|
Donors pledge US$689 million to Cambodia; Foreign protesters detained |
Cambodia’s donors pledged 689 million dollars to the
impoverished country Wednesday, including tens of millions from
China, which attended the annual aid meeting for the first time.
The money for the coming year was promised despite strong concerns
over rampant corruption and demands by rights groups that donors
get tough on the government’s apparent refusal to reform.
This year’s pledges mark a significant increase over the 601
million dollars offered last year.
“We have taken several concrete and important steps towards
accelerating progress,” said Cambodian Finance Minister Keat
Chhon after the meeting.
China, which has emerged as one of Cambodia’s biggest
supporters but had previously avoided annual donor meetings,
pledged 91 million dollars, Keat Chhon said.
Already Cambodia’s largest donor, Japan said earlier it would
likely offer the same, if not more money than last year’s 110
million dollars.
While acknowledging Cambodia’s economic growth as a positive
sign, Japan said in a statement earlier that “the slow
progress in certain governance reform programmes seems to need
particular attention.”
Foreign donors announced their pledges after two days of aid talks
that focussed largely on the government’s failure to pass
anti-corruption legislation to tackle rampant graft.
Cambodia was ranked 151 out of 163 countries in Transparency
International’s 2006 corruption index, which compares graft
levels in governments around the world.
Before the meeting, diplomats praised Cambodia’s increased
willingness to work with donors.
But the opening of the talks Tuesday was marred by the detention of
foreign protesters which rights groups said highlighted the
government’s continuing hardline stance towards dissent.
The eight Westerners, who were demanding the release of two men
many rights advocates feel have been wrongly jailed for the 2004
killing of labour leader Chea Vichea, were freed hours later.
The incident underscored Cambodia’s failure to act on its
reform promises made at previous donor meetings, rights groups
said.
“The meeting has become an empty annual ritual, with the
government making and breaking promises every year,” said
Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York-based group Human Rights
Watch.
“There will be more promises made this year but without
serious donor pressure they, too, will be broken,” he added.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
