(Left to right) Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, US Department of State Condoleezza Rice, and Sam Rainsy Party MP Mao Monyvan Government Official Angry With US State Secretary for Speaking About the Truth in Cambodia
17 Feb 08 - 18 Feb 08
By Savary
Sralanh Khmer Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
A high-ranking government official is furious with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for making conclusion based on false and inciting information.
Condoleezza Rice stated on 13 February that the United States was disappointed about the pace of change in Cambodia. She told lawmakers that the United States wanted to see Cambodia have more progresses than at present.
Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, said that Ms Rice drew the conclusion based on false information. He said, "The reason Ms Rice is bogged down in Iraq is because at the very beginning, information is received only from groups of bad people. That is why we do not wonder why the United States is bogged down in Iraq. First, if Cambodia's government had done very little, it would not have received votes. Second, if the government is said to be not good enough, does Ms Rice dare determine that among the 10 ASEAN member countries Cambodia is ranked last? What is the rank given to Cambodia in ASEAN? Just with political stability and economic growth [in the country], it can already be understood."
Mao Monivan, MP of Kampong Cham constituency and deputy secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP], said the assertion by Ms. Condoleezza Rice was correct especially about the democratic process in Cambodia. He said, "The statement by Ms Rice of the US Department of State is already a signal to the Cambodian Government about the US position. We are aware that democracy in Cambodia is a democracy on the lips of top leaders, while concrete actions are that threats still exist, killings of politicians still exist, the freedom of expression is stifled, and nonviolent demonstrations to express views publicly are banned. Moreover, even in a draft law on demonstration, the Royal Government [Royal Government] has the intention to muffle the freedom of the people who want to demonstrate."
Khieu Kanharith also pointed out that now, Ms Rice made the remarks at the push by the government's opponent, before the election, and he said, "She spoke from abroad, [but] the Cambodian people know."
Regarding Khieu Kanharith's critical remark that the United States is bogged down in the United States, Mao Monivan said, "It is normal for the superpower to make decisions against dictatorial regimes, including the former Iraqi leader (Saddam Hussein). Since that country threatened democracy in the world, it must be decided to help rescue the people in that country so there will be genuine democracy."
It should be pointed out that recently, economic experts remarked that Cambodia's economy had grown passably over the past few years, but Cambodia still depended on foreign aid for development and solving the still devastating poverty problem. Moreover, one of the problems the Cambodian people are currently facing is the imbalance between income and the needs for livelihood, while the prices of consumer goods at the markets have shot up.
The World Bank used to remind the government to focus on monitoring the gap between the rich and the poor, especially between the rich and the rural people. At present, Cambodia, regarded as one of the poorest nations in the world, is found to have been bogged down deeply in corruption, which is the root cause of the country's poverty.
At the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, the US Department of State paid special attention to Cambodia, and, in particular, the US Senate has approved a law banning Cambodian officials implicated in the destructive cutting down of forest trees from setting foot on the American soil. The US Congress, too, called on the Department of State to consider using the Global Witness' "Nation-stealing Family Trees" report to compile its list.
On 23 January, the US Department of State's spokesman stated that the United States meticulously considered making corruption charges. He added that the United States shared a lot of concern raised by the Global Witness in its report and was reviewing all the information relating to this story.
The Global Witness report contains the names of 12 important officials and businessmen close to [Cambodian Prime Minister] Hun Sen, including Chan Sarun, minister of agriculture; Ti Sokun, chief of the Forest Administration, and the commander of Brigade 70. Nevertheless, some of the implicated people denied the Global Witness report as false.
The Global Witness has enraged government officials, and the assertion by Ms. Rice early this week also made Information Minister Khieu Kanharith's blood boil.
17 Feb 08 - 18 Feb 08
By Savary
Sralanh Khmer Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
A high-ranking government official is furious with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for making conclusion based on false and inciting information.
Condoleezza Rice stated on 13 February that the United States was disappointed about the pace of change in Cambodia. She told lawmakers that the United States wanted to see Cambodia have more progresses than at present.
Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, said that Ms Rice drew the conclusion based on false information. He said, "The reason Ms Rice is bogged down in Iraq is because at the very beginning, information is received only from groups of bad people. That is why we do not wonder why the United States is bogged down in Iraq. First, if Cambodia's government had done very little, it would not have received votes. Second, if the government is said to be not good enough, does Ms Rice dare determine that among the 10 ASEAN member countries Cambodia is ranked last? What is the rank given to Cambodia in ASEAN? Just with political stability and economic growth [in the country], it can already be understood."
Mao Monivan, MP of Kampong Cham constituency and deputy secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP], said the assertion by Ms. Condoleezza Rice was correct especially about the democratic process in Cambodia. He said, "The statement by Ms Rice of the US Department of State is already a signal to the Cambodian Government about the US position. We are aware that democracy in Cambodia is a democracy on the lips of top leaders, while concrete actions are that threats still exist, killings of politicians still exist, the freedom of expression is stifled, and nonviolent demonstrations to express views publicly are banned. Moreover, even in a draft law on demonstration, the Royal Government [Royal Government] has the intention to muffle the freedom of the people who want to demonstrate."
Khieu Kanharith also pointed out that now, Ms Rice made the remarks at the push by the government's opponent, before the election, and he said, "She spoke from abroad, [but] the Cambodian people know."
