Hun Sen's gov't got its wish from Donor Countries

Cambodian government officials and donors stand listening to the national anthem during the 1st Cambodia Development Coorperation Forum meeting in Phnom Penh. Cambodia is expected to seek 689 million dollars Wednesday from donors amid demands by rights groups the international community get tough on the government's apparent refusal to reform. (Photo: AFP)

Cambodia boosts aid request to 689 million dollars

Wednesday • June 20, 2007
AFP

Cambodia is expected to seek 689 million dollars Wednesday from donors amid demands by rights groups the international community get tough on the government's apparent refusal to reform.

The amount of aid requested for the coming year is almost 100 million dollars more than that pledged at last year's annual meeting, according to government documents.

Already, Cambodia's largest donor Japan has said it will likely offer the same, if not more money than last year's 110 million dollars.

While acknowledging Cambodia's economic growth as a positive sign, Japan said in a statement that "the slow progress in certain governance reform programmes seems to need particular attention."

Foreign donors are expected to announce their pledges later Wednesday after two days of aid talks that have reportedly focussed largely on the government's failure to pass anti-corruption legislation to tackle rampant graft.

Cambodia was ranked 151 out of 163 countries in Transparency International's 2006 corruption index, which compares graft levels in governments around the world.

Before the meeting, diplomats praised Cambodia's increased willingness to work with donors.

But the opening of the talks Tuesday was marred by the detention of foreign protesters which rights groups said highlighted the government's continuing hardline stance towards dissent.

The eight Westerners, who were demanding the release of two men many feel have been wrongly jailed for the 2004 killing of labour leader Chea Vichea, were freed hours later.

But the incident underscores Cambodia's failure to act on its reform promises made at previous donor meetings, rights groups said.

"The meeting has become an empty annual ritual, with the government making and breaking promises every year," said Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.

"There will be more promises made this year but without serious donor pressure they, too, will be broken," he added.

US Amb ambiguous position regarding GW report: Mussomeli supports GW report but not the fact that GW is accusing individuals

Friday, June 15, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

“Cambodia can be considered as one of the countries that has a good human rights record when compared to a number of other countries” - Joseph Mussomeli, US Ambassador to Cambodia

Joseph Mussomeli, US Ambassador to Cambodia, said that he supports the Global Witness report regarding illegal logging and corruption which cause several problems (in Cambodia), however, he does not support the political attitude taken to accuse each individual without sufficient evidence.

During a visit to Peace Corps volunteers who are currently teaching English at the Hun Sen Svay Chrum high school on 13 June, Amb Mussomeli declared in an interview with reporters that he shares the concerns expressed by Global Witness regarding illegal logging and corruption which cause a lot of problems, however, he criticizes the entire Global Witness report for accusing each individual without providing sufficient evidence to back up the accusations made against these individuals.

Mussomeli said: “We do not support the accusations made by Global Witness against each individual because it does not contain sufficient evidence.”

“In the future, I am confident that Global Witness and the Royal Government of Cambodia will hold a constructive dialogue because Global Witness has a lot of issues to raise to the government, and the government also has a lot of explaining to do on the issues raised by Global Witness,” Mussomeli added.

Regarding Mr Yash Ghai, the UN Special Envoy for Human Rights in Cambodia, Amb Mussomeli said: “It’s a fact that Mr Yash Ghai and human rights organizations has an important role in advancing human rights issues, and I hope that the relationship between Mr Yash Ghai and the Royal Government of Cambodia will improve in the future, and that they both will hold a dialogue to discuss on a number of issues that they need to accomplish.”

Nevertheless, Amb Mussomeli said that “Cambodia can be considered as one of the countries that has a good human rights record when compared to a number of other countries.”

When questioned about the impact of Yash Ghai’s human rights report and the Global Witness report on the upcoming Consultative Group (CG) aid forum to Cambodia, to be held between the Cambodian government and the aid providers, Amb Mussomeli provided his opinion by saying: “At the upcoming CG meeting, donor countries will not have major problems (that will force them) to cut aid to Cambodia, even though Global Witness asked for donor countries to apply pressures on Cambodia regarding illegal logging.”

He provides this opinion based on two factors: (1) government officials and other officials are actively working to fight against illegal logging, and (2) donor countries are coming to Cambodia to provide aid to the Cambodian people on AIDS issue, on healthcare issue, on lack of food for children issue, therefore, what can Global Witness do to reduce this kind of aid? I believe that it (GW) cannot do it.”