Showing posts with label CPP internal conflict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CPP internal conflict. Show all posts

Friday, February 17, 2012

10-year jail sentence for Chea Xim's former bodyguard commander: Peal Xen Si Peal Xim

អតីត​មេបញ្ជាការ​កង​អង្គរក្ស​របស់​លោក ជា ស៊ីម លោក ឈឿន ចាន់ថន ផ្ដល់​បទសម្ភាសន៍​នា​សាលា​ដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៦ ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២។ (RFA/Sok Serey)
Chea Xim's former bodyguard commander gave an interview in court on 16 February 2012 (Photo: Sok Serey/RFA)

តុលាការ​កាត់​ទោស​អតីត​មេបញ្ជាការ​អង្គរក្ស​លោក ជា ស៊ីម ឲ្យ​ជាប់​គុក​១០​ឆ្នាំ

2012-02-16
ដោយ សុខ សេរី
Radio Free Asia

Summary: On 16 February 2012, the Phnom Penh municipal court sentenced Chhoeun Chanthan, the former commander of Chea Xim’s bodyguard unit, to 10-year of jail time on multiple charges. He was also fined by 2.5 million riels ($1,250). He was charged with illegal arm possession and issuing illegal arm licenses. Puth Theavy, Chhoeun Chanthan’s defense lawyer, said: “First of all, as a bodyguard commander for a top leader, he was sentenced to 10 years of jail time just because he has at home 4 or 5 guns left over from his mission and he did not store them at his base. As for the false documents, there is no proof to charge my client. In summary, I cannot accept the sentence of my client’s crimes.”

សាលា​ដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៦ ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ បាន​កាត់​ទោស​អតីត​មេបញ្ជាការ​កង​អង្គរក្ស​របស់​លោក ជា ស៊ីម ប្រធាន​ព្រឹទ្ធ​សភា និង​ជា​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា គឺ​លោក ឈឿន ចាន់ថន ឲ្យ​ជាប់​គុក​រយៈពេល ១០​ឆ្នាំ ក្រោម​បទ​ល្មើស​ព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ​ជា​ច្រើន​ករណី។

ចៅក្រម​ប្រឹក្សា​នៃ​សាលា​ដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ លោក កែវ មុន្នី នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៦ ខែ​កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ បាន​ប្រកាស​សាលក្រម​ចំពោះ​មុខ​លោក ឈឿន ចាន់ថន ដោយ​បាន​ផ្ដន្ទាទោស​ឲ្យ​ជាប់​គុក​រយៈពេល ១០​ឆ្នាំ និង​ផាក​ពិន័យ​ចំនួន ៥​លាន​រៀល ស្មើ​នឹង ១.២៥០​ដុល្លារ​អាមេរិក ចូល​ថវិកា​រដ្ឋ ក្រោម​បទ​ចោទ​ថា បាន​កាន់កាប់​អាវុធ​ខុស​ច្បាប់ និង​ចេញ​ប័ណ្ណ​ឲ្យ​កាន់កាប់​អាវុធ​ខុស​ច្បាប់។

លោក កែវ មុន្នី បាន​ប្រកាស​រឹប​អូស​អាវុធ និង​គ្រាប់​រំសេវ​ជា​ច្រើន​ពី​លោក ឈឿន ចាន់ថន ដើម្បី​រក្សា​ទុក​ក្នុង​បន្ទាយ​អង្គរក្ស​របស់​លោក ជា ស៊ីម វិញ។ ការ​ផ្ដន្ទាទោស​នោះ គឺ​ផ្អែក​តាម​មាត្រា​ទី​២០ និង​មាត្រា​ទី​២២ នៃ​ច្បាប់​ស្ដីពី​ការ​គ្រប់គ្រង​អាវុធ​គ្រឿង​ផ្ទុះ និង​គ្រាប់​រំសេវ និង​មាត្រា​ទី ៦២៩ និង​មាត្រា​ទី ៦៣០ នៃ​ក្រមព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ។

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Hun Xen is preparing for an eventual replacement of Chea Xim at the Senate by one of his three sycophants?

