Thailand preparing coup?

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday accused neighbouring Thailand of preparing a coup against his government as the war of words between the neighbouring nations worsened. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Dec 24, 2009
AFP

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday accused neighbouring Thailand of preparing a coup against his government as the war of words between the neighbouring nations worsened.

Mr Hun Sen said he had seen a secret Thai government document outlining the plan to mount a coup, which he said he had passed to Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni to show the 'bad character of our neighbouring leaders'.

'In your secret document it says that although the (Thai) foreign ministry does not agree to stage a coup in Cambodia... others are working on it,' Mr Hun Sen said. 'Don't even think about it. I know who is doing this,' he added, during a speech at a provincial ceremony.

The Cambodian premier said he had also seen documents that showed Thailand has considered waging war against its neighbour. 'You have outlined bad scenarios, including preparing to wage war against Cambodia,' he said.

Mr Hun Sen's comments follow the leaking of a document in Thailand last week, written by the Thai foreign minister to premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, in which the worsening relations between the two countries are analysed.

Relations between the countries, which have fought a string of deadly gunbattles on their border since last year, plunged last month when fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra became an economic adviser to Cambodia.

Hun Sen warned that he’ll have Thai airplanes trespassing into Cambodian airspace shot down

01 July 2009
Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime minister Hun Sen issued a warning to neighboring Thailand, which is currently embroiled in a border dispute with Cambodia, that it should be careful with its planes so that they never fly into Cambodian airspace otherwise danger awaits them because Cambodian soldiers cannot hold back.

Hun Sen made this declaration during a ceremony to distribute diploma for 975 students from the Norton University on 30 June 2009.

Hun Sen also talked about the explosion incident which took place in the evening of 28 June and which was caused by the inattention of two soldiers who lit up their matches to look at the gas tank of their truck and caused a fire which led to the explosion of 29 BM-21 rockets loaded on the same truck. The explosion injured 2 persons, and Hun Sen said that Cambodia had these ammunitions since long ago, and they are not new. Each of the rockets costs $3,000 and Cambodia does not want to boast that these are merely medium-size ammunitions, [in fact Cambodia] has even larger size [ammunitions] than these and the exploded ammunitions make up only about 1% [of the total].

Hun Sen added that he frankly told Thailand’s defense minister and its deputy-PM during their meeting with him last weekend that [Thailand] should be careful with its planes trespassing into Cambodian airspace. Hun Sen added that earlier, Cambodia destroyed 270 shoulder-launched missiles, but Cambodia has replaced them with even more modern ones and he cannot order those who have their fingers on the trigger. Therefore, Thailand should be careful and look at its maps properly and not fly into someone else’s airspace. Hun Sen said: “I am telling you frankly that even if each missile costs $200,000, I will still buy them.” Hun Sen added: “I am concerned that they fly into [our airspace] when they are transporting Thai leaders in them, because we do not have planes to fly back and forth, only Thailand flies airplanes and they circle them around, what if those who are below can not hold back.”

Hun Sen said that he frankly told Thailand that the number of Cambodian soldiers along the border will remain the same, and there is no troops pullout as long as the 30 [Thai soldiers] are not being pulled out, their bones will be [buried] there.”

Regarding his private meeting with Suthep Thaugsuban, Thailand’s deputy-PM, on 27 June at his residence in Takhmao, Hun Sen said: “Samlor Kor-ko (mixed vegetable soup allegedly cooked by his wife) was very good” because, like what Hun Sen said before, there were no discussions about Preah Vihear temple.

Hun Sen added that, nevertheless, in this issue, he is not boasting to Thailand. Thailand has more modern weapons than Cambodia, and it has more troops than Cambodia: Thailand had 300,000 troops, and Cambodia has only 100,000 soldiers. However, in the national defense, Cambodia will be pleased to oblige Thailand to the end. Hun Sen added that: “We don’t want war with neighboring countries, but it is an automatic right to defend when it comes to one’s border.”

Hun Sen also criticized [Singapore] Channel News Asia which falsely reported that he discussed Preah Vihear issue with Thailand’s ministers. In reality, whatever Hun Sen said, that’s how it was, and there was no need to talk about Preah Vihear issue. We have several issues to discuss with each other, including the overlapped maritime sea area between the two countries in order to bring in joint development, and also the border problems between the two countries where tension and confrontations must be lowered.”

