Cambodia calls US democracy ‘bloody and brutal’

[727Sky]

Cambodia hit back on Thursday at US criticism over its decision to expel a US-funded pro-democracy group, accusing Washington of political interference and describing American democracy as “bloody and brutal.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen, the strongman who has ruled Cambodia for more than three decades, has taken a strident anti-American line in the increasingly tense run up to a 2018 election.

The US State Department criticized Cambodia’s decision to expel the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Wednesday and a statement from the US embassy in Phnom Penh questioned whether Cambodia was a democracy.

In an open letter on Thursday, the Cambodian government asked whether the United States was “coming to Cambodia to help or hinder the Khmer people” and blamed it for contributing to the rise of the genocidal Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.

“Cambodians are well aware of what a democratic process means. You do not need to tell us what it is,” the letter said, describing US-style democracy as “bloody and brutal.”

“We wish to send a clear message again to the US Embassy that we defend our national sovereignty,” it added.
Tensions have risen anew in Cambodia, with rights groups and the United Nations expressing alarm and the opposition accusing Hun Sen of persecution ahead of next year’s election.

After the government’s order to expel the NDI and a threat to shut a newspaper founded by an American journalist if it didn’t pay back taxes immediately, the US State Department voiced concern at the government “curtailing freedom of the press and civil society’s ability to operate.”

Government supporters have threatened to protest at the US Embassy in Phnom Penh, the pro-government “Fresh News” web site reported on Thursday.—Agencies

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[727Sky]

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A State Department spokesperson said Washington was in talks with the government in the hope it would approach the disputes “in a fair fashion”.
WASHINGTON — 
The U.S. State Department has called on Cambodia to allow NGOs and independent media to continue their work in the country after Phnom Penh moved to close the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Cambodia Daily newspaper.

The NDI was told it must cease operations in Cambodia for continuing to conduct business despite not being granted official NGO registration since it applied last year.

The Cambodia Daily, an English-language local newspaper, was told earlier this week that it had until September 4 to pay $6 million it allegedly owes in back taxes, a figure the paper’s management disputes.

The moves against the media and civil society come just months ahead of a crucial national election where the opposition has a chance of winning the most votes.

Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman, said Washington was in talks with the government in the hope it would approach the disputes “in a fair fashion”.

"We encourage the government to allow NDI, The Cambodia Daily, and other independent media and civil society organizations to continue their important activities so that Cambodia’s 2018 national elections can take place in a free and open environment.

"What we do here each and every day ... is talk about not only free and fair elections and the importance of that, but the importance of free speech, including speech that can be uncomfortable to governments and nations.

“Our message won’t change. We care about freedom of the press; that’s not going to change."

The NDI has until August 30 to end operations in Cambodia and make arrangements for its staff to leave.

Nauert added that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had discussed the issue with his Cambodian counterpart last month while the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, William Heidt, had lobbied the tax department.

“A lot of our conversations we have are behind the scenes ... we conduct our diplomacy behind closed doors because in some countries that can be the most effective way of getting them to do things, so we will continue those conversations.”

[url=https://newsletter.thaivisa.com/l/jzQgFpyeyIlIp5yOz3u5GA/DDP0gXOufF9LGAWp18Ntjg/b892Yw5PYDkw67sEVH63ay0w]https://newsletter.thaivisa.com/l/jzQgFpyeyIlIp5yOz3u5GA/DDP0gXOufF9LGAWp18Ntjg/b892Yw5PYDkw67sEVH63ay0w

[Daitengu]

Long as they not go all pol pot again ....  good .... they better off without american dumbocrappy .....