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| Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com) |
Showing posts with label Hun Sen's ire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hun Sen's ire. Show all posts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Another Black Sheep
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Kok Sap's Commentary: NOT Acceptable, Hun Sen Abuses UN
(Photos: The Phnom Penh Post)22/6/2010
By Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com/
All know the UN Human Rights Envoy meeting appointment is planned and scheduled ahead and in plenty of time. For the unexplained reason Hun Sen canceled it at the last minute. For normal business behavior, either the meeting will be rescheduled or carried on as planned with an alternative attendant. But to the surprise, with ten deputy prime ministers on duty yet Hun Sen can't delegate one to attend the meeting for him. For Hun Sen usual misinformed habit, the mishandling appointment is unimportant and an irritation to him. But in real world it reflects the national leader image and unreliability. For that alone it's an embarrassment for the entire nation.
In honesty, Surya Subedi can be Hun Sen helpful ally and personal messenger to the world diplomacy and UN General Secretary office. Unfortunately Hun Sen wrongly takes it personal in misinterpreting Surya Subedi statement to the press as disappointed for unable to meet with the Cambodia owner. It's opportune for Hun Sen to rattle on someone of his unchecked and crude remarks to impress the stupid ones. Apparently he can't see how important to delicately and discretely handle his personal crisis. This man loves to hear his own voice on stage,all the times.
To the dismay, Hun Sen shall apologize for his own shortcomings and inability to delegate an able deputy to welcome and meet with UN Envoy to ask for reschedule. In the educated society, Hun Sen behavior leaves room for bad impression and misinterpretation that Cambodia leader is seriously lack of competence and diplomatic cordiality.
In 1991 Paris Peace Accord stipulates UN Secretariat will monitor and report Cambodia human rights to the UN mission and its appropriate council. It is made UN responsibility to ensure the annual report be as accurate and transparent on Cambodia human rights. However, as one of the signatories Hun Sen seems to show his unbecoming and uncooperative nature as the Cambodia leader and lawful UN member.
Obviously the responsibility is not entirely on Hun Sen alone. To the observers, Cambodia legislative and judiciary shall bear the burden and responsibility to the nation image and representation. In this episode, the national assembly is totally unaccounted for its role to scrutinize and call on Hun Sen improper official action. Worst, Hun Sen incessant quarrel and insolences toward the previous UN human rights envoys seemed escaping the national assembly attention span and responsibility. Hun Sen has become a fixture of the Cambodian government incompetence and incivility.
Past records show often Hun Sen has been personally rude and confrontational to the volunteered UN human rights officials whose mission was to look out for Cambodia citizen interests. Conclusively in spite of time in premier office and role Hun Sen remains not an ideal advocate and voice in modern world diplomacy for the weak and poor Cambodia. The national assembly needs to reflect and uses its spine to stop Hun Sen from dehumanizing Cambodia.
In all, yet the national assembly must not allow Hun Sen to deprecate Cambodia honor and dignity when his personal is inconvenient to his duty. To the outside world it appears Cambodia has not many people who can lead the nation in decency and dignity. In that notion, if the national assembly does not correct Hun Sen habitual abuse of power and defeatism then it is a mere rubber stamp for a handsome compensation paid by donors. It is an insult and unacceptable to the nation and human intelligence in allowing an inferior and defeatist mentality like Hun Sen to stay in power and above the law too long.
In honesty, Surya Subedi can be Hun Sen helpful ally and personal messenger to the world diplomacy and UN General Secretary office. Unfortunately Hun Sen wrongly takes it personal in misinterpreting Surya Subedi statement to the press as disappointed for unable to meet with the Cambodia owner. It's opportune for Hun Sen to rattle on someone of his unchecked and crude remarks to impress the stupid ones. Apparently he can't see how important to delicately and discretely handle his personal crisis. This man loves to hear his own voice on stage,all the times.
To the dismay, Hun Sen shall apologize for his own shortcomings and inability to delegate an able deputy to welcome and meet with UN Envoy to ask for reschedule. In the educated society, Hun Sen behavior leaves room for bad impression and misinterpretation that Cambodia leader is seriously lack of competence and diplomatic cordiality.
In 1991 Paris Peace Accord stipulates UN Secretariat will monitor and report Cambodia human rights to the UN mission and its appropriate council. It is made UN responsibility to ensure the annual report be as accurate and transparent on Cambodia human rights. However, as one of the signatories Hun Sen seems to show his unbecoming and uncooperative nature as the Cambodia leader and lawful UN member.
Obviously the responsibility is not entirely on Hun Sen alone. To the observers, Cambodia legislative and judiciary shall bear the burden and responsibility to the nation image and representation. In this episode, the national assembly is totally unaccounted for its role to scrutinize and call on Hun Sen improper official action. Worst, Hun Sen incessant quarrel and insolences toward the previous UN human rights envoys seemed escaping the national assembly attention span and responsibility. Hun Sen has become a fixture of the Cambodian government incompetence and incivility.
Past records show often Hun Sen has been personally rude and confrontational to the volunteered UN human rights officials whose mission was to look out for Cambodia citizen interests. Conclusively in spite of time in premier office and role Hun Sen remains not an ideal advocate and voice in modern world diplomacy for the weak and poor Cambodia. The national assembly needs to reflect and uses its spine to stop Hun Sen from dehumanizing Cambodia.
In all, yet the national assembly must not allow Hun Sen to deprecate Cambodia honor and dignity when his personal is inconvenient to his duty. To the outside world it appears Cambodia has not many people who can lead the nation in decency and dignity. In that notion, if the national assembly does not correct Hun Sen habitual abuse of power and defeatism then it is a mere rubber stamp for a handsome compensation paid by donors. It is an insult and unacceptable to the nation and human intelligence in allowing an inferior and defeatist mentality like Hun Sen to stay in power and above the law too long.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
PM calls for transparent aid
Prime Minister Hun Sen addresses an audience of graduating students at the National Institute of Education on Wednesday. (Photo by: Uy Nousereimony)Thursday, 10 June 2010
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Hun Sen blasts claims that the government has misused money from donors
PRIME Minister Hun Sen has called on government officials to ensure that US$1.1 billion in development aid pledged by international donors at a conference last week is used properly.