To conclude, Hun Sen claimed: “I will not lose a single minute to tell the Thai counterpart to pull their troop out of Cambodia. It is a fact that I have to tell them, if I forget this point, it means that I am forgetting my own nation.” Hun Sen added that this is the actual problem, but the results will have to wait for the upcoming negotiations.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Professor Hun Xen

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

The thief of the Nation: Opposition and NGO officials are corrupt, they have money to fly in and out of the country

"For the [immunity] lifting, 91 [MPs] voted [to lift the] Phnom Penh [MP], and 90 [MPs] voted to [lift the] Kampot [MP], but to return back [your immunity], it cannot be done" - Hun Sen (Photo: Khmer Sthabna)
If opposition and NGO officials who are flying in and out of the country in commercial planes are corrupt, does it mean that a PM who flies short distances inside the country in his private helicopter is an ULTRA-CORRUPT THIEF OF THE NATION? (Photo: Reuters)

22 June 2009
By Sopheak and Sopheap
Khmer Sathabna news
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media

On 22 June 2009, at Kraing Yov village, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, Prime minister Hun Sen criticized opposition and NGO officials for involvement in corruption: that is why they have money to fly in and out of the country.

Hun Sen said: “… These peasants (using derogatory “Ah Srer”) curse others for being corrupt, they fly in and out in planes. When they travel outside, they have nothing to ride, they own no company, they do not farm, they only have NGOs and political parties. Where do they get the money to take planes in and out? When they travel by plane twice, it costs one school building, they stay in 5-star hotels…”

Hun Sen added that those who point others as being corrupt, where do they get the money to go gamble everyday? Hun Sen added: “I know where they gamble, it is at 3030 Chhouk Tip 404, now they go to Street 6A, I know their gambling place,” Hun Sen warned. He said that this gambling leads to corruption, there is nothing to be puzzled about, don’t yell at others as being corrupt.

Hun Sen also used to claim that opposition officials call each others over the phone to gamble in private houses, and he said that some of these officials are also MPs.

At the same time, Hun Sen said: “Now, we lift the immunity of 2 of them: one Phnom Penh MP and one Kampot MP. They lift their immunity to push the court to sentence them. This time, we are strengthening both democracy and the rule of law, this not anarchic democracy. Democracy must go along with the rule of law.”

Hun Sen added: “As a MP, if you do wrong, the court will sentence you, to sentence you, we must lift your immunity. The Phnom Penh MP’s [Ho Vann] speech affects the army [generals], the army [generals] studied hard to receive their degrees, he said that these army [generals] only try to fill in their biography gaps so their chief respect them.”

Hun Sen said: “Let’s fight each other at the court. For the [immunity] lifting, 91 [MPs] voted [to lift the] Phnom Penh [MP], and 90 [MPs] voted to [lift the] Kampot [MP], but to return back [your immunity], it cannot be done. Now that the lawsuits are on, the foreigners and a number of other people don’t get involve with [our] law. If you get involved with the law, we also have the law to deal with those who get involved also. When we use the law, you say that we are this and that.”

Hun Sen indicated: “We use the court to avoid [any] situations, if we don’t resolve them according to the law, like [for example, when] people chase after the robbers and beat them to death, the reason the people beat them was that when they send these robbers to the court, the court release them back. So, when we use the court to strengthen the law, to strengthen the rule of law, you can say whatever you want as long as you don’t touch the rights of others, because others have the rights also, they are human, they are not animal.”

Hun Sen: Power is only for I, me and myself

Hun Sen rejects future political role for the SRP

By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translation from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

In a speech given on Monday 17 November, Hun Sen announced to SRP representatives that they cannot count “on playing any important role within the National Assembly.”

Hun Sen launched another attack against the opposition party by removing any hope for the latter to obtain an active role at the National Assembly (NA). On 28 October, the NA permanent committee (controlled by the CPP) rejected a proposal by the opposition party which was aimed at providing an official role to political parties other than the ruling party at the NA.

The acceptance of this proposal would amount to an amendment to the NA internal rule. To the president of the NA permanent committee, “the proposal for the amendment of the internal rule was not undertaken in conformance with the procedure.”

At least, that was the [CPP] technical motivation to reject the proposal. To some members of the opposition party, they have been “cheated by Hun Sen so that they accepted to join the first NA session which was held on 24 September.” Hun Sen also provided a reply to these accusations in his speech: “I did not cheat anybody. It was you who seek to discuss with me, whereas I did not talk to you. You did not want to lose face, so you call on Oknha Kith Meng, and through his intermediary, you asked to change 26 articles on the 82 in the NA internal rule. Wait till your next life!” Hun Sen said in anger.

Hun Sen’s criticisms were not directly aimed at opposition leader Sam Rainsy, but to other officials. Hun Sen also recommended that Sam Rainsy “provides better advice to his party members.”

Hun Sen settles his score

06 August 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

On his first outing to the province following the general election, Prime minister Hun Sen had the opportunity to criticize his opponents.

