Son Chhay, a legislator with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (Photo: VOA - R. Carmichael)Phnom Penh 12 March 2010
Robert Carmichael, VOA
Cambodia's parliament has passed the country's first law to combat corruption, but critics say it is flawed, and could entrench rather than end corruption.
After 15 years of trying, Cambodia now has a law against corruption, which is a scourge in this impoverished nation.
Parliament passed the legislation on Thursday. Among other things, it imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years on officials convicted of taking bribes. It also requires politicians, military personnel, police officers, judges, and civil servants to disclose their wealth to a new anti-corruption body. Leaders of civic action groups also must report their wealth.
The government calls the new law an important tool in fighting corruption.
But many opposition politicians and civic activists are critical.
Yong Kim Eng is from the Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability, a collection of organizations fighting graft.
He says that since those serving on the anti-corruption body will be appointed by the ruling party and will report to the prime minister, there is the risk of political interference.
"Also we have questioned a lot about that as well - about independence, about what it will be accountable for. We want to have enough independence that this body can take action, can reduce the corruption in Cambodia," he said.
Son Chhay, a legislator with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, fears the law will be misused.
"Because the prime minister and the deputy minister of the Council of Ministers will have full control over who can be prosecuted. The target will be the opposition and civil society, or the group of businesses who are not willing to support the government, who are critical of the government. So they will be able to find something there to prosecute them," he said.
Critics complain the government ignored requests for the public to have a say in drafting the new law. Son Chhay says that among the changes the ruling party refused to consider was making financial disclosures public.
A government spokesman responded to the criticism by saying that the opposition will have the opportunity to propose amendments in the future, as with any law.
Corruption is a serious problem here. Last year, the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia said that $500 million is lost to graft each year, a comment that angered Phnom Penh. And the international anti-corruption group Transparency International ranks Cambodia as one of the world's most corrupt countries.
On Friday the U.S. Embassy welcomed the passage of the law and expressed hope that rules to implement it will "clarify and enhance" its aim of combating corruption in accordance with international standards.
After 15 years of trying, Cambodia now has a law against corruption, which is a scourge in this impoverished nation.
Parliament passed the legislation on Thursday. Among other things, it imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years on officials convicted of taking bribes. It also requires politicians, military personnel, police officers, judges, and civil servants to disclose their wealth to a new anti-corruption body. Leaders of civic action groups also must report their wealth.
The government calls the new law an important tool in fighting corruption.
But many opposition politicians and civic activists are critical.
Yong Kim Eng is from the Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability, a collection of organizations fighting graft.
He says that since those serving on the anti-corruption body will be appointed by the ruling party and will report to the prime minister, there is the risk of political interference.
"Also we have questioned a lot about that as well - about independence, about what it will be accountable for. We want to have enough independence that this body can take action, can reduce the corruption in Cambodia," he said.
Son Chhay, a legislator with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, fears the law will be misused.
"Because the prime minister and the deputy minister of the Council of Ministers will have full control over who can be prosecuted. The target will be the opposition and civil society, or the group of businesses who are not willing to support the government, who are critical of the government. So they will be able to find something there to prosecute them," he said.
Critics complain the government ignored requests for the public to have a say in drafting the new law. Son Chhay says that among the changes the ruling party refused to consider was making financial disclosures public.
A government spokesman responded to the criticism by saying that the opposition will have the opportunity to propose amendments in the future, as with any law.
Corruption is a serious problem here. Last year, the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia said that $500 million is lost to graft each year, a comment that angered Phnom Penh. And the international anti-corruption group Transparency International ranks Cambodia as one of the world's most corrupt countries.
On Friday the U.S. Embassy welcomed the passage of the law and expressed hope that rules to implement it will "clarify and enhance" its aim of combating corruption in accordance with international standards.
27 comments:
speculation is healthy, however, give it a chance and see how it will go, really! like any new law passed into law, you don't know how people going to take it. take the recent traffic law, the first ATM in cambodia, the first escalator, the first skyscraper, etc..., i often heard negative remarks such as skeptim from people, especially in the media, etc... i think eventually people will accept it as a norm because a law is crucial to have in cambodia. of course, like anything in life, everything and everybody has to start somewhere, somehow. it is people's prerogative to be skeptic, etc., however, just don 't interfere with the process and those who wanted to put the law into action and those of us who think having law is better than none. of course, everything could be better. it requires patience and so forth. have some faith and let the law be the judge. let's not interfere with the good thing because i don't see anything wrong with having the law pass. don't make it a big deal because having a law pass is not a criminal act, if any, it should make people aware that hey there is now law, you better stop being corrupt at all level. the law will get you sooner or later, really! playing with the law is like playing with fire, you will get burn eventually, you know! god bless cambodia.
