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Why Cambodia Sanctions Will Fail

A punitive approach will not stop the country’s democratic collapse.

By Vannarith Chheang
January 13, 2018



2017 has been an extraordinary year for Cambodia. Former opposition leader Kem Sokha was arrested in September over a treason charge and his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved in November. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) government forced some civil society and media organizations to close down due to failures to meet local laws, which some viewed as a systematic crackdown.

In response to the plummeting democratic institutions in the country, the United States and the European Union condemned the CPP government and called the moves against the opposition and against civil society a serious threat to democracy.

The Australian and Japanese governments have also raised concerns. Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane “expressed concern over the dissolution of the opposition party, which received support from many Cambodian citizens at the previous election.” Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop agreed that the development has serious implications for democracy in Cambodia: “As a friend of Cambodia, Australia urges the Cambodian government to allow all its citizens to exercise their democratic rights, particularly ahead of the 2018 national election,” she said in a statement.

Cont.
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/why-cam ... will-fail/

Abc123 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:00 pmThe Australian and Japanese governments have also raised concerns.

I wonder of those concerns take into account the dodgy deal for 4 refugees to be settled in Cambodia for $40mn, along with the lie that Cambodia had great medical facilities.

Cambodia doesn't have a Nauru.

The hypocrisy is laughable, really.

Whenever America or Europe or anyone else withdraws $10 million in aid, china gives $20 million and buys a bit more of Cambodia's soul. Sanctions will not have any effect ata ll, except to make the poorest poorer.

China's loans are true loan-shark loans. They secure them on valuable geophysical assets, basically we get all your gold for the next hundred years in exchange for you getting some grenades and tear gas to fight off democratic revolutionaries. They should just pay off fucking Lon Nol's debt to the US and get into the IMF. Who instead demand embarrassing changes in governmental policy

EU, U.S. reluctant to remove trade preferences for Cambodia garments: Fitch's BMI
Reuters Staff
BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The European Union and the United States appear reluctant to remove preferential trade access for Cambodia’s vital garments sector, Fitch’s BMI research unit said on Tuesday, despite calls from rights groups for targeted sanctions in the wake of a political crackdown ahead of a July general election.

Concerns about garment exports have mounted ahead of the vote, which some Western nations say will not be free with rights groups accusing the government of intimidating its opponents and presiding over a decline in civil and political rights following last year’s dissolution of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Cambodia, a top garment-making hub, has been the sixth fastest-growing economy in the world over the past two decades, with an average GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent, according to the World Bank, thanks largely to garment exports.

Around 30 percent of its garments are destined for the European Union.

In its report, BMI said that the “EU and the US appear reluctant to remove preferential trade access for Cambodia’s crucial garment exports, which suggests that the worst-case-scenario of major industry disruption and factory closures is unlikely.”

“At this stage, it appears that the US and the EU will likely refrain from undertaking such punitive actions against Cambodia in the near-term,” said Raphael Mok, Senior Analyst, BMI Research.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-camb ... SKBN1HV0BL

that genius wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:04 pm

Abc123 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:00 pmThe Australian and Japanese governments have also raised concerns.

I wonder of those concerns take into account the dodgy deal for 4 refugees to be settled in Cambodia for $40mn, along with the lie that Cambodia had great medical facilities.

Cambodia doesn't have a Nauru.

The hypocrisy is laughable, really.

I think you'll find that the amount of support that was withdrawn by AusAID in lead-up to the arrival of the refugees might be similar to the dodgy deal, but I'm just guessing.