ABC Radio Australia
Cambodia's parliament has approved a controversial anti-corruption law, more than 15 years after the legislation was first proposed. The country is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the government has repeatedly come under fire from foreign donors and activists over its apparent unwillingness to tackle the problem. All 82 members of parliament, most of whom were from Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, raised their hands to approve the law. But the law has been by civil society groups and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Presenter: Robert Carmichael
Speakers: Son Chhay, legislator, opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP); Yong Kim Eng, Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability
Listen: Windows MediaCARMICHAEL: More than 15 years after it was first proposed, Cambodia's parliament finally passed the country's anti-corruption law on Thursday. Since Cambodia is one of the world's most corrupt nations this sounds like good news. But there are plenty here who would disagree, and for a number of reasons.
Firstly the ruling Cambodian People's Party made the law public just one week ago before announcing that it would be put to parliament, which the ruling party controls, on Wednesday.
The political opposition was outraged at the unseemly haste, as were civil society groups. Even the United Nations weighed in, adding its voice to an ultimately unsuccessful chorus which wanted the government to allow more time to debate the law.
Then there is the law's content. The opposition Sam Rainsy Party says this is a law that will foster corruption, not punish it. But its voice went unnoticed in parliament, and after seeing all of its suggested amendments ignored during the two days of debate, the opposition walked out.
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