បក្សកាន់អំណាច បង្ហាញមុខបេក្ខជន បម្រុងស្ថាប័ន ព្រឹទ្ធសភា សម្រាប់នីតីកាលទី៣

Friday, 30 December 2011
ដោយៈ អេង គឹមជាង
DAP-New

Synopsis: The CPP have shown 3 reserved candidates for the top position for the third mandate of the Senate. During a speech given at a diploma distribution ceremony in Svay Rieng which is part of Senate zone 6, Hun Xen showed the three reserved candidates for this zone, they are: Men Xam An, Bin Chhin and Im Chhun Lim. “Don’t forget, if you see Men Xam An and Bin Chhin standing here for replacement and for reserve, I am telling you right now, their reserve classification is not just to make them a simple senator, but to make them at least vice-president of the Senate,” Hun Xen said. Hun Xen also indicated that Im Chhun Lim’s name is also part of this list. He added: “Why is a vice-prime minister [KI-Media note: Of the 3 reserved candidates, Men Xam An is currently vice-prime minister] candidate to the Senate seat? I want the election body to understand the party which must be prepared for all events just in case an unforeseen situation is taking place, we can resolve it also.”
"យួនត្រៀម ធីប អាសាម៉ែវៀតមិញ ដែលទុក មិនចំណេញ ដកចេញមិនខាត ឈឺ-ស៊ីម និងដាក់ ម៉ែន-សំអុយ ជាប្រមុខរដ្ន ស្តីទីវិញ (អាសាម៉ែ វៀតមិញ ងាប់ហើយ- ជ័យោយួនមិញ របស់អា សាន់ញ៉ា មីស្រី លើកជើង)" - អ្នកអានអនាមិក
ភ្នំពេញៈ គណបក្សកាន់អំណាច បាន បង្ហាញមុខ ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំស្ថាប័ន ព្រឹទ្ធសភា សម្រាប់នីតិកាលទី៣ នាអាណត្តិថ្មី ដែល បាន ត្រៀមបម្រុង បេក្ខជនចំនួន ៣ នាក់ សម្រាប់ មុខតំណែង ស្ថាប័នកំពូលរយៈពេល ៦ឆ្នាំ នៅភូមិភាគទី៦ ដែលនឹងត្រូវបោះ ឆ្នោតថ្ងៃ ទី២៩ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ ខាងមុខនេះ។

សម្តេចតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន មានប្រសាសន៍ ក្នុងឱកាសចែកសញ្ញាបត្រ ដល់និស្សិត នៅ សកល វិទ្យាល័យ ខេត្តស្វាយរៀង ដែល ជាមណ្ឌលភូមិភាគ ៦ មានព្រៃវែង និង ស្វាយរៀង សម្រាប់ បោះឆ្នោត ព្រឹទ្ធសភា នៅថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ ២០១១ថា ឱកាសពេល នេះ ក៏សូមបង្ហាញមុខ សមាជិកព្រឹទ្ធសភា សម្រាប់ភូមិភាគទី ៦ ដែលជាសមាជិកបម្រុង មានលោកស្រី ម៉ែន សំអន លោក ប៊ិន ឈិន និងលោក អ៊ឹម ឈុនលឹម «កុំភ្លេចថា តិចឃើញ ម៉ែន សំអន និងប៊ិន ឈិន ថា មកឈរ នៅហ្នឹង ដើម្បីផ្លាស់ ហើយបម្រុង ហ្នឹង សូមនិយាយឲ្យហើយ បម្រុងថ្នាក់ប៉ុណ្ណឹង មិនមែនត្រៀមទៅធ្វើសមាជិក ព្រឹទ្ធសភាទេ យ៉ាងហោចបំផុត ក៏អនុប្រធានដែរ »។

Friday, November 18, 2011

Ex-Chea Sim adviser back on witness stand

Ponlok Ho (centre) is escorted into the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. Photo by: Hong Menea

Friday, 18 November 2011
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Pornlok Ho, a former adviser to Senate President Chea Sim, whose office has become embroiled in a corruption scandal that has led to corruption cases against five of his former staff members, faced further questioning at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

Pornlok Ho’s defence lawyer, Thong Chan Rithy, said yesterday his client had been asked by investigating judge Chaing Sinath to submit documents and evidence related to fraud accusations against him.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Chhoeun Chanthan

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

Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

Chhoeun Chanthan, Senate President Chea Sim’s former chief bodyguard, was charged with four criminal offences yesterday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and then sent to detention at the military court for possible questioning on a different offence.

