Hun Sen: we won’t be bought [...'cause we are already paid in full by China!!!]

Prime Minister Hun Sen delivers a speech to the ASEAN delegates during a press conference yesterday afternoon. (Photo by Meng Kimlong)

Thursday, 05 April 2012
Shane Worrell with additional reporting by Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

After a week of global media reports dissecting Cambodia’s relationship with China, Prime Minister Hun Sen had apparently had enough yesterday – lashing out at the media and analysts he termed “crazy” in what proved an unexpected conclusion to the 20th ASEAN Summit.

The premier spent a good part of the concluding press conference defending his government from claims that China was buying its support.

“Cambodia is not [being] bought by anyone (sic!),” he said, referring to the millions of dollars in loans and aid Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged on Saturday.

Hun Sen went on to praise China at length for “saving” the ASEAN economy in 1997 and showing generosity to Europe during the 2008 economic crisis, but insisted he had never felt pressure from Chinese leaders to “do this or do that”.

That, of course, was precisely the suggestion of some analysts, who posited that last weekend’s visit by Hu had been made with the intention of enlisting Cambodia’s aid in squelching debate on the controversial South China Sea issue.

លោកហ៊ុន សែន រិះគន់​លោកសម រង្ស៊ី​ និង​អ្នកវិភាគ​លើបញ្ហា​សមុទ្រចិន​ខាងត្បូង​

លោកហ៊ុន សែន រិះគន់​​អ្នកវិភាគ​លើបញ្ហា​សមុទ្រចិន​ខាងត្បូង​ (RFI)

ថ្ងៃ ពុធ 04 មេសា 2012
ដោយ លាង ដឺលុច
RFI

អ្នក​កាសែត​ អ្នក​វិភាគ​ និង​រួម​ទាំង​​លោក​សម រង្ស៊ី​ផង ​បាន​ក្លាយ​ជា​ប្រធានបទ​នៃ​ការ​រិះគន់​របស់​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុន សែន ​នៅក្នុង​សំណុំរឿង​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាងត្បូង។ ​លោក​ហ៊ុន សែន​បាន​ថ្លែង​ការ​រិះគន់​នេះ​នៅ​ក្នុង​សន្និសីទ​កាសែត​បិទ​បញ្ចប់​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​កំពូល​អាស៊ាន​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ​ទី​៤​មេសា​នេះ។ លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​ជា​ប្រធាន​អាស៊ាន​បាន​រិះគន់​អ្នក​កាសែត​មួយ​ចំនួន អ្នក​វិភាគ​និង​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង ដោយសារ​តែ​អ្នក​ទាំង​នោះ​បាន​ធ្វើ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​នៅ​មុន​ពេល​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​អាស៊ាន ថា​អវត្តមាន​នៃ​របៀប​វារៈ​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាងត្បូង​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​កំពូល​អាស៊ាន ​គឺ​ដោយសារ​ឥទ្ធិពល​របស់​ចិន។

សន្និសីទ​កាសែត​ជាង​កន្លះ​ម៉ោង​នៅ​ក្រោយ​ការ​បិទ​បញ្ចប់​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​កំពូល​អាស៊ាន​ ត្រូវ​បាន​គ្រប​ដណ្តប់​ដោយ​បញ្ហា​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាង​ត្បូង។​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុន សែន​ក្នុង​ឋានៈ​ជា​ប្រធាន​អាស៊ាន​បាន​អាន​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​មេដឹកនាំ​អាស៊ាន​រួច​ហើយ​ដែល​សំដៅ​ការ​ពង្រឹងនិង​ពង្រីក​សហគមន៍​អាស៊ាន​តែ​មួយ។

