Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Astronomical inflation data conveniently withheld before election

Chhay Than, CPP minister of Planning

03 Feb 2009
KI-Media

The Cambodia Daily reported in today’s edition that Chhay Than, the minister of Planning, admitted that he intentional withheld inflation data from last year, because his ministry “did not want high prices to have an effect on the July 2008 national election.”

In fact, the actual inflation rate from January 2007 to 2008 was 183%, therefore CPI reports were suppressed in the following six months, especially when the inflation was at its peak during the election period. “We just wanted to keep the good feeling [of citizens] before the election and avoid the wrongful interpretation of politicians … We wanted a positive number for the people,” CPP minister Chhay Than was quoted by The Cambodia Daily as saying. “This is not the government’s intention to hide inflation,” the minister added. The World Bank indicated that inflation hit a record high of 25.7% in May 2008, slightly prior to the election.

According to local media, Khieu Kanharith, the CPP minister of Information, also admitted that the government suspended the publication of inflation data so that it would not reflect poorly on the ruling CPP government. Arjun Goswami, ADB country representative, criticized the lack of transparency in the presentation of statistics by the government. Sam Rainsy blasted the government’s decision to withhold inflation data as being “irresponsible” and a poor adherence to democratic principles.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is what happen when you got your PHD from Vietnam.
Publish only good stats and hide the rest.
I cannot wait when they have a stock exchange.

Anonymous said...

The CPP cheated during an election?!
I am shock, shock, shock!

Anonymous said...

No surprise KI readers! What else is new? This is hypocrite regime. They always use half-truth for their political gain and that’s Communist’s policy.

Tell and educate the next generation about the regime before they became victim of a dictator system.

Anonymous said...

Political gain? That is the most stupidest thing I ever heard off. The CPP already got over 90 seats. How much more gain do they need?

Anonymous said...

7:45AM you how much the CPP want look at the frindly countries of ah Hun Xen like the fucking Vietname and China, if hard for you about Cuba!

Ah Kwack want every thing until he blow himself up or lightning strike it!

Anonymous said...

Shiet, if that were true, people will drop dead left and right everyday and the population will go down year after year, but that is not the case, 4:14.