Embassy defence: Ministry offers reply to criticism

CAMBODIA:-- The government this weekend hit back at criticism of its embassies in China, Malaysia and Thailand, insisting that they are helping migrants in need.

In a statement released Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to so-called allegations made in Post articles and by rights group Adhoc that embassies had failed to protect migrants.

In the statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong wrote that between January and September 2014, the embassy repatriated 28 women who were trafficked to China for marriage.

The embassy in Thailand, he said, found jobs for 11 workers after they were abandoned by private companies, and helped two others return home.

In Malaysia, he added, two domestic workers had been repatriated since August.

Chhan Sokunthea, of rights group Adhoc said there is a problem with “slow coordination” between the ministry and the embassies, but noted that this has recently shown improvement.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/embassy-defence-ministry-offers-reply-criticism

I had extremely close relations with the previous team at the Cambodian Embassy (ambassador and consul) and I swear they was working hard WITHOUT ANY GRAFT for the good of the poor Cambodians living in Thailand, migrant or not, legal or not.

I don't see any reason why the new team should be less thoughtful.