During a graduation speech at the National Institute of Education on Wednesday, the prime minister also rebuffed critics who say the government has misused foreign development aid, charging that donors themselves are responsible for where and how the funds are spent.
He said opposition parliamentarians who have criticised the government following $1.1 billion in pledges should take their concerns directly to donors.
“I would like to stress that of the $1.1 billion, we know only the figure, so the others who criticise us, don’t ask the government – ask donors themselves, because they have embassies in Phnom Penh,” Hun Sen said.
“They did not give us the $1.1 billion to carry it for them. They have their own projects ... so don’t be so ignorant.”
He added that development projects are handled by donor countries, and that Cambodia only joins in the inauguration of projects after they are completed.
The comments came a week after the most recent Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF), at which international donors pledged a total of $1.1 billion in development assistance for 2010, despite concerns about a lack of government transparency in the spending of aid money.
A briefing paper issued last week by 15 local NGOs lamented what it described as a decline in freedom of expression over the past year, and said donors could appear “complicit” if they did not pressure the government to rein in its legal offensives against outspoken critics.
Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said Wednesday that many foreign-funded development projects have been the subject of scandals because of the corruption of government officials, and argued that the government has not been sufficiently transparent in applying the money.
“Some projects, which are run by the government institutions, the donor and development partners can’t control,” he said.
“Previous experience shows that the government has had problems with the World Bank and the World Food Programme – all these are linked with corruption.”
In his speech Wednesday, Hun Sen also addressed the series of warning shots that were exchanged by Cambodian and Thai troops stationed along the border near Oddar Meanchey province on Tuesday, describing it as a “small issue”.
“[Tuesday’s] clash did not expand the dispute along the border. I think this may have been caused by a misunderstanding. We do not want to have disputes. We want to shorten the disputes and expand the solutions,” the prime minister said.
Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, said Tuesday that no injuries were reported when border troops from both sides fired warning shots in the air in Trapaing Prasat district at around 9:45am.
He said the six-minute exchange took place when a group of around 10 patrolling Cambodian soldiers met a group of Thai mixed forces, including forestry officers, police and Thai soldiers.
The incident followed an exchange of fire in Oddar Meanchey on April 19, when troops traded rifle shots and rockets in two incidents in Samrong district.
Does Hun Xen believe that Khmers do not know his embezzlement tricks?
(Photo: Sovannara, RFI)International aid: Hun Xen counter-attacks
Wednesday 09 June 2010
By P.B.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French Fries by Oss Dey
Click here to read the article in French
KI-Media note: Mr. Hun Xen forgot to mention that embezzling international aid can also be done through kickbacks, theft of materials, inflated costs, etc…Hun Xen called those who criticize the manner in which international aid is used as “ignorant”. He reminded that the government does not receive money in cash.
“It is really inadmissible to hear political party and NGO presidents accusing the government of embezzling funds from international aid,” Hun Xen announced in a speech given on 09 June during a ceremony for distribution of diplomas. Hun Xen called his critics “ignorant” who “do not deserve responsible positions.”
Hun Xen reminded that donor countries never pay the government in cash and that aids are provided in terms of grants allocated to projects administered by experts. Hun Xen also explained that numerous projects were taken under the charge of the Japanese government and he assured all follow a similar procedure.
During the donor meeting which took place at the beginning of this month, Cambodia received $1.1 billion in aid pledge from the international community. The opposition party and several officials of the civil society have expressed their concerns over the use of these funds.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
RCAF failed to report clashes at border: PM
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
PRIME Minister Hun Sen has lashed out at military commanders stationed along the Thai border, accusing them of withholding information pertaining to a recent border clash that they said was caused by drunk Thai soldiers.
Speaking at the inauguration of Preah Vihear provincial hall Wednesday, the premier said Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander in Chief General Pol Saroeun, his deputy General Chea Dara and other commanders had given him conflicting reports after two exchanges of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on April 17. He did not specify how the reports had conflicted, or what information might have been withheld.
“You have to be careful, reporting to the leader. The reports have to be cleared. I would like to tell all military commanders that they have to report in detail – even small things have to be reported to me,” Hun Sen said.
He said the poor quality of information available about the incident could have compromised military strategy at a time when Thai nationalists were reportedly planning to tamper with border markers. The premier also asked for clarifications about explanations given to him by commanders, who reported that the clashes were caused by drunk Thai troops.
“I want all commanders here to understand that they should report all events that occur, whether we are right or wrong, to the upper echelons so we can better analyse” the situation, he added, and warned that any further obfuscation on the part of the military would be punished.
But Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Army, said he had received no reports about Thai soldiers drinking at the frontlines.
“If it was the case of skirmish or exchange of fire, it must be the case that something happened before,” he said. “Soldiers who are working in that area understand ... the sensitivity of the action or whatever happens.”
Upping the heat on loggers
In his speech, Hun Sen also repeated earlier orders that military commanders should refrain from illegal logging.
“Military officials have to protect the forestry and land where you are based,” he said.
Colonel Meas Yoeun, deputy military commander for Preah Vihear province, denied that soldiers in the area were committing forestry crimes, and said that no soldiers in the province had been arrested in the recent crackdown on illegal loggers.
Ty Soveinthal, a prosecutor at Siem Reap provincial court, where authorities say they have confiscated thousands of cubic metres of valuable timber in recent months, said he had not uncovered any military involvement with the operations.
One environmental activist praised the prime minister for keeping the heat on the country’s illegal loggers.
“I have learned from my colleagues in the field that this month and last month, because of the crackdown, it is very quiet everywhere,” said Bunra Seng, country director of Conservation International.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMES O’TOOLE AND SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
Speaking at the inauguration of Preah Vihear provincial hall Wednesday, the premier said Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) Commander in Chief General Pol Saroeun, his deputy General Chea Dara and other commanders had given him conflicting reports after two exchanges of gunfire between Cambodian and Thai soldiers on April 17. He did not specify how the reports had conflicted, or what information might have been withheld.
“You have to be careful, reporting to the leader. The reports have to be cleared. I would like to tell all military commanders that they have to report in detail – even small things have to be reported to me,” Hun Sen said.