ប៉ុន្តែ​សំណួរ​តែ​មួយ​របស់​អ្នកកាសែត​ទាក់ទងនឹង​ការ​ជជែក​របស់​មេដឹកនាំ​អាស៊ាន​ជុំវិញ​បញ្ហា​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាងត្បូង ​បាន​ផ្តល់​វេទិកា​អោយ​លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​កម្ពុជា​ទំលាយ​អារម្មណ៍​តានតឹង​របស់​លោក​ដែល​លោក​ថា ធុញទ្រាន់​ជាង​មួយ​ខែ​ហើយ​ ​នៅ​មុន​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​កំពូល​អាស៊ាន​នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​លោក​ឮ​សារព័ត៌មាន​ អ្នកវិភាគ ​និង​លោក​សម រង្ស៊ី​ដែល​ជា​ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ផង​នោះ ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​អំពី​ការ​មិនមាន​ប្រធានបទ​ស្តី​ពី​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាងត្បូង ​ហើយ​ថា​ប្រការ​នេះ​គឺ​ដោយសារ​តែ​កម្ពុជា​ទទួល​ឥទ្ធិពល​ពី​ចិន​នោះ។


លោក​ហ៊ុន សែន​បាន​ចាត់ទុក​ការ​អត្ថាធិប្បាយ​បែប​នេះ ថា​ជា​ការ​និយាយ​បែប​ល្ងង់ខ្លៅ ​និង​មិន​មាន​មូលដ្ឋាន​នៃ​ចំណេះដឹង​ជ្រៅជ្រះ​នោះ​ឡើយ។ ជាមួយ​នឹង​ការ​និយាយ​ការពារ​ថា កម្ពុជា​មិនមែន​ជា​ទំនិញ​ដែល​ចិន​តថ្លៃ ហើយ​ថា​កម្ពុជា​ជា​រដ្ឋ​អធិបតេយ្យ​មួយ​ដែរ​នោះ លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា​ ការ​ជជែក​អំពី​បញ្ហា​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាង​ត្បូង​ត្រូវ​តែ​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​នៅក្នុង​រាល់​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​អាស៊ាន​ជា​ធម្មតា។ ហើយ​ថា ការ​ជជែក​នេះ​ដែល​ស្ថិត​នៅ​ក្នុង​ក្របខណ្ឌ​អាស៊ាន-ចិន​នោះ ​បាន​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​តាំង​ពី​១០​ឆ្នាំ​មុន ពោល​គឺ​ការ​ចុះ​ហត្ថលេខា​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​២០០២ លើ​សេចក្តី​ថ្លែងការណ៍​ស្តី​ពី​ការ​អនុវត្តន៍​របស់​ភាគី​ក្នុង​បញ្ហា​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាង​ត្បូង។ ប៉ុន្តែថា នៅ​ត្រង់​នេះ លោក​​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក៏​បាន​ប្រកាស​រួច​ហើយ​ដែរ​ថា នឹង​មិន​មាន​ការ​ជ្រៀតជ្រែក​ពី​ភាគី​ទីបី​ណា​ទៀត ក្រៅ​ពី​ចិន​និង​អាស៊ាន​ក្នុង​បញ្ហា​សមុទ្រ​ចិន​ខាង​ត្បូង​នេះទេ៕

The land-grabbing 7NG Company is crazy: Hun Xen

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

PM Hun Xen issued a direct warning to the 7NG Company (KI-Media note: the 7NG Company was involved in the Dey Krahorm land-grabbing and forced eviction) which was planning to build a bridge from Phnom Penh to Arey-ksatr. Hun Xen scolded this dumb and thoughtless company that wants to use the Hun Xen park as the bridge entrance. Hun Xen issued his scolding during the inauguration of a 100-km long road linking Siem Reap province to the Poipet area on 28 December 2009. Hun Xen said: “They (CDC) gave authorization to create problems. As for the funding, I did not think about it yet, but the negotiation problem is to divide the city in two, I don’t understand and I wrote back for them (CDC) to discuss with the city hall because they (7NG) want to build a bridge from Chrauy Changvar to Hun Xen park, and they think they can do it because if the bridge is built across the river, in order to allow boat passage, they have to raise the height of the bridge. Therefore the bridge entrance must reach the Samdech Chuon Nath roundabout.” Hun Xen scolded the Council for the Development Cambodia (CDC) for allowing such plan to be considered as it is a waste of time.

Talking about historical truth: Mr. Hun Xen, you were part of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime, were you not?

(Photo: Reuters)

Hun Xen pushes for the telling of Cambodia’s true history

Monday, August 24, 2009
Kampuchea Thmei newspaper
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

Hun Xen is pushing for a general telling of Cambodia’s true past history. He indicated that it is better that there is no fear in telling the truth about history.

