Sacked governors did not do their job, says Hun Sen
By Vong Sokheng
Seven Funcinpec provincial governors have been removed from their posts - some of them for failing to stop illegal logging and land seizure, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen, who says removals will continue as part of the government's administrative reform.
Hun Sen, of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, have both said governors have been removed from their posts because of widespread land and forest grabbing, and continuing land disputes within their jurisdictions.
Speaking at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery's annual conference on March 29, Hun Sen said the governors' removal is just one step in administrative reform.
He said governors have a duty to co-ordinate and crack down on illegal logging and smuggling.
"It is more difficult than fighting the Khmer Rouge," Hun Sen said of the struggle against illegal land and forest grabbing, land disputes and smuggling. "I don't believe that you don't know what is happening in your own work areas," he told the dismissed governors in his speech. "The big problem is that you do not work, or you are involved [in the illegal activities], that's why you dare not take action..."
The government began removing Funcinpec officials from their posts after the National Assembly amended the Constitution on March 2, reducing the number of lawmakers required to form a government from two-thirds of the Assembly to 50 percent plus one.
Immediately after the vote, Hun Sen ordered a stop to power-sharing within the coalition government, beginning with the removal of Nhiek Bun Chhay as Co-Minister of Defence, and Prince Norodom Sirivudh as Co-Minister of Interior. Bun Chhay was later confirmed as a Deputy Prime Minister, though Sirivudh lost his deputy prime minister's post.
The following day Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh resigned as President of the National Assembly.
The constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly to form the government was established in 1993. CPP and Funcinpec have co-existed in various forms of coalition for most of the time since then.
After the formation of a new government in 2004, power at the provincial and city levels was shared between the two parties, with Funcinpec being allocated ten of the 24 municipal and provincial governorships, and the remaining 14 going to the CPP.
Bun Chhay told reporters on April 5 that the removal of Funcinpec governors and deputy governors was part of the government's plan to improve its capacity to work effectively.
"Land and forest issues are still a big problem and these governors' work has been ineffective," Bun Chhay said.
When the Post telephoned Bun Chhay to discuss his comments, he declined to confirm the number of Funcinpec governors dismissed.
"I am sorry, and I am busy," Bun Chhay said.
According to royal decrees signed by King Norodom Sihamoni since March 23, the Funcipec governors removed from office have been Oddar Meanchey governor Kuch Moly, replaced by Pech Sokhen (CPP); Mondulkiri governor Thu Son, replaced by CPP Ministry of Interior official Lay Sokha; Siem Reap governor Sim Son, replaced by CPP Takeo governor Sou Phirin; Banteay Meanchey governor Heng Chantha, replaced by his CPP deputy An Sum; Kandal governor Lao Sunpa replaced by CPP deputy Khim Bou; Stung Treng governor Khem Seila replaced by Loy Sophath, a CPP Anti-drug official of MoI; and Kep governor Chan Sam An replaced by CPP Tramkok district governor (Takeo province) Has Sareth. Phnom Penh Municipality Deputy Governor Mom Bunneang has been removed and not yet replaced. The new Takeo governor is the CPP's Srei Ban.
A USAID report on Cambodia's forest resources says the current legal uncertainty has encouraged land grabbing by the elite in Cambodian society as well as encroachment on forest land by the landless.
The report said that forest and wildlife resources are being lost steadily through legal and illegal harvesting. It said the next few years will be a pivotal period for improving natural resource governance as a means to reduce conflict, fight poverty, and avoid human rights abuses.
Hun Sen, of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay, Funcinpec secretary-general, have both said governors have been removed from their posts because of widespread land and forest grabbing, and continuing land disputes within their jurisdictions.
Speaking at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery's annual conference on March 29, Hun Sen said the governors' removal is just one step in administrative reform.
He said governors have a duty to co-ordinate and crack down on illegal logging and smuggling.
"It is more difficult than fighting the Khmer Rouge," Hun Sen said of the struggle against illegal land and forest grabbing, land disputes and smuggling. "I don't believe that you don't know what is happening in your own work areas," he told the dismissed governors in his speech. "The big problem is that you do not work, or you are involved [in the illegal activities], that's why you dare not take action..."
The government began removing Funcinpec officials from their posts after the National Assembly amended the Constitution on March 2, reducing the number of lawmakers required to form a government from two-thirds of the Assembly to 50 percent plus one.
Immediately after the vote, Hun Sen ordered a stop to power-sharing within the coalition government, beginning with the removal of Nhiek Bun Chhay as Co-Minister of Defence, and Prince Norodom Sirivudh as Co-Minister of Interior. Bun Chhay was later confirmed as a Deputy Prime Minister, though Sirivudh lost his deputy prime minister's post.
The following day Funcinpec President Prince Norodom Ranariddh resigned as President of the National Assembly.
The constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly to form the government was established in 1993. CPP and Funcinpec have co-existed in various forms of coalition for most of the time since then.
After the formation of a new government in 2004, power at the provincial and city levels was shared between the two parties, with Funcinpec being allocated ten of the 24 municipal and provincial governorships, and the remaining 14 going to the CPP.
Bun Chhay told reporters on April 5 that the removal of Funcinpec governors and deputy governors was part of the government's plan to improve its capacity to work effectively.
"Land and forest issues are still a big problem and these governors' work has been ineffective," Bun Chhay said.
When the Post telephoned Bun Chhay to discuss his comments, he declined to confirm the number of Funcinpec governors dismissed.
"I am sorry, and I am busy," Bun Chhay said.
According to royal decrees signed by King Norodom Sihamoni since March 23, the Funcipec governors removed from office have been Oddar Meanchey governor Kuch Moly, replaced by Pech Sokhen (CPP); Mondulkiri governor Thu Son, replaced by CPP Ministry of Interior official Lay Sokha; Siem Reap governor Sim Son, replaced by CPP Takeo governor Sou Phirin; Banteay Meanchey governor Heng Chantha, replaced by his CPP deputy An Sum; Kandal governor Lao Sunpa replaced by CPP deputy Khim Bou; Stung Treng governor Khem Seila replaced by Loy Sophath, a CPP Anti-drug official of MoI; and Kep governor Chan Sam An replaced by CPP Tramkok district governor (Takeo province) Has Sareth. Phnom Penh Municipality Deputy Governor Mom Bunneang has been removed and not yet replaced. The new Takeo governor is the CPP's Srei Ban.
A USAID report on Cambodia's forest resources says the current legal uncertainty has encouraged land grabbing by the elite in Cambodian society as well as encroachment on forest land by the landless.
The report said that forest and wildlife resources are being lost steadily through legal and illegal harvesting. It said the next few years will be a pivotal period for improving natural resource governance as a means to reduce conflict, fight poverty, and avoid human rights abuses.
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