In Cambodia, Clinton Advocates Khmer Rouge Trials

Chor Sokunthea/Reuters

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Tuol Sleng prison, where more than 14,000 people were held before being sent to their deaths in a killing field.

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By SETH MYDANS

Published: November 1, 2010

BANGKOK — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a former Khmer Rouge torture house in Cambodia on Monday and urged the nation to proceed with trials of the former regime’s surviving leaders in order to “confront its past.”

On a visit to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, during a seven-country tour through Asia that has already taken her to Vietnam and China, Mrs. Clinton called for the strengthening of democratic institutions and for greater tolerance of opposition views.

“It’s a very disturbing experience,” she said after a visit to Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng prison, where more than 14,000 people were held before being sent to their deaths in a killing field. “And the pictures — both the pictures of the young Cambodians who were killed and the young Cambodians who were doing the killing — were so painful.”

The commandant of that prison, Kaing Guek Eav, was sentenced to 19 years in prison last July in the first part of a United Nations-backed trial of leading figures of the Khmer Rouge regime, which was responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million people between 1975 and 1979.

A second trial involving the four most senior surviving leaders has been expected to follow, after they were formally indicted in September. But Prime Minister Hun Sen, who once said that Cambodia should “dig a hole and bury the past,” has said that he would not allow any additional prosecutions beyond those four.

Mrs. Clinton repeated an argument that has been used by proponents of the trials, saying that “a country that is able to confront its past is a country that can overcome it.”

“Countries that are held prisoner to their past can never break those chains and build the kind of future that their children deserve,” she said. “Although I am well aware the work of the tribunal is painful, it is necessary to ensure a lasting peace.”

She also urged Mr. Hun Sen not to follow through on a threat to close the United Nations human rights office in Cambodia, which has been critical of the country. “We think the office is important,” Mrs. Clinton said, “and we would like to see it continue.”

Speaking to a group of students, she said, “We hope that democratic institutions become stronger in Cambodia and that the space for political expression is big and that people have the right to be critical of the government.”

Mrs. Clinton also said that the United States would send a team to Cambodia to seek repayment of a $445 million debt to the United States owed by the government that preceded the Khmer Rouge. Mr. Hun Sen has asked America to forgive the debt, but Mrs. Clinton said the debt could be settled in various ways.

“You could have some repayment; you could have debt for nature; you could have debt for education,” she said. “There are things that the government of Cambodia could do that would satisfy the need to demonstrate some level of accountability, but more importantly to invest those funds in the needs of the people of Cambodia.”

Remarks With Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong

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Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary of State

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

November 1, 2010

Watch Video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1705667530?bctid=655635638001

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HOR: (In Cambodian.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. I greatly appreciate this opportunity to spend this time with you discussing these matters of great importance to both of our countries. This is my sixth trip to Asia as Secretary of State but my first to Cambodia, and it represents the commitment that President Obama and I have made to restoring America to a high level of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and in particular to work with the government and the peoples of countries such as Cambodia.

Our two countries recently marked the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic ties, so even as we celebrate old milestones we are firmly fixed on the future to broaden and deepen our partnership. And we had very productive talks this afternoon and I look forward to meeting with the prime minister shortly, and I greatly appreciated the honor of meeting with His Majesty the King earlier today. And then finally, I will meet with leaders of the political opposition.

My discussions have left me convinced that we can work even more closely together to help meet the challenges facing Cambodia and all of Southeast Asia. With help from the United States Government, Cambodia is doing more than ever before to improve its health systems. And in – particularly, we applaud the Government of Cambodia for its commitment to prevent the spread of HIV and deliver life-saving treatment to people living with AIDS.

Our Peace Corps volunteers are now teaching English. And from what I saw earlier in my town hall with these very impressive young people, they are certainly connected to the global economy, and English is one of the keys for doing that.

Through our whole-of-government Feed the Future Initiative, we will be helping the people of Cambodia mount a comprehensive fight against hunger by raising agricultural productivity and making nutritious foods more widely available.

I especially appreciate the commitment of the Cambodian Government to the Lower Mekong Initiative. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister have been deeply involved in this work. It’s a promising new mechanism for the United States, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand to address the challenges in education, health, and the environment that affects all of the people of the Lower Mekong Basin, most especially to address the impact of climate change.

We had our third ministerial in Hanoi two days ago and we look forward to following up on the excellent ideas that Cambodia presented. I also want to acknowledge, as His Excellency did, that Cambodia is making progress in countering corruption. With strong implementation, the new anticorruption law can be a powerful tool to prevent, detect, and punish corruption. This will reassure foreign investors. But more importantly, it will serve the needs of the Cambodian people. It is inspiring to see this country creating such a promising future after a generation of conflict and suffering.

I had a very emotional tour of the Tuol Sleng Museum and I looked at the faces of the young Cambodians, both those who were killed at that terrible place of suffering and those who did the killing. And what is most important is that Cambodians themselves are educating the young generation about a painful chapter in this country’s past and honoring the memory of those who died by working hard to bring accountability and justice while seeking to stabilize and reconcile as well.

Today Cambodia is not only preserving its own peace, it is sending Cambodians overseas to serve as UN peacekeepers in Chad and the Central African Republic and assisting in demining missions in Lebanon and Sudan. So Cambodia is actually using the lessons of its own painful past to help save lives and help other countries who are grappling with conflict and war.

We recently contributed $5 million to Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge Tribunal. And as I told His Excellency, we are committed to helping Cambodia hold accountable those senior Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for atrocities. I salute the tribunal’s ongoing efforts to bring justice to the victims that promote the rule of law. And I will do what I can to work with the Cambodian Government, with the United Nations, and the international community to ensure that we have the resources needed to proceed with Case 002.

I am very optimistic about Cambodia’s future. The last years have been transformative for this country. And I hope that the United States can be a good partner and a friend as the Government and people of Cambodia make the necessary steps to improve your democratic institutions, to improve the economy, to provide the kind of opportunities that the young people I met with earlier today deserve to have. This visit, Your Excellency, has left me encouraged that our partnership can deepen and grow to serve both our peoples in the years to come. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thanks, Excellency. Due to the time constraint, the floor is open for only four questions – two questions from Cambodian press and the other two questions from American press. Please raise your hands to get the floor.

