Cambodia should depend on herself rather than depending on foreign aid

Synopsis: Cambodia delayed the donor countries meeting by claiming that these countries are facing economic woes, on the other hand, about 10 organizations, including Freedom House, Human Rights Watch and Global Witness, called on donor countries to rethink their aids to Cambodia. Ky Sok Lim's editorial called on Phnom Penh to stop depending on foreign aids and to stand by itself instead. Aid is good when the country is poor and needs development. However, at a time when Cambodia can stand up by herself, she should reduce the amount of loans and depend less on aid as some aid would tie up Cambodia's hands. For that, Cambodia must expand its economy. [KI-Media Note: In order to expand the economy, corruption must be dealt with. Most of all, Cambodia needs leadership to steer her to the right path of democracy and equitable economic prosperity. With Cambodia tied up under the yoke of cronyism, equitable economic expansion cannot take place].

http://www.box.net/shared/40i1ukjy5ehzaommu74z

Life as usual in the Kingdoom of Chek Snap Mouk (aka Banana)

(Photo: Everyday.com.kh)

A row of beggars are lining up the staircase to Phnom Athroeus in Oudong.

Should these beggars be ashamed of their action?

We don't think so! It is the government of Cambodia and their leaders who should be ashamed for not taking care of their citizens.

Shame on you King, Princes, Princesses, Prime Minister, Ek Ouddams, Chumteavs, Oknhas etc... for not seeing the plight of your citizens!

A successful post-conflict country that still relies "heavily" on International handouts?

(Photo: Reuters)

Cambodia Considered A Successful Post-conflict Country - PM

PHNOM PENH, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Saturday that his country is considered as a "successful post-conflict country", reports China's Xinhua news agency.

Giving speech at the forum on 2010 Asialink Conversations- Cambodia, Hun Sen said that Cambodia can be considered as a successful post-conflict country, as the reforms and economic growth plus other development schemes and plans are on right track.

He said, after the post conflict that only ended in late 1990s, and with the support from development partners and the private sector, Cambodia has made giant strides in development in the last decade.

With the return of full peace in 1998, a sense of confidence and pride pervades the country, a feeling that bodes well for birth prospects for economic growth and job creation and a concrete vision of a promising future.

"Since then, the Cambodian economy has undergone a dramatic and rapid transformation. Economic growth during 1999-2003 averaged 8. 8 percent, and although official development assistance(ODA) continued to finance growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) particularly investments in garment and tourism, was key to promoting growth," he said.

Hun Sen said that with the implementation during the last 5 years of the public financial management reform program, government revenue more than doubled from 2,220 billion riels (US$553 million) in 2004 to 4,928 billion riels (US$1.2 billion) in 2009.

In 2009, the gross domestic product experienced a positive growth, though very small, as agriculture and services sector maintained robust growth, he added.

On the per capita income, Hun Sen said since 1993, Cambodia's gross domestic product (GDP) increased fourfold from US$2.4 billion in 1993 to US$10.3 billion in 2008, and during this period, per capita income has more than tripled from US$229 to US$739.

The prime minister also expressed his optimism over the Asia's growth despite global economic recovery remains fragile.

"Although the global recovery remains fragile, we can see the positive signs of the recovery of the world economy," he said.

"We expect growth in Asia excluding Japan in 2010 to be around 7 percent."

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Tallest Building

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Cambodia aided to address climate change [- Beg, Beg, Beg!?!?]

02/28/2010
VNA/VOVNews

Cambodia and a number of international organisations on February 27 jointly launched a multi-donor initiative to cope with climate change.

The initiative, called the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA), received US$8.9 million in funding from various countries and international organisations worldwide.

The CCCA aims to help the Cambodian National Climate Change Committee to develop and coordinate policies on responding to the impact of climate change on agriculture and energy production and developing coastal areas in a sustainable way.

The initiative will raise the awareness of the Cambodian people on global climate change while providing senior government officials and representatives from social organisations with training and instruction on ways to deal with the threats posed by it.