On 21 August, Hun Xen said in a forum held in a thatched roof building located in the middle of rice fields in Bakan district, Pursat province, that “historical truth cannot be hidden, and even Duch said in court that tamarind leaves shouldn’t be used to hide a dead elephant,” Hun Xen added that: “04 April 1970 was the date I entered the resistance movement, through the appeal made by then-Prince Sihanouk, to fight the aggression, and it was this aggression that begot Pol Pot. If there were no aggressors, no Lonnolians and their coup d’état to topple Prince Sihanouk, maybe our country would not be damaged like it is.”

Hun Xen said that: “A number of people who do not know history well, they never dare to speak out because they are afraid the US will cut their aid. But, for me, I don’t need to be afraid because this is the truth.” Hun Xen added: “Who didn’t know that the US brought in their troops to Cambodia? Who didn’t know that “Ah” [derogatory] Thieu-Ky [of South Vietnam] came to Cambodia? A number of ASEAN countries came to Cambodia also: they were Thailand, the Philippines, they came to Cambodia. We are not afraid to talk about this issue. Even today, the remains of the dead US soldiers cannot all be found yet, why should we hide historical facts?”

Hun Xen added: “Don’t be afraid to tell the historical truth that, indeed, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979, but we must also talk about why the US came? Why South Vietnam came? And why France, Japan came to Cambodia in the past?” Hun Xen declared: “I want to talk about history because some are very scared, they do not dare, when it affects the US, they always say that they are independent, but in their true nature, they are not independent.”

Hun Xen added: “Some foreigners wrote strategy to advise me, but don’t assume that I don’t have people near me, gentlemen. I am naming them directly: a German man wrote the strategy for a political party, a US man also wrote the strategy for a political party as well. As I used to say, these [foreigners] are not worth it.” Hun Xen added: “They rely on the US, on the West, but they are worthless.”

Hun Sen and the dubious diplomas [-How about his own numerous and worthless PhDs?]

Dubious degree?

Another dubious degree?

19 March 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

On Wednesday 18 march, during the closing of the meeting for the work tally for the ministry of Education, Hun Sen recognized that the quality of the Cambodian education system is limited.

“I noted that some Master and PhD degrees are too easy to obtain, and there are too many already. Cambodia must be the only country with so many diplomas. Furthermore, there are people who offer to ghost-write thesis!” Hun Sen indicated.

According to Hun Sen, competency must prime over the diplomas: “I don’t look at diplomas. To me, they must show competency. Some Master and PhD degree holders do not even know how to use a computer!” Hun Sen also cited the example set by Kuwait where the number of candidates to higher education is limited to 25. In Cambodia, hundreds of students obtain their Master or PhD degrees.

According the PM, the hiring of new civil servants or employees will be done though testing and not based on the diploma presented: “As an ASEAN member, our country needs human resources capable of working with our partners. However, when a PhD in international relations does not even know what ASEAN is, and what country it is made up of, it is a serious issue.”

Rong Chhun, President the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), welcomes Hun Sen’s acknowledgment of the reality of the Cambodian education system. “We are optimist because we have a lot of human resources, but we cannot compare the quality of Cambodia’s human resources to those of the neighboring countries. It is a shame for us, and I hope that the government will respect the declaration made by the PM,” Rong Chhun indicated while adding that education without quality is like a poisonous pill because it makes the situation worst.

According to the yearly report by the ministry of Education, Cambodia has 1,634 maternal schools, 6,476 primary schools, 1,006 junior high schools, 315 high schools and 77 higher education institutions both public and private. These higher education institutions receive more that 130,000 students, 864 of whom are pursuing a PhD degree, 11,681 a master degree, 110,000 a bachelor degree and 14,857 in preparation classes for a bachelor program.

Hun Sen's gambling directive not aired: Gasp! The CPP-controlled news media is not fully controlled by Hun Sen after all?

