One of the big happy family in CambodiaMar 20, 2007
By Bertil Lintner Asia Times (Hong Kong)
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's rough-and-tumble politics have long been bloody, marred by frequent political assassinations and violence. But never before have they been quite so blood-linked.
The English-language fortnightly Phnom Penh Post published without comment in late February a family tree it had compiled, revealing how the top leaders of the ruling Cambodia People's Party (CPP) have become more intimate through an old-fashioned Cambodian custom: arranged marriage. And the growing family ties run all the way to the top of Cambodia's political pyramid, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Southeast Asia's longest-serving leader.
For instance, there is Hun Sen's brother, Hun Neng, currently serving as governor of Kompong Cham, whose daughter, Hun Kimleng, is married to the deputy commissioner of Cambodia's National Police, Neth Savoeun. Meanwhile, Hun Neng's son, Hun Seang Heng, is married to Sok Sopheak, the daughter of Sok Phal, another deputy commissioner of the National Police. Hun Sen's 25-year-old son, Hun Manith, is married to Hok Chendavy, the daughter of Hok Lundy, the National Police commissioner.
Another of the premier's sons, Hun Many, 24, is married to Yim Chay Lin, the daughter of Yim Chay Li, secretary of state for rural development. One of Hun Sen's daughters, Hun Mali, 23, meanwhile, is married to Sok Puthyvuth, the son of Sok An, Hun Sen's right-hand man and minister of the Council of Ministers. The friendship between Hun Sen and Sok An dates back to the early 1980s, when Hun Sen was foreign minister and Sok An director of the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now those personal ties run blood deep as in-laws.
And that's just a sampling of the connections at the highest echelons. Heng Samrin, who was Cambodia's head of state from the Vietnamese invasion in January 1979 to the United Nations intervention in 1991, and now serves as president of the National Assembly and honorary CPP president, has a daughter named Heng Sam An, who is married to Pen Kosal, an adviser to Sar Kheng, deputy prime minister and minister of the interior - as well as brother-in-law of Senate and CPP president Chea Sim.
Heng Samrin's adviser, Cham Nimol, is the daughter of Cham Prasidh, minister of commerce. Another of Cham Pradish's daughters, Cham Krasna, is engaged to Sok Sokann, another of minister Sok An's sons. Sar Kheng's son, Sar Sokha, meanwhile, is married to Ke Sunsophy, daughter of Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. And Hun Sen's wife, Bun Ramy, currently serves as president of the Cambodian Red Cross, while its second vice president, Theng Ay Anny, aka Sok An Anny, is Sok An's wife.
Family traditions
There has been no official reaction to the Phnom Penh Post's revealing study. Intermarriage among members of the ruling political and business elites is not uncommon in Asia.
In neighboring Thailand, Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan's son, Chatichai Choonhavan, became prime minister of Thailand, while his daughter, Khun Ying Udomlak married Phao Sriyanond, director general of the Thai police. Another high-ranking Thai army officer, Thanom Kittikachorn, was the brother-in-law of fellow military dictator Praphas Charusathien, while his son, Narong Kittikachorn, also became a military strongman, while his sister Songsuda married Suvit Yodmani, who has served with several Thai governments.
Sino-Thai tycoons are known to have arranged their children's marriages to members of other top business families to progress their commercial interests. But in Cambodia's case, where many of the political elite were wiped out during Khmer Rouge-led purges between 1975 and 1979, the number of political marriages is extraordinary. And these new family ties between the children of ministers and top officials potentially set the stage for the CPP's grip on power to continue for generations.
Significantly, the CPP's family connection is emerging simultaneously with a waning of the royal family's influence over national politics. Ever since Hun Sen and his inner circle of friends and advisers ousted former prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh in a 1997 coup, the royalist Funcinpec party's political fortunes have waned.
Ranariddh was forced into exile after the bloody putsch that killed many of his party members, but later returned to Cambodia to become president of the National Assembly after inconclusive general elections in 2003, when the CPP was unable to garner enough votes to form a one-party government and after much squabbling joined with Funcinpec in a wobbly coalition.