QUESTION: (In Cambodian.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I discussed the debt issue with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and if any of you were at the town hall earlier, you know that two of the young questioners, they also asked me about the debt issue. We have agreed that the United States will send a team of experts as soon as possible to resume discussions over ways to settle this debt. The discussions, as you know, ended in 2006. We very much want to see this matter resolved, and as His Excellency said, in accordance with Paris Club principles and in service of Cambodia’s development.

MODERATOR: Second question, please. Gentleman, have the floor. (Inaudible) mike. (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Hello. This is a question for both Madam Secretary and the foreign minister. Madam Secretary, you said that the U.S., of course, (inaudible) tribunal. Are you looking to see the Cambodian Government do what the foreign minister said that they did not want to do, which is to expand the scope of the trials? Is there enough support? Is the government giving the tribunal enough support? And then secondly on human rights, last week and again today, the foreign minister seemed to indicate that there were already too many groups here promoting human rights. Last week, there was a suggestion that the UN human rights office here should be closed down. I’m wondering what you think about that idea.

And Mr. Minister, I’m wondering if that is indeed what the government’s position is, is that there are already enough human rights groups here that you don’t need the UN office. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Matt, as to your first question, we are in full agreement with the Government of Cambodia that Case 002 should be brought to trial as soon as possible. That is our first and most pressing piece of business. There is not yet the funding available to do that trial. The estimate is somewhere between $46 and $50 million that will be needed to conduct that trial, funding that would go to the United Nations for the international aspects of the trial and funding that would go to the Cambodian Government. So my highest priority right now is to make sure that we have that money in place so that trial can begin. It is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2011; the sooner the better is my view.

Now there is, as I think you heard His Excellency, concern on the part of the Cambodian Government about going beyond that. That is something that we in the international community should consult closely with the Cambodian Government on. But the first piece of business is getting 002 to trial, and I want to see that happen as soon as possible. So I will be personally reaching out to help raise the money that is needed to get that done.

Secondly, I did not hear the deputy prime minister and the foreign minister say that there were too many NGOs. I think he was making the point, as he did with me in my private meeting with him that there are more than a thousand NGOs in Cambodia, more than a hundred that are committed to human rights. I personally believe that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is a valuable resource. It provides technical assistance to the government. It also works with these NGOs that are in Cambodia – both Cambodian NGOs and international NGOs on a variety of concerns, including human rights, trafficking in persons, and the rule of law. So the High Commissioner’s Office is active in ways that we think are very complementary to what the Cambodian Government is committed to doing, and we think the work is important and we would like to see it continue.

MODERATOR: Second question, please. Gentleman, have the floor.

QUESTION: Thanks for question. I’m (inaudible) from Cambodia Daily Newspaper. Madam Secretary (inaudible). I would like to hear about the U.S. position on the Cambodian Government, which has announced (inaudible) want to close the UN Human Rights Office in Cambodia and (inaudible) be chief of the human rights office in government. And also the second question, if I may –

MODERATOR: Only one question.

QUESTION: Sorry. Please.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I believe that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is a valuable resource and I would hope that it would continue its work, which is important. It works with NGOs; it works with the Government of Cambodia. I think the Government of Cambodia is making significant progress on human rights, and I would like to see that progress continue. I would like to see the cooperation between the United Nations and the Cambodian Government be such that it assists in promoting human rights, ending the trafficking in persons and upholding the rule of law. So from our perspective, we would like to see the work by the UN here on human rights continue.

MODERATOR: Thank you. The last question goes to American –

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think His Excellency might wish to say something.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HOR: (In Cambodian.)

MODERATOR: The last question, please, to American press. Lady, you have the floor.

QUESTION: Hi, Madam Secretary. I wanted to pick up with a question about what you said earlier, that you’d be willing to send a team of experts to explore new approaches. Can you give us a little detail about what those approaches might entail?

And Mr. Foreign Minister, the Secretary earlier today was saying that Cambodia should pursue alliances beyond – broad alliances beyond those with China.

MODERATOR: Speak louder, please.

QUESTION: The Secretary was suggesting earlier today that Cambodia should pursue alliances broadly, regionally, beyond just China. Could you give us your response to that, please?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We are very, very interested in pursuing a settlement on the debt that was incurred by Cambodia during the Lon Nol regime. There have been no discussions since 2006 at all, and we think it’s time for our experts to meet and explore a broad range of potential areas for settling of this debt.

At this point, I don’t have any preconceived notion of how that will happen because there are a number of different approaches that can be pursued. And we have learned a lot about how to do this during the last decade, so I think the first thing we should start with is a very open discussion between our respective expert teams about options that would be available. But it is my intention to move this up the ladder of priorities, because I think it is something that needs to be given immediate attention. It is a concern that it has not been even addressed, and I would like to see us make it a priority. And His Excellency has agreed, so we will begin to work on that together.

MODERATOR: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the joint press availability is now concluded. Thank you very much for your participation.

Raffles Supports Phnom Penh ‘Mekong Sessions’

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November 1, 2010 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine, 25

Raffles Hotel Le Royal commits its supports for the Mekong Sessions, a landmark event for the city of Phnom Penh featuring a series of prominent concerts by music stalwarts and icons. Legendary songwriter, singer and poet Leonard Cohen will launch the Mekong Sessions with a benefit concert on 27 November at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium, in aid of the Cambodian Red Cross and Cambodian persons with a disability.

Richard Schestak, General Manager of Raffles Hotel Le Royal, commented, “The Mekong Sessions will demonstrate that Cambodia and the city of Phnom Penh has the ability to welcome world travelers and high profile events. Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh continues to be committed to promoting art and culture in Phnom Penh and we are pleased to be a partner of the Mekong Sessions.”

Cambodia is one of the fastest developing boutique destinations in the world with visitor arrivals on an upward trend since 2003. It is also developing its potential as one of the cultural and concert hubs of South East Asia.

Travel packages for “Leonard Cohen Live in Phnom Penh” are available from Exotissimo Travel, a leading travel company in Southeast Asia.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh has been lending support to art and cultural pursuits since 1997. The luxury hotel regularly showcases artwork by emerging artists at its art gallery and has recently established, with the collaboration of the National Archives of Cambodia, a gallery of historical photos at Writers Bar, contributed by foreign correspondents who were in Phnom Penh in the 1970s.

