Gavin Hayman, director of Global WitnessFebruary 6, 2009
ABC Radio Australia
The anti-corruption ngo Global Witness says "a corrupt elite" in Cambodia is taking over the nation's emerging oil and mineral sectors, while international donors turn a blind eye.
In a report titled 'Country for Sale', Global Witness says Cambodia's future is being jeopardised by high-level corruption, nepotism and patronage in the management of public assets. This, it says, threatens Cambodia's potential to wean itself of foreign development aid.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Gavin Hayman, director of Global Witness
HAYMAN: We've been working in Cambodia for the last 15 years looking at how illegal logging was being operating in the country and were able to show that it directly benefitted the ruling military and political elite. And our new report has showed that the self same people whose names are in our previous report as being involved in illegal logging have now effectively taken over the mining and also have oversight over the emerging oil industry in the country. And that's disastrous news for Cambodia because the money from oil and mining, which could actually really help Cambodia's development and lift Cambodia's citizens out of poverty, appears to instead be in severe danger of being wasted.
LAM: But you also say that international donors are turning a blind eye. What would you like donor countries to do?
HAYMAN: Well donor countries need to really get the Cambodian government to behave itself. They need to effectively declare a moratorium until there's basic governance and transparency framework in place to actually have oversight over what's going on. At the moment we've discovered that effectively the government doesn't have any way of giving out concessions, apart from patronage. So a particular kind of senators for example in the ruling party appear to have a beneficial possession of the mines, and they also needs to do a proper audit as to exactly how all those concessions be given out and whether they're equal and whether in fact the money is in the national budget. And there's about 60 or 70 different companies operating now, and we've written to all of them, also to ask about their behaviour, and we haven't had many responses back. What we did get was from BHP Billiton, the huge Australian mining company, and they actually told us they paid about a million dollar signature bonus to the government to explore for bauxite near the Vietnamese border. Now we congratulate BHP on being transparent about that. We're worried about the 79 companies that haven't been transparent, but also disturbingly we can't find information about that million dollars in the Cambodian budget. And that's very worrying, so where is this money in Cambodia's financial system? That's very concerning.
LAM: Indeed, it must be quite hard though, to extricate the ruling elite from these lucrative contracts. So what do you think can be done to change this culture, this culture of corruption?
HAYMAN: Well I think at the moment Cambodia's depends on foreign aid for about half its budget, and the donors have a very limited window of opportunity to use that influence on the Cambodian government to get a moratorium in place and a proper audit and future management provisions in place. To actually assure transparency, and that the money actually flows into the national budget and is properly spent. So they've got to use their leverage now and effectively really they shouldn't be lending into corruption and actually compensating a corrupt government that's stealing money that should be spent on development by actually putting taxpayer's money into development projects. So effectively they've got to play hard ball with the Cambodian government and get it to actually be fully transparent.
LAM: And just very briefly, can the Cambodian government itself do more or is the government itself the problem?
HAYMAN: The government itself as currently constituted by the ruling elite is the problem. So, as I said the military and political figures in Cambodia are direct beneficiaries and owners of some of these mines. And they may not actually own it on paper but if you turn up at the gate, which is one of the things we've done, the people guarding the mine they all know who's in power and they'll tell you who's actually in charge and who's the owner. Effectively, the donors have been very soft, some might even say spineless about addressing corruption in Cambodia for the last sort of 14 or 15 years. And to give you an example, Cambodia still hasn't passed an anti-corruption law despite the donors pushing for that for the last 14, 15 years.
In a report titled 'Country for Sale', Global Witness says Cambodia's future is being jeopardised by high-level corruption, nepotism and patronage in the management of public assets. This, it says, threatens Cambodia's potential to wean itself of foreign development aid.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Gavin Hayman, director of Global Witness
HAYMAN: We've been working in Cambodia for the last 15 years looking at how illegal logging was being operating in the country and were able to show that it directly benefitted the ruling military and political elite. And our new report has showed that the self same people whose names are in our previous report as being involved in illegal logging have now effectively taken over the mining and also have oversight over the emerging oil industry in the country. And that's disastrous news for Cambodia because the money from oil and mining, which could actually really help Cambodia's development and lift Cambodia's citizens out of poverty, appears to instead be in severe danger of being wasted.
LAM: But you also say that international donors are turning a blind eye. What would you like donor countries to do?