At the launch ceremony, Cambodian Environment Minister Mok Mareth said the CCCA is a turning point in Cambodia’s roadmap toward mitigating the impact of climate change.

According to the United Nations, Cambodia is one of the countries that will suffer most from the first impact of global climate change.

In recent years, Cambodia has been hit by abnormally severe floods, droughts and storms, which occur more frequently than in the past.

Hun Sen and Kem Sokha spar over HRP origins, funders

Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

HRP president denies that he solicited advice from Hun Sen before creating party as well as his alleged reliance on foreign donors.

PRIME Minister Hun Sen's statement last week that he had supported the creation of the Human Rights Party in 2007 was misleading, Kem Sokha, the president of the party, said in an interview Tuesday with the Post.

During a speech at an inauguration ceremony in Oddar Meanchey province last week, Hun Sen said he had advised Kem Sokha on his initial plans to form the party and also provided a stadium location in which he could hold the party's first congress.

But Kem Sokha said Hun Sen has never supported opposition parties and has instead actively tried to thwart their progress.

"I don't care what he said," Kem Sokha told the Post.

"He does not want to have democracy. He wants to destroy the democratic movement. He has never said anything good about us."

Before the party was created in January 2007, Hun Sen said, Kem Sokha needed advice. He added that Kem Sokha said he could not create a party right away because he did not have enough money. At the time, he planned to visit the US to solicit donations, Hun Sen said.

In response, Kem Sokha said he did not go to Hun Sen for advice, insisting that he was obligated to inform Hun Sen of his plans because Hun Sen is the prime minister. Moreover, he claimed Hun Sen was obligated to approve the creation of the party and that this did not amount to actual support for it.

"It is just his duty, and it is my duty to ask him," Kem Sokha said.

Without Hun Sen's approval, Kem Sokha said, the Human Rights Party's 30,000 members would not have been allowed to legally attend the party's first congress, which was held in July 2007.

Fight over fundraising

Kem Sokha also took issue with Hun Sen's characterisation of the party's fundraising tactics. At the speech in Oddar Meanchey province, Hun Sen said of Kem Sokha: "He is a beggar of foreign money."

Hun Sen said this made Kem Sokha a hypocrite given that he has repeatedly criticised Hun Sen's interactions with foreign donors.

Kem Sokha said he did not beg foreigners for money but rather solicited donations from Cambodians overseas. Moreover, he said he criticised Hun Sen not for accepting foreign aid per se, but for accepting foreign aid and then criticising the donors, in particular the UN.

Hun Sen also said Kem Sokha at first asked him whether he should create an NGO or a political party, a charge Kem Sokha flatly denied.

Hun Sen Wins Cambodian Election and Probably Expands Majority

By Daniel Ten Kate

July 27 (Bloomberg) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former communist who has ruled for two decades, won today's election and probably increased his parliamentary majority amid greater prosperity and a wave of nationalism over a border dispute.

Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party finished first in the voting, followed by opposition leader Sam Rainsy's party, named after himself, said Khan Keo Mono, a spokesman for the National Election Committee.

``Votes are still being counted but the CPP probably won more seats than it did in 2003,'' the spokesman said by telephone today. Official results are expected tomorrow.

The ruling party's victory may lead to more foreign investment. The economic expansion and a recent military standoff with neighboring Thailand over disputed land near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a United Nations' World Heritage Site, have benefited the incumbent government.

``Political stability has been and will continue to be the most important contributor to Cambodia's rapid economic growth,'' said a July 21 note from the Cambodia Investment and Development Fund, one of several funds planning to spend about $450 million in the country.

In the 2003 election, Hun Sen's party won 73 of 123 parliamentary seats, or 59 percent, short of the two-thirds majority then required to form a government. In 2006, lawmakers changed the constitution to allow a party to form a government with a simple majority. Hun Sen said he expects to win 81 seats in this election.

Disenfranchised

Sam Rainsy, whose party won 24 seats in the 2003 election, said today that 200,000 voters in Phnom Penh were disenfranchised because their names were taken off voter lists. He called for a re-vote in the capital, where he outperformed Hun Sen in the previous election.

