Left to right: Joseph Cao, Eni Faleomavaega and Mike Honda (Photo: DAP)By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
07 January 2010
Prime Minister Hun Sen and three US congressmen discussed an extension of trade relations between the two countries on Thursday, while raising the possibility of debt reduction.
The congressmen—Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat from American Samoa; Mike Honda, a Democratic from California; and Joseph Cao, a Republican from Louisiana—met with Hun Sen, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon and Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh
“We did touch on the issue of debt obligations, also on questions of trade and tariffs in trying to bring Cambodia’s trade and economic needs [and] better status especially in trade with the United States,” Faleomavaega told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport Thursday afternoon.
The US delegation is scheduled to travel to Laos, having already visited Vietnam. The tour will conclude in Japan.
Cambodia owes the US more than $300 million from the Lon Nol period, a debt Cambodian officials maintain should be erased. Faleomavaega said he told Hun Sen he would take the matter to discuss with other US lawmakers.
Debt forgiveness could help Cambodia, he said. Faleomavaega said he wanted to play a role in bettering the relationship between Cambodia and the US.
Eang Sophaleth, an adviser to Hun Sen, told reporters the premier had thanked the men for continued economic support from the US and was happy to promote a relationship between the two countries.
The congressmen—Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat from American Samoa; Mike Honda, a Democratic from California; and Joseph Cao, a Republican from Louisiana—met with Hun Sen, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon and Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh
“We did touch on the issue of debt obligations, also on questions of trade and tariffs in trying to bring Cambodia’s trade and economic needs [and] better status especially in trade with the United States,” Faleomavaega told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport Thursday afternoon.
The US delegation is scheduled to travel to Laos, having already visited Vietnam. The tour will conclude in Japan.
Cambodia owes the US more than $300 million from the Lon Nol period, a debt Cambodian officials maintain should be erased. Faleomavaega said he told Hun Sen he would take the matter to discuss with other US lawmakers.
Debt forgiveness could help Cambodia, he said. Faleomavaega said he wanted to play a role in bettering the relationship between Cambodia and the US.
Eang Sophaleth, an adviser to Hun Sen, told reporters the premier had thanked the men for continued economic support from the US and was happy to promote a relationship between the two countries.
15 comments:
the face of Eni looks like drunkard ETOH.
Time to call US Rep and Senators in local district and to add Chantrea farmers and Sam Raingsy charges be dropped immediately.
Next no more immunity stripping and must reinstate those MPs who were wrongly accused and suspended their immunity CPP legislators.
Also we need to lobby against trade and tariffs forgiving if farmers are not released and MP immunity not reinstated.
This wasn't exactly a high powered delegation, but even so I'm glad the only outcome has been platitudes. Who knows what was really discussed behind the scenes, of course. The US should maintain the debt as a bargaining chip, along with improved access to US markets, which form the lion's share of cambodias legitimate (non land-grabbing/development) earnings.
Aid should not be given under any circumstances. 25% of it is DIRECTLY pocketed by the regimes cronies, and much of the rest is gradually stolen in bogus procurement contracts, fake employee rosters, company prvided lexus SUVs, expensive junkets, and so on.
The result of aid is to squeeze out legitimate enterprise, and to further the power gap between those enjoying corrupt patronage, and the rest, who get poorer.
Time to lobby your local politician to ensure that the debt is NOT given away without some firm actions by the cambodian government.
No more promises.
Actual, completed actions.
Start by dropping bogus cases against the opposition, and dissidents.
FUCK SAMRAINSY HE IS SUCH A LOSER AND DOG BARKING DO NOTHING FOR THE CAMBODIA ALWAY RUN AWAY FROM CAMBODIA AND WRITE A LETTER TO MY HUN SEN FOR APOLOGY THIS GUY IS FUCKING IDIOT!
It looks like they were interview in jail cell or in a whorehouse.
karaoke lounge?
Dear Sirs,
We need to ask the US government to delete the 300 millions USD debt because this debt is done during the US-Vietnam war which was spilled over to Cambodia and caused a lot of damages to human life as well as people's property. The US bombing during the war
(1970-75) killed many innocent Cambodians, animals and burning houses, temples, roads bridges and other infrastructures in the whole country (Ex. The Neak Loeung bombing over Lon Nol's ally army and civilians caused a big holaucust to the area).
The real debt is about 100 millions but the interests are about 200 millions. The USA's government is not so poor and get thurstly to suck the blood of the Cambodia poorest country.
