Cambodia announces fundraising effort for ‘border infrastructure’

Cambodians are being asked to pay for infrastructure projects in a remote border area where an economic cooperation agreement with Vietnam and Laos has recently sparked criticism and protests from opposition activists.

The projects would be aimed at developing four provinces in northeastern Cambodia that are part of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Triangle Development Area, or CLV.

Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Cabinet announced the creation of a Foundation for Border Infrastructure Development on Monday in a statement that included the names of six banks where people could send money.

It was unclear what infrastructure projects would be funded by the foundation. The provinces – Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri – are thinly populated.

Money raised under the initiative would help the government “in the spirit of national unity, peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity, [to] promote stronger and more sustainable border development,” Hun Manet said.

“Cambodians of all backgrounds, both inside and outside the country” are encouraged to contribute, the prime minister said.

Several high-profile Cambodian businessmen have already posted messages on social media that showed their donation to the foundation.

The 1999 CLV agreement between the three countries was aimed at encouraging economic development and trade between the four northeastern provinces and neighboring provinces across the border.

But some activists recently began expressing concerns that the CLV could cause Cambodia to lose territory or control of its natural resources to Vietnam. 

Overseas Cambodians held protests in South Korea, Japan, France, Canada and Australia on Aug. 11. Planned demonstrations in Cambodia on Aug. 18 were never held after the government deployed security forces and arrested more than 30 people.

The fundraising effort appears to be aimed at harnessing some of the nationalistic sentiment sparked by CLV critics, according to Oum Sam An, a former lawmaker for the former main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

“This is demagogic politics to deceive the people,” he told Radio Free Asia. “He is trying to show that his family is patriotic and didn’t cede any land to Vietnam.”

RFA was unable to reach a government spokesperson for comment on the new foundation.

Translated by Sum Sok Ry. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Editor

Recent Posts

Climate ‘flashpoint’ looms for Trump’s China-centric focus on Pacific: US analysts

Growing U.S. security and diplomatic ties with Pacific island nations are unlikely to slow even…

7 hours ago

Exclusive: How Chinese nationalism is sending jitters through the Arctic

This story was reported with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Read their story hereOn an early…

19 hours ago

Residents of Kamala Harris’s ancestral Indian village are disappointed with her loss

Residents in Kamala Harris’s ancestral village expressed disappointment at her defeat in the U.S. presidential…

1 day ago

The New Star War? Key to Winning the AI and Semiconductor Race

In March 1983, US President Ronald Reagan delivered his iconic Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) speech,…

2 days ago

Myanmar junta chief seeks China’s help on border stability

Read RFA coverage of these topics in Burmese.Myanmar’s junta leader called on China to help…

2 days ago

2024 US election live updates: Reactions from Asia

What you need to knowThe U.S. presidential election is being keenly watched across Asia. The…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.