In response to the visa restriction imposed by the US Government on Cambodian high ranking government officials, Mr. Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, on Thursday, wrote on his Facebook page stating that this visa restriction revealed the US intention to destroy the existing good relationship and cooperation between the two countries.
"This statement reveals the real intention to destroy the good relationship and the US-Cambodia cooperation," wrote the spokesman.
However, in its press statement issued on Wednesday, the US Department of State said that the visa restriction was imposed only on Cambodian high ranking officials and their family who have involved in undermining the democratization process in Cambodia. In contrast, the US Government still wants to keep close ties with the average cambodian people, particularly, Cambodian workers.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary, while maintaining our close and enduring ties with the people of Cambodia," read the press statement.
Concerning this issue, an anonymous political analyst said that the US and the EU see a big different between Cambodian politics and Cambodian workers. And the two Superpowers know very well how to deal with Cambodian political parties and with Cambodian workers.
"As they already did, if the US and the EU want to put any pressure on the Cambodian government, they will do it with top Cambodian government officials, not with Cambodian workers who are working hard to raise their family. Cambodian workers don't care much about being a «powerful man» to steal money from the State," said the political analyst.
The US press statement also said that the visa restriction was a concrete measure to respond to the Cambodian government's actions that are violating the liberal democratic principles and human rights in the country.
"[...] the United States is taking concrete steps to respond to the Cambodian government’s actions that have undermined the country’s progress in advancing democracy and respect for human rights [...] include the dissolution of the main opposition political party and banning of its leaders from electoral politics, imprisonment of opposition leader Kem Sokha, restriction of civil society, and suppression of independent media," read the press statement.
Nevertheless, the US Government would lift this visa restriction on condition that the Cambodian government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen «UNDO» the dissolution of the opposition party CNRP, release its president Mr. Kem Sokha, and restore the space for civil society and free media to carry out their activity as enshrining in the Constitution.
"We call on the Cambodian government to reverse course by reinstating the political opposition, releasing Kem Sokha, and allowing civil society and media to resume their constitutionally protected activities. Such actions could lead to a lifting of these travel restrictions and increase the potential for Cambodia’s 2018 electoral process to regain legitimacy," added the press statement.
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