'Yes I am Afraid'

The United States, Japan, France, the UK and Australia, along with the UN, have invested billions of dollars to restore Cambodia's democracy since the early 1990s. Yet the same guy is in charge with a tighter grip on power than ever, and the human rights situation seems to be deteriorating. What should the world powers do?

Many foreign governments spend their taxpayers' money for the Cambodian people, but the money usually only benefits Cambodia's leaders. Many Cambodians still earn less than one dollar per day. The international community shouldn't throw meat to the tiger just so that he can get stronger and eat Cambodia's poor ... Donors must hold the government to its past promises and put conditions on the money they give.

Doesn't Cambodia have regular elections?

The national election commission belongs to the ruling party, the courts aren't independent, and the Constitutional Council, which is the final electoral arbiter, is controlled by the ruling party. So democracy doesn't just mean elections, they have to be free and fair. Communist countries had elections, too.

Is Hun Sen trying to replace Western aid by increasing Chinese aid--without any human rights or democracy strings attached?

I think so, but it is a mistake. Democracies don't just give money, they bring investors. Cambodia has many Chinese investors, but they want to make money--often under the table--and take it away. And China doesn't give enough money to allow Hun Sen to succeed.