He said the poor quality of information available about the incident could have compromised military strategy at a time when Thai nationalists were reportedly planning to tamper with border markers. The premier also asked for clarifications about explanations given to him by commanders, who reported that the clashes were caused by drunk Thai troops.
“I want all commanders here to understand that they should report all events that occur, whether we are right or wrong, to the upper echelons so we can better analyse” the situation, he added, and warned that any further obfuscation on the part of the military would be punished.
But Veerachon Sukondhadhpatipak, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Army, said he had received no reports about Thai soldiers drinking at the frontlines.
“If it was the case of skirmish or exchange of fire, it must be the case that something happened before,” he said. “Soldiers who are working in that area understand ... the sensitivity of the action or whatever happens.”
Upping the heat on loggers
In his speech, Hun Sen also repeated earlier orders that military commanders should refrain from illegal logging.
“Military officials have to protect the forestry and land where you are based,” he said.
Colonel Meas Yoeun, deputy military commander for Preah Vihear province, denied that soldiers in the area were committing forestry crimes, and said that no soldiers in the province had been arrested in the recent crackdown on illegal loggers.
Ty Soveinthal, a prosecutor at Siem Reap provincial court, where authorities say they have confiscated thousands of cubic metres of valuable timber in recent months, said he had not uncovered any military involvement with the operations.
One environmental activist praised the prime minister for keeping the heat on the country’s illegal loggers.
“I have learned from my colleagues in the field that this month and last month, because of the crackdown, it is very quiet everywhere,” said Bunra Seng, country director of Conservation International.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JAMES O’TOOLE AND SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
Saturday, March 13, 2010
UN Rapped for ‘Interfering’ on Graft Law [-PPenh cannot accept lessons!!!]
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
12 March 2010
Original report from Phnom Penh
12 March 2010
Cambodia accused the UN’s country team of “flagrantly” interfering in its internal affairs Friday, after the team issued a rebuke of the rapid debate this week of a graft law.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country team appeared to be “lecturing” the government on the law, passed by the National Assembly on Thursday with little public or parliamentary debate.
The government “cannot accept lessons given by a few individuals comprising this Team,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The UN team “should not act out of its mandate, in flagrantly interfering in the internal affairs of a UN member State,” the ministry said. “Furthermore, it should refrain from acting as if it were the spokesperson of the opposition parties.”
UN representatives were not immediately available for comment Friday.
The Anticorruption Law took only two days to debate and pass, without any significant changes from the original draft of the Council of Ministers, which took more than a decade to create.
Civic groups and both opposition parties quickly decried the law, saying it had not created a sufficiently independent anti-corruption body and was unlikely to curb the practice.
A statement from the UN country team on Wednesday expressed “concern” that the law was passed within days of being announced to the public. The team encouraged delay on debate of the law, to allow public consideration.
The Embassy of Japan on Friday called the law “a step forward for good governance,” but declined to comment further because it had not obtained a copy of the draft until March 9.
John Johnson, a spokesman for the US Embassy, said, “We trust that the implementing regulations will clarify and enhance the law’s aim to detect and punish corruption according to international standards.”
The US estimates that Cambodia loses $500 million a year to graft.
“We are very disappointed and very sorry that we had no ability to push the National Assembly to change its decision,” the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a consortium of more than 20 agencies, said Friday. “We are very worried for some negative articles in the law.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country team appeared to be “lecturing” the government on the law, passed by the National Assembly on Thursday with little public or parliamentary debate.
The government “cannot accept lessons given by a few individuals comprising this Team,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The UN team “should not act out of its mandate, in flagrantly interfering in the internal affairs of a UN member State,” the ministry said. “Furthermore, it should refrain from acting as if it were the spokesperson of the opposition parties.”
UN representatives were not immediately available for comment Friday.
The Anticorruption Law took only two days to debate and pass, without any significant changes from the original draft of the Council of Ministers, which took more than a decade to create.
Civic groups and both opposition parties quickly decried the law, saying it had not created a sufficiently independent anti-corruption body and was unlikely to curb the practice.
A statement from the UN country team on Wednesday expressed “concern” that the law was passed within days of being announced to the public. The team encouraged delay on debate of the law, to allow public consideration.
The Embassy of Japan on Friday called the law “a step forward for good governance,” but declined to comment further because it had not obtained a copy of the draft until March 9.
John Johnson, a spokesman for the US Embassy, said, “We trust that the implementing regulations will clarify and enhance the law’s aim to detect and punish corruption according to international standards.”
The US estimates that Cambodia loses $500 million a year to graft.
“We are very disappointed and very sorry that we had no ability to push the National Assembly to change its decision,” the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, a consortium of more than 20 agencies, said Friday. “We are very worried for some negative articles in the law.”
Friday, March 12, 2010
Cambodian govt accuses UN of 'flagrant interference' [-Samdach 1-Eye sees opposition parties everywhere!]
Draft anti-corruption law was passed by 82 lawmakers, mostly from PM Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's PartyFriday, March 12, 2010
AFP
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia on Friday accused the United Nations of "flagrantly interfering" in its affairs after local agencies expressed concern over a controversial anti-corruption law approved this week.
Ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world, Cambodia passed the law in parliament on Thursday, more than 15 years after legislation to tackle graft was first proposed, but only days after the draft was shared publicly.
Opposition and rights groups said the draft was flawed and asked for more debate, and a statement this week from the UN country team in Cambodia encouraged enough time to ensure "a transparent and participatory" process.
"This so-called 'UN Country Team' should not act out of its mandate, in flagrantly interfering in the internal affairs of a UN member state," said a statement by Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry.
"Furthermore, it should refrain from acting as if it were the spokesperson of the opposition parties," it added.
All lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party walked out of parliament in protest just hours before the draft law was passed by 82 lawmakers, mostly from Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.
A national anti-corruption council and an anti-corruption unit will be created to oversee investigations, but critics said it was unlikely either body would be effective because both would be controlled by the ruling party.
Public figures face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of accepting bribes, according to the draft law.
The law will take effect after receiving approval from Cambodia's Senate and promulgation from King Norodom Sihamoni, which are both considered formalities.