In Brief: Gambling directive not aired, says PM

Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Written by Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen blasted national and private television companies on Monday for not broadcasting his directive on the regulation of gambling machines. "I issued the directive on December 5, but broadcasts only started on December 19," the premier said Monday during a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education. The directive states that all Cambodians are forbidden to play slot machines and that all stand alone machines must be fully licensed and kept only in private rooms at hotel and leisure complexes.

Hun Sen comments on his vouching for Dam Sith’s bail release

15 June 2008
By Chea Makara
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Sunday, Prime minister Hun Sen commented about his vouching for the bail release of Dam Sith, the SRP MP candidate, saying that his action was not done by pressuring the tribunal.

Hun Sen made this declaration during a ground breaking ceremony for the Prek Phnov bridge, in the suburb of Phnom Penh: “Yesterday, I requested for the release of a journalist, and don’t be mistaken that this was a pressure made on anyone. I remained silent, but, when I saw that in this situation this person (Dam Sith) could not escape to anywhere, and the court is progressing according to the law as normal, therefore, I asked the court to resolve that way, it’s another matter for the court. Sometimes, they said that it (the court) is under such and such pressure instead, that we want to get such and such vote, the issue turns into that instead. Don’t worry, when the court sentence him to jail, he will certainly be jailed, don’t be surprised. Now, I only vouch him for his bail release only. When the court sentence him actually, it depends on luck, we will get whatever we want, no matter what, we will get whatever we want. But, this is not a criminal case like Heng Pov’s case, therefore, I am just delaying it, the others should not be fed up.”

Hun Sen being fooled by SRP defectors again?

Cambodian PM blasts alleged drug use comment by opposition party

PHNOM PENH, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun has strongly refuted alleged accusations by the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) that he had used drugs, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily said Tuesday.

SRP defectors told him that party president Sam Rainsy had said that the premier's cigarettes were laced with drugs, the paper quoted Hun Sen as telling recent ceremonies.

"If I smoked drugs, they would have already died. If I used drugs, I would have ordered tanks to destroy them. I could order the military to kill them because I would have a mental problem if I were drug-addicted," he said.

"Drug-addicted people, they even attack their parents," he said.

Meanwhile, Sam Rainsy denied that he had made such remarks.

Both Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and SRP have been approved to join the general election in July, which will establish the kingdom's fourth government.

Hun Sen said that CPP will score landslide victory, while SRP vowed that it can win premiership.

Political Cartoon: "Ah": Cambodia Daily

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

Groups Lament Attacks in Hun Sen Speeches

A furious Hun Sen is seen pointing at reporters in front of the National Assembly (Photo: Sralanh Khmer file)

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 March 2008

In recent speeches, Prime Minister Hun Sen has blasted both his coalition partner and the opposition party.

Party officials said this week they were not worried the speeches would hurt them in the upcoming national election, but at least one rights worker said the speeches were disappointing in their negativity.

Over the past month, Hun Sen has publicly mocked the Sam Rainsy Party, especially following defections of party members to the CPP.

On March 8, speaking during a groundbreaking ceremony in Pursat province, Hun Sen not only criticized Sam Rainsy, but also Funcinpec, the government coalition partner, for defections.

In addition, Hun Sen warned Funcinpec last week not to campaign on a platform that a vote for Funcinpec was a vote for the CPP. If you want Hun Sen as prime minister, he said, you vote CPP.

Prince Sisowath Siriwath, a high-ranking member of Funcinpec, denied the party would campaign this way, adding that he was not worried the prime minister's speeches would hurt the party's popularity.

Eng Chhai Eang, secretary-general of the Sam Rainsy Party, said Hun Sen's criticism reflected his fear of a loss of power. Such speeches attacked the "main rival" of the ruling party, the opposition, he said.

The speeches marked a negativity ahead of the campaign that should be avoided, one leading rights worker said.

Kek Galabru, president of Licadho, said that she did not want to see politicians criticize each other. Rather, she said, they should inform voters of the principals of the party.

The Sam Rainsy Party and Funcinpec should still be considered competitors against the CPP, as both have seats in parliament, said Koul Panha, executive director of Committee for Free and Fair Elections. Voters could change their minds about parties, so the CPP must be cautious about the two, he said.

Cambodia has 57 political parties, but only 44 of them have registered at the Interior Ministry, Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, said, five more than in the last national election.

