"My mother wanted us to get a foreign education so we could come back and control the country". Meas Victor Sophearith (above) is one of Cambodian's privileged elite.
Meas Sophea (L) (Photo: AP)
Cambodia's 5-golden-star corruptor-in-chiefs?Monday, 4.1.2010
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.4, #569-571, 1-4.1.2010
“A son of a high ranking military officer of the Cambodian government told a foreign newspaper that corruption in Cambodia occurs at present at every section of the society from top to bottom. An Australian newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald, interviewed a youth whose name is Meas Sophearith, a son of Four-Star-General Meas Sophea, a deputy Commander-In-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and the Commander of the Army of Cambodia, regarding his view about corruption in the Cambodian society.
“According to an article in this newspaper, written by Mr. Andrew Marshall, the young Meas Sophearith, who is studying political science at the University in Alabama in the United States, who has also a place for military studies at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the French military academy, a son of Mr. Meas Sophea, was quoted as criticizing the present corruption in Cambodian society, saying that corruption exists from top to bottom.
“According to the same source, Meas Sophearith described the situation of corruption in the Cambodian society nowadays, saying that most leaders are corrupt.
“Also, a nephew of a most powerful person in Cambodia was quoted, to have said for publication in the paper, that a nephew of a most powerful person in Cambodia owns a most expensive car priced at US$500,000 a Mercedes McLaren SLR.
“Besides the publication about the description of corruption by the young Meas Sophearith, another young man, Ouch Vichet, called Richard, 28, who used to study in New Zealand, spoke in the Australian newspaper about the present show-off culture among the children of the powerful and of the rich in Cambodia.
“The young Vichet was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying that if anybody want that the others pay respect, they have to own luxuries and expensive cars, big diamonds, and expensive mobile phones. This young man added that his parents provided him with a residence of US$500,000 and a rubber plantation of 400 hectares as his inheritance, while his parents-in-law gave him US$100,000 and another residence of US$200,000.
“The abundant wealth of high ranking officials, noticed by foreign observers as well as international journalists, where they compete with each other, showing off their luxury cars worth tens of thousands of dollars, helps to form the stereotypes of rich and high ranking officials of present day Cambodia.
“Mr. Andrew Marshall wrote in that Australian newspaper about Ouch Vichet, who said that people of his parents’ generation always kept money under their mattresses, but the children of the next generation keep money in safes in their houses.
“He said they usually keep a lot of money in safes at home, because they do not trust the banks, believing that if they keep their money in the banks, it will be known how much money their families have.
[...]
“The Tuol Kork area of Phnom Penh is compared to the Beverly Hills area of Hollywood in the United States, where there are, in Phnom Penh, many modern residences of high ranking officials, including of children of the prime minister, surrounded by high and sharp razor wire fencing.
“The same paper wrote that the residence of young Meas Sophearith, a son of General Meas Sophea, is carefully guarded by special forces soldiers.
“The young Meas Sophearith as well as Ouch Vichet, a businessman, who haves relations with the powerful and the rich of the country, are among the three sources that Mr. Andrew Marshall relied on for the article ‘Khmer Riche.’ The third person, Sophy, a child of a Deputy Prime Minister of the government of Mr. Hun Sen, is another source that Mr. Andrew Marshall depended upon to write about the showing off of luxury livelihood of children of high ranking officials and of the rich in Cambodia, while millions of Khmer common citizens live under the poverty line, though hundreds of millions of dollars of aid have been provided each year.
“The young Meas Sophearith told the Australian newspaper that he has a plan to create a foundation to help children of the poor to have a chance to study abroad, like the children of the powerful and of the rich. However, he stressed that they have to wait until their parents grow old.
[...]
“The young Meas Sophearith is not the only person who wants to see changes from what happens at present, but needs to wait until their parents grow old, or people from the old generation retire. Whether he can fulfill his intention to create a foundation to help the poor or not is another problem. [The original source is quoted here.]
[...]
“The account by a son of a high ranking official about corruption, which occurs from top to bottom, and by Mr. Ouch Vichet about how money is normally kept by high ranking officials and by the rich, is another source of information related to the question why the government is very late in adopting an anti-corruption law.
