Original report from Washington
11 February 2010
The US expects Cambodia to repay $300 million in loans from the Lon Nol era, despite hopes in Phnom Penh the debt will be canceled, a US State Department official said Tuesday.
“We think Cambodia should begin to make payment on it,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Maciel said. “The Cambodian government has not been willing to do so. So this is something we will continue to talk about.”
Maciel, who is also the ambassador to Asean, was addressing reporters in Phnom Penh, following a four-day visit, during which he met with Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and other Cambodian leaders.
Hor Namhong met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year and asked that the debt, stemming from weapon purchases in the 1970s, be canceled.
“We have made it clear all along that we’re willing to work with Cambodia and with other creditors to schedule the debt payment in such a way that would not be an undue burden on Cambodia,” Marciel said.
Cambodia has also proposed the debt be converted into development assistance for social sectors like health and education, and idea welcomed by several US congressmen who visited late last year but one that is not yet US policy.
“We think Cambodia should begin to make payment on it,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Maciel said. “The Cambodian government has not been willing to do so. So this is something we will continue to talk about.”
Maciel, who is also the ambassador to Asean, was addressing reporters in Phnom Penh, following a four-day visit, during which he met with Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and other Cambodian leaders.
Hor Namhong met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year and asked that the debt, stemming from weapon purchases in the 1970s, be canceled.
“We have made it clear all along that we’re willing to work with Cambodia and with other creditors to schedule the debt payment in such a way that would not be an undue burden on Cambodia,” Marciel said.
Cambodia has also proposed the debt be converted into development assistance for social sectors like health and education, and idea welcomed by several US congressmen who visited late last year but one that is not yet US policy.
23 comments:
"US Policy Remains Unforgiving of 1970's Debt"
How about..."Cambodia is unforgiving over the US bombings of Cambodia during the Vietnam War...which caused the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent Cambodians."
Does the Royal Government of Cambodia intend to do something about that?
Maybe it's time for the RGC ask the US government for compensation regarding this matter.
Perhaps the US government owes Cambodia $300 billion dollars of damages inflicted upon its citizens...
The United States is one of the most wicked countries in the world, make no mistakes about it...
HEY WHO ASK YOU TO FORGIVE 4:46AM!
GO, WEAR THE UNIFORM WITH BONARY HUN XEN, FOOL!
WHAT A FUCKING CLOWN! AH KWACK TAKE MONEY FROM YOUR CHILDEREN AND PAY BACK YOU FAMILY OF THIEVES!
Yeah, if the US do not willing to forgive 300 million which was for arm assistance to Lon Nol regime and Lon Nol regime lost the war to the Khmer Rouge.
Now why the heck the US government is asking the current Cambodian government to pay this debt?!
In the opposite, the US should pay damage to Cambodia when they drop millions tons of bomb on Cambodia soil when Cambodia was a neutral country.
So if the US ask for 300 millions payment, Cambodian government should prepare the case and ask for 300 billions to be paid for damaging Cambodian properties and lives when the US drop bombs on Cambodia.
Now we know the true color of the head with two heads... They write off billions dollars for Paskistran, but save a few pennies with us... They brought war and destructions to Asia 50 years ago. What a short memory they have...
Hun Sen stole and is still stealing Khmer's money, billions of dollars of donation money if we may add...Now they make HUN SEN pay ..It's just a little way to tell HUN SEN that his time has come. Go get money from China or Hanoi to pay up or else!!!
This is not about Hun Sen, it is about Cambodia, and fairness.
The US give 300 million to Lon Nol. He bought arms to fight with the KR. The US and Lon Nol regime lost the war. Why don't the US dare to ask the KR to pay that dam loan? Why wait until now to ask for the money back.
I wonder do the US dare to ask the Viet to pay back the loan, because South Viet government, which was backed by the US borrow 10 times more from the US than Lon Nol, so why don't they ask the current Viet communist government to repay the loan that the Tiev Ky government borrow from the US?!!
See something is wrong here!!
Another thing, the US did a lot of damage to Cambodia during the war.
They should repay the damage to properties, human lives and other untold suffering inflected on Cambodian people.