HAYMAN: Well donor countries need to really get the Cambodian government to behave itself. They need to effectively declare a moratorium until there's basic governance and transparency framework in place to actually have oversight over what's going on. At the moment we've discovered that effectively the government doesn't have any way of giving out concessions, apart from patronage. So a particular kind of senators for example in the ruling party appear to have a beneficial possession of the mines, and they also needs to do a proper audit as to exactly how all those concessions be given out and whether they're equal and whether in fact the money is in the national budget. And there's about 60 or 70 different companies operating now, and we've written to all of them, also to ask about their behaviour, and we haven't had many responses back. What we did get was from BHP Billiton, the huge Australian mining company, and they actually told us they paid about a million dollar signature bonus to the government to explore for bauxite near the Vietnamese border. Now we congratulate BHP on being transparent about that. We're worried about the 79 companies that haven't been transparent, but also disturbingly we can't find information about that million dollars in the Cambodian budget. And that's very worrying, so where is this money in Cambodia's financial system? That's very concerning.
LAM: Indeed, it must be quite hard though, to extricate the ruling elite from these lucrative contracts. So what do you think can be done to change this culture, this culture of corruption?
HAYMAN: Well I think at the moment Cambodia's depends on foreign aid for about half its budget, and the donors have a very limited window of opportunity to use that influence on the Cambodian government to get a moratorium in place and a proper audit and future management provisions in place. To actually assure transparency, and that the money actually flows into the national budget and is properly spent. So they've got to use their leverage now and effectively really they shouldn't be lending into corruption and actually compensating a corrupt government that's stealing money that should be spent on development by actually putting taxpayer's money into development projects. So effectively they've got to play hard ball with the Cambodian government and get it to actually be fully transparent.
LAM: And just very briefly, can the Cambodian government itself do more or is the government itself the problem?
HAYMAN: The government itself as currently constituted by the ruling elite is the problem. So, as I said the military and political figures in Cambodia are direct beneficiaries and owners of some of these mines. And they may not actually own it on paper but if you turn up at the gate, which is one of the things we've done, the people guarding the mine they all know who's in power and they'll tell you who's actually in charge and who's the owner. Effectively, the donors have been very soft, some might even say spineless about addressing corruption in Cambodia for the last sort of 14 or 15 years. And to give you an example, Cambodia still hasn't passed an anti-corruption law despite the donors pushing for that for the last 14, 15 years.
26 comments:
Oh get a life and stop barking, Ah dog (Hayman)!
Cambodia corruption is, by far, large enough to cause a financial crisis like in the US.
international donors should not turn blind eye, if the report is true. then, who is to blame? plus, it is not helping khmer people who will lose from this newly found riches. i hope the international donors will do something about this, if the report is true at all! in short, it would be a disservice to khmer people in general if the international donors failed to do something to rectify this illegal activities by gov't officials, if it is true at all, that is!
nobody should tolerate or turn blind eye on corruption in cambodia. it is everybody's job to monitor it and prevent it from going overboard, especially in cambodia. please stop it soon before the real oil and gas will go into production in 2011, according to the business report.
Give me a break. Don't take the face value of what these White-men are doing. They do it because of some political motives. Watch the documentary called "The Third World War" How the fucking rich nations are trying to manipulate and keep the third world nation like Cambodia the way it is. These self-righteous assholes think they are superior than us. They think they can walk into a country and do whatever the fuck they want. I'm glad Hun Sen stands strong against these motherfucking foreigners. They still have that fucking condescending imperialist mindset toward Asian population.
Never trust the white man. Do business with him if you have to but never trust them.
Well put, 12:36!
The idiot (Hayman) is only fooling himself trying to fool us.
how credible is this global witness ngo? is that why the international donors turned blind eye on their groundless report? go figure! i'm sure the international donors can see for themselves without the cry wolf from this so-called global witness psycho group! what have they done for cambodia? nothing! they ran into trouble with cambodia before with their groundless accusation, and now they are doing that again! please stop cry wolf, global witness; cambodia cannot afford another chaotic instigator like global witness. i think their job is to protect the planet, and it's probably has nothing to do with corruption is cambodia. they probably just use that as an excuse to stop oil drilling and exploration as they want to save the planet and keep everything as is. too bad for them, cambodia isn't thinking so much like them. in fact, we do care about the environment as well, but at the same time, we look for ways to develop cambodia as well. i hope people are educated enough not to buy into their crazy accusation as there are hints in their report such as "risk", "potential to be like nigeria", etc... these are just their ways to discourage people from investing and doing business for the good of cambodia and khmer people. i think khmer people are smarter to know this already without global witness distort or try to convince us to buy their report. hey, we have two eyes and we can see for ourselves as well! go home, global witness!