Cambodian PM doubts service pattern of foreign experts [- He should doubt his own gov't officials also, especially those surrounding him]

June 07, 2007

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed doubt on Thursday about the service pattern of some foreign consultants working for donor countries' development projects in Cambodia.

These experts used to be paid dearly, but unable to contribute original initiative to the kingdom, he told a symposium about the partnership between the government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

"We can't accept this. They should have shame for these affairs, " he said.

When donor countries provide technical assistance to Cambodia, they request the government to hire foreign experts at high expenses (to carry out relevant projects), thus collecting their money back and making Cambodia receive nothing, he said.

Some consultants just stay at five-star hotels, hire Cambodian students to conduct survey for them, compose their reports on basis of the survey and finally tell the government that this is their achievement, said the premier.

"They steal Cambodian initiatives...This is corruption of intellectual property rights," he said, adding that this should be changed.

Cambodia also needs to strengthen its capacity to finish such projects with its own national staff, he said.

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the region and almost half of its annual government budget was met by donor countries in recent years.

Source: Xinhua

Cambodian leader voices uncertainty about offshore oil potential

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, smokes as he sits with Interior Minister Sar Kheng, left, and Finance Minister Keat Chhun, right, during the inauguration of the China-funded construction of a bridge in Mouk Kampoul district, Kandal province, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Phnom Pen, Cambodia, Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Hun Sen said Wednesday that there is still uncertainty about commercial viability of Cambodian offshore oil potential, apparently backtracking from his previous optimistic notes on the subject. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

2007-06-06

MOUK KAMPOUL, Cambodia (AP) - Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that there is still uncertainty about the commercial viability of Cambodian offshore oil deposits, qualifying his earlier optimism over their potential.

In February, Hun Sen raised hopes of a brighter future for his impoverished nation when he said Cambodia expects to begin tapping oil revenues in 2010.

«Whether it will be a curse or blessing, in fact it is still under the seabed, and it is still unknown how much there is,» he said Wednesday.

«What if one day companies say, 'Oh, no, after exploration, it has no commercial viability?' Oil under the sea is still a dream,» he said.

Hun Sen spoke during a ceremony to begin construction of a Chinese-funded bridge at a village about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the capital Phnom Penh.

China is among several countries that have lined up for opportunities to explore oil off the coast of Sihanoukville, in Cambodia's southwest.

U.S. energy giant Chevron Corp. discovered oil in 2005 off the Cambodian coast, 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Sihanoukville. The company found oil in four wells in an area called Block A, and plans to drill 10 more wells by the end of 2007.

Critics and observers have expressed concerns that increased income from oil could exacerbate Cambodia's already widespread corruption if the government fails to develop proper legal environment to manage the expected revenues.

Hun Sen said Wednesday he is fed up with that point of view, and that «it is better to think about how to maintain growth of the current economy.»

In a statement issued Tuesday at the end of a mission to Cambodia Tuesday, an International Monetary Fund delegation warned that there is still much uncertainty about whether Cambodia will become a significant oil producer.

The IMF said it would be «imprudent» for the government to undertake any large commercial borrowing or begin any major oil infrastructure projects «given the substantial uncertainty still surrounding the level of reserves and the timing of production.»

Hun Sen's criticisms on UN Envoy Yash Ghai

04 June 2007
By Lim Piseth
Radio Free Asia

The following is an audio report in Khmer by RFA's Lim Piseth on Hun Sen's speech criticizing UN Envoy Yash Ghai.

Click here to listen to the Lim Piseth's report

PM to Yash Ghai: Not in a Thousand Years [- Does Hun Sen expect to remain in power for 1,000 years, let alone live that long?]

Sakada Chun, VOA Khmer
04/06/2007

Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at UN rights envoy Yash Ghai again Monday, saying the premier would not meet with the special representative if they were both in Cambodia for a thousand more years.

Ghai is expected to hand an unflattering rights report to the UN next month, in which the government is accused of systematic abuse, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Hun Sen said at a bridge inauguration in Takeo province Monday the report was a reflection of the UN's desire to stay in the country, not reality.