Top bodyguard faces 25 years in jail [- Peal Si Peal saga continues]

Chhoeun Chanthan, former head bodyguard for Chea Sim, arrives at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday. (Photo by: Pha Lina)

Wednesday, 17 August 2011
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

Chhoeun Chanthan, Senate President Chea Sim’s former chief bodyguard, was charged with four criminal offences yesterday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and then sent to detention at the military court for possible questioning on a different offence.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Sem Sakola questioned Chhoeun Chanthan for about four hours yesterday in relation to allegedly forged documents and the illegal possession of weapons.

Meas Chanpiseth, deputy prosecutor at the court, told journalists outside the courtroom that Chhoeun Chanthan had been charged with four criminal offences after two days of questioning: illegal possession of weapons, illegally issuing weapon licences, forging public documents and using forged public documents. If convicted on all four counts, Chhoeun Chanthan could face up to 25 years in prison and more than US$5,000 in fines.

Chhoeun Chanthan’s defence attorney Hol Sina declined to comment on the case yesterday.

Three-star general Yim Leang, who was named in a Royal decree as Chea Sim’s new bodyguard unit chief within hours of a military police raid on Chhoeun Chanthan’s Phnom Penh villa on Saturday, is a plaintiff in the case.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Peal Si Peal: Hun Xen surrounds Chea Xim with pro-Hun Xen men

Chhoeun Chanthan (centre), former head bodyguard for senate president Chea Sim, arrives at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. (Photo by: Pha Lina)
‘Special case’ of top bodyguard

Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

Three members of Senate President Chea Sim’s bodyguard unit who were arrested on Saturday have been released, while their chief, Chhoeun Chanthan, was questioned for six hours at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

Chhoeun Chanthan, who was removed from his post by royal decree on Saturday, shortly after a morning raid by military police on his Phnom Penh villa, is expected to return to the court for further questioning today.

Kheng Tito, national military police spokesman, said yesterday that the three other bodyguards – Pak Sier, Chum Sros, and Pov Meunchan – had “no involvement” with the alleged offences committed by their chief. The three had been living in Chhoeun Chanthan’s house.

Only Chhoeun Chanthan has been sent to the court on charges of illegal use of weapons, and the three other bodyguards were released on Sunday,” he said.

While no official charges have been brought against Chhoeun Chanthan yet, Kheng Tito, who repeatedly referred to the case as “special”, said that Choeun Chanthan was questioned on three possible offences: illegal possession of weapons, the use of illegal gun licences and forged documents.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Peal See Peal (Thugs pounding on the thugs): Chea Xim's former bodyguard chief arrested by Hun Xen's cops



Synopsis: 3-golden stars general Chhoeun Chan Thorn (aka Mao), the former chief of Chea Xim's bodyguard unit was arrested on Saturday 13 August 2011. He is suspected of involvement in drug dealing (just like Moek Dara, the other general belonging to the Sar Kheng clan)or he could involved be a large cache of ammunition.



http://www.box.net/shared/dkki93k62xn855hy1g1b

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Potemkin graft crackdown in Cambodia: Pre-electoral window-dressing operation and instrument to eliminate rivals

Pre-electoral window-dressing operation and instrument to eliminate rivals

By Khmer Observer

Sereyvuth Chan, a former prosecutor at the Pursat provincial court, was arrested and tried for corruption. The arrest of such a high ranking personality is a first breaking new since the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Law on March 11, 2010

But the question is how far Hun Sen is willing to go in implementing this law? In other words, the application of this law, in this present case, would not it be both an instrument for eliminating undesirable elements and internal purge, and an operation of pre-electoral window-dressing operation to woo voters for the elections in 2012?

