Fwd: CAM: NGO Forum Issues Statement to Donors

[E Phillip Lim]

Subject: Fwd: CAM: NGO Forum Issues Statement to Donors

////////// Distributed via Southeast Asia Discussion List <SEAS...@MSU.EDU>

Original subject: NGO Forum Statement to the International
Donor Community
Forwarded via: US-Indochina Reconciliation Project
<usi...@igc.apc.org>
15 July 1997

The attached statement was released today in Phnom Penh
by the NGO Forum on Cambodia.

The NGO Forum on Cambodia represents international
and local non-government organisations committed to
people-centered sustainable development for Cambodians.
The Forum's mandate is to speak out on issues of concern
to the people of Cambodia and to local and international
NGOs working there.

Your attention to this statement is appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
Kien Serey Phal, Robert Clarke, Co-Chairs NGO Forum

NGO Forum
P.O. Box 2295
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
tel: +855 233 60119 Fax: +855 237 23242
E-Mail: NGOF...@PACTOK.PEG.APC.ORG

NGO Forum Statement to the International Donor Community

Members of the NGO Forum and other concerned
institutions, many of whom have been working among
Cambodians since the early 1980's, gathered on July 15th
in Phnom Penh to reaffirm our commitment to the people
of Cambodia and to signal our intention to stay. Our mission
has been and will continue to be to support Cambodian
efforts to rebuild the country and to bring about a peaceful
and just society. In light of the current situation, we feel an
even stronger commitment to remain in Cambodia to work
in solidarity with the people. We appeal to the international
community and to our governments to avoid taking sides
with parties to the conflict; to pursue all efforts towards
constructive dialogue and negotiation; and to continue
providing development and humanitarian assistance to the
Cambodian people. We have seen, in Cambodia as well as
in other parts of the world, that it is ordinary people who
are the most vulnerable and who suffer most when punitive
measures are imposed. We condemn the violence and are
greatly distressed by the physical and psychological
damage which Cambodian people are suffering as a result
of current events. The suffering is further exacerbated by
the widespread fear of Cambodians that they will once again
be abandoned by the international community and that
repression will increase. The international community has
made tremendous investments in support of Cambodian
people's efforts to reconstruct their country and to bring
about a peaceful and just society. With international
support, the seeds of a democratic process were sown;
civil society was strengthened; infrastructure was partly
restored; the economy was stabilized creating an
environment more conducive to development; and
significant progress was made in human resource and
institutional development. More importantly, these
achievements contributed to restoring people's
confidence and to healing the psychological trauma of
the past. Recent and ongoing events have not only
shattered the hopes of the Cambodian people, but have
jeopardized the accomplishments of the last decade. At
this juncture, it is crucial to continue humanitarian and
development assistance so as to nurture what remains.
The isolation of Cambodia would be counterproductive
and would further undermine all that has been achieved
to date. The killing, ongoing intimidation, and violence
throughout the country must be stopped immediately.
The Cambodian authorities need to demonstrate through
concrete actions their commitment to reestablish the
process of democratization; to restore public confidence
and allay fears; and to make restitution for loss of life and
property to those poor and vulnerable who were affected
by recent violence and looting. We once again urge donor
governments and the international community to continue
the work they have started in support of Cambodian people
and not to again use the withdrawal of humanitarian and
development aid as a political tool. We appeal to our
[respective] governments to listen to all parties in the
conflict and to join efforts to encourage constructive
dialogue and negotiation.

NGO FORUM MEMBERSHIP LIST

International NGOs/Organisations (48 Current Members)
AFSC (American Friends Service Committee),
Asia Foundation,
Australian Catholic Relief (Caritas Australia),
Care International in Cambodia,
Carere UNDP,
Catholic Fund for Overseas Development,
Catholic Relief Services,
CCDP (Cambodia Canada Development Programme),
Christian Aid,
Christian Outreach,
Church World Service- Cambodia Program,
Community Aid Abroad (Oxfam Australia)
CAA,
Concern Worldwide,
Cooperation International pour le Development et Solidarite,
Diakonia,
Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia,
Forum Syd,
Health Unlimited,
HEKS Cambodia Programme (Swiss Interchurch Aid),
Help Age International,
ICS (Institute per la Cooperation allo Sviluppo),
IWDA (International Women's Development Agency),
Japan International Volunteer Center,
Jesuit Refugee Service (Asia Pacific),
Jesuit Service Cambodia,
Lutheran World Service (LWS),
Mine Advisory Group,
Manitese,
Maryknoll,
MCC (Mennonite Central Committee),
New Humanity,
Novib,
Overseas Service Bureau,
Oxfam Belgique,
Oxfam Hong Kong,
Oxfam UKI,
PACT,
Partnership for Development in Kampuchea (PADEK),
Quaker Service Australia,
Redd Barna,
SAO-SCALE,
Save the Children Fund Australia (SCFA),
Save the Children Fund UK,
United Nations Association Great Britain and Ireland,
U.S. Indochina Reconciliation Project (USIRP),
Voluntary Service Overseas,
World Food Programme,
World Vision International- Cambodia

Local NGOs (37 Current Members)
ADHOC- Cambodia Human Rights and Development Association,
Association of Cambodia Local Economic Development Agencies,
Association of protection development for Cambodia Environment (APDCE),
Buddhist Development and Supporting Environment,
Cambodia Diabled People's Organisation,
Cambodia Farmer Association (CFA),
Cambodia Light Children Building Center (CLCA),
Cambodian Association for Repatriation to Development and Savings (CARDS),
Cambodia Health Education Development (CHED),
Cambodia league for the promotion and defense of human rights,
Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC),
Cambodian Women's Development Association (CWDA),
CPR (Coalition for Peace and Reconciliation),
Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA),
CWCACD,
Development Assoication of Cambodia (DAC),
Help the widow (HTW),
HURIPRUDA,
Improvement of the poor Cambodian Together (IMPACT),
Khmer Development and Friedship Association (KDFA),
Khmer Farmer Association (KFA) Kandal,
Khmer Human Resources of Development Organization (KHReDO),
Khmer Rural Development Association (KRDA),
Khmer Women's Voice Center,
Meada Khmer Development (MKD),
Nation Prosperity Association (NAPA),
Rural Agriculture Development Democracy,
Rural Association for Development of Economy (RADE),
Rural Economic Development Association (REDA),
Socio-Economic Development Organisation (SANTA),
Socio-Economic Development Organisation of Cambodia (SEDOC),
Sorsortroung (SST),
Support Association for Khmer Teacher & Family,
Urban Resource Center,
Urban Sector Group,
Women Development Association,
WRDA.

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