“Corruption is recognized, and the wealth of the high ranking officials and of the rich in Cambodia are kept in the safes at their houses, rather than at local and foreign banks. Therefore, can an anti-corruption law be adopted and can it be efficient to uncover the faces of corrupt officials, or expropriate wealth stolen from the nation, to become money to benefits the nation?”
[...]
“According to an article in this newspaper, written by Mr. Andrew Marshall, the young Meas Sophearith, who is studying political science at the University in Alabama in the United States, who has also a place for military studies at the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, the French military academy, a son of Mr. Meas Sophea, was quoted as criticizing the present corruption in Cambodian society, saying that corruption exists from top to bottom.
“According to the same source, Meas Sophearith described the situation of corruption in the Cambodian society nowadays, saying that most leaders are corrupt.
“Also, a nephew of a most powerful person in Cambodia was quoted, to have said for publication in the paper, that a nephew of a most powerful person in Cambodia owns a most expensive car priced at US$500,000 a Mercedes McLaren SLR.
“Besides the publication about the description of corruption by the young Meas Sophearith, another young man, Ouch Vichet, called Richard, 28, who used to study in New Zealand, spoke in the Australian newspaper about the present show-off culture among the children of the powerful and of the rich in Cambodia.
“The young Vichet was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying that if anybody want that the others pay respect, they have to own luxuries and expensive cars, big diamonds, and expensive mobile phones. This young man added that his parents provided him with a residence of US$500,000 and a rubber plantation of 400 hectares as his inheritance, while his parents-in-law gave him US$100,000 and another residence of US$200,000.
“The abundant wealth of high ranking officials, noticed by foreign observers as well as international journalists, where they compete with each other, showing off their luxury cars worth tens of thousands of dollars, helps to form the stereotypes of rich and high ranking officials of present day Cambodia.
“Mr. Andrew Marshall wrote in that Australian newspaper about Ouch Vichet, who said that people of his parents’ generation always kept money under their mattresses, but the children of the next generation keep money in safes in their houses.
“He said they usually keep a lot of money in safes at home, because they do not trust the banks, believing that if they keep their money in the banks, it will be known how much money their families have.
[...]
“The Tuol Kork area of Phnom Penh is compared to the Beverly Hills area of Hollywood in the United States, where there are, in Phnom Penh, many modern residences of high ranking officials, including of children of the prime minister, surrounded by high and sharp razor wire fencing.
“The same paper wrote that the residence of young Meas Sophearith, a son of General Meas Sophea, is carefully guarded by special forces soldiers.
“The young Meas Sophearith as well as Ouch Vichet, a businessman, who haves relations with the powerful and the rich of the country, are among the three sources that Mr. Andrew Marshall relied on for the article ‘Khmer Riche.’ The third person, Sophy, a child of a Deputy Prime Minister of the government of Mr. Hun Sen, is another source that Mr. Andrew Marshall depended upon to write about the showing off of luxury livelihood of children of high ranking officials and of the rich in Cambodia, while millions of Khmer common citizens live under the poverty line, though hundreds of millions of dollars of aid have been provided each year.
“The young Meas Sophearith told the Australian newspaper that he has a plan to create a foundation to help children of the poor to have a chance to study abroad, like the children of the powerful and of the rich. However, he stressed that they have to wait until their parents grow old.
[...]
“The young Meas Sophearith is not the only person who wants to see changes from what happens at present, but needs to wait until their parents grow old, or people from the old generation retire. Whether he can fulfill his intention to create a foundation to help the poor or not is another problem. [The original source is quoted here.]
[...]
“The account by a son of a high ranking official about corruption, which occurs from top to bottom, and by Mr. Ouch Vichet about how money is normally kept by high ranking officials and by the rich, is another source of information related to the question why the government is very late in adopting an anti-corruption law.
“Corruption is recognized, and the wealth of the high ranking officials and of the rich in Cambodia are kept in the safes at their houses, rather than at local and foreign banks. Therefore, can an anti-corruption law be adopted and can it be efficient to uncover the faces of corrupt officials, or expropriate wealth stolen from the nation, to become money to benefits the nation?”
[...]