Hun Sen was restarting his old habits: visits to the provinces which allow him to dispense his monologues. On Wednesday morning, he was in Kampong Speu. He took advantage of the occasion to talk about the upcoming government which will be “slightly bigger” than the previous one, and about the alliance with Funcinpec. In his new team, he confirmed that a position of Vice-prime minister will be given to Nhiek Bun Chhay, the royalist party secretary-general. Four other Funcinpec officials will be assigned positions also. Kol Pheng, the current minister of Education, Veng Sereyvuth, the current minister of Culture, Sun Chanthol, the current minister of Public Transport, and Nuth Sokhom, the current minister of Health, will indeed obtain ministerial positions.

Beyond the five Funcinpec officials above, Hun Sen attacked Keo Puth Rasmey, Funcipec president. He was accused of signing with some others, a coalition letter with the SRP, HRP and the NRP, the day after the election. Hun Sen will not offer him any position, not even an ambassador position. “Neither him nor his wife have the International knowledge needed to occupy such position (as ambassador),” Hun Sen mocked.

Hun Sen also chastised Sam Rainsy. While talking about his altercation last Friday with the opposition leader, Hun Sen revealed that Sam Rainsy would have asked him to guarantee for the SRP chairmen and vice-chairman positions for the National Assembly commissions. “Why did he make such a demand while he is also protesting the validity of the election?” said an irritated Hun Sen.

Hun Sen also slammed Norodom Ranariddh, declaring that, according to him, the latter should complete 2/3 of his sentence first. Ranariddh was sentenced to 18 months in jail and $150,000 fine in a breach of trust lawsuit case. All his appeals have been exhausted, and the prince is currently living in exile in Malaysia. According to Hun Sen, Ranariddh would have approached Hun Sen for his approval to the request for a pardon from the king. Obviously, the prince maneuver seems not to touch Hun Sen.

Hun Sen Warned NGOs Not To Talk Nonsense

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen gestures while giving a speech at a bridge inauguration in Kampong Speu province, 40km (25 miles) west of Phnom Penh June 18, 2008. Cambodia's general elections is on July 27. Picture taken June 18, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

18th June 2008
By Mom Sophon
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization
On the web at http://khmerization.blogspot.com

PM Hun Sen (pictured) on Wednesday has warned some NGOs that have made comments regarding the government's investigation into what he called terrorism-related crimes in Cambodia.

PM Hun Sen said that those terrorism-related crimes include the mortar attack on his motorcade ten years earlier and the investigation on the Cambodian Freedom Fighters' attack in 2000 as well as investigation on the Moha Nokor Movement (Great Country Movement) against the government in Pursat province.

Mr. Hun Sen said: "I am sorry, there should be no proxy and don't have any fears. And I request to all NGOs that have a stance against the government not to talk nonsense because you are biased. A crime should not be whitewashed, wherever it was committed action must be taken against it."

It must be noted that on the 15th of June Mr. Hun Sen has ordered a military intelligence unit to re-open the investigation into this case after the government claimed that it has received information from a former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) member who claimed that members of the SRP were involved in those attacks.

Hun Sen criticized “Ah” Cambodia Daily’s report

29 May 2008
By Sophal Mony
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Once again, Prime minister Hun Sen criticized an article published by The Cambodia Daily, claiming the report was not true and unbalanced.

This is the 2nd time that Hun Sen criticized an English-language and Khmer-language newspaper for omission in the publication.

In a speech given during a diploma distribution to more than 1,000 students at the Institute of Education this morning, Hun Sen indicated that The Cambodia Daily published an article that is not true and unbalanced.

Hun Sen said: “No! As times go by, Ah (derogatory) Cambodia Daily is becoming more frivolous, it is publishing more frivolous (articles). Ah Noeung (derogatory form of “this one”), if we compare it to “Ah” Mekong Times, it lost (to The Mekong Times), it is useless. Mekong Times attacks the opposition, when it talks, it attacks the government, it is balanced, but “Ah” Cambodia Daily,” this one only kicks (the government??).”

RFA attempted to reach Kelvin Doyle, the editor of The Cambodia Daily, to obtain his comments on this issue, but he declined to comment.

Hun Sen’s 2nd criticism on The Cambodia Daily came after this newspaper published an article reporting that Hun Sen told high-ranking Funcinpec officials to defect and come to join the CPP.

Pen Samithy, president of the Cambodian club of journalists, said without pointing to The Cambodia Daily in particular, that the request for the publication of balanced articles is acceptable, but what it cannot be accepted, a newspaper must stand on sufficient basis and it must have sufficient reliable proofs.

Pen Samithy said: “The decision to publish an unbalanced article is an issue that the majority of newspapers are not following with, and if these newspapers decided to take this course of action, they must have a lot of proofs, this is regarding the profession ethics. The issue of the rights to receive information, it could be a difficulty to find balance also.”

Kul Panha, executive director of Comfrel, said that unbalance in news publication still exists. He said that talking about balance news reporting, TVK, the state television, broadcasts up to 80% of unbalanced reports, and the bias is tipped toward the CPP advantage.