[KI-Media Note: Potemkin villages or Potyomkin villages (Russian: Потёмкинские деревни) is an idiom based on a historical myth. According to the myth, there were fake settlements purportedly erected at the direction of Russian minister Grigory Potyomkin to fool Empress Catherine II during her visit to Crimea in 1787. According to this story, Potyomkin, who led the Crimean military campaign, had hollow facades of villages constructed along the desolate banks of the Dnieper River in order to impress the monarch and her travel party with the value of her new conquests, thus enhancing his standing in the empress's eyes]
-----------
Potemkin graft crackdown in Cambodia

Jun 11, 2011
By Sebastian Strangio
Asia Times
Carl Thayer, a professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Sydney, said the CPP has long been plagued by factional divisions, including between a group loyal to Hun Sen and another linked to aging CPP President and Senate President Chea Sim. He said that until recently the two factions had reached a stable modus vivendi, but since the defeat of its long-time royalist foe Funcinpec in the 2008 national election, the CPP has begun to rearrange itself along factional fault lines.
PHNOM PENH - On the morning of May 12, Cambodia's local newspapers ran photos of a bedraggled figure being escorted from a small courthouse. The man, who wore a crumpled green shirt and clutched a water bottle as he leant on the shoulder of a security guard, was Top Chan Sereyvuth, a former prosecutor at the Pursat provincial court in the country's west.

During his trial, it was alleged he had ordered subordinates to extort money from a man found transporting wood through his province - just one in a long line of corrupt dealings. On May 11, judges at the court found him guilty on corruption charges and handed him a 19-year jail term. Two of his bodyguards were also sent down for 15 and 16 years respectively.

The Cambodian government welcomed Sereyvuth's conviction as the first high-profile case to be brought by its new Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), formed last year following the passage of long-awaited anti-graft legislation. While observers were initially divided about the government's commitment to fighting corruption, the ACU has so far netted some big fish.

In January, Sereyvuth was joined in custody by Moek Dara, secretary general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), and Hun Hean, the police chief of Banteay Meanchey province in northwest Cambodia . Observers began to speak of a coordinated crackdown.

"Our government has made a strong effort to crack down on all bad activity," said Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers. "Everyone has to be behind one regulation together, no matter the color of their party, no matter what their position." Moek Dara is accused of leading a ring of corrupt officials involved in extortion and drug trafficking. Hun Hean and his deputy Chhieng Son are also being held on drug charges.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Former anti-drugs chief in Cambodia accused of taking part in trade [-CPP Peal See CPP Peal!]

Moek Dara in white shirt (front row) (Photo: CEN)
Jan 24, 2011
DPA
'The government has taken a hot measure, including the crackdown against high-ranking officials up to the rank of three-star general' - Hun Sen [KI-Media note: Four-star generals and above are above the law?]
Phnom Penh - The former head of Cambodia's anti-drugs department who was arrested this month faces a life sentence after the government accused him of masterminding a drugs-selling ring from his office, local media reported Monday.

General Mok Dara was arrested shortly after a number of other senior officials were held on suspicion of corruption and drugs offences.

'They used the anti-drug department as a network for selling drugs,' Om Yentieng, the head of the government's Anti-Corruption Unit, told The Phnom Penh Post newspaper, accusing Mok Dara and a number of other officials currently facing trial.

'Under the new penal code, a person who sells drugs will be sentenced to life in prison,' Om Yentieng was quoted as saying.

He said Mok Dara was arrested after a recent case in which he confiscated 2 kilogrammes of heroin. Om Yentieng alleged that the drugs chief declared only 1 kilogramme to the court and kept the remainder at his office along with thousands of methamphetamine tablets.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Corruption Charges Leveled at Detained Police, Officials [-Purge of Sar Kheng's clan?]

Hun Hean, former police chief of Banteay Meanchey province. (Photo: by Heng Reaksmey)
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 17 January 2011
Hun Hean is the former chief bodyguard for Interior Minister Sar Kheng, and Moek Dara is the former police chief of Battambang province, where Sar Kheng enjoys much political support.
Banteay Meanchey provincial court on Monday charged four senior police officials with corruption in relation to drug trafficking, following a spate of arrests over the last week.

