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Cambodia laughs off Washington threats over democracy
Cambodia laughs off Washington threats over democracy
7/12/17
At the same time, Cambodia has moved into a closer orbit of China.
Cambodia's government on
Thursday laughed off rare efforts by Donald Trump's administration to punish it
over a clampdown on democracy and human rights, as the kingdom effectively
becomes a one-party state under strongman Hun Sen.
The State Department said Wednesday it would bar Cambodian
officials deemed to have been "undermining democracy" from entry to
the U.S..
That came after Cambodia's Supreme Court last month
dissolved the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and
redistributed its seats to factions allied with Hun Sen's ruling party.
The dissolution followed the arrest of CNRP leader Kem
Sokha for treason. Dozens of other party members have fled the country in a
snowballing crackdown on critics of the prime minister.
The State Department said its move was a "direct
response to the Cambodian government's series of anti-democratic actions".
Hun Sen, one of the world's longest serving leaders, has
used the kingdom's pliant judiciary to smother his critics as elections loom.
Ties between the two nations have withered in recent
months with Hun Sen preferring Beijing's
no-questions-asked offer of loans and investment to Washington's opprobrium on rights as he
looks to extend his 32-year grip on power.
"If Cambodian people cannot go to U.S., it is ok,
it is not a problem," government spokesman Sok Eysan said, shrugging off
the State Department threats.
"If we can not join any meetings in the U.S., there are many other meetings outside the U.S. that we
can join."
The State Department did not disclose which Cambodian
ruling party officials would be affected by the restrictions but said in
certain instances, their relatives could be also be barred from entering the U.S..
Huy Vannak, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of
Interior, called the move a "desperate measure" that unpicks
President Trump's "policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of
sovereign states."
Cambodia's relations with the U.S. have gone
into deep freeze in recent months.
Hun Sen's government has singled out U.S.-funded media
outlets critical of the regime, limiting access to Voice of America and forcing
Radio Free Asia to shutter.
Two former RFA journalists have been arrested and charged
with espionage.
At the same time, Cambodia
has moved into a closer orbit of China.
Its economy is growing fast thanks to Chinese investment
and soft loans that come without directions on human rights or democracy.
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