Kul Panha said: “80% of the cover (coverage) is for the ruling party…. TVK dedicates (broadcasting time) for the ruling party, the CPP, and it (CPP) can broadcast their achievements.”

Will Hun Sen Become The Saddam Hun Sen Of Cambodia?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Editorial by Khmerization
On the web at http://khmerization.blogspot.com

“Mr. Hun Sen must not be so sure that his cordial relationships with other U.S leaders would guarantee him full immunity from any possible U.S actions against him. By showing his photo with President Bush, Mr. Hun Sen must not believe that people and the U.S are gullible enough to allow him to do whatever he wants against all democrats in Cambodia.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent warning to the opposition parties not to use the U.S to counter his threats against them is a sign that Mr. Hun Sen is very wary of the U.S policy toward his iron-fist rule. His speech seem directed at Mr. Sam Rainsy in particular and Mr. Hun Sen knew full well that, compared to his bully against Prince Ranariddh, his attempts to intimidate Rainsy on many occasions did not work because Rainsy was brave enough to confront this sort of bullying tactics undeterred. As usual, when his bullying tactics did not yield any results, he turned to blame the U.S for being Rainsy’s backbone. (Read Hun Sen’s Speech Warning the Democrats).

The PM has a very valid point when he said that all the Cambodian leaders who followed the U.S are all dead and that he is not scared of the U.S, under the present circumstances. The PM is right. The U.S is too pre-occupied with the wars against global terrorism, in particular the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Cambodia’s problems, in particular in regard to protecting Hun Sen’s possible harm against Rainsy, are irrelevant to the present U.S policy. People should look at the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, the assassination of the Lebanese ex-PM, Rafiq Harriri, and the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan as examples. What did the world and the U.S do to punish the culprits? And those named above are more high profile than Rainsy. I draw the lines here because I would like to make an analogy to the fact that, should Rainsy be jailed or assassinated, the U.S would not come to get Hun Sen.

By the same token, Mr. Hun Sen must not be so sure that his cordial relationships with other U.S leaders would guarantee him full immunity from any possible U.S actions against him. By showing his photo with President Bush, Mr. Hun Sen must not believe that people and the U.S are gullible enough to allow him to do whatever he wants against all democrats in Cambodia. Mr Hun Sen must look at the fates of all dictators around the world. The Panamanian dictator, General Manuel Noriega, was a close ally of the U.S., but when the U.S suspected that he was a drug trafficker, he was abusing the democrats and had turned against America, America did not hesitate to send the troops in to Panama in 1989 to capture him alive. The U.S later convicted him and sentenced him to nearly 20 years in jail.

Another high profile example would be Saddam Hussein. He was a long term ally of the U.S against Iran. At the end, the U.S sent the troops in to Iraq, captured Saddam and sentenced him to hang. Osama Bin Laden is another good case for Hun Sen to remember. Osama Bin Laden was a U.S ally in the war against the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s. In the 1990s Bin Laden turned against America and in 2001 he was suspected to be a mastermind of the attacks on World Trade Center in New York. Now Bin Laden has become America’s public enemy number one. These parallels are drawn so that we don’t have an international pariah or a Saddam Hun Sen in Cambodia.

Mr Hun Sen should also be mindful that all dictators are America’s enemy. His claims of being a good friend of American leaders are misleading. American leaders, like all leaders around the world, due to diplomatic protocol, are obliged to deal with all other leaders in the world, including Hun Sen. Mr. Hun Sen should not confuse this with diplomacy and protocol and makes a claim to being a darling of America. And by the look at the way he is running the country and maltreating the democrats, he must be mindful that he will not be immune to American policy of dealing with the dictators.

Hun Sen: Those who follow the US are almost all dead -sic!-

Hun Sen’s warning: Don’t use the US to threaten the CPP

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Monday, Prime minister Hun Sen warned political leaders who oppose the CPP not to use the USA or EU countries to threaten the CPP. Hun Sen declared that in Cambodia, regardless of the political party, when it is formed, it uses the USA or the EU to threaten the CPP, but the CPP is never scared of that. Hun Sen is raising this issue after some political party leaders indicated that they are friends of current or future US leaders. Hun Sen also criticized some leaders who depend on the US when they face problem, and who also boasted when they meet with US leaders. Hun Sen said that he also knows US leaders, but he never wants to compete to be a friend with the US, nor with all the US politicians. Hun Sen added those who follow the US are almost all dead. Hun Sen pointed out those who are already dead include Marshall Lon Nol who led the coup d’état to topple Prince Sihanouk in March 1970. At the end, Lon Nol, a puppet of the US, was kicked out by the US itself.

