Friday 14 December 2012

CAMBODIA: LRWC and ALRC denounce attacks against HRDs and problems with judicial independence — Asian Human Rights Commission

date: September 25, 2012
document id: ALRC-COS-21-08-2012
HRC section: Item 10, Cambodia
speaker: Vani Selvarajah

A Joint Oral Statement to the 21st Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), a non-governmental organization in special consultative status, and Asian Legal Resource Centre, (ALRC), a nongovernmental organization in general consultative status

Madame President:

Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and Asian Legal Resource Centre welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia¹. We share his view that freedom of expression is a principal concern. Cambodian human rights defenders and journalists regularly experience judicial harassment and violence for upholding human rights, particularly in land rights cases. The trend is alarming and escalating. After the incidents noted in reports of the Special Rapporteur and the Secretary General², dubious charges were filed against three human rights defenders in August and September 2012³.

On 11 September 2012, a journalist covering environmental issues was murdered after exposing illegal logging⁴. Cambodian authorities and judiciary cannot be counted on for impartial investigations or trials.
We applaud the Special Rapporteur's promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,⁵ as business enterprises and authorities are frequently involved in human rights violations,⁶ This and other human rights education is crucial to ensure that public officials are aware of their obligation to encourage civil society human rights training efforts, rather than disrupting them as occurred on 26 July 2012, when armed officials interrupted land rights training of two human rights organizations.
The Special Rapporteur notes continued problems with independence of the judiciary and impunity. He is further concerned about the Government's lack of stated commitment to a time frame and action plan to implement his recommendations for the judiciary. Years of such foot-dragging has contributed to the lack of independence and corruption of judges, prosecutors, court officials and lawyers, whose integrity is crucial to ending the climate of impunity in Cambodia.
We note the OHCHR work with the Cambodian Bar to ensure international human rights perspectives in reviews of the Law on the Bar and Code of Professional Conduct. LRWC would be interested in learning more about future plans to encourage the independence and integrity of Cambodia’s legal profession.

Thank you, Madame President
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Notes:
1 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Surya P. Subedi, Human Rights Council, A/HRC/21/63, 16 July 2012, www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session21/A-HRC-21-63_en.pdf
2 The role and achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the Government and people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights: Report of the Secretary-GeneralA/HRC/21/35, 20 August, 2012, www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session21/A.HRC.21.35_en.pdf
3 In August 2012, ADHOC human rights worker, Mr. Chan Soveth, was charged with "providing assistance to the perpetrator" of a "crime" under Article 544 of the Cambodian Penal Code. On 4 September 2012, land rights activist, Ms.Yorm Bopha, was arrested and charged with "intentional violence with aggravating circumstances" under Article 218 of the Cambodian Penal Code. Ms. Bopha states she was not present at the scene of the alleged violence. On 5 September, 2012, land rights activist, Ms. Tim Sakmony, was arrested and charged with making a "false declaration to a public body for the purpose of obtaining an allowance, a payment or any unlawful advantage" under Article 633 of the Cambodian Penal Code after the owner of developer, Phanimex Company, complained she made a "false declaration" in a request that Phanimex compensate her disabled son after failingto provide him with an apartment after his January 2012 eviction from Borei Keila.
4 The body of Mr. Hang Serei Oudom, a reporter for the Vorakchun Khmer Daily was found on 11 September in his car at a cashew nut plantation in Ratanakiri province. The Director-General of UNESCO has called for an investigation. See http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/singleview/news/director_general_condemns_killing_of_cambodian_journalist_hang_serei_oudom/back/18256/ 5 Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework, http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/GuidingPrinciplesBusinessHR_EN.pdf
6 Abuses in 2012 are outlined in a joint statement by LRWC and Asian Legal Resource Centre made at the 20th Session of the Human Rights Council, , 21 June 2012, http://www.lrwc.org/?p=3940

CAMBODIA: The country must not repeat Burma's mistake — Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: The country must not repeat Burma's mistake

Contributors: Ou Ritthy

Many opposition politicians, NGO personnel, students, researchers, taxi drivers, vendors and city dwellers expected US president Barack Obama, who attended the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, to push the Cambodian government to better respect human rights and democratic principles, especially free and fair elections in the Kingdom. They hoped for a US pressure to release political prisoners, notably Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando, land-dispute protestors, and to allow opposition leader Sam Rainsy in self-exiled in Paris, to return to Cambodia to participate in the 2013 election.

Sadly, even before President Obama's visit, indications were clear that Phnom Penh had no genuine intention to stop its rights violations, embrace the rule of law, or combat rampant corruption.

Cambodia's minister of information and government spokesman declared publicly that Obama is not Premier Hun Sen's boss or Cambodian government's guru. Such unwelcome and fighting words stand opposite of the Cambodian people's culture of warmth and generosity toward all.

In Burma, thousands of Burmese wearing T-shirts with Obama's portraits lined up the streets, and democracy icon Aug Sann Suu Kyi and reform-minded dictator president Thein Sein, welcomed the US president. Hundreds of students listened to Obama's speech at Rangoon University. In Cambodia, eight citizens were arrested for displaying Obama's portrait and an SOS message on the roofs of their homes. The citizens were facing eviction from their homes at Thmar Kaul village. Worse, people weren't allowed to line up along the Russian Boulevard to welcome Obama. The government said this was due to security reason and traffic congestion.

Though the US President made no public announcement, in a face-to-face meeting with Premier Hun Sen, President Obama raised several issues as suggested by US republican senators and other national and international rights groups. Impressively, Obama raised concerns over political prisoners and did mention Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando. But Premier Hun Sen replied there is no political prisoner in Cambodia, only politicians with criminal offences.

U.S. deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes described the private Obama-Hun Sen meeting as "tense." The Daily Mail reported Cambodia's First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen was disrespectful of President Obama when she used the Khmer sampeah at chest level reserved for greeting a low level person.

Many Cambodians looked at the White House's photo album of 41 photos of President Obama's visit to ASEAN countries: No photo of Premier Hun Sen whose name was misspelled.

While Obama was in Phnom Penh, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged a $300-$500 yearly loan to Cambodia. Premier Hun Sen was hugely complementing China's support and generosity. Why should there be a surprise when the 21st ASEAN Summit failed to produce a joint resolution, except in economics and trade? Unhappy, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, four claimant countries in dispute with China over the South China Sea, decided to meet in Manila on 12 December to discuss the issue without China.

The summit was a shining opportunity for Cambodia as chair of ASEAN to perform impartially, conforming to Article 1 of the country's Constitution: The Kingdom of Cambodia shall be independent, sovereign, peaceful, permanently neutral and non-aligned country.

Cambodia should have demonstrated respect for ASEAN member states' national interests to contribute toward the building of a more cohesive 2015 ASEAN Community. Facing US "pivot" or "rebalancing strategy" in Asia, especially South East Asia, ASEAN member states need to be united and protect each other's national interests, rather than siding with China or the US, to avoid jeopardizing ASEAN prosperity and harmony and endangering the region's peace.

Presently among ASEAN member states, Burma is on the road to reforms as she gradually breaks away from China, but Cambodia remains a subordinate to China, which finds Cambodia's vital geostrategic location to serve Beijing's national security in region. Beijing also needs Cambodia's natural resources for China's economic miracle.

On the other hand, Cambodia sees China as a vast dependable source of aid and loan, supposedly without strings; a huge market for Cambodia's economic growth; a super military power that can help Phnom Penh to have some influence, and undermine threats from neighboring countries. Cambodia sees China as her strong supporter on international stage.

But I am not convinced that Chinese aid and loan have no strings attached. As a saying goes, "there is no free lunch in the world". China needs Cambodia as a faithful subordinate to support and protect Beijing's national interests.

Geopolitically speaking, Cambodia's special strategic location is most desirable for China. In case of conflict with Vietnam, the S-shaped Vietnam can be easily attacked by land from Cambodia. Through water, China can use Sihanoukville, Kampong Som, Kompot and Koh Kong, and can straightforwardly access the Gulf of Thailand, the Straits of Malacca, and the Indian Ocean.

While Cambodia has faithfully opted for a One-China Policy, this policy has broadened its scope beyond Taiwan. Cambodia has supported China in almost all aspects of Chinese domestic and foreign policies. Thus, Cambodia forcibly deported 20 Uighur ethic asylum-seekers to China; pays no attention to the devastation, and suffering of Cambodian citizens, along the Mekong as a result of Chinese hydropower dams built in Yunnan province and on the Upper Mekong Basin; Cambodia supports China on the South China Sea dispute; and Phnom Penh ignores Chinese rights abuses.

A disadvantage of being too close to China is that it makes Cambodia's human rights and fledgling democracy worse. China is not interested in these matters so long as Cambodia serves China's interests.

As an impartial judiciary and the rule of law do not exist in Cambodia, a foreign direct investment (FDI) cannot be established. Democratic countries like Japan, America, Canada, Australia and the EU do not want to risk greater investments in Cambodia. Yet, many Chinese and Vietnamese people are in Cambodia, along with their investments.

Since 2006, Chinese companies have invested $8.2 billion; Vietnam has invested over $2 billion, according to the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Economic Co-operation Development Association. Conflicts with the local people have occurred due to land conflicts and environment issues, and the failure to respect the local people's rights.

As long as Cambodia is attached to China, Cambodia remains authoritarian. Burma's four decades of military rule witnessed Burma's violations of human rights, and a dictatorship ruled by military junta. Burma relied on China in many respects. For the Cambodian government, please don't do what Burma did!

US President Thomas Jefferson said, public debt is the greatest of dangers to nation. Look! Cambodia has been heavily indebted to China and is trapped in indebtedness, with a long-term impact on Cambodian young generation.

As the US rearranges its 'pivot' in Asia, Cambodia has become an arena for US-China competition, geopolitically and ideologically.

Historically, Cambodia endured a bitter lesson when the US and the Soviet Union fought their proxy war in Indochina in the 1960s. We must work to remain non-aligned and balance the interests of today's super powers, the US and China. Plus, being so cohesively attached to China creates problems for ASEAN member states' team spirit and trustworthiness, making a commitment to ASEAN prosperity and harmony doubtful.

A colleague asked me if our government is not allied with China, where would Cambodia get money to run the government and to use for development. I replied, "I see many doable mechanisms to avoid being a Chinese subordinate".

The government needs to have a transparent and accountable tax policy. Tax the rich and wealthy classes who possess a large number of hectares of land, buildings, luxurious cars, lucrative private-sector businesses, land concessions, casinos and other alcohol-producing companies. And gradually government should also tax the middle class.

According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index in 2012, Cambodia was ranked 157/176 countries and scored: 22/100: corruption leads to many chronically critical social, economic, legal and political issues.

To avoid too much loans for national development, the government must fight corruption genuinely. In Cambodia, corruption is rampant in all levels of society. The jailed owner of Beehive Radio and president of the Democrats Association, Mam Sonando, once said he would give $100 to anyone who knows of any government ministry that is not corrupt. In an interview with the VOA in Khmer, Preab Kol, Executive Director of Transparency International in Cambodia, affirmed there are not enough prisons in Cambodia for the corrupt to stay in if they were arrested.

Establishing a transparent and trustworthy policy to fight corruption is a must. But make sure to avoid applying anti-corruption law discriminately.

The government must reduce the large number of advisors, undersecretaries and secretaries of state and council ministers. This will save a lot of money for the national budget. Then the government can use the money to develop prioritized sectors.

Last but not least, Cambodia is rich in natural wealth. We have all kinds of trees, fishes, oil, minerals and others. They are priceless renewable and sustainable sources of economic development. Through effective and efficient management, we avoid loans from abroad.

The groundwork of any country's economic success comprises of an educated, healthy and employable citizens. To reach this goal, Cambodia needs to focus on agriculture and education.

The government needs a specific and long-term development plan on agriculture, industry and service. Cambodia needs to focus on agriculture for food grain sufficiency and on a basic principle of income for each household. Agriculture sector helps make strong economic households nationwide. It is imperative to focus on agriculture and to jump to industry and service.