"But this is what they say, and [Yash Ghai] comes from a country that is violating human rights too," Hun Sen said. "You come to our country and you are not received. You put in a request to meet, you come, you stay 1,000 more years, and if I live 1,000 more years, I still will not meet you. You have your own rights, and I have my own rights."

Hun Sen: UN Envoy destroying Cambodia's int'l reputation to collect his own salary - But, Yash Ghai's receives no salary from the UN

Monday, June 04, 2007
Cambodian prime minister lashes out at UN envoy

Phnom Penh (dpa) - A UN human-rights envoy who visited last week was unnecessary, unwelcome and bent on destroying Cambodia's international reputation in the interests of collecting his own salary, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday.

In a speech broadcast on national media, Hun Sen reiterated earlier promises that he would never agree to work with Yash Ghai, the UN human-rights envoy to Cambodia, telling the Kenyan he should get his own country's human-rights record in order before daring to criticize Cambodia.

"You said the Cambodian government violates human rights systematically. This seems to me a very strong term," Hun Sen said at a series of bridge inaugurations in Kandal province just outside the capital.

"This guy comes from a country which completely violates human rights," the premier added. "You can come here, but I do not need you. If I live to be more than 1,000 years old, I will still never meet with you, so please do not come to see me. The prime minister is not obliged to meet you."

Ghai's visit was meant to gather additional background before he presents his report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva later this month.

In it, he accuses the Cambodian government of systematic human-rights abuses, derides wielded by the government and laments the country's notoriously inept judicial system as a tool of oppressionwide-scale land grabs by the rich and powerful.

He was snubbed by all members of the government during his visit except for Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.

Hun Sen said Ghai's report could be compared to a Cambodian proverb that says the dog barks, but the ox cart still rolls forward.

"However, I will not compare you to a dog," he said, referring to Yash Ghai. "They try to destroy us from Geneva, but we strengthen human rights ourselves."

The Interior Ministry on Friday issued a press release that did not deny human-rights abuses existed in the country but claimed Ghai's report was unfair, biased and failed to acknowledge any progress the government had made, focusing instead only on negatives.

Ghai has been consistently critical of the Cambodian government's human rights record during three visits to the country since he took over the position from Peter Leuprecht in 2005, and Hun Sen's speech Monday indicated that his relationship with the government would not improve in the foreseeable future.

Hun Sen said Monday that he had told former UN secretary general Kofi Annan personally that he never expected to hear a good report on Cambodia's human-rights record while the human-rights envoy worked for a salary.

"If you say good things about the government's human-rights efforts, you will lose your salary," he said, adding that he viewed UN human-rights officials as tourists.

"But do not worry. I will not close your office because you rent out the homes of Cambodian people and they pay the government 10-per-cent tax. Bring 500, 1,000 more to work here," he said.

The dog barks while the man just keeps walking: Only Hun Sen's voice is heard from Phnom Penh, whereas Yash Ghai walked out of Cambodia already

2007-06-04
Cambodian leader says he will shun UN human rights envoy in retaliation for criticism

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday he will shun forever a senior U.N. envoy who sharply criticized his government's human rights record.

It was the latest scathing attack Hun Sen has unleashed against Yash Ghai, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for human rights in Cambodia.

Last year, Hun Sen called Ghai «totally deranged» after the U.N. envoy criticized the prime minister for centralizing too much power in his own hands, and the government for its poor human rights record.

Ghai was in Cambodia again last week to try to elicit official comment on a report he is to submit to the U.N. Human Rights Commission this month. He asked for a meeting with Hun Sen, but did not get one.

In the report Ghai accuses the government of committing systematic human rights abuses.

Hun Sen said in a nationally broadcast speech Monday that Ghai's accusations are unbelievable and very grave.

He did not mention Ghai, from Kenya, by name, but referred to him as a «person who came from a country where human rights abuses are being committed.»

«You came, but I refused to see you,» Hun Sen said.

«If I live for another 1,000 years, I will never want to see you. You enjoy your rights, and so do I mine. As a prime minister, I bear no obligation to see that guy,» he said.

In his report to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, Ghai will express deep concerns about land-grabbing by the powerful, and government land concessions given to business interests that have adversely affected many Cambodians, including ethnic minority groups, his office said in a statement last week.