isn't global witness a radical environmental group that report anyting they see on the planet that can harm the planet? well, cambodia is not harming the planet, so leave us alone! if they so concerned about the potential or risk of mismanagement of these newly activated resources in cambodia, then they should try to do something to help cambodia to better managing this sector so to avoid similar problems like nigeria had. however, to cry wolf ahead of the game is not deemed appropriate for such a reputable (?) organization! or not that reputable!? perhaps questionable organization called global witness. can someone tell us more about this organization, what their objectives are, about them, etc...?
Global Witness can bark all they want. The truth is, Cambodians know how their leaders behave. And that behavior is one of a "sva prey"
Congrat to Mr Hayman for bring the true about the deep of corruption issue in Cambodia the CPP and Hun Sen famailies are the biggest beneficiary of these corruption.
By the way the person who quote
"
Anonymous said...
Oh get a life and stop barking, Ah dog (Hayman)!
Cambodia corruption is, by far, large enough to cause a financial crisis like in the US."
Are part of the CPP official sometime it could be Ah Hun Mena himself.
Also the US financial crisis those who creat the problem are prosecuted by the LAW.
In Cambodia there is NO CORRUPTION LAW, how can you if the CPP government and HUN SEn himself if THE CORRUPTOR.
In time of financial crisis donator countries SHOULD INVEST PEOPLE TAX DOLLAR WISELY and not give away to AH Hun Sen and the CPP for free....this happen long enough
Cambodia is a shit hole and the government is a bunch of thuggish kleptomaniac along with the incompetent and corrupted judicial and police systems. You don't need some white man from Global Witness to tell you that! Being an honest and intelligent Cambodian, you all should already have known that!
Thank you Global Witness and thank you Mr:Hayman Gavin for the truth book.
Dictator Hun Xen is the khme nation's murder and destoy our nature!!!he is the biggest corrupt in thr world!!!
This guys comments 12:36 PM
It remind me of the Vietnam -US war how they trick the US government.
Quote "I'm glad Hun Sen stands strong against these motherfucking foreigners. They still have that fucking condescending imperialist mindset toward Asian population."
DOES AH KWAK HUN SEN STAND STRONG AGAINST THE THAI AND ESPECIALLY THE VIET COLONISATION OF CAMBODIA AND BOARDER ISSUE?.
I dont see white foreigner and their country trying to Colonise Cambodia like Vietnam?
So shut you mouth BECAUSE WHEN YOU OPEN IT, IT SMELL LIKE YOU LICK AH HUN SEN BALL EVERY NIGHT....AND LIKE IT UP THE ASS.
1:33 PM
If Cambodia does have Hun Sen as the strongman, do you think there is stability today, you ignorant genius? Back in the 90's there are many factions of armed forces who flooded the streets with guns yielding out-laws. Just about everyone carried guns and there were shooting all the fucking time. You would feel strange if you dont see gunshot at night. Apparently, you are ignorant of many facts of Cambodia to appreciate how far it came. So, keep living in your own little bubble, bubble boy.
http://sambo-samphors.blogspot.com/
the blogger, who happens to be a daughter of the elite and well-connected family in Cambodia, is doing a simple comparison between the rich and the poor in the country, taking herself to be the former and 90% others (according to her writing) of her countrymen to be the later. reading her blog, one would not feel anymore surprised to see reports (in media, academic papers, books...and so on) finding poor institution and corruption to be the main factors that make the poor countries poor. the article she wrote even made it doubtful about the effectiveness of foreign aid in such poor country like Cambodia.
1:33 PM
You fucking dumb ass, you don't see any white foreigners trying to colonize Cambodia? Are you fucking stupid asshole? The US bombed Cambodia to stone age. Do you fucking live in the US? Is that why you're turning into a fucking voluntary fool on what the US did? Who the fuck colonized Cambodia until 1950's? France. Then, Americans came in and bombed the fuck out of us. What is there to colonize in a country filled with bomb trenches?
They let Cambodia for dead and didn't give a flying fuck. Now, Cambodia is able to stand on its feet a bit and these self-righteous environmentalist animal fuckers are starting to come in and bitch their propaganda?
