AFP
Speaking on behalf of international donors, US ambassador in Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli expressed disappointment over the impoverished kingdom's failure to enact a long-delayed anti-corruption law (AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy) International donors to Cambodia have expressed disappointment over the impoverished kingdom's failure to enact a long-delayed anti-corruption law.
Cambodia promised donors last year that it would enact the law by the end of 2006 as part of a raft of anti-corruption measures.
But during a meeting between the government and donors, US ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said little progress had been made.
"It is time -- indeed, past time -- to immediately enact an international standard anti-corruption law, and it is also time to do it right," Mussomeli said, speaking on behalf of Cambodia's donors.
"This law, which stands to benefit all Cambodians, by contrast has experienced delay after delay," he added.
The law has been in the works for more than a decade but is still under review by the government's top legal experts, the Council of Ministers, the ambassador said.
"On behalf of all development partners, we ask you when will this law be enacted?" Mussomeli said.
Cambodia's donors have made tackling corruption the focus of their reform efforts, tying hundreds of millions of dollars to the government's willingness to clean up graft.
Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon said the slow passage of the law was due to "much contradiction" within Cambodia's complicated legal system, but denied intentionally delaying the process.
"We are not using difficult issues as an excuse to slow the draft of our law," he said.
The government has repeatedly blamed delays in the anti-corruption law on Cambodia's slow progress in drafting a new penal code.
Donors led by Japan, France and the United States gave 600 million dollars in aid to Cambodia last year, accounting for about half of the country's annual budget.
Rights groups regularly push the donors, which also include Australia, Canada and several European countries, to demand reform rather than simply hand over cash.
International graft watchdog Transparency International (TI), said in December that corruption pervaded almost every sector of Cambodia, making it one of the most graft-ridden countries in the world.
The Economic Institute of Cambodia think-tank estimates that Cambodian businesses lost about 330 million dollars to graft last year.
Cambodia promised donors last year that it would enact the law by the end of 2006 as part of a raft of anti-corruption measures.
But during a meeting between the government and donors, US ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said little progress had been made.
"It is time -- indeed, past time -- to immediately enact an international standard anti-corruption law, and it is also time to do it right," Mussomeli said, speaking on behalf of Cambodia's donors.
"This law, which stands to benefit all Cambodians, by contrast has experienced delay after delay," he added.
The law has been in the works for more than a decade but is still under review by the government's top legal experts, the Council of Ministers, the ambassador said.
"On behalf of all development partners, we ask you when will this law be enacted?" Mussomeli said.
Cambodia's donors have made tackling corruption the focus of their reform efforts, tying hundreds of millions of dollars to the government's willingness to clean up graft.
Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon said the slow passage of the law was due to "much contradiction" within Cambodia's complicated legal system, but denied intentionally delaying the process.
"We are not using difficult issues as an excuse to slow the draft of our law," he said.
The government has repeatedly blamed delays in the anti-corruption law on Cambodia's slow progress in drafting a new penal code.
Donors led by Japan, France and the United States gave 600 million dollars in aid to Cambodia last year, accounting for about half of the country's annual budget.
Rights groups regularly push the donors, which also include Australia, Canada and several European countries, to demand reform rather than simply hand over cash.
International graft watchdog Transparency International (TI), said in December that corruption pervaded almost every sector of Cambodia, making it one of the most graft-ridden countries in the world.
The Economic Institute of Cambodia think-tank estimates that Cambodian businesses lost about 330 million dollars to graft last year.
11 comments:
Mr. ambassador,
Cambodia needs regime change. People deserve better lives.
It's been 15 years now. How much longer people will need to suffer?
The US and international community can do much more. What can you expect from the same people who have run the country for 2 decades with the same ideas, laws and actions.
dissapoited you
Agreed. With the current system, there will NEVER be a REAL anti corruption law. Corruption is built into Cambodian society starting from the highest order.
Donor nations are in a catch 22 situation. Of the more than $600 million, approximately 40% disappear into government officials' pockets each year - a hefty sum. The donor nations know about this, but if they cut their aid the remaining 60% don't reach their destination either, that is it can't be used to help the population. So the donor nations can only keep prodding the government. Yes, regime change is needed but short of a coup d'etat that will not happen. Surely, the donor nations won't instigate one either. Those times are over as Cambodia is not of great importance to them. And Hun Sen knows this.
TO GIVE CAMBODIA JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY AND A LAWFULLL SOCIETY IS TO TAKE AWAY THE DIRTY KILLING MACHINE FROM HUN XEN!
TO DO IT IS TO REFORM THE CAMBODIA ROYAL POLICE!
CAN WE LET THE KING CONTROLE THE FORCE HE HAS NOTHING TO DO! SO HE MAY CAN PROTECT AND SERVE JUSTICE FOR HIS PEOPLE?
LET THE KING CONTROL A NEUTRAL POLICE FORCE AND ARMY!
SO THE COOMONER CAN FAIRLY COPETE TO RUN THE COUNTRY!
The world has confused the monky like human in Cambodia. They think these people( monky) have any memory at all. After meeting they have forgotten what they have promised already. They have learnt to talk perfectly but they have no memory left after two days. Sometime I thought I was in the ZOO when I talk with them. You can name them, Chea Sim , Sar Kheng, Hun Sen , Heng Sam Rin, etc.. and etc... How can these monky can response to the world ?
Anti-Corruption Law or any type
of law is only effective when you
have money to enforce it, and that
is one of the thing we don't have.
It aint gonna do any good to add
cheap Anti-corruption task force.
We all know the more cheap
officials we have, the more
corruption we will have, not less.
Therefore, this is nothing more
than a political bickering.
What we need is now is jobs, jobs,
and jobs. We got enough laws to get
by at the moment.
To Mr. Embassador,
We think you look real cool in that uniforms and your speech is marvelous!
Ordinary Khmers
The price is right it will go easily.
Now it is US vs. China.
Vietnam belongs to China, Cambodia will have to be with the US if the black gold can be drained for a century or more from the middle east. Let the muslims in the middle east eat sand.
Be patient my friend. It will be fair and justified.
Halaluya to moi28!
Future belongs to free world! and It belongs to Khmers and American! God bless true red, white and blue!!!!! God also bless Asia and its free world trade partners!
All who opposes, go live and die with the extremist-fundamentalist Muslim! you deserve to belong in hell!
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