2007年VOA标准英语-Critics Say Cambodia Oil Revenues May Curse Rat

By Rory Byrne
Phnom Penh
15 May 2007

Revenues from large deposits of oil and gas discovered in Cambodia's territorial¹ waters are expected to start flowing by the year 2010. The government says the funds will be used to pay for much-needed infrastructure² projects and to cut borrowing. But as Rory Byrne reports from Phnom Penh, some critics are warning that oil money could fuel corruption³ and undermine economic development rather than benefit the country.

The exact amount of oil and gas lying off Cambodia's southern coast is still being assessed, but it is substantial. Last month, a Chinese exploration company announced it has found about 230 million barrels of oil plus half a trillion cubic feet of natural gas in just one of Cambodia's six exploration blocks. Other Asian companies and the U.S. oil giant Chevron⁴ are also exploring.

The oil could mean millions, and perhaps billions, of dollars for Cambodia's small economy each year. The government says the money will go into the central budget for development projects, to pay civil servants and to cut state borrowing.

But some development experts say there is a danger that Cambodia could be dragged deeper into poverty and corruption by what some call the oil curse.

Corruption is already widespread in Cambodia, and revenues from other state-owned natural resources including timber and precious stones have gone into private pockets. Ek Siden is the Development Issues Program Coordinator⁵ for the NGO Forum⁶ on Cambodia, representing more than 70 international and Cambodian non-governmental organizations.

"The institutions in Cambodia is very weak, and power is centralized - just only with one-man-show - and we are afraid that the government will use that budget in another way, not to serve the country and not [to] benefit the society as a whole, it will benefit only a few elites," said Siden.

Economists⁷ warn that if handled improperly⁸, oil revenues can fuel corruption and contribute to inflation, which could mean key industries like garment manufacturing lose their competitive edge, pushing up joblessness and poverty.

John Nelmes, the resident representative of the International Monetary⁹ Fund in Cambodia, says an overhaul¹⁰ of the country's financial management systems will be required.

"I think there are big challenges, there's a lot of work to be done. One of the keys is that they have to put in place strong macro-economic management, that means budgetary policy that is sound and that directs money towards productive uses," said Nelmes. "Another key is to ensure that inflation remains¹¹ low and that the economy remains competitive."

 

Cambodian Tang Solin, 59, pours gasoline into a smaller bottle at her road-side store in the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia (File)

Human rights groups fear an oil-rich government may ignore the needs of the public and give in to authoritarian¹² tendencies. Ek Siden of the NGO Forum says economic disparities could lead to social unrest and political instability.

"The government may spend a large amount on the military in order to keep just one-man-show, or keep just in the power, so that is the problem," said Siden. "It's also when there's no transparency of management of the revenue, it also become a conflict in the society"

U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli says at this stage, it is unclear what the oil revenue will mean for Cambodia.

"I think it's too early to say whether the oil is going to be a curse or a blessing¹³. The good news is that the Cambodian government is well aware that it could be a curse. And just having that knowledge, being aware of what has happened in other countries, may be enough to forestall¹⁴ it here," said Mussomeli. "We are certainly talking to the government, lots of other countries are also offering assistance and guidance. But what it will take ultimately is political will and the political realization¹⁵ that the oil could really destroy this country."

To prevent that from happening, the government says that all oil revenue will be channeled through the central budget where it will be used to cut state borrowing, to pay for projects like roads and irrigation and to pay civil servants salaries. Sok Saravuth is the Director of Cambodia's Budget Department. He says that the money will be invested to improve the economy.

"A big lot of investment is needed to push the economy. Only about 5 to 10 percent of the investment required can be afforded by the national revenue. On the order of 80 to 90 percent is funded by grants or loans therefore I don't think we have to worry much that the government has no clear plan or that the money will not [be] used wisely," said Saravuth. "The prime minister has already agreed and decided¹⁶ that this oil revenue will be put into the budget."

Some human rights groups are warning that Cambodia may already be on the wrong path. They say there has been little transparency over the awarding of oil exploration contracts and criticize the authorities for not releasing information on the sums of money that oil companies have already paid.

With two or three years to go before the real oil money begins to flow, most agree that there is much work to be done to ensure that oil money is a blessing for Cambodia and not a curse.

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

5 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

6 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

7 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 improperly   

不正确地，不适当地

参考例句：

• Of course it was acting improperly. 这样做就是不对嘛！
• He is trying to improperly influence a witness. 他在试图误导证人。

9 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

10 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

13 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

14 forestall   

vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止

参考例句：

• I left the room to forestall involvements.我抢先离开了这房间以免受牵累。
• He followed this rule in order to forestall rumors.他遵守这条规矩是为了杜绝流言蜚语。

15 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

16 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

17 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

18 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。