts worth 11.9 million dollars in June after it said it had found evidence of corruption in a number of development projects.
It also demanded repayment of the money but has refused to disclose the contents of its investigations which prompted the scandal, citing security fears.
The prime minister accused the bank of hiring corrupt foreign consultants and has demanded it make available full details so the government can evaluate the accusations and defend itself.
"Hun Sen told Mr Joong that the World Bank accused Cambodia without proof. This is an attack on the nation, the government and government officials," Ieng Sophalet said. "The World Bank allegations seem aimed at destroying what Cambodia has achieved."
"Hun Sen said he would like the bank to appoint an independent company to oversee and examine these types of dealings in tenders and grants in the future," he said.
In 2003, Cambodia repaid 2.8 million dollars to the World Bank earmarked for military demobilization after donors threatened to cut aid when irregularities surfaced. Many analysts say Cambodia is one of the most-corrupt countries in the world.
However, then as now critics of the World Bank and Cambodian government officials have claimed that the bank itself is partly to blame for mismanagement and miscommunication.
Spokesman Ieng Sophalet said Hun Sen had met with the bank's executive director in Cambodia, Joong Yung Choi, and angrily challenged him to show proof that some members of Cambodia's government had been involved in corrupt practices.
The bank cancelled 43 contracts worth 11.9 million dollars in June after it said it had found evidence of corruption in a number of development projects.
It also demanded repayment of the money but has refused to disclose the contents of its investigations which prompted the scandal, citing security fears.
The prime minister accused the bank of hiring corrupt foreign consultants and has demanded it make available full details so the government can evaluate the accusations and defend itself.
"Hun Sen told Mr Joong that the World Bank accused Cambodia without proof. This is an attack on the nation, the government and government officials," Ieng Sophalet said. "The World Bank allegations seem aimed at destroying what Cambodia has achieved."
"Hun Sen said he would like the bank to appoint an independent company to oversee and examine these types of dealings in tenders and grants in the future," he said.
In 2003, Cambodia repaid 2.8 million dollars to the World Bank earmarked for military demobilization after donors threatened to cut aid when irregularities surfaced. Many analysts say Cambodia is one of the most-corrupt countries in the world.
However, then as now critics of the World Bank and Cambodian government officials have claimed that the bank itself is partly to blame for mismanagement and miscommunication.
3 comments:
he can say any thing he wants, but the outcome in the poor khmers are the one who suffered,,,eeyore..
Another one bites the dust...
who's next?
He just got a PhD degree in corruption technic. Therefore, WB will find difficult to challenge him for his highly graduated
So far Hun Sen got
-PhD in corruption
-PhD in giving land to Vietcong
-Phd In killing daylight
-Phd in running drugs trafficking
-PhD in shooting opposition without consideration.
-PhD in raping all young girl
Now he has the Title of Samdech from Sihanouk of all of his PhD
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