Hun Sen's day-dreaming: Rubber plantation workers take their retirement at 55-year-old (sic!); Donations to the poor is an insult on his gov't

Hun Sen: Those who cheated or lied to the former monarch should not be pardoned

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

During an inauguration of a rubber plantation and a rubber factory at the Tumring rubber plantation, on 07 May, Hun Sen sternly reacted by saying that: “Those who cheated and lied to the former monarch should not be pardoned. If it were to be in China, for such offense, the offender dead body would be broken apart.”

Hun Sen severely stressed that: “Why did they bring rubber plantation workers to receive gifts from King-Father and Queen-Mother in Siem Reap province, and these workers were all grandpas and grandmas, who would use grandpas and grandmas to collect rubber resin? I believe that King-Father and Queen-Mother did not know about this … But, since they are the children of the former king, so he let them go. But, if it was Hun Sen, I wouldn’t pardon them, this is a scorn on the former monarch, a scorn on workers, and a scorn on the companies.”

Hun Sen said that workers have their uniform, and for example, in the Krek rubber plantation, the company provides a bicycle for each worker to collect rubber resin, when they are done with their work, the workers would leave in their motorcycles. Why would these workers lack foods in the rubber plantations? Workers receive 24 kilos of rice ration each, there is no reason for them to ask for gifts from the former monarch.

Hun Sen asked Kon Sam Ol, the minister of the Royal Palace, to review these cases. He said that: “For those who are 70-year-old, who would still keep them to work? At 55-year-old they would retire already, but here 70-year-old workers (were brought in to receive gifts from King-Father). So they are cheating the former monarch. When the minister of agriculture (Chan Sarun) reported this to me, I asked Kong Sam Ol to report to King-Father and Queen-Mother also, so that they can see, because the rubber factories are protesting as the people who received the gifts were not their workers.” Hun Sen confirmed also: “It is not just this issue, it is a case of lying to the king. The opposition can undertake such action.”

Hun Sen said: “I am taking very strongly against this case, because this is a hot issue. They scorn us in every way, and this is the place where I am leading, I signed the sub-decree and I inaugurated the rubber plantation work ground, they said that in Tumring, there is no rubber, and they reported this all over the world, the opposition and a number of NGOs chimed in. Now, come and see, but they are always doing something wrong against us. They never make any corrections for us at all. They used to support the Khmer Rouge who were attacking us, they never said that the KR were wrong, they are always right, they talked about us being wrong a lot of times.”

Hun Sen also used as an example the KR Tribunal: “They said that the government does not have the goodwill. When we brought the KR leaders to be judged in the tribunal, they only whispered: ‘Very good.’ But they did not make any correction to the articles or TV and radio reports where they talked about. These are the people who do not dare take their responsibility at all. The Cambodians dare to give and take, if Cambodians are fighting each others, then we will have a war and they will be happy, but if Cambodians have peace, like now, they are not happy about it.”

Hun Sen's speech points to internal tension within the CPP because of the high ranks he rewarded to other party defectors to buy them out

Hun Sen: Nobody can topple Hun Sen, only Hun Sen can topple Hun Sen

Monday, March 24, 2008
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

"Hun Sen also welcomed defectors from other political parties who came to join the CPP all over the country, and he considered these defectors as full members of the CPP who have the right to express their opinion to help the CPP. Hun Sen considered them as equal CPP men/women, and he asked that there is no distinction between the new and the old party members. These defectors have the right to provide their opinion to the CPP in the same manner as the old party rank and file."

Prime minister Hun Sen said that nobody can topple Hun Sen, only Hun Sen can topple Hun Sen, and nobody can topple the CPP either, only the CPP can topple itself.

Hun Sen made this declaration during a speech given at a foundation installation ceremony for the temple of Wat Sovannesanaram pagoda located in Sre Ta Chey village, Akphivoat commune, Teuk Phos district, Kampong Chhnang province, in the morning of Saturday 22 March.

Hun Sen pointed out as proof that if the CPP does not maintain its solidarity to work for the people, and that it is unable to perform well, then nobody needs to do anything to the CPP, it will be weakened by itself. “As for myself, if every day, I am involved in land-grabbing, violating the rights of others, not performing religious good deeds, not providing development, then who would believe in Hun Sen anymore?” Hun Sen claimed.

Hun Sen said that, therefore, other parties should recognize the fact that they are weak, that’s why it is so, but instead, they refused to recognize the truth and they turn around to say that the CPP buy (defectors), and threatens (other parties)… Hun Sen said that: “Please do not hide your weakness, whoever you are, because the situation is ripe, in the case of Funcinpec, they said that it was because Nhiek Bun Chhay made one man resign from his position. In the case of the SRP, they said that Ngo Sovann, Sok Pheng, Ahmad Yahya are the instigators. How about the other tens of thousands of defectors who will come next, how will it be?”

