LETTERS: Cambodia pay-off can only be seen as a bribe

Cambodia pay-off can only be seen as a bribe

The Age | September 29, 2014

 

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng hold a flute of champagne after signing a deal to resettle refugees from Australia to Cambodia. Photo: Getty Images

LETTERS

On Friday Immigration Minister Scott Morrison signed a deal with Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng ("Ministers silent on details of $40m Cambodia 'pay-off', September 27).

Surely the $40 million is nothing more than a bribe for the Cambodian government to accept the secret deal, since the details have been withheld from the Australian people.

Since one aspect is known, that only those who are deemed to be refugees who voluntarily choose to be resettled in Cambodia will go there, what happens if not one of them makes that choice? What happens to the $40 million? Does Australia get it back?

- Mila Yates Valentine

Australia's plans to send refugees from Nauru, which is bankrupt, to Cambodia is the last straw in the actions of a desperate and immoral government ("Fears for refugee children's future", September 26). It is well known that Cambodia is one of the most corrupt countries in the world – millions of aid dollars disappear each year. 

We travelled to Cambodia two years ago and were appalled at the plight of families who lived on the streets of Phnom Penh, begging for scraps from the high fenced-off restaurant diners, many of whom were corrupt government officials, driving apparently unregistered Lexus 4WDs while the rest get about on old bicycles or walk. Graft and corruption is a way of life there. Our tuk-tuk driver had to pay extra bribes to ensure that his son was able to study at a senior high school level.

We donate annually for a water tank for Cambodian schools as well as to help pay for school children's dental care but we donate via the Buddhist Library, the only aid organisation that we can trust to deliver the aid where it is needed.

What possible hope is there for refugees, having to compete with the local Khmer people for jobs, the limited healthcare which comes at the cost of a bribe to the right officials, in a culture which is totally alien to them and which will do nothing to assist them to integrate. If the Cambodian government can't and won't help its own people, why would they assist refugees?

- Eva Johnstone Marrickville

Our government is sending planes and military aids to the Middle East with reason to fight terrorism for our freedom. Is that also  the reason we sent refugee children to Cambodia detention centres so they can enjoy that freedom as well? I noticed that Scott Morrison toasted a drink to that deal with the Cambodian ministers.  Mr Morrison, how can you sleep at night?

- Adriaan Tent Bonnells Bay

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