Last Updated on 28 June 2013
By Abby Seiff
The Phnom Penh Post
In the resolution entitled “Calling for More Accountable Foreign Assistance for Cambodia”, Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio urge the Committee of Foreign Affairs to hold Cambodia accountable for a raft of rights violations.
“America’s investment in that Southeast Asian country has been anything but insignificant,” reads the resolution, dated June 7 and obtained yesterday.
“Unfortunately, we are not getting a return on this investment when it comes to the advancement of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights.”
The US is one of Cambodia’s largest donors, providing $1.25 billion in aid and military assistance between 1993 and 2011, according to the senators. An additional $73.5 million in aid has been earmarked for next year.
Pointing to the Kingdom’s rating on the Human Development Index (138 of 187), its Corruption Perceptions Index standing (157 of 174) and its “not free” ranking in Freedom House’s latest world report, the senators then call for the US government to pull all support for the elections unless they accept recommendations posited by UN special rapporteur Surya Subedi, among others.
“A Cambodian government formed as a result of such illegitimate elections should not be eligible for direct United States Government assistance, including for the military and police, and the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development should jointly reassess and reduce assistance for Cambodia in subsequent fiscal years, and urge international financial institutions to do the same,” they continue.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said he was “very thankful for their concern about the upcoming election”, but urged a more nuanced look, pointing out that Rainsy’s convictions made him ineligible to run and stressing that the ruling party had been nothing if not “mature and patient” in the run-up to the July vote.
“I wish the US government would strengthen the rule of law rather than polarise this election. This election represents the will of the people.”
Noting that the resolution remained pending, US Embassy spokesman John Simmons declined to comment on whether aid would in fact be suspended but urged the Cambodian government to “consider seriously the recommendations by the UN special rapporteur”.
“The upcoming national elections will be a critical test of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s democracy,” he wrote in an email.
1 comment:
It is long overdue that the Hun Sen government be hit where it hurts the most, its pocket!
You cannot just simply continue to reward such a bad kid and hope that he will change. This ONE is hopelessly unchangeable and needs to be replaced by someone more acceptable to the Cambodian people.
It is certainly a time for change, but I am not sure if the sizable number of Cambodians are ready for this, especially those who serve NOT their country, but their party for their own gain!
Come on, Cambodians! Get smarter so the bright future for yourselves and your own beloved kids becomes a true reality!
Help yourself first, then your friends and finally God will be there for you. Don't look up to the sky and count on God unless you have made up your mind to do something about the condition in which you live. You have been crying long enough!
Stop crying and take action into your own hands.
"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success."
- Norman Vincent Peale
Change, do we need? Yes, certainly we DO!
Pissed Off
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