Norodom Sihanouk: Hun Sen is a national hero; Global Witness: Hun Sen is the chief of the family of the thieves of the nation
Saturday 11 August 2007
By Savary
Sralanh Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
King-Father Norodom Sihanouk was quiet for a while and he didn’t say anything about politics in Cambodia, instead, the King usually organizes banquets for embassy officials, and government officials, as well as singing in CD production. However, now, King-Father praises prime minister Hun Sen, calling him a national hero, at a time when the international environmental protection group Global Witness criticizes Hun Sen by labeling him as the chief of the family of the thieves of the nation, or the group of thieves robbing the nation (Global Witness report title in English is: Cambodia’s family ties).
The former monarch declared during a ceremony for distribution of gifts to poor people from Kompong Cham province, on Wednesday, inside the royal palace, that he built schools and various buildings in Kompong Cham province. At the same time, King-Father also praised his famous Sahachivin (title used during King-Father’s Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, equivalent to “comrade”) from the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, among whom features Keat Chhon, the current minister of finance and economy of the Hun Sen regime.
King-Father said that “during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, I built for Kaun-Chao (children and grandchildren, a term used by King-Father to call his Cambodian subjects) a high school and a university in Kompong Cham, the very first one of their kind, and also a university in Battambang province. This is a testimony of my attachment to Kaun-Chao … and I am telling you that at this Kompong Cham University, I had famous colleagues there, among whom is H.E. Keat Chhon, who is currently a top member of the current government.”
King-Father also praised prime minister Hun Sen and his wife, calling them national heroes. King-Father said: “Our current government is issued from the very good CPP, the leader of the Royal Government of Cambodia is Samdach Hun Sen. Samdach Hun Sen is a famous hero, as well as Lok Chumteav Thom Bun Rany Hun Sen. He (Hun Sen) leads the country extremely well, he serves the nation very good, with alertness, with good talent, and he works hard day and night to serve the people, defend the nation, develop the nation and bring tremendous progress to the economy.”
King-Father expressed his gratefulness to the CPP leaders who marched behind him to the 17 April 1975 victory against the group which King-Father called the coup-d’état gang which removed him (King-Father) from his position as Cambodia leader, and these CPP leaders also supported his son, Norodom Sihamoni, to attain the throne as the current king of the land. King-Father said: “I am telling you also that Samdach Hun Sen and his chumteav supported me, and after the Lon Nol-Sirik Matak coup d’état, after listening to my message broadcasted from the Great China, Samdach Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav, who at the time were still single, went to the maquis to fight for King-Father. Therefore, the CPP and H.E. the famous leader Samdach Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, Samdach Chea Sim and his Lok Chumteav Thom, Samdach Heng Samrin and his Lok Chumteav Thom, H.E. and Lok Chumteav who are special members of the CPP, they first of all, always follow me, and now they support my son …King Norodom Sihamoni.”
King-Father’s praise of the government leader was made at the same time the Global Witness organization issued a report very critical of prime minister Hun Sen and his family, calling them “Family of the thieves of the Nation” or the group of thieves robbing the nation. The report provides detailed activities conducted by Hun Sen’s relatives, as well as activities by several government officials who colluded in the illegal logging of the Prey Lang forest, located in Tum Ring commune, Sandan district, Kompong Thom province. The report indicated that the logging produced 100,000 cubic meters of wood and the proceed of the sale of the wood brought in more than $13 million annually, as well as destroying the area for people who depend on collecting wood resins for their livelihood.
It is noted that last year, following a tit-for-tat answer and response through the internet website and public speeches given by Hun Sen, King-Father said that he supports Hun Sen his entire life.
On 13 March 2007, the Phnom Penh municipal court sentenced Prince Ranariddh to 18-month of jail and $150,000 in fine for breach of trust in the sale of Funcinpec party headquarters located near the Chrauy Changvar bridge. On that same day, King-Father also praised Hun Sen, calling him the second King Jayavarman VII.
However, some opinion said that the real King Jayavarman VII was the builder of the Angkor city, and he led troops to capture lands from neighboring countries. However the second King Jayavarman VII sells and rents out Angkor Wat to a former Vietnamese (occupation government) expert. Furthermore, the high-ranking army officers of the Hun Sen regime are very good at robbing lands belonging to the people, and they act as if they don’t hear anything when the neighboring countries are giving hardships to the Cambodian people living along the borders.
Nevertheless, King-Father, who is healthy and is a shade for his Kaun-Chao, has produced CDs with several songs to distribute to his Kaun-Chao to listen to, and he praised prime minister Hun Sen at the same time Global Witness considers Hun Sen as the leader of the “Family of the thieves of the Nation” or the group of thieves robbing the nation.
King-Father’s praise on Hun Sen was done after Hun Sen ordered the destruction of the buildings by the Long Chhin Company in the Kob Srov Lake area, and the owner this company is a Chinese businessman who is close to King-Father.
We also recall that during the 80s, King-Father, then-president of the resistance movement in the jungle, declared that Hun Sen, Chea Sim, and Heng Samrin were Vietnamese puppets. But now, King-Father said that Samdach Hun Sen is instead the new King Jayavarman VII and a national hero.