I am Khmer and a US citizen. We know that American care of fairness and justic. We are asking for fairness and justice in this case.
in reference to your last sentence 8:16 AM - so am I.
It is what it is. This has a everything to do with HUN SEn and Hanoi!!!
It must be a joke from the US. If it would not be Al Queta's war, America would be sued by American Indian for putting taking their land and putting them tru hell. Looks like there is a crack here for another law suit coming.
Let Hun Sen Government handle it.
The US should forgive this debt. I agree with 4:46, the U.S. should be giving compensation for the illegal bombing which started in 68 even prior to Lon Nol regime giving its approval. The opposition to this bombing was one of the main factors in the coming together of the KR according to historians.
What?
Come and get the weapon (bullet) out of my father's leg. He always tells me that it was a gift from the US.
Please leaders for this and future generations don't borrow money from foreigners to make wars. You'll lose your own lives, and not only that, become indebted. Next generations have to pay. Shame!
If you cannot produce weapons by yourself, don't create wars.
i like the previous idea that the USA should turn this old debts into development aid for cambodia. it is the least the USA can do, granted they bombed cambodia and dragged cambodia into their conflict in vietnam (known in cambodia as youn), not to mentioned cambodia was destroyed beyond recognition and over 2 millions khmer lives paid for that. it is unthinkable for mr. scot marciel to pretend to demand this unseen debts from current cambodian administration. it is so unfriendly and indirectly shows perhaps america do not want to be friends of cambodia. this is not a good way to make friends with cambodia. of course, we want to be good friends of america because we try to let bygone be bygone already. let's not make a bid deal out of this again. please show cambodia you care for us and wanted to court us for the new beginning of everlasting friendship to come between cambodia and america. please show us forgiveness and the american spirit of given and caring. thank you.
just don't pay them back. american has started war in cambodia that spread from viet. and its irresponsible acts of leaving cambodia to the millions deaths. american should for these depts. actually khmer should sue american at the international courte of justice for their illegal bombs on the khmer borders and killed thousand of innocent khmer pple, u can;t get cleanned with this.
Yep, if the US still insist that Cambodia pay their 300 millions bad loan to Lon Nol, then we should prepare a case to sue them for billions for bomb Cambodia when Cambodia was a neutral country at that time.
Good policy: $300 Millions for investment in making civil war in Cambodia.
Could not understand how a rich country like the US, with many rational people would be so irrational on the not-so-clear debt that was borrowed by previous client/puppet government. Also, there is a big moral issue regarding the bombing and the supporting a coup that they half-heartedly committed to support.
Where is the common sense? Erase the debt.
We want to hear the opinion from our brothers, Dr. Tith, Dr. Peng Meat and Mr. So about this affair.
Debt is debt. You can claim all excuses form Lon Nor, and bombing. The question is that $3 million important to the US government when it spent billion $ on the Mideast? I think not. In previous articles, the US representative expressed very disappointed about the Cambodia government sent those Chinese minority asylum seekers back to China, and knowing well they will be prosecuted. The Cambodia government could have used the opportunity to lever the debt. Cambodia government cannot just beg for money and not return a favor.
How much the US asked Vietnam to pay back for the loan the gave to the late South-Vietnam ? Does any body know why the US are shy to ask Vietnam to pay like they do to Cambodia ?
debt is a debt, yes, from a lawyer and business perspectives, but from another legal/criminal and from moral angles, the sufferings of the Cambodians also justify the demand for compensation for a war imposed on them by the super powers.
This is a good things. If you want Preah Vihear Temple, Cambodian's government should prove their existency before Pol Pot.
If They don't recognize the debts, well
Preah is belongings to Thai.
At the Khmer Rouge Regime, Siem take Preah Vihear Temple.
So if Yuons can take the south, why not Siem take the North ?
Fuck The LaHaie decision in 1963, Cambodia is at War !
Hello ! where is the real map of Cambodia ????
Which maps do CPP use to claim Preah Vihear Temple ???
The real map which show Preah Vihear Temple belong to Camodia IS 1907'S MAP.
Come on CPP, use the 1907 map, not the 1985 map !
The 1985 map has been Draw by CPP.
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