Sunday, June 03, 2007

CPP Tycoon-Senator Mong Reththy's shady business deals

Mong Reththy receiving a medal from Hun Sen

Mong Reththy

Excerpt from Cambodia's Family Trees
Global Witness
June 2007

“It should be mentioned also that Mr Oknha [Mong Reththy] has been doing a great deal for the country” – Prime Minister Hun Sen at the opening of Oknha Mong Port, 2004

I will bulldoze the homes of [residents] who refused money” – Mong Reththy commenting on his demolition of the Royal University of Fine Arts campus, 2005.

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Mong Reththy's selective memory

Global Witness wrote to both Mong Reththy and Hun Sen to ask them for their comment on the reports of drug trafficking. As this report went to print, Hun Sen had not replied, however Mong Reththy’s lawyer responded by e-mail as follows: “We have received the inquiry from your office related to Mr Mong Reththy and he is pleased to receive it. Mr Mong has asked us to inform you that he is unable to give Global Witness a written statement BUT he is willing to interview with a Global Witness representative in Phnom Penh or in London. If you have any further inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

Global Witness accepted the invitation to take part in an interview with Mong Reththy, and proposed a tape-recorded discussion over the telephone. At the time of the report’s publication, Mong Reththy’s lawyer had not responded to this proposal.
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Mong Reththy is one of Cambodia’s most prominent tycoons and a close ally of Hun Sen. In 2006 he became a senator for the CPP.

Plantations, commodities trading, cattle farming and real estate development are just some of Mong Reththy’s interests. His eclectic business portfolio has also encompassed illegal logging in Bokor National Park and an economic land concession in Stung Treng which at 100,852 ha is more than ten times the size permitted by the Land Law. This ELC is sited on the cancelled Macro Panin logging concession in violation of the sub-decree on Forest Concession Management. Chan Sarun signed off on the deal in November 2001, three months after the passage of Land Law limiting ELCs to 10,000 ha. When Global Witness wrote to Chan Sarun to question the legality of his decision, the minister responded with the argument that the government was obliged to give Mong Reththy the concession because he had asked for it before the Land Law was ratified. In December 2006 Global Witness received reports from a human rights worker that Mong Reththy’s company had begun clearing parts of the Green Sea ELC close to the Lao border.

Mong Reththy has also been at the forefront of the recent rash of land-swap deals in which ownership of public buildings has been transferred to tycoons with links to the CPP. His land-swap acquisitions have included Cambodia’s Supreme Court, Appeals Court, Phnom Penh Municipal Court and Justice Ministry buildings. He has also flattened the historic Royal University of Fine Arts campus in Phnom Penh and forcibly evicted local residents in order to make way for a development he has named ‘China Town’.

The government’s decision to give the green light for Oknha Mong Port demonstrates considerable confidence in a man previously subject to allegations of drug trafficking. Claims that there was more to Mong Reththy’s import-export business than met the eye first surfaced in April 1997, when officials in Sihanoukville seized seven tons of marijuana from containers labeled as rubber. Newspapers reported that documents taken during the seizure bore stamps and seals of a company belonging to Mong Reththy. In media interviews Mong Reththy denied any involvement.

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior Ho Sok, a member of the CPP’s Funcinpec coalition partner, led the investigation into Mong Reththy’s alleged connection with the marijuana. His announcement that a court was preparing an arrest warrant for the tycoon prompted Hun Sen to comment that anyone attempting to arrest Mong Reththy had better “wear a steel helmet”. In July 1997, during the coup in which Hun Sen ousted his Funcinpec co-prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Ho Sok was detained by CPP forces and murdered. The investigation into Mong Reththy’s dealings proceeded no further.

Mong Reththy has continued to deny any connection with drug trafficking. In an interview with a local newspaper in 2004, he said “I was accused of planting and smuggling marijuana. I have tried to ignore it. I have never even smoked a cigarette in my life, so how could I do business like that? I only do what is legal”.

Global Witness wrote to both Mong Reththy and Hun Sen to ask them for their comment on the reports of drug trafficking. As this report went to print, Hun Sen had not replied, however Mong Reththy’s lawyer responded by e-mail as follows: “We have received the inquiry from your office related to Mr Mong Reththy and he is pleased to receive it. Mr Mong has asked us to inform you that he is unable to give Global Witness a written statement BUT he is willing to interview with a Global Witness representative in Phnom Penh or in London. If you have any further inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

Global Witness accepted the invitation to take part in an interview with Mong Reththy, and proposed a tape-recorded discussion over the telephone. At the time of the report’s publication, Mong Reththy’s lawyer had not responded to this proposal.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is there a list of corrupt business names that we can reference to boycott ? What business is associated with Mong?