Cambodia was ranked 158 out of 180 countries on anti-graft organisation Transparency International's most recent corruption perception index.
It was also ranked the second most corrupt Southeast Asian nation after Indonesia in an annual poll by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, seen by AFP on Tuesday.
Last year, a US diplomat said that graft costs Cambodia up to 500 million dollars every year, an allegation the government rejected as "unsubstantiated."
Ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the world, Cambodia passed the law in parliament on Thursday, more than 15 years after legislation to tackle graft was first proposed, but only days after the draft was shared publicly.
Opposition and rights groups said the draft was flawed and asked for more debate, and a statement this week from the UN country team in Cambodia encouraged enough time to ensure "a transparent and participatory" process.
"This so-called 'UN Country Team' should not act out of its mandate, in flagrantly interfering in the internal affairs of a UN member state," said a statement by Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry.
"Furthermore, it should refrain from acting as if it were the spokesperson of the opposition parties," it added.
All lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party walked out of parliament in protest just hours before the draft law was passed by 82 lawmakers, mostly from Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.
A national anti-corruption council and an anti-corruption unit will be created to oversee investigations, but critics said it was unlikely either body would be effective because both would be controlled by the ruling party.
Public figures face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of accepting bribes, according to the draft law.
The law will take effect after receiving approval from Cambodia's Senate and promulgation from King Norodom Sihamoni, which are both considered formalities.
Cambodia was ranked 158 out of 180 countries on anti-graft organisation Transparency International's most recent corruption perception index.
It was also ranked the second most corrupt Southeast Asian nation after Indonesia in an annual poll by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, seen by AFP on Tuesday.
Last year, a US diplomat said that graft costs Cambodia up to 500 million dollars every year, an allegation the government rejected as "unsubstantiated."
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
5-golden-star General Hun Xen angry to see proposition to remove the army away from his arm's reach
Hun Sen blasts opposition's proposal to put army under king's control
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
By Khmerization
Source: Kampuchea Thmey
Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted the opposition's proposal to put the national army under the control of the king in place of the current arrangement where all troops are under the tight control of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, reports Kampuchea Thmey.
On 6th March, Son Chhay, MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, floated the idea that the king should be given full control of the army to make the army truly neutral.
Speaking to disabled veterans in Ta Ken Koh Sla commune in Chhouk district of Kampot province on 8th March, Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted such suggestion as ignorant of the role of the king under the constitution.
He accused the opposition of wanting to turn the Cambodian monarchy into a Nepalese monarchy which has been abolished recently, in an apprarent threat to abolish the monarchy shall it not be subservient to him. In the past, Mr. Hun Sen had several times threatened to abolish the Cambodian monarchy whenever the current king Sihamoni or ex-king Sihanouk were reluctant to approve his policies.
The Cambodian constitution stipulates that "the king reigns but shall not rule". However, in a separate article of the same constitution, the king was described a "the commander-in-chief of the armed forces".
On 6th March, Son Chhay, MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, floated the idea that the king should be given full control of the army to make the army truly neutral.
Speaking to disabled veterans in Ta Ken Koh Sla commune in Chhouk district of Kampot province on 8th March, Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted such suggestion as ignorant of the role of the king under the constitution.
He accused the opposition of wanting to turn the Cambodian monarchy into a Nepalese monarchy which has been abolished recently, in an apprarent threat to abolish the monarchy shall it not be subservient to him. In the past, Mr. Hun Sen had several times threatened to abolish the Cambodian monarchy whenever the current king Sihamoni or ex-king Sihanouk were reluctant to approve his policies.
The Cambodian constitution stipulates that "the king reigns but shall not rule". However, in a separate article of the same constitution, the king was described a "the commander-in-chief of the armed forces".
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cambodian gov't accuses media cartoon of affecting ties with Thailand
The golf buddies: Thaksin (2nd from L) and Hun Sen (3rd from L) (Photo: Reuters)PHNOM PENH, April 14 (Xinhua) -- A recently-printed media cartoon depicting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra playing golf together could seriously affect the Cambodian-Thai relations, said a press release of the Cambodian Information Ministry received here on Tuesday.
In the hand-drawn picture published by English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post on April 10, Thaksin shot a mine instead of a ball with his golf pole into the territory of Thailand, saying that "YES, IT'S MINE!!! THEREFORE I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANTN WITH IT..."
Hun Sen, together with Thaksin on the land of Cambodia, said that "BUT... WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT IS YOUR COUNTRY..."
This cartoon was politically-oriented and would make readers misunderstand the political stance of Cambodia, said the ministry in its press release.
Cambodia already spiked the rumor that Thaksin was hidden here, but the cartoon obviously told readers that he was temporarily living in Cambodia, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said in the release.
The Phnom Penh Post should submit its evidence for Thaksin's stay in Cambodia, he said.
By publishing the cartoon, the newspaper had violated the relevant law of Cambodia, he said, adding that any media should be objective and neutral in its reporting.
In early April, spokesman of the Cambodian Council of Ministers Phay Siphan told reporters that "Thaksin actually didn't have any presence in our country."
For anything that he did, Thaksin could observe his own country's law and the international law, he added.
Demonstrations by the opposition force have led to serious instability in Thailand. Thaksin used to relay supportive messages to the protesters from his overseas location.
In the hand-drawn picture published by English-language daily newspaper the Phnom Penh Post on April 10, Thaksin shot a mine instead of a ball with his golf pole into the territory of Thailand, saying that "YES, IT'S MINE!!! THEREFORE I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANTN WITH IT..."
Hun Sen, together with Thaksin on the land of Cambodia, said that "BUT... WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT IS YOUR COUNTRY..."
This cartoon was politically-oriented and would make readers misunderstand the political stance of Cambodia, said the ministry in its press release.
Cambodia already spiked the rumor that Thaksin was hidden here, but the cartoon obviously told readers that he was temporarily living in Cambodia, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said in the release.
The Phnom Penh Post should submit its evidence for Thaksin's stay in Cambodia, he said.
By publishing the cartoon, the newspaper had violated the relevant law of Cambodia, he said, adding that any media should be objective and neutral in its reporting.
In early April, spokesman of the Cambodian Council of Ministers Phay Siphan told reporters that "Thaksin actually didn't have any presence in our country."