Take one example. After independence in 1947, India was poor and lacked food grain supply for her people. In the late 1960s, the government started paying serious attention to agriculture by initiating what was called Green Revolution. Thanks to the Green Revolution, the government built a solid foundation of micro economy, generated income for the people, and India took another step toward industry and service sectors. Presently, the Indian people are thankful to the Green Revolution, which made India's industry and service booming. Basically, India has become food sufficient and the world's leading rice exporting country! Owing to the long-term impact of the Green Revolution, India's service sector is becoming the world's largest software exporting country to the US, Japan, Canada and the EU. An economic super power has been born.

Back to Cambodia, at the peak of the Arab spring, many Cambodians including a leader of opposition party flirted with Arab-style revolution as a mean to topple Premier Hun Sen and his one-party system in Cambodia. I begged to differ. I want no bloody revolution.

But I strongly wish to see Green Revolution in my country. Whenever I speak and write, I choose the peaceful approach to insist that my government should spend a large portion of the national budget on agriculture and education as the only way for poverty eradication and for sound industry and service sectors in the future.

Green revolution cultivates rice, provides high-yield seeds, doubles crops existing farmland and irrigation facilities. It also renovates the agro-industrial products like coffee, rubber plantation, cashews, cassava, silk, corn and food processing among others. Basically, it transforms the traditional and extensive agriculture to intensive and commercial agriculture with the help of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives.

Tourism is the main source of Cambodian economy. But tourism in Cambodia is just "cultural tourism" that depended only on temples like Angkor Wat and other cultural heritages. In this context, through Green Revolution, the Cambodian government could link up with tourism, and develop 'agri-tourism.' Through cultural tourism and agri-tourism, Cambodia would attract many more tourists than ever before.

Unfortunately, the projected 2013 national budget reveals Cambodia would spend only $35.3 million for agriculture sector, or one percent of the $3 billion budget; and only about $280 million for education sector.

Without paying attention to Cambodia's agriculture sector, more than 80% of Cambodian population will never be prosperous and can never break away from chronic poverty. The large number of Cambodian laborers will keep migrating to other countries like Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and others for work.

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The AHRC is not responsible for the views shared in this article, which do not necessarily reflect its own.

About the Author:

Ou Ritthy is a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fergusson College, Pune University, India (2008-2011). He can be reached at ouritthy@socialworker.net / Twitter: @ritthyou.

CAMBODIA: Cambodian activists must believe in individuals’ capacity to accomplish the impossible — Asian Human Rights Commission

Last week, a young political science graduate from a foreign university vented his frustrations in an e-mail from Cambodia at many Cambodian compatriots who don’t like to read. If they don’t read, they don’t learn. And if reading articles is painful, they certainly won’t read an entire book!

Initially, I planned to write about US President Barack Obama's visit to Cambodia, during which he reportedly spoke forcefully to Cambodian premier Hun Sen regarding the administration's abysmal record of human rights violations. But e-mails from Cambodians in the country and abroad reoriented my focus, hence, today's article.

Don't like to read

Last week, a young political science graduate from a foreign university vented his frustrations in an e-mail from Cambodia at many Cambodian compatriots who don't like to read. If they don't read, they don't learn. And if reading articles is painful, they certainly won't read an entire book!

He observed with frustration that there is no learning without reading, and life is not meaningful if one has no basis to compare, to understand, to improve. He dismissed suggestions that there is a dearth of reading material available in Cambodia. Cambodia, he said, lacks people who want to read. Across the oceans I can sense his irritation– vexations of a young man who has put hours of hard work into a second language, to earn a degree from a reputable university. Now, back in his homeland, he is working to sensitize his relatives, friends, and colleagues to value education as a key to personal and national development. I have never met this young man. He sought me out through the Internet when he was a student. We discussed political socialization and political culture as he considered ways to bring about change to Cambodia's status quo and to better serve society.

Still young, must think of living longer

A few days ago, he wrote about the low price growers received for their rice harvest. This has negatively affected his parents' livelihood. As a result he may have to forego advanced studies and continue working so that his four siblings may finish their education in Cambodia.

Nevertheless, this young man remains committed to improving governance in Cambodia. To that end, he attended a recent workshop in Phnom Penh on the topic of governance and reform. He was disheartened by this meeting of "civil servants, military, police and royal armed forces" personnel. They rejected the need for adherence to the rule of law by a politically impartial police and military, blindly citing the regime's party line in support of that position. During the coffee break, some told him that he is an "extremist," that he is still "too young and still has a long time to live"; they advised him to be careful and live longer!

I have been made aware of this kind of threat and intimidation before – orchestrated accidents that take lives. Some incidents like the story of an armored vehicle from a security unit deliberately hitting a driver who had exited his vehicle at a security checkpoint. The driver was hospitalized for three months as a result. Other Cambodians relate stories of food poisoning and break-ins, among other violations.

Human Rights Watch published a 68-page report, Tell Them That I Want to Kill Them: Two Decades of Impunity in Hun Sen's Cambodia. It describes cases of unsolved killings of more than 300 political activists, journalists, opposition politicians, among others by Hun Sen's security forces since the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements. It identifies many senior Cambodian government officials involved in serious abuses and their current positions in the administration.

The report's title is said to be a quote from the then deputy-chief of Hun Sen's bodyguard, Hing Bun Heang. He answered a journalist's question about his reported role in the killing of 16 people in the 1997 hand grenade attack that wounded Sam Rainsy. Heang was promoted to lieutenant-general and is currently deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

The report was released before Obama's trip to Cambodia. It called for systemic reforms.

Dislike politics, Love 'Thveu Bon'

At about the same time as my recent correspondence with the young graduate, an e-mail from a leader of a Cambodian non-governmental organization asked for my thoughts on an attitude she found to be prevalent among Khmers inside and outside the country. She wrote, many Khmers profess to dislike politics, an involvement they see as "scary." She said they prefer Thveu Bon, engaging in a religious ceremony to earn merit in this life in order to cross into a "beautiful next life"; and that the hardships and sufferings of the people are a product of karma that sufferers must endure. This way of thinking is, she asserts, an impediment to the creation of a dynamic society of citizens engaged in improving circumstances for everyone.

Misdirected political socialization, a stagnant political culture, and the unavailability of high quality education are among the elements that cause such beliefs and behaviors to proliferate.

Politics

Those who profess to dislike politics have themselves practiced politics throughout their lives. We all exercise political skills on a daily basis as we navigate through life.

In China, early Chinese settlers practiced politics 350,000 years ago! They migrated, organized, worked together, planned, and made decisions. This included the use of psychological and physical power, the development of effective procedures on the best ways to attain objectives and goals to keep their settlements safe and prosperous. Each person, each group, seeks to maximize his/her or its interests as s/he defines them. In general, the human person develops interests comprising good health, the meeting of economic needs, and a degree of contentment in life.

Politics refers to human activities in their interpersonal relationships to achieve targeted objectives and goals. There are family politics, peer group politics, office politics, pagoda politics, community politics, national politics and world politics.

When Cambodians, like many a people, say they "hate" politics, they usually mean the politics of government: They don't like demagoguery, demonization of opponents, corruption, cruelty, the accumulation of power, or the trampling of the rights of the less-privileged.

But didn't Lord Buddha teach against the "evils of the tongue" that humans practice? Didn't Buddha teach mankind to do all good, avoid all evil, and purify the mind?

There is an old saying, "You get the government you deserve." It means in a democracy, citizens can take actions to elect candidates they deem best to form a government to serve them, or citizens can remain inactive and get a government that doesn't serve them well.

Classical Greeks used the term politikos to describe the relationships between the citizens and their city state. In the 5th century, Athens emerged as the world's first democracy: demos means people, kratia means government – demokratia, a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Athens was built on the principle that citizens' free and well-informed participation in Athens' affairs was an honor and the duty of every citizen.

But as my young correspondent noted, without reading one does not learn about his/her own and his/her government's rights and duties.

It is worth recalling that when the French General, Charles de Gaulle entered politics, he declared, "I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians."

How "serious a matter" is politics? According to China's Mao Tse-tung, "Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed." For England's Winston Churchill, "In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times."

More than 2,000 years ago, Greek philosopher Plato (428B.C.-347B.C.) warned that, we would end up "being governed by those who are less intelligent" or "inferior" to ourselves if we refuse to participate in politics.

"Thveu Bon" for Next Life

I have written a great deal about politics and the teachings of Buddha. But learning requires a desire to both learn and unlearn. Without the motivation to learn, as the Khmer saying goes, Doch chak toek leu kbal tia – literally, it's like pouring water on a duck's head.

A former Khmer Buddhist monk, Bouawat Sithi, a graduate of Thailand's Djittabhawan College, affirmed time and again that Lord Buddha never taught humankind to believe in fate, but "to believe in our own action (karma)." He lamented that Buddha's teaching has been incorrectly taught and understood. This has led to the situation where many Cambodians have been overwhelmed with "egoism, anger, greed, delusion, desire, craving, hate and aversion."

"Nothing is permanent," Lord Buddha says, and he preaches, "Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most." "I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done," Buddha says, and "We are what we think, with our thought we make the world." Men and women are masters of their own destiny. We should be self-reliant and take responsibility for our own lives, Buddha urges, and "work out your own salvation."

Believe in ourselves?

In my last article I quoted from Cambodian Ou Ritthy's article, published by AHRC, about the Cambodians' habit of relying on foreigners to help solve problems. Politicians sit and talk "only when foreigners act as mediators," the government releases rights activists "only after foreigners . . . intervene." "Can't we, Cambodians, take these actions ourselves?" Ritthy asked.

Last week, Cambodian Pong Pheakdey Boramy's writing in Facebook and communication posted on the Internet, spoke of Cambodians' excitement to see President Obama. "He came, he came out of his airplane"! Boramy wrote: "What I learned is we actually do not rely and trust in ourselves . . . we do not trust ourselves but Obama . . . to help our country."

"Why do we not choose to be ourselves, to believe in ourselves?" Boramy asked. He referenced the Phnom Penh Post and other media outlets that reported "how people felt very disappointed when Obama did not say a word to give them (a) stimulus" upon departing from Cambodia.

In spite of the enormous problems that emanate from Cambodians' attitudes toward change, and from the lack of a broad-based quality education system, I conclude this article not pessimistically but positively because Cambodians have come a long way. Now there are increasing numbers who ask questions. As we know, this is the first step in developing the capacity to think critically, analyze, and take action. A questing mind is being developed. It is late, yes, but better late than never.

The road ahead is still long and unknown. But if nothing is possible without human engagement, so I would like to think that nothing is impossible when men and women become engaged and develop the will and the imaginative creativity to achieve a goal.

……………..

The AHRC is not responsible for the views shared in this article, which do not necessarily reflect its own.
About the Author:Dr. Gaffar Peang-Meth is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. He currently lives in the United States. He can be reached at peangmeth@gmail.com.

Tuesday 11 December 2012

ADB Links Corruption, Political Culture

By Colin Meyn - December 10, 2012

The government is beset with high-level corruption, a lack of transparency in public procurements, poor auditing practices and political interference in the country’s main anti-corruption body, a report produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sent to the media yesterday states.

In a 66-page report that looks at how the government is managing its finances and fighting corruption, the ADB says that many of the country’s laws on public finances are simply not being implemented and that public procurement of goods and services needs to be improved at all levels of government, especially at a national level.

“Most aspects of governance need to recognize ongoing informal links between the dominant political party, medium-sized and large-sized businesses, and senior levels of government,” the ADB report, which was originally published in January, says.

“Furthermore, there is a limited tradition of accountability for performance through either financial oversight or political mechanisms.”

“Much of the public sector leakage that occurs in Cambodia is thought to occur in and around the systems applied in both domestically and externally financed procurement. Significant leakage is also thought to occur after the awarding of contracts, suggesting that contract management by executing agencies is weak and that penalties are seldom enforced,” the report continues.

The report also says that while corruption at lower levels of government appears to be decreasing, there is no such sign of such stabilization at higher levels of government.

“Corruption at all levels has long been regarded as the main area of concern for improving the business environment and overall governance in Cambodia, and this remains the case,” the report states.
The ADB also found that the main corruption risks likely to be experienced in the future by the government include “major challenges in building capacities in the new [Anti-Corruption Unit];” and “cultural constraints to questioning authority.”

“Though their ratings [in surveys of public opinion] have improved, the police, judges and courts, public registry, taxation, and customs, as well as the education system, continue to be perceived as the most corrupt institutions,” the report states.