28 comments:
Ek O'dumbass Heng Somre and his wife look like Neak Sre Sot Sart...! Ombeng andet, khlok lich...
Yes..Corruption from top to bottom including your father too. I appreciate your openess hope you can use your power to help weed out the crook when time come.
Tell me something new
Meas Sophearith, I really appreciate your courage to reveal the truth of corruption in Cambodian society. I hope you will not follow your father's path. Good Luck, Guy.
looks like a lot of people will lose sleep over the article.
i'm sure hun sen and his lieutenants are not going to be happy with comments mr. meas made
also, his father will be upset
now, the father will have to protect his four-golden stars on his shoulder, because he just about to face the obstacle, thanks to his son.
plus, the nephew of hun sen will come after mr. meas for divuldging the information
good luck, guys.
the time is now.
Although we all new but thanks anyway for being honest.
I don't like the way some old people think of passing on the power to their children. They don't care if the chldren have different interest. Also what if the children are not capable.
This is why our country what it is today. No fair competition. Base on true ability and capability. Sad for people in Cambodia, will never have the opportunity to compete fair and square.
I understand very well, how the people felt about your personality background as the sons of the higher ranking politicians of our country Cambodia. But please keep your brain and mind, because those people did not really knew your situation.
You want to provide and give back to our love country Cambodia in helping to rebuild the Khmer society and of course our country. Your idea are great and I would love very much to assist you, in case you really want to fulfill your dream.
Khmer from Europe
THIS IS THE SHAMEFUL STORY OF A HUN XEN GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF HIS BLINDNESS.
of course his parents and other CPP official don't trust the bank. Because Cambodia bank is own and run by Vietnamese and Thailand.
Both were named Cambodia Bank and Bank of Cambodia. Would you trust Bank of Cambodia too?
You can't have it both way. If you want reliable and secure service you do it yourself within your own country.
Phone from Vietnam and Thai, Electricity from Vietnam, Bank from Vietnam and Thai, road helped built by Thai, Vietnam, and China.
Is there anything in Cambodia made by Cambodia itself? Hun Xen?
Dear 2:25PM,
Please be careful with your tongue as you have just insulted the majority of the poors of being peasants. Individuality is evil or bad but we can not stereotype the entire societal class.
Hun Sen or his family or anyone else in his clique has nothing resemble to true peasants.Peasants live on lesser than $0.50 per day.
Have you seen and talked with any any of peasants of present Cambodia in person yet?
Watch your words here.
Cambodians are Buddhist they don't care about material things or wealth!!
Is that right 9:35PM that Cambodian buddhist did not care about material things or wealth?
Can you explain your point? I see different way.
Effort has been made by the corrupted parents to protect their wealth. They sent their children to study and come back to control the control.
To make change,it depends on people of Cambodia and children of the corrupted officers see the necessity of change.
Youn is wearing Khmer's uniform in all departments. Police officer and Military.
This guy is YOUN with darker skin. He has been tanning everyday in Ho Chi Minh city.
2:25 PM and 9:05PM.
Samrae are humans too. By the way, Heng Sam Rin is Sino-Khmer and his wife is Vietnamese. Just because his skin is dark does not mean he is Khmer-Morn.
our luck will depend on people like Sophearith,
Whether he's true to his promise or not, at least he has this generosity idea in his head, and for that I compliment you, Sophearith,
Khmer Texas
According to the same source, Meas Sophearith described the situation of corruption in the Cambodian society nowadays, saying that most leaders are corrupt.
At lease we should have the laws1
But the government of Ah Kwack Hun Xen is creating a systermatic corruption in the country! No one can survive in Cambodia with out corruption firstday at school you have to handed ilegal pay to the teacher!
You may need to bride the hospital to pull your legs uot from your mother!
Your mother is right.
You should go to western country, study and come back to replace your father.
Your father is Yuon slave.
You are Khmer, you must not work for Yuons like your father.
Vietname is swalloing Cambodia, you must help Cambodia.
We count on you.
sometimes, they try to corrupt the kids too, but some kids are better educated to see and understand the world better than their parents, so they may speak out or be different from their parents which is good for the future, i think. that said, this kind of situation is not immuned only to new era of cambodia, it was like this even going before the civil war or before the stupid KR regime took over. i'm sure many young khmer people don't want to be like their old-fashioned parents, especially if they are worldly educated, really! good for them!
