Impovrished children play in the Boeng Kak slum community, Phnom Penh where poverty affects many people
PHNOM PENH (AFP)— The Cambodian government has told all foreign diplomatic envoys to avoid criticising the country, insisting it is not a "banana republic", in a letter seen by AFP Wednesday.
The foreign ministry letter sent to all diplomatic missions in Cambodia asked them to "avoid interfering in the internal affairs" of the country, regardless of the power of their home nations.
"There have been many occasions, in which some heads of diplomatic missions behaved like a 'proconsul' of his/her country to the Kingdom of Cambodia. They indulged themselves to criticise or to give lessons to the Royal Government of Cambodia," the letter said.
"Such behaviours are not acceptable for Cambodia as a sovereign country and a member of the United Nations. Cambodia is not a BANANA REPUBLIC," it added.
Asked about the letter dated April 26, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP it was issued to remind all diplomats not to "exceed the limit of their mandate".
Cambodia last month threatened to expel a United Nations envoy if UN agencies continued "unacceptable interference" in the country.
The move came after UN agencies in Cambodia urged "a transparent and participatory" process as parliament debated an anti-corruption law that was criticised by the opposition and rights groups.
Ranked one of the world's most corrupt countries, Cambodia passed the anti-graft law in parliament on March 11, more than 15 years after legislation was first proposed, but only days after the draft was shared publicly.
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Cambodian government warns foreign embassies not to criticise it
Phnom Penh (DPA)- A Cambodian government spokesman on Wednesday warned foreign embassies and institutions against criticising the authorities or interfering in internal affairs.
The comments came one day after the Ministry of Foreign Affairssent a blunt letter to embassies complaining that some mission heads had behaved like proconsuls in giving lessons to the government.
"Such behaviours are not acceptable for Cambodia as a sovereign country," the letter stated. "Cambodia is not a BANANA REPUBLIC."
Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the purpose was to remind diplomats to adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits interference in the internal affairs of host nations.
"We cannot accept lessons like lectures from foreign envoys and diplomats," Koy Kuong said. "We cannot accept any negative criticism."
The letter followed a statement last month by the United Nations country head Douglas Broderick calling on the government to allow more time for civil society and donors to comment on a long-awaited draft anti-corruption law.
Cambodia is ranked by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
The law, 15 years in the making, was made public just days before being pushed through parliament, which is dominated by the ruling party.
Broderick's statement infuriated Phnom Penh, and the government threatened to expel him for meddling in legislative matters.
Koy Kuong refused to name the missions which had earned the government's wrath.
"We do not specify, and we do not focus on a specific case," he said. "I would rather not say a specific country or institution. We just remind them of the contents of the Vienna Convention."
Cambodia relies heavily on donors for funding. Foreign nations provided 951 million dollars in 2009, or roughly half of the government's budget.
The foreign ministry letter sent to all diplomatic missions in Cambodia asked them to "avoid interfering in the internal affairs" of the country, regardless of the power of their home nations.
"There have been many occasions, in which some heads of diplomatic missions behaved like a 'proconsul' of his/her country to the Kingdom of Cambodia. They indulged themselves to criticise or to give lessons to the Royal Government of Cambodia," the letter said.
"Such behaviours are not acceptable for Cambodia as a sovereign country and a member of the United Nations. Cambodia is not a BANANA REPUBLIC," it added.
Asked about the letter dated April 26, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP it was issued to remind all diplomats not to "exceed the limit of their mandate".
Cambodia last month threatened to expel a United Nations envoy if UN agencies continued "unacceptable interference" in the country.
The move came after UN agencies in Cambodia urged "a transparent and participatory" process as parliament debated an anti-corruption law that was criticised by the opposition and rights groups.
Ranked one of the world's most corrupt countries, Cambodia passed the anti-graft law in parliament on March 11, more than 15 years after legislation was first proposed, but only days after the draft was shared publicly.
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Cambodian government warns foreign embassies not to criticise it
Phnom Penh (DPA)- A Cambodian government spokesman on Wednesday warned foreign embassies and institutions against criticising the authorities or interfering in internal affairs.
The comments came one day after the Ministry of Foreign Affairssent a blunt letter to embassies complaining that some mission heads had behaved like proconsuls in giving lessons to the government.
"Such behaviours are not acceptable for Cambodia as a sovereign country," the letter stated. "Cambodia is not a BANANA REPUBLIC."
Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the purpose was to remind diplomats to adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits interference in the internal affairs of host nations.
"We cannot accept lessons like lectures from foreign envoys and diplomats," Koy Kuong said. "We cannot accept any negative criticism."
The letter followed a statement last month by the United Nations country head Douglas Broderick calling on the government to allow more time for civil society and donors to comment on a long-awaited draft anti-corruption law.
Cambodia is ranked by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
The law, 15 years in the making, was made public just days before being pushed through parliament, which is dominated by the ruling party.
Broderick's statement infuriated Phnom Penh, and the government threatened to expel him for meddling in legislative matters.
Koy Kuong refused to name the missions which had earned the government's wrath.
"We do not specify, and we do not focus on a specific case," he said. "I would rather not say a specific country or institution. We just remind them of the contents of the Vienna Convention."
Cambodia relies heavily on donors for funding. Foreign nations provided 951 million dollars in 2009, or roughly half of the government's budget.
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