Although the report notes that significant efforts have been made in the drafting of anti-corruption policy and the formation of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the ACU “has many challenges to overcome and it remains to be seen if it can become administratively and operationally effective.”

On the government’s management of finances, the ADB said that positive strides have been made in the past decade, but that progress in areas crucial to building investor confidence is still lacking. For example, the procurement process for government-funded projects still lacks transparency and regulations around procurement are insufficient and poorly enforced.

One reason for this is the fact that the Ministry of Economy and Finance acts as both a regulator and monitor in government procurement transactions.

“The need for greater transparency in public procurement is a common perception in Cambodia,” the report states.

“Also, there are suspicions (as yet not acted on) that some executing agency senior officials control some local consulting firms, who then tie up with foreign consulting firms when bidding on projects.”
The report also cites limited transparency in public projects due to few audits being carried out by the National Audit Authority (NAA).

“[O]nly around 50 percent of central government entities are covered by an external audit and the breadth of audit work undertaken within entities is limited.”

Still, the report says that the NAA “has made solid progress in recent years and, given its important strategic role in monitoring and managing governance risks, further ADB support in the years ahead is warranted.”
Vice president of the National Assembly Ngoun Nhel and Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Finance Suong Mengkea both declined to comment on the ADB’s findings. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan referred questions to the Ministry of Finance.

Peter Brimble, country director for the ADB in Cambodia, said the report was meant as an indicator of where the country stands regarding financial management and where resources should be allocated as the country’s partnership with the ADB moves forward.

“No one is denying the need for major civil service reform,” Mr. Brimble said.
“The message is that we want to work with the government and strengthen country systems to go ahead in our partnership,” he added.

Mr. Brimble also noted that indicators of investor confidence in the country are improving despite the concerns over how the government handles its finances.

For instance, a January report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that Cambodia’s debt distress level would be upgraded from moderate risk to low risk. Still, the IMF report also noted that for confidence in Cambodia to continue to grow, improvements had to be made to the country’s borrowing strategy and financial management systems.

A report released last week by Transparency International (T.I.), also concluded that Cambodia’s government has done little to shake its reputation for corruption.

In T.I.’s 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index, Cambodia ranked 157th among 176 countries and territories listed, with a score of just 22 out of 100—a slight improvement on last year’s ranking of 164.

(Additional reporting by Phorn Bopha)

UN Says Information Ministry Decided to Halt Equity Weekly

By Denise Hruby and Kuch Naren - December 10, 2012

The U.N. Development Program (UNDP) said last month’s suspension of the “Equity Weekly” television program was uniquely due to a decision made by the Ministry of Information after the show aired a feature on economic land concessions in Ratanakkiri province.

“[T]he suspension was initially suggested by the Ministry of Information and agreed to by UNDP Cambodia,” a UNDP spokesperson said in an email.

“Equity Weekly,” which is broadcast every Sunday on the state-run channel TVK, funded by UNDP and aims at promoting good governance through investigative journalism, was taken off the air after the station received a complaint from the Ministry of Information announcing its displeasure over archive footage showing images of logging in the country.

“The decision was taken following a technical error in the identity of a portion of the footage used in a story related to the [Virachey] National Park in Ratanakkiri province. That portion of the footage was an archive but was not properly identified as such, which resulted in a misunderstanding,” the UNDP spokesperson said.

Environment Minister Mok Mareth confirmed that a letter he had sent to the Information Ministry had brought about the popular show’s suspension from broadcast.

“Yes, because if there’s wrong information, [there’s] no show,” Mr. Mareth said. “I wrote down the mistakes and sent it to the Ministry of Information,” which then informed TVK’s “Equity Weekly.”

Asked to comment on the government’s suspension of the show, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith referred a reporter to a letter his ministry had written to the UNDP.

“As for the letter, we unfortunately are unable to share with you as it is a formal correspondence addressed to UNDP specifically,” the UNDP spokesperson said.

On November 11, the last time “Equity Weekly” was broadcast, the host, Khem Vuthy, spent almost 25 minutes apologizing for the report made on September 30, which discussed the impacts of 50,000 hectares of economic land concessions used for rubber plantations in the Virachey National Park in Ratanakkiri—a province beset by land disputes and logging.

Ouy Bounmy, “Equity Weekly’s” senior producer, said that after the broadcast, he had to meet with Minister of Information Mr. Kanharith.

“Now it is just suspended. We are under discussion to improve reporting skills, because we don’t want to make or repeat the same mistakes again,” he said.

Spokesman for the Council of Ministers Phay Siphan said he did not believe that the show was suspended for its investigative journalism.

“This is not the government’s attitude. I know [Mr. Kanharith] very well and he wants to maintain different voices to be heard. There is no attitude to block free flow of ideas.”

TV Program Halted After Government Criticism

By Denise Hruby and Kuch Naren - December 9, 2012

The U.N.-funded television program “Equity Weekly,” whose stated aim is to promote good governance through short investigative journalism pieces broadcast on state-run TVK, was suspended last month, the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) said.

The suspension of the popular show followed criticism from the government over the content of a recent feature on economic land concessions.

“It was a joint decision between the Ministry of Information and UNDP to temporarily suspend the ‘Equity Weekly’ show,” a spokesperson from the UNDP said in an email. “Several stories elicited strong reactions from the government and the general public.”

The UNDP did not say which stories in particular had spurred strong reaction from the government. The UNDP spokesperson said U.N. officials will be meeting with TVK soon to discuss the future of the program, funding for which will continue.

Broadcast for about 40 minutes every Sunday evening since 2007, “Equity Weekly’s” uncensored content is more hard-hitting by far than TVK’s closely vetted news content.

In their final broadcast, the host of “Equity Weekly,” Khem Vuthy, spent 25 minutes apologizing for a report made on September 30, which discussed the positive and negative effects of 50,000 hectares of economic land concessions shared by at least six private companies in the Virachey National Park in Ratanakkiri province.

“We would like to start the show with a correction. On our show aired on September 30, during our story about the alleged land concessions in the [Virachey] National Park, we failed to notify the viewers on the screen that some of the video used was archive footage from a different location,” Mr. Vuthy said.
“This was an unintentional error from our part and we apologize to all our viewers for the misunderstanding and confusion that this may have caused.”

Conservationists and human rights groups have strongly criticized the recent surge in land concessions in Ratanakkiri and elsewhere, saying that some plantations cut deep into Cambodia’s remaining pristine forests, while they also affect local farmland and the forest-based livelihoods of indigenous people.
During the last episode of the show on November 11, the host also announced that the Ministry of Information had sent TVK a five-page letter with a complaint from the Ministry of Environment over the Virachey National Park land concessions program.

“[It’s] an appropriate time to review [‘Equity Weekly’] and try to set new objectives to adapt to the fast changing media landscape in Cambodia. The UNDP has suggested to have a joint review taskforce between UNDP and TVK teams to review the production process and explore the best possible ways to move forward,” the UNDP spokesperson added.

A source working for the TV show, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity surrounding the show’s suspension, said that the contract between The UNDP and TVK to produce “Equity Weekly” programs runs until April 2013 and that staff will continue getting paid until then.
TVK Director-General Kem Gunawadh said that he had no knowledge of the matter.

“I did not hear about it yet because I received no information from [the] Ministry of Information,” he said.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith could not be contacted for comment.

Ouy Bounmy, a senior producer for “Equity Weekly,” said the decision to cut the program had been made due to a scheduled break during the Asean Summit last month, as well as financial problems. He also said the suspension would only be temporary.

“[The suspension] is about funding shortage and we will resume in the next two weeks.”
Brian Lund, director of Oxfam America’s East Asia regional office, which is part of Oxfam International and also funds “Equity Weekly” alongside the UNDP, said he did not want to comment on the programming controversy.

“We are still supporting ‘Equity [Weekly]’ until April next year and probably beyond that because it is a valuable platform,” Mr. Lund said.

EU Ambassador Says Listen to Envoy’s Advice

By The Cambodia Daily - December 11, 2012

The European Union’s ambassador to Cambodia yesterday urged the government to heed the advice of the U.N.’s visiting human rights envoy, who has come under increasing rebuke from officials for his unflattering reports.

Addressing a crowd of about 3,000, mostly garment factory workers, at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park to mark International Human Rights Day, E.U. Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain spoke up for the work of the U.N.’s local human rights office and of the U.N.’s human rights envoy to the country, Surya Subedi.
“We believe the work of this office has contributed tremendously to the promotion and protection of human rights,” Mr. Cautain said of the U.N.’s human rights office in Cambodia.

“Similarly, the work of the U.N. special rapporteur, professor Subedi, who is here…in Cambodia, provides a unique opportunity for the government of Cambodia to receive expert recommendations for improving human rights,” he continued.

Government officials have recently stepped up their public criticism of Mr. Subedi, who arrived here on Sunday for his eighth fact-finding mission since taking up the unpaid post in 2009.
At least two officials, including the head of the government’s Human Rights Committee, Om Yentieng, have accused the U.N. envoy of effectively working for the political opposition. In October, Mr. Hun Sen referred to the envoy’s last report on the government’s highly controversial economic land concessions as “flimsy.”
The E.U. is currently reviewing Mr. Subedi’s report on land evictions in order to decide whether or not to launch its own investigation into possible human rights violations committed by Cambodia vis-a-vis free trade rules with Europe.

Also present at yesterday’s demonstration was the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires, Jeff Daigle, who reminded the crowd of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Cambodia last month, during which he pressed Mr. Hun Sen on the country’s deteriorating human rights record.
“Protecting human rights is essential to strong rule of law, civilian security, economic development and, ultimately, lasting peace,” Mr. Daigle said.

“This was a key message of President Obama during his visit to Cambodia last month, when he urged progress on these issues and stressed that the promise of Cambodia’s great people would only be realized when human rights are fully respected and all voices are heard,” Mr. Daigle added.
The U.S. president urged Mr. Hun Sen to create an independent election committee, let opposition parties work freely and release all political prisoners—including imprisoned radio station owner Mam Sonando.
Rights groups claim that the government has been regressing on its human rights record in recent years, increasingly using the police and courts to clamp down on dissenters and peaceful protesters.
In February, Bavet City governor Chhouk Bundith shot into a crowd of demonstrating garment workers, hitting three women, one through the lung. Though charged and implicated by eyewitnesses, the courts have made no attempt to arrest Mr. Bundith and could still drop the case.
Nuth Sokhorn, one of the women shot, allegedly by Mr. Bundith, reminded the crowds gathered at Freedom Park of the case.

“We are three women who were shot by Chhouk Bundith, who is still free. Please find justice for us,” she said, before breaking down in tears.
Thun Saray, president of local rights group Adhoc, said several government officials had been invited to the event, including Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema and Mr. Yentieng, but were told they would all be busy.

Police presence around the park was light. But just a few blocks away near the corner of Monivong and Russian boulevards, about 100 riot police officers blocked about as many anti-eviction activists from staging their own march to Mr. Hun Sen’s Peace Palace to deliver a petition requesting his help in their land disputes.
As the police confronted protesters, one police officer was seen knocking a female protester to the ground then kicking her in the abdomen. Once the protesters decided to disperse at about 10:30 a.m., police officers detained Nhep Ly, a community empowerment officer for the Housing Rights Task Force, for taking photographs.

Mr. Ly was taken to Srah Chak commune police headquarters in Daun Penh district but released soon after.
“The police accused me of taking pictures of the protest without asking permission in advance from authorities, but I told them that I just took pictures of the general activity like the other photographers,” he said after being released from custody.

Commune police chief Kan Vannak declined to comment on the violence and detention of Mr. Ly.
(Reporting by Aun Pheap, Khoun Narim, Phok Dorn and Zsombor Peter)

Great Huangs of history

Wednesday, 05 December 2012

Stuart Alan Becker

The book The Great Dictionary of Famous Chinese (published in 1921), lists 613 Huangs.

Here follows a partial list of of famous Huangs, including some of the descendants of Huang Qiaoshan (871-953).