Meas sophearith, were you drunk? Or you have just woken up? Come on man, it is suck to your father, u know. Truth's that...! And it is good. I appreciate that but only corruption I think is not enough, if you really wake up, would you mind to criticize on GUN? I go to interview you in person, if I am brave enough! :-P
Come on guys. This dude has just publicly outed his father, admitted to the sytematic corruption that goes on here in Cambodia, AND even went as far as to snitch to a reporter about Hun Toh's $500,000 McLarren Mercedes SLR.
If he's lucky, Hun Toh won't kill him, but he's certainly thrown away his social life and possibly jeopardized his father career, all so that he can give an HONEST account of what's going on in Cambodia.
All this, yet some of you still insult him, cuss his father, and talk as if he's "one of them". Give the guy a break.
Mr. Marshall should go an visit and keep track of the properties Hun Sen hold under his name of under someone else, but still belong to him...it will blow them to bits.
Also check out i heard Hun Sen have a massive safe in every rooms of his house include toilets...
Some like Sok An he have his own banks and he get to make interests of those corrupt or stolen national $$$,$$$,$$$,$$$ but lending it to the poor of Cambodia.
Same with Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Sok Kong many many more....
How can anyone on Government salary able to drive half a Millions US $ car? and that is only one of their car..
I hope all the educations that you've learned from overseas will help you distance yourself from those corruptive ones. You better use that knowledge to help the Cambodian people and the country. Don't forget to evict the Youn out of Khmer land. We don't need them in our soil.
Nice to hear that but I hope it is truth as what he said, or else it maybe just a trick he want the rest to make us believe he is this caring of the country. As I know so far, he was one of the problem rich gang kid that always use his gun to warn other hit n almost kill them,....race car.....ah a lot of stuff that those gang do, he did too. Save what your said man, don't just fake!!
O Please cut the crap out! He want to help the poor but claim that he cannot do that now? geez, he can do that anytime, go out and give money to ngo, form your own group and help, etc! They don't need to wait until the old generation die, is like saying if I am rich I will do this, do that, well when?! when will the action start? If you have a dream and want to do it, GO FOR IT!! if everyone have that mentality of thinking then the world wouldn't move forward. Look at those nonprofit, NGOs, they see the flaw, they take the actions! They have more than enough to donate to their own people, come on! You want to clean your parents act then start now. while your parents might be the one doing corruption, the children can clean it out by being a good citizen to the country, helping out the poor, use their education to good use, many things they can do now instead of just sit and wait. Prove your action right now for us to see!!
Pouch ah jou ma seath! pouch ah jou louk jeath eang! die die die mother fucker!
I'd appreciate his braveness to reveal this, but what's the point? it is what everybody know already. Although he's not one of those corrupt people but he is one among the guy spending the corrupted money. It looks like he is showing that he is a nation lover, but I think he is more materialistic. Ask him what has he help the poor or the country so far for this over 20years of his life? It must be not, but if you ask how many cars has he own, every expensive things that he love to have? The answer is uncountable. Do you think he can walk away from his father path while he, himself already become materialistic or money-lover?
For all those who thinks that all high ranking people in Cambodia corrupt you guys are very shameful. You don't know how hard all these high ranking people work each day to protect the country from war. They spend more time to work to protect you all and decide to not spend time with their family and this is what you give them back in return. Let say do you have any proof of his father corrupting Cambodian Citizens? If you don't just shut your mouth because it might bring you to deep trouble. You can't just judge his father or accused him of corrupting the country if he is a somebody in society. It is very shameful on how you guys thinks and just assume it that way. You know why they are living happily? because all those rumours you guys have said about his father isn't true so that's why he doesn't have to care of what you guys are saying because everybody in society knows whether he corrupt or not. And saying that to not let him walk the same path as his dad just make sure that you teach yourself and your kids to not be all those. and before judging someone look at yourself and see whether you are better than them or not, and how would you feel if someone just judge you out of the blue because that is what they think of you without have any prove of you being like what they have judge you. This is very shameful and I am so disappointed on how you guys just go around judging people background.
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