Election observers, who noted the missing names on voter lists, said the poll was cleaner than in previous years. Human rights groups have said political violence during this campaign season did not reach the level seen in years past.

``This election was better,'' Hang Puthea, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, a non-governmental organization, said by phone Sunday night. ``We saw irregularities but they were fewer than we saw before.''

Sam Rainsy was probably exaggerating the number of people whose names were left off voter lists, Hang Puthea said. The National Election Committee has the authority to call a new election, an unlikely prospect at this point.

``The election went smoothly; we just had some problems with missing voter names,'' said Khan Keo Mono, the national election committee spokesman. He added that those people ``cannot vote anymore.''

Growing Support

For now, Hun Sen, 56, is enjoying growing support as foreign investment creates jobs in the energy, agriculture, tourism and garment industries and he rewards rural voters with new schools and paved roads. The ongoing troop buildup along the Thai border has stirred up nationalism that gave him a boost heading into today's election.

Thailand and Cambodia plan to meet tomorrow in Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex, to try and resolve the row over 4.6 square kilometers of disputed land. Thailand appointed a new foreign minister yesterday to lead negotiations after the previous one was forced to resign over the issue.

Issue Resolution

New Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said in a statement today that he is ``confident that on the basis of their close and long- standing friendship, the two countries will be able to find ways to resolve the issue together.''

Cambodia has started to rehabilitate its image as a corrupt beggar state after the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s killed most of the educated class. It received $763 million in foreign aid last year.

Foreign investment is set to double from $2.7 billion this year, according to the Cambodian Investment Board, a government agency. As the country prepares to open a stock market next year, foreign investment funds such as Leopard Capital are looking at banks, office buildings, luxury hotels and other projects.

To contact the reporters on this story: Daniel Ten Kate in Bangkok at
dtenkate@bloomberg.net

Hun Sen, Cambodia Beggar Leader

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

March 27, 2008
Opinion By Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://neokhmer.wordpress.com

Pundits said, act like one if you wanted people to see what you are. If a leader acts as a beggar, surely his nation is a beggar. Cambodia is a pain to the world. Apparently its leader is kept in darkness and in a short leash all the times. He has no way to know the truth.

All ministers are projecting obedient in his presence, in fact, all are deceitfully for show. Every one of them has a stake in Cambodia systematic corruption and tyranny. All only respond to a threat of serious punitive consequences. It has become Cambodia new religion.

Sadly, in examples, one can tell if Om Yin Tieng or Soc Anh is really loyal to Hun Sen “does not know how to cheat” why Professor Yash Ghai and others had to say what had been said. Yet Hun Sen can’t seem to think for himself anymore. One friendly source categorizes “Big Brother Soc Anh can say whatever, Hun Sen believes and never think twice.”Lately it appears that way. If Soc An arbitrarily stalled Anti Corruption and Good Governance Laws from passing, Hun Sen quickly obeyed and made all possible.”

From old wise forewarning, “Trust not the sky or stars, trust not spouse of no unfaithful and trust not mother of no debt" evidently this is exactly where Hun Sen is in now. Instead of finding facts and truth on own intuition, PM Hun Sen believes every word he reads from his advisor short-hand notes.

To keep truth from Hun Sen, Chief of Ministers Soc Anh kept him busy in ceremonial role around the globe. Hun Sen loves beautiful words and pomp as Soc Anh puts,” for the last 500 year, under Hun Sen this is the only Cambodia is at peace.” Too little to know, a large percentage of population is at war day and night. Also some corners in CPP are ready to do away with Hun Sen Self importance behaviors. Too soon to say Hun Sen‘s wishful Sdach Kan prophecy may reign over him for sure.

People saw example in late 90’s when Comrade Son Sen the DK Chief of Commanders and brilliant military tactician, was lynched to pieces by his under-link, Ta Mok’s T-54 tank because of arbitrary agreement made with Hun Sen just before Pol Pot was stripped from all power. Pol Pot himself was on the run constantly until his suspicious death in April 1998.

