Obama Signs Off on Aid Cuts to Government

The Cambodia Daily | January 20, 2014

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday signed a spending bill that suspends some funding to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government until an independent investigation into last year’s disputed national election is carried out, or until the opposition CNRP ends its boycott of parliament.

The bill targets only a small portion of the U.S.’ $80-million a year in aid to Cambodia that goes straight to the Cambodian government. Excluded from the suspension, however, is anything that falls under humanitarian aid, and human rights training for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. 

The aid will be withheld from Mr. Hun Sen’s government until U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry certifies that the “government is conducting and implementing, with the concurrence of the political opposition in Cambodia, an independent and credible investigation into irregularities associated with the July 28, 2013 parliamentary elections,” or until the CNRP takes it seats, the bill states.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy welcomed the bill, saying that while only a small amount of aid was being withheld, the CPP government would feel the symbolism of the cut.

Read the full article in The Cambodia Daily...