Clinton Presses Cambodia on China .

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By JAY SOLOMON

PHNOM PENH—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed Cambodia to remain independent of China on economic and environmental issues, as she continued a pan-Asian tour aimed at expanding Washington's diplomatic influence in the region.

Mrs. Clinton told Cambodian officials Monday that the Obama administration is willing to explore new mechanisms through which to retire nearly $450 million in debt accrued by Phnom Penh's Vietnam War-era government.

Mrs. Clinton also told Prime Minister Hun Sen's government that she will seek to raise more funding for a United Nations-backed tribunal set to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge government that committed genocide in Cambodia during its 1975-1979 reign.

The U.N.-supported court is scheduled to begin prosecuting four of the Khmer Rouge's most senior officials early next year, but financing shortfalls and squabbles over the selection of judges have hobbled the process. To date, Washington has provided $5 million to the tribunal.

"We are committed to help Cambodia hold accountable those senior Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for atrocities," Mrs. Clinton said at a news conference with her Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong. "And I want to urge the Cambodian government to offer its full support to the Tribunal."

Cambodia marks the third country stop on the Mrs. Clinton's seven-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which is aimed at enhancing the nation's presence in a region increasingly under the influence of China's economy and military.

On Saturday, Mrs. Clinton attended a regional conference in Vietnam that was dominated by China's festering maritime disputes with Japan and a number of Southeast Asian countries. The U.S.'s top diplomat urged the attendees of the East Asia Summit to establish an international legal process through which to mediate these disputes, drawing the ire of Beijing, which views all of the South China Sea as sovereign Chinese territory.

U.S. officials privately worry that Cambodia is one of the Southeast Asian nations most under Beijing's sway. China is among Phnom Penh's largest single aid donors, and Chinese firms dominate Cambodia's infrastructure sector. Prime Minister Hun Sen has often sided with Beijing on key regional security issues.

On Monday, Mrs. Clinton attended a town-hall meeting with Cambodian students in Phnom Penh and was asked her view on the Hun Sen government's relationship with China. She said the U.S. encouraged strong relations between Phnom Penh and Beijing but believed Cambodia should hew to an independent foreign policy.

"It's up to your government and your people to determine your own relationships with other countries," Mrs. Clinton told the gathering of 700 students and representatives of nongovernmental organizations. "But I think it's smart for Cambodia to be friends with many countries. Look for balance. You don't want to become too dependent on any one country."

Mrs. Clinton also said Phnom Penh should hold discussions with Beijing to address concerns that Chinese policies are disrupting Cambodia's economic development and harming its environment. She specifically cited China's damming of the upper Mekong River and its impact on Cambodian agriculture.

Mr. Hor Namhong, the Cambodian foreign minister, declined to comment on China-Cambodia relations during the news conference.

Mrs. Clinton also said Monday that the Obama administration hoped the Cambodian government would allow the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to remain opened. Mr. Hun Sen's government has indicated it might close the office after disagreements with its chief representative in Phnom Penh, Christophe Peschoux.

Mr. Hor Namhong, however, said during the news conference that no decision had been made.

Meanwhile, regional fallout from China's diplomatic rows with Japan and some Southeast Asian countries over territorial and resource issues continued. On Saturday, the Japanese and Vietnamese governments said they would jointly seek to explore and extract rare-earth minerals used in producing flat-screen televisions, computers, and hybrid cars, following concerns about China's role as a reliable supplier.

China produces roughly 95% of the world's supply. But Japanese companies have reported disruptions in purchases of the materials since a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo broke out last month over jointly claimed islands in the East China Sea.

"Vietnam has decided to have Japan as a partner for exploration, mining, development, and separation and production of rare-earth minerals in the country," Vietnam's and Japan's prime ministers said in a joint statement released Saturday after bilateral talks.Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also announced at a closing ceremony of the East Asia Summit on Saturday that his government would reopen the Cam Ranh Bay port facility in southern Vietnam to foreign navies. The U.S. military used the port as a base during the Vietnam War. And the Russian navy used the facility following the unification of Vietnam under communist rule in 1975.

Write to Jay Solomon at jay.solomon@wsj.com

Clinton says K.Rouge court vital for peace in Cambodia

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. Clinton hailed the work of a Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal as "painful but necessary", despite Cambodian opposition to pursuing more regime leaders.  

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Nov 1, 2010

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday hailed the work of a Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal as "painful but necessary", despite Cambodian opposition to pursuing more regime leaders.

Clinton praised the nation for confronting its dark past after an emotional visit to Phnom Penh's genocide museum, where she saw photos of gaunt-faced prisoners, dozens of skulls of victims and paintings of people being tortured.

The court "is bringing some of the people who caused so much suffering to justice... The work of the tribunal is painful but it is necessary to ensure a lasting peace," Clinton told young Cambodians at a town hall-style meeting.

In a landmark verdict in July, former Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, was sentenced to 30 years in jail for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 men, women and children in the late 1970s.

Last month the court indicted four top regime leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in connection with the deaths of up to two million people from starvation, overwork and execution between 1975 and 1979.

But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told visiting United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon last week that a third case was "not allowed" because it could plunge the country back into civil war.

Hun Sen was himself once a mid-level Khmer Rouge member before turning against the movement.

The tribunal is currently investigating whether to open further cases against lower level cadres.

Clinton, on a two-week tour of Asia, stopped short of expressing support for new trials, saying there was a need for the international community to "consult closely" with the Cambodian government about its concerns.

She said her "highest priority" was to ensure the cash-strapped court had enough funds to proceed with the second trial, due to begin in early 2011.

After a tour of the genocide museum, the main Khmer Rouge torture centre run by Duch in the late 1970s, Clinton appeared to suggest a harder line towards future prosecutions.

"In memory of the tragic suffering of the people of Cambodia and in hope that there will be a future of peace, prosperity and greater awareness of all that needs to be done to move the country forward, including trials, accountability and reconciliation," she wrote in the museum guest book.

She later described the tour of the prison as a "very disturbing experience".

"Countries that are held prisoner to their past never break those chains and build the kind of future your children deserve," she told the town hall-style meeting.

"I was very proud to see firsthand the willingness of your country to face that past bravely and honestly."

