Cambodian PM says any U.S. aid cut not affect his gov't

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Sunday called for the United States to cut all of its foreign aid to the country, saying any cut in aid would not affect his government.

"I welcome the U.S. cut in aid to the (Cambodian) National Election Committee," he said in a speech during a get-together with more than 4,000 garment factory workers in Phnom Penh. "I appeal to the U.S. to cut all of its aid."

Hun Sen's remarks came after the U.S. said in a statement on Thursday that it would take "concrete steps" against the Cambodian government following a Supreme Court decision to dissolve the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). The U.S. said that in the first step, it would terminate support for the National Election Committee.

The U.S. announced in April that it would allocate 1.8 million U.S. dollars to the National Election Committee for 2017 and 2018 to help improve the country's electoral system.

The Cambodian Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the CNRP dissolution and the ban of its 118 senior leaders from politics for five years after its leader Kem Sokha was arrested on Sept. 3 and charged with "treason." Kem Sokha, 64, was accused of plotting the overthrow of the government.

source: Alarabiya