Anonymous said...

Befor 1979 I remember this guy has Money les than $150.00 but after 1979 I don't know how much money did he got,and I don't know what's kind of Job did he work ? If you are "Louch Luy Cheat Oh I wish wish GOD will let you to have" Ah Yu Klai" even your family too.comment by Mr.Prohok Khmer lived in Boston Mass."PHK."

Anonymous said...

8:48PM Mr.Prohok Khmer God will not be Blind even you or they're doing something wrong like killer, Corrupted, evil, having an affair, and Chea Noy.

Anonymous said...

Mong Rithy ! you deserve many Doctorate diploma from all these private universities in Phnom Penh....and later a big diploma from Maffia University. AH, AH....

Anonymous said...

Many private universities in PPENH. like Human resources Univ, Chamroeun Pahuvithya Univ reaward "Doctor Degree"to the students, most of them are Government officials.
The so-called students just get registered, don't need to attend the courses. "Play Tontine" to pay the school fee in rotation and at the end of the "Academic year" get the Doctorate diploma! Big LAUGH!

Anonymous said...

7:39PM what bussiness associated with Mong?

-HUN SEN.

Anonymous said...

The fact s that Mong Rithy receive the "Doctorate Degree" from one of these CPP backed Unversities.

Anonymous said...

Do all of smokers(cigareete Smoking) are Drug Dealers??
Do all Marijuna traficking Dealers smoke ??
"My Questions to Oknha BANDIT(Docorate) Excellency Mong Rithy"

Anonymous said...

May I Add to 5:13 PM
That Chamreoun Pahu Vichea University can award any one a Degree Including PhD. MSc. Bsc. et al If those who will pay school Fee properly/annually pay some hundred USD...

I vomit ...Ork Ork
Achar Knoy

Anonymous said...

The Dean of Chamroeun Pahuvuthya University, Human Res UNi... is AH EK ODDOM!Be careful!

Anonymous said...

IN MALAYSIA, INDONESIA AND MANY WHEREELSE IN THE WORLD, THEY NOW CHOP TREES DOWN TO GROW BACK THE OTHER AGRO-INDUSTRIAL CROPS. WHY MONG RETHTHY DOES LIKE THIS, HE IS WHONG!!???...

IF YOU DO NOT DO THAT SOONER OR LATER THE TREES STILL BE CHOPPED DOWN BY SOLDIERS, GENERALS, LOCAL PEOPLE AND LOG STEALERS ...

WHY YOU LISTEN TO GLOBAL WITNESS WHO SERVE THE USA FOR A PURPOSE TO LET KHMER CONTINUE POOR. AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AT THE TIME THEY BURN AND BRING OUT THE SMOKES THROUGH THEIR MILLION CARS IN THE AIR OF THE WORLD.
THE USA PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT KILLING PEOPLE IN ARAB. THE USA PROTECTS CHILDREN, BUT NOT JOIN IN THE INT'L CONVENTION ON CHILDREN PROTECTION. THE USA IS THE LEADER OF ENVIRONMENT, BUT NOT JOIN THE GREEN HOUSE SUMMIT/ORGANIZATION OF THE WORLD....

BY THAT WHO IS THE REAL EVIL OF THE WORLD?

Anonymous said...

Brief Biography of H.E. Dr. Mong Reththy
1. Official Roles and Functions obtained:

- 8 April 1996: His Royal Highness Samdech Preah Bath Preah Norodom Sihanouk offered a
Royal Title to H.E. Dr. Mong Reththy as OKNHA (those who make a great
contribution to the national development);
- 11 March 1996: Co-Chairman of the First Working Group for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial
Sector (Public Forum between Government and Private Sector)
- 30 July 1998: Honorable President of Chinese-Cambodian Association in Soth Neakum District,
Siem Reap province;
- 13 Feb. 1999: Nominated as Direct Advisor to Samdech Akek Moha Sena Padei Techor Hun
Sen, Excellent Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia;
- 28 June 2001: Honorable Member from the Center of Culture and Social Morality on Human
Rights;
- 30 June 2001: Honorable Member from ASEAN Engineering Association #021 SKSVK; and
- 28 August 2001: Honorable Member from 10th ASEAN Youth Forum;
- 7 August 2005: Nominated as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Phnom Penh city in
charge of CDC and Phnom Penh Investment Board;
- 8 August 2005: Nominated as Candidate for Senator and become Senator of the Kingdom of Cambodia for the second mandate from 2006-2010; and


