THIS REPORT FROM FROM MR Ung Bun Ang "It seems Cambodia has just set another world record – this time in bureaucracy. The new government cabinet consists of 9 deputy prime ministers, 16 senior ministers, 16 ministers, 198 secretaries of state, and 205 undersecretaries. Though there is only one prime minister, there are further 8 ministers acting as his delegates. The prime minister says he needs the team to “forward development and deepen reform”. TO REMIND HUN SEN OF THIS SONG : When World Bank président James Wolfensohn sings this song to Hun Sen and Cham Prasidh "Corruption, corruption, corruption". AKP/03Banque mondiale : une "carotte" de 10 millions pour encourager la réformeAKP Phnom Penh, 14 février 2005 -- "Corruption, corruption, corruption". Voilà, selon le président de la Banque mondiale James Wolfensohn, les trois principaux obstacles à la compétitivité du royaume dans le combat qui l'attend face à des géants de la confection comme la Chine, a rapporté Cambodge Soir.Vendredi s'est achevée à Phnom Penh une conférence de deux jours sur les défis du Cambodge dans l'ère post-quotas visant à soutenir le "modèle social" de la confection cambodgienne et à encourager les réformes indispensables à sa survie. La présence, pour sa première visite au Cambodge, de James Wolfensohn, le message vidéo très amical de Bill Clinton, jeudi, et la participation de Pascal Lamy, ancien Commissaire européen au Commerce et candidat à la direction de l'OMC, symbolisait 1'union sacrée autour du textile cambodgien, seul PMA (Pays les moins avancés) "à avoir fait de la responsabilité sociale de ses entreprises une stratégie nationale", selon la BM. Mais ce créneau social, seule carte à jouer face à des pays certes moins sociaux, mais plus compétitifs, ne suffira pas à convaincre les acheteurs de rester. En substance, ont convenu les participants, la survie du textile cambodgien (80% des exportations, 270 000 emplois et 12% du PIB) dépend de deux facteurs: ".--AKP > Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:19:47 -0700> Subject: Cabinet Obesity> From: [EMAIL > PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Alternatives Watch – 10x08> > > > CABINET OBESITY> > > It seems Cambodia has just set another world record – > this time in> bureaucracy. The new government cabinet consists of 9 deputy > prime> ministers, 16 senior ministers, 16 ministers, 198 secretaries of> > state, and 205 undersecretaries. Though there is only one prime> minister, > there are further 8 ministers acting as his delegates. The> prime minister > says he needs the team to “forward development and> deepen reform”. That is, > if the development keeps up and the reform> continues at this rate, Cambodia > will soon need a stadium to hold a> full executive meeting, unless none is > necessary.> > Meanwhile Cambodia can look forward to another five years of > sameness.> One of the striking features of the renewed cabinet is that major> > players remain the same, and they occupy the same position – many have> held > theirs for 15 years. This is essentially a strong steady-as-she-> goes > message. However, the sameness at best stifles creativity and new> ideas. The > new government has already announced it will just rehash> the rectangular > strategy introduced for the previous mandate, which> means there will be no > new five year plan. A fresh team could perhaps> come up with – if its > description goes by the previous practice – a> pentagonal strategy. Before > the rectangular, there was a triangular> strategy in the second mandate; > there was none for the first term when> it was overwhelmed by a power play > and struggle between the two prime> ministers.> > At worst, the sameness can > breed a sense of complacency and apathy to> the extent that it leads to > contempt and likely cover up for any> corruption and recklessness in the job. > The sameness usually equates> cosiness for all concerned. The team would > perhaps do better with a> job rotation if those ministerial materials are so > effective and> efficient that the prime minister could not do without. The > rotation> may somewhat rejuvenate the team members. Then again, the prime> > minister may be fully aware that any rotation could uncover scandals> that > best stay buried.> > The ruling party also claims the bloat is for the sake > of “national> reconciliation”. The new cabinet becomes a virtual coalition > when it> includes many political appointments for Funcinpec members. It has> > thus become a source of income and status for many has-been> politicians. > Another group of the beneficiaries are defectors from> other parties. This > national reconciliation strategy will hallmark the> CPP’s astute sweetener to > weaken the oppositions as long as the latter> continue to treat defections > from their parties as a credit to> themselves.> > However, the reform often > uttered by the prime minister is likely to> stall. The sameness and the > national reconciliation will work together> to derail his effort, even if he > is serious about it. Reforms involve> producing something different, which > does not sit well with sameness.> > Therefore, while many politicians benefit > from the bloated cabinet,> the country will suffer from it. To face > challenges Cambodia needs new> ideas and never-ending enthusiasm, which are > unlikely to come from a> government cabinet that has its mind and body > restricted by obesity.> > > Ung Bun Ang> > > Quotable Quote:> > “Obesity is a > mental state, a disease brought on by boredom and> disappointment.”> > Cyril > Connolly (1903–1974), British writer and journalist.> The Unquiet Grave.> > > _________________________________________________________________ Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn “10 hidden secrets” from Jamie. http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia.
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