Thousands of inmates were taken from the jail for execution in a nearby orchard that served as a "killing field".

Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge was responsible for one of the worst horrors of the 20th century, wiping out nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population.

Clinton, on the first visit to Cambodia by a US secretary of state since 2003, also used her trip to urge Cambodians not to rely too heavily on China.

"You look for balance. You don't want to get too dependent on any one country," Clinton told young Cambodians when asked about China's growing influence in the impoverished southeast Asian nation.

China -- a former patron of the Khmer Rouge regime -- is the country's top donor, with billions of dollars of investment.

Clinton also met with Hun Sen and some of his political opponents, with the notable exception of fugitive opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who faces 12 years in prison if he returns to Cambodia after being convicted in absentia of uprooting border markings and publishing a false border map.

Hillary Clinton Endorses U.N. Human Rights Office in Cambodia

Robert Carmichael, VOA
Phnom Penh Monday, 01 November 2010

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Photo: AP

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton looks at a wall of faces of those killed by the Khmer Rouge regime, during a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly the regime's notorious S-21 prison, on Monday.

"It also works with these NGOs [non-governmental organizations] that are in Cambodia, both Cambodian NGOs and international NGOs on a variety of concerns including human rights, trafficking in persons, and the rule of law."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has thrown her support behind the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, and also addressed the issue of Cambodia's debt to the United States during a visit to Phnom Penh as part of two-week long tour of Asia.

The Cambodian government wants the United Nations to close its human rights office here. But Secretary Clinton defended the office Monday, calling it "a valuable resource."

"It provides technical assistance to the government," Clinton said. "It also works with these NGOs [non-governmental organizations] that are in Cambodia, both Cambodian NGOs and international NGOs on a variety of concerns including human rights, trafficking in persons, and the rule of law." Clinton added, "So, the High Commissioner's office is active in ways that we think are very complementary to what the Cambodian government is committed to doing, and we think the work is important and we would like to see it continue."

While she endorsed the work of the U.N.-sponsored tribunal prosecuting the leaders of the Khmer Rouge, Clinton said her immediate priority is to ensure there is sufficient money to fund the next trial. This second case of four Khmer Rouge leaders is set to begin next year, and she estimates will cost up to 50 million dollars to complete.

But the Cambodian government has said it wants the international tribunal to shut down after that case and not pursue more. Clinton noted the government's concerns about political instability should the tribunal prosecute more cases, a concern many human rights groups do not share.

"That is something that we in the international community should consult closely with the Cambodian government on," said Clinton. "But the first piece of business is getting 002 to trial. And I want to see that happen as soon as possible. So I will be personally reaching out to help raise the money to get that done," she said.

More than a million Cambodians died of starvation, illness and execution when the Khmer Rouge ruled the country in the 1970s. The tribunal concluded its case, against a prison commandant, a few months ago.

Clinton indicated the United States is willing to consider different options regarding $445 million that Cambodia owes it from the 1970s. The debt stemmed from U.S. support for the Lon Nol government, which ran Cambodia from 1970 to 1975 before the nation fell to the Khmer Rouge.

Phnom Penh says the debt should be canceled. But talks on resolving the debt have not been held since 2006.

"We have agreed that the United States will send a team of experts as soon as possible to resume discussions over ways to settle this debt," said Clinton. "The discussions as you know ended in 2006. We very much want to see this matter resolved."

She added, however, that the United States would be interested in seeing the money spent in Cambodia on improving education or environmental protection, instead of taking a direct repayment.

Observers See Balance Shift With Vietnam, China

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington Monday, 01 November 2010

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Photo: Courtesy of Bill Hayton

“We have seen that the influence of China over Cambodia is enormous, and Vietnam is turning to the US.”

Cambodia's improving relationship with China has become cause for concern in Vietnam, which has long held warm ties of its own with its neighbor, according to the author of a new book.

Bill Hayton, author of “Vietnam: Rising Dragon,” told VOA Khmer in Washington the Vietnamese now fear Cambodia will become “a satellite of China.”

“So they are very, very keen to see [that] Cambodia remains a friendly country,” he said. “And obviously they are in the position to have an enormous amount of influence in Cambodia.”

Political and economic ties have so far kept Vietnam and Cambodia close, “and they want to keep that position,” said Hayton, who is also a producer for BBC World News.

In recent years, China has expanded its own political, economic and military ties with Cambodia, providing a flood of aid money in a trend that has rights activists worried.

Meanwhile, the US and Vietnam have forged stronger ties. But Vietnam also has a lot of investment in Cambodia, up 10 percent over the last year, including electricity deals, rubber plantatio ns and exports.

Observers now wonder where how these competing balances will play out.

“We have seen that the influence of China over Cambodia is enormous, and Vietnam is turning to the US,” said Chheang Vannarith, a fellow at the East-West Center and executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. “So this is a crossroads that Cambodia faces.”

Of particular concern is how human rights issues play second to economic deals. All parties have become better economic partners, but the US still diverges with both China and Vietnam on human rights.

“When we look at the relationship between the US and Vietnam, we see that the human rights issue remains murky,” Chheang Vannarith said. “So with the issues of human rights and economic interests, we have to know how to balance which one is more important. I think that when the economy grows, maybe the human rights issue doesn't get any attention, because economic interests are larger.”

Hayton acknowledged that human rights in Vietnam have been overshadowed by economic interests.

While some Western countries have made inroads in democracy and opening society in Vietnam, he said, “the one thing that isn't changing is the fact that the Vietnamese Communist Party is still going to run the country.”

“The Western governments adjust their policies, and they will call for the release of dissidents,” he said. “But they are not going to impose sanctions on Vietnam, because they don't see [that] it would help their cause and wider interests.”

In Visit, Clinton Signals Support for Youth, as Well as the Tribunal

Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 01 November 2010

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Photo: AP

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, and the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol Rodley stand in front of the Royal Palace on Monday.

“You have an opportunity to rewrite the future... it will be up to the young people to decide how to change that new future.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an official visit to Phnom Penh on Monday, affirming US support for the Khmer Rouge tribunal and meeting with a group of students.

Clinton said Monday the she personally wanted to see the UN-backed tribunal reach speedy trials for jailed Khmer Rouge leaders, after touring the Tuol Sleng genocide museum.