One of the sons of former king Norodom Sihanouk and half-brother of the present monarch, Sihamoni, Ranariddh resigned that post last March and subsequently left the country again. While he was away, he was dismissed as co-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia as well as the National Olympic Committee. He later returned to Cambodia - and was ousted as president of Funcinpec, the main opposition party, amid an internal power struggle in October that many political analysts believe Hun Sen had a hand in.
Not surprisingly, perhaps, several of Funcinpec's original leaders were also related. Ranariddh's uncle and former king Norodom Sihanouk's younger half-brother, Norodom Sirivudh, served as foreign minister in a Funcinpec-led government in 1993. Ranariddh's half-brother, Norodom Chakrapong, meanwhile, helped found Funcinpec but later defected to the CPP. Their half-sister and Sihanouk's eldest child, Norodom Bopha Devi, has served as minister of information and culture, while her latest consort, Khek Vandy, was elected to the National Assembly on a Funcinpec list in 1998.
But Funcinpec's family pride has waned considerably since it emerged as the biggest party in the UN-supervised elections in May 1993, when it captured 45% of the popular vote and outpaced the CPP, which came in a close second with 38%. Many political observers think Ranariddh's recent ouster from Funcinpec may represent his last political gasp.
His former Funcinpec colleagues recently sued him on allegations that he embezzled US$3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters last August. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found the prince guilty and sentenced him - in absentia - to 18 years in prison. Ranariddh had recently set up a new party, aptly named the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP).
Funcinpec, the NRP and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party will be among 10 different political parties standing against the CPP juggernaut in upcoming commune council elections, which are scheduled for April 1 and widely viewed as a bellwether indicator for next year's general elections.
It may well be an April Fool's election, with the opposition fractured and vulnerable and the CPP allegedly pursuing a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition candidates and their supporters in rural areas. Khieu Kanharith, CPP minister of information, predicted on February 22 that his party would win about 97% or 98% of the positions in the commune councils, and 95% of the vote in the general elections next year. That may well be the case, as Cambodia is fast morphing into a one-party state dominated by the CPP.
The Phnom Penh Post in its February 9 edition quoted a foreign diplomat as saying: "The CPP controls the government, the National Assembly, the Senate, 99% of the village chiefs, the provincial governments. Their influence goes through the judiciary, through the police ... Practically everything is controlled by one party."
That assessment would appear to jibe with 55-year-old Hun Sen's January 9 pronouncement that he does not intend to stand down from the premiership until he is at least 90 years old. By then, a third generation of CPP family-tied politicians and officials, if everything goes according to the apparent plan, will just be coming of political age.
Bertil Lintner is a former correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review, where he reported frequently on Cambodian politics and economics. He is currently a writer with Asia-Pacific Media Services.
The English-language fortnightly Phnom Penh Post published without comment in late February a family tree it had compiled, revealing how the top leaders of the ruling Cambodia People's Party (CPP) have become more intimate through an old-fashioned Cambodian custom: arranged marriage. And the growing family ties run all the way to the top of Cambodia's political pyramid, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Southeast Asia's longest-serving leader.
For instance, there is Hun Sen's brother, Hun Neng, currently serving as governor of Kompong Cham, whose daughter, Hun Kimleng, is married to the deputy commissioner of Cambodia's National Police, Neth Savoeun. Meanwhile, Hun Neng's son, Hun Seang Heng, is married to Sok Sopheak, the daughter of Sok Phal, another deputy commissioner of the National Police. Hun Sen's 25-year-old son, Hun Manith, is married to Hok Chendavy, the daughter of Hok Lundy, the National Police commissioner.
Another of the premier's sons, Hun Many, 24, is married to Yim Chay Lin, the daughter of Yim Chay Li, secretary of state for rural development. One of Hun Sen's daughters, Hun Mali, 23, meanwhile, is married to Sok Puthyvuth, the son of Sok An, Hun Sen's right-hand man and minister of the Council of Ministers. The friendship between Hun Sen and Sok An dates back to the early 1980s, when Hun Sen was foreign minister and Sok An director of the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now those personal ties run blood deep as in-laws.