Xia dynasty (2205 BC-1766 BC) Huang Yuan (Prime Minister)

Shang Dynasty (1766 BC-1122 BC) Huang Yin (Yi Yin ) (Prime Minister)

Zhou Dynasty (1122BC- 256 BC) Huang Xie Lord of Chunshen (Prime Minister of Chu) 314 BC-238 BC

Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) Huang Shigong (Strategist)

Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 9) Huang Ba Duke of Jiancheng (Prime Minister) 130 BC-51 BC

Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) Huang Xiang (Famous Official) AD 53- AD117

Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) Huang Zhong (General of Shu Han) AD220 Huang Gai (General of Wu)

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Huang Chao (Leader of Peasant Rebellion Army) ?-AD 884

Five Dynasties Period (907-960) Huang Quan (Painter) c.903-965; Huang Jucai (Painter) 933-?

Song Dynasty (960-1279), Huang Tingjian (Poet and Calligrapher) 1045-1105

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) Huang Daopo (female) (Weaver) c.1245-? ; Huang Gongwang (Painter) 1269-1354

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Huang Senping (Ong Sum Ping) (Noble of Sultanate of Brunei) Huang Wan (Famous Scholar) 1477-1551; Huang Daozhou (Scholar, Painter and Patriot) 1585-1646 ; Huang Zongxi (Thinker) 1610-1695

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); Huang Shen (Painter) 1687-1770; Huang Jingren (Poet) 1749-1783; Huang Yizhou (Classics Expert) 1828-1899; Huang Feihong (Wong Feihung) (Martial Artist & Physician) 1847-1924; Huang Zunxian (Poet and Statesman) 1848-1905

Modern Period (1911- Present) Huang Binhong (Painter) 1865-1955 ; Huang Xing 兴 (Revolutionary) 1874-1916 ; Huang Kan (Philologist) 1886-1935; Huang Kecheng (General of the China's People's Liberation Army) 1902-1986; Huang Zhou (Painter) b.1925; Huang Jiasi (Medical Expert) 1906-1984; Huang Ziqing, (Chemist) 1900-1982; Huang Jinhui (Wee Kim Wee)(Former President of Singapore) 1915- 2005; Huang Huahua (Present Governor of Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China) b.1946; Huang Gencheng (Wong Kan Seng) (Present Home Affairs Minister of Singapore) b.1946; Huang Jiading (Ong Ka Ting) (Former Housing and Local Government Minister of Malaysia); Huang Guangyu (Businessman) b.1969. The richest man in China according to Time magazine 30/04/2006.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Alan Becker at stuart.becker@gmail.com

Time to invest in people

Friday, 07 December 2012

Pamela Cox

For more than a decade, Cambodia has sustained impressive economic growth.

The World Bank expects real gross domestic product to increase by 6.6 per cent this year – a figure to be envied in today’s fragile global economy.

At this pace, Cambodia can rapidly become the industrialised and productive economy it aspires to be.

Is this the future that Cambodians can rightfully look forward to?

The answer is yes, but only if Cambodia invests in its most precious resource – its people – to enable each individual to realise his or her potential and productively contribute to the nation’s economy.

Until now, much of Cambodia’s investment has focused on infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing – priority areas during the early stages of the country’s economic development.

But with economic progress, it has become increasingly clear that these efforts are not enough to help the country achieve equitable, sustainable growth and, most important, reduce poverty.

Today, despite the nation’s economic achievements, roughly 20 per cent of Cambodians – that’s 2.8 million people – are still poor.

Nearly 40 per cent of children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, and 28 per cent in the same age group are underweight.

Over the past decade, workforce skills of adults improved at a slower rate than in other East Asia countries, and the proportion of skilled workers among earners stagnated.

When the economy is booming, it’s tempting to turn a blind eye to such statistics.

But for the sake of Cambodia’s future, these are the figures we must confront, and this is where the World Bank can help.

Ending poverty, and building shared prosperity, are central to the Bank’s mission.

Investments in human development, particularly in the areas of health and education, need to be a priority in Cambodia to create opportunities for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Interventions in these areas work hand in hand to build a country’s human-resources pool even before schooling begins.

Growing evidence shows the importance of adequate nutrition and health care during early childhood, to lay the foundation for intellectual progress and life-long learning.

The government has taken significant steps towards improving access as well as the quality of education, and 96 per cent of children aged six to 11 now go to primary school.

The average test performance of primary- and secondary-school students has improved, and higher-education enrolments increased fourfold between 2001 and 2011.

The World Bank is supporting health and education in Cambodia.

With the government and our development partners, we are financing health equity funds and school scholarships, having provided 2.5 million health-care treatments for poor people since 2009 and scholarships for 63,000 poor secondary-school students since 2005.

But much more needs to be done to improve the coverage, quality and governance of these sectors.

Although Cambodia’s economy is growing, employers report a mismatch between the skills university graduates bring to a job and the skills the labour market demands.

A recent World Bank study found that 22 per cent of foreign employers in Cambodia identify skills as a severe constraint to businesses.

This means many Cambodians earn less than they could if they had adequate education and skills.

For the country, this leads to lower productivity, limiting Cambodia’s potential to attract investment and improve living standards for all.

As a global knowledge and financial institution, the World Bank works with governments and a broad array of stakeholders gathering best practices and providing solutions for the most difficult development issues countries and communities face.

It draws from the knowledge and experience of other nations, and is able and ready to assist, inspire and inform Cambodia’s efforts to achieve its development goals.

In Indonesia, for example, the World Bank supported a social assistance program designed to address three lagging Millennium Development Goals – maternal health, child health and universal education – using a successful, community-driven approach.

Communities themselves took charge and allocated block grants targeting 12 health and education indicators, enabling 1.6 million women and children to receive nutrition counselling and support; helping 365,000 children receive immunisations; eliminating 185,000 cases of underweight children; and providing assistance to about 380,000 poor school students.

Tajikistan also has a high percentage of underweight children resulting from malnutrition exacerbated by the 2008 food-price shock.

The World Bank supported a community and basic health project to provide food packages and micro-nutrient supplements to about 50,000 women, infants and children.

By mid-2011, the project had trained 1,000 primary health workers and 300 community volunteers to deliver education on breast-feeding, good nutrition and the care of sick children.

Delivering these results requires a tremendous, co-ordinated effort by governments, donors, the private sector, civil society and others.

During my visit to Phnom Penh this week, I discussed with the government and our development partners how the World Bank can support Cambodia’s development strategy, to ensure all Cambodians can participate in, and benefit from, their country’s future prosperity.

Pamela Cox is the World Bank vice-president for East Asia and the Pacific.

Tribunal betrays the ideal of justice

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Raoul Marc Jennar

Dear Editor,

Like most Cambodians, I was happy when the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia began their judicial process in 2007.

There is a pressing need for justice in Cambodia, because the Khmer Rouge was among the most criminal regimes in human history.

And, like most Cambodians, I was happy when the final decision in the first case was handed down and Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, former chairman of the Khmer Rouge S-21 security centre in Phnom Penh, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

But today, like most Cambodian people, I am extremely disappointed by the Trial Chamber’s delay in dealing with Case 002.

This case involves the highest-ranking surviving members of the so-called Democratic Kampuchea regime.

They are charged with crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and genocide against this country’s Muslim Cham and Vietnamese populations.

The Trial Chamber held the initial hearing of Case 002 in June, 2011, 17 months ago, but the first verdict is far from being handed down.

May I remind the judges of the Trial Chamber that the Nuremberg war-crimes trials, which had to deal with 24 former leaders of Germany’s Nazi regime, took less than a year to decide the defendants’ fate?

Despite this unbearable slowness, the Trial Chamber recently made a decision to reduce the weekly number of hearings. This is a shame.

More important, it is an insult to the victims and survivors of the Cambodian tragedy who are waiting for justice.

It is also an insult to the people whose taxes in their home countries contribute to the ECCC’s budget.

Above all, it is an insult to all the people around the world who believe in internal penal justice and the absolute necessity to fight impunity.

Raoul Marc Jennar
A Cambodian citizen

Cambodia's tax revenue totals $683 million

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

May Kunmakara

The Cambodian government collected $683 million in taxes over the first 11 months of this year, according to data from the General Department of Taxation released last week.

An economist said the increase in domestic tax revenue emphasised that Cambodia still has room for improvement in tax collection and should aim to eliminate reliance on foreign aid. However, it warned that there needs to be more diversification of taxes imposed.

According to a statement from the GDT, revenues were collected from various taxes such as: tax on profits, withholding tax, salary tax, Value Added Tax, turnover tax, vehicle tax, patent tax and property tax.

Kang Chandararot, director at the Cambodia Institute for Development Study, said the rise of domestic tax revenue reflects the improvement of tax collection and increasing economic activity.

“It emphasises that we have a lot of hope to build a stronger base to repay foreign debt, and reduce reliance on foreign aid. We are happy to see the revenue grow in domestic tax,” he said.

“However, reducing our reliance on foreign aid requires us to improve and diversify our tax collection,” he added.

“We also notice that we have a lot of room to impose tax. At the same, we also need to make reforms to reduce some unnecessary expenses. I think tax collection expansion is a must for the economy,” said Chandararot.

The opposition party claimed the revenue was far from the potential figure, citing corruption as the reason for the disparity.

Yim Sovann, a spokesperson for the Sam Rainsy Party, said Cambodia currently collects around 12 per cent of its GDP from taxes, which is very low compared to other countries in the region, like neighbouring Thailand.

“Our domestic revenue does not match the actual amount which can be taken,” he said.

“We lose between $500 million to $1 billion per year because of corruption,” he added, saying that a lot of revenue has not been fully collected from economic land concessions, Cambodia’s 50 casinos, and tickets sold to visit Angkor Wat.

Last week, the government approved an increase in national budget expenditure to nearly 13 per cent for 2013 to more than $3 billion from this year’s $2.7 billion.

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday raised no concern over the budget rise, saying the revenue also continues to increase.

“If the expense is more than $3 billion, the revenue should be more than $3 billion.”

Sovann said the increase of expenditure puts a greater burden on the country, resulting in the government seeking foreign aid as a solution.

“The government cannot generate enough domestic revenue to meet the expenditure,” he said.

“Of course, they can increase the revenue if they strengthen the tax collection system. They always borrow around $1 billion [in foreign aid] to meet their expenses,” he added.

According to the draft national budget for 2013, Cambodia currently owes $3.6 billion in foreign debt.

បុគ្គលិកកម្មករឯកជននឹងទទួលបានប្រាក់ចូលនិវត្តន៍ដូចមន្ត្រីរាជការ

បុគ្គលិកកាស៊ីណូនៅប៉ោយប៉ែត ធ្វើការតវ៉ាកាលពីម្សិលមិញ។ សហការី

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

មុំ គន្ធា

ភ្នំពេញៈ បុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត មកពីក្រុមហ៊ុន និងសហគ្រាសរោងចក្រឯកជននានាត្រូវមន្ត្រីនៃក្រសួងការងារអះអាងកាល ពីម្សិលមិញថា នឹងទទួលបានប្រាក់សោធននិវត្តន៍ នៅក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១៥ ដូចជាមន្ត្រីរាជការរដ្ឋដែរ នៅពេលពួកគេចូលនិវត្តន៍ ប៉ុន្តែជាដំបូងគឺត្រូវទៅចុះឈ្មោះនៅបេឡាជាតិរបបសន្តិសុខសង្គម (ប.ស.ស)។

លោក ស៊ុំ សោភ័ណ្ឌ នាយករងបេឡាជាតិរបបសន្តិសុខសង្គមនៃក្រសួង ការងារបានឲ្យដឹងថារដ្ឋាភិបាលនឹងចាប់ផ្តើមលើគម្រោងនេះនៅក្នុង ឆ្នាំ២០១៥ សម្រាប់សហគ្រាសឯកជនទាំងឡាយណាដែលមានបុគ្គលិក កម្មករនិយោជិត ចាប់ពីចំនួន ៨ នាក់ឡើងទៅ។
លោក សោភ័ណ្ឌ បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំមិនអាចប្រាប់លម្អិតបានទេនៅពេលនេះថា តើកម្មករ ឬនិយោជិតដែលបានចុះ ឈ្មោះត្រូវបង់វិភាគទានចំនួនប៉ុន្មាន និងថា តើពួកគេអាចនឹងទទួលបានប្រាក់សោធននិវត្តន៍ចំនួនប៉ុន្មានភាគរយ។ យើងនឹងប្រកាសនៅពេលក្រោយ»។

