Cambodia's Hun Sen Vows to Crack Down on Corruption as Aid D

 

By Ron Corben

Cambodia's prime minister has told aid donor¹ countries he will step up efforts to curb² corruption³ in his country.  Mr. Hun Sen's comments were made as donor countries and international institutions met in Cambodia.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at the start of two days of talks with the international donor community in Phnom Penh, said his government planned to pass anti-corruption legislation, simplify the tax system, and eliminate excessive regulations.

Corruption has been a chief concern of donors⁴ in preparing for their first meeting in Cambodia in two years.

A U.S. government study estimated losses in Cambodia from corruption at up to $500 million annually⁵. Other international institutions and non-government groups also are pressing the government on graft⁶.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch called on donors to reduce aid unless Cambodia improved both its human rights record and curtailed⁷ corruption.

The World Bank, a major donor, says Cambodia has come what it terms "a crossroads," with the risk of falling back into an authoritarian⁸ state unless reforms are made.

Cambodia this week is seeking $1.8 billion in development aid over the next three years. The last donors' gathering⁹ in 2002 generated commitments of $635 million. The government relies on international aid to fund about half its budget.

But Tim Smyth, a business consultant¹⁰ in Phnom Penh with the firm Indochina Research, says donors are unlikely to cut assistance to Cambodia now.

"I don't think you're going to see realistically a drastically reduced overall contribution," he said.  "Maybe phased in differently, structured differently, but I just can't see how the donors would have such a turnaround and drastically reduce right now when the government is starting - a little bit - to fulfill¹¹ its end of the bargain."

Mr. Smyth expects more aid will focus on the agricultural sector¹² and small and medium enterprises.

Cambodia is one of the world's poorest nations. More than half the 13 million population live on less than a $1 per day and calls are being made that development programs to focus more on the very poor.

注释：
step up 逐步增加, 提升
curb 控制，约束
Phnom Penh 金边（柬埔寨首都）
eliminate 除去, 排删
curtail 减缩，限制
authoritarian 专制的，独裁的
commitment 责任，承担义务
Indochina 印度支那半岛
turnaround 转变

1 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

2 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

6 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。

7 curtailed   

v.截断，缩短( curtail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Spending on books has been severely curtailed. 购书开支已被大大削减。
• Their public health programme had to be severely curtailed. 他们的公共卫生计划不得不大大收缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

9 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

10 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

11 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。