The charges were handed down to Hun Hean, former police chief of the province; his deputy, Chheang Son ; Moek Dara, former secretary-general for the National Authority for Combatting Drugs; and Chea Leng, former head of the Ministry of Interior's counter-drug department.

All four, who were removed from their posts before they were arrested in questioning by authorities last week, had been the targets of an Anti-Corruption Unit investigation.

“Now we've charged them with taking bribes in relation to a drug trafficking case,” Ton Sihak Teches, prosecutor for the Bantey Meanchey provincial court, told VOA Khmer.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

DAP rumor mills: Ke Kim Yan to be nominated as vice-PM in charge of drug trafficking(?)

Amicable solution found between Ke Kim Yan (L) and Hun Sen (R)? (Photo: AP)

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
By DAP News
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

According to a reliable source, Daeum Ampil news learnt on Tuesday that General Ke Kim Yan will be nominated as vice-prime minister in charge of drug trafficking [KI-Media: maybe DAP meant “in charge of anti-drug trafficking”?].

The same source indicated that the National Assembly could convene a plenary session this week (it could be on Thursday) to vote to provide its confidence in this nomination.

General Ke Kim Yan was the former RCAF chief of staff, he was sacked from his position in 22 January 2009.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Party factionalism looms behind Ke Kim Yan sacking: observers [-Saga of the CPP Dog eat dog world continues]

Kun Kim standing next to Hun Sen: Will he be the next loyalist to Hun Sen to take over Pol Saroeun? Stay tuned for the CPP dog eat dog world saga...

Thursday, 19 February 2009
Written by SEBASTIAN STRANGIO and THET SAMBATH The Phnom Penh Post
Court denies KE KIM YAN land investigations
STUNG Treng provincial court says it is yet to receive requests to open investigations into land owned by General Ke Kim Yan, despite unconfirmed reports the former army chief owns thousands of hectares in the province. A leaked report from a January 29 meeting of the Council of Ministers revealed Ke Kim Yan had been removed from his post in part for “using his military position to profit from land deals”, recommending he be investigated for land investments in Phnom Penh, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear. But police and court officials denied local media reports that they had been ordered to launch inquiries. “I am surprised to hear your question that officials and courts in the province are working to investigate land deals involving Ke Kim Yan,” said court director Sor Savuth. “I did not get any requests… to investigate this case.” Ke Kim Yan is listed as an advisor on the website of YLP Group Co Ltd, which is developing the Grand Phnom Penh International City satellite as a joint venture with Indonesian firm Ciputra. YLP Group, headed by Ke Kim Yan’s wife Mao Malay, also has planned developments in Preah Sihanouk and Kandal provinces.
THET SAMBATH AND HOR HAB
Analysts say allegations the deposed army chief was involved in shady land deals are being used to whitewash a purge of the military in line with decades-old internal party disputes

OVERWHELMING success in last year's national election set the stage for a reopening of long-standing factional disputes in the ruling Cambodian People's Party, culminating in the removal of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander-in-Chief General Ke Kim Yan last month, according to some political observers.

According to a leaked document from a January 29 meeting of the Council of Ministers, Ke Kim Yan's removal - which also saw the sacking of military police Deputy Commander General Chhin Chanpor - was "due to reforms in the military based on job performances" and "due to him using his military position to profit from land deals".

But political analysts and military sources say such pretexts are being used to paper over significant power shifts in the ruling party.

"None of these explanations can be taken at face value," said Carlyle A Thayer, a political science professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Sydney.

"The government says Ke Kim Yan's removal was a normal reshuffle, but this is belied by allegations he was involved in shady land deals and was not effective in support of [RCAF] troops during the border dispute with Thailand."

Cold War rivalries

Thayer said that internal disputes within the CPP - pitting one group loyal to Hun Sen against another loyal to party President Chea Sim - have plagued the party on and off for years, but that until recently the two factions had reached a stable modus vivendi.

However, with the defeat of its long-time foe Funcinpec at last year's national election, the party has begun to rearrange itself along the predominant factional fault lines.

"Hun Sen is set for another five years. He faces the problem of what to do with so many CPP deputies who have time on their hands, [which is] fertile ground for a revival of intense factionalism within the CPP," he said.

