Foreign Aid and NGOs: Balancing Acts in Cambodia

I am writing to you to portray my opinion on Rathin Roy's "Imperialism in Asia- Imperialism of NGOs" concerning foreigners in Cambodia and all other countries where NGOs are attempting to change the world. I disagree with the piece in it's point of view on the contribution of foreign aid Cambodia has received, shown here in a quote from the piece'... the semi-skilled of the west, the major beneficiaries. What a joke'.

Foreign aid has brought in more money for the economy and provides better business for local shops, restaurant, etc.

This influx of wealth has given over a quarter of Phnom Penh's population a job, helping to spread wealth among people, including families and saving many children from a life of poverty and malnutrition. Along with this NGOs have also donated money to orphanages and helped many villages build homes. Tabitha is a great example of this and has been building houses for rural villages.

Although I agree with the criticism that the writer has shown towards members of NGOs, for example particular ex-pats who are in Cambodia solely for profit and the advantages that come with living in a developing country.

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Also as the writer talks about the 'new princes' being barbaric' as their own workers for example, Policeman only get paid ninety dollars yet an NGO junior foreigner gets paid around five hundred dollars.

I have to say that I only agree partially with his criticism as not all members of these NGOs are trying to take advantage of the country for their own benefit.

NGOs aim to negotiate as well as transfer information between their home country and the countries they are trying to help. Cambodia feels as though government organizations prefer to only negotiate compared to NGO's who prefer to transfer information between countries, giving input to either side on top of negotiations.

This is the reason behind Cambodia's preference for NGO's instead of government organizations. NGOs are taking advantage of living in a poorer country and spending their money while forgetting about the people they should be taking care of: the people of Phnom Penh! People who are starting to build restaurants are now catering for ex-pats because they are the richer settlers and will buy more where as the inhabitants of Phnom Penh (Khmer people) are poorer, therefore shops will make less profit by heading towards the Khmer people.

Although I strongly disagree with what Rathin Roy is saying, there is still some truth in that many NGOs are trying to make a profit from all the visiting foreigners, as well as some of the rich Khmer people of which there is only a small percentage, for instance The Ugana Centre for Accountability was found guilty for stealing $56,000 instead of actually helping to improve the health of Ugandas people who are suffering from TB, Malaria or HIV/Aids. Some NGOs make a greater profit from selling cheaper things that people from other countries may not be able to purchase at their own country for such a low price.

NGOs such as Hagar, Rajana, Tabitha, World Vision, Nyemo and Friends International migrate some of their work places to third world countries who don't rely on government run areas to improve their stock income. Most of these groups of non-government organizations are basically imperialists and want to take control of the country. They are mostly trying to take over countries that are not their own and attempting to profit from other struggling areas.

They attack areas of misfortune, so that they can get income for their own spending. Imperialists do not get enough satisfaction from their own country, forcing them to search for other areas in the world in order to control them. They wish to control everything in a specific country, so that they can force the people to do things, how they do it, as well as control higher positioned people, work forces, and environmental information/decisions along with many other things. These are what NGOs are, imperialists.

Imperialists are people who wish to move to a lesser developed country or easier place to control, and attempt to take over that system, such as the Government in the desired area. The Government and NGOs need to cooperate together and talk amongst their own people to negotiate between their own people and their influences around places, making sure that imperialism does not start to happen in the governments own country. They need to be in touch with each others intentions to make a balanced place to live, or else specific countries will loose their political and economical influences to NGOs and Imperialism.

In conclusion, I partially agree with the writer in the sense that some of the major beneficiaries are a 'joke. ' But I also disagree that all foreign aid is a laughable matter and that some NGO's are assisting the country, against some of the Imperialist NGOs that just want to make a profit. The assisting NGOs are helping through negotiations, assistance to all people, and attempting to help the country around them. The writer is incorrect in saying all NGOs wanting the benefits, as there are many that just want to help a country in need.