ច្របាច់កចិនលៀនអណ្តាតខ្មែរ យួនច្របាច់កឆ្កែ លៀនអណ្តាតអ្នកស្រុក - Electricity price increases in Cambodia to pay off Vietnamese debt

កម្ពុជា​គ្រោង​ដំឡើង​ថ្លៃ​អគ្គិសនី​ដើម្បី​សង​បំណុល​វៀតណាម

2012-07-05
ដោយ សុខ សេរី
RFA

មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​នៃ​ក្រសួង​ឧស្សាហកម្ម រ៉ែ និង​ថាមពល បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ជា​ថ្មី​ថា ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ និង​ខេត្ត​ដទៃ​ទៀត មិន​អាច​គេច​ផុត​ពី​ការ​ដំឡើង​ថ្លៃ​ចរន្ត​អគ្គិសនី​បាន​ឡើយ លើក​លែង​តែ​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង មួយ ដែល​មិន​ប៉ះពាល់ គឺ​ដោយ​សារ​ខេត្ត​នេះ​បាន​ទិញ​ចរន្ត​អគ្គិសនី​ពី​ប្រទេស​ថៃ។

រដ្ឋលេខាធិការ​នៃ​ក្រសួង​ឧស្សាហកម្ម រ៉ែ និង​ថាមពល លោក អ៊ិត ប្រាង (ឆ្វេង) នៅ​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​ក្រុម​ការងារ​ទី៩ នៅ​ក្រសួង​កសិកម្ម រុក្ខាប្រមាញ់ និង​នេសាទ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៤ ខែ​កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។

រដ្ឋលេខាធិការ​ក្រសួង​ឧស្សាហកម្ម រ៉ែ និង​ថាមពល លោក អ៊ិត ប្រាង បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ក្រសួង​នេះ​បាន​អនុញ្ញាតិ​ឲ្យ​អគ្គិសនី​កម្ពុជា (EDC) ដំឡើង​ថ្លៃ​ចរន្ត​អគ្គិសនី​នៅ​ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ និង​ខេត្ត​មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត នា​ពេល​ឆាប់ៗ​នេះ ដើម្បី​ប្រមូល​ថវិកា​សង​បំណុល​ចំនួន ៦​លាន​ដុល្លារ​អាមេរិក ដែល​អគ្គិសនី​កម្ពុជា បាន​ជំពាក់​វៀតណាម កន្លង​មក។

ភាគី​វៀតណាម បាន​ផ្ញើ​លិខិត​មក​ទាម​ទារ​ប្រាក់​បំណុល​នោះ តាំង​ពី​ខែ​មករា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ កន្លង​មក​នេះ ប៉ុន្តែ​នៅ​មិន​ទាន់​បាន​សង​នៅ​ឡើយ។

Greek Crisis Holds Lessons for Cambodia

Ros Sothea, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 25 May 2010

“When debt repayment time comes, Cambodia will need to borrow more money and it could face recession, like Greece.”

While Cambodia may never experience an economic crisis like the one in Greece that rattled world markets, economists here say the experience holds valuable lessons in the importance of increased annual revenue and reduced debts and deficits.

Before a $146 billion monetary package from neighboring European countries and the International Monetary Fund last week, Greece was facing a particularly high budget deficit of 12.7 percent, in part because its national tax collection is weak and corruption there is rooted.

Greece borrowed from other countries to cover its annual government expenditures—something that almost all countries do. But by 2010, Greece’s debt had reached $400 billion, and its weak tax collection was exacerbated by the global economic crisis.

That put the country at risk of a default, worrying markets because the European Union has a number of weaker economies, especially Italy, Portugal and Spain. The stabilization package was meant to help Greece over the next three years, and in return, Greeks will face austerity measures to reduce government spending and increase revenue.

Cambodia has similar problems of debt, tax collection and corruption.

But Sam Genthy, a financial analyst who is on Cambodia’s Securities Commission, said Cambodia has been able to avoid harsh effects of the economic crisis because it does not rely on international debt for general spending. What debts it does have are long term and low interest.

“Greece uses the euro, which will be watched closely on their budget deficit,” he said. “Cambodia is not at that stage yet, despite the country’s use of the dollar.”

Still, Cambodia needs to increase revenues from taxes in order to reduce its budget deficit and debt, he said.

Cambodia’s budget deficit in 2009 stood at 6 percent, double the year before. It spent more than $600 million over its annual revenue, which depends also on international aid and loans, which in 2009 nearly reached $1 billion.

Meanwhile, Cambodia owes an estimated $4 billion to foreign countries, about 40 percent of its annual GDP. That debt has nearly doubled since 2004.

Some economists worry that debt will continue to increase if donor countries cut aid—thereby prompting a Greece-like crisis.

“Our economy depends on only four sectors, which are very fragile,” economist Chheng Kimlong said.

Garments, tourism and housing were all buffeted by the global economic crisis, he said. “And only agriculture is pretty strong.”

If that is hurt, government revenue will decline.

“When debt repayment time comes, Cambodia will need to borrow more money and it could face recession, like Greece,” he said.

And without a stable economy, investors can withdraw from a country, he said.

Din Virak, a member of the Cambodian Economic Association, said a huge reduction in donor support could indeed trigger a crisis, but the government would potentially use oil and gas revenue to fill the gap.

Cambodia could also see an upswing in tax revenues with increased economic growth, which would help it reduce debt, said Douglas Broderick, the UN’s resident coordinator for Cambodia.

