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| The US Senate Committee of Appropriations |
US Places Conditions on Aid to Cambodia
VOA | 2 July 2016
WASHINGTON —
The United States has followed through on criticisms of the recent crackdown on the Cambodian opposition and civil society by linking its multi-million-dollar aid package for 2017 to improvements in human rights.
Next year’s assistance package to Cambodia will be about $77.8 million, according to the 2017 Appropriations Bill approved last month, which will be spent on projects aimed at improving health care, demining and the Khmer Rouge tribunal, among other issues.
Globally, the bill allocated $52 billion for foreign projects and operations, including strengthening foreign relations, counter-terrorism, improving global health and democracy promotion.
The Bill specifies that the Cambodia aid will only be distributed if “the Government of Cambodia has ceased violence and harassment against civil society in Cambodia, including political opposition.”
Additionally, the $1.5 million allotted to continuing the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal will only be issued in support of Case 003, which Prime Minister Hun Sen has vowed will not take place.
He has repeatedly warned that pursuing more Khmer Rouge officials – including the regime’s navy commander, Meas Muth, who was implicated in the 1975 Mayaguez Incident, in which at least 38 U.S. servicemen died – would lead to “civil war”.
The United States has followed through on criticisms of the recent crackdown on the Cambodian opposition and civil society by linking its multi-million-dollar aid package for 2017 to improvements in human rights.
Next year’s assistance package to Cambodia will be about $77.8 million, according to the 2017 Appropriations Bill approved last month, which will be spent on projects aimed at improving health care, demining and the Khmer Rouge tribunal, among other issues.
Globally, the bill allocated $52 billion for foreign projects and operations, including strengthening foreign relations, counter-terrorism, improving global health and democracy promotion.
The Bill specifies that the Cambodia aid will only be distributed if “the Government of Cambodia has ceased violence and harassment against civil society in Cambodia, including political opposition.”
Additionally, the $1.5 million allotted to continuing the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal will only be issued in support of Case 003, which Prime Minister Hun Sen has vowed will not take place.
He has repeatedly warned that pursuing more Khmer Rouge officials – including the regime’s navy commander, Meas Muth, who was implicated in the 1975 Mayaguez Incident, in which at least 38 U.S. servicemen died – would lead to “civil war”.
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