And that's just a sampling of the connections at the highest echelons. Heng Samrin, who was Cambodia's head of state from the Vietnamese invasion in January 1979 to the United Nations intervention in 1991, and now serves as president of the National Assembly and honorary CPP president, has a daughter named Heng Sam An, who is married to Pen Kosal, an adviser to Sar Kheng, deputy prime minister and minister of the interior - as well as brother-in-law of Senate and CPP president Chea Sim.
Heng Samrin's adviser, Cham Nimol, is the daughter of Cham Prasidh, minister of commerce. Another of Cham Pradish's daughters, Cham Krasna, is engaged to Sok Sokann, another of minister Sok An's sons. Sar Kheng's son, Sar Sokha, meanwhile, is married to Ke Sunsophy, daughter of Ke Kim Yan, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. And Hun Sen's wife, Bun Ramy, currently serves as president of the Cambodian Red Cross, while its second vice president, Theng Ay Anny, aka Sok An Anny, is Sok An's wife.
Family traditions
There has been no official reaction to the Phnom Penh Post's revealing study. Intermarriage among members of the ruling political and business elites is not uncommon in Asia.
In neighboring Thailand, Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan's son, Chatichai Choonhavan, became prime minister of Thailand, while his daughter, Khun Ying Udomlak married Phao Sriyanond, director general of the Thai police. Another high-ranking Thai army officer, Thanom Kittikachorn, was the brother-in-law of fellow military dictator Praphas Charusathien, while his son, Narong Kittikachorn, also became a military strongman, while his sister Songsuda married Suvit Yodmani, who has served with several Thai governments.
Sino-Thai tycoons are known to have arranged their children's marriages to members of other top business families to progress their commercial interests. But in Cambodia's case, where many of the political elite were wiped out during Khmer Rouge-led purges between 1975 and 1979, the number of political marriages is extraordinary. And these new family ties between the children of ministers and top officials potentially set the stage for the CPP's grip on power to continue for generations.
Significantly, the CPP's family connection is emerging simultaneously with a waning of the royal family's influence over national politics. Ever since Hun Sen and his inner circle of friends and advisers ousted former prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh in a 1997 coup, the royalist Funcinpec party's political fortunes have waned.
Ranariddh was forced into exile after the bloody putsch that killed many of his party members, but later returned to Cambodia to become president of the National Assembly after inconclusive general elections in 2003, when the CPP was unable to garner enough votes to form a one-party government and after much squabbling joined with Funcinpec in a wobbly coalition.
One of the sons of former king Norodom Sihanouk and half-brother of the present monarch, Sihamoni, Ranariddh resigned that post last March and subsequently left the country again. While he was away, he was dismissed as co-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia as well as the National Olympic Committee. He later returned to Cambodia - and was ousted as president of Funcinpec, the main opposition party, amid an internal power struggle in October that many political analysts believe Hun Sen had a hand in.
Not surprisingly, perhaps, several of Funcinpec's original leaders were also related. Ranariddh's uncle and former king Norodom Sihanouk's younger half-brother, Norodom Sirivudh, served as foreign minister in a Funcinpec-led government in 1993. Ranariddh's half-brother, Norodom Chakrapong, meanwhile, helped found Funcinpec but later defected to the CPP. Their half-sister and Sihanouk's eldest child, Norodom Bopha Devi, has served as minister of information and culture, while her latest consort, Khek Vandy, was elected to the National Assembly on a Funcinpec list in 1998.
But Funcinpec's family pride has waned considerably since it emerged as the biggest party in the UN-supervised elections in May 1993, when it captured 45% of the popular vote and outpaced the CPP, which came in a close second with 38%. Many political observers think Ranariddh's recent ouster from Funcinpec may represent his last political gasp.
His former Funcinpec colleagues recently sued him on allegations that he embezzled US$3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters last August. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found the prince guilty and sentenced him - in absentia - to 18 years in prison. Ranariddh had recently set up a new party, aptly named the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP).
