| English.news.cn 2013-08-02 17:15:31 |
   
 
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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on
Friday lashed out at some U.S. lawmakers for urging U.S. government to
cut off aid to Cambodia and said they may do it if they wish.
"If you are brave enough, you cut it. Don't talk too much," Hun Sen said referring to a U.S. hearing early on July 9 that representative Steve Chabot, who heads the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia, introduced legislation to cut assistance to Cambodia if the country's general election, held on July 28, was not free and fair.
"I urge you to cut it. You said as if we need very much the 50 million U.S. dollars (a year)," the premier said when he visited some farmers in southern Kandal province. "We have never got even a penny from this aid."
Hun Sen said that the fund usually goes to U.S.-backed NGOs and health-related projects. So if they cut the aid, NGO staff would be affected, not the government of Cambodia.
However, the premier said that the calls were made by only a few U.S. lawmakers, not represented the voice of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, or the voice of the whole U.S. congress and citizens.
Cambodia held its fifth general election last Sunday.
The Cambodian People's Party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats, according to the initial unofficial results.
But the opposition party did not recognize the results, claiming widespread fraud, and submitted a request to the National Election Committee (NEC) to demand for the establishment of an independent committee to investigate irregularities during the election.
Hun Sen said that the government and the CPP will welcome any existing NEC mechanism, which allows the participation from political parties, national and international NGOs, and United Nations experts in order to look into the alleged irregularities.
Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power by another five years following Sunday's victory.
Despite winning the victory in the poll, the results are a blow to the ruling CPP as its seats has dropped from 90 in 2008 election to 68 in the Sunday poll, while the opposition CNRP's seats have seen a dramatic rise from 29 seats to 55 seats.
"If you are brave enough, you cut it. Don't talk too much," Hun Sen said referring to a U.S. hearing early on July 9 that representative Steve Chabot, who heads the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia, introduced legislation to cut assistance to Cambodia if the country's general election, held on July 28, was not free and fair.
"I urge you to cut it. You said as if we need very much the 50 million U.S. dollars (a year)," the premier said when he visited some farmers in southern Kandal province. "We have never got even a penny from this aid."
Hun Sen said that the fund usually goes to U.S.-backed NGOs and health-related projects. So if they cut the aid, NGO staff would be affected, not the government of Cambodia.
However, the premier said that the calls were made by only a few U.S. lawmakers, not represented the voice of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, or the voice of the whole U.S. congress and citizens.
Cambodia held its fifth general election last Sunday.
The Cambodian People's Party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of recently-pardoned leader Sam Rainsy got the remaining 55 seats, according to the initial unofficial results.
But the opposition party did not recognize the results, claiming widespread fraud, and submitted a request to the National Election Committee (NEC) to demand for the establishment of an independent committee to investigate irregularities during the election.
Hun Sen said that the government and the CPP will welcome any existing NEC mechanism, which allows the participation from political parties, national and international NGOs, and United Nations experts in order to look into the alleged irregularities.
Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will extend his power by another five years following Sunday's victory.
Despite winning the victory in the poll, the results are a blow to the ruling CPP as its seats has dropped from 90 in 2008 election to 68 in the Sunday poll, while the opposition CNRP's seats have seen a dramatic rise from 29 seats to 55 seats.
Editor:
Hou Qiang
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