Text in Khmer: F'pec ministers ride their seats without portfolioCartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Showing posts with label Hun Sen's gov't. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hun Sen's gov't. Show all posts
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Clown-Funcinpec
Text in Khmer: F'pec ministers ride their seats without portfolioCartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)
Govt must address the real issues of concern
Wednesday, 01 October 2008
Written by Sophan Seng
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
I refer to your article "New CPP-dominated Assembly sworn in" [Phnom Penh Post, September 25.] The recent swearing-in is a historical moment for Hun Sen's political leadership - his way to premiership was smooth and democratically legitimised. Previously, his path to premiership had experienced some hardships. For instance, in 1993 he was the second prime minister with Prince Norodom Rannaridh as first prime minister; in 1998 there was the coup that allowed him to consolidate his sole premiership; in 2003 parliament was stalled for almost one year before his premiership was given to him again.
I appreciate the fact that this 2008 assembly mandate has been smoothly, legally sworn in, and in particular the participation of the Sam Rainsy Party's 26 representatives who endorse Hun Sen's premiership for another five years as mandated. But the successful ascent to premiership through parliament does not warrant the level of centralisation in the executive branch. His government comprises far more high-ranking members than before, especially those from the dominant CPP party.
The challenges ahead are daunting - such as ensuring national security. Key issues to address this mandate are security, illegal immigration, the high rate of corruption under the current system of crony capitalism, land price speculation leading to land grabs and the ongoing border dispute with Thailand.
Security is a central claim for the next five years in power for Hun Sen. He says Cambodia in future decades will not worry about terrorism, civil war and social chaos. But the core issue of security here is not terrorism - it is food security, social equity security, democratic security and especially government officials who should be security-checked before being sworn in.
Many countries have different methods of ensuring lawmakers meet certain security standards, such as checking the background of persons to ensure that they are not abusing their position and mandate in government to do harm to their country.
This new approach of security should be amended by the parliament checking the background of any person who will be employed as military, police or state officials. Achieving this security clearance stabilises the government's leaders as well as the whole nation.
Crony capitalism has been widespread in Cambodia. After the civil war, the open horizon of market-based economics in Cambodia swiftly and horrendously embodied itself in a type of crony capitalism. Cambodia has significantly evolved itself a "national crony capitalism", which means all national economic mechanisms and dynamics are controlled by just a few businessmen. This kind of emergent economic trend will hinder the emergence of economic equity and will widens levels of inequality in the Kingdom.
Sophan Seng
PhD student in political science
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Written by Sophan Seng
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
Security is a central claim for the next five years in power for Hun Sen. He says Cambodia in future decades will not worry about terrorism, civil war and social chaos. But the core issue of security here is not terrorism - it is food security, social equity security, democratic security and especially government officials who should be security-checked before being sworn in.Dear Editor,
I refer to your article "New CPP-dominated Assembly sworn in" [Phnom Penh Post, September 25.] The recent swearing-in is a historical moment for Hun Sen's political leadership - his way to premiership was smooth and democratically legitimised. Previously, his path to premiership had experienced some hardships. For instance, in 1993 he was the second prime minister with Prince Norodom Rannaridh as first prime minister; in 1998 there was the coup that allowed him to consolidate his sole premiership; in 2003 parliament was stalled for almost one year before his premiership was given to him again.
I appreciate the fact that this 2008 assembly mandate has been smoothly, legally sworn in, and in particular the participation of the Sam Rainsy Party's 26 representatives who endorse Hun Sen's premiership for another five years as mandated. But the successful ascent to premiership through parliament does not warrant the level of centralisation in the executive branch. His government comprises far more high-ranking members than before, especially those from the dominant CPP party.
The challenges ahead are daunting - such as ensuring national security. Key issues to address this mandate are security, illegal immigration, the high rate of corruption under the current system of crony capitalism, land price speculation leading to land grabs and the ongoing border dispute with Thailand.
Security is a central claim for the next five years in power for Hun Sen. He says Cambodia in future decades will not worry about terrorism, civil war and social chaos. But the core issue of security here is not terrorism - it is food security, social equity security, democratic security and especially government officials who should be security-checked before being sworn in.
Many countries have different methods of ensuring lawmakers meet certain security standards, such as checking the background of persons to ensure that they are not abusing their position and mandate in government to do harm to their country.
This new approach of security should be amended by the parliament checking the background of any person who will be employed as military, police or state officials. Achieving this security clearance stabilises the government's leaders as well as the whole nation.
Crony capitalism has been widespread in Cambodia. After the civil war, the open horizon of market-based economics in Cambodia swiftly and horrendously embodied itself in a type of crony capitalism. Cambodia has significantly evolved itself a "national crony capitalism", which means all national economic mechanisms and dynamics are controlled by just a few businessmen. This kind of emergent economic trend will hinder the emergence of economic equity and will widens levels of inequality in the Kingdom.
