The general trio: Tea Banh (L), Sao Sokha (C) and Pol Saroeun (R)
Army Brigade 70 truck fully laden with [illegal] timber, Route 2, April 2005(Photo: Global Witness - Cambodia's Family Tree)
Small truck used by Army Brigade 70 to distribute [smuggled] goods within Phnom Penh (Photo: Global Witness - Cambodia's Family Tree)Hun Sen orders the roundup of army vehicles rented to private businesses
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered General Tea Banh, the vice-prime minister and minister of defense, General Pol Saroeun, and General Sao Sokha to immediately round up and bring back all army vehicles. Hun Sen’s order was issued during a meeting between the government and the private sector which took place at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). Hun Sen issued this order after Oknha So Nguon requested that the government uses fairness in the transportation.
Hun Sen said that while the ministry of defense asked for budget for the transport of troops, the army vehicles are being rented out to transport private merchandises instead. Hun Sen revealed that more than $4 million were spent by wives of (government) leaders to visit troops and to bring miscellaneous helps to the troops. Hun Sen demanded that the leaders of the ministry of national defense review the cases of vehicles rented out for private transportations, should these vehicles belong to the army, they should be rounded up and returned back to the state because of the current lack of transportation means.
Hun Sen scolded army officers in the administration of vehicles for committing these mistakes, and he called them of not respecting the rules. Hun Sen warned that the soldiers are not standing above the head of the government, and that government soldiers are very easy to be removed from their positions. Hun Sen said that these cases not only affect those vehicles bearing the KM license plates (army vehicles), but they also affect vehicles bearing the NB license plates (police vehicles) as well. Hun Sen pushed the army to find 500 vehicles for him so he can distribute them to areas in need.
Hun Sen reminded that in 1989-90, there were 400 (surplus) vehicles in stock, and two years later, they were all distributed out. Hun Sen also said that the main problem caused by army vehicles is the fact that they transport merchandises over the weight limits, they can cause damages to roads, and no police officers dare stop them. Hun Sen also called all levels of the army to round up army vehicles and return them back to the army, they should no longer be rented out for transportation of private merchandise when the army is in need. The army civil engineering unit needs these vehicles to transport dirt for the construction of canals. Hun Sen requested that this action must be set in place immediately, and he also warned that (in Cambodia), there are tons of generals.
Hun Sen said that if army vehicles are indeed used for private transportation rental, this is a tragedy. He also said that private vehicles are backed up by army units, these units will be dealt with because the unit leaders do not respect the law. Hun Sen added that vehicles bearing the license plates KM or NB are found not to transport army materials, they must be stopped immediately because Cambodia needs vehicles for transporting dirt in the construction of canals, dikes, and roads.
Hun Sen said that while the ministry of defense asked for budget for the transport of troops, the army vehicles are being rented out to transport private merchandises instead. Hun Sen revealed that more than $4 million were spent by wives of (government) leaders to visit troops and to bring miscellaneous helps to the troops. Hun Sen demanded that the leaders of the ministry of national defense review the cases of vehicles rented out for private transportations, should these vehicles belong to the army, they should be rounded up and returned back to the state because of the current lack of transportation means.
Hun Sen scolded army officers in the administration of vehicles for committing these mistakes, and he called them of not respecting the rules. Hun Sen warned that the soldiers are not standing above the head of the government, and that government soldiers are very easy to be removed from their positions. Hun Sen said that these cases not only affect those vehicles bearing the KM license plates (army vehicles), but they also affect vehicles bearing the NB license plates (police vehicles) as well. Hun Sen pushed the army to find 500 vehicles for him so he can distribute them to areas in need.
Hun Sen reminded that in 1989-90, there were 400 (surplus) vehicles in stock, and two years later, they were all distributed out. Hun Sen also said that the main problem caused by army vehicles is the fact that they transport merchandises over the weight limits, they can cause damages to roads, and no police officers dare stop them. Hun Sen also called all levels of the army to round up army vehicles and return them back to the army, they should no longer be rented out for transportation of private merchandise when the army is in need. The army civil engineering unit needs these vehicles to transport dirt for the construction of canals. Hun Sen requested that this action must be set in place immediately, and he also warned that (in Cambodia), there are tons of generals.
Hun Sen said that if army vehicles are indeed used for private transportation rental, this is a tragedy. He also said that private vehicles are backed up by army units, these units will be dealt with because the unit leaders do not respect the law. Hun Sen added that vehicles bearing the license plates KM or NB are found not to transport army materials, they must be stopped immediately because Cambodia needs vehicles for transporting dirt in the construction of canals, dikes, and roads.
7 comments:
Hun Sen is not daring to punish all corrupted military leaders because his wife has associated with them.
Thank for global witness for exposing this chronic disease of corruption of this high ranking dirty trick.Buisiness people are not stupid,it not just cheap buisiness to run,but star protection from generals who abuse their position for national interest for their private gain, in fact the trucks come with free fuel as well.It is not happened yesterday but for over twenty years or so.
khmer soth
While privately-owned long heavy vehicles (LHV) are banned from the streets of Phnom Penh, military and police LHVs are allowed. To save the time and the transportation costs, the construction companies hire military and police trucks to deliver cement, stones and sand, and to avoid being stopped by the traffic police.
These generals are in shady business dealings. They have paid so much for the stars on their shoulders, so they have to make money out of these stars to recover their expenses and to make easy profits. After all, they need to keep up with the high maintenance costs of their grand mansions and expensive mistresses, while poor guys like me can only look at those voluptuous bodies driving Lexus SUVs in shorts with hunger (foods are more expensive now) and thirst (couldn't afford petrol and safe drinking water any more)! Heaven for some and hell for the rest.
OK this is a step in the right direction if it can be enforced - let's see. But why stop there - what about all the private vehicles driven by the sons, daughters, wives and mistresses of the these powerful and beyond reach generals and police officials who drive with military or police number plates to avoid any chance of being stopped by police like the rest of us. It is ridiculous! Anyone who lives in Cambodia has seen the these people driving, often badly, as if they own the road. Usually it is a gang of teenage boys who know daddy will get them out of trouble if they do wrong anyway. Take away these licences too please Mr. Hun Sen and also make these cars take off their intimidating blacked out windows in the front and sides - this is supposed to be illegal too. Know cops go near these cars as they know they are full of trouble. OK let the top cops have these plates for official cars on official business but why do all their families get to use them too? This should be simple to fix!
Talk is cheap and it's going to be cheap, because everyone knows threats or violence is Hun Sen's norm. Military is his back bone. He's only play good leader when he is not.
Oknya Hun Sen demands to return all army trucks and try to do a good deed before election 2008. It't too late to declare the good intention. Talking about Oknya So Ngoun that has talked to Hun Sen about the army transportation for private sectors is because Oknya So Ngoun has 18 wheel truck business himself for transportation. If the army tries to compete with him, he will run out of business soon.
When one drives government vehicle with the license plate "Rothaka or government", they will cut in front of ordinary people. They don't wait in line because they think they're above the law. These people are stupid than American dogs. American dogs know how to behave but not these high ranking Cambodian people. Even their wife or children behave like a thug. They're low class people. Corruption in Cambodia is from bottom to top. Still some people think Hun Sen do a good job.
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