Monday, August 25, 2008

Khieu Kanharith blasts Joel Brinkley’s article on corruption in Cambodia

An indignant Khieu Kanharith blasted Joel Brinkley's article on corruption in Cambodia (Photo: Chantha, Koh Santepheap)


24 August 2008
By L.D. and A.L.G.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the original article in French


Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, called for a press conference in the morning of Sunday 24 August to protest against an article on corruption in Cambodia written by a US reporter.

Khieu Kanharith, the minister of Information and government spokesman, accused Joel Brinkley, a Pulitzer prize author, of being “biased” in his article titled: “The world leader in corruption is – Cambodia” published by the “Modesto Bee” in California on 21 August.

“Joel Brinkley came to visit me on 14 August to tell me that he wished to write articles on education, the economy, land dispute problems, and the government political vision,” Khieu Kanharith said. “I proposed to him to put him in contact with Say Chhum, the CPP secretary-general, with Im Chhunlim, the minister of Land Management, with Im Sothy, the state secretary of Education, with Chum Bunrong, the spokesman for the National Authority for Resolution of Land Disputes, and with Phay Siphan, the spokesman of the Council of Ministers.”

“Joel Brinkley told me that he was Pulitzer prize winner, and that he wished to meet high-ranking VIPs,” Khieu Kanharith claimed. “He considered me as an assistant (level official).”

The article – which was posted on KI-Media, a website close to the SRP [KI-Media note: KI-Media is not affiliated with the SRP]– cited the “Phnom Penh Post” article about the accident involving Hun Chea, Hun Sen’s nephew, in which a motorcycle driver was killed.

According to the “Phnom Penh Post,” the victim’s family would have received $4,000 in exchange for their silence, and the military police supported Hun Chea’s version.

Joel Brinkley’s article also cited Joseph Mussomeli, the US Ambassador to Cambodia, as saying "This goes to the whole culture of impunity here. Who you are, who you know, is more important than following the law.”

Joel Brinkley, who received the Pulitzer prize for reporting overseas in 1980 and publishing several articles on Cambodia, wrote “I have worked in many corrupt states - Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, among others. But in none of them is the corruption so pervasive, even pandemic.”

During the press conference, Khieu Kanharith rejected the information published by the Phnom Penh Post and he indicated that the accident involving Hun Sen’s nephew was “a private affair.”

When asked whether he would ask for an entry ban to Cambodia for Joel Brinkley, Khieu Kanharith answered: “the journalist could return to Cambodia whenever he wishes.”

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

If I were Mr. Joel Brinkley, I will not take the invitation of returning to Cambodia. This invitation is was meant to cause Mr. Joel Brinkley injuries by an auto accident. In Cambodian government, auto accident is the first choice weapon againt their enemies. The second choice is acid, and the third choice is gun.

Anonymous said...

Kheu Kanharith took the defense of the offender Hun Chea, a big brother and a Kleptocrate family member. His father Hun San is a drunk man who use his influence to do business.
It's unbelievable that Kanharith told the reporters that " removing the license plate is normal in Cambodia, because it's wil be easy to sell the car..... " SIC and SICK...
Licking Hun Sen's buttock is Kanharith's job, but he went too far by licking Hun Chea's buttock, a former big brother in a Kleptocrate family.

We must make change in Cambodia. If there 's no changes, our Country will disappear!

Anonymous said...

A kagnarith think that he is smarter than others. He has stupid brain and cookers' fucking pussy.

Anonymous said...

they can explain with any possible excuses and bullshits their brain allow them to. People look at the liives of ordinary people: they worth just a sum of money and the cultprit, high-ranking people like Hun chea or any others have live comfortably under the impunity, lawless system. And of course these people as always live upon the rule of laws with all the fools, dummy so-called intellectuals like Kiev Kagnarith protecting all the time.

Cambodia is hopeless under the rule of these brainless, power-addicted leaders!!!!

Anonymous said...

So killing someone AND drunk driving are "a private affairs"??? I know you read KI-media, Kanharith! Please answer this!!!

Anonymous said...

Mr.. Brinkley,
I am sorry to hear about what Kieu Kanharith said. He is like a child, and I don't know how he got his job as a minister. You can imagine an adult arguing with a child who is just denying everything he face up to. Every Cambodian in the U.S., who has been traveling to Cambodia many times, with their right state of mind knows what has been going on in Cambodia and would agree with you one hundred percents.

Anonymous said...

License plate has been removed after the accident so that the own of the car can't be driven or sell the car (SIC). It is only for ordinary Cambopdians. But

Who, any person in Cambodia Governemnt, dare to stand to not issue anything I said anything what and when HUN Sen family want?

Anonymous said...

This Idiot are not qualify to a minister , a beer drinker yes...why Khmer only have a stupit leaders like this alcoholic ( BLUE KANHnashit)?.....where all the smart and educate khmer ?

Anonymous said...

Hey Hun Sen all your house hold being all idiots I don't really give a fuck about that, but your asshole nephew killing an innocent Khmer citizen this is no "private matter".

What is this shit joker?

Anonymous said...

