2,000 Cambodians stage rally ahead of donors…

Asian Economic News, June 24, 2002

PHNOM PENH, June 18 Kyodo

About 2,000 poor Cambodians led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy gathered in front of the National Assembly on Tuesday urging foreign donors to put more pressure on the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen to better manage the country.

The protest was held peacefully on the eve of the meeting of the Consultative Group (CG) for Cambodia, which will be held in Phnom Penh from Wednesday through Friday.

At the rally, Sam Rainsy called on the foreign donors grouped together in the CG to better analyze the current government's commitment to ending corruption, deforestation, impunity, prostitution, lawlessness, illiteracy and malnutrition.

Hun Sen's government has repeatedly denounced Sam Rainsy for making politically motivated accusations against the government in the interest of his own party ahead of the next year's general election.

Seventeen foreign donor nations and seven international organizations will gather in Phnom Penh on Wednesday to discuss financial assistance to Cambodia for the year 2003.

The CG meeting is aimed at aiding Cambodia for the country's rehabilitation since it had faced a few decades of civil strife and political turmoil.

Cambodia, which has undergone decades of civil strife and political turmoil, has received foreign aid amounting to some $2.5 billion since 1996.

Cambodia is to seek some $1.46 billion in aid over the next three years, or some $485.7 million per annum, and another $15 million to finance the holding of its general elections on July 27, 2003.

In the global context, Cambodia is one of the poorer nations with a per capita income estimated to be around $270 dollars in 2000 and some $280 dollars in 2001.

Of the country's 12 million people, 36% are living below the poverty line. Some 80% of the population are farmers.

The last CG meeting was held in June last year to review Cambodia's efforts toward growth, poverty reduction, and good governance. Donors pledged $560 million to underpin the momentum of the government's reform program.