Yim Sovann, spokesperson for Sam Rainsy Party.
Kem Sokha, president of Human Rights Party.By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
25 August 2009
Cambodia still faces a number of challenges in building up the private sector for investment, two opposition officials said Monday, following comments by a US senator who wants to see more trade.
Limited freedom of expression and suppression of the opposition, as well as issues such as unemployment, an economy in decline and low standards of living, all hurt Cambodia’s investment climate, Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann and Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha told “Hello VOA.”
Last week, Sen. Jim Webb made a swing through Cambodia, saying he would like to see more US investment, now that trade restrictions have been lifted and the two countries enjoy warming relations.
“The stance of the Human Rights Party is to find a peaceful solution through elections in 2012 and 2013,” Kem Sokha said. “We want a free and fair election, with US observers to monitor from the beginning.”
Yim Sovann said Webb’s visit—part of a five-country, Southeast Asian tour demonstrated US concerns for democracy at a time when Cambodia’s political development was facing serious issues.
“This was a well-planned trip for the strengthening of democracy and multi-liberal parties for Cambodia,” he said.
Kem Sokha noted a trend in US foreign relations to engage with dictatorships and undemocratic countries, in what were efforts to solve problems from the inside. He also noted Cambodia’s garment-heavy trade relationship with the US.
Yim Sovann called the visit of the US senator a “warning” for Cambodia to remove trade obstacles like corruption and bureaucracy.
Webb, who made a one-day stop to Cambodia, is chairman of the Foreign Relations subcommittee for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Limited freedom of expression and suppression of the opposition, as well as issues such as unemployment, an economy in decline and low standards of living, all hurt Cambodia’s investment climate, Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann and Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha told “Hello VOA.”
Last week, Sen. Jim Webb made a swing through Cambodia, saying he would like to see more US investment, now that trade restrictions have been lifted and the two countries enjoy warming relations.
“The stance of the Human Rights Party is to find a peaceful solution through elections in 2012 and 2013,” Kem Sokha said. “We want a free and fair election, with US observers to monitor from the beginning.”
Yim Sovann said Webb’s visit—part of a five-country, Southeast Asian tour demonstrated US concerns for democracy at a time when Cambodia’s political development was facing serious issues.
“This was a well-planned trip for the strengthening of democracy and multi-liberal parties for Cambodia,” he said.
Kem Sokha noted a trend in US foreign relations to engage with dictatorships and undemocratic countries, in what were efforts to solve problems from the inside. He also noted Cambodia’s garment-heavy trade relationship with the US.
Yim Sovann called the visit of the US senator a “warning” for Cambodia to remove trade obstacles like corruption and bureaucracy.
Webb, who made a one-day stop to Cambodia, is chairman of the Foreign Relations subcommittee for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
3 comments:
kem sokha and khieu khanrith look alike? but khieu khanrith is an alcoholic...or drunkard!
i think it is good to criticize gov't, but to oppose is a different thing altogether! if they are smarter, they shouldn't oppose against khmer gov't, instead they should seek to improve or reform many sectors in gov't they see as necessary. that's the difference. glad to see they slowly change their tactics. that's called being proactive, and i think that is smarter for them. god bless cambodia.
i know if they claim they want to make a difference in cambodia, it is good that they modify or change their tactic because opposing and constructive criticism is two separate things altogether. one is like trying to overthrow the gov't and the other is like being proactive to make a difference for all cambodia and khmer people. i think khmer people like that better as we do not want to see khmer fighting khmer again like during the stupid dark ages! wake up, cambodia, let's all be smarter already. yes, do learn from our bad history and learn from everybody in the world as well! god bless cambodia.
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