Bodyguard who shot American surrenders

Monday, 23 January 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

The bodyguard of a high-ranking military official was sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday after he allegedly shot an American man on Saturday while escorting his superior.

Capital police chief Chuon Narin identified the bodyguard as 30-year-old Kheng Sarath, who surrendered himself to authorities on Saturday. However, the name of the high-ranking military official, who works at the Ministry of National Defence, remains unknown.

“Kheng Sarath turned himself in to the police after he shot a foreigner,” the police chief said.

He said the suspect was with his superior, driving down Norodom Boulevard at about 1:30am on Saturday morning, when the 24-year-old victim was crossing the street. The victim, who the police chief claimed was drunk, allegedly struck their vehicle with a stick.

Baby Doc Hun to protect Papa Hun for dynasty preservation

Papa Hun (L) is grooming Baby Doc Hun (R)

Hun Sen's eldest son appointed Deputy Commander of Mr. Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit

Monday, 27 September 2010
By Khmerization
Source: DAP News

Deum Ampil online has just reported that Hun Manet, Prime Minister Hun Sen's eldest son, has just been appointed Deputy Commander of his father's Bodyguard Unit.

According to Deum Ampil, the announcement of the appointment was made by Gen. Hing Bunheang, Commander of Mr. Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit, this afternoon.

Hun Manet, who is Prime Minister Hun Sen's favourite son, graduated from the prestigious West Point Military Academy in the U.S, holds a masters degree from Georgetown University in the U.S and holds a Ph.D from the UK's Bristol University.

Recently, Prime Minister Hun Sen seems to be positioning himself for a political succession as his two sons and son-in-law have been seen appearing in public frequently, including doing humanitarian works and visiting troops along the borders.

Political Cartoon: Convalescence, Hun Xen

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Hun Sen Makes Surprise Announcement He No Longer Needs His 2,000 Bodyguards

Hun Sen Announces He No Longer Needs Bodyguards

24 Apr 07
By Srei Ka
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and Posted online

It was a most stunning utterance when strongman Hun Sen, who usually moves around with an escort of thousands of bodyguards, suddenly said on Monday, 23 April, that he no longer wanted these bodyguards.

Addressing a school inauguration ceremony in Russei Kev district, Phnom Penh, Hun Sen publicly declared a bit tersely that he no longer needed these bodyguards. Hun Sen claimed that now Cambodia is at peace and has stability; therefore, he no longer needs bodyguards to protect him.

Hun Sen noted that in 1998 when the country was not yet pacified bodyguards of the big shots were so numerous that they packed noodle shops whenever their bosses went there. Hun Sen then pointed at the bodyguards posted in front of him when he was making that speech.

Normally, there are only three bodyguards posted in front of Hun Sen whenever he makes a public speech, but yesterday the Hun Sen bodyguard commander placed as many as six bodyguards in front of Hun Sen, causing participants to be rather surprised because they thought some unusual situation took place requiring an abnormally large presence of bodyguards ready to protect Hun Sen.

It was probably because Hun Sen was displeased with this bodyguard arrangement that he pointed out the anomaly, saying that maybe there was a new style to have six bodyguards standing in front of him instead of the usual three. Hun Sen claimed that he had never seen this type of arrangement before. This was the first time, he said, adding that he did not need it. Hun Sen said that if there were any enemy sniper at all, the bullets would be fired at him, not at the bodyguards who would never use their bodies to shield him. More likely, these bodyguards might even run away faster than him. Hun Sen claimed that from now on, whenever he meets with the people there must be no bodyguards to be seen, for the country is now at peace.

It is not known whether this announcement by Hun Sen that he no longer needs the presence of bodyguards means the dissolution of the corps of his bodyguards and their re-integration into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces or he only does not need the bodyguards during his field trips. This is because there are about 2,000 Hun Sen's personal bodyguards at the Tuol Krasang barracks, also known as the Tiger's Lair.

Hun Sen's personal forces cost twice as much as any other unit, for each bodyguard gets paid the same wage as an ordinary soldier but enjoys an additional $20 monthly bonus; their daily ration is also special, for these bodyguards eat much better than the soldiers in ordinary military units.

In each of Hun Sen's field trip, especially a trip to remote provinces, some $2,000 must be spent on the bodyguards, including foods and per diem with each receiving from 10,000 to 20,000 riel [$2.5 to $5] according to their assignments. There are three levels of bodyguards who protect Hun Sen, with the first team staying around or next to him. The late former Japanese Prime Minister Keiso Obuchi and former US President Bill Clinton used to appeal to Hun Sen to dissolve his personal bodyguards so that Cambodia's forces could be neutral, but Hun Sen did not heed their call.

Now what is stunning is that Hun Sen has announced that he no longer needs his bodyguards. Regarding this announcement, however, it is not yet clear whether he just does not want to be escorted by his bodyguards during his travels or he wants to sack all the bodyguards from his barracks because they are quite expensive to keep. Some artists are also listed among the Hun Sen bodyguards, especially the comedians, each of whom has been given very high rank. To our knowledge, there are some 100 generals among Hun Sen's bodyguards.

According to a source at Tuol Krasang, Hun Sen yesterday was angry with Huy Pisith, who made that strange arrangement, leading him to announce that he no longer needed the service of the bodyguards. Also yesterday, neither Huy Pisith nor Hing Bun-hieng [bodyguard commanders] could be reached for comment.