លោកបានបញ្ជាក់ថា ចំនួនកម្មករ បុគ្គលិក៨នាក់ និងលើសនេះ ដែលមកពីរោងចក្រ សហគ្រាសឯកជន ត្រូវចុះឈ្មោះនៅ ប.ស.ស ដើម្បីទទួលបានប្រាក់ចូលនិវត្តន៍ ដែលប្រការនេះ វាគឺជាកាតព្វកិច្ចរបស់ពួកគេ។

លោកបន្តថា៖ «ជំហានទី១ យើងត្រូវធ្វើជាមួយរោងចក្រសហគ្រាសដែលមានបុគ្គលិក៨ នាក់ឡើងសិន ហើយបន្ទាប់មកសហគ្រាសដែលមានបុគ្គលិកតែម្នាក់ក៏អាចចុះឈ្មោះបាន ដែរ។ ពួកគេត្រូវតែធ្វើការចុះឈ្មោះ ពីព្រោះនេះជាកាតព្វកិច្ច ស្ថិតក្រោមច្បាប់ការងារ។
មកដល់ពេលនេះបុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត ជាង៧២ម៉ឺននាក់ បានចុះឈ្មោះរួចហើយជាមួយ ប.ស.ស ពួកគេមកពី១៩ ខេត្ត-ក្រុង មានតែខេត្ត៤ទៀតទេ មិនទាន់ចុះបញ្ជីនៅឡើយ ដូចជា ខេត្តរតនគិរី មណ្ឌលគិរី ព្រះវិហារ និងខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ។

លោកបន្តថា៖ «ពួកគេនឹងទទួលបានប្រាក់សោធននិវត្តន៍ជារៀងរាល់ខែបន្ទាប់ពី ពួកគេចូលនិវត្តន៍រហូតដល់ស្លាប់»។ លោកថា លក្ខខណ្ឌច្បាប់របស់ ប.ស.ស ដើម្បីទទួលបានប្រាក់សោធននិវត្តន៍ គឺរៀបចំរួចរាល់ហើយ នៅរង់ចាំតែធ្វើសេចក្តីប្រកាសនៅក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១៤។

លោកលើកឡើងថា ៖ «យើងមិនអាចធ្វើការប្រកាសនៅពេលណាដែលយើងចង់ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ យើងត្រូវការអ្នកជំនាញធ្វើ ដើម្បីគណនាថា តើមានប៉ុន្មានភាគរយដែលបុគ្គលិកម្នាក់ៗចូលនិវត្តន៍ត្រូវទទួល បាន និងត្រូវបង់វិភាគទាន ប៉ុន្មាន ហើយអ្វីខ្លះដែលពួកគេត្រូវធ្វើ ប្រសិនបើពួកគេមិនអាចបំពេញទៅតាមលក្ខខណ្ឌរបស់យើងបាន»។

លោក រ៉ុង ឈុន ប្រធានសហភាពសហជីពកម្ពុជា បានគាំទ្រគម្រោងរបស់ក្រសួងការងារដែលតម្រូវឲ្យកម្មករ បុគ្គលិកឯកជនទទួលបានប្រាក់ចូលនិវត្តន៍ដូចមន្រ្តីរាជការនេះ។
លោកថ្លែងថា៖ «ខ្ញុំសូមស្វាគមន៍គម្រោងនេះ ដែលបុគ្គលិកកម្មករឯកជន ក៏អាចទទួលបានប្រាក់ចូលនិវត្តន៍វាជាជំហានមួយដែលកម្ពុជាយើងគួរ ធ្វើដូចប្រទេសនានា»។ លោកបន្តថា នេះគឺជាផលប្រយោជន៍ដ៏ល្អមួយ សម្រាប់បុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត នៅកម្ពុជា៕ CC

ពលករខ្មែរជាង១៦ម៉ឺននាក់នៅថៃ ត្រូវប្រឈមនឹងការនិរទេសមកស្រុកវិញ

ពលករខ្មែរខុសច្បាប់ដែលខាងថៃចាប់បញ្ជូនមកស្រុកវិញ។ រូបថត ផា លីណា

Monday, 10 December 2012

មុំ គន្ធា-Stuart White

ភ្នំពេញៈ ពលករចំណាកស្រុកកម្ពុជាជាង១៦ម៉ឺននាក់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសថៃ ត្រូវប្រឈមនឹងការនិរទេស បើសិនមិនបានទៅចុះឈ្មោះក្នុងកិច្ចដំណើរការផ្ទៀតផ្ទាត់ជាតិ សាសន៍ មុនថ្ងៃកំណត់ថ្ងៃសុក្រសប្តាហ៍នេះទេ។ នេះបើយោងតាមប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយរដ្ឋរបស់ថៃរាយការណ៍កាលពី ម្សិលមិញ។

ប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយថៃ MCOT បានស្រង់សម្តីមន្រ្តីថា មានពលករចំណាកស្រុកកម្ពុជាតែ ៥៦ ៧៧៦ នាក់ បានបំពេញចប់សព្វគ្រប់នូវកិច្ចដំណើរការផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់ជាតិសាសន៍ នៅសល់ពលករកម្ពុជាប្រមាណ១៦៥ ៦៥៤នាក់ទៀត បូកនឹងពលករចំណាកស្រុកជាង១លាននាក់មកពីប្រទេសដទៃទៀត ដែលអាចទទួលរងការចាប់ខ្លួន ការនិរទេស និងការកេងប្រវ័ញ្ច ការជំរិតទារប្រាក់ និងទាសករបំណុល។ នេះបើតាមអ្នកជំនាញនិងសង្គមស៊ីវិល។

បើ ទោះជារដ្ឋាភិបាលថៃបានពន្យារថ្ងៃកំណត់នៃការផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់ជាតិ សាសន៍ពីរលើករួចហើយ ដែលការពន្យារថ្មីៗបំផុត គឺពន្យារពីថ្ងៃទី១៤ ខែមិថុនា ដល់ថ្ងៃទី ១៤ ខែធ្នូ ក៏ដោយ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែ លោក Andy Hall នៃវិទ្យាស្ថានប្រជាជននិងស្រាវជ្រាវសង្គមនៅវិទ្យាល័យ Mahidol នៅប្រទេសថៃ បានថ្លែងថា ពលករចំណាកស្រុកប្រឈមនឹងឧបសគ្គ មិនរំពឹងទុកមានច្រើនមកដាក់ពាក្យសុំទេ។

លោកថ្លែងថា៖ «វាមិនពិបាកខ្លាំងទេ។ វាគ្រាន់តែដោយសារអំពើពុករលួយ»។ លោកគិតថា ប្រាក់សំណូកអាចមានពី២០០ ទៅ ៣០០ដុល្លារអាមេរិក ក្នុងចំណោមបញ្ហាដទៃទៀត។ «វាច្រើនសម្រាប់ពួកគេ ហើយវាជាដំណើរការ បែបការិយាធិបតេយ្យ និងពុករលួយ ... វាមិនមែនជាកំហុសកម្មករទេ។ វាជាកំហុសរបស់និយោជក និងជាកំហុសមន្រ្តី»។

លោកបន្តថា ការនិរទេសក៏ធ្វើឲ្យពលករចំណាកស្រុកប្រឈមនឹងសេចក្តីសម្រេចដ៏ ពិបាក ប្រសិនបើពួកគេចង់វិលត្រឡប់មកវិញ។ ការចូលទៅប្រទេសថៃវិញខុសច្បាប់ធ្វើឲ្យពលករងាយរងការកេង ប្រវ័ញ្ចពីនិយោជក និងអាជ្ញាធរ ប៉ុន្តែការចំណាយខ្ពស់ក្នុងការវិលត្រឡប់មកវិញដោយស្របច្បាប់ នឹងធ្វើឲ្យពួកគេជាប់បំណុល។ លោកបន្តថា វាគ្រោះថ្នាក់ណាស់។ ពលករ ប្រៀបដូច«ចុះទឹកក្រពើឡើងលើខ្លា»។

លោក Phil Robertson អនុប្រធានផ្នែកអាស៊ីនៃអង្គការឃ្លាំមើលសិទិ្ធមនុស្សបាន សង្ខេបពីស្ថានភាពរបស់ពលករចំណាកស្រុកនៅថៃយ៉ាងច្បាស់ តាមអ៊ីមែលថា៖ «ការបង្ក្រាបលើពលករចំណាកស្រុកនៅថៃមានន័យថា ជាការរំលោភសិទិ្ធមនុស្សពីអាជ្ញាធរថៃ គឺការវាយដំរូបកាយ និងការធ្វើទារុណកម្ម ការយាយីផ្លូវភេទ និងការកំហែងយកប្រាក់ជាលក្ខណៈប្រព័ន្ធ ជាអ្វីទាំងអស់ដែលនឹងកើតមាន»។

លោកបានបន្ថែមថា៖ «កម្ពុជាបានធ្វើកិច្ចការល្អក្នុងការជួយពលករចុះឈ្មោះ ប៉ុន្តែមិនសូវល្អសោះ ក្នុងការជួយការពារសិទិ្ធពួកគេពីការរំលោភបំពាន»។

ទោះជា យ៉ាងណា លោក មឿន តុលា ប្រធានកម្មវិធីការងារនៅមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលអប់រំច្បាប់សម្រាប់សហគមន៍បាន ថ្លែងថា និយោជិតកំពុងទទួលជំនួយតិចតួចពីរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា។
លោក តុលា បានបន្ថែមថា៖ «អ្នកទាំងនោះមិនបានចុះឈ្មោះ យើងសង្ស័យថា តើអ្នកទាំងនោះកំពុងព្យាយាម ហើយមិនអាចចុះឈ្មោះបានឬយ៉ាងណា? យើងសង្ស័យថា ស្ថានទូតកម្ពុជាមិនបានជួយគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ក្នុងការអនុញ្ញាតឲ្យពួកគេបានទៅចុះឈ្មោះឡើយ»។ លោកថា វាធ្លាប់កើតមានពីមុនរួចមកហើយ។

តាមលោក មឿន តុលា ឲ្យដឹងថា ការនិរទេសពលករចំណាកស្រុកជាច្រើនពីប្រទេសថៃ គ្រាន់តែជារោគសញ្ញានៃកង្វះការងារនៅកម្ពុជា។ លោក តុលា បានបញ្ជាក់ថា ដោយគ្មានប្រព័ន្ធអប់រំល្អប្រសើរ ការបណ្តុះបណ្តាលវិជ្ជាជីវៈ និងឱកាសការងារ ក្រៅពីការងារកេងប្រវ័ញ្ច បញ្ហានៃការនិរទេសនឹងបន្តមាន។

លោក តុលា បន្តថា៖ «ប្រសិនបើពួកគេត្រូវនិរទេស ដូច្នេះ រដ្ឋាភិបាលគួរមានផែនការធ្វើសមាហរណកម្ម ពួកគេចូលទៅក្នុងសង្គមវិញ។ ប្រសិន ពួកគេត្រូវបាននិរទេសមកវិញ ដោយគ្មានផែនការនេះទេ វានឹងគ្មានអ្វីផ្លាស់ប្តូរឡើយ ដូច្នេះ ពួកគេនឹងព្យាយាមធ្វើអន្តោប្រវេសន៍ថ្មីទៀត»។

មន្រ្តីរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាបានថ្លែងថា ការចរចានេះអាចស្ថិតក្នុងដំណើរការ ប៉ុន្តែមិនច្បាស់អំពីសេចក្តីលម្អិតទេ។

លោក អ៊ុំ មាន រដ្ឋលេខាធិការក្រសួងការងារ បានថ្លែងថា លោកមិនច្បាស់អំពីការនិរទេសនេះទេ ប៉ុន្តែថា៖ «ខ្ញុំគិតថា មានតែលោក សេង សក្តា អគ្គនាយកនៃក្រសួងការងារទេដែលដឹង ព្រោះគាត់បានហោះហើរទៅប្រទេសថៃកាលពីសប្តាហ៍មុន ប្រហែល ដើម្បីពិភាក្សាអំពីបញ្ហានេះ»។