In Cambodia, there is law, law, law.....every where. Laws ONLY to show the world that Cambodia also has laws. Laws ONLY to threaten poor people to obey but the high officials NEVER do. Laws that government officials themselves don't care and never will. It is a useless inti-corruption law. Law that no body this day think it is a big deal and why care.
Khmer WA
Very often people on the outside looking in can see things better than those on the inside trying to look out.
Khmer Lowell,MA..
it takes everyone who has any interest to curb this dispicable act to stop it. of course, people are people, they will do anything if they can get away with it easily. lawmakers have to keep in mind that in making law, you will always run into obstacle with may or may not impact one person or another. so, this is where objectivity, not subjectivity, should come into play. you can't emotion dictate you from doing the right thing. after all there are more to cambodia than you, the lawmakers. khmer public entrusted in you to lead the country, to do a good job. i'm sure they didn't put you there to be corrupted, etc... nowadays, people will be better educated, so they can think and see for themselves about right or wrong, and, everything changed as well in cambodia, so, people can always vote you out of office on the next election if you don't obey law, not deemed detrimental to the nation growth, etc... think about it, ok!
Compare Son Chhay and Chheam Yeap!
Both men are similar, but one works for Khmer people and tries to protect Khmer interest as Mr. Son Chhay. He is truly Khmer even he has some Chinese blood, but he is the honorable man as his boss, Mr. Rainsy.
On the other hand, Chheam Yeap works for Youn interest and tries to protect Yuon than protecting Khmer. He is truly Youn Vietcong who trained by Hanoi to destroy Khmer, he is an criminal and traitor man as his boss, Ah Chor Hun Sen.
the first impression is something new or something we never have before is adrenaline rush or guts feeling, and i'm sure everyone has one. people always react to thing they feel is important. why people skeptic, one reason is because they live through it or they experience it first hand. i think it's life. we all live and learn, i guess.
Well this law I think there will be problem to enforcing it and probably need to correct in the beginning, the middle and at the end. I don't think it is perfect yet.
Like 12:09 AM said. "Very often people on the outside looking in can see things better than those on the inside trying to look out".
From True Khmer,
With all these CPPs has or have, in the future if one individual or whole group found guilty, these wealth will be directly go straight to Cambodian National Bank.
in american they called it do not judge people based on their look, national origin, race, etc... because once you are the citizen of a country, you have the obligation to help make the difference there. take cambodia, for instance, i don't care who you are, whether you have chinese origin, american origin, european origin, etc, etc., if you live in cambodia and became khmer citizen and so on, you have the obligation to help the country in order to make a real difference. that's how it should be, really! wake up and smell the coffee for a change already, ok! there ought to be a law in cambodia to obide people from being racist based on national origin, etc... no wonder there always problem there because they are racist. also, the khmer law should state that all people, regardless of national origin is obligated to help make a difference for cambodia. that is the the citizenship definition, really! imagine we all can do more if we race is blurred in cambodia. personally, i don't care if you are from another planet, the bottomline is you love cambodia, you care for care, you want to make a difference for cambodia, you take the time to learn the language, the history, you influence people in a good way, you help to educate people, etc, etc... that's what should matter more, really! other way is useless, you know!
this is the real Ek Ot Dom of Khmer peoples. god Budda bless You Mr. Son Chhay.
RichmondHill Toronto
Under Hun Zen Khvack, any laws are fake laws, they are all bullshits.
China is good friend to Hun Sen, Youns is the boss to Hun Khvack, why Ah Sen don't learn from China and Youn about punishing corrupted criminals?
hun sen should ask Mr. Son Chhay to be his boss not yuon aggressors.if he love hi family in the future. just look poy pot is an exaple for you cpp yuon shit........................................
His boss doesn't want him to copycat. Instead his boss said, "whatever you do for your own people that's is fine as long as you continue to serve us". (Chinese and VN)
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.
"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky. Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground.
Source: Lightning, Discovery Channel
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
"China is good friend to Hun Sen, Youns is the boss to Hun Khvack, why Ah Sen don't learn from China and Youn about punishing corrupted criminals?
1:00 AM"
BECAUSE MOTHERFUCKER USE CAMBODIA AS THEIR TOILLET!
THEY PUT ALL THEIR BAD AND HOOKERSIN CAMBODIA!
IF CASINOS AT THE FRONTIER NOT PAY TEA MONY TO HANOI! YOU THING MOTHERFUCKER VIETNAMESE WOULD LET ITS PEOPLE TO COME TO PLAY! THE VIET IS A FUCKING COMMUNIST!
1:23AM
You have an interesting point about one child has only one eye or sight.
I like your comment.
God kills Hun Sen and lightning strikes all CPP members to ash.
