Prime Minister Hun Sen had made repeated pledges to reform the corrupt system plaguing his successive governments which Ian Porter, the World Bank country coordinator characterized "as a disease, plague and cancer". At this year CG meeting, Prime Minister Hun Sen is recycling his old unkept promises. Complacency of donor countries are partly to blame for the current stalemate in Cambodia. (Photo BBC)Cambodia PM pledges better governance at donors meet
By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH, March 2 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen pledged on Thursday to improve governance as his government sought more than $500 million from foreign donors demanding action against rampant corruption and mismanagement.
Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier who has led the impoverished Southeast Asian nation for 20 years, said that the National Assembly would soon pass an anti-corruption bill which has been talked about since the early 1990s.
"We need to work on improving governance further if we are to make more of a dent in poverty. We have no room for complacency," Hun Sen said at the start of the two-day annual donors meeting in Phnom Penh.
Donors gave the government some credit for gains against poverty in the past year, thanks to a stronger economy on the back of agriculture, garment exports and tourism.
But graft continued to plague the country ranked 131 out of 158 countries -- below Albania and Sierra Leone -- on Transparency International's 2005 corruption index.
World Bank country coordinator Ian Porter told the meeting: "Corruption in Cambodia has been described variously as a disease, plague and cancer".
The call for improved governance was echoed by U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli, whose government donated $60 million to Cambodia last year.
"I think the government would agree that the overarching issue is corruption which impedes the development of this country," he told Reuters. "It's going to be a long battle."
Hun Sen said the anti-corruption bill was undergoing a final review and he expected parliament to ratify it soon. The Cambodian leader made a similar pledge to donors last year.
Donors welcomed the improved political climate after Hun Sen patched up his differences with opposition rival Sam Rainsy, who returned from self-imposed exile in France last month.
However, some rights groups noted the reconciliation came after pressure from foreign donors led by the United States, which had accused Hun Sen of using the law to crush the opposition.
"Donors should not be lulled into thinking the situation has improved," the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said.
"This is a decade-old pattern: assurances by the government right before the donor meetings, followed by a return to the old ways afterward."
Hun Sen has denied his reconciliation with Sam Rainsy had anything to do with the donors meeting, which ends on Friday.
Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier who has led the impoverished Southeast Asian nation for 20 years, said that the National Assembly would soon pass an anti-corruption bill which has been talked about since the early 1990s.
"We need to work on improving governance further if we are to make more of a dent in poverty. We have no room for complacency," Hun Sen said at the start of the two-day annual donors meeting in Phnom Penh.
Donors gave the government some credit for gains against poverty in the past year, thanks to a stronger economy on the back of agriculture, garment exports and tourism.
But graft continued to plague the country ranked 131 out of 158 countries -- below Albania and Sierra Leone -- on Transparency International's 2005 corruption index.
World Bank country coordinator Ian Porter told the meeting: "Corruption in Cambodia has been described variously as a disease, plague and cancer".
The call for improved governance was echoed by U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli, whose government donated $60 million to Cambodia last year.
"I think the government would agree that the overarching issue is corruption which impedes the development of this country," he told Reuters. "It's going to be a long battle."
Hun Sen said the anti-corruption bill was undergoing a final review and he expected parliament to ratify it soon. The Cambodian leader made a similar pledge to donors last year.
Donors welcomed the improved political climate after Hun Sen patched up his differences with opposition rival Sam Rainsy, who returned from self-imposed exile in France last month.
However, some rights groups noted the reconciliation came after pressure from foreign donors led by the United States, which had accused Hun Sen of using the law to crush the opposition.
"Donors should not be lulled into thinking the situation has improved," the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission said.
"This is a decade-old pattern: assurances by the government right before the donor meetings, followed by a return to the old ways afterward."
Hun Sen has denied his reconciliation with Sam Rainsy had anything to do with the donors meeting, which ends on Friday.
1 comment:
dictator hun sen ..is nothing but same as sadam of iraq..
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