Cambodian journalists urged to join fight against corruption [-Will pro-CPP newspaper dare expose CPP corruption all the way to the top?]

Tue, 23 Oct 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's most powerful journalism organisation has weighed into the battle against the country's endemic corruption, urging journalists to expose graft and announcing large cash prizes in a statement published Tuesday. Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) president Pen Samitthy published details of the competition in the country's largest selling Khmer-language daily, Rasmei Kampuchea. Samitthy is also the editor-in-chief of that newspaper.

"To effectively fight against corruption, we need the support of the media," Samitty wrote in his prologue. "Please, all journalists, expose corruption. We must all respond, not just the government."

He also called on the Cambodian National Assembly and the international community to support local journalists who dared to root out corruption at all levels of society.

A first prize of 1,100 dollars plus a trophy were on offer for the best anti-corruption investigative journalism piece, and all stories must be submitted anonymously, Samitthy wrote.

The CCJ boasts more than a thousand members and receives support from the US embassy and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation amongst others. Rasmei Kampuchea is viewed as being close to the ruling Cambodian People's Party by media analysts.

Cambodia was ranked at 162 out of 180 countries by Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International in its recently released 2007 index. Rampant graft has been blamed for the country's failure to attract more much-needed foreign direct investment.

World Bank head urges Cambodia to tackle corruption

Sunday, August 5, 2007
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Sunday Cambodia needs to make a greater effort to tackle rampant corruption if it wants the continued support of international donors.

"As many of you know, Cambodia draws about US$690 million (€504 million) of assistance a year from international donors, which is no small sum in a world of competitive aid," Zoellick said at a press conference ending his visit to Cambodia Sunday.

"And to be able to continue and strengthen that support, it will need to build a positive record and counter the challenge of corruption," he said.

Cambodia has been blessed by a double-digit economic growth for the past three years but it remains plagued by chronic corruption.

It was ranked 151 among 163 countries in Transparency International's 2006 "corruption perceptions index," where the number one country is the least corrupt. Transparency International is an international non-governmental agency.

Some 35 percent of its 14 million people live with less than 50 US cents (36 euro cents) a day.

The World Bank is among donors who in June pledged US$689 million (€502 million) in aid for Cambodia, where recent discovery of offshore oil has raised both hope for the country's future and fear that it could make corruption even worse.

Fraud and corruption in the procurement process forced the World Bank in June 2006 to freeze US$7.6 million (€5.5 million) in funding for several projects in Cambodia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen angrily denied the allegations and said there was no proof of wrongdoing.

Early this year, the bank lifted the suspensions on the projects after it had reached agreement with the government on frameworks for improving the project's implementation.

Zoellick said combating corruption also comes down to an issue of "fairness to the Cambodian people."

"For people who've suffered enormously, they need the share and the benefit of the growth and development," he said.

A government spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Zoellick said he met with Hun Sen and other government officials behind the push of economic development.

He said he discussed with them recent economic achievements of the country and the challenges it is still facing in trying to move "to the next level of development."

He said revenue from recently discovered oil will be a fresh opportunity for Cambodia to advance its development and provide the basis for spreading rural electrification and eradicating poverty.

"This will also be a key question for Cambodia with natural resource development. Will it apply high standard whether it be the energy sector or the forestry sector?" he asked.

Cambodian PM Expresses Support for Khmer Rouge Trials

By Catherine Makino
Voice of America, Tokyo
14 June 2007

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has welcomed the upcoming trial of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, after Cambodian and international judges agreed on procedural rules that will allow the trial process to begin. Human rights activists have previously accused the Hun Sen government of placing obstacles in the way of the tribunal. Catherine Makino reports from Tokyo, where Hun Sen is on a visit to seek increased investment in Cambodia.

The Cambodian prime minister told reporters his government and the people of Cambodia fully support the long-awaited trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders.

"We always asked countries to start the trial as soon as possible, because Cambodia will not have a bright future unless the problem is resolved and they are punished," he said. "This is what all of the people of Cambodia have been hoping for."