Hun Sen also described the U.N. human rights staffers in Cambodia as «long-term tourists» who would find themselves jobless if they reported favorably about his government's human rights record.

But he said he has no plans to shut down their office because their presence has helped the local economy through property rentals and taxes.

He said the U.N. human rights workers can continue shouting about human rights and the government can keep ignoring them, «just like a Cambodian adage that says the dog barks while the man just keeps walking.»

Criticisms over beer smuggling report

Thursday, May 31, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized a report indicating that Cambodia lost about $20 million in revenue from imported beer. During a ceremony for the distribution of student diploma on Wednesday, Hun Sen called this report an exaggeration of the truth. Hun Sen said: “so each of the 14 million people must drink 12 liters (of beer) from young children, women, monks, if we count all 14 million people, each one must drink 12 liters. We recognize that beer is smuggled in, but it is limited, this limit (as reported) is way overrated. This type of study is a money-wasted study, and it cannot correct the activities of the Custom Department, nor can it correct any measures.” Hun Sen’s criticism does not seem to point to any organization in particular, however, the Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC) recently reported that Cambodia lost about $22 million last year because of beer smuggling from abroad without paying tax, beer is mainly smuggled in from Singapore and Thailand.

Hun Sen: He fled because he wants to live abroad

Thursday, May 31, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

RFA reporter Keo Nimol – whose real name is Um Sarin – whom Hun Sen labeled as an ‘insolent reporter,’ is reported to have fled out of the country to Bangkok, Thailand, where he is asking the UNHCR for help. During a ceremony for the distribution of student diploma on Wednesday, Hun Sen raised the issue of Keo Nimol by saying: “There are some people who want to benefit, he really want to go (live) abroad, so the other day he was still asking me questions in front of the National Assembly, but he now fled to Bangkok already because he is afraid for his personal safety, and he went to ask for help from the UNHCR. If there are many of this type of person, it’s also good, this one guy fled all the way to Bangkok because he is afraid for his personal safety just because Mr. Hun Sen scolded him. I talk frankly to him, like real brothers, that he should know how to ask question, but he was sacred for his safety because he wants to go live abroad. If he wants to go live abroad, there is only one way (for him to use as excuse): political threat, and in this manner he can ask for political refugee status. If he is allowed to, let him go, it is better this way, it would be less heavier for Cambodia soil.”

Hun Sen: Prime Minister position cannot be begged for, nor can the king have the right to offer it [- Hun Sen forgot what he did in 1993]

Thursday, May 31, 2007
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the prime minister position cannot be begged for, and the king does not have the right to offer it either if the population does not vote for it.

Hun Sen raised this issue during a diploma distribution ceremony to Norton University students on 30 May 2007, held at the National Institute of Education.

The issue raised by Hun Sen seems to be related to his desire to reveal a story invented by a political party to defame him. Hun Sen said that it was just too much: last 12 May, the day when Hun Sen visited King-Father and Queen-Mother, the date coincided also with a group of people [NRP officials] who visited King Sihamoni to ask the latter to pardon a person who was sentenced by the court [Ranariddh].

Hun Sen added that this is merely a coincidence, but they (NRP officials?) created a problem by saying: ‘Samdech (Hun Sen) went to ask King-Father and Queen-Mother to help him preserve his prime minister position.’ Hun Sen also said: ‘The east interferes and the west pressures,’ later on, they said it directly: ‘The US pressures Vietnam, Vietnam pressures Hun Sen to leave his position,’ and another guy said: ‘when in need, he knows how to seek help from the king.’

Hun Sen told King-Father that: “I don’t ask for anything, if the CPP does not win, I cannot be the prime minister either, because the prime minister position cannot be begged for, and the king has no right to offer it either.”

Hun Sen criticized those who organized such strategy, those who made such comments, and he wondered how can this type of individuals be selected as political party leaders. Hun Sen added that the constitution clearly stipulates that the king shall appoint a person issued from the wining party as the prime minister, but if there is no winning, how could one become a prime minister? Hun Sen said that the Vietnamese pressures to have Sok An installed as the prime minister, and for Hun Sen to become the president of the National Assembly, but Hun Sen refused this imposed condition, that was why he (allegedly) went to ask King-Father for help.

