by Samantha White
Northwest Asia Weekly
U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy (right)
As U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, W. Patrick Murphy is responsible for representing the United States in Cambodia.
Part of this work includes strengthening the relationship between the two countries – a relationship in which the approximately 330,000 people of Cambodian descent living in the United States play a major role. So when the Seattle-Sihanoukville Sister Cities Association (Sea-Sih) invited him to visit Seattle and meet with the local Cambodian-American community, Murphy accepted, telling NW Asia Weekly it was an “unbelievable” great opportunity”.
But because the job required him to spend most of his time overseas, the opportunity didn’t materialize until June 27. Murphy’s day trip to Seattle was part of his first international trip in about a year. This was the end of his visit to the United States, spending a few days in another Washington before coming to the Emerald City, before returning to Cambodia.
Murphy’s time in Seattle included meeting with members of the local Cambodian-American community and representatives of the Port of Seattle, visiting the University of Washington’s Southeast Asia Center, and meeting with members of the school’s Khmer Student Union. Murphy concluded his visit with a dinner in Seattle’s China Harbor, organized by Sea-Sih and the Cambodian American Community Council of Washington (CACCWA).
“We’re lucky, very, very lucky,” CACCWA co-founder and interim board chairman Bill Oung said of Murphy’s experience and his willingness to meet with the community. “[Seattle is] a community that is important to him [U.S. Embassy in Cambodia]. “
Murphy was named ambassador in August 2019. Prior to that, he began working in the US Foreign Office in 1992. He has completed diplomatic missions in Myanmar (Burma), China, Iraq, Guinea and Mali. His most recent positions include serving as a Senior Officer (Acting Assistant Secretary) in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2018 to 2019, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia from 2016 to 2018.
In his remarks at the reception, Murphy told attendees that he was excited to visit Seattle, and commented on the region’s love of coffee and the heatwave that coincided with his visit — something many brought up to him. Wearing a dark blue suit, he reminded the crowd that he spent most of his time in Cambodia.
“You forget where you’re from,” joked Murphy, laughing as the room was packed with many immigrants from tropical countries.
Cambodia and COVID-19
In his speech, Murphy discussed the situation in Cambodia, including how the country has been affected during the pandemic.
Sea-Sih’s overseas projects — which focus on cultural exchanges between Seattle and the Cambodian seaport city of Sihanoukville — have been suspended in recent years due to travel restrictions due to COVID-19. That’s one reason Murphy’s visit to Seattle is important to the local Cambodian community, said Sea-Sih board member Thyda Ros. This is their chance to learn about what’s happening in Cambodia, how to deal with COVID-19, people’s access to healthcare and how the pandemic is affecting the economy and people’s livelihoods.
“That’s what our community wants to hear,” Ross said, adding that Murphy’s visit was also an opportunity for the local community — many of whom still have relatives in Cambodia — to let the ambassador know about their concerns about the Southeast Asian country, and What the United States can do to support this effort in a meaningful way.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to have our voices heard.”
From a public health perspective, Cambodia has fared quite well in the pandemic, Murphy said. The U.S. and Cambodia have a longstanding partnership in this area – with organizations and agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Navy in Cambodia, and have helped the country in the past with other infectious diseases .
“This has helped Cambodia get through this pandemic,” Murphy said. Mortality and hospitalization rates are low in the country through a public awareness campaign on safety measures such as hand washing, wearing masks and social distancing. In addition, Cambodia has a very high vaccination rate, with people lining up to get the vaccine once it is available – and subsequent boosters and age group openings – when it becomes available. The U.S. has also donated 3 million doses of the vaccine to Cambodia and plans to donate more this year, Murphy said.
“We are proud to be a part of this story”
While the country’s public health has performed well during the pandemic, Murphy said Cambodia’s economy has taken a hit because it relies heavily on tourism. With almost no tourism for nearly two years, many people lost their jobs and wages. In addition, he said, migrant workers who have been working abroad have returned to their hometowns — adding a mouthful to their families, many of whom are already scraping by on reduced incomes.
That being said, some of the economic impact is mitigated by the fact that Cambodia’s export sector with the United States continues to grow, especially in textiles – up 30% last year and expected to grow 40% this year. That’s its biggest market, Murphy said.
“This means there are a lot of job opportunities in Cambodia,” he said.
International Relations and Response to Crime
Other topics Murphy touched on included Cambodia’s presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year. The role rotates annually among the 10 member states and entails hosting meetings with representatives from all levels of countries in the region, as well as other national partners, throughout the year. This also includes a summit with heads of state and national leaders, scheduled for the fall this year.
In addition, Murphy discussed how the embassy is working to help return to Cambodia artifacts found and looted around the world.
“We are doing our part to restore them,” he said.
He also told Northwest Asia Weekly how his work deals with international crime, including trafficking (people, drugs and plants) and cross-border financial crime – Cambodia is no exception.
audience questions
Following his remarks, attendees at the reception had the opportunity to ask questions of the ambassador. One of them referred to Roe v. Wade, which was recently overturned by the US Supreme Court.
Murphy discusses the importance of women’s health around the world, noting that Cambodian women carry a lot of burdens and he is proud of them – their success in the classroom and business – although acknowledging they still hit the ceiling and don’t have much leadership positions.
“Their health is important,” Murphy said.
Two other topics that viewers asked about were the electoral process in Cambodia, the arrest and conviction of Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, and the alleged treason of dozens of members of a now-defunct political opposition party. In response, Murphy discussed the importance of people being able to speak freely, a key part of democracy – although he added that the best form of government in Cambodia is for Cambodians to decide.
Murphy has noticed how people ask him tough questions, which he likes, and he rarely gets such questions in Cambodia because people feel less free to express themselves.