In the run-up to July's elections, historian David Chandler told the Post that an overwhelming victory of the CPP would be a double-edged sword for the ruling party, since it would "no longer [have] to look over its shoulder at opponents", and could be beset by "over-confidence".

Koul Panha, executive director of election monitor Comfrel, said it was possible that increased power had triggered fresh internal disputes but that it was "too early to say" how success would affect the CPP.
"FOR THE MOMENT, GENERAL POL SAROEUN IS HUN SEN’s STALKING HORSE, [but] GENERAL KUN KIM COULD PROVE TOMORROW’S MAN."
But the trigger for the shake-up, according to Thayer, was the death of National Police chief Hok Lundy in a helicopter crash in November, which destabilised the status quo by diluting the power of the police force - a long-time bastion of support for Hun Sen.

"Hok Lundy's death removed one of Hun Sen's staunch loyalists. His passing means that the police may not be as strong a counterfoil to the military as it once was," he said.

"In this context, Hun Sen's move to capture the leadership of the military may be seen as an effort to gain control of another base of power within the political system."

Meanwhile, other observers said the emphasis on Ke Kim Yan's alleged land dealings was merely a way of detracting from the political motivations behind his removal.

Jacques Bakaert, a Belgian journalist who covered Cambodia during the 1990s, said the timing of the removal was a chance for the prime minister's faction to reassert control over the armed forces - previously dominated by Chea Sim loyalists - and that land was merely being used as an excuse.

"It was probably convenient, given the accusations against him, to get rid of him now when there are continuous questions about land grabbing," he said.

One RCAF general, who fought with the anti-Pol Pot resistance in the late 1970s but declined to give his name, told the Post that the removal of Ke Kim Yan for owning land was hypocritical, since "many" military commanders and government officials were involved in the land business.

"It is not right to accuse him alone of being involved in the land business. They have legal and illegal land ... [so] why are they still at the top?" the source said.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann agreed, saying that there were many - especially those "loyal to high-ranking officials" - who could potentially be charged with similar offences.

"This is an internal conflict in the CPP. When they are not happy with somebody in the party, they always accuse them of doing the wrong thing," he said. "The law should apply to everybody, not only those who oppose the ruling party."

Ke Kim Yan declined to comment when contacted Monday. Government officials, however, have consistently played down talks that the CPP is beset by factionalism.

Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs February 6, Prime Minister Hun Sen denied opposition claims of a split in the CPP, saying that "it is the right of the premier to manage and control the military, police and other public administration".

Bun Seng, RCAF commander of Military Region 5, also told the Post that it was not up to him to judge the reasons behind Ke Kim Yan's removal.

"Right or wrong is up to the top leaders to decide," he said.

Purging the military
What is certain, however, is that the replacement of Ke Kim Yan and the appointment of seven new deputy commanders-in-chief, has consolidated the prime minister's control over the upper echelons of the armed forces.

General Pol Saroeun, the new army head, has been a staunch Hun Sen loyalist since he took part in the eastern zone-led revolt against Pol Pot in 1978.

In the mid-1980s, he was appointed party secretary of Takeo Province, where he became an early supporter of Hun Sen's economic reforms and supported the removal of Heng Samrin as party leader.

The other new appointees - including Generals Chea Dara, Mol Roeup, Meas Sophea, Hing Bun Heang, Kun Kim, Ung Samkhan and Sao Sokha - are also known for their loyalty to Hun Sen.

Kun Kim in particular has long stood in the wings, acting in Ke Kim Yan's absence and carrying out personal orders from the premier.

A Phnom Penh source who declined to be named said that the conflicts between Ke Kim Yan and the prime minister began in 1997, during that year's fighting between army factions loyal to the CPP and Funcinpec.

"At that time Hun Sen wanted to use the national military to [fight] Funcinpec, but Ke Kim Yan refused. He didn't think it was the right thing to do," said the source, adding that Ke Kim Yan was "marked" from that point on by his refusal to toe Hun Sen's line.

Kun Kim, on the other hand, played an active role in the suppression of the royalists.