Hun Sen also welcomed defectors from other political parties who came to join the CPP all over the country, and he considered these defectors as full members of the CPP who have the right to express their opinion to help the CPP. Hun Sen considered them as equal CPP men/women, and he asked that there is no distinction between the new and the old party members. These defectors have the right to provide their opinion to the CPP in the same manner as the old party rank and file.

Hun Sen said that Cambodians can now judge which party is best, because even major party leaders lost their faith and defected to the CPP one after another.

Hun Sen said that in Cambodia, there are up to 57 political parties, why these defectors do not join other party and decided to join the CPP instead? Hun Sen indicated that (SRP defector) Ngo Sovann is an intellectual who, along with a number of other defectors, saw the path that they must take to participate in the development of the country and that they must do so from within the ruling CPP party. He said that in the past, these people helped build the Chinese school and the pedagogy school in Kandal province, and they have to (join the CPP) to be able to do that.

Hun Sen accuses the SRP of wanting to eliminate the monarchy

Friday, March 21, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Tuesday, Prime minister Hun Sen accused the SRP of wanting to eliminate the monarchy to please republican party supporters in Australia and in other countries. During a speech given at a bridge inauguration in the outskirt of Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said that the SRP wants to please its republican supporters by saying that “the future of the monarchy depends on the voters.” Hun Sen said that no one can bring amendments to the monarchy, and that this is a clear message: the CPP supports the monarchy and the current monarch. Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, rejected this accusation by saying that his party does not change its stance in supporting the monarchy. Eng Chhai Eang told The Cambodia Daily that the SRP has no right to eliminate the monarchy at all, and the SRP supports the monarchy and the constitution. However, Eng Chhai Eang said that the ultimate fate of the monarchy rests on the entire Cambodian people, and the SRP has no intention of eliminating the monarchy.

Hun Sen held by the leash of "one China policy" ... but it's OK to do business with Taiwan

PM blasts Taiwan for attempt to reopen representative office in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Thursday reiterated his government's rejection to the Taiwan authority's attempt to reopen its representative office in the kingdom.

"Don't dream to reopen Taiwan's representative office in Cambodia while I am in power," he told a conference of the Interior Ministry.

Middle men said that the Cambodian women currently living in Taiwan can get their stay legalized, if the Cambodian government allows the Taiwan authority to reopen its representative office in the kingdom, said Hun Sen.

"If I sign (the documents) to reopen Taiwan's representative office, I will get millions of dollars into my pocket from the middle men," he said, adding "we can't sign to reopen this, (because) we have to respect the territorial sovereignty of the People's Republic of China and it is part of the foreign policy of our government."

"We can't allow any province to separate and become independent from Cambodia," he said.

"We can do business with Taiwan but we don't allow it to reopen its representative office here. Even their planes landing here can't use their (so-called national) flag," he said.

Currently, he said, over half of the 2,500 Cambodian women living in Taiwan don't possess legal identity or official approval, after they were cheated to go there to find work and marry Taiwanese.

And some of them were even sold to brothels to work as prostitutes, he said.

"We will work with NGOs and civil societies to help them," he added.

The Taiwan authority's representative office in Cambodia was closed in 1975, but business exchange has kept on going ever since.

Businesspeople established the Taiwan Commercial Association in Cambodia in 1996 as a civilian organization, which now has more than a hundred members.

Hun Sen accused "foreign countries" of pushing him to form a coalition with the opposition

Hun Sen reiterates again: If Funcinpec cannot get any seat, the CPP will form the government by itself

Monday 10 March 2008
Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Pursat Province – Hun Sen indicated that the CPP sets the goal that if another party wins the election, that party must lead the country by itself, and the CPP will pull itself out to act as the opposition party. On the contrary, if the CPP wins the election, it will take the Funcinpec as its partner. However, if Funcinpec has no parliament seat, the CPP will lead by itself. “We will eat all by ourselves this one time, you (Funcinpec) should get seats and win them,” Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen made this declaration on 08 March during a visit to a water structure construction site in Pursat River, near Khya commune, Kandieng district, Pursat province.

Hun Sen also criticized foreign countries, telling them not to talk nonsense because some foreigners have tried to (informally) push him to work with the opposition party for some time now. Hun Sen said: “What you said was wrong, because democracy in Western countries requires the presence of an opposition party. If you want the opposition to join the government, then it would be a contradiction. This theory would be turned upside down. I need a strong opposition party, not just one party, but many opposition parties, but for the government, I want to control it by myself, it’s easier.”

Hun Sen said that it is easy to work with Funcinpec, but frankly speaking, the CPP by itself is easiest, when he needs it in the middle of the night, it would rise up in the middle night, if he needs it in the middle of the day, it would rise up in the middle of the day. He said that, for example, when a dike ruptured, and the road was cut in the middle of the night because of flooding, (CPP’s) Lim Kean Hor would be right there on the spot, calling one own minister to act is the easiest thing to do. Now tree insect pest problems are happening all over the place, (CPP’s) Chan Sarun is present on the spot.”

