PM asks Biden’s administration to convert wartime debt into aid

[geovalin]

Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on the new United States administration under President Joe Biden to consider converting the $600 million wartime debt, that Cambodia has owed to the US since the 1970s wartime period, into development aid. The US Embassy in Phnom Penh said yesterday that the US remains open to discussing the debt issue with Cambodia.

 

As it was busy fighting with Khmer Rouge guerillas in the 1970s, General Lon Nol’s government was given $274 million from the US to buy rice, wheat, oil and cotton. The current debt includes interest and has reached more than $600 million. Speaking to the nation through TVK Saturday, Mr Hun Sen said that he asked this three times to former US President Barack Obama, but was rebuffed.

 

“Do you not know where Lon Nol took the money? To buy bombs and drop them all over Cambodia. They hit us on the head with an axe and demanded that we wipe our blood-stained axe,” he said. He hopes the President Biden administration will consider converting the wartime debt.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50837342/pm-asks-bidens-administration-to-convert-wartime-debt-into-aid/

[1Gringo]

I vote no.  provide this dictator NOTHING.  EVER until he steps down and exits the country forever.

[PaulDee]

26 minutes ago, 1Gringo said:

I vote no.  provide this dictator NOTHING.  EVER until he steps down and exits the country forever.

Agreed!

[Pedrogaz]

Do not pay. It is disgraceful. The juS invaded Cambodia in 1975 having trained Pol Pots army. 

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, 1Gringo said:

I vote no.  provide this dictator NOTHING.  EVER until he steps down and exits the country forever.

 

He won't do either, Despots never do!

 

Also, when the US gave aid for humanitarian reasons and if it is correct what he alleges, that Lon Nol used it for weapons, directed against the terrorist group, namely, the Khmer Rouge when he was an active member, then good!

 

He only switched sides when the writing was on the wall. His government still has plenty of them in senior positions.

 

Hun Sen is right up there alongside Saddam Hussein, Gadaffi,  the Kim Jong dynasty, Stalin and the rest of them.

Edited April 12, 2021 by Scouse123

[Aomelia]

They just leased to China their Port and told USA No Thanks, So make them pay it back  

[RocketDog]

2 hours ago, Aomelia said:

They just leased to China their Port and told USA No Thanks, So make them pay it back  

Exactly. Cambodia wants cash from America while it continues to orbit ever closer to its Chinese overlords. China does not render aid without exacting absolute fealty in return. 

Well played but still a miss. 

 

It has become a global past time to criticize America with one side of the mouth while asking for aid/defense from the other. 

 

It's time for the world to understand that America is deeply involved with its own problems and its own citizens are increasingly less interested in solving everybody else's. For better or for worse that's the harsh reality

[Proboscis]

4 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

He won't do either, Despots never do!

 

Also, when the US gave aid for humanitarian reasons and if it is correct what he alleges, that Lon Nol used it for weapons, directed against the terrorist group, namely, the Khmer Rouge when he was an active member, then good!

 

He only switched sides when the writing was on the wall. His government still has plenty of them in senior positions.

 

Hun Sen is right up there alongside Saddam Hussein, Gadaffi,  the Kim Jong dynasty, Stalin and the rest of them.

Actually Lon Nol and the Americans took the war to the part of Cambodia near Vietnam as they believed that the Viet Cong were infiltrating. Having bombed the hell out of the local farmers, those farmers allied themselves with their enemies' enemy, namely the Khmer Rouge.

 

Now I do agree that Hun Sen does not have the nicest record for human rights but lets be realistic - he is far less evil than the Saddam Husseins, the Kims, Stalin etc.

 

There are ways of getting benefits out of forgiving debts - getting Hun Sen to change his tune with respect to a certain large neighbour, for instance.

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, RocketDog said:

China does not render aid without exacting absolute fealty in return. 

Sounds like John Wick is needed as well as a pencil or two to assist him.

 

Hun Sen needs to pull out the pocket book and write the check.

[bangon04]

I was under the impression that Cambodian debt to China is at least 3-4 billion.....  Maybe Hun Sen can convert that by giving a province to the CCP.

Sihanoukville maybe?   At least the local language is already changing to Chinese, and the casinos are flourishing.... 

[Scott]

A troll post and replies reported and removed.  

 

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, geovalin said:

He hopes the President Biden administration will consider converting the wartime debt.

Bob Hope springs to mind.

[Isaan sailor]

“Whenever I want you, all I have to do is drea—ee-ee-ee-eam, dream, dream, dream, dream...”

Everly Brothers

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Bob Hope springs to mind.

[RocketDog]

19 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Sounds like John Wick is needed as well as a pencil or two to assist him.

 

Hun Sen needs to pull out the pocket book and write the check.

Funny. I saw all three John Wick flix. 

I remember pointing out to an airport checkpoint person in Cambodia that even a pencil can be used to kill. His eyes got big and I moved on quickly before he thought it through.