He's not a beer drinker. He's a white wine (SRA SAR) drunkard at phsar Kap Ko. Everyone at phsar kap ko knows this very well. Cambodian call him " A Pramoek sra Sar"

Anonymous said...

joel brinkley is obviously having something against the current cambodian gov't as he is so blind to only note this about cambodia and unfairly labeling cambodia like this. i wonder has mr. brinkley go around the world to see any other gov't in the world who are more corrupt than cambodia? and he can himself a journalist, maybe an unprofessional one at best. didn't he get his ethical training in journalism? even journalism has ethics to report only the true and not exaggeration like "the most corrupted gov't in the world is cambodia" or whatever. shame on joel brinkley for distorting with his report! and how long has he been in cambodia and does he know cambodia and what we went through in the last couple of decades? i guess he doesn't know much about cambodia for him to blurted his stupid comment like this!!!

Anonymous said...

Thing to know to fight Police Corruption in Cambodia.

According to Chev Hak, Deputy Police Traffice in P.Penh responsed to a call on 08/25/08 at VOA , he sated that:

Any police officier who did not issue a ticket receipt when fining people for traffic violation ,based on Chapter #10 ( Chum Pouk # 10), Article # 72 ( Meatra # 72 ) , he/she must be punished from 1 to 3 years in jail, and receive a fine from 2 to 3 millions riels.

Anonymous said...

To Those Who Are Listening:

This is the quote that came out of Ki Media context and it read as follows:

"During the press conference, Khieu Kanharith
rejected the information published by the Phnom Penh Post and he indicated that the accident involving Hun Sen’s nephew was “a private affair.”

The definition of a "Private Affair". What did Mr. Kanharith meant when he said it is a "Private Affair?" When you are driving in a public road while others are using at the same time, it is not a private matter any longer. When you are changing license plate which requires waiting time and approval from local and provincial governmental agencies they are not a "Private Affair" thus you are involving government matters and if it is involving with your local police which supposedly to "protect and serve" the publics and instead helped you changed your license plate this local officer became involve in "man slaughter" which is already broken the second law known as an "accomplice to a crime" so now you have Mr. Chea and the officer who have helped him escaping the crime scene. This is not a "private affair."

Thank You

ST.

Anonymous said...

Removed the license plate of the car is trying to cover up
trying to blame to someone else.

This is not the first time that Hun Sen families murder innocent
Cambodian.

I believed Mr. Brinkley comment about Cambodia
Government is truths.

The whole world known that Cambodia is the lawless country,
The major corruptions, no freedom to ordinary people and the
poor.

Cambodia government is the brainless people. The government
Systems just like the gangster.

In addition, I would like to tanks to Mr. Brinkley.

Anonymous said...

Khmer deserve to live under this impunity regime. They vote for it, so live with it. Most comments here elevate problem then solution. I have yet seen any race like the Khmer who're aware the vulnerable of its distinction by the Victimization but hesitate to rebel. Angkor ear Khmer were brave warriors; today khmer are pathetic bunch. Keep boasting, that is khmer's legacy. Cambodia will be known as HO's Xmer-the viet slave. What a brainless race.

Anonymous said...

2:02,
If you read the whole story instead of just the topics then you will understand the details. Here's the answers to your stupid questions: Joel Brinkley, who received the Pulitzer prize for reporting overseas in 1980 and publishing several articles on Cambodia, wrote “I have worked in many corrupt states - Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, among others. But in none of them is the corruption so pervasive, even pandemic.”

He wrote what he sees.... is there something wrong with that? He's a journalist, that's what they do.

Anonymous said...

2:59,
I like to correct you on "Accomplice to a crime." Although, the local police did not have the culpable means or knowledge priors to the accident, he can only be charged with "Aiding and abetting."
His only involvement is helping the culprit to destroyed the evidence not committing the crimes.

Anonymous said...

5:19 AM

We aspire to be like the siem just bend over and let the Bhumibol fuck really hard. That's the real life.

Anonymous said...

Article 82 of Cambodia's "Law on Land Traffic" states "those who unintentionally driving and provoking the death accident to others shall be imprisoned from 1 to 3 years and/or fined 2 - 6 million riels".
Article 63 states "traffic offences that are to be punished by putting in jail or by fining in money shall be the duty of the court ... "
Article 67 states "traffic police have to stop and keep the vehicle and prepare documents to be sent for judgement for the driver who committed the traffic offences such as (1) vehicle in traffic accident ..."
According to the law the driver should go to court. Let's hope Khieu Kanharith can assure us equally passionately that this will happen so that we can be reassured that there is no "impunity".
What jurisdiction or responsibility does the Military Police have in traffic accidents ?

Anonymous said...

Ah Khiev Kanharith chea monuss promeuk Sroveung khuob.
Vea niyeay ott deung k'yoll ei té!

Anonymous said...

Parriot(spokeman=Spokegay=P0rte Parole) just talks not Do..
Do you believe him??
and do Thai Allow to build wall...? thais will send troop more to obstacle the works..

See: GPS has brokeb by Thai Army...
More troop to evict more than 140 families to pull out from their own residences...
Strong man Keep quiet and soft...

Hun Chea & other powerful men Traffic Accident case is also similar to Khmerthai Boder case...
Thais study the trend of Cambodia Govt. and will win all situation....
The Parriot said: ".... the main thing is to avoid war..." People do not like war world wide But the War is to protect their own territory is needed... and no regret to sacrifice..." .......
And if NOT war Why not to UN.... "To UN means PEACEFUL MEANS.."
See pictures of fire People's residence by Authority... not different from Thai Behaviour to Cam-Govt....


Achar Knoy, Phd. from Pahok Chamroeurn aVichea Univ. PPenh
and Peace Nobel Prize winner 4000
(By scrificing their own Land to ennemies)

sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.