31 May 2009
By Oun Chhin
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata for Ki-Media
Click here to read the article in Khmer
The US ambassador to Cambodia said that revenue loss from corruption in Cambodia amounts to $500 million per year, and this amount could add up to $260 of additional monthly salary to civil servants.
Mrs. Carol Rodley (pictured), the US ambassador who participated in the anti-corruption “Clean Hand” concert organized by Pact Cambodia and civil societies at the National Olympic Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2009, discussed about the amount of revenue lost through corruption.
Carol Rodley said through a translator: “Numerous studies have shown that corruption in Cambodia led to $500 million in lost national revenue each year. The amount of revenue lost could help boost various expenditures, such as public education service, health service and jobs for Cambodian people. $500 million in lost revenue is equivalent to the cost of a building with 20,000 rooms, or it can also provide $260 of additional monthly salary to civil servants in Cambodia.”
Carol Rodley also expressed her hope that the anti-corruption law will be adopted in 2009.
Through a translator, Carol Rodley said: “We are pushing the Cambodian government to respect its promise for the ratification of the anti-corruption law. During the 2008 election, all political parties promised to adopt this law. Now is the time to put this law into practice.”
The Clean Hand concert was participated by numerous Cambodian singers and artists, as well as by Neay Koy’s comic troop.
The concert was accompanied by projection of Clean Hand pictures that attracted the spectators who took still pictures or recorded the event on video on their cameras and hand phones.
Mrs. Huot Ratanak from Pact Cambodia said that this first concert organized by her organization was successful beyond expectation. “We hosted several tens of thousands spectators who came to our concert,” she said.
The Clean Hand concert ended with the song “Pong-sav-da Khmer” (Khmer History) interpreted by all the artists and singers present.
Mrs. Carol Rodley (pictured), the US ambassador who participated in the anti-corruption “Clean Hand” concert organized by Pact Cambodia and civil societies at the National Olympic Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2009, discussed about the amount of revenue lost through corruption.
Carol Rodley said through a translator: “Numerous studies have shown that corruption in Cambodia led to $500 million in lost national revenue each year. The amount of revenue lost could help boost various expenditures, such as public education service, health service and jobs for Cambodian people. $500 million in lost revenue is equivalent to the cost of a building with 20,000 rooms, or it can also provide $260 of additional monthly salary to civil servants in Cambodia.”
Carol Rodley also expressed her hope that the anti-corruption law will be adopted in 2009.
Through a translator, Carol Rodley said: “We are pushing the Cambodian government to respect its promise for the ratification of the anti-corruption law. During the 2008 election, all political parties promised to adopt this law. Now is the time to put this law into practice.”
The Clean Hand concert was participated by numerous Cambodian singers and artists, as well as by Neay Koy’s comic troop.
The concert was accompanied by projection of Clean Hand pictures that attracted the spectators who took still pictures or recorded the event on video on their cameras and hand phones.
Mrs. Huot Ratanak from Pact Cambodia said that this first concert organized by her organization was successful beyond expectation. “We hosted several tens of thousands spectators who came to our concert,” she said.
The Clean Hand concert ended with the song “Pong-sav-da Khmer” (Khmer History) interpreted by all the artists and singers present.
1 comment:
Even the American officials quoted the figures of $500 million revenues lost in the corruption. $500 million a year is a lot of money for Cambodia. These money can be used for a lot, lot of things. Hun Sen and his supporters should hang their heads in shame and do the honorable thing by resigning and let someone who is more competent lead Cambodia.
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