And so while a debt crisis for Cambodia is not just around the corner, it is something that has to be watched.

“It’s one of the items on the watch list and we have to be careful,” said Amy Wong, an economist for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. “To maintain the micro-economic stability is important, including low government deficit, so that the debt situation can reduce gradually. And to close the social gap, as well, because we should not [only] focus on economic growth, but to help the poor [and] address environmental issues.”

Hang Chuon Narun, director general of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said the government has been careful to balance spending and revenue, which he said will ensure Cambodia doesn’t face a crisis like Greece.

Your children and the children of their children will spend their life paying back the debt borrowed by Hun Sen to build roads and bridges

Hun Sen Touts Road and Bridge Projects

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
14 May 2008

Prime Minister Hun Sen boasted Wednesday of creating more than 400 kilometers of roads and many new bridges in the last two weeks alone, in a move observers say is a kind of campaigning ahead of the election.

Campaigning is officially set to begin June 26 and will run through July 25, two days before the polls open for general elections. But observers say remarks by Hun Sen broadcast on local media are aimed at pulling in voters sooner.

Hun Sen had “inaugurated some new national roads and bridges of more than 400 kilometers, during the last two weeks,” the prime minister told a crowd gathered for the opening of 152 kilometers of road and four bridges in Koh Kong province. “This is a marvel in the 21st Century, in what the Cambodia government and the people are cooperating with development partners to make for our Cambodians.”

“The people have asked him to continue,” Hun Sen said of himself. “After the election, I will take the prime minister post.”

Hun Sen’s public appearances were part of a “very important election campaign,” said Human Rights Party Vice President Keo Remy. They also amounted to “demagoguery to capture ballots from the voters.”

Opposition Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng Chhay Ieng called the statements “propaganda.”
“He is proud of the right things,” Eng Chhay Ieng said. “But he must tell the public how much the government has in foreign debt.”

Yong Kim Eng, director of the People’s Center for Development and Peace, said Hun Sen’s speeches were an “election strategy” to show the public the achievements of the government.

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.

Cambodia can reduce its foreign debt to $2 billion after the election [-Can it really?]

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Samne Thmey newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Cambodia, which is still covered with poverty, claimed on Wednesday that it will reduce its foreign debt down to $2 billion after the 2008 general election.

During a speech given at a seminar on aids provided by the AFD (French Development Agency?), Hang Chuon Naron, secretary of state of the ministry of economy and finance (MoEF), said: “We hope that foreign debt will be reduced to $2 billion after the upcoming election.”

Based on the number provided by the MoEF, in 2006, Cambodia owes more than $3 billion in foreign debt. This amount included the new loans that the government borrowed from friendly countries, such as China, etc… Hang Chuon Naron indicated that: “The government of Cambodia will discuss with lending countries for a relief in the debt owed, and it will use part of the state budget to pay some back.” He added: “We will use $20 to $50 million of the state budge to pay back the US and Russia each year.”

Regarding this expectation by Hang Chuon Naron, SRP MP Yim Sovann considers this as good news, and that this would constitute as a pride for the nation, if the government indeed has the ability to repay back foreign debt.

Yim Sovann said: “I think this is a good thing if we can really do that. However, I believe that the government does not have the ability to resolve this debt issue in the near future, except when the government decides to use the oil revenue to pay back the debt.”

At the same time, Yim Sovann warned: “The government should not be reckless in pulling the oil revenue to pay back the debt, because doing so, the economy in Cambodia will get worse. The repaying of foreign debt is one thing, but the increase of money borrowed from foreign countries, China and a number of other countries in particular, without strong requirements, open the way for powerful government officials to make decision where corruption could occur, the borrowed money can be used without transparency, and this adds heavier burden on the poor people and their offspring.

However, Hang Chuon Naron indicated that what Cambodia is facing with, in terms of foreign debt, is more of a political issue rather than an economic issue, and that this is difficult to avoid. He also said: “I say that we can resolve the problem of foreign debt after the election, and reduce it to below $2 billion because we have a clear strategy and goal.”

There is no clear document indicating how much Cambodia owes in foreign debt since 1979. However, SRP MP Son Chhay used to declare that Cambodia owes close to $6 billion: starting from 1993, Cambodia owes more than $3 billion in foreign debt, and it also has an outstanding debt of more than $2 billion prior to 1993. The largest sum of foreign debt is the one owed to Russia (former Soviet Union) which amounts to more than $1.5 billion. The government is currently asking Russia to cancel this debt by claiming that it is a poor country and it does not have the ability to pay it back. However, Russia did not reply to this request yet.

Heavy Debt Will Burden Next Generation, Opposition Says

Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
10/04/2007

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Tuesday his legislators had found billions of dollars in debt owed by the government to foreign countries, a burden it was leaving to the next generation.

Speaking outside the National Assembly after budget debates, Sam Rainsy said Cambodia owed as much as $6 billion in debt that had been covered up.

"Because the borrower spends the money loaned from foreign countries without control, 40 years later, our younger generation will have to pay it," he said.

National Assembly President Heng Samrin said the figure is hard to believe and that foreign debt has always been audited.

"The debt was carried on since the State of Cambodia, which also carried the previous generation's debt," he said.

The government has been making debt repayments every year since 1993, Chiem Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's finance and banking committee, said.

The government borrows about $300 million every year, he said.