Funcinpec, the NRP and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party will be among 10 different political parties standing against the CPP juggernaut in upcoming commune council elections, which are scheduled for April 1 and widely viewed as a bellwether indicator for next year's general elections.
It may well be an April Fool's election, with the opposition fractured and vulnerable and the CPP allegedly pursuing a campaign of violence and intimidation against opposition candidates and their supporters in rural areas. Khieu Kanharith, CPP minister of information, predicted on February 22 that his party would win about 97% or 98% of the positions in the commune councils, and 95% of the vote in the general elections next year. That may well be the case, as Cambodia is fast morphing into a one-party state dominated by the CPP.
The Phnom Penh Post in its February 9 edition quoted a foreign diplomat as saying: "The CPP controls the government, the National Assembly, the Senate, 99% of the village chiefs, the provincial governments. Their influence goes through the judiciary, through the police ... Practically everything is controlled by one party."
That assessment would appear to jibe with 55-year-old Hun Sen's January 9 pronouncement that he does not intend to stand down from the premiership until he is at least 90 years old. By then, a third generation of CPP family-tied politicians and officials, if everything goes according to the apparent plan, will just be coming of political age.
Bertil Lintner is a former correspondent with the Far Eastern Economic Review, where he reported frequently on Cambodian politics and economics. He is currently a writer with Asia-Pacific Media Services.
19 comments:
It may be called CPP Power abuse... I don't know! It may be just the Cambodian way of democracy... maybe!
But what it is for sure is that the CPP Power is needed to build a strong roots of democracy, a strong base against traitors of monarchy and a strong leadership against the return of republic of khmer thieu ky and monkeys and parrots followers...
TO KIMEDIA: with this big happy family in Cambodia, you have free
expression as least to say what you wish and to print what you want to calomny for political gains... and your support to SRP!
BE LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPY FAMILY STRONGLY RESPECTS THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION... BUT DO NOT ABUSE AND THINK THAT CAMBODIANS INSIDE THE COUNTRY ARE ALL STUPID...
I AM WAITING TO READ YOUR LINES AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE COMMUNAL ELECTIONS... LET' S SEE WHAT KIND OF HUMANS ARE YOU?
$1 at the door. All the portion of the proceeds benefit The Cambodians Inside Cambodia Project, a charitable fund that donates food, money, and supplies to khmer overseas monkey and parrots as follows :
-ah sva kmean srok
-ah sek khmean education
-ah khmer thiueu ky
-ah imposter in california
-ah me svacarava!
-all khmer overseas living in uncle samrainshit's cage.
To Ki-media,
Please don't publish such the comment 11:18. It is not from real khmer.
heheh. 11:18. To have such rights that you states above, "We Are Lucky" for that.
you really are a fool. A slave of the corrupt. Because you would know that, to have those are not are lucky but our guarantee rights, stated in the Constitution of Cambodia. People in charge are role models to upheld the law and protect the constitution.
If you're they're incapable of doing such, its not because Khmer have bad luck, and if they are capable, its not that Khmer have good luck either.
Luck has nothing to do with the law. Get lost to your own world of Namnam where lucky is the rule of the land and Law is belongs in the trash can.
In Cambodia, we will praise people who protect that national interest of the nation and upheld the law, because that is the responsibility of everyone, Not LUCK.
Bye bye, a chke kmin komnod, kom mok mol thok ngiel dol chiat khmer krup ti konleng. Tous bay yong nau ti na, ko khmer yong mian chod borosoth chompous protes del pi prous yong chi kon Khmer pit, ches sneha chiat, mian sneha puk raloui.
I will predict today that Kem Sokha will form a party no matter what. He is Hun Sen's spy prepared over 10 years ago with FNLPK. He will fight Sam Rainsy about 10 years before getting lost(if some cambodians elite would join him). So Hun Sen can relaxe for a while and watch. Therefore I appeal to compatriots not to join Kem Sokha, so that he would not last long.