ក្នុងរបាយការណ៍ MCOT រាយការណ៍ថា លោក Prawit Kiengpol អគ្គនាយកនៃអគ្គនាយកដ្ឋានការងារថៃ បានជំរុញលោក សេង សក្តា ឲ្យត្រៀមទទួលយកពលករចំណាកស្រុកកម្ពុជាជាច្រើននាក់។ ជាមួយនោះលោក សក្តា បានស្នើសុំអាជ្ញាធរថៃឲ្យបន្តជួលពលករកម្ពុជាជាថ្មីឲ្យបានឆាប់ ដោយបន្ថែមថា អាជ្ញាធរកម្ពុជានឹងចេញឯកសារចាំបាច់ឲ្យបានឆាប់។
លោកសេង សក្តា មិនអាចទាក់ទងបានទេពីម្សិលមិញ៕ TK

កម្ពុជាអំពាវនាវឲ្យកូរ៉េខាងជើងបញ្ឈប់ការបាញ់បង្ហោះមីស៊ីល

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

វង្ស សុខេង

ភ្នំពេញៈ ថ្លែងក្នុងនាមជាប្រធានអាស៊ានលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ហ៊ុន សែន កាលពីម្សិលមិញ បានអំពាវនាវ ទៅកូរ៉េខាងជើង សូមឲ្យផ្អាកជាអចិន្រៃ្តយ៍នៃគម្រោងបាញ់បង្ហោះមីស៊ីល ដែលទទួលរងការរិះគន់យ៉ាងខ្លាំង និងអំពាវនាវឲ្យប្រទេសឯកោមួយនេះ ត្រឡប់មករកការជជែក៦ភាគីវិញ។

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានថ្លែងនៅក្នុងពិធីសម្ពោធបើកការដ្ឋានសាងសង់ផ្សារទំនើបរបស់ ក្រុមហ៊ុនជប៉ុន ក្នុងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ថា៖«វាជារឿងល្អ ដែលគម្រោងបាញ់បង្ហោះមីស៊ីល ដោយកូរ៉េខាងជើង ត្រូវបានផ្អាកកាលពីបីថ្ងៃមុន ហើយស្តីពីបញ្ហានេះ ខ្ញុំសូមអំពាវនាវទៅសាធារណរដ្ឋប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ប្រជាមានិតកូរ៉េធ្វើការផ្អាកវាជារៀងរហូត»។ លោកបានថ្លែងយ៉ាងដូច្នេះ ដោយសំដៅទៅដល់ការប្រកាសមួយកាលពីថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ដែលថា កូរ៉េខាងជើង កំពុងពន្យារពេលការបាញ់បង្ហោះមីស៊ីលចម្ងាយឆ្ងាយដោយមិន បង្ហាញហេតុផល។

លោក បន្តថា៖ «ខ្ញុំសង្ឃឹមថា កូរ៉េខាងជើង នឹងពិចារណា ដោយយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ បើមិនដូច្នោះទេ ក្តីបារម្ភមិនមែនគ្រាន់តែជប៉ុន កូរ៉េខាងត្បូង និងអាមេរិកទេ ប៉ុន្តែគឺតំបន់ទាំងមូល»។ លោកហ៊ុន សែន បានធ្វើការអំពាវនាវបែបនេះ បន្ទាប់ពីរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីការបរទេសលោក ហោ ណាំហុង បានស្នើឡើងនូវសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ព្រាងមួយស្តីពីការបាញ់ បង្ហោះនោះ ប៉ុន្តែបរាជ័យ មិនទទួលបានការព្រមព្រៀងរួមគ្នាក្នុងចំណោមប្លុកអាស៊ាន។

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានថ្លែងថា៖ «ថ្លែងដោយត្រង់ៗទៅគឺថា បន្ទាប់ពីកិច្ចខិតខំប្រឹងប្រែងជិតមួយសប្តាហ៍ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីការបរទេសទាំងឡាយមិនអាចឈានដល់កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងគ្នា ទេ»។ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បន្តថា៖ «ហេតុដូច្នេះ តាងនាមជាប្រធាន អាស៊ាន ដែលនឹងផុតអាណត្តិនៅខែនេះ ខ្ញុំសូមអំពាវនាវទៅកូរ៉េខាងជើងឲ្យធ្វើការអត់ធ្មត់ ហើយសូមកុំបង្កើនស្ថានភាពតានតឹងដែលអាចប្រឆាំងនឹងសេចក្តី សម្រេចរបស់ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ហើយសូមត្រឡប់មករកការជជែក៦ភាគីជាថ្មី»។

លោកហ៊ុន សែន ក៏ធ្វើការជំរុញផងដែរ ដល់ប្រធានាធិបតីស៊ីរី លោក Bashar Al-Assad ចៀសវាងការប្រើអាវុធគីមីនៅក្នុងសមរភូមិរបស់ខ្លួន ប្រឆាំងទៅនឹងក្រុមឧទ្ទាម ដែលបាននិងកំពុងខិតជិតដល់បន្ទាយរបស់មេដឹកនាំផ្តាច់ការនេះ៕ PS

អ្នកជំនាញថាបារាំងមិនដែលកាត់កោះត្រល់ឲ្យវៀតណាម

ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា

2012-12-10

សកម្មជនព្រំដែនសច្ចាថា នឹងនៅតែបន្តទាមទារយកកោះត្រល់ របស់ខ្មែរ ដែលកំពុងគ្រប់គ្រងដោយរដ្ឋាភិបាលវៀតណាម សព្វថ្ងៃនោះ មកជាសម្បត្តិរបស់ខ្មែរវិញឱ្យបាន ទោះក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈ ឬត្រូវប្រើរយៈពេលយូរប៉ុណ្ណាក៏ដោយ។

RFA/Uon Chhin

១៤-កញ្ញា-២០១២៖ កោះត្រល់

ពួកគេចោទប្រកាន់រដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បច្ចុប្បន្ន ថាបានធ្វើឲ្យបាត់កោះដ៏ធំរបស់ខ្មែរមួយនេះ។ ប៉ុន្តែមេដឹកនាំខ្មែរតែងអះអាងថា អាជ្ញាធរបារាំង បានកាត់កោះនោះទៅឲ្យវៀតណាម ហើយបញ្ហាទាំងនេះបានចប់សព្វគ្រប់រួចទៅហើយ។

ក្រុមអ្នកជំនាញខាងកិច្ចការព្រំដែនខ្មែរនៅឯនាយសមុទ្រប្រកាសថា បញ្ហាកោះត្រល់នៅតែជាបញ្ហាដែលមិនទាន់ចប់សព្វគ្រប់នោះទេ សូម្បីអតីតព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ព្រះបាទ នរោត្ត សុរាម្រិត និងលោកទេសាភិបាលបារាំង ប្រេវីយេ (Previer) ក៏មិនដែលកាត់សេចក្ដីថា កោះខ្មែរដ៏មានតម្លៃមិនអាចកាត់ថ្លៃបានមួយនេះ ជាកម្មសិទ្ធិដាច់មុខរបស់វៀតណាម នោះដែរ។

ប្រធានគណៈកម្មាធិការព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា ដែលមានមូលដ្ឋានក្នុងប្រទេសបារាំង លោក ស៊ាន ប៉េងសែ អះអាងថា បញ្ហាកោះត្រល់ គឺជាបញ្ហាជាតិទាំងមូល ហើយកោះមួយនេះក៏មិនដែលត្រូវបានសម្រេចតាមផ្លូវច្បាប់ម្ដងណាឲ្យ ទៅវៀតណាម នោះទេ។

ទាក់ទងនឹងបញ្ហាកោះត្រល់នេះ លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន នៅថ្ងៃទី៩ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ បានប្រកាសក្នុងរដ្ឋសភាពីមូលហេតុនាំឲ្យកោះត្រល់លែងជាកម្មសិទ្ធិ របស់ខ្មែរថា ដោយសារតែឯកសារព្រះបាទ សម្ដេចព្រះ នរោត្ដម សីហនុ ដាក់តម្កល់នៅក្នុងអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិនៅឆ្នាំ ១៩៦៤ បានទទួលស្គាល់ខ្សែបន្ទាត់ ប្រេវីយេ ដែលបានកាត់កោះត្រល់ទៅឱ្យប្រទេសវៀតណាម។

លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បញ្ជាក់ថា ខ្មែរបានបាត់កោះត្រល់របស់ខ្លួន នៅឆ្នាំ១៩៣៩ ក្រោយពីអគ្គទេសាភិបាលឥណ្ឌូចិន របស់បារាំង លោក ប្រេវីយេ បានដាក់កោះ ត្រល់ឲ្យស្ថិតនៅក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងក្នុងដែនដីកម្ពុជាក្រោម ឬ កូសាំងស៊ីន ហើយឆ្នាំ១៩៤៩ បារាំងបាន ប្រគល់ដែនដីកូសាំងស៊ីន ដែលជាទឹកដីកម្ពុជាក្រោម ទៅឲ្យព្រះចៅបៅដាយ នៃប្រទេសវៀតណាម។

ទោះជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ កាសែតរស្មីកម្ពុជា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៥ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ២០០៥ បានដកស្រង់បន្ទូលរបស់អតីតព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ព្រះបាទសម្ដេចព្រះ នរោត្តម សីហនុ ចុះផ្សាយថា ព្រះអង្គមិនដែលទទួលស្គាល់កោះត្រល់ ជារបស់វៀតណាម ម្ដងណានោះឡើយ។

រីឯក្នុងរជ្ជកាលព្រះរាជបិតារបស់ព្រះអង្គ គឺព្រះបាទ នរោត្តម សុរាម្រិត អតីតព្រះមហាក្សត្រខ្មែរអង្គនេះ ក៏បានចេញព្រះរាជក្រឹត្យមួយចុះថ្ងៃទី៣០ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ១៩៥៧ ត្រាស់បង្គាប់ថា កោះត្រល់ គឺជាកោះដែលប្រទេសខ្មែរដាក់លក្ខខណ្ឌថា ត្រូវរក្សាទុកនូវសិទ្ធិប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្ត។

ជាមួយគ្នានេះផងដែរ នៅឆ្នាំ១៩៣៩ ទេសាភិបាលបារាំង លោក ប្រេវីយេ បានសរសេរជាលាយលក្ខណ៍អក្សរកត់ត្រាថា បារាំងបានកំណត់ចម្ងាយប្រវែង ៣គីឡូម៉ែត្រពីខាងជើងកោះត្រល់ ត្រូវគ្រប់គ្រងដោយប្រទេសខ្មែរ ហើយកោះត្រល់ត្រូវស្ថិតក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រង ដោយកូសាំងស៊ីន ឬ បារាំង។ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែការគ្រប់គ្រងនេះ គ្រាន់តែជាការគ្រប់គ្រងផ្នែករដ្ឋបាល និងតម្រួតប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ចំណែកឯបញ្ហាទាក់ទងរឿងភ្ជាប់កោះត្រល់ទាំងនេះទៅប្រទេសខ្មែរ ឬ កូសាំងស៊ីននោះ ត្រូវទុកមួយអន្លើសិនជាដាច់ខាត។

លោក ស៊ាន ប៉េងសែ បានចោទលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថា មិនចេះស្រឡាញ់ជាតិ និងទឹកដីរបស់ខ្លួន។ លោកអំពាវនាវឲ្យកូនខ្មែរគ្រប់រូបបន្តការទាមទារយកទឹកដីរបស់ ខ្លួនមកវិញ ទោះស្ថិតក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈណាក៏ដោយ។

កោះត្រល់មានផ្ទៃដីសរុប ទំហំ ៥៤០គីឡូម៉ែត្រក្រឡា គឺធំជិតប៉ុនផ្ទៃដីប្រទេសសិង្ហបុរី (Singapore)។ កោះនេះស្ថិតនៅចម្ងាយ ៥គីឡូម៉ែត្រ ពីកោះក្រចកសេះ ហើយចម្ងាយ ១៥គីឡូម៉ែត្រ ពីឆ្នេរសមុទ្រខ្មែរភាគខាងត្បូង និង ៤៥គីឡូម៉ែត្រ ពីខេត្តហាទៀន ប្រទេសវៀតណាម។