The white men don't colonize your country physically in this day and age they colonize your fucking country ideologically and systematically through their hegemonic values that they push down your throat whether you want it or not and they call it democracy.
These fuckers like the global witness are nothing more than a fucking crazy tree huggers who think they are better than anyone else because they care about the Earth. Someone needs to give these fuckers a reality check. They are ain't saying shit.
Every action is a mean to an end. Politician wants the office not to serve the people but to have the power. Environmentalist don't give a shit about the planet. They are a fucking political group who uses environmental issues to get to their political agenda.
Apparently, a fucker like you 1:33 PM has no knowledge of the idea of how things work around here. Do you know anything about the ideology of Hegemony? Huh? Motherfucking rat?
http://sambo-samphors.blogspot.com/
Born to an elite family very closely connected to the prime minister, yet having a respectful conscience... I really appreciate that and hope that the young generation will improve the society.
Wanna know the true color of this kind of group such as the Global Witness report? You'll have a different idea of how self-loathing, these environmentalist are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q3upFx4FcA
The Global Witness Report
Please calm down all Cambodians. The report of the Global Witness is a parttly true and partly untrue. I am in a neutral analysis therefore.
I strongly believe that Cambodia's donors are not stupit or have a blind eyes as Mr. Hayman mentioned in the report. Of course, it is not 100% transparency or accountability related to some development propjects assigned by the Royal Government, but at least we have a right purpose: to develop the country.
The best deal of the problem is that the Global Witness should cooperate and work together with the 79 companies and government consultants to find out a good deal aimed at enhancing the country's development, rather than releasing such an exaggerative report.
It would be better if the Global Witness didn't interfere the government's affairs related to all the developing projects. The government has been strongly committing to improveing its nation for a long time since after the first national election (1993). Now we have a good government of the fourth mandate leaded by Samdech Hun Sen, we hope all the times that Cambodia is getting better and better!
You are right for sure, having willing to help Cambodia, but your report is not the way you can help my Cambodia.
I would like to appeal for the Global Witness to reconsider on what they are doing, and change your mind to do the right thing for all developing nations! Leave Cambodia alone for it is trying to help itself and prosper itself.
Phnom Penh, 06 Feb 2009
Hean Padhi
Contact (heanpadhi@yahoo.com)
Tel: +855 891 240
2:44 PM
There is no reason to appeal to this Global bullshit witness. They are a political group whose agenda is to provoke shits up. Their paycheck comes in only when they have "controversial" stories. Notice the meaning of the quotation.
No need for deductive premises to support the argument; I just to conclusion: The reports are always true when they are talking about Hun Sen and his cronies. Prehaps, the deaf, blind and mute would never know anything happens in Cambodia under the head-down-first leadership Hun Sen.
correction:leadership of Hun Sen
Les défenseurs des droits de l'homme
...................................
MONSIEURS SIHANOUK,HUN SEN,CHEA SIM,HENG SAMRIN,HOR NAM HONG...ETC
VOUS ÊTES EN ETAT D'ARRESTATION
No surprise here, Ah potato diggers (blue-eyed worshipper) see everything from the blue-eyed's mouth as 100% true. Remember, Ah potato diggers ambition is to wipe out Khmer heritage and culture and replace it with western's culture. They want everyone to worship westerner forefathers (George Washington, Napoleon, ..., and king Henry) as they do everyday.
I am truly beleive that Hayman's report is not actually correct 100%. If it is, the donors is not dumb. Hayman's report is not accurate and just the accusasion without any concrete support. I also the corruption is there but not as what's in Hayman's report. Hayman took personal vedetta again Cambodia. Hayman is an arrogant and ignorant SOB bully who does not much really care about Cambodia. Go to you everything for granted and Leave Cambodia alone. let
I am echo the appeal of Mr. Hean Padhi.
An Ordinary Khmer, California.
Serey
Hello All,
Red-Ant just wants to confirm you all to reflict and to imagine of our old Saying that now, it is the time of
"Klok lech, Ambeng Andeth" Pumpkin sunk, the matal pieces floated".
The saying is applying to nowadays in Cambodia that, the theif became Ministries and gov't workers, and Prostitutes become Jomteve. The wide and intelligent people have to live outside the country. They can not live inside Cambodia, because of these situartions.
Red-Ant.
the point is, please take care of our people and country because corruption can never be permanent solution and can only hurt ordinary people the most; so, please wake up and smell the coffee and see the world. chah, awkoun. god bless cambodia.
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