For anything that he did, Thaksin could observe his own country's law and the international law, he added.
Demonstrations by the opposition force have led to serious instability in Thailand. Thaksin used to relay supportive messages to the protesters from his overseas location.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Hun Sen: report released by “The Economist” aims at repelling investors
07-04-2009
By Ros Dina
Ka-set
By Ros Dina
Ka-set
Cambodian prime Minister Hun Sen once again reacted strongly to the alarmist conclusions released in a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) , a branch of the British group The Economist, according to which Cambodia is amongst countries at high risk of political instability due to the global economic crisis.
Released at the end of March, the report ranks Cambodia fourth among countries where risks of social insurrection and political instability are at their highest after Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the same level as Sudan but before Iraq, Haiti, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The government already denounced the “political orientation” of the report, and Hun Sen quoted that very argument in his opening speech for the Fifth Asia Economic Forum (AEF) on Monday April 6th in Phnom Penh. “[This report] is a political attempt to stop flows on investments [in Cambodia], since here, we still manage to attract foreign investors”, he denounced.
According to the prime Minister, “no project” was withdrawn by investors. And he gave as evidence the “current” building of hydroelectric power plants which is “gaining pace” with the cooperation of China. Hun Sen also said he recently met a delegation of American investors working in countries which are part of the ASEAN, who allegedly said they were “ready to come and do business in Cambodia”.
For the head of government, Cambodia is not at risk of suffering a political crisis because of famine, as feared by economists at the EIU. If those experts mean this, it is because they “were wearing glasses with a prescription too strong for their eyes”, he said ironically. The risk of scarcity is small, the prime Minister added, since , on the contrary, the country is faced with crisis in rice exports as important stocks have not been sold abroad yet.
Hun Sen then urged the Cambodian population to rally and evade pessimistic predictions made by the economists. The head of Government prided himself on the fact that “In 2005, we forecast a growth rate for the economy situated between 1.6% and 2.4% in Cambodia. But we managed to climb all the way up to 13.3% and for five consecutive years, the country’s rate for economic growth reached an average of 10.4%”.
Predictions released by the main regional and international institutions for 2009 were recently revised downwards; especially those published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which now fears recession might befall Cambodia. The IMF bet on a -0.5% negative growth rate. At the Asian Development Bank (ADB), experts reckon for their part that the growth rate of the Cambodian GDP will be around 2.5%.
Besides, the Prime Minister also stressed that the Council of Ministers adopted on Friday April 3 a bill for the rectification of the 2009 Budget Law, intended for the support of agriculture along three lines: short-term loans to buy producers some rice at a reasonable price and ensure food security and the stability of prices; medium-term loans for companies in charge of transforming rice, in order to reinforce capacity for storage and drying; finally, medium and long-term loans with a view to support investments relating to the transformation of agricultural produce, to fulfill local needs and exports.
In a mission conclusion released in early March, the IMF advised the Cambodian government to allow budget deficit to rise around 4.75% and inject some 500 million US dollars in support of national economy. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy also put forward the idea of a stimulus plan, as several dozens of garment manufacturing factories closed down in the country and more than 50,000 workers were left jobless.
Released at the end of March, the report ranks Cambodia fourth among countries where risks of social insurrection and political instability are at their highest after Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the same level as Sudan but before Iraq, Haiti, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The government already denounced the “political orientation” of the report, and Hun Sen quoted that very argument in his opening speech for the Fifth Asia Economic Forum (AEF) on Monday April 6th in Phnom Penh. “[This report] is a political attempt to stop flows on investments [in Cambodia], since here, we still manage to attract foreign investors”, he denounced.
According to the prime Minister, “no project” was withdrawn by investors. And he gave as evidence the “current” building of hydroelectric power plants which is “gaining pace” with the cooperation of China. Hun Sen also said he recently met a delegation of American investors working in countries which are part of the ASEAN, who allegedly said they were “ready to come and do business in Cambodia”.
For the head of government, Cambodia is not at risk of suffering a political crisis because of famine, as feared by economists at the EIU. If those experts mean this, it is because they “were wearing glasses with a prescription too strong for their eyes”, he said ironically. The risk of scarcity is small, the prime Minister added, since , on the contrary, the country is faced with crisis in rice exports as important stocks have not been sold abroad yet.
Hun Sen then urged the Cambodian population to rally and evade pessimistic predictions made by the economists. The head of Government prided himself on the fact that “In 2005, we forecast a growth rate for the economy situated between 1.6% and 2.4% in Cambodia. But we managed to climb all the way up to 13.3% and for five consecutive years, the country’s rate for economic growth reached an average of 10.4%”.
Predictions released by the main regional and international institutions for 2009 were recently revised downwards; especially those published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which now fears recession might befall Cambodia. The IMF bet on a -0.5% negative growth rate. At the Asian Development Bank (ADB), experts reckon for their part that the growth rate of the Cambodian GDP will be around 2.5%.
Besides, the Prime Minister also stressed that the Council of Ministers adopted on Friday April 3 a bill for the rectification of the 2009 Budget Law, intended for the support of agriculture along three lines: short-term loans to buy producers some rice at a reasonable price and ensure food security and the stability of prices; medium-term loans for companies in charge of transforming rice, in order to reinforce capacity for storage and drying; finally, medium and long-term loans with a view to support investments relating to the transformation of agricultural produce, to fulfill local needs and exports.
In a mission conclusion released in early March, the IMF advised the Cambodian government to allow budget deficit to rise around 4.75% and inject some 500 million US dollars in support of national economy. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy also put forward the idea of a stimulus plan, as several dozens of garment manufacturing factories closed down in the country and more than 50,000 workers were left jobless.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Thai 'gangster' insult a matter of definition, say Bangkok officials
Thursday, 02 April 2009
Written by Ngoun Sovan and Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Ngoun Sovan and Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Thai foreign minister says he intended to praise Hun Sen as ‘sportsmanlike" and "big-hearted".
PRIME Minister Hun Sen lashed out at Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for allegedly branding him a "gentleman with the mind of a gangster", as Thai diplomats scramble for their dictionaries, claiming the phrase was a routine compliment that was lost in translation.