After his death all conspiracies were laid upon his pathetic grave by his own brother in law and most trusted Deputy, Ieng Sary. Need not to put words in one’s mouth, will the same paradigm happen to the most powerful Hun Sen?

Had Hun Sen not wondered why Soc Anh was so moved to want to parade himself as Head of Cambodia in the New Year parade in Long Beach, California? Still have no idea, all ministers are spoon fed information and orders from His Big Brother Uppak Soc Anh. In years to come, as long as fellow citizens go to sleep hungry, Hun Sen fate soon will be like his once Revered Leader Pol Pot for sure. Time will tell indeed.

Do not be confused Cambodia peace and democracy does not come cheap. It was built on at least 3 million dead, land and sea losses in addition to UN’s 2 billion dollars investment. Also do not be mistaken, peace was brought upon citizens because they were too tired of war, unlike some said it was Hun Sen own doing. Only a fool would believe that.

Generally there is no war but millions still go to war with own hunger and hopelessness. No matter how much donations poured in, Cambodia can’t be well fed as long as it is under Hun Sen and cronies.

The desperation will lead people to commit despicable deeds in order to survive even it is against own religion. In either way, so long all ministerial office occupants remain the same, Cambodia will remain a beggar nation with no real peace.

Let’s Vote, Hun Sen: a Goat or a Monkey?

March 21, 2008
Op-Ed by Kok Sap
http://neokhmer.wordpress.com

The raised concern in Cambodia under Hun Sen long rule is the serious human rights violation. It is a very broad topic that handicaps Cambodian society in all aspects. Ironically all courts in Cambodia is nowhere independent and apolitical. This is a pulse of a contentious concern of Yash Ghai entire report.

The striking point of Cambodia tragedy and poverty rooted out from leadership incompetence since 1954. The total accumulated debt is up to $2,250 million under Hun Sen belt, said Ambassador Ek Sereivath. This is a staggering burden for a country ranked 162 out 180 in poor governance under the person leadership for the past 20 years. This is how the world sees Cambodia in adaptive challenge and learning aptitude. It is despicably poor and backward. Next to Sihanouk, Hun Sen loves to brag in crude diplomacy and vulgarity. He lacks total sense of self respect and dignity.

Surely it is clear and a UNTAC $2 billion done deal, few days ago Monarchy is belonged to Prorcheachon [people], boasted Hun Sen. The same time he accuses the oppositions attempt to do away from monarchy. Not enough he berates the Republic idealism as something unsavory for Cambodia although he himself was a poster child of Hanoi Republic adoption. He is invoking fear and hatred to infringe democratic spirit and freedom of choice in belief. He indirectly shrugged off Sihanouk to test out voter confidence in the present King. This is a purely concerted hypocrisy in the government house.

King Sihamoni knows he is trapped between dictatorship and communism. With Beijing commands, the man who wanted to be king, Hun Sen, had to accept and swallow his evil nature. No option, China leases monarchy from Hanoi control in high prices. In his individual, King Sihamoni clearly understands his fate. He already appealed, as long as people allow two weeks of notice and a safe passage, he would gladly oblige to leave the evil throne.

Apparently Hun Sen is using Norodom Ranariddh against his corruptive and former legal wife as decoy to wipe out Sihanouk FUNCINPEC and control other royalties. In records, all Ranariddh flaws are no where near Hun Sen own baggages. He has not been known killer or traitor as of his father type. So as it seems this is a clear intent to scapegoat Ranariddh for Hun Sen own malfeasances. Now the inept and unrepentant Hun Sen puts fear in King heart to hold his brother as an outcast.

Ranariddh was accused of stealing $30 million and adultery. It is a lot of money for anyone standards, but let’s be honest; it is still a lot lesser than Hoc Lon Di who makes $375,000 monthly from being the most ruthless national police commissioner. In fairness, according to constitutionality, Ranariddh has the right to represent himself in court if it was not for Hun Sen pulling strings on courts to deliver sentences in absentia. Frankly, he is the monarchy political liability and black sheep with Sihanouk consents.