I also want you to check out Pen Sovan that one day he would jump in doing some good stuff and then become like Kem Sokha to slow down Sam Rainsy for another 10 years.
Spy is the most important element in the war. Some time someone even become a spy by force. When I was 19 in chumrom Thei(border) I became Thai spy because of money.
Leo
11:34 PM,, YOU CALLED ME A SVA KHMEAN SROK HUH, I TELL YOU WHAT I DON'T WANT YOUR FUCKING COUNTRY AT ALL. YOUR FUCKING COUNTRY IS PURE DIRT,BACKWARD,FULL OF RETARDS ,SO ENYOY IT YOUR SON OF BITCH.....
Hun Sen's family is the world's biggest family of crooks, criminals and traitors. There is no doubt about that. Whoever dare claim that Cambodia has enjoyed the taste of democracy, freedom of expression, human rights and progress because of Hun Sen and his family must go and see a psychiatrist immediately because there must be something wrong in their brain.
THAT IS THE FAMILY OF 3H'S CRIMINAL CHIEF (HUN SEN)
http://hengpoev.alkablog.com
Suhato's family last for how long? Nothing remain the same. No power remain forever. The longer it last the more family members will be affected. The more suffering they will be. Make no judgement. Let it be as it will be. What a great freedom, great democracy. Many middle ranking gov. officials still making $100-150 per month subsidizing their living with corruptions that 80% goes to the higher ranking officials.
Yes! They are strong for a small family, but they are so weak for the whole Khmer's nation.
The corruption law is not passed because of these families are living within the Cambodian government.
CPP got married with See Pee Pee = Kim Jong IL = Mentally ill
This is such an old picture! AH HUN SEN clans are living in a fucken rat hole and they dare to come out only at night!
This is what I don't understand!!Why would any Cambodian people be afraided of AH HUN SEN clans? AH HUN SEN clans can be wiped out any time by ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW! Why focus on some fucken marriage and power? And why not focus on ANTI-CORRUPTION law? Why not make all AH HUN SEN clans declare their fucken assets and what belong to AH HUN SEN will belong to AH HUN SEN and what belong to Cambodian people will belong to Cambodian people!
I never fear AH HUN SEN or his clans!!! It is time to kick some ass!
How can Hun Maneth lives with his cruel fucking dady. He is a democrat i think. Manath i hope one day you will bring Cambodia from Communist to a real democracy society.
"He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position where he cannot mount higher,must thereafter fall with the greatest loss",Wise word from Cambodia daily dated Monday March 19 2007.
TALKING ABOUT CPP SPY:
SAM RAINSY IS THE HEAD OF CPP INTERNAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT INCLUDING KHEM SOKHA AND LON NOL ' SON PARTY...
THIS IS THE PURE FACT!
Freedom of speech my ass, If Hun Sen and his gang don't like you you will be removed. That's what Communist would say. If you are a obstacle will be removed. SRP and other parties is just tolerated because the gang need a stamp of approval and SRP is there to serve it to the fullest.
Cambodia is not a family business, if it is operate that way it's a disgrace to the nation, to the spirit of Khmer ancestors. You will have your day Gang no one is full proved from justice. Look and Sadam and the rest of dictators around the world.
Don't expect Manith to be better than his daddy. It is in the family, as the article says.
The CPP(Communist People Party) are NOT for the Cambodian, they are for themselves, the vietcong mafias. They are living under UN checks. Feed by Cambodia's natural resource. Selling Angkor's wat ticket,digging Khmer ancestor's oil.
To the CPP, if you're being fed by Cambodia's luxury, don't act so big, we know you're in your comfort zone and I know you love it. Cambodia is delicious for the vietcong mafias... money money money and you love our money!
How you talk,you wide mouth open are full of lies, crook..criminals.
Your(CPP) mouth are full of bacteria which have infected Cambodian people, very deadly indeed.
CPP, everybody know that THERE'S NO MORALITY IN ANIMAL KINGDOM.
well, maneth is a nice guy at least...i met him personally last year and he's a good down to earth guy :)
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