"I am neither a gangster nor a gentleman, but a real man," the prime minister said Tuesday during the inauguration of Samdech Hun Sen Quay in Preah Sihanouk province's Stung Hav district.
Hun Sen said the comments came to light in late March after lawmakers belonging to Thailand's opposition Puea Thai Party showed parliament video footage of Kasit referring to Hun Sen as a "gangster", during which Kasit amended his phrase to "gentleman with a mind of a gangster".
"If you used such language with other countries ... your country would drop down to a cheap status," said Hun Sen.
"If I insulted your king and queen, what would you say? If I insulted your prime minister or your ancestors, what would you say?"
Hun Sen also said he had an electoral mandate and requested the Thai government to respect the dignity of his office as the legitimate leader of Cambodia. "I am not angry with you, but you must use dignified words ... with other state representatives," he said.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, agreed that the Thai foreign minister, as a professional diplomat, should not use such words to refer to the prime minister of another nation. "[Hun Sen] is an elected prime minister, and when he says things like this, it casts disdain on our nation," he said Tuesday.
A matter of semantics
But Thai officials have defended Kasit, saying the Cambodians mistakenly confused the Thai term nak leng - meaning "gangster" - with the phrase jai nak leng, which translates as "big-hearted", "generous" or "manly".
"Jai nak leng in Thai is a compliment, it is very positive," said Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"A man who is responsible for his work is also called jai nak leng. My foreign minister ... did not have any intention to mean it in a negative way."
In a letter to You Ay, Phnom Penh's ambassador to Bangkok, Thai Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Wirasakdi Futrakul claimed the term meant "big heart", and that if the term had been meant in a negative sense it would not have appeared next to the term suparb burut ("gentleman").
"My foreign minister was complimenting Hun Sen as a big-hearted or sportsmanlike gentleman," he wrote.
But Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the Thai statements had not yet absolved Kasit of wrongdoing.
"We have not jumped to conclusions about the letter because we are examining how the meaning of the word changes from Thai language to English language," he said.
"We have not replied to the letter as well because we are waiting for a personal letter from Kasit to respond to what he said."
PRIME Minister Hun Sen lashed out at Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for allegedly branding him a "gentleman with the mind of a gangster", as Thai diplomats scramble for their dictionaries, claiming the phrase was a routine compliment that was lost in translation.
"I am neither a gangster nor a gentleman, but a real man," the prime minister said Tuesday during the inauguration of Samdech Hun Sen Quay in Preah Sihanouk province's Stung Hav district.
Hun Sen said the comments came to light in late March after lawmakers belonging to Thailand's opposition Puea Thai Party showed parliament video footage of Kasit referring to Hun Sen as a "gangster", during which Kasit amended his phrase to "gentleman with a mind of a gangster".
"If you used such language with other countries ... your country would drop down to a cheap status," said Hun Sen.
"If I insulted your king and queen, what would you say? If I insulted your prime minister or your ancestors, what would you say?"
Hun Sen also said he had an electoral mandate and requested the Thai government to respect the dignity of his office as the legitimate leader of Cambodia. "I am not angry with you, but you must use dignified words ... with other state representatives," he said.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, agreed that the Thai foreign minister, as a professional diplomat, should not use such words to refer to the prime minister of another nation. "[Hun Sen] is an elected prime minister, and when he says things like this, it casts disdain on our nation," he said Tuesday.
A matter of semantics
But Thai officials have defended Kasit, saying the Cambodians mistakenly confused the Thai term nak leng - meaning "gangster" - with the phrase jai nak leng, which translates as "big-hearted", "generous" or "manly".
"Jai nak leng in Thai is a compliment, it is very positive," said Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"A man who is responsible for his work is also called jai nak leng. My foreign minister ... did not have any intention to mean it in a negative way."
In a letter to You Ay, Phnom Penh's ambassador to Bangkok, Thai Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Wirasakdi Futrakul claimed the term meant "big heart", and that if the term had been meant in a negative sense it would not have appeared next to the term suparb burut ("gentleman").
"My foreign minister was complimenting Hun Sen as a big-hearted or sportsmanlike gentleman," he wrote.
But Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the Thai statements had not yet absolved Kasit of wrongdoing.
"We have not jumped to conclusions about the letter because we are examining how the meaning of the word changes from Thai language to English language," he said.
"We have not replied to the letter as well because we are waiting for a personal letter from Kasit to respond to what he said."
Kasit's apology letter to Hun Sen
No. 1303/693Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sri Ayudhya Road,
Bangkok 10400.
Sri Ayudhya Road,
Bangkok 10400.
1 April B.E. 2552 (2009)
Samdech Techo Prime Minister,
I have the honour to refer to the recent news reports that Your Excellency is concerned with the terms that I used to describe Your Excellency during the parliamentary debate session in Thailand. In the Thai language, the word “Nak Leng” which I used during the debate means a person who is lion-hearted, a courageous and magnanimous gentleman, and this is what I referred to you as an expression of my appreciation of and respect for Your Excellency.
Please do rest assured that nothing will be allowed to come in the way of making our friendship and relationship warm, cordial, and mutually beneficial. Do kindly accept my deep apology for such an unfortunate incident and the unintentional cause of misunderstanding.
Accept, Samdech Techo Prime .Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Please do rest assured that nothing will be allowed to come in the way of making our friendship and relationship warm, cordial, and mutually beneficial. Do kindly accept my deep apology for such an unfortunate incident and the unintentional cause of misunderstanding.
Accept, Samdech Techo Prime .Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Kasit Piromya)
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
His Excellency
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen,
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia,
PHNOM PENH.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Hun Sen refuses the prosecution of other Khmer Rouge cadres
(Photo: Reuters)By Duong Sokha
Ka-set
Cambodian prime Minister Hun Sen publicly urged on Tuesday March 31st not to prosecute former Khmer Rouge leaders other than the five persons who are already indicted, among whom Duch, the former director of the S-21 detention and torture centre who on the morning of the second day of his trial, asked victims of the Pol Pot regime for forgiveness.