“So I will be personally reaching out to help raise the money that is needed,” she said.

The tribunal has been dogged by financial problems, especially on the Cambodian side of the hybrid court. The US has so far given $7 million to aid the tribunal, which successfully tried Tuol Sleng prison chief Duch earlier this year.

Clinton also met with Cambodian students at a “town hall” meeting on Monday, where she fielded questions regarding China and other political points.

“It is smart for Cambodia to be friends with many countries and to look for opportunities to cooperate with many countries,” she said in response to a question on Cambodia's growing ties with China. “China is a great country, and China has a very exciting future, and there are certainly many reasons for Cambodia to have a good relationship with China.”

Analysts say China's influence in Cambodia has expanded, thanks in part to large aid packages and projects. These packages have come without the benchmarks or conditions often imposed by Western donors, increasing China's sway here.

Clinton also said Cambodia could find creative means of repaying more than $400 million in debt incurred during the Lon Nol regime. Debt forgiveness is a major sticking point for the Cambodian government in talks with the US.

Clinton's talk with the students was to “promote an even better understanding of the United States and our shared values,” the US State Department said in a statement.

“You have an opportunity to rewrite the future,” Clinton told a audience of 500 students. “It will be up to the young people to decide how to change that new future.”

“We want to help Cambodia establish a new era of opportunity,” she said. “So that you do not fear for the future but you look forward to it. You find good jobs, you develop your talents and you make your contribution.”

Border memos seen as threat to unity

Parliamentary endorsement for three memorandums covering the demarcation of the border between Thailand and Cambodia will end all chances of national reconciliation, the leader of a civic group says.

Banawit: Significant territory lost

Published: 1/11/2010

Banawit Kengrian, chairman of the National People's Assembly, said yesterday the endorsement of the three memos involving the demarcation of the land boundary, which were signed by the Joint Boundary Commission in 2008 and last year, would result in significant territorial loss for Thailand.

The three memorandums of understanding agreed to by the JBC, which is made up of members from the two neighbouring countries, support an earlier memo signed in 2000 by the Chuan Leekpai government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said the cabinet would seek parliamentary approval tomorrow for the three memos.

The commission cannot begin implementing the memorandums until it receives parliamentary approval.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) filed a complaint with the Administrative Court on Friday accusing the government of putting Thailand's territorial sovereignty at jeopardy by observing the memos.

The PAD sought an injunction against parliament to keep it from endorsing the three memos and an order to revoke the original 2000 memo on which they are based.

"If parliament endorses the MoUs, the government's attempts at reconciliation will fail," said Adm Banawit, a former deputy permanent secretary of defence.

"It would widen divisions in the country. Many people will not stand for the loss of our territory following the approval of the MoUs."

He said his group was behind the PAD's opposition to the memos.

The original memorandum and the JBC's memos based on it recognise a French map of the border area with a scale of 1:200,000 that puts Thailand at a territorial disadvantage, Adm Banawit said.

The memos used the disputed map and Siam-Franco treaties as the basis for boundary demarcation, he said.

Adm Banawit said his group and the PAD were concerned that if recognised by parliament, these documents would result in in the country ceding control of disputed areas near the Preah Vihear temple.

In its original ruling 50 years ago, the International Court of Justice used the French maps and treaty documents as the basis for its decision, which favoured Cambodia.

"Based on this map, Thailand will lose 1.8 million rai of land along the border and three-thirds of Koh Kut in Trat," Adm Banawit said.

The memos also indicate that Thailand and Cambodia would jointly demarcate the boundary between the countries, he said.

"Why do we have to conduct a new demarcation? We should strictly adhere to the boundary line that follows the watershed line of the mountain range. That would follow the international standard."

The PAD said it would gather tomorrow in front of parliament to oppose the government's plan to seek parliamentary endorsement of the memorandums.

Adm Banawit said his group had a satellite television television _ Channel 13 "Thai People's Voice" _ to campaign against the memos and other hot-button topics such as political corruption.

Adm Banawit said he was disappointed with Mr Abhisit's actions in rooting out corruption in his administration.

"Unlike the claims he made in his campaign before the last election, [Mr Abhisit] seems to be trying to secure his political stability rather than benefits for the public."

Mr Abhisit did not dare to take action against Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, despite evidence warranting an investigation into corruption allegations.

Adm Banawit said if Mr Abhisit wanted to stand a chance at the election, he must act against corruption and not be overly concerned about keeping his position at the expense of key ministries being plundered by coalition parties.

Hillary Clinton pledges to deepen partnership with Cambodia

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English.news.cn

2010-11-01

By Meng Bill

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged Monday that her country will broaden and deepen partnership with Cambodia with an aim to help its development.

Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with Hor Namhong, Cambodia's deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, Hillary Clinton said the United States and Cambodia will "broaden and deepen our partnership".

"This is my sixth trip to Asia as secretary of state, but my first trip to Cambodia. It represents the commitment that President Obama and I have made to restoring America to high level of engagement to Asia-Pacific region, and in particular, to work with the government and the people of the country such as Cambodia, " she said.

"We can work even more closely together to help meet the challenges facing Cambodia and all Southeast Asia. Cambodia is doing more than ever before to improving health system, in particular, on HIV/AIDS. We will be helping the people of Cambodia mounts a comprehensive fight against the hunger by raising agricultural productivity and making nutrition foods more widely available," she added.

Speaking at the same press conference, Hor Namhong said the United States has helped Cambodia in many sectors including health, education and demining.

And now, he said, Cambodia is requesting the United States to provide more tax exemptions for Cambodian goods exporting to U.S. market, saying the United States is a huge market for Cambodia with the total trades of nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars.

He said such volumes are helping Cambodia in social and economic development.

Both Hillary Clinton and Hor Namhong have shared some other points during the discussions including the Cambodia's debt to the United States, the Office of the UN Human Rights in Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge trial.

Clinton said a team of experts will come and resume talks with Cambodia on the debt issue.

Cambodia has asked the United States to cancel the debt that it has owed since 1970s which is now amounting to around 445 million U.S. dollars.

Cambodia has blamed the present country's representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia as a spokesman of the country's opposition party and wants him to be removed or the office closed, but Clinton is suggesting the office to continue and work with Cambodian government.