Regarding this issue, Hun Sen indicated that: “ If it were another party, we must respect them. When it is close to midnight, you cannot call them, at least we must respect their right to rest and wait until morning time, but by then, it is already too late. Therefore, the secretary of state must be called in, but the latter does not have full right, because the right resides with the minister.” Nevertheless, Hun Sen said that he will not abandon Funcinpec … “I ask that Funcinpec work hard in the government, now many Funcinpec officials have defected to the CPP, but I don’t encourage them to join us. If they cannot stay there (Funcinpec), then they have to go (to the CPP). I told Mr. Keo Puth Rasmey and Mr. Nhiek Bun Chhay already that if the (Funcinpec) brothers and sisters come over, I will receive them, if we let them go elsewhere far, it would be more difficult than this.”

Hun Sen indicated that: “The election vote does not involve alliance, be careful that voting for this party is like voting for the other party as well. In 2003, such election campaign claim was made in Ponhea Krek and Memot districts. At that time, they said that voting for the CPP is like voting for Funcinpec also (at that time, there was no cursing on each other during the election campaign yet).” At that time, Hun Sen declared that: “If voting for Funcinpec is like voting for the CPP, and voting for the CPP is like voting for the Funcinpec, then you all vote for the CPP directly so that the votes remain all together.”

Hun Sen added: “The votes do not imply an alliance, the higher up can allied with each others because they join the government, for us the CPP, we must vote for the CPP. If you see that the CPP did a good job, that Mr. Hun Sen leadership is good, you must vote for the CPP in drove.” Hun Sen also said: “I am talking on the microphone about voting for this party is like voting for that party … but, they are different from one another. No, voting for the CPP then Hun Sen will be the prime minister, voting for others means that somebody else will become the prime minister. They are different, I am confirming this with you now.”

“What I am asking you is that, irrespective of whoever get less or more (votes), regardless of whoever support any political party, don’t forget to work the rice field. This is the time to work on the rice fields, therefore, the importance is the rice fields, but at the same time, you should take the opportunity to go vote, because voting takes only one morning, you should go vote for whoever you like, and you should see if that party can serve you, you should vote based on your respective understanding.”

Hun Sen offer free coffins to those wanting to invade VN to reclaim Kampuchea Krom back

Hun Sen: "Free coffins"-prime minister of Cambodia

28 February 2008
KI-Media

The Cambodia Daily reported in today’s edition that Prime minister Hun Sen would provide free coffins to those who want to invade Vietnam to reclaim back the territory of Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) which was lost to Vietnam in 1949. The Cambodia Daily quoted Hun Sen as saying: “Some people have claimed that they want to reclaim Kampuchea Krom. Please do it if you can … I am not able to do it, but I will give you coffins and help to bury your corpses. You invade another country and they will attack you.” Venerable Yoeung Sin, President of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks Association, said that he is not intimidated by Hun Sen’s declaration, and he would continue to work on the demand for the return of Kampuchea Krom back. Thach Setha, Director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Community said that the return of the Kampuchea Krom territory should be resolved by the Cambodian government, but that Hun Sen’s speech amounted to a threat against Khmer Krom people. “He threatened people. These are not words of a leader,” The Cambodia Daily quoted Thach Setha.

"Lightning-stike" PM Hun Sen: "...don’t be so rude, if you can’t talk back, will lightning strike you? ... Now, you even criticize my son also."

Hun Sen warns an unnamed senior politician

19 December 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On Wednesday, prime minister Hun Sen accused a senior politician who allegedly acted as his spy, and he warned that he will publicly reveal the proofs, if this politician does not stop criticizing his leadership.

At a speech given during the inauguration of a canal built with Japanese aid in Kandal Stung district, Kandal province, Hun Sen did not directly reveal the name of this politician whom he said used to be his internal agent, and received money from him to allow him to succeed in the 1997 bloody coup d’état, but that now this politician dares criticize him openly.

Hun Sen said: “Watch out, I will publish the tape recorded messages and documents. Some were only my little spies during the (coup d’état) fighting period only, don’t act like a pro, you can’t jump. You took my money and went to work for me as a spy, whatever position you are in, you know it, don’t be so rude, if you can’t talk back, will lightning strike you? I did that much already. Now, you even criticize my son also.”

Hun Sen’s rage took place because, recently, he was under several criticisms regarding the problem of very high gasoline price.

Khieu Kanharith refused to comment on Hun Sen’s warning on this unnamed politician, and human rights officials do not understand who this warning is aimed at. However, several politicians suspect that this warning was directed at opposition MP Son Chhay.