Civil war
“If twenty other people were indicted to stand trial, civil war would break out and kill thousands”, the head of the Cambodian government warned, presenting himself as the one who restored peace in the Kingdom. “I told foreign ambassadors that I was ready to accept that this tribunal [in charge of prosecuting former Khmer Rouge leaders] fails, but that I would not allow Cambodia to be torn by war again”, he said. Those words were pronounced as in the meantime Kar Savuth, the Cambodian co-Lawyer for Duch, was wondering during his client's trial about the absence of prosecution of other former Khmer Rouge cadres who were also in charge of supervising security centres.
March 30 not a national holiday
The prime Minister also worked on minimising the historic impact of the ongoing judicial process and said he rejected the request made by the director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) Youk Chhang about turning March 30th, the date of the opening of the first trial of a former Khmer Rouge leader, into an official national holiday for “memory and justice”.
Click to Read More...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Research Firm Warns of Political Instability
By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original rpoert from Phnom Penh
23 March 2009
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday lashed out at a report warning of political instability in the country in the wake of the current economic crisis.
Hun Sen called a report released Friday by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a UK-based research firm, politically motivated.
The Intelligence Unit said Cambodia was one of five countries globally most at risk for political unrest, as the worldwide economic crisis drags on: worse off than Iraq and Afghanistan but in better shape than Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo, local media reported Monday.
“Why didn’t they talk about the [Lon Nol] and Pol Pot regimes,” Hun Sen said by way of criticism, speaking at an annual conference for the Ministry of Health. “It is clear that they have a political objective.”
He did not elaborate, but Hun Sen said he was indifferent to the report’s findings.
“Let them talk,” he told the assembled, in remarks broadcast nationwide.
Opposition lawmaker and Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said the report’s findings were plausible, especially considering Cambodia’s widespread corruption, violence against civilians, job losses in the garment sector and dearth of markets for farmers.
“We are worried about what will happen in the future,” he said. “If the government does not undertake reform on time, the situation will be trouble and will affect political stability.”
Cambodia’s stability risk comes from an Intelligence Unit comparison of income inequality, date of independence, corruption, ethnic fragmentation, trust in public institutions, discrimination against minorities, history of instability, risk of labor unrest, infant mortality rate, geographical position, regime type, factionalism, GDP growth, unemployment rate and per capita income, the Cambodia Daily reported Monday.
Hun Sen called a report released Friday by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a UK-based research firm, politically motivated.
The Intelligence Unit said Cambodia was one of five countries globally most at risk for political unrest, as the worldwide economic crisis drags on: worse off than Iraq and Afghanistan but in better shape than Zimbabwe, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo, local media reported Monday.
“Why didn’t they talk about the [Lon Nol] and Pol Pot regimes,” Hun Sen said by way of criticism, speaking at an annual conference for the Ministry of Health. “It is clear that they have a political objective.”
He did not elaborate, but Hun Sen said he was indifferent to the report’s findings.
“Let them talk,” he told the assembled, in remarks broadcast nationwide.
Opposition lawmaker and Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said the report’s findings were plausible, especially considering Cambodia’s widespread corruption, violence against civilians, job losses in the garment sector and dearth of markets for farmers.
“We are worried about what will happen in the future,” he said. “If the government does not undertake reform on time, the situation will be trouble and will affect political stability.”
Cambodia’s stability risk comes from an Intelligence Unit comparison of income inequality, date of independence, corruption, ethnic fragmentation, trust in public institutions, discrimination against minorities, history of instability, risk of labor unrest, infant mortality rate, geographical position, regime type, factionalism, GDP growth, unemployment rate and per capita income, the Cambodia Daily reported Monday.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Hun Sen calling Global Witness report “crazy”
When everybody around you is "crazy," except yourself, isn't this a symptom of "dementia"?16 Feb 2009
By Huy Vannak
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
On Monday, Hun Sen publicly reacted for the first time to the Global Witness report titled “Country for Sale,” calling it “crazy.”
From Siem Reap, Hun Sen added that the Global Witness report was published with the intention of attacking the royal government of Cambodia.
Hun Sen said: “Before, I called them (using the derogative “vea” to designate Global Witness) stupid, it was too light, I have to call them (using derogative “Ah Neung”) “crazy,” that would be more befitting. First, I want to reply to them with some rude words, it’s when a group of “crazy” people talked about corruption from oil, when all the oil money is still at the bottom of the sea. Can you all believe that the royal government can be corrupt when there is no money yet? What do you think this is? Is it a political destruction activity or is it an expression of opinion? At the end, they lose their own credibility through this nonsense and crazy report. So I am justified to say that they are “crazy” now.”
In its report, “Country for Sale,” Global Witness, a UK- and Washington-based human rights and environment protection NGO, commented that, currently, Cambodia has been carved up for sale to foreign countries by powerful people in Cambodia so that they can amass a large amount of wealth for themselves, just like what was done in the case of Cambodia’s deforestation and the appropriation of other natural resources, including fish, islands, beaches for tourist resorts, minerals, oil and gas, etc…
Global Witness added that, in the past 15 years, 45% of the total area of Cambodia was carved out for sale to investors with the collusion of Cambodian rulers.
On 12 Feb, opposition leader Sam Rainsy sent a letter to Hun Sen, asking the latter to conduct an investigation into the allegations raised by Global Witness and to report the findings back to the National Assembly as soon as possible.
However, Hun Sen rejected the above Global Witness report saying: “The [Cambodian] ambassador in the UK [Hor Nambora] lives there [in England], and Global Witness is from the UK, it (using derogatory “Ah Neung”) put curses on Cambodia nonstop. So much so that a number of “crazy” politicians in Cambodia are also using this issue to oppose the royal government as well.”
Hun Sen added: “How can there be any corruption when the oil is still under the sea, even the actual amount, we don’t know yet. Who receive corruption money? The bauxite ore is underground, the iron ore is all underground, who can be corrupt on these issues? This is not the time to talk about spending money, it is the time to look for money. I asked both the IMF and the ADB, and foreign experts who expressed their concerns, I asked them to help me find a way to make a lot of money, to help me so that the oil contracts with various foreign companies will bring the maximum revenues to Cambodia, can they help?”
From Siem Reap, Hun Sen added that the Global Witness report was published with the intention of attacking the royal government of Cambodia.