Hor Namhong said there are more than 1,000 non-governmental organizations, and more than 100 of which are working on human rights issues in Cambodia.

For Khmer Rouge trial, Clinton said the United States will continue to help it, especially on the shortage of fund to proceed with the case for the trial of four aging leaders.

Clinton is making a two-day visit, the first visit to the country by a U.S. Secretary of State since Colin Powell visited Cambodia to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum in 2003.

Clinton spent the whole day on Sunday in Siem Reap and toured Angkor temples.

During her stay in Phnom Penh, Clinton met with several government leaders including Prime Minister Hun Sen and Hor Namhong as well as having an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni.

Clinton leaves Cambodia late Monday for Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia.

Editor: Wang Guanqun

U.S. agrees to resume talks on settling Cambodian debt

via CAAI

By Arshad Mohammed

PHNOM PENH | Mon Nov 1, 2010

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - The United States and Cambodia agreed on Monday to resume negotiations on settling a $445 million debt accumulated by a U.S.-backed Cambodian military regime in the early 1970s.

Making her first visit to the South East Asian nation, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would send a team to reopen talks, last held in 2006, about an issue that remains an irritant despite generally improving U.S.-Cambodian ties.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for the United States to forgive what he has called the "dirty debt" built up by the Lon Nol military government that came to power in a 1970 coup backed by Washington.

The Lon Nol government was toppled in 1975 by the brutal, ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge regime under which an estimated 1.7 million people died in less than four years.

"We very much want to see this matter resolved and, as his excellency said, in accordance with Paris Club principles and in service of Cambodia's development," Clinton told a news conference with Cambodian deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong.

Earlier, she told a group of Cambodian students there were various ways the debt could be settled.

"You could have some repayment, you could have debt for nature, you could have debt for education. There are things that the government of Cambodia could do that would satisfy the need to demonstrate some level of accountability but, more importantly, to invest those funds in the needs of the people of Cambodia," she said.

While she did not elaborate, Clinton appeared to be alluding the possibility of the United States using Cambodian debt payments to fund programs in the country on education and the environment.

'A VERY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE'

The Khmer Rouge period plunged Cambodia into decades of poverty and political instability.

The country has been growing fast in recent years and has been generally stable although the government has come under criticism over its human rights record.

Last week, Hun Sen told visiting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to remove the head of a U.N. human rights office, threatening to close it if not.

Clinton made clear she did not want this, saying: "We think the work is important, and we would like to see it continue."

Hor Namhong stressed that there had been no decision to close the office and said that its agreement with Cambodia provided for the office to continue through January 2012.

Clinton began her visit to the Cambodian capital with a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a Khmer Rouge prison and torture center known as S-21 where at least 14,000 people were forced to confess to various crimes against the regime and then taken away to be killed.

"It's a very disturbing experience," she said after viewing the dozens of photographs of those killed at the prison. Other exhibits including 'water-boarding' devices to torture people by simulating drowning and the skulls of some of the victims.

"The pictures, both the pictures of the young Cambodians who were killed and the young Cambodians who were doing the killing were so painful," Clinton said. "But I also came away very impressed. Because a country that is able to confront its past is a country that can overcome it.

In July, the prison's former chief, Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, became the first Khmer Rouge commander to be convicted and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, although he is only likely to serve about half of that.

The United States is competing for influence in Cambodia with China, which has reached out to the country though aid, investment and trade.

Speaking to the students, Clinton made an argument for Cambodia to diversify its foreign relations.

"I think it is smart for Cambodia to be friends with many countries," she said. "It's like our relationship with other countries. You look for balance. You don't want to get too dependent on any one country."

(Editing by Robert Birsel)

Clinton urges Cambodia to strike a balance with China

via CAAI

By John Pomfret

Monday, November 1, 2010; 6:32 AM

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on Cambodia Monday to maintain an independent foreign policy and avoid relying too much on China.

On the second leg on a seven-country swing through Asia, Clinton's trip is designed to reinforce a central plank of foreign policy in the Obama administration: that the United States views Asia as key to the future and that the U.S. must act in this region to balance China's influence. President Obama also heads to Asia later this week for meetings in India, Indonesia and South Korea.

"You don't want to get too dependent on any one country," Clinton said in response to a question about China's influence during a meeting with Cambodian students on Monday.

"There are important issues that Cambodia must raise with China," she continued, pointing to a string of Chinese dams on the upper Mekong River that risk lowering the flow of the river as it courses through Cambodia.

Clinton came to Cambodia from talks in Vietnam and China. Her trip to Vietnam marked the U.S. accession to the East Asian Summit -- a group of 18 Asian nations which the United States joined as a way to balance China's heft.

Clinton has been to Vietnam twice in the last four months and this is her sixth trip to Asia as secretary of state. Her visit to Cambodia marked the first time since Colin Powell came here in 2003 that a U.S. secretary of state has held meetings in this country.

U.S. officials acknowledge that countering China's growing influence here will not be easy. China is the top provider of aid to Cambodia, giving more than $200 million a year. It has built bridges, roads and power plants all over the country, and China also trains and supplies Cambodia's military.

One issue that divides the United States and Cambodia is the more than $400 million of debt Cambodia owes to Washington. The debt was incurred during the Lon Nol regime in the 1970s.

Clinton announced that Washington would send a team to resume talks with the Cambodian government over the issue.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters that his country wanted the debt to be diverted into development assistance and education.

Another issue involves the international effort to bring to justice members of the Khmer Rouge regime, which is believed to be responsible for killing 1.5 million to 2 million people from 1976 to 1979. Cambodia has indicated that it wants the prosecutions to stop after four senior Khmer Rouge officials go to trial, perhaps next year.

Hor told reporters Monday that if the prosecutions were expanded to include lower-ranking Khmer Rouge officials "it could jeopardize peace and stability." Clinton responded that her first priority was raising the $50 million needed to prosecute the existing cases against Nuon Chea, Ieng Thirith, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan.