More than 1.7 million Cambodians died under Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979. Pol Pot, the top leader of the ultra-radical Maoist group, died in 1998, but several of Pol Pot's associates are still living freely in the country.

Hun Sen was a junior-level Khmer Rouge soldier himself, and human rights activists have charged that he and his government have worked behind the scenes to prevent the tribunal from starting its work. Hun Sen has said the proceedings could cause panic among Khmer Rouge supporters who still live in Cambodia, and reignite the civil war that ravaged the country from 1980s into the 1990s.

He has also said the country could not afford the U.N.-sponsored tribunal, although Japan later stepped in with the needed funds.

On Wednesday, agreement was reached on procedures for the trials after extended negotiations between domestic and international judges and lawyers.

The prime minister was unequivocal in his support for the tribunal.

"The Khmer Rouge have to be taken to task for what they did, and we will watch how the international community will have the Khmer Rouge leaders take responsibility for having inflicted these atrocities," he added.

The main purpose of Hun Sen's four-day visit to Japan is to seek investment and tourists. Cambodia's infrastructure is in tatters after decades of civil war and neglect.

Japan pledged more than $100 million at a donor's meeting last year, and has been Cambodia's largest donor for years. But Tokyo lags behinds other countries in investment and trade with the Southeast Asian nation.

In his public comments, Hun Sen repeated pledges to reduce corruption, which has been one obstacle to increased investment.

As the number of Hun Sen's pledges to fight corruption grows, so does the length of his nose

Cambodia's Hun Sen tells Japanese he will fight graft

By Hiroshi Hiyama

TOKYO (AFP) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen pledged Thursday to fight corruption to lure more investors from top donor Japan as he tries to wean his government away from foreign aid.

Hun Sen, visiting Japan for his 15th time, met with business leaders and was set to sign a bilateral agreement on encouraging investment.

"By strengthening good governance, we will continue to thoroughly manage public agencies and to eradicate corruption and reduce costs for investors," Hun Sen said at the luncheon with business leaders.

"I firmly believe that Japanese investment is essential for further development of Cambodia," Hun Sen said. "We are aiming to stabilise the political, economic and security environment so that investments can be made with confidence."

He said the investment agreement, to be signed later Thursday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, should also improve opportunities for Japanese businesses eyeing to invest in Cambodia.

Japan is the top donor to Phnom Penh, but the world's second largest economy accounts for a mere two percent of Cambodia's overall trade, according to Japanese official data.

Donors are meeting in Cambodia next week, but many have expressed deep frustration over the lack of reform in the country including corruption.

Hun Sen earlier this month praised China, which has a growing rivalry for influence with Japan, for handing over aid without any conditions.

At the luncheon, Hun Sen said Cambodia was on a steady growth track, overcoming the regional economic crisis in the 1990s and occassional natural disasters.

Recently discovered natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, should also boost Cambodia's international standing, Hun Sen said.

"Private sector participation is essential. I am convinced that the Cambodian economy will grow further with participation from Japanese companies and investors as we continue to improve Cambodia's investment environment," he said.

"Cambodia historically had had difficulties and struggles. But we have overcome the difficulties with our strong will to develop the nation under democracy," he said.

Hun Sen voiced optimism that growth, which has surged ahead at around 9.0 percent a year since 2000, would help eliminate widespread poverty in Cambodia.

"It is my sincere hope that well thought-out social and economic development will further reduce poverty in our nation," he said.

He thanked Japan's consistant financial and other aid for his nation, adding that more assistance is needed to improve infrastructure, human resources, and business and technological know-how.

Japan pledged more than 100 million dollars at last year's donor meeting, which netted Cambodia some 600 million dollars in aid.

Hun Sen, who arrived late Wednesday and leaves Saturday, also had an audience with Emperor Akihito.

He will travel to the southern region of Fukuoka to observe a project in farm development, a top priority for Cambodia.