'Strangely Transformed' Hun Sen Hints At Loss of Monopoly on Premier's Post

11 May 07
By Mut Sruoch
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online

After Hun Sen was not seen in public or heard of for a while, various circles were quite surprised when he showed up for the first time and hinted that his prime ministerial post would not last much longer.

During a recent graduation ceremony at the National Human Resources Institute, in an apparent slip of the tongue strongman Hun Sen stated that in the future as he is getting older he would not be able to hold on to his prime minister's post forever.

Hun Sen apparently forced himself to say with a gloomy face, "How much longer can we live? For me, I think that if I can live on for another 30 years it would already be good enough, but this does not mean that I will be able to stay in power in all these 30 years. What we are doing today, first, we are doing it for our children and grandchildren in generations to come. We must leave behind good results for them, a good legacy, so that they will not suffer like us."

Hun Sen's above-cited remark was totally contrary to what he said in the past when he usually claimed that he would continue to be prime minister until his 99th birthday. However, now after it was rumored that Hun Sen had a bad case of influenza and that there was an internal fight within the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] between the Chea Sim faction and the Hun Sen faction it was very strange that this strongman suddenly softened his attitude.

Why is Hun Sen afraid to talk about being prime minister until the people stop voting for the CPP? This means that in the CPP Hun Sen is not the only one who has the competence to be prime minister, for the CPP also has Sar Kheng in reserve to replace Hun Sen.

In the past, the Chea Sim group was not very happy with the Hun Sen group, for the latter was known as a group of power grabbers inconsiderate of the party's old guard.

Lately, because Chea Sim has become more advanced in age and has had many illnesses, he has expressed his wish to resign from the post of CPP president and nominate Sar Kheng as his replacement. This idea, it was rumored, was supported by several elders in the CPP.

However, a source whispered that Hun Sen was adamantly against Sar Kheng's appointment as CPP president, claiming that without Chea Sim around, the post of party president should automatically come to him because he is vice-president of the party.

This means that if this piece of news is true situation monitors in general can assess that Hun Sen really is a man with an insatiable taste for power.

The source further disclosed that the members of the CPP's old guard, as well as the Chea Sim faction, although not satisfied with Hun Sen's act do not show any impatience or exasperation at the strongman's arrogance. They agreed to let Hun Sen take over the post of CPP president, but he must withdraw his prime ministerial candidacy.

However, Hun Sen has always bragged that he is just a little more than 50 years old, meaning that he may have sufficient strength to continue leading the country. Furthermore, Hun Sen once indirectly censured an unnamed party elder, saying that he was too old but still wanted power. What does he want to do with power? This shows his ambition has no end, Hun Sen said.

Observers have noted that the conflict inside the CPP is ripe. One day it will erupt into the open. However, because the CPP has Vietnam as the drafter of its strategic path to follow, it has been able to contain this volatile conflict situation to these days.

While one senior Vietnamese official after another came to Cambodia in an uninterrupted flow, Hun Sen suddenly went off the public screen. According to some information, Hun Sen was down with influenza. Other sources claimed that Hun Sen was not happy because of pressure from Vietnam concerning the internal conflict in the CPP. So he decided to take a rest in his Tiger's Lair at Tuol Krasang.

Now that Hun Sen reappeared in public, he talked about the prime ministerial post in a hint to forewarn that he might not be lucky enough to be Cambodia's prime minister until he is 99 years old. This also means that the Chea Sim group might have won a degree of advantage over the Hun Sen group.

Moreover, Hun Sen, who frequently used unstintingly rude words when talking over the microphone, was strangely transformed when he reemerged recently, for he complained that in his life as prime minister he found it very difficult when having to show up in public or in crowded places.

Critics said that if Hun Sen knew that it was so difficult and painful, why did he not resign from the post of prime minister and become an ordinary citizen?

Some circles believed that what Hun Sen recently said certainly was something new for Hun Sen's political life, especially the uncertainty surrounding the prime ministerial post, for the longer Hun Sen has remained prime minister, the greater the monopoly of power he has accumulated for himself, which can be dangerous to the country.