Written by Kay Kimsong and Brendan Brady
The Phnom Penh Post
Hun Sen raps world powers, institutions over financial crisis
Prime Minister Hun Sen sharply criticised the world's leading economic powers and development groups for poor financial management Wednesday at the opening of a three-day meeting between the government and donors, during which Cambodia is expected to negotiate foreign aid for the coming year.
"It's like an elephant falling on a lamb," he said, describing the effects of the global economic recession on developing countries, which he blamed largely on the United States.
The rebuke followed the announcement of US$215 million in aid from China, which Hun Sen has repeatedly praised for supporting Cambodia without demanding reforms in return.
The prime minister said that while the government needed to overhaul its public spending management, so too did developed countries and financial institutions, calling out the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Asian Development Bank - all of which were present.
The prime minister also turned on his own government, telling his ministers, "You must transfer money into the national treasury, and not lend it out to make profit".
Hun Sen predicted Cambodia would be able to pay off all its foreign debt within the next five years - a figure that currently stands above $3 billion, according to recent figures from the Finance Ministry.
He also highlighted government efforts promoting human rights, multiparty democracy and natural resource conservation - areas that have drawn criticism from Cambodian and international observers.
Praise, and criticism
Qimiao Fan, country manager of the World Bank in Cambodia, applauded the government for achieving a more than 30 percent increase in revenue collection this year over last, and for faster disbursement of funds for public services, according to tabs kept by the bank.
But he said "significant changes" would be needed in the transparency of revenues from the emerging oil and gas sectors - touching on a sensitive topic following a scathing attack by environmental watchdog Global Witness on an industry it accused of being inundated with graft.
Global Witness has called several times on foreign donors to withhold funds to the government for its failure to tackle corruption.
For some observers, the annual donor meeting is little more than a showcase of the government's failure to deliver on its reform promises.
But SRP lawmaker Son Chhay criticised donors, saying: "They need to make the government more responsible and not focus on pleasing its leaders".
He was also skeptical of China's aid contributions, calling them thinly veiled attempts at one-upmanship on the eve of expected aid announcements by other foreign donors.
"The Chinese do this to challenge and threaten other donors," he said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen sharply criticised the world's leading economic powers and development groups for poor financial management Wednesday at the opening of a three-day meeting between the government and donors, during which Cambodia is expected to negotiate foreign aid for the coming year.
"It's like an elephant falling on a lamb," he said, describing the effects of the global economic recession on developing countries, which he blamed largely on the United States.
The rebuke followed the announcement of US$215 million in aid from China, which Hun Sen has repeatedly praised for supporting Cambodia without demanding reforms in return.
The prime minister said that while the government needed to overhaul its public spending management, so too did developed countries and financial institutions, calling out the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Asian Development Bank - all of which were present.
The prime minister also turned on his own government, telling his ministers, "You must transfer money into the national treasury, and not lend it out to make profit".
Hun Sen predicted Cambodia would be able to pay off all its foreign debt within the next five years - a figure that currently stands above $3 billion, according to recent figures from the Finance Ministry.
He also highlighted government efforts promoting human rights, multiparty democracy and natural resource conservation - areas that have drawn criticism from Cambodian and international observers.
Praise, and criticism
Qimiao Fan, country manager of the World Bank in Cambodia, applauded the government for achieving a more than 30 percent increase in revenue collection this year over last, and for faster disbursement of funds for public services, according to tabs kept by the bank.
But he said "significant changes" would be needed in the transparency of revenues from the emerging oil and gas sectors - touching on a sensitive topic following a scathing attack by environmental watchdog Global Witness on an industry it accused of being inundated with graft.
Global Witness has called several times on foreign donors to withhold funds to the government for its failure to tackle corruption.
For some observers, the annual donor meeting is little more than a showcase of the government's failure to deliver on its reform promises.
But SRP lawmaker Son Chhay criticised donors, saying: "They need to make the government more responsible and not focus on pleasing its leaders".
He was also skeptical of China's aid contributions, calling them thinly veiled attempts at one-upmanship on the eve of expected aid announcements by other foreign donors.
"The Chinese do this to challenge and threaten other donors," he said.
11 comments:
Mr. prime minister, please don't mind us, but, again, please keep talking; we're listening to you VERY CAREFULLY!
US
Although I admire your work, I think you guys at KI-Media are too pro-Western. Remember that our main concern is our beloved Motherland Cambodia, not America, France or China.
Japan and China are Cambodia's biggest donors. But to most ordinary Khmer citizens, they think that the U.S. is providing most of the aids. The pro-Western Khmers and Westerners are spreading false beliefs about American generosity. They often credit America for roads and bridges built by Japan and China.
I don't think Cambodia can enjoy a prosperous cooperation with our Asian allies if there are pro-Western elements who want to sabotage our relationships.
The West have no use for a poor country like Cambodia. They're just blowing hot air complaining about this, complaining about that while Japan and China are making real changes.
As much as the Westerners complain, they're not going to make any impact if they're unwilling to put their money where their mouths are. Khmer people are at a point where we look up to Westerners because they can complain the loudest.
Action, not words, is what really matters.
yep,chom nouy mean chom norng.
ton ton of chink are living in cambodia.you are a chopsticks lover.
Khmer PM never tells a lie.
Well guys, I think China has ulterior motives behind the generous aid money. I think we are a pawn in a battle for influence between the super-power, the same as we were during the Sihanouk era and the Vietnam War. I just hope that Cambodia and her people don't end up being used as a battlefield and victims of this tug of war.
China need to take care of its own people before trying to make money from other country.
For the houndred of years, chinese left their country because of its government.
Still today, chinese are still leaving china. China and chinese are very poor and very selfish people. Cambodia can't afford blood money from china.
All aids come with attachments. If you're wondering why Uncle Sam is not giving Cambodia hundreds of millions of dollars a year, maybe it's because they're not bombing us back to the stone ages and using our country to fight their wars.
No one will give you shit to create democracy.
The Chinese is playing mental game with Hun Sen for their aid. What the Chinese is doing is undermining the Int'l community's effort in regard with Cambodia government. This is total rude of the Chinese; for which, Hun Sen could fall trap.
It is not a free lunch from China...
I hope PM Hun Sen will take steps to strengthen ties with China even further. We need to kick out the Westerners and their bad influences.
sometimes, i have a feeling that critics need to study the art of diplomacy 101 or something, so they know what they are talking about before they just open their foul-mouths. thank you.
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