Cambodia intricate family trees of the thieves of the Nation (Global Witness)Click to zoom in
PHNOM PENH (AFP) — The US has passed a law that could see travel bans for Cambodian officials accused of looting the country's natural resources, a move hailed Wednesday by conservationists as a strike against illegal logging.
The law, enacted in December, endorses calls by the US Congress to deny visas to Cambodian officials identified in a 2007 report by the environmental watchdog Global Witness as being guilty of plundering Cambodia's forests.
London-based Global Witness's caustic study, titled "Cambodia's Family Trees," accused a "kleptocratic" elite of systematically clearing Cambodia's woodlands.
It named several figures close to Prime Minister Hun Sen, including Forest Administration Director General Ty Sokhun and Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun, as being directly involved.
In response, an outraged government last year banned the Global Witness report from Cambodia and continues to dismiss its allegations.
A Cambodian government spokesman could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the US legislation.
But the law "sends a clear message that the exploitation of Cambodia's natural resources by a small group of powerful individuals at the expense of the country's poor is unacceptable," Global Witness director Simon Taylor said in a statement received Wednesday.
The legislation, which authorises spending by Washington, instructs the US State Department to identify foreign officials, and their relatives, who are believed to have "been involved in corruption relating to the extraction of natural resources in their countries."
It also endorses a congressional subcommittee recommendation to "prohibit corrupt Cambodian officials identified in the June 2007 Global Witness report ... from entering the United States."
But it is unclear if the law will result in visa refusals for individual Cambodians.
US embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle told AFP that "there is no ban ... no specific names have been given to the embassy."
The law, enacted in December, endorses calls by the US Congress to deny visas to Cambodian officials identified in a 2007 report by the environmental watchdog Global Witness as being guilty of plundering Cambodia's forests.
London-based Global Witness's caustic study, titled "Cambodia's Family Trees," accused a "kleptocratic" elite of systematically clearing Cambodia's woodlands.
It named several figures close to Prime Minister Hun Sen, including Forest Administration Director General Ty Sokhun and Agriculture Minister Chan Sarun, as being directly involved.
In response, an outraged government last year banned the Global Witness report from Cambodia and continues to dismiss its allegations.
A Cambodian government spokesman could not be reached Wednesday for comment on the US legislation.
But the law "sends a clear message that the exploitation of Cambodia's natural resources by a small group of powerful individuals at the expense of the country's poor is unacceptable," Global Witness director Simon Taylor said in a statement received Wednesday.
The legislation, which authorises spending by Washington, instructs the US State Department to identify foreign officials, and their relatives, who are believed to have "been involved in corruption relating to the extraction of natural resources in their countries."
It also endorses a congressional subcommittee recommendation to "prohibit corrupt Cambodian officials identified in the June 2007 Global Witness report ... from entering the United States."
But it is unclear if the law will result in visa refusals for individual Cambodians.
US embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle told AFP that "there is no ban ... no specific names have been given to the embassy."
23 comments:
Sathu!Sathu!Sathu! and also SIHANOUK
The allegations are basesless and unfounded, and they should be thrown out.
Sadly, these allegations were never substantiated or circumstantiated by the international community, with the exception of the so called Global Blindness Organization.
My belief is that the United States or other countries does not have time to squander their (precious)time over these baseless allegations.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The allegation was true! Base on Cambodia forest was estimate today about 20% on the ground from 70-75% in 1970-1979.
Phom Penh must accepted, otherwise Phom Penh must be Blind!
Khmerabroad,
I think that most of the former Khmer commusists dislike USA, provoke against US policy and defined USA as imperialism and agressor (during the war) to Cambodia in using the name of Cambodia who like democracy.Why they are worried about this ban from US congress? They can travel to the former East block. So, what the congress did, is correct.
These speculators may speculate all they want; however, the truth of the matter is the U.S. Congress will not follow it through due to the fact that the dearth of physical and circumstantial evidences; also, the international community will not follow suit.
Moreover, allegations and accusations that are unsubstantiated and unfounded -- again, should be thrown out.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh stop playing dunb we all knew that, your game to destroy your very own country is about over. Para Chey Pouk Ah khmer 7Makara.
Anonymous from Phnom Penh says the claims by GW are unsubstantiated, does he live in Cambodia? or is he a fool? It is time the international community takes strong action against the crooks that are ruining Cambodia. Bravo USA Congress!