Clinton urges rights progress in Cambodia

Evan Vucci / AP

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton looks at a wall of faces of those killed by the Khmer Rouge regime, during a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly the regime's notorious S-21 prison, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Clinton urged Cambodia to improve its human rights record and ensure the Khmer Rouge are brought to justice for crimes against humanity in the 1970s. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

 

via CAAI

By MATTHEW LEE

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday urged Cambodia to confront its troubled past by ensuring Khmer Rouge leaders are brought to justice for crimes against humanity in the 1970s and improve its current human rights record.

She also said the U.S. will reopen talks with Cambodia on another historical hangover: about $445 million in Vietnam War-era debt that it owes to the United States but maintains it cannot afford to repay. And, as Cambodia develops, she cautioned against overreliance on any one country, notably China, for investment.

In the capital, Clinton visited a former school that served as the main Khmer Rouge prison and torture center and appealed for the Cambodian people and government to overcome a legacy of impunity for abuses. The government has refused to allow a U.N.-backed court trying top Khmer Rouge leaders to prosecute lower-ranking members.

Clinton toured the infamous S-21 prison where as many as 16,000 people were tortured by the Khmer Rouge before being executed for alleged counterrevolutionary behavior. The ultra-leftist regime is blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution during its 1975-79 reign.

"It's a very disturbing experience and the pictures — both the pictures of the young Cambodians who were killed and the young Cambodians who were doing the killing — were so painful," she told students after the tour. "But I also came away very impressed because a country that is able to confront its past is a country that can overcome it."

"Countries that are held prisoner to their past can never break those chains and build the kind of future that their children deserve," Clinton said. "Although I am well aware the work of the tribunal is painful, it is necessary to ensure a lasting peace."

The Khmer Rouge tribunal closed its first case in July when it convicted the regime's chief jailer and head of S-21, Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. A second trial is expected to start next year for the four top surviving Khmer Rouge leaders.

But Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has said the trials will stop there, despite U.N. wishes to bring lower-ranking officers to justice for murder, torture and other crimes. The U.N. says progress has been blocked by political interference from Cambodian officials who oppose more prosecutions.

Critics accuse the Cambodian leader of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said after meeting Clinton that expanding the scope of the tribunal would "jeopardize peace and stability in Cambodia."

Clinton called for full support the tribunal, which needs $40 to $60 million to hold the second trial, and said that an expansion of its mandate needed to be discussed. But, she said "my highest priority right now is to make sure that we have that money in place so that trial can begin. The sooner, the better."

Clinton also said the government, which has been criticized for cracking down on opposition groups, must do more to protect human rights. She met privately with opposition leaders before departing for Malaysia on the next leg of a two-week, seven-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific.

Last week, Hun Sen told visiting U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon that he must close down the U.N. human rights office in Cambodia, which he accuses of interfering in the country's internal affairs. Hor Namhong noted that there were already more than 100 human righst groups in Cambodia but said no decision had yet been made on the U.N. office.

Clinton said keeping the U.N. office open is critical to Cambodia's development.

"We think the work is important and we would like to see it continue," she said.

On repaying the outstanding loans, Clinton said she was ready to explore creative ways the country could make good on the arrears, possibly by agreeing to preserve key environmental areas or investing in education. A team of U.S. experts will travel to Cambodia soon to resume negotiations on the matter that were last held in 2006, she said.

"There are things that the Cambodian government can do to demonstrate some level of accountability," she said, adding the debt issue "is hanging out there and it needs to be addressed."

As Cambodia develops, she told a student who asked about massive inflows of cash from China that Cambodia should broaden its relations to the fullest extent possible.

"You don't want to get too dependent on any one country," she said. "China is a great country and China has a very exciting future." But, she said, "as a historical observation, having good relations with as many countries as you can ... is the best way to go and I would hope that that's what Cambodia chooses to do in the future."

Top legislator's visit to deepen Sino-Cambodia friendship: Chinese ambassador

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English.news.cn

2010-11-01

by Zhang Ruiling, Lei Bosong

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo's official visit to Cambodia is a major diplomatic event and will be sure to promote and deepen the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Cambodia, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue told Xinhua in recent interview.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will pay a four-day official goodwill visit to Cambodia beginning from Nov. 3 to 6, at the invitation of Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly of Cambodia.

Pan said that the aim of the visit is to "enhance mutual trust, consolidate friendship, deepen cooperation" between the two countries.

Hailing the traditional friendship fostered by the leaders of the old generation of the two countries, Pan said China and Cambodia have a long history of friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relation in 1958, the two countries had maintained political trust and fruitful cooperation, and supported each other in the international and regional affairs. " The friendship between the two countries is increasingly striking root in the hearts of the people," Pan pointed out.

He called China-Cambodia relations "a good example of sincere cooperation between countries with different social systems". Meanwhile, the ambassador commended Cambodia's consistent position to offer firm support to China on those issues that concern China' s major and core interests.

He stressed that "steadily deepening and developing of the comprehensive cooperation partnership of the two countries has been Chinese government's consistent policy."

During Wu's stay in Cambodia, Pan said, he will hold talks with National Assembly President Heng Samrim, and meet with King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Chea Sim and Prime Minister Hun Sen, respectively. They will exchange views on the issues of further developing of the all round cooperation partnership and promoting the level of friendship and cooperation of the two countries, as well as the issues of common concern.

Moreover, Pan said that the two countries will also sign a series of cooperation agreements on economy and trade during Wu's visiting.

Pan said in 2010, the Sino-Cambodia kept closer contacts in various fields, and the cooperative effort is remarkable. At the end of April and in early May, Prime Minister Hun Sen attended the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo and held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao. In early October, King Norodom Sihamoni at the invitation of Chinese side attended the opening ceremony of Chinese Pavilion Day at Shanghai World Expo and has a meeting with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo. At the end of October, Heng Samrin, president of Cambodia's National Assembly attended the Western China International Fair (WCIF) in Chengdu, Sichuan province. On the topic of economic cooperation, Ambassador Pan said that along with the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the Sino-Cambodian economics and trade cooperation is facing new and bigger development opportunities. The volume of trade between China and Cambodia in the first half of this year had already reached 627 million U.S. dollars, up 37 percent compared to the same period last year.

He pointed out that after ending nearly 30 years chaos caused by war, Cambodia has entered a peaceful development period which needs a lot of money and technology. While China has accumulated the massive fund, technology and the experience with more than 30 years reform and open policy, so there are huge potentials for the two countries to have the economic complement and mutually beneficial cooperation. China and Cambodia had already signed the SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) agreement recently which will help Cambodia's agricultural product to enter Chinese market.