Opposition MP Son Chhay recognized that he criticized non-stop Hun Sen’s leadership, in particular, regarding the price of gasoline issue. Son Chhay said that, recently, he also directed his criticisms on Hun Manet, Hun Sen’s son, who was named as the director of the committee for distribution of scholarships to poor students.

Son Chhay indicated that, in spite of the fact that he is not sure if the warning is aimed at him or not, his criticisms may not be well received by Hun Sen.

Son Chhay said: “We know that our PM has so many tricks (in his sleeve) to preserve his power, but I am saying that being alike politicians who are working together for so many years, there should be mutual respect. And we should have thick skins because it is normal for public figures to be criticized.”

If indeed Hun Sen’s warning is aimed at Son Chhay, then this would be the second time that MP Son Chhay is warned by Hun Sen. Last year, Son Chhay attacked Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign affairs, in Heng Pov’s case, Son Chhay told Hor Nam Hong that his language is childish and he is irresponsible.

Son Chhay said that he is not concerned about his personal safety (because of Hun Sen’s warning).

Unable to even name Kenya's capital correctly, yet Hun Sen gave a lecture to UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon on UN Envoy Yash Ghai

A rude PM: "Anh tell you know, if the people keep on voting for me, Anh will remain (PM) for life"

Hun Sen the prime minister for life?

27 November 2007
By Keo Nimol Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Prime minister Hun Sen said on 27 November that if the Cambodian people still keep on voting for him, he will continue to cling on to power for life.

During a speech given at a distribution of certificates for students at the National Education Institute, Hun Sen said that some politicians are trying to prevent him (to remain in power: “I was talking about my age being this and that, then they turned around and said that Mr. Hun Sen, you shouldn’t set the age as the rule to retire. I say that if I remain (in power) for 10 more years, I will only reach the 60s, that’s not old. I tell you back: ‘Anh’ (rude form of I, used to look down on someone else) tell you know, if the people keep on voting for me, ‘Anh’ will remain (PM) for life.”

Hun Sen also criticized a number of politicians but he did not name anyone in particular, he said that those who have dual citizenship still want to present their candidacy to the premiership.

Hun Sen added: “Especially, those with dual citizenship, they will leave, we cannot sentence them. As soon as they are sentenced, they leave immediately, those with dual citizenship should end it, they are not brave, if they come to do politics in Cambodia, they should renounce their other citizenship, but they won’t, what can I do to them?”

Hun Sen also warned that if his party loses the election, he will not build schools anymore: “There is no interruption (in school building) when I am prime minister, but if I am no longer prime minister, I will not build anymore (schools), I am sorry, who you vote for, you should ask that person.”

Kem Sokha, President of the HRP which has a party policy of limiting the term of the prime minister in office, said: “Normally, if there is no term limit for the country leader, we will be faced with dictatorship, corruption, because those leaders can do whatever they want, nobody can limit their power. For example, if there is a two term limit, when a leader is in power, he wouldn’t dare doing anything wrong, because if he does something wrong, at the end of his mandate, when he no longer has power, he will be afraid to be prosecuted.”

Regarding the dual citizenship, Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, said: “I say that this is not the right time to raise this issue, it’s an old story. The second government of Cambodia is in power for three terms already, and during these 3 mandates, there are people who have dual citizenship who were in top position and in the government also, but there were never any discussions on this issue, this is one point. On the second point, the Cambodian Constitution, which the supreme law of the land, does not forbid anyone who holds dual citizenship from participating or holding position in the government either.”

It is noted that, currently, Cambodia is under preparation for a general election which will take place in 2008.

Hun Sen: The Chhay Hour II Affair is not over yet

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime minister Hun Sen declared on Monday morning, during the occasion of the announcement for the new criminal code in Phnom Penh, that the Chhay Hour II case is not over yet following the revelation of bribery in exchange for the release of criminals by the Appeals Court. Hun Sen said that this affair is a very hot issue involving human trafficking therefore it should be considered a criminal case and those who are involved should be sent to jail. Hun Sen also said that the court must not rule like it did in the Chhay Hour II case. Hun Sen added that now some information are known and the Chhay Hour II affair is not over yet, it will move forward because how could the municipal court sentence the accused but the Appeals Court released the accused instead, Hun Sen said that the involvement behind this case is now revealed. According to an investigation on the Appeals Court, it was learnt that the release of Te Pao Ly, the owner of the Chhay Hour II hotel, was done because Chhun Poch, Te Pao Ly’s 63-year-old father, bribed the Appeals Court $30,000. Regarding the Long Chhin Resorts company which filled in the Kob Sorv Lake to build houses, Hun Sen said: “What so important about the Long Chhin case which filled in a huge areas of the lake, I will deal with him with a strong fist, now take the landfill out of the lake.”