អតីតប្រធានចលនានិស្សិតដើម្បីលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ លោក អ៊ុំ សំអាន ដែលតែងដឹកនាំបាតុកម្មតវ៉ាអំពីបញ្ហាបូរណភាពទឹកដីថ្លែងថា ទោះបីបារាំង បានដាក់នឹមអាណានិគមលើប្រទេសខ្មែរពិតមែន តែបារាំង មិនដែលបានកាត់ដែនដីកោះមួយនេះឲ្យទៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម នោះឡើយ។ លោកបានជំរុញឲ្យមេដឹកនាំខ្មែរគួរទាមទារកោះត្រល់មកវិញ តាមរយៈការប្ដឹងទៅតុលាការយុត្តិធម៌អន្តរជាតិ។
លោក អ៊ុំ សំអាន បញ្ជាក់ថា ដោយសារតែកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងឆ្នាំ១៩៨២ រវាងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ជាមួយលោក ង្វៀង កូថាច់ រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសវៀតណាម និងសន្ធិសញ្ញាបំពេញបន្ថែមឆ្នាំ២០០៥ បាននាំឲ្យកម្ពុជា បាត់បង់ក្រោះត្រល់ ដែលមានតម្លៃកាត់ថ្លៃពុំបាននេះ។ លោកបានពន្យល់ថា សន្ធិសញ្ញាទាំងនេះធ្វើឡើងផ្ទុយពីរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ និងកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីស។

ចំណែកសកម្មជនព្រំដែនដែលមានមូលដ្ឋានក្នុងប្រទេសន័រវ៉េ (Norway) លោក អៀរ ចាន់ណា ព្រមានថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ត្រូវតែយកកោះត្រល់នេះមកឲ្យខ្មែរវិញជាដាច់ខាត បើពុំនោះសោតទេ រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជាបច្ចុប្បន្ន ត្រូវទទួលខុសត្រូវចំពោះមុខប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រអំពីការបាត់បង់កោះត្រល់ ចេញពីផែនទីប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។

រដ្ឋាភិបាលក្រុងហាណូយ កំពុងបង្កើនល្បឿនអភិវឌ្ឍន៍យ៉ាងពេញទំហឹង ដើម្បីធ្វើឲ្យកោះត្រល់ ដែលភាសាវៀតណាម ហៅថា «ភូកុក» ក្លាយជាតំបន់ទេសចរណ៍ និងពាណិជ្ជកម្មលំដាប់ពិភពលោក។ ក្រុមហ៊ុនទេសចរណ៍ខ្លះ បានហៅឆ្នេរសមុទ្ទនៅកោះត្រល់ ថាជា «ឆ្នេរសួគ៌ា»។
សព្វថ្ងៃកោះត្រល់ មានជនជាតិវៀតណាម រស់នៅចំនួនជិត ១០ម៉ឺននាក់ ក្នុងនោះមានផ្លូវថ្នល់ខ្វាត់ខ្វែង អគាររដ្ឋាភិបាល សាលារៀន មន្ទីរពេទ្យ សណ្ឋាគារ ភូមិគ្រឹះ អាគារលក់ទំនិញ និងផ្សារទំនើបៗ ព្រមទាំងអាកាសយានដ្ឋានខ្នាតអន្តរជាតិ ១កន្លែង និងកំពង់ផែអន្តរជាតិ ៣កន្លែង ដែលជាមធ្យោបាយយ៉ាងសំខាន់ក្នុងការពង្រីកវិស័យពាណិជ្ជកម្ម និងទេសចរណ៍។

ប្រជាជននៅទីនោះឲ្យដឹងថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលក្រុងហាណូយ បានចំណាយប្រាក់ជាង ១ពាន់លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក សម្រាប់អភិវឌ្ឍកោះត្រល់នេះ៕

កម្ពុជាបន្តបដិសេធមិនផ្ដល់កាដូជូនសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក

RFA/Vohar Cheath

ប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា (ឆ្វេង) និងលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ក្នុងជំនួបនាវិមានសន្តិភាព កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៩ វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ២០១២។

ដោយ យន់ សាមៀន

2012-12-10

រដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ បានបដិសេធមិនផ្ដល់កាដូពិសេសជូនប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា (Barack Obama) ដែលបានទទូចអង្វរសុំលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យដោះលែងអ្នកទោសនយោបាយ លើកស្ទួយសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោតប្រកបដោយស្តង់ដារអន្តរជាតិ។

ការប្រកាសមិនផ្ដល់កាដូជូនសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកនេះ ធ្វើឡើងស្របពេលដែលកម្ពុជា បានទទូចសុំកាដូពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ដើម្បីកាត់បំណុលចាស់របស់កម្ពុជា។ អ្នកវិភាគបានព្រមានថា កម្ពុជាមិនត្រឹមតែមិនបានទទួលកាដូពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកនោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងមានផលវិបាកផ្នែកការទូត និងវិនិយោគទុនរវាងប្រទេសទាំងពីរទៀតផង ដោយសារតែកម្ពុជា បានព្រងើយកន្តើយ និងផ្គើន នឹងសំណើរបស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។

មន្ត្រីរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានបញ្ជក់ជាថ្មីថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា គ្មានកាដូអ្វីផ្ដល់ជូនប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លោក ប៉ារាក់ អូបាម៉ា ទេ បើទោះបីលោកប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក បានស្នើសុំឲ្យនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ហ៊ុន សែន រៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោតមួយដោយសេរី និងយុត្តិធម៌ ដោះលែងអ្នកទោសនយោបាយ និងធ្វើឲ្យស្ថានភាពសិទ្ធិមនុស្សប្រសើរឡើងវិញក៏ដោយ។

អ្នកនាំពាក្យទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី លោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន មានប្រសាសន៍ថា លោក ប៉ារាក់ អូបាម៉ា មិនបានសំណូមពរឲ្យកម្ពុជា ធ្វើតាមឡើយ ដោយលោកគ្រាន់តែសំដែងក្តីបារម្ភតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។
ការអះអាងនេះ ផ្ទុយទៅនឹងព័ត៌មានរបស់មន្ត្រីសេតវិមាន ដែលបានប្រាប់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មានថា ក្នុងជំនួបតានតឹងមួយរវាងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន និងលោក ប៉ារាក់ អូបាម៉ា កាលពីថ្ងៃទី១៩ វិច្ឆិកា លោកប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក បាននិយាយនឹងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ដោយទឹកមុខមាំ មិនញញឹមថា បញ្ហាការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស នឹងក្លាយជាឧបសគ្គរារាំងទំនាក់ទំនងរវាងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក និងកម្ពុជា មិនឲ្យស៊ីជម្រៅបាន។ ប៉ុន្តែរយៈពេលជាងពីរសប្ដាហ៍កន្លងផុតទៅហើយ រដ្ឋាភិបាលលោក ហ៊ុន សែន នៅមិនទាន់បានឆ្លើយតបជាវិជ្ជមាននៅឡើយ។

រដ្ឋាភិបាលលោក ហ៊ុន សែន ហាក់បីកំពុងលែងល្បែងនឹងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក្នុងការដោះដូរកាដូទៅវិញ ទៅមក។ ក្នុងជំនួបតឹងសរសៃកនោះដែរ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានសុំឲ្យសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក លុបបំណុលចាស់ចោល និងពង្រឹងទំនាក់ទំនងល្អនឹងកម្ពុជា នៅពេលដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាលកំពុងចាប់អ្នកប្រឆាំង និងអ្នកសារព័ត៌មានដាក់ពន្ធនាគារ និងបានបដិសេធមិនឆ្លើយតបជាវិជ្ជមាននឹងសំណើរបស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។

ក្នុងសន្និសីទសារព័ត៌មានមួយក្រោយពីជំនួបលោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា និងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន រដ្ឋលេខាធិការទីស្ដីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី លោក ប្រាក់ សុខុន បានប្រាប់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មានថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានសុំកាដូពិសេសពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។ លោកបន្តថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានសុំលោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា បង្វែរបំណុលចាស់ចំនួនជាង ៤០០លានដុល្លារទៅជួយសង្គម និងវិស័យអប់រំ និងនៅសេសសល់ប៉ុន្មានទៀត កម្ពុជានឹងសង ប៉ុន្តែត្រូវគិតការប្រាក់ក្នុងកម្រិតទាប។ លោក ប្រាក់ សុខុន បន្តថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ក៏បង្ហាញបំណងចង់រឹតចំណងកិច្ចសហការនឹងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកផងដែរ។
អ្នកវិភាគឯករាជ្យបានឲ្យដឹងថា កម្ពុជាត្រូវការកាដូ និងការគាំទ្រច្រើនពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ប៉ុន្តែហាក់មិនចង់ផ្ដល់កាដូឲ្យសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកវិញ។ ទង្វើនេះ ប្រហែលជាបណ្ដាលឲ្យកម្ពុជា ខាតបង់ច្រើន។
លោកបណ្ឌិត ឡៅ ម៉ុងហៃ បានព្រមានថា ការមិនព្រមធ្វើតាមសំណូមពររបស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក នឹងផ្ដល់ផលវិបាកសម្រាប់កម្ពុជា ក្នុងទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរវាងប្រទេសទាំងពីរ។ លោកបន្តថា បច្ចុប្បន្នមិនមែនតែសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកទេ ដែលបានសំដែងក្តីកង្វល់ពីការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស និងការរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោតនៅកម្ពុជា ប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី ហ្វីលីពីន និងសហភាពអឺរ៉ុប ក៏បានសំដែងក្តីកង្វល់ផងដែរ។
លោកថា ប្រសិនបើគ្មានការរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោតដោយសេរី និងយុត្តិធម៌ ដោយមានការចូលរួមរបស់ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ លោក សម រង្ស៊ី នោះទេ ប្រទេសទាំងនោះប្រហែលជាមិនទទួលស្គាល់លទ្ធផលនៃការបោះឆ្នោតឡើយ។ ផលលំបាកផ្សេងទៀត គឺអាចកើតឡើងក្នុងវិស័យវិនិយោគទុនរបស់កម្ពុជា ដោយសារកម្ពុជា ត្រូវការទីផ្សារនៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក និងអឺរ៉ុប សម្រាប់វិស័យកាត់ដេរ និងផលិតកម្មកសិកម្មមួយចំនួនទៀត។

ចំណែកសភាសហភាពអឺរ៉ុប និងព្រឹទ្ធសភាអូស្ត្រាលី និងហ្វីលីពីន ក៏បានសំណូមពរឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា អនុវត្តនូវគោលការណ៍នីតិរដ្ឋឲ្យបានត្រឹមត្រូវផងដែរ។ ប្រទេសទាំងនោះចង់ឃើញលោក សម រង្ស៊ី ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ អាចចូលរួមការបោះឆ្នោតសកលនៅឆ្នាំ២០១៣ ខាងមុខ ដើម្បីមានការបោះឆ្នោតមួយប្រព្រឹត្តឡើងដោយសេរី យុត្តិធម៌ និងសហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិអាចទទួលយកបាន។

នាយករងទទួលបន្ទុកកិច្ចការតំបន់អាស៊ីនៃអង្គការឃ្លាំមើលសិទ្ធិ មនុស្សអន្តរជាតិ (Human Rights watch) លោក ហ្វៀល រ៉ូបឺតសុន (Phil Robertson) កាលពីសប្ដាហ៍មុនបានទទូចឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ឆ្លើយតបដោយវិជ្ជមានទៅសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ប៉ុន្តែក៏បានស្នើសុំសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក បន្តជំរុញឲ្យកម្ពុជា អនុវត្តនីតិរដ្ឋ។ លោកបន្តថា ការចាប់អ្នកសារព័ត៌មាន លោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ និងពលរដ្ឋដាក់គុក ជាទង្វើមិនអាចទទួលយកបាន ហើយការដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាលត្រួតត្រាបណ្ដាញព័ត៌មាន និងការរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោត គឺកាន់តែមិនអាចទទួលយកបាន។

