2010-03-11
By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press
Cambodia's National Assembly approved a long-awaited anti-corruption law Thursday, though opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, charging the legislation was useless.
After two days of debate, the lower house of parliament agreed by a vote of all 82 members present to pass the legislation, 15 years after it was first proposed.
The 16 members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party who took part in the debate Thursday walked out before the ballot, saying the provisions of the law would only add to the problem of corruption because it's not independent.
Cambodia is routinely listed by independent groups such as Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. The poor country is heavily dependent on foreign aid, and often faces criticism _ though only weak pressure _ from donor countries unhappy about the situation.
Last year, the U.S. ambassador asserted that corruption saps Cambodia of up to $500 million a year that could otherwise be used for development, but the government denied the allegation. In 2004, a study prepared for the U.S. Agency for International Development said that Cambodia lost an estimated $300 million to $500 million annually to various forms of corruption.
Under the new legislation, any official found guilty of taking bribes would face up to 15 years in prison.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said after the law was passed that it will give Cambodia new tools to help the government to get rid of corruption.
But Son Chhay of the Sam Rainsy Party said the law's 57 articles were not intended to effectively fight corruption because they failed to create an independent, transparent body to oversee enforcement. The party says as a result, the law will only serve to support the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party.
They also complain that declarations of assets by politicians, civil servants, judges and members of the military and police would not be made public.
After two days of debate, the lower house of parliament agreed by a vote of all 82 members present to pass the legislation, 15 years after it was first proposed.
The 16 members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party who took part in the debate Thursday walked out before the ballot, saying the provisions of the law would only add to the problem of corruption because it's not independent.
Cambodia is routinely listed by independent groups such as Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. The poor country is heavily dependent on foreign aid, and often faces criticism _ though only weak pressure _ from donor countries unhappy about the situation.
Last year, the U.S. ambassador asserted that corruption saps Cambodia of up to $500 million a year that could otherwise be used for development, but the government denied the allegation. In 2004, a study prepared for the U.S. Agency for International Development said that Cambodia lost an estimated $300 million to $500 million annually to various forms of corruption.
Under the new legislation, any official found guilty of taking bribes would face up to 15 years in prison.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said after the law was passed that it will give Cambodia new tools to help the government to get rid of corruption.
But Son Chhay of the Sam Rainsy Party said the law's 57 articles were not intended to effectively fight corruption because they failed to create an independent, transparent body to oversee enforcement. The party says as a result, the law will only serve to support the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party.
They also complain that declarations of assets by politicians, civil servants, judges and members of the military and police would not be made public.
14 comments:
if we look at the way oppositon and company do business in cambodia, they always either delay thing, they always boycot session, and they always have extreme view on everything. how can people get their job done this way? opposition is a minority party, and they act like they own everything in cambodia. they have no concept of working together, consulting one another, etc... and they hypocritically called themselve the democratic party? it is questionable as they are hypocrites running it, and they always lobby the supports of the outside world. i hope the outside world, especially the USA, the EU, etc come study and see cambodia for themselves before buying into opposition's biased, extreme, fairy tale and perfection way. opposition often failed to see the reality in cambodia and its ability, education level, economic ability, etc... opposition is always demand the impossible. look, opposition boycotting of sessions is nothing new, they've done it thousands of times already, and despite their boycotting and opposing view, there were a lot of things done in cambodia e.g. development, making a real difference, many good law passed and life do go on in cambodia, really! the way i see it, opposition and company seemed to based their philosophy, if they have any, on subjective, emotional reaction, rather than being pragmatic, objective and the reality of things in cambodia. in short, they are the hypocrites and the very impatient. they have no concept of unity, and they seemed to use their names and elevate their own interest more than the interest of the country. they think they are perfect or something. that is so wrong for cambodia. hey, people can read, write and think for themselves now. cambodia is not in the dark ages anymore, ok! if you failed to see that, you are so behind time, or worst real ignorant of what is cambodia and what is going on the reality of cambodia. life goes on with or withou you, really! cambodia is tough having done through so much pain and suffering in the recent past, believe me, khmer people don't need anymor problem that delay progression of the country, etc... god bless cambodia.
srp and company is living is la la land, really! they are all about attitude, a bad one that is!
Dea 10.43pm,
I see your side. However, you must undertand that it is not about the anti corruption law that matter, what matter is the process of making law and public participation and public debate of of which promote demogracy and people power. Does CPP allow that? No.
Based on his talk yesterday,Hun Sen targets the dual citizenship individuals who are in government.He invokes hatred and divisions between expat and domicile Cambodians in government.
He thinks his laws will expose those with two nationalities and assests and properties abroad.
Most foreign developed countries have taxation laws and anti-corruption laws in addition to the professional ethics already long before Hun Sen was born.Also that's the reason they pitied Cambodians and allowed them to settle and rebuild life in their countries.So in the end those Cambodians can contribute and assist Cambodia reconstruction.
Hun Sen sounds idiotic and ungrateful on such subject as he thought other countries just passed laws like his yesterday.
Big mouth talking head of no substance.
When I read the alter amendment from Sam Rainsy party is suck!! no need to be amended, just passed it and wait to write the whole law when your turn is up in 2099=)
God Bless Thevada Hun Sen, Thevada Chea Sim and Thevada Heng Samrin!
CHESS OF PRIVATE PARTY! Wrong move you're OUT!
the point is srp and compay will come up with all kind of lame excuses in their dirty tactics and attitude toward gov't of cambodia. no wonder they are still a minority party. in history, never heard a minority party can win, exception might be when they wake up and change their extreme, radical way. otherwise they will always remained a minority with their big attitude as people don't like bad attitude, really! they are so biased in many way, to say the least! they know how to run their mouth like diarrhea, but nothing productive comes out of it, really! and they are good with using excuses like freedom of speech, democracy pretext, oh and they are hypocrites, big time, really!
that's your opinions, i have one too, you know!
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.
“Therefore, as a first step, we must consider these declarations to be made in secret, but we must make is such that these officials dare declare their personal wealth.
Wow, I can't believe he saying this?
What is the purpose of the law?
Is it transparent?
Well, the cpp leadership branched out from the Kkhmer Rouge regime. So they have no rationale to anything. In my opinion, this law only sounds good on paper but has no significant impact to corruption problems in Cambodia.
Mr. Sam Rainsy and your party! you need to stop once in for all! Enough is enough! We are sick and tired of you! You've been digging researching and trouble makers from the start. Don't you have something better to do? Give up and walk away with a smile! The law is the law and it passed! Tell your supporters to stop. By the way, Cambodia is in a better shape as ever!
P.S I don't belong in any political party. I'm an independent! peace yall!
What do you want from Ah Kwack! beside evil and corruption!!!!!
Nothing's new, laws are just tools to control and punish opposition members and regular peoples only.
Pol Pot use the word ANGKAR and Hun Sen uses the word LAW.
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