Hun Sen said: “Before, I called them (using the derogative “vea” to designate Global Witness) stupid, it was too light, I have to call them (using derogative “Ah Neung”) “crazy,” that would be more befitting. First, I want to reply to them with some rude words, it’s when a group of “crazy” people talked about corruption from oil, when all the oil money is still at the bottom of the sea. Can you all believe that the royal government can be corrupt when there is no money yet? What do you think this is? Is it a political destruction activity or is it an expression of opinion? At the end, they lose their own credibility through this nonsense and crazy report. So I am justified to say that they are “crazy” now.”
In its report, “Country for Sale,” Global Witness, a UK- and Washington-based human rights and environment protection NGO, commented that, currently, Cambodia has been carved up for sale to foreign countries by powerful people in Cambodia so that they can amass a large amount of wealth for themselves, just like what was done in the case of Cambodia’s deforestation and the appropriation of other natural resources, including fish, islands, beaches for tourist resorts, minerals, oil and gas, etc…
Global Witness added that, in the past 15 years, 45% of the total area of Cambodia was carved out for sale to investors with the collusion of Cambodian rulers.
On 12 Feb, opposition leader Sam Rainsy sent a letter to Hun Sen, asking the latter to conduct an investigation into the allegations raised by Global Witness and to report the findings back to the National Assembly as soon as possible.
However, Hun Sen rejected the above Global Witness report saying: “The [Cambodian] ambassador in the UK [Hor Nambora] lives there [in England], and Global Witness is from the UK, it (using derogatory “Ah Neung”) put curses on Cambodia nonstop. So much so that a number of “crazy” politicians in Cambodia are also using this issue to oppose the royal government as well.”
Hun Sen added: “How can there be any corruption when the oil is still under the sea, even the actual amount, we don’t know yet. Who receive corruption money? The bauxite ore is underground, the iron ore is all underground, who can be corrupt on these issues? This is not the time to talk about spending money, it is the time to look for money. I asked both the IMF and the ADB, and foreign experts who expressed their concerns, I asked them to help me find a way to make a lot of money, to help me so that the oil contracts with various foreign companies will bring the maximum revenues to Cambodia, can they help?”
Friday, April 04, 2008
Muslim claims upset Hun Sen
Friday April 04, 2008
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Bangkok Post
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Bangkok Post
PHNOM PENH : Comments by the Surayud Chulanont government last year about the involvement of Cambodian Muslims in Thailand's southern insurgency have upset Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Speaking at the Fourth Asia-Pacific Regional Interfaith Dialogue yesterday, Mr Hun Sen said tolerance and respect of other religions were important for peace and harmony.
Mr Hun Sen's remark comes two days before he is due to meet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the 2006 coup. The pair will play a game of golf together in Angkor City.
''Conflicts among certain religious followers take place due to differences in cultures and civilisations, and discrimination against each other,'' the Cambodian leader said.
''The problem in Thailand's south is its internal affair, but certain military spokesmen said Cambodian Muslims were crossing the border to help Thai militants,'' he said.
Cambodia, which denies the claims, asked Thailand not to make such remarks. Despite those requests, the military carried on making the assertions.
''I told former prime minister Surayud Chulanont that those comments were a big mistake. You [Thailand] have to solve your own problems and should not bring hard times to Cambodian Muslims.
''I asked Gen Surayud to make corrections,'' said the Cambodian premier.
''Stupid and unwise spokesmen created a small problem for everyone and their neighbours.''
Hun Sen also criticised the tendency for some commentators to link Muslims with terrorism.
The two-day Interfaith Dialogue is sponsored by Australia and New Zealand and is the first time a Buddhist country has hosted the regional meeting of various faith leaders.
Mr Hun Sen's remark comes two days before he is due to meet former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the 2006 coup. The pair will play a game of golf together in Angkor City.
''Conflicts among certain religious followers take place due to differences in cultures and civilisations, and discrimination against each other,'' the Cambodian leader said.
''The problem in Thailand's south is its internal affair, but certain military spokesmen said Cambodian Muslims were crossing the border to help Thai militants,'' he said.
Cambodia, which denies the claims, asked Thailand not to make such remarks. Despite those requests, the military carried on making the assertions.
''I told former prime minister Surayud Chulanont that those comments were a big mistake. You [Thailand] have to solve your own problems and should not bring hard times to Cambodian Muslims.
''I asked Gen Surayud to make corrections,'' said the Cambodian premier.
''Stupid and unwise spokesmen created a small problem for everyone and their neighbours.''
Hun Sen also criticised the tendency for some commentators to link Muslims with terrorism.
The two-day Interfaith Dialogue is sponsored by Australia and New Zealand and is the first time a Buddhist country has hosted the regional meeting of various faith leaders.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Car siren sound prohibited on Russian Federation Blvd [so that it wouldn’t interrupt Hun Sen's speech anymore?]
Thursday, March 6, 2008Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Prime minister Hun Sen ordered the Phnom Penh city governor to install signs prohibiting the sounding of car siren along the Russian Federation Blvd, between the Tuol Kok stop light and the hospital for monks. Hun Sen said that this stretch of the boulevard is filled with education institutions and hospitals, therefore, cars crossing this area should not sound their siren. This issue was raised following the siren sounding of cars traveling in this area which interrupted Hun Sen’s speech during the distribution of diplomas for students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh on 05 March. Hun Sen said that he told the city governor to install signs to stop the sounding of siren once already, but that this illegal act is still taking place. He said that only cars belonging to government leaders are preceded by a siren sounding car, therefore Hun Sen asked: “Why do you have to show off, are you afraid people wouldn’t notice you?” Hun Sen added that: “I told the VIPs once already, just tone it down.” Hun Sen said that car convoys with siren sound should be those for national or international delegates, fire trucks, and ambulances which require urgency.
Monday, June 11, 2007
A close-up study of Hun Sen's expression
Top 3 photos: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at a ceremony to inaugurate the construction of a Chinese-funded bridge at Prek Kdam village 35km (22 miles) north of Phnom Penh June 11, 2007. REUTERS/Stringer
Bottom 2 photos: Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen talks at a ceremony to inaugurate construction of a Chinese-funded bridge at Prek Kdam village, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, June 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
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