Subsequently, when the prime minister appointed Kun Kim to the RCAF general staff in 1999, observers cast it as a move by the prime minister to tighten his grip on the army, and in an October 2005 speech, Hun Sen pledged to replace Ke Kim Yan with Kun Kim if he did not follow orders to repress a future coup attempt.

"I have been patient for too long.... The armed forces are in my hands," the premier said.

"If Ke Kim Yan does not do it, I will use Kun Kim. Ke Kim Yan has to do it. If not he will be removed."

But Thayer said that the military leadership had not been definitively settled and that more upheavals could yet be in store.

"For the moment General Pol Saroeun is Hun Sen's stalking horse, [but] General Kun Kim could prove tomorrow's man," he said. But he added that the appointment of Meas Sophea, another Hun Sen loyalist, indicates that the PM is "keeping his options open".

"Both men will have to demonstrate their continued loyalty to Hun Sen," he said.

In the meantime, RCAF sources say the removal of Ke Kim Yan - a genuinely popular figure amongst soldiers - was still rippling through the military, where many former colleagues feared removal from their own posts.

"We are sorry for him because we have fought together since the 1980s," the anonymous general said.

"Most of the soldiers today still support Ke Kim Yan in their hearts. But what can we do for him? No one dares to comment about him because they are worried of removal and demotion. One was our commander and one is still our prime minister, so we all have to shut up."

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Peal Si Peal ("Dog eat dog"): Ke Kim Yan under arrest?


15th February, 2009
By San Suwit
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A senior official from the Defence Ministry and the Council of Ministers have denied rumours that Gen. Ke Kimyan, the ex-Commander-in-Chief who was sacked on 22nd January 2009, has been detained at the headquarter of the Military Police on the weekend.

Gen. Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, denied the rumours when interviewed by Radio Free Asia. He said: “Don’t believe these sorts of rumours…There is no arrest or charge against anyone. None at all.”

The rumours were circulating within the circles of senior government officials and politicians on the weekend that ex-army Commander-in-Chief Ke Kimyan, ex-Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Military Police, Gen. Chhin Chanpor, as well as two other senior military officers have been arrested and detained.

Mr. Phay Siphan, Secretary of State of the Council of Ministers, chastised those who leaked a declassified minutes of the meeting on the Council of Ministers for incitement, but he said that the rumours are too new, therefore he cannot confirm nor deny it. He said: “At this hour there are surprised news spreading around the whole country that Gen. Ke Kimyan has been detained at the headquarter of National Military Police. These are just rumours. I don’t know anything. I cannot respond to your question because it is so new. And these information are passing from one mouth to one mouth, and as such no one can be sure that they are true as have been circulating publicly, unless those who circulated the rumours have confirmed the information with the authority or the officials involved in the case (arrests/detentions).

Radio Free Asia has repeatedly attempted to contact the official at the headquarter of the Military Police regard the rumoured detention of Gen. Ke Kimyan, but was unsuccessful.

However, a source close to the headquarter of the Military Police who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the rumours are true.

Reacting to the news of Gen. Ke Kimyan’s arrest, Mr. Son Chhay, member of parliament from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said that Gen. Ke Kimyan’s case should be dealt with through judicial process, not through the order of the country’s top leader. He said: “We never seen any countries deal with these sorts of things through a top leader of the country. The case must be dealt with through a national mechanism, such as an investigative institution (police?) and they are required to formally lodge a complaint to the court. But when one person points a finger, it can be a case of judicial interferences, that’s why our country has come under criticism that authority only listen to one person’s orders. These sorts of case should involve a lot of people, therefore there must be a mechanism to deal with it in order to avoid accusations that, because of a personal conflict and because one controls the government, one can use the power of a government to take measures against anyone one doesn’t like. But for others who commit the same offences or even worse, but who have no personal conflict with the top leader, can escape the punishment.
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The Khmer Nation newspaper has reported on its Monday 16th of February's issue that a senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity has confirmed that Gen. Ke Kimyan and Gen. Chhin Chanpor have been arrested and detained at the headquarter of the Military Police on Sunday the 15th February.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Hun Sen's dirty secret is not leak-proof after all


News leak on ex-military chief angers Cambodian government

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Ministers have chastised the press for publishing information from a leaked government document that revealed it began probe into the real estate holdings of recently removed military chief Ke Kim Yan, national media said on Monday.

