Sneha Preah Thoang-Neang Neak

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License to kill - By Anonymous

O Iron Fist, Where Art Thou?

(Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

The influence of Cambodia’s Strongman’s order

10 April 2010
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

The raid campaign led against illegal logging is shaking the entire country since mid-March, this is another example of the strong influence of the powerful Hun Xen. Nothing is impossible when it comes to orders issued by Cambodia’s Stongman, even if these orders are very complicated. Nevertheless, Cambodia under the rule of Strongman Hun Xen is riddled with unsolvable problems still, why is that so?

No matter how small or large a problem is, under the weight of Hun Xen’s “Iron Fist”, there is nothing that is impossible. Take for example the complicated problem of illegal logging which lasted for ages and which could not be resolved in the past few decades, it turns out that this problem was smashed broken in the span of a few weeks only.

Even though nobody can claim that illegal logging has ended completely in Cambodia, the latest raids dramatically pushed businessmen and influential government officials involved in illegal logging into a corner. This is not the first time that Hun Xen issued his personal orders to resolve inactions or illegal matters with much efficiency.

One can still remember about the Iron Fist campaign led against corrupt justice officials which took place a few years ago. The campaign led to the demise of several justice officials, as well as to their punishments, or position changes. This does not even take into account his orders to end betting and gambling, to stop using military and police license plates, etc… etc…, i.e. Hun Xen’s orders always brought fruits immediately and they are extremely efficient.

Nonetheless, the paradox is the fact if the prime minister has so much power like this, why a large number of problems are still cropping up again and again, and why are they all unsolvable? To try to answer this paradox, we will try to review a number of problems listed below:

First and foremost, we can see that, in general, connivance is the rule among officials working under Hun Xen. It is true that Hun Xen has power and that he wants to solve all problems immediately, but if the officials working under him are all in connivance for their personal gains, then they can hide everything behind Hun Xen’s eyes, and therefore, none of the problems can be solved.

Furthermore, the lower level of the administration and all levels of the police force, such as the police administration or those who act as the eyes and ears of the government, do not seem to fulfill their daily role properly at all. For example, at the local levels, illegal activities are taking place all the time, but the authorities did not take any measure against them at all. There are three possible explanations for this inaction: (1) the authority is incompetent to take care of illegal actions; (2) for personal gains, the authorities are the one who let illegality fester; and (3) those who commit illegal actions or act as the backers of illegal actions are powerful government officials, this forces the authorities to close their eyes and ears to these illegal activities.

Under these conditions, Hun Xen’s “Iron Fist” orders are necessary to rid of inactions or illegal actions because it is only through such orders that the authorities are forced to fulfill their role properly. However, the problem that remains is that: one cannot always wait for Hun Xen to issue his orders to resolve all the problems that take place.

The best solution that guarantees the permanence of the fight against illegal actions is a strict and uniform application of the law by the authorities. Under that condition, the PM’s orders are still necessary but they would be reserved for major problems only. In this case, small issues do not have to wait for an order from the prime minister in order for them to be resolved.

Hun Xen orders the removal of the RCAF sign from the TV5 logo [-Hun Xen's rule by order]

Hun Xen's visit to Battambang on 27 Feb 2010 (Photo: Soun Sophalmony, RFA)

27 Feb 2010
By Suon Sophalmony
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer

TV5, known as the RCAF station, is in fact a private TV station owned by a Thai company and the ministry of Defense. Several Defense ministry officials are either administrators or belong to the board of directors of this station.

PM Hun Xen ordered the ministry of Defense to remove the RCAF sign from the logo of TV5, the television station which broadcasts more songs than actual army activities.

In front of several hundreds of troops he visited in the morning of Saturday 27 Feb in Phlov Meas commune, Ratanak Mondul district, Battambang province, Hun Xen declared: “Pull out the RCAF sign, there’s no need to keep it. Just keep TV5, that’s enough because [the station] uses the RCAF sign, but this TV station does not broadcast about army’s work that much! Therefore, it should be removed. I allow you [using the derogative “h-eng”] to use TV5, but you must remove the name RCAF out. The RCAF insignia will no longer be allowed to be used by TV5 anymore!”

Hun Xen also criticized the RCAF TV5 station where several generals are only concerned about broadcasting songs, but they are never concerned about the army at all.

Hun Xen said: “I let you wear stars, but these stars are useless, they [using the derogative “vea”] don’t know how to work it, and they do not look at it either, and if you are useless, sell all the shares back to me [using the derogative “anh”)! I will buy them all back when you don’t make any change like this. My speeches, I just see them broadcasting the few last ones, in the past, they never did! Even if we went to visit the troops, they [TV5] never broadcast the speeches about army issues. There was nothing at all! Therefore, stop them from using [the army sign]! When we go back, H.E. Tea Banh [minister of Defense], you should review this!”

Neang Phat, the secretary of state for the ministry of Defense and the manager of TV5, could not be reached to comment on this issue.

Tea Banh, the minister of Defense and vice-PM, simply replied that the ministry of Defense will perform its work.

Regarding the claim made by Hun Xen, Mrs. Chea Vannath, an independent observer, said that Hun Xen should send an official request to the TV channel administrators. She claimed: “It is not possible for any politicians or any leaders to order a TV station to change its name to this and that! If it is in the name of the people, then send them a letter, then it will be OK!”

TV5, known as the RCAF station, is in fact a private TV station owned by a Thai company and the ministry of Defense. Several Defense ministry officials are either administrators or belong to the board of directors of this station.

Hun Xen's rule by threat and coercion: Moneaksekar Khmer ends its publication

Friday, July 10, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Moneaksekar Khmer, the pro-opposition SRP newspaper, ended its publication after Dam Sith, its editor-in-chief, issued a statement promising to end the newspaper publication. On Friday, along the various kiosks selling newspapers, the Moneaksekar Khmer cannot be seen on display as usual. In the statement Dam Sith issued on Thursday, Dam Sith declared his support for Hun Xen’s policy. Dam Sith’s change of heart took place in his apology letter to Hun Xen and he asked Hun Xen to help him escape the court charges. This request for Hun Xen’s forgiveness took place after the Phnom Penh municipal court issued a summon asking him to come to court on 14 July to clarify the lawsuit brought up Hun Xen’s government lawyers. Dam Sith’s apology letter diffused a tense situation.