Investment Challenges Remain: Opposition

Yim Sovann, spokesperson for Sam Rainsy Party.
Kem Sokha, president of Human Rights Party.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
25 August 2009

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer (MP3)

Cambodia still faces a number of challenges in building up the private sector for investment, two opposition officials said Monday, following comments by a US senator who wants to see more trade.

Limited freedom of expression and suppression of the opposition, as well as issues such as unemployment, an economy in decline and low standards of living, all hurt Cambodia’s investment climate, Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann and Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha told “Hello VOA.”

Last week, Sen. Jim Webb made a swing through Cambodia, saying he would like to see more US investment, now that trade restrictions have been lifted and the two countries enjoy warming relations.

“The stance of the Human Rights Party is to find a peaceful solution through elections in 2012 and 2013,” Kem Sokha said. “We want a free and fair election, with US observers to monitor from the beginning.”

Yim Sovann said Webb’s visit—part of a five-country, Southeast Asian tour demonstrated US concerns for democracy at a time when Cambodia’s political development was facing serious issues.

“This was a well-planned trip for the strengthening of democracy and multi-liberal parties for Cambodia,” he said.

Kem Sokha noted a trend in US foreign relations to engage with dictatorships and undemocratic countries, in what were efforts to solve problems from the inside. He also noted Cambodia’s garment-heavy trade relationship with the US.

Yim Sovann called the visit of the US senator a “warning” for Cambodia to remove trade obstacles like corruption and bureaucracy.

Webb, who made a one-day stop to Cambodia, is chairman of the Foreign Relations subcommittee for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

The U.S. wants to do "what we can to encourage political diversity in Cambodia": Jim Webb

Webb Assures Cambodia Of "very Close Look" At The Trade Act

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

(RTTNews) - U.S. Senator Jim Webb, who is on a two-week tour of five South-East Asian nations, made a lightning visit to Cambodia Tuesday to 'invigorate' the United States' relationship with that country.

Talking to reporters at the capital, Phnom Penh, Webb said he assured during talks with the minister of commerce that Washington will take a "very close look" at the Trade Act of 2009, a measure introduced to provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for garments made in 14 least-developed countries.

He stressed the need for labor standards in beneficiary countries meeting international standards.

He said he discussed with the leaders of two of the opposition groups about the ongoing crackdown by the Cambodian government against its opponents. The U.S. wants to do "what we can to encourage political diversity in Cambodia," he added.

He is to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen later in the day.

Chairman of the U.S. Senate's Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Webb visited Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand with the mission of the U.S. government's re-engagement with Southeast Asia at all levels.

He will wind up the tour with a visit to Vietnam later Tuesday.

US Senator Envisions More Investment in Cambodia

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia gestures during a press conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. Webb was in Cambodia for one day official visit as part of his two-week-long tour of five nations in Southeast Asia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

By Ros Sothea, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 August 2009

On a tour through Southeast Asia where he has already secured the release of an American in custody in Burma, US Senator Jim Webb said in Phnom Penh Tuesday he wanted to see “more American investment in Cambodia.”

Webb, who met with Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh and opposition leaders and was expected to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen, is on a five-nation swing through the region.

Cambodia was only recently taken off a US trade blacklist of Marxist-Leninist countries, paving the way for more private investment.

Webb, a Democrat from Virginia, is chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee.

The Foreign Relations subcommittee oversees regional organizations such as Asean and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

US Senator Jim Webb makes quick stop in Cambodia on Asian tour [... met with two opposition leaders]

Aug 18, 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - US Senator Jim Webb made a lightning visit to Cambodia on Tuesday as part of a regional trip designed to 'invigorate the relationship' between the United States and South-East Asian nations.

Webb is in the region in his capacity as chairman of the Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee. His trip takes in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

At a press conference in Phnom Penh on Tuesday ahead of a scheduled meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Webb was asked about the ongoing crackdown by the Cambodian government against its opponents.

The question followed a strong European Union statement issued earlier in August in which the EU warned that the government's actions could narrow Cambodia's democratic space.

Webb would not be drawn on whether or how the US would exert pressure on Phnom Penh to respect democratic rights, saying only that the US wants to do 'what we can to encourage political diversity in Cambodia.'

'As a part of my visit here I met with the leaders of two of the opposition groups to hear their views, and we had [a] discussion with respect to the issues that you mentioned, and we will continue to listen to people from all sides,' Webb said. 'I listened in great detail to the concerns of the two opposition leaders on that topic.'

He was more forthcoming on the Trade Act of 2009, a measure introduced by Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein to provide duty-free access to the US market for garments made in 14 least-developed countries.

Cambodia, whose economically vital garment industry has been battered over the past year, would benefit from the passage of the bill. However the legislation is currently languishing in the US Senate.

'That issue was the subject of a pretty lengthy discussion with the minister of commerce, and I committed to him that we'll take a very close look at the legislation,' Webb said.

Webb said one key concern is that labour standards in beneficiary countries should meet international standards.

'It's very important to the Democratic Party in the United States to make sure we have a fair playing field among our workers and workers overseas,' he explained. 'That being said, the minister made a very compelling case for us to look at that legislation and we will do that when we get back.'

Webb leaves Cambodia later on Tuesday headed to Vietnam.