This law is a fake law and this law is made to fool the Western countries for more aids. This law I predict will fight the small corrupted fishes. Big fishes like 5 or 4 star generals, Oak Nya Kdor Thom, Mi Choum Teav Kompes Lo Touch get off the hook. Only the small fishes will get punish.
Corruption is happening every where around the world, it is just the matter of you want to hight light it or not. It happened in the US too, believe it or not. But both the gov. official and the person who doing the the bribery are punished.
In Cambodia, I heard alots about corrupted Gov. official, but I never heard anybody getting punished by giving the money to the official. It takes two to tangle.
When I was in Cambodia (Lon Nol regime), I saw the official demanded money from you if you wanted some thing to be done. Another case I saw a bussinessman/woman were begging the official to break the laws by allowing them to do what they wanted. In return, they gave some money or gifts to the official. These type of people also encouraged the official to be corrupted. It was the fact because I had relatives who were holding in Gov. official position. If you are in the US you are going to jail for bribing the official. In Cambodia right now I never heard any body is going to jail for that. Is there any law against it in Cambodia ?????
"I would like some of that anti-samlour Youn please."
Hun Sen said: "I am awake and I have smell the coffee, but I don't like the way it smells this morning; must have some anti-corruption pellets in it." So he dumps the coffee and had Vodka instead.
There are should be law who is going to bribe the official too.
ពួកអាប្រឆាំងទាំងអស់អើយមិនបាច់មកស្រែកទេវាចាញ់គេហើយ, ធ្វើខ្ញុំយួនមួយជាតិទៅ។
អាឆ្កួត!
3:56 AM,
You said the opposition screaming? Of course we are care for the country and you said in Khmer that we are YUON's slave? How? It should be the opposite, It is CPP that being YUON's slave!
I think you're lost and don't know what you're trying to say.
Oppositions aren't YUON slave..
It is HUN SEN YUON's slave!!
3:56 a couples more year Yuon's gonna beheaded your boss hunsen and your family .you kno why you and hun sen no longer benefit for youn .just like your mom no good for ur dad,coz she's tooo big and getting old.
The US can point fingers at Cambodia for a corruption of measly $500 million dollars a year. It cost 150 million dollars to inaugurate president Obama into office. Well, that happen to be the most expensive inauguration for a "change" and all the bailouts that followed afterward. There was so much corrupted contributions to the electing of Obama. Obama was bought into office, money speaks. Bad news is--Obama does not work for the American Government, he works for special interest groups who control America. All the changes he promised for the voters are socialistic agendas to be put in force by his administration. America is being destroy from within by Marxist and Lennin ideologies. America, wake up and smell communism in different code words like: progressive, pragmatic, social justice, school to work...and America needs government funded health care.
Has the government ability to produce one bushel of corn? Yet, they promise of creating jobs for the unemploys. The only thing the government knows how to do is to tax the hard workings Americans to pay for bailouts on Wall Street. And to pass law to get themselves an automatic raise every year.
3:14am, good point. i know, they seem to blame soley on gov't. you and i know it was also the people, the businessman or businesswoman, sometimes the criminal with money, etc, etc... are the one to bribe official for corruption or deviate from the law. and maybe it is the official's greed, dishonest, etc, that caused them to be corrupted. i think the meaning of gov't is to do good things for the country and its people, perhaps, it is some individuals who ran gov't that is corrupted not gov't itself. so, the law is law to punish those crooked officials. thhere ought to be a study to understand why people become corrupted. there must be a personal reason they corrupted. maybe understand the reason can educate people to avoid such bad habit, especially in gov't because that undermine the service to the country and the people. in cambodia, sometimes, the simple thing such as using common sense or self-explanatory can be more complicated than one thinks, really! mabye the reason was people take using common sense for granted e.g., they think that was simply, thus they ignore it or don't focus much attention to it, and that was a mistake because by ignoring something mundane as common sense or dismiss it as trivial, etc... it become a major problem. it's like a paradox. another thing too i noted in america, many khmer people often think it is ridiculous to have everything written down even though it seem easy or common sense like how to open a box, how to pump gas, etc, etc... what they failed to understand is that it is the attention to detail the counts. i think that what happened in cambodia, people take simplicity for granted, thus they failed to understand why people did what they did. so the law comes handy to control and make people aware and pay attention to detail. that is very essential. wake up please!
How stupid you are to expect CPP to listen to the public? CPP are the false democrate. They never listen to concern of other people. They think this country belongs to them. They liberated from scratch.
Nothing to be done for the benefits of Cambodian people by the OLD king and the NEW king. HUN SEN just keep abusing his power and create more corruption in the government and his gangster. Wake up Cambodian people. Fight for your basic rights and democracy if you want to have a good future for your self and your children. Millions of Cambodian can stand up and remove HUN SEN from power. The people power.
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