A Democrat
អាក្បត់ជាតិឈ្មោះហ៊ុន សែន ជាខ្ញុំបំរើយួន កាត់ដីអោយយួន។ អាហ៊ុន សែនអត់ខួរ អាបណ្ឌិតភ្លេចរៀនឈ្មោះហ៊ុន សែន។ ឪអាហ៊ុន សែន ជាអាប្រមឹក ដើរតែជល់មាន់។
ah Aka Moha Services Dey Jour(អាអគ្គមហាសេវាដៃចោរ) Hun Sen supports Darfur Genocide because ah Hun Sen(ah Bandith Plej Rean: អាបណ្ទិតភ្លេចរៀន) is a former khmer rouge soldier and the criminal against humanity in Cambodia.
see also:
Who killed CHEA VICHEA :
http://cheavichea.wordpress.com
http://hengpov.wordpress.com
http://corruptionfamily.wordpress.com
http://hunsenmafia.blog.com
http://coupof56july.wordpress.com
ah
Hun Sen massacred Khmer people on Sunday 30 march 1997
You all (democrat) understand in this country what the game will be played! We can tell you all short, the powerfull and rich people can make all "THE BLACK TO WHITE and OPPOSITE THE WHITE TO BLACK".We have emough froofs and please look at the countrie side people, how are they hurting from?
Saaaa-Thuh
Saaaa-Thuh
Saaaa-Thuh...
Yang-kenh-Cheh-ko-salakammaing
Kattapaing Keriyang mak-mak.
Kayenaveacha...etc..
Aknoumotanear!
Aknoumotanear!
Aknoumotanear!
ANYONE MAY WANT TO BET THAT THE LAW WILL BE ENFORCED?
---MY ANSWER IS VIRTUALLY NONE, IF IT IS ENFORCED, IT MAY SELECT ONLY A FEW LESS THAN 10 % OF PEOPLE SEEN IN SPIDER WEB.
8:48Pm even one better than none!
Some of them have children in USA and they come to visit their children every 6 months!
Conviscated their house here too if posible! Let they spend their money in Vietname!
Do mai Ah Vitcong PHD!
Kon Khmer living in Forest Say to Khmer Phnom Penh (No Eye See Trees):
Knowing Hun Sen's clique, you really don't need to take any actions. humiliation is enough for them to chew on.
Thank you U.S.A for speaking up
on Cambodia poor people's justice!
Does Richer San and Sothear San has a Picture in there to?
Hey Ah Prohok Khmer I knew you the one that use and Call us Ah 7Makara in PA What did you want and what did you mean? B/S
Sralanh Khmer Daily News should be Translated to all of these comment, so Khmer Peoples in Cambodia should be learn and how did they feel from us? Democratic is a Free Country and Freedom of Speech..Boston Massachusetts.
we don't need to investigate further. It is a fact. Everyone of them became so rich in just a short period of time. What kind of business they can do to get this rich in Cambodia? Corruption and plundering of the nation's natural resource.
Keep writing 11:36PM even Hun Xen read these comment!
And alot of young read this comment and you should know that word go father when is secret and streng!
A Hun Sen and company, Bang thugs, killers, crooks, thieves of the Khmer people.
A kboth cheat
If you are a CAMBODIA PRIME MINISTER Righ Now,What's your Reaction, and what are you going todo? Do you think Viet Nam, China, and Former K.N.Sihanouk could help you? Do you think you are a winner?.....Lynn Massachusetts.
Sihaouk said in 100 years, there is "no moo" Khmer.
What the US doing is great, other countries should do the same and BAN these type of people from entering their country or buying any property.
The question also is since the fact is on the table what is the intention of the international communites and the people Cambodia planning to do to prosecuted these people. As this is a criminal activities at the high end...
Prime minister or not they should be brought in front of a court like the KR trail. They are responsible for killing Cambodia national property and resources.
THE U.S. WON'T DO A DAMN THING!
LATER IN COMING MONTHS, MR. LUNDY WILL BE INVITED BY THE FBI FOR ANOTHER IMPORTANT MEETING. PLUS THE U.S. STILL NEED HUN SEN AROUND, AS LONG AS MR. HUN SEN DOES NOT COMMIT A MASSIVE KILLINGS, THAT FINE WITH THE U.S.,OTHERWISE EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FINE.
ALSO, THE KR TRIBUNAL IS STILL IN LIMBO, HOW THE HELL THE U.S. CARE ABOUT IS MINOR ISSUE
THE U.S. NOW NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THE N. KOREATH LEADER AND IRANIAN PRESIDENT AND PAKISTANI PRESIDENT, THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE,THE US HAS NO TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS MINOR MATTER THAT WAS CLAIM BY THE GW
AGAIN, DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH, IT WON'T HAPPEN, THE US WON'T IMPLEMENT OR ENFORCE THIS ACT, IT IS USELESS
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