Your Embassy in Phnom Penh and in Bangkok are sucking many millions of USD for the visas application of many poor Cambodians who want to see their relatives or visiting the world most democratic country. But they could not get the visas and they do not get the money back.
Nowaday, one applicants must pay in advance 140USD to the consular staff and waiting for the interview and then there are 5 percent of the applicants could get the US visas and the 95 percent are denied the visas and get into the US Embassy black list. And the 140USD are gone.
It is really unfair way of life by getting this money from innocent people who want to see the democratic country which is becoming a helly land for them because they lost a lot of money, time and effort for applying and interviewing with the US Embassy consular staff.
The USA government must change this policy of taking money without giving visas like the other countries especially towards the poorest one. It is fair that "No visas no money".
I highly appealled to all Cambodians that if you do not need to go to the USA do not apply for the visa. If you do it that means the poor peoples are feeding the richest peoples. They can function their Embassy by your money. This is a very clever person whatsoever they are getting richer and you are getting poorer and poorer.
The USA Land is not a paradise for the poor. It is only reserved for the richest people. Angkor Land is a paradise for all Cambodians of all strata. Through my experiences during my stay in the USA Land I waste a lot of money.
May I appeal to the Obama administration to change the policy of taking money from the poor visa applicants without giving them the paradise land visas. President Barack Obama is originated from the poor country so you are alerted of this sensitive matter. There are many unhappy applicants who cried and cursed the Americans. I told them that you are poor but you try to help to develop the rich.
And may I appeal to all Cambodians who are living in the US to come to see your relatives and not to let them to go there without knowing American culture and the language. Please come to help developing the country and your family. And I also have some word to the Americanized Khmers to stay quiet and live there in your own ways and do not curse the Cambodian Leaders and people who are striving hard to build the country from zero after the Khmer Rouge Pol Pot genocidal regime. We are very proud of our development of this country and people. We have a lot of new infrastructure, buildings, temples, cars, motobikes that jammed roads and streets like the other developed countries.
Finally,may I appeal to the USA government to lift the debt of Cambodia owed by the US allied government of Marshal Lon Nol who were defeated by the poorly equipped Khmer Rouge's Army and led the more than 4 million innocent Cambodians died under the butchers Pol Pot (an extreme nationalist leader who died in 1998and cremated by the US car tyres).
Please President Obama to delete this debt without condition and without delay and no need to talk and no more request for money. You are rich enough that you spend wastly money to many projects which you must be aware of.
Please accept, Dear Sirs, the assurances of my highest respect and humble demand from the US government.
Ly
Fuck you ah 11:55AM.
Pay all the debt plus interest.
NOE! The US should never forgive any debts owed by the Cambodian government. Business is business. The blood money has to be paid back to the American taxpayers. Hun Sen and his government is doing business with Vietnam and is paying it right now so how come Hun Sen cannot do the same with America. Business is business, nothing personal. Debts are a b*atch and Hun Sen must bear the brunt of it.
"300 millions dollars" is a lot of money. In this recession time, Americans need all the money they can get. So pay up Cambodia. There are many ways that Cambodia can pay back: One of the ways is to grant concession to any of the American oil companies to extract the oil and minerals from Cambodia until they get at least 300 milliions dollars worth of things.
why the room is red? is this the sign of communism?
To: LY
God damn dirt poor Cambodia never stop begging from AH HUN SEN to AH LY!
What have become of Cambodia? Begging, stealing, and killing?
"We are very proud of our development of this country and people. We have a lot of new infrastructure, buildings, temples, cars, motobikes that jammed roads and streets like the other developed countries."
It is all shoddy constructions...and the fucken streets are too small to accomodate anything which become a death trap for motorists and pedestrians!
Throwing more money at the problem will not help solve the problem! Tell me how much money had been pouring into Cambodia including the $500 million a year from donor countries? Cambodian leaders can help solve the fucken problem by becoming more responsible in term of spending the money they don't have! If don't have the money and why spend the money? Now it force the stupid Cambodian leaders to come to term with the concept of economic 101!
With Debt or without Debt Cambodia still poor, weak and undemocratic like today. So Debt is not the issue. The issue is how to clean up your house first.
Thank you for US forgive the Debt($300,000,000) to my Country and my people!!
ALL CAMBODIAN PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN US MUST ASK ALL ARMERICAN PEOPLE TO ASK Mr.Eni faleomavega to resign from the us congress ,you are fucking make american look bad
Post a Comment