2. Medals offered:

- 3 August 1994: Medal Class 1 for National Construction (Sub-decree #83);
- 22 Nov. 1994: Medal Class 1 for National Construction (Sub-decree #135);
- 6 Dec. 1995: Medal Class 1 for National Construction (Sub-decree #131);
- 4 April 1996: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #56);
- 21 May 1996: Medal Class 3 for National Construction (Sub-decree #90);
- 28 May 1996: Medal Class 2 for National Construction (Sub-decree #94);
- 28 Aug. 1996: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #154);
- 4 April 1996: Medal Class 1 for National Construction (Sub-decree #57);
- 30 July 1997: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #110);
- 17 May 1998: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #110);
- 12 Feb. 1999: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #39);
- 19 April 2000: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #138);
- 12 Nov. 2001: Medal Sovatthera in Class Sena (Sub-decree #48);
- 26 Jan. 2001: Medal for Kingdom of Cambodia Class Moha Sereivat (Sub-decree #57);
- 10 May 2004: Gold Medal for National Construction (Sub-decree #165);
- 27 Nov. 2004: Medal Sovatthera in Class Moha Sena (Sub-decree #22);
- 20 July 2006: Medal Moni Saraphorn in Class Thippadin (Sub-decree #499);

3. Degrees gained :

- 28 Oct. 2006: Doctoral Fellow from Executive Council of Academy of Commercial Diplomacy (UK)
- 20 Oct. 2006: Certified Strategist Doctorate, Cambridge Association of Managers, the UK
- 31 Oct. 2006: Certified Doctor of Business Administration, Oxford Association of Managers, UK
- 28 Oct. 2006: Doctor Degree of Business Administration, Irish International University,
European Union.

Anonymous said...

and ... can i add? the USA fights against int'l crimes ... but very ridiculous, the usa dare not join the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT!?...

the USA fights against pornography, but very ridiculous, in the USA Holliwood producing million films of sex in all kinds !?...

Is that enough to say that the screamer is the stealer! ...

All is shit game for Mr. US Dollar only! And I hope OBAMA will be a better guy for the world!

Anonymous said...

1. Cambodia must not chop trees, let the USA burns the world by not joining the Kyoto Convention on Green House;

2. the USA kills Arabic People everyday;

3. the USA violates HUman Rights by building Guantanamo prisons to torture prisoners through any styles they like;

4. the USA buys drugs from Mexico everyday, but the mouth is blaming this or that guy doing it.

5. The USA can have nuclear bombs, but not allow North Korea and Iran to have it because the USA feels easy to invade any countries he like;

6. the USA selling weapons in all kinds to the world so that they can kill each other and the USA gets a very large income for their pockets with his laughing;

7. the USA creating all kinds of chemical and biological weapons to kill the world;

8. the USA create AIDS disease to kill those who want to have a freedom of Sex;

9. the USA controls the world by using democracy. But the USA itself never has a real Democracy, especially supporting Thailand in stealing the power from people willingness who 70% voted for Thaksin.

10. the USA walks here and there to talk and provoke the wars, so that they will get profits from it.

Here are just the 10 easy things to be seen in the current world!

Oh! My God! ...

Anonymous said...

11. The Mouth says "PROTECT CHILDREN & WOMEN!" But the activities produce pornographies in all kinds in Hollywood;

12. The Mouth screams "PROTECT CHILDREN!", but in practice the USA never sign the Int'l Convention of Children Rights;

13. The Mouth says "PROTECT PEACE FOR THE WORLD!", but in practice the USA never agrees to join the Int'l Criminal Court;

14. The Mouth shouts "FREE ELECTION", but in fact the USA supports any countries no matter they have elections or not, as long as they follow him.

Oh! Is it true!?

Anonymous said...

15. And lately, the USA did not join in the World Summit on Anti-Racism or Anti Racial Discrimination in Geneva. It is very clear to show that racism is there! I don't know How Long OBAMA can stand on the forum, when racism is there in their own nation!!!...