For the worst, Ranariddh name was unlisted in Global, International Amnesty or UN Human Rights reports. The joke was because of his political rivalry, so he is not allowed to stay in and reenter Cambodia. He is banished from Cambodia. Hun Sen treats himself with a plush Fortress with thousands of well paid guard and hundreds of million of dollars deposited offshore the Kingdom.

To date Cambodia is so wrapped in a hopeless and beggar in competition with upper-hand treatment 4.5 million Viet Nam citizens. As a leader for a long time, he sees to make sure Cambodia will be not be progressive as long as he remains in position.

Sam Rainsy visits Pursat province and meets with hundreds of villagers

July 17, 2007 , Pursat province (in northwest Cambodia ). Sam Rainsy meets with hundreds of villagers to denounce the current government that treats citizens as beggars, and to elaborate on good governance in the fight against poverty.

Cambodia begs VN to build hydroelectric dams, establish mining resource maps, and provide cheap electricity ... at what cost though?

Suy Sem asks Vietnam to build hydroelectric dams on the Sesan River

Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

During his visit to Vietnam, Suy Sem, the minister of industry, mining and energy, said that Cambodia is waiting for help from Vietnam to build two hydroelectric dams on the Sesan River.

Suy Sem told the Vietnamese News Agency on 13 July that these dams will be built in the Sesan 1 and Sesan 2 areas.

The same source indicated that during his visit to Vietnam, Suy Sem led a Cambodian delegation to discuss on numerous constructions with Vietnamese mining industries and experts from the Vietnamese ministry of industry, the Vietnamese department of natural resources and environment, and he was warmly welcomed by one of the Vietnamese deputy prime ministers.

The same source indicated that besides the construction of hydroelectric dams, Suy Sem also discussed with Vietnam to help provide cheap electricity to Cambodia, as well as the aid package provided by the Vietnamese government to establish a mining resource map in the Northeastern zone of Cambodia, and a number of other issues.

Based on past studies, the Sesan River flows across three provinces in Cambodia’s Northeast, and that 5 hydroelectric dam sites have been defined. The total amount of electricity that can be produced along the Sesan River would total 818 Megawatts (MW), if the 5 dams were to be built. The first dam site along the Sesan River would be located at the border between Cambodia and Vietnam which will have a capacity of 90 MW, the second dam would be built in Stung Treng province with a capacity of 420 MW, the third one in the Prek Leang 1 area with a capacity of 64 MW, the fourth one located at the Prek Leang 2 area with a capacity of 64 MW, and the fifth one in Ratanakiri province with a capacity of 180 MW.

The cost for the construction of the dams would be $1.388 billion, and the dams will be built soon under the cooperation with Vietnam.

Aid: The making of a "beggar" Nation

Aid Without Reform Could Make Cambodia a 'Beggar' Nation, Activist Says

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
20/06/2007

Aid without reform and strict guidelines puts Cambodia at risk to become a beggar nation, solely reliant forever on foreign aid and incapable of one day functioning independently, Seng Theary, executive director of the Center for Social Development said Wednesday.

The consultative group of donors Wednesday pledged to give Cambodia $690 million in aid in 2007, raising questions about the number of years Cambodia will be reliant on aid, on how future generations will pay off foreign loans and whether the government was doing a good job with the money.

Governments must not forget that the aid is money from individual foreign taxpayers, so it should be 100 percent relevant to the Cambodian people, Seng Theary said in a VOA Khmer interview. This alone should make the annual aid pledges important to many people.

"There should be strong conditions," she said. Without them, reform won't take place. "That's why we need the donors to do more."

Continued aid without reform risked turning Cambodia into a "beggar," she said.

Projects undertaken by the government that don't succeed should be scrutinized by donors, and poor projects should not receive funding, she said.

Donors need to make sure the aid is being properly spent, and, if it isn't, they should be ready to cut it off, Seng Theary said.

Even as the aid comes in, the government ignored calls from rights groups for greater transparency on government expenditures and debt, she said.