Sophan Seng
PhD student in political science
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Monday, September 15, 2008
Khmer citizenship offered to thais
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Written by Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
The government has offered Cambodian citizenship to four Thai nationals by royal decree dated July 14 and signed by King Norodom Sihamoni. A 1996 Law on Nationality states that foreigners can apply for nationalisation only if they have good morality, a clean criminal record and have lived in Cambodia for the past seven years at a permanent address and are able to speak and write Khmer. A Thai embassy spokesman in Phnom Penh said that he has not yet received any information on the Thai nationals being offered citizenship.
Monday, September 08, 2008
CPP is still considering NRP's prostitution offer ... but, no gov't positions for NRP
Minister: NRP not be part of Cambodian new government
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said that though the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is considering taking the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP) as a partner in the government, the royalist party will not be part of the new government, national media reported Monday.
The government will be formed shortly following the first meeting of the National Assembly on Sept. 24, but that government will be made up of officials just from the CPP and Funcinpec, Khieu Kanharith, who is also government spokesman, was quoted as saying by the Cambodia Daily.
"There are only two parties in the government," Khieu Kanharith said.
"We will think later about the Norodom Ranariddh Party," he added.
Khieu Kanharith said the CPP has not yet seriously considered the NRP as a partner because the royalist party has not yet announced its support for the CPP political platform.
But last week the NRP President Norodom Ranariddh did release a statement urging the CPP to form the next government quickly in order to "lead the country towards development and reducing poverty according to the CPP's political platform."
Formerly an opposition party, the NRP has indicated in recent weeks that it is interested in joining forces with CPP, particularly if it could result in the return of Prince Ranariddh, who is currently in self-imposed exile to avoid a prison sentence.
The NRP won two seats in parliament in the July 27 general election, according to official election results.
The government will be formed shortly following the first meeting of the National Assembly on Sept. 24, but that government will be made up of officials just from the CPP and Funcinpec, Khieu Kanharith, who is also government spokesman, was quoted as saying by the Cambodia Daily.
"There are only two parties in the government," Khieu Kanharith said.
"We will think later about the Norodom Ranariddh Party," he added.
Khieu Kanharith said the CPP has not yet seriously considered the NRP as a partner because the royalist party has not yet announced its support for the CPP political platform.
But last week the NRP President Norodom Ranariddh did release a statement urging the CPP to form the next government quickly in order to "lead the country towards development and reducing poverty according to the CPP's political platform."
Formerly an opposition party, the NRP has indicated in recent weeks that it is interested in joining forces with CPP, particularly if it could result in the return of Prince Ranariddh, who is currently in self-imposed exile to avoid a prison sentence.
The NRP won two seats in parliament in the July 27 general election, according to official election results.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
After the election, Hun Sen's gov't mulls foreign ownership of buildings, offices ... again
Cambodian gov't mulls foreign ownership of buildings, offices
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government is mulling to allow foreigners to own condominiums and office buildings in order to prevent a possible downturn in property values and boost long-term investment, national media said Thursday.
At present in Cambodia, foreigners are prohibited from owning land or fixed assets such as buildings, apartments or office space.
Any government move to allow foreigners to own condominiums or office buildings would need to begin with Ministry of Land Management, a move that the ministry is indeed considering, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily quoted a ministry official as saying on condition of anonymity.
"I think the government will de-restrict the property market. Once things start getting more competitive, once things start to slow down, people start to look at other places and the competition starts to get more competitive, they will need to start doing more things to attract more foreigners," said Liam Bailey, head of international research for London-based realtor David Stanley Redfern (DSR), which has real estate business in Phnom Penh.
The real estate business in Phnom Penh and other major Cambodian cities have been booming in the past two or three years, but the market leveled off shortly before the general election in July this year due to the investors' political calculation.
During this period, the price has stayed stable but the demand decreased, which propelled the government, property consultants and retailers to think of the next step to heat up the market.
At present in Cambodia, foreigners are prohibited from owning land or fixed assets such as buildings, apartments or office space.
Any government move to allow foreigners to own condominiums or office buildings would need to begin with Ministry of Land Management, a move that the ministry is indeed considering, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily quoted a ministry official as saying on condition of anonymity.
"I think the government will de-restrict the property market. Once things start getting more competitive, once things start to slow down, people start to look at other places and the competition starts to get more competitive, they will need to start doing more things to attract more foreigners," said Liam Bailey, head of international research for London-based realtor David Stanley Redfern (DSR), which has real estate business in Phnom Penh.
The real estate business in Phnom Penh and other major Cambodian cities have been booming in the past two or three years, but the market leveled off shortly before the general election in July this year due to the investors' political calculation.
During this period, the price has stayed stable but the demand decreased, which propelled the government, property consultants and retailers to think of the next step to heat up the market.
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