Saturday 11 August 2007
By Savary
Sralanh Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
King-Father Norodom Sihanouk was quiet for a while and he didn’t say anything about politics in Cambodia, instead, the King usually organizes banquets for embassy officials, and government officials, as well as singing in CD production. However, now, King-Father praises prime minister Hun Sen, calling him a national hero, at a time when the international environmental protection group Global Witness criticizes Hun Sen by labeling him as the chief of the family of the thieves of the nation, or the group of thieves robbing the nation (Global Witness report title in English is: Cambodia’s family ties).
The former monarch declared during a ceremony for distribution of gifts to poor people from Kompong Cham province, on Wednesday, inside the royal palace, that he built schools and various buildings in Kompong Cham province. At the same time, King-Father also praised his famous Sahachivin (title used during King-Father’s Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, equivalent to “comrade”) from the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, among whom features Keat Chhon, the current minister of finance and economy of the Hun Sen regime.
King-Father said that “during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, I built for Kaun-Chao (children and grandchildren, a term used by King-Father to call his Cambodian subjects) a high school and a university in Kompong Cham, the very first one of their kind, and also a university in Battambang province. This is a testimony of my attachment to Kaun-Chao … and I am telling you that at this Kompong Cham University, I had famous colleagues there, among whom is H.E. Keat Chhon, who is currently a top member of the current government.”
King-Father also praised prime minister Hun Sen and his wife, calling them national heroes. King-Father said: “Our current government is issued from the very good CPP, the leader of the Royal Government of Cambodia is Samdach Hun Sen. Samdach Hun Sen is a famous hero, as well as Lok Chumteav Thom Bun Rany Hun Sen. He (Hun Sen) leads the country extremely well, he serves the nation very good, with alertness, with good talent, and he works hard day and night to serve the people, defend the nation, develop the nation and bring tremendous progress to the economy.”
King-Father expressed his gratefulness to the CPP leaders who marched behind him to the 17 April 1975 victory against the group which King-Father called the coup-d’état gang which removed him (King-Father) from his position as Cambodia leader, and these CPP leaders also supported his son, Norodom Sihamoni, to attain the throne as the current king of the land. King-Father said: “I am telling you also that Samdach Hun Sen and his chumteav supported me, and after the Lon Nol-Sirik Matak coup d’état, after listening to my message broadcasted from the Great China, Samdach Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav, who at the time were still single, went to the maquis to fight for King-Father. Therefore, the CPP and H.E. the famous leader Samdach Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, Samdach Chea Sim and his Lok Chumteav Thom, Samdach Heng Samrin and his Lok Chumteav Thom, H.E. and Lok Chumteav who are special members of the CPP, they first of all, always follow me, and now they support my son …King Norodom Sihamoni.”
King-Father’s praise of the government leader was made at the same time the Global Witness organization issued a report very critical of prime minister Hun Sen and his family, calling them “Family of the thieves of the Nation” or the group of thieves robbing the nation. The report provides detailed activities conducted by Hun Sen’s relatives, as well as activities by several government officials who colluded in the illegal logging of the Prey Lang forest, located in Tum Ring commune, Sandan district, Kompong Thom province. The report indicated that the logging produced 100,000 cubic meters of wood and the proceed of the sale of the wood brought in more than $13 million annually, as well as destroying the area for people who depend on collecting wood resins for their livelihood.
It is noted that last year, following a tit-for-tat answer and response through the internet website and public speeches given by Hun Sen, King-Father said that he supports Hun Sen his entire life.
On 13 March 2007, the Phnom Penh municipal court sentenced Prince Ranariddh to 18-month of jail and $150,000 in fine for breach of trust in the sale of Funcinpec party headquarters located near the Chrauy Changvar bridge. On that same day, King-Father also praised Hun Sen, calling him the second King Jayavarman VII.
However, some opinion said that the real King Jayavarman VII was the builder of the Angkor city, and he led troops to capture lands from neighboring countries. However the second King Jayavarman VII sells and rents out Angkor Wat to a former Vietnamese (occupation government) expert. Furthermore, the high-ranking army officers of the Hun Sen regime are very good at robbing lands belonging to the people, and they act as if they don’t hear anything when the neighboring countries are giving hardships to the Cambodian people living along the borders.
Nevertheless, King-Father, who is healthy and is a shade for his Kaun-Chao, has produced CDs with several songs to distribute to his Kaun-Chao to listen to, and he praised prime minister Hun Sen at the same time Global Witness considers Hun Sen as the leader of the “Family of the thieves of the Nation” or the group of thieves robbing the nation.
King-Father’s praise on Hun Sen was done after Hun Sen ordered the destruction of the buildings by the Long Chhin Company in the Kob Srov Lake area, and the owner this company is a Chinese businessman who is close to King-Father.
We also recall that during the 80s, King-Father, then-president of the resistance movement in the jungle, declared that Hun Sen, Chea Sim, and Heng Samrin were Vietnamese puppets. But now, King-Father said that Samdach Hun Sen is instead the new King Jayavarman VII and a national hero.