Regarding Khieu Kanharith's critical remark that the United States is bogged down in the United States, Mao Monivan said, "It is normal for the superpower to make decisions against dictatorial regimes, including the former Iraqi leader (Saddam Hussein). Since that country threatened democracy in the world, it must be decided to help rescue the people in that country so there will be genuine democracy."
It should be pointed out that recently, economic experts remarked that Cambodia's economy had grown passably over the past few years, but Cambodia still depended on foreign aid for development and solving the still devastating poverty problem. Moreover, one of the problems the Cambodian people are currently facing is the imbalance between income and the needs for livelihood, while the prices of consumer goods at the markets have shot up.
The World Bank used to remind the government to focus on monitoring the gap between the rich and the poor, especially between the rich and the rural people. At present, Cambodia, regarded as one of the poorest nations in the world, is found to have been bogged down deeply in corruption, which is the root cause of the country's poverty.
At the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, the US Department of State paid special attention to Cambodia, and, in particular, the US Senate has approved a law banning Cambodian officials implicated in the destructive cutting down of forest trees from setting foot on the American soil. The US Congress, too, called on the Department of State to consider using the Global Witness' "Nation-stealing Family Trees" report to compile its list.
On 23 January, the US Department of State's spokesman stated that the United States meticulously considered making corruption charges. He added that the United States shared a lot of concern raised by the Global Witness in its report and was reviewing all the information relating to this story.
The Global Witness report contains the names of 12 important officials and businessmen close to [Cambodian Prime Minister] Hun Sen, including Chan Sarun, minister of agriculture; Ti Sokun, chief of the Forest Administration, and the commander of Brigade 70. Nevertheless, some of the implicated people denied the Global Witness report as false.
The Global Witness has enraged government officials, and the assertion by Ms. Rice early this week also made Information Minister Khieu Kanharith's blood boil.
13 comments:
Gentleman
Why can't PM HUN SEN speak directly to any deligates from international communiuties, but using two twin sloppy khievs of MI and MI to response any comment.
Also why can't he response to any questions in parliament?
Let's me know when you find any answer. Thanks
Neang SA
cambodia should not react with anger to ms. rice remarks as long as it is constructive remarks. plus, i'm wondering did ms. rice look at cambodia 5 or 10 years ago and see the obvious difference in development in cambodia? i would give some credit to cambodia for having changed the country to some degree when compared to 1979 when the entire cambodia was in femine, just awaked from the KR nightmare or something. i think if one takes time to be in the current's gov't's shoes, then they can feel how proud cambodia is about the many achievements in our country since then. i think is only fair, if ms rice is criticizing the pace of changes in cambodia, but it's not fair to criticize that cambodia have not gotten better since. but again, changes is inevitable for cambodia, like it or not, which is a good thing. it takes a khmer person to feel great about the changes going on in cambodia now and more to come. thanks.
Khieu Kanharith is a dog of yuon's dog.
(Chhkè Chhkuot)
Mao Monivan said, "It is normal for the superpower to make decisions against dictatorial regimes, including the former Iraqi leader (Saddam Hussein).
Wow! that is really bold statement from a MP. Mr. Mao may have to read and learn more on the real issue why "USA invasion of Iraq", and follow closely the situation there.
Iraqi nowadays is worse off than before invaded by the USA in term of daily casualties, safety of innocent people and security around the region.
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. And wise people store up knowledge,But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
U.S. invasion welcome in Cambodia!
Also, the country is for sale to any foreign investors.
bravo 10:42 AM, you are a real Khmer. What is the single piece development foundation the government should be proud about.
You may count the sessions of gift handover
Number of pagoda building, Number of signboard with name of some body on the school building……Is it what you mean?
The people of cambodia suffer never ending from the red khmer then the red Khmer... We thank for US State Secretary for Speaking About the Truth in Cambodia. It's a greatest voice for justice and democracy I ever heard...May God Bless America! and also Cambodia....
Pace of chance in Cambodiait not onlu slow but it going backward!
-taking land and house from people!
-under one dictator Hun Sen!
-nojustice to protect people from abuse and killing of powerfull people!
-prisoned people without court process!
-no food for people to eat whenh the group of leader have planty!
-obeye order of foreign country like send monk Tim Sakhorn to the stupid Vietname prison!
Do mair ah Choy maray Hum Xen!
Yeah, now this is the secretary whose department is asking for repayment of Cambodia's debt incurred by Lon Nol. The same America that bombed Cambodia into to the stone age. The same America that tortures POWs, keeps people locked up without due process for 7 years. And that SRP MP once again showed the ignorance of that party's leadership, just as his chairman did a while ago in his comments on RFA about the economy and stability.
Though there is truth in her remarks, the U. S. is the last country to admonish other country's on civil and human rights.
US Department of State Condoleezza Rice was very accurate on her remarks about current Cambodian government of crab changing. As we can see Khmer citizens live in fear of intimidation by the government if they criticize any government official who's above the law , forced poor people out of their homes and confiscated their lands and belongings, imprisonment of Khmers innocent etc... However, Khieu Kanharith is defending Hun Sen's government because he is a Vietcong and Hun Sen serves Hanoi.
It is true that AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave mother fucker always want Cambodia to remain backward and dirt poor as much as possible otherwise he can't use Cambodia to go around the world begging for money! And beside it is much easier for him to maintain his absolute power when Cambodia remains as dirt poor country and the mass Cambodian population remain illiterate and working nonstop as dirt poor people just to live day by day like animal with no time to think about a better future for their children!
I agree with US Department of State Condoleezza Rice!
Halaluyah!
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