Pan Guangxue added that Cambodia has the special and advantageous natural resources and the land is fertile. If Cambodia can introduce China's improved crop strains and advanced technology, the output of agricultural product and the quality will be increased and enhanced greatly, moreover, to promote the exports of its rice and fruits to China and other countries and region.

Pan also said that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government leaders highly praised China's assistance and the investment to Cambodia. Recent years, China has provided some economic aids to Cambodia, including loan on favorable terms and so on. According to the Cambodian Government's request, these aids and the investments mainly concentrated in infrastructural facilities, such as roads, bridges, hydroelectricity and others. So far, China has already constructed approximately 1,500 km long road for Cambodia. Pan expressed his belief that these infrastructural facilities will be sure to play important role in strengthening and promoting Cambodia's social and economic development in the future.

Pan said that Cambodian government attached great importance to the forthcoming visit by top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo, and has prepared it with great care. "I believe that Wu's visit will be complete success and will be certain to further promote the Sino-Cambodian traditional friendly cooperative ties to a new level."

Cambodia will be the first leg of Wu's three-nation tour, which will also take him to Indonesia and Thailand.

Clinton Urges Cambodians to Seek Partners Beyond China

via CAAI

November 01, 2010

By Nicole Gaouette

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Cambodians to pursue a variety of partnerships throughout the Asia-Pacific region and not become over-reliant on China.

“You don’t want to get too dependent on any one country,” Clinton said in response to a question about China’s influence during a meeting in Phnom Penh today with Cambodian youth. “You want to look for partnerships that cut across regional geographic lines.”

Clinton’s Cambodia visit is part of the Obama administration’s drive in Asia to affirm U.S. leadership and provide a counterpoint to China’s rising clout. Both China and the U.S. are working to extend their influence in Cambodia, said Ernest Bower, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a policy group in Washington.

“There has been a real battle between China and the U.S. over the hearts and minds of Cambodians,” Bower said in a telephone interview. “We haven’t given up on them and the Chinese really want them.”

Clinton said that during a meeting with Cambodian leaders today she would discuss the $400 million in unpaid debt the nation incurred in the 1970s under a U.S.-backed regime. The issue is unlikely to be resolved during this visit, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

‘Unwilling, Not Unable’

While U.S. officials have urged the Southeast Asian country to live up to the terms of its debt agreement, Cambodia has been “unwilling, rather than unable, to pay,” Joe Yun, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, testified Sept. 30 before Congress. Cambodia is accumulating arrears to the U.S. while paying other creditors on time and in at least one case, early, he said.

One student suggested the U.S. forgive Cambodia’s debt. Clinton responded by saying she’d be willing to explore different solutions so that some funds might be invested back into the country.

China’s ties with and influence over its Southeast Asian neighbors have been a running theme since Clinton began a seven- nation tour of the region on Oct. 27. Cambodia is a member of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations, which implemented a free-trade agreement with China at the start of the year.

Clinton yesterday highlighted U.S. civil projects in Siem Reap, visiting a shelter for victims of sexual trafficking. She also toured the temple complex of Angkor Wat. She is set to meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the longest-serving leader in Southeast Asia, as well as opposition figures later today.

Khmer Rouge Jail

On arriving in Phnom Penh, Clinton visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a five-building complex that served as a prison and interrogation center during the Khmer Rouge regime, and where an estimated 14,000 to 20,000 people died.

Clinton signed the museum’s guest book, expressing the hope that “there will be a future of peace, prosperity and greater awareness of all that needs to be done to move the country forward, including trials, accountability and reconciliation.”

Clinton’s itinerary includes further stops in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and energy-rich Papua New Guinea. She is the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Cambodia since Colin Powell attended an ASEAN meeting in 2003.

--Editors: Bill Austin, Mark Williams

To contact the reporter on this story: Nicole Gaouette in Phnom Penh at

 ngaouette@bloomberg.net

Clinton says wants to address Cambodia's U.S. debt

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By Arshad Mohammed Arshad Mohammed – Mon Nov 1, 2010

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday she wanted to address Cambodia's $445 million debt to the United States that dates back to the 1970s and proposed sending a U.S. team to open discussions.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has called for the United States to forgive what he has called the "dirty debt" built up by the Lon Nol military government that came to power in a 1970 coup backed by Washington.

"When you have a debt like this one that does go back to the 1970s, to the Lon Nol government, then you know that it is something that carries not only financial implications but political and strategic implications as well," Clinton told Cambodian students in Phnom Penh.

Saying she would raise the issue in her discussions with Hun Sen on Monday, Clinton said if the Cambodian government were willing, she would send a U.S. team of experts to look at how to handle the issue.

"You could have some repayment, you could have debt for nature, you could have debt for education. There are things that the government of Cambodia could do that would satisfy the need to demonstrate some level of accountability but, more importantly, to invest those funds in the needs of the people of Cambodia," she added.

While she did not elaborate, a U.S. official said one approach might be for the United States to allow Cambodia to retire some of the debt by spending corresponding sums on educational and environmental projects.

Two students asked Clinton about the debt built up under Lon Nol, who was toppled in 1975 by the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge regime under which an estimated 1.7 million people died in less than four years.

DISTURBING

The Khmer Rouge period plunged Cambodia into decades of poverty and political instability.

Clinton began her visit to the Cambodian capital with a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a Khmer Rouge prison and torture center known as S-21 where at least 14,000 Cambodians were forced to confess to various crimes against the regime and then taken away to be killed.

In July, the prison's former chief, Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, became the first Khmer Rouge commander to be convicted and was sentenced to 35 years in prison, although he is only likely to serve about half of that.

Saying she found the visit profoundly disturbing, Clinton told students she was impressed by the country's ability to grapple with its past.

"In memory of the tragic suffering of the people of Cambodia and in hope that there will be a future of peace, prosperity and greater awareness of all that needs to be done to move the country forward, including trials, accountability and reconciliation," she wrote in the museum's visitor book.

"May God bless all who lost their lives and their families and all Cambodians who want to make a difference for the next generation," she added.

(Editing by Alan Raybould)