A Cambodian dog named Touch carries a bucket as she begs at a temple outside the capital Phnom Penh, December 7, 2004. International donors have agreed to give war-scarred Cambodia just over $500 million in aid for 2005. [ REUTERS / Chor Sokunthea ]

Virak Pruhm : First, it is very shameful to see the Kingdom of Cambodia, a country that has more than enough natural resources, has to beg international donors every year. It is more disgraceful to know that the donation that was intended to feed the poors, has been used to feed a few rich and corrupt government officials. Most of all it is rather sickening to see the same 'donors' keep on rewarding the same crooks -- liars who have been duping them for many years. This is not the first year that Kiet Chhon, Premier Hun Sen and their associates fail to keep their promise. It makes many people wonder why the 'donors' keep on doing the same thing to the same people and expect different result? What's in the bucket for them? From people to a dog on the street... they practice the same profession -- beggar. The difference is that the dog is more honest than Cambodian officials... Kiet Chhon does it with a smirk, and the dog does it with a real sad face...

Cambodia's Kiet Chhon assured World Bank's Ian Porter they would act to tackle corruption.

Un journaliste : Bonjour, Excellence! Comment va votre distinguée dame? Veng Sereyvuth : Demandez au Salaud Abject Royal (S.A.R.) ! RanaClintonariddh : Hé, Excellence! Je vous aime comme mon demi-frère! Le journaliste : La nouvelle fillette de Votre Altesse Royale, de qui elle est née? RanaClintonariddh : De ma demi-belle-soeur... heu... ma belle-demi-soeur. Enfin, vous savez!

800 foreign advisers earn more than 300,000 Cambodian State employees (2004-Nov-29)
         K.I. : The latest World Bank report ("Cambodia at the crossroads") says there are some 800 foreign advisers currently working in Cambodia. "These advisers cost donors collectively more than the government's total wages bill" (representing a $146 million disbursement in 2003) that covers the salaries for approximately 300,000 Cambodian civil servants, policemen and soldiers. Therefore, each foreign adviser earns an average $15,000 per month versus $40 per month for an average Cambodian State employee. Both figures include fringe benefits.

Increased taxes on gasoline increase corruption and poverty (2004-Nov-26)
         Khmerintelligence.org : On the advice of the International Monetary Fund the Cambodian government has dramatically increased taxes on gasoline over the last few years. As a result, the retail price of gasoline is now approximately 50 percent higher in Cambodia than in neighboring countries, which has led to a spectacular boom in illegal import (smuggling) from Thailand and Vietnam. According to a report recently released by the U.S. Agency for International Development (KI, 04 November 2004: "USAID document says corruption costs the State between $300 and $500 million a year"), "legal import of petroleum has not increased over the past 10 years, while the number of vehicles has increased fivefold. Just for this one product, a large smuggling industry must necessarily be in place, providing significant payments into the illicit system."
         The above case is an example of a well-intended measure as suggested by the IMF (to increase tax revenue for the state), but the measure was ill-conceived because it did not take into account the legal and political context (no rule of law, systemic corruption taking advantage of porous borders). The Cambodian government has been enthusiastic about the IMF suggestion since the very beginning, knowing its corrupt officials would be able to pervert the tax increase and to divert revenue from the state coffers.
         Only foreign-owned petroleum companies (Caltex, Shell, Total), which account for less than one fifth of Cambodia's import of gasoline, pay taxes as required by the law. At the current level of gasoline retail price, they are hardly breaking even. Their Cambodian competitors (Tela Kampuchea, Sokimex), which are owned by pro-CPP businessmen or government officials and/or their relatives, do not pay any tax at all, while selling gasoline at the same retail price as their foreign competitors. Because of the "illicit system" – as the USAID report puts it – the loss of revenue for the state exceeds $50 million a year, which represents in fact a private tax levied by CPP officials and their business cronies on the public. Corruption definitely increases poverty.

How much is too much ? (2004-Nov-25) Kampong Cham - Gas smuggling through Vietnamese border is involving not less than 50 cars a day in the province of Kampong Cham. Last year custom officers in hot pursuit hit a smuggler car which burst in flame on the Japanese-aided bridge Kizuna. This white Camry seized at 5:30 am on November 23 by police economic squad transported 45 cans or 1350 liters of diesel fuel. Police said the car was driven from the province of Svay Rieng and its content was to be sold in the commune of Choup, Tbong Khmum district. The smuggler confessed his car is only 1-month-old and his activity is not on a daily basis. His smuggling was done only three times and he was caught at the third time. [Koh Santepheap]

LES SIX COMMANDEMENTS

REFORMING OUR BUDDHISM

GRAMMAIRE KHMÈRE

NOVEL (Author)

PHN@M-P@NH-P@TINS (Previous)

FRAN-GLO-GIBWÉ

CAMBODIATRIBE

GOD vs BUDDHA

COURRI@L 2004

PEN Nearovi, Montréal, Québec, Canada
(nearovi@sympatico.ca)