Cambodians wary of Australia refugee deal

All at sea: Canberra's controversial plan to dump refugees off on Cambodia is placing a grave moral question mark on Australia's own stance on human rights, setting a poor, depressing precedent for other developed democracies around the world where more established legal norms and advance social services infrastructures which, otherwise would seem to offer asylum-seekers and refugees seeking refuge from corrupt and violent autocratic regimes [among whom Cambodia under the present regime herself is a leading example] a hope and a practical humane way forward.

Never, in the history of human migration had it ever been the case that ordinary people, often in the prime of their lives, had chosen to flee their native homes and familiar surroundings, putting their lives and limbs at certain risk in the process so that they might eventually end up somewhere else where they would awake every morning only to endure the feeling of deja vu that they had been here before, or worse, the nightmare that this had been the very opposite of what they had dreamed and envisaged.

If even an advance economy such as Australia is convinced that it works out better for her financially over the long run to pay the thoroughly corrupt Cambodian regime the alleged millions to shift the burden of resettling the unfortunate refugees off onto Cambodia and other ASEAN countries, what indication does this calculation reveal to us as to a poor economy and an international donor recipient like Cambodia and her capacity to shelter, feed, provide jobs and a whole range of other basic social services of which even the host country's vast population remain out of reach for obvious reasons? Even as concerned observers read this piece and scratch their heads in wonderment, there are about two hundred Cambodian souls of all ages who have recently been made homeless by local authorities in one of the country's provinces [Kratie] to pave the way for a Vietnamese company to assume possession of their lands. These are Cambodia's internal refugees and latest victims of the Phnom Penh regime's well-known practice of selling lands of disputed ownership and origins to whoever [usually Vietnamese "companies"] with the dollars to bribe local and government officials who in turn are expected to pay tribute money [or 'gifts'] to higher ranking officials with the person at the regime's helm receiving most of the payments through so-called 'humanitarian' fronts such as the Cambodian Red Cross which is headed and controlled by none other than Hun Sen's commander in bed, Bun Ranny Hun Sen herself; an organisation that by its own impulse and intrinsic self-interest views all victims of forced land evictions and, most of the very vulnerable poor it exists in principle to aid and rescue in times of emergency, as its principal threats and enemies; and that being the main reason why these internal refugees are not considered worthy of the organisation's charitable effort.

Certainly, this has thus far been the case. I don't know all the sources of the money that for the past two weeks or so have gone towards feeding these two hundred victims and their families at the Samaki Raingsey pagoda in Phnom Penh, apart from generous contributions from the pagoda, some locals and overseas Khmers who are overcome with compassion for the plight of their compatriots; and yes, it is within their right and conscience to assist them by any means at their disposal. Yet, it is a sobering thought that were their plight occurring in a more politically civilised and sensitive climate their humanitarian stake would have been quickly and sufficiently conveyed across or over to the concerned public via independent and state media/ news distributors such as national state TV channels and other publicity campaigns so that more people could be made aware of the crisis in question, and to offer accordingly their helping hands in kind or cash, and that, in turn, would have made a huge difference, even if formal institutions like the CRC decided to withhold its assistance. In deed, a director of the CRC has been quoted as saying he is 'unaware' of this humanitarian issue! And yes he may well be kept blissfully ignorant of the crisis, just as so many Cambodians inside the country are still being kept in the dark about some of the worst human events taking place in their own backyards simply because the state itself has undeniably been the main conjurer and unrivaled architect-sponsor of these same events. All these developments are just the tips of the iceberg; and I have not even mentioned how modern Australia herself came into being some distant years ago! - School of Vice  

Displaced villagers locked in a land dispute with a Vietnamese rubber firm in Kratie province sit at the Samakki Raingsey pagoda in Phnom Penh - cambodiadaily

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'The country has only limited capacity to process asylum-seeker claims and is still struggling to respect and protect the rights of its own citizens,' 

          Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, said.

'I think it is a wrong judgment (regarding poor human rights), Cambodia is a peaceful place.'

          Phay Siphan

Sky News Sunday, 25 May 2014

Cambodians are worried about an influx of immigrants as the government nears a deal with Australia to accept refugees in return for cash.

The two countries have been in discussion since February over plans to resettle an unspecified number of refugees in Cambodia.

'Our country's economy is weak, so there will be a lot of difficulties for us,' said Venerable Chheang Tola, a 23-year-old monk at the capital's Wat Lanka.

'When they come to live with us, we will be responsible for their health, clothes, and food while we are developing our country.'

Currently, refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are diverted to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The Canberra government has made it clear that even those granted asylum will not be resettled in Australia.

The latest plan, which Australia has staunchly defended since news leaked out, has come under criticism by international rights groups who point to Cambodia's weak infrastructure, insufficient social services and spotty human rights record.

'I think Cambodia doesn't have enough capacity, doesn't have enough knowledge about the international standard of refugees, doesn't have enough economic capacity,' said Ny Chakrya, a human rights monitoring officer at rights group Adhoc.

Capacity is among the topics being studied by a government working group, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.

He insisted that refugees would not be accepted unless the government felt it could adequately provide for them.

Currently, Cambodia supports just 68 refugees, many of whom have struggled to integrate and find jobs.

'Our immigration management is not good,' said law student Meas Dara.

'Normally, we have to ensure their safety. But we are a poor country and don't have capacity to support those refugees.'

Sann Mun, a drinks vendor, said it seemed ludicrous that a wealthy country like Australia would turn to Cambodia to take its refugees.

'The country has only limited capacity to process asylum-seeker claims and is still struggling to respect and protect the rights of its own citizens,' Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, said.

The country has been rocked by escalating protests since the national election of July 2013, the results of which have been disputed.

The government cracked down on political rallies and labour strikes in December and January.

At least five people were killed and scores were injured on January 3 after police opened fire at a strike site.

In subsequent days, a ban was placed on free assembly.

Australia defended the plan, saying it has value for both countries.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison downplayed concerns about human rights and corruption, and reiterated that refugees had no inherent right to a better economy.

'(Refugees will) access a place of safety where they will be free from persecution, which is the point of resettlement. Resettlement is not an economic migration program,' he said.

Details of the move have yet to be made public, but local media reported rumours that 1000 refugees will be resettled in Cambodia, which will receive $US40 million ($A43.28 million) in the deal.

Siphan downplayed criticism of the nation's rights record, saying it was superior to many.

'Cambodians never (discriminate) against any races, we never have a culture of discrimination, everyone can move easily ... my nation is open for everyone,' he said.

'I think it is a wrong judgment (regarding poor human rights), Cambodia is a peaceful place.'

But for others, the question of whether Cambodia is prepared to take on refugees comes down to simple economic realities.

'We can't feed those refugees because our standard of living is very limited,' said Huot Thol, a motorcycle taxi driver.

'We are still poor and need to ask for aid from other countries every year.'