The publishing of information contained in the official minutes of a meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Jan. 23, one day after Ke Kim Yan's ouster as Commander in Chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), amounted to "incitement and provocation of a bad political environment," English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily quoted a statement of the council as saying.

"The government is investigating to find the people who leaked its internal documents and will take strict measures against these individuals," the statement added.

The minutes, which found their way into the hands of several media outlets late last week, revealed that Ke Kim Yan was removed in part because of his land dealings.

According to the minutes, "the Council of Ministers has been informed and commented on the termination of the position of commander-in-chief from HE Ke Kim Yan based on two reasons:

"First, reforming the RCAF rank and file by adhering to work effectiveness in the military rank and file.

"Second, involvement with land issues by a top and powerful person in the military rank and file and doing business by using the name of military for personal gain."

The minutes went on to describe a resolution by the Council of Ministers to have both military and government bodies investigate Ke Kim Yan's land dealings.

Since his removal, ruling party and military officials have repeatedly claimed that his ouster was solely to promote reforms within the military.

Hun Sen, the real leviathan of Cambodia

Sunday, February 15, 2009
Op-Ed by Khmer Young
On the web at http://cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com


Gen. Ke Kimyan has not only discarded his power from national military's Deputy Commander, but currently he is possibly facing with Phnom Penh's lawsuits style. There are many wrongdoings have been proposed to bring lawsuits to Gen. Ke Kimyan.

Of course, this is normal for political rivals. Hun Sen has successfully impaired and weakened his political rivals from outside, and he has no fear of power competition from outside at all. The approaching of Sam Rainsy Party or DMC will distort Hun Sen's political behavior of using violence against his outside groups as the key mean to maintain his power grip, but Hun Sen is potentially facing with his internal rivals.

However, Hun Sen's ambition for power and political consolidation inevitably breeds the internal political sentiments. Recent firing of Gen. Ke Kimyan has well evidenced the intractable conflict inside the CPP. Hun Sen can say that because it is in need for military reform or because it is misbehavior of Gen. Ke Kimyan; but it is not common for the very strong bonding political party like CPP to firing someone without having proper power allocation. Hun Sen has succeeded to replace Gen. Ke Kimyan and consolidated the power by appointing many of his trustful persons into that important position.

But this internal political game will not be easily ended? So, what are the next proposals from Hun Sen to eliminate or discredit his opponents in order to legitimize his power?

The answer is to try Gen. Ke Kimyan or to seek any alternatives to use Gen. Ke Kimyan as much as he can as the tool to justify his political righteousness. When unabated issues of land grabing and other land abusing conducted by many high ranking officials cannot be solved, the case to try Gen. Kimyan is very useful. This case happened also with Heng Peo, and it is also considerable to the death of Hok Lundy. To put it in an easy way of understanding, when a group has been nastily achieving many crimes and impunity, the continuity of violence will happen inside that group. It naturally happens like that because the stronger will not allow the weaks to destroy them first. Two bad friends cannot go along with each other when some new environments changed. So in order to live longer, one bad friend has to eliminate another bad friend in order to show that he is surely bad and all faults will fall onto the dead one. This theory is so classic!

In the meantime, communist Pol Pot has to be tried in order to legitimize Communist CPP. In the meantime, Communist Pol Pot had to be destroyed by Communist Vietnam at least by two key strategies:
  1. Push Pol Pot into ethnicity cleansing and horrific administration by the historical divorce between Communist Vietnam and Communist Pol Pot in 1968(?)
  2. Let Pol Pot disintegrate their administration through their secret agents and understanding of the political paranoia of Pol Pot. When Pol Pot's extremism policy had split out their internal members, it is a good chance for Vietnam to intervene in order raise itself as the good Communist.
Do good really come out from bad? Surely, good will never come out from good? Hun Sen's political consolidation will keep Hun Sen as the political leviathan through the trial of Gen. Ke Kimyan. But how many Leviathans there, we don't know!

KY