លោក ហ្វៀល រ៉ូបឺតសុន បន្តថា សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកត្រូវតែតាមដានបន្តទៀតចំពោះសំណើរបស់ខ្លួន៖ «គ្មាន នរណាម្នាក់រំពឹងថា លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ធ្វើតាមសំណើរបស់លោក អូបាម៉ា នោះទេ។ បញ្ហានេះទាមទារឲ្យមានកិច្ចខំប្រឹងប្រែងបន្ថែមទៀត។ វាទាមទារឲ្យលោក អូបាម៉ា និងរដ្ឋាភិបាលសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ជំរុញឲ្យខ្លាំងក្លាបន្ថែមទៀត។ វាជារឿងធម្មតាណាស់សម្រាប់កម្ពុជា ក្នុងការឆ្លើយតប គឺកម្ពុជាត្រូវដោះលែងលោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ និងអនុញ្ញាតឲ្យលោក សម រង្ស៊ី វិលមកកម្ពុជាវិញ»។
លោក ហ្វៀល រ៉ូបឺតសុន បន្ថែមទៀតថា ថ្វីដ្បិតតែសំណើសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកងាយស្រួលឆ្លើយតប ប៉ុន្តែរដ្ឋាភិបាលទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ មិនបានបង្ហាញឆន្ទៈនយោបាយពិតប្រាកដណាមួយ ដោះស្រាយបញ្ហានេះឡើយ។ ទស្សនកិច្ចរបស់លោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា ជាទស្សនកិច្ចប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្ររបស់ប្រធានាធិបតីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកលើកដំបូង មកកម្ពុជា។

លោក បារ៉ាក់ អូបាម៉ា ជាប្រធានាធិបតីជាប់ឆ្នោតពីរអាណត្តិ ប៉ុន្តែលោក ហ៊ុន សែន បានកាន់អំណាចចាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៨៥ ហើយប្រកាសបន្តកាន់កាប់តំណែងរបស់លោកដល់អាយុ ៩០ឆ្នាំ។ អ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រចាត់ទុក លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ថា ជាមនុស្សឆ្លាត ជាអ្នកប្រយុទ្ធប្រកបដោយល្បិចកល។ លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ត្រូវបានផ្ដល់ងារជា “បុរសខ្លាំងនៅកម្ពុជា”។

ក្នុងរយៈពេលប៉ុន្មានឆ្នាំចុងក្រោយនេះ ទំនាក់ទំនងការទូតរវាងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក និងកម្ពុជា ហាក់ពុំមានភាពប្រសើរឡើយ។ កាលពីដើមឆ្នាំ២០០៦ សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកបានអន្តរាគមន៍លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យដោះលែងអ្នករិះគន់រដ្ឋាភិបាលចំនួន ៤នាក់ រួមមានអតីតប្រធានមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសិទ្ធិមនុស្សកម្ពុជា លោក កឹម សុខា លោក ម៉ម សូណង់ដូ នាយកវិទ្យុសំបុកឃ្មុំ លោក រ៉ុង ឈុន ប្រធានសមាគមគ្រូបង្រៀនកម្ពុជាឯករាជ្យ និងប្រធានវិទ្យុសំឡេងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ លោក ប៉ា ងួនទៀង។

ក្រោយពីជំនួបមិនបើកចំហមួយរវាងឧបការីក្រសួងការបរទេសសហរដ្ឋ អាមេរិក លោក គ្រីស្តូហ្វឺ ហ៊ីល (Christopher Hill) និងលោក ហ៊ុន សែន រដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា បានសម្រេចដោះលែងអ្នករិះគន់ទាំង ៤នាក់នោះ ឱ្យនៅក្រៅឃុំជាបណ្ដោះអាសន្ន។ សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក៏ធ្លាប់បានផ្អាកជំនួយយោធាដល់កម្ពុជា ក្រោយពេលដែលរដ្ឋាភិបាលសម្រេចចាប់បញ្ជូនជនភៀសខ្លួនអ៊ុយហ្គឺរ៍ ចំនួន ២០នាក់ទៅឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលចិន កាលពីឆ្នាំ២០០៩។

អ្នកវិភាគ និងមន្ត្រីអង្គការសិទ្ធិមនុស្សនៅតែសំណូមពរឲ្យកម្ពុជា ផ្ដល់កាដូដល់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ប្រសិនបើរដ្ឋាភិបាលត្រូវការកាដូពីសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកវិញនោះ៕

Monday 10 December 2012

Obama Visits China-Tilting Cambodia

Authoritarian Hun Sen plays the US off China, but the US takes long-term view

Sebastian Strangio

YaleGlobal, 7 December 2012

Cambodia in the middle: President Barack Obama extends a limp hand to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (top); happier relations with China’s Premier Wen Jiabao

PHNOM PENH: If body language is any predictor, President Barack Obama did not enjoy his short trip to Cambodia to attend the recent East Asia Summit. The unsmiling president joined routines with other participating heads of governments his visit aimed at winning friends and influencing others against a rising China. Still, long-term US involvement in the country’s economy and security may yet produce results.
Before the summit, Obama met privately with summit host, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, 60, and chided him on human rights issues, including recent land seizures, jailed political dissenters and the need for next year’s national elections to be free and fair. The meeting was described as “tense.” According to an aide who briefed reporters, Obama contrasted Cambodia’s authoritarian creep with Burma’s moves towards reform, warning that human rights abuses could be an impediment to a “deeper relationship with the United States.”
Obama’s visit to Cambodia, the first by a sitting US president, was preceded by calls for him to publicly address human rights. A Human Rights Watch report released before the trip recounted the unsolved killings of around 300 labor leaders, journalists, and opposition leaders during Hun Sen’s 27-year rule. Local activists also highlighted the self-exile of opposition leader Sam Rainsy on what many say are trumped-up charges and a recent crackdown on government critics and residents protesting forced evictions.

Obama seemed to stake out a middle way on human rights, discussing them behind closed doors but maintaining public silence.

Observing Obama’s chilly visit, Don Jameson, a former diplomat who served at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh in the early 1970s, said Obama seemed to stake out a middle way on human rights, discussing them behind closed doors but maintaining a public silence, possibly an effort to assuage activists who criticized him for making the stop in Cambodia at all. Jameson observed that the remarks’ impact was limited to the international press. Domestically, Hun Sen basked in the legitimacy conferred by Obama’s visit; human rights issues received little coverage in the government-aligned press. “As long as he has China on his side,” Jameson said, “Hun Sen seems confident that he can weather any storm and does not need to be concerned about what the US thinks.”

Not far from the Peace Palace, protesters released balloons and signs with the international distress signal, SOS, and small photos of Obama.

Lao Mong Hay, a Phnom Penh–based rights activist, welcomed the president’s comments to Hun Sen, expressing hope that they might lead to new emphasis on human rights. “Cambodia cannot afford to have strained relations with the United States,” he said, adding that the country relies on the US as an export market for its garments, giving the US “strategic leverage.” In 2011, according to the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, the country exported $2.06 billion worth of garments and textiles to the US, more than half of its total; the industry employs an estimated 350,000 workers. Cambodia’s garment exports to the US also make up a massive proportion over its overall exports, which totaled $4.87 billion last year. This stands in contrast to the wide trade deficit with China. In 2011, the $2.5 billion in two-way trade between Cambodia and China consisted overwhelmingly of imports of Chinese machinery, electronics, food, cars and medicines.

Cambodia relies on the US as an export market for garments, more than half that industry’s total, giving the US “strategic leverage.”

Whether the US chooses to use its leverage remains an open question. Obama’s landmark trip to Asia was a key step in Washington’s much-vaunted pivot toward Asia, an effort to bolster military, economic and political relationships as a counterweight to China’s rising influence in the region. Over the past decade, China has poured billions of dollars of “no-strings attached” loans and investments into Cambodia, transforming its physical infrastructure and reducing its dependence on Western development assistance tied to democratic and good governance reforms
In return, Cambodia does China’s bidding on a range of issues. It has deported to China Uighur asylum seekers, given vocal support to the One-China Policy and backed China’s position on negotiations over the South China Sea dispute. Two large green banners welcomed visiting dignitaries to Phnom Penh’s Peace Palace for the summit meetings, listing one leader and one country: “Welcome Prime Minister Wen Jiabao!” proclaimed one banner. “Long Live the People’s Republic of China!” read the other.
Hun Sen has played this game for years. US-Cambodia relations have steadily improved since July 1997, when he overthrew co–prime minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, in a violent coup de force. But as Hun Sen consolidated power in the early 2000s, Washington began to reengage. In August 2005, restrictions on US military assistance to Cambodia were lifted; in 2007, the US resumed direct foreign assistance, making Cambodia the third largest recipient of US aid in East Asia after Indonesia and the Philippines. This renewed commitment was symbolized by the December 2005 inauguration of a new $47 million US Embassy complex in Phnom Penh.

Then came the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia. In 2009, Cambodia and the US exchanged defense attachés, and Defense Minister Tea Banh visited Washington for talks about building up ties between the US military and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF). Angkor Sentinel, an annual joint US-Cambodian military exercise, was inaugurated in 2010, and three days before Obama’s arrival last week, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Tea Banh in Siem Reap and reaffirmed US military commitment to Cambodia.

According to Carl Thayer, the US is building relationships with those considered to have influence now and in the future.

Carl Thayer, a professor at the Australia Defense Forces Academy in Canberra, said that despite the lack of any real terrorist threat in Cambodia today, counterterrorism and defense cooperation allows the US to preserve a measure of influence as the country moves further into China’s orbit. “The US has an ‘in’ on the security and defense side that China really does not have,” he said. “Since [counterterrorism] is an already existing program it would have normative approval in the United States as a place to go, to keep some avenues of American influence open.”
Casting its eye to the longer term, the US also moves to establish strong relationships with Hun Sen’s eldest son and heir apparent. Hun Manet was given a place at West Point military academy, graduating in 1999. The 35-year-old is a RCAF major-general and commands the National Counter-Terrorism Special Force established with US assistance in 2008.

In August, at the close of Vector Balance Canoe, another joint military exercise, US Ambassador William E. Todd singled out Manet for his “outstanding job as the commanding officer of such a fine unit,” and reiterated that “America has been committed to Cambodia, is committed to Cambodia now, and will be committed to Cambodia long into the future.” Describing Manet as “a rising future star,” Thayer notes, “America’s very carefully building up relationships with people who are considered to have influence now, and are likely to have even greater influence in future.”

The chilly visit may strain relations, but in the long-run, the two countries will likely see benefits of closer ties. For the US, there is the need to offset a rising China, forcing the former to take a patient approach on human rights issues. For Cambodia, as always, there is the weight of history as a small nation vulnerable to powerful outside forces. It may be that as China’s influence grows Hun Sen will recall an adage often cited by Prince Norodom Sihanouk as he struggled to maintain Cambodia’s neutrality during the Cold War: “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” In the end, the economic and military weight of the US may persuade Hun Sen and his successors to slide towards a more balanced position.

Sebastian Strangio is a journalist based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, covering Asia.

Sam Rany, Ph.D.

Friday 14 December 2012

CAMBODIA: LRWC and ALRC denounce attacks against HRDs and problems with judicial independence — Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: The country must not repeat Burma's mistake — Asian Human Rights Commission

CAMBODIA: The country must not repeat Burma's mistake

CAMBODIA: Cambodian activists must believe in individuals’ capacity to accomplish the impossible — Asian Human Rights Commission

Tuesday 11 December 2012

ADB Links Corruption, Political Culture

UN Says Information Ministry Decided to Halt Equity Weekly

TV Program Halted After Government Criticism

EU Ambassador Says Listen to Envoy’s Advice

Great Huangs of history

Time to invest in people

Tribunal betrays the ideal of justice

Cambodia's tax revenue totals $683 million

បុគ្គលិកកម្មករឯកជននឹងទទួលបានប្រាក់ចូលនិវត្តន៍ដូចមន្ត្រីរាជការ

ពលករខ្មែរជាង១៦ម៉ឺននាក់នៅថៃ ត្រូវប្រឈមនឹងការនិរទេសមកស្រុកវិញ

កម្ពុជាអំពាវនាវឲ្យកូរ៉េខាងជើងបញ្ឈប់ការបាញ់បង្ហោះមីស៊ីល

អ្នកជំនាញថាបារាំងមិនដែលកាត់កោះត្រល់ឲ្យវៀតណាម

ដោយ តាំង សារ៉ាដា

2012-12-10

កម្ពុជាបន្តបដិសេធមិនផ្ដល់កាដូជូនសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក

ដោយ យន់ សាមៀន

2012-12-10

Monday 10 December 2012

Obama Visits China-Tilting Cambodia

Official Resume of H.E. Dr. SAR Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister (April 2024)

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