Anonymous said...

It Capitalism at work. Just go with the flow. The one with real wealth has always been making the most noise. Generations of tycoons will continue to rule the world and... wealth trickles down to the bottom. Business employs people and pay them a living wage. The world is like this and no one would be able to change that.

Anonymous said...

You said that the USA is not good! You are wrong!!! Please see the points the USA have made a great contribution to Cambodia and the world:

1. WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE USA, THE WORLD HAS ENJOYED THE REAL DEMOCRACY IN POLITICS (DEMOCRACY).

2. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYING HAPPINESS LIFE AND RICHNESS (PROSPERITY).

3. WITH THE USA, EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CAN SPEND THE US DOLLAR CURRENCY IN FREE (CURRENCY).

4. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN ENJOYS ALL KINDS OF FREEDOM OF RELIGIONS (LIBERTY).

5. WITH THE USA, THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES GET RICHER - AND AMONG THEM IS CAMBODIA ($$$).

6. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYS THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF ALL KINDS OF MACHINES AND ACCESSORIES AND SCIENCE.

7. WITH THE USA, HUMAN RIGHTS IS THE SUBJECT TO BE RESPECTED BY ALL FOR CHILDREN, WOMEN AND HUMANITY IN GENERAL (HUMAN RIGHTS).

8. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYS THE BEST FILM INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD AND EDUCATION (ENTERTAINMENT);

9. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN FIGHT AGAINST DICTATORSHIP AND RULE OF TERROR (DICTATORSHIP + TERRORISM).

10. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD HAS NO WORLD WAR ANY MORE BECAUSE THE USA PAYS THE MOST MONEY FOR THE UN TO STOP THE PROLIFICATION/EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (NUCLEAR)

11. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN ENJOY FREEDOM, HAPPINESS, WISDOM, DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. (FREEDOM)

12. WITH THE USA AND THE WEST, THE WORLD CAN SLEEP CALMER AT NIGHT TIME (CALM SLEEPING).

13. WITH THE USA, CAMBODIA CAN ENJOY BACK ITS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND PEACE (PEACE IN CAMBODIA).

14. WITH THE USA, THE KING AND QUEEN IN CAMBODIA CAN COME BACK TO POWER AGAIN AND PREMIER HUN SEN CAN BECOME PRIME MINISTER. (KING, QUEN AND HUN SEN)

15. WITH THE USA, CAMBODIA CAN EXPORT GARMENT PRODUCTS WORTH US$3.5 BILLIONS INTO THE WORLD AND USA MARKET. (JOB TO PEOPLE)

16. .... AND MANY MORE! and don't forget that MORE THAN 85% OF CAMBODIAN PEOPLE LOVE THE USA WHILE ONLY ABOUT 7-10% LIKE CHINA.

Here is the answer to youuuuuu!!!

Anonymous said...

You said that the USA is not good! You are wrong!!! Please see the points the USA have made a great contribution to Cambodia and the world:

1. WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE USA, THE WORLD HAS ENJOYED THE REAL DEMOCRACY IN POLITICS (DEMOCRACY).

2. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYING HAPPINESS LIFE AND RICHNESS (PROSPERITY).

3. WITH THE USA, EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD CAN SPEND THE US DOLLAR CURRENCY IN FREE (CURRENCY).

4. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN ENJOYS ALL KINDS OF FREEDOM OF RELIGIONS (LIBERTY).

5. WITH THE USA, THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES GET RICHER - AND AMONG THEM IS CAMBODIA ($$$).

6. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYS THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF ALL KINDS OF MACHINES AND ACCESSORIES AND SCIENCE.

7. WITH THE USA, HUMAN RIGHTS IS THE SUBJECT TO BE RESPECTED BY ALL FOR CHILDREN, WOMEN AND HUMANITY IN GENERAL (HUMAN RIGHTS).

8. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD ENJOYS THE BEST FILM INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD AND EDUCATION (ENTERTAINMENT);

9. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN FIGHT AGAINST DICTATORSHIP AND RULE OF TERROR (DICTATORSHIP + TERRORISM).

10. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD HAS NO WORLD WAR ANY MORE BECAUSE THE USA PAYS THE MOST MONEY FOR THE UN TO STOP THE PROLIFICATION/EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (NUCLEAR)

11. WITH THE USA, THE WORLD CAN ENJOY FREEDOM, HAPPINESS, WISDOM, DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. (FREEDOM)

12. WITH THE USA AND THE WEST, THE WORLD CAN SLEEP CALMER AT NIGHT TIME (CALM SLEEPING).

13. WITH THE USA, CAMBODIA CAN ENJOY BACK ITS NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND PEACE (PEACE IN CAMBODIA).

14. WITH THE USA, THE KING AND QUEEN IN CAMBODIA CAN COME BACK TO POWER AGAIN AND PREMIER HUN SEN CAN BECOME PRIME MINISTER. (KING, QUEN AND HUN SEN)

15. WITH THE USA, CAMBODIA CAN EXPORT GARMENT PRODUCTS WORTH US$3.5 BILLIONS INTO THE WORLD AND USA MARKET. (JOB TO PEOPLE)

16. .... AND MANY MORE! and don't forget that MORE THAN 85% OF CAMBODIAN PEOPLE LOVE THE USA WHILE ONLY ABOUT 7-10% LIKE CHINA.

Here is the answer to youuuuuu!!!

Anonymous said...

ALL ARE GOOD. NOBODY COULD LACK THE OTHERS! PLEASE FULFILL OUR WORK AND SUPPORT BOTH THE GOV'T AND THE USA - SUPERPOWER OF THE WORLD! GOOD NIGHT!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

1. Cambodia must not chop trees, let the USA burns the world by not joining the Kyoto Convention on Green House;
Answer: MUAHAHAHAHAHA Talk Rubbish

2. the USA kills Arabic People everyday;
Answer: MUAHAHAHAHAHA Talk Rubbish again... Cambodians don't kill Cambodians? Islamic Militants don't kill or bomb or behead Buddhist and Christians?

3. the USA violates Human Rights by building Guantanamo prisons to torture prisoners through any styles they like;
Answer: MUAHAHAHAHAHA Talk Rubbish again... You don't think other countries do that? Have you been in prison? Why don't you try India or Malaysia? Come over and touch a tit...

4. the USA buys drugs from Mexico everyday, but the mouth is blaming this or that guy doing it.
Answer: Muahahahahahaah A whole lot of rubbish... What are you doing writing this here if you have evidence? You'll be filthy rich by selling those evidence to CNN....

5. The USA can have nuclear bombs, but not allow North Korea and Iran to have it because the USA feels easy to invade any countries he like;
Answer: USA threaten to use it on you? They have been having it since WWII... I have not seen them unleashing that awesome power even in Iraq or Afghan... You think USA will waste in on you? Talk rubbish...

6. the USA selling weapons in all kinds to the world so that they can kill each other and the USA gets a very large income for their pockets with his laughing;
Answer: Every countries smuggling cigarettes & marijuana destroying millions of lives and you want to bother about USA selling arms? Your police force use their water pistol to keep you safe at night?

7. the USA creating all kinds of chemical and biological weapons to kill the world;
Answer: And you are burning fuel every shitty second...

8. the USA create AIDS disease to kill those who want to have a freedom of Sex;
Answer: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Biggest JOKE!!!!!

9. the USA controls the world by using democracy. But the USA itself never has a real Democracy, especially supporting Thailand in stealing the power from people willingness who 70% voted for Thaksin.
Answer: WOW... Didn't know the USA is all mighty... Wonder why you still walk around with US$ in your pocket... Make your own country proud of your REIL before sticking your nose in other countries' affairs...

10. the USA walks here and there to talk and provoke the wars, so that they will get profits from it.
Answer: Rubbish... Yeah... So? You walk around provoking your business enemies so that you get the business... You go around back stabbing your colleague in hope of promotion... Are you any different?

Here are just the 10 easy things to be seen in the current world!
Answer: Here are just 10 simple examples of answers to be said to the current you...

Oh! My God! ...
Answer: Yes... Oh My God...

Anonymous said...

Both of your guys are crazy ... why not talking about mong rethty? talking about the USA --!

Anonymous said...

I think he is very very bad while he plays the game as the God.

MONG SOTHEARY said...

IS my brother replying all of this lol !!

Anonymous said...

Wow, its amazing how people are arguing about politics and talking all kinds of shit about this man acting like theyre smarter than everyone else, when the cant even spell 'Mong Reththy' right. Its in the fucking text ABOVe you dumb morons! How could you get it wrong?! Wtf?!