Showing posts with label SRP MP Yim Sovann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SRP MP Yim Sovann. Show all posts

Monday, July 23, 2012

After 30 years of CPP rule, Cambodia lost many state assets: SRP

Thief-in-Chief

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្លែង​ក្នុង​សមាជ​លើក​ទី​២ របស់​គណបក្ស សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស ក្នុង​រាជ​ធានី​ភ្នំពេញ ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២២ កក្កដា ឆ្នាំ ២០១២។ (RFA/Vann Vichar)

បក្ស​សម​រង្សី៖ បក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​គ្រប់​គ្រង​អំណាច​៣០​ឆ្នាំ កម្ពុជា​បាត់បង់​ទ្រព្យ​រដ្ឋ

2012-07-22
ដោយ ម៉ម មុនីរតន៍
Radio Free Asia

Synopsis: Yim Sovann, the SRP spokesman, criticized the CPP leadership for the loss of natural resources, such as lakes and rivers, land, mines, gas and public buildings. Global Witness considered Cambodia as a “country for sale”. Government officials could not be reached to clarify this accusation, but in the past, Hun Xen reacted angrily in public, calling Global Witness thieves.

លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី បាន​រិះគន់​ការ​ដឹក​នាំ​ប្រ​ទេស​ដោយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជា​ជន​កម្ពុជា​ថា កំពុង​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​សម្បត្តិ​ធនធាន​ធម្មជាតិ មាន​បឹង​បួរ ដី រ៉ែ ឧស្ម័ន ប្រេង​កាត និង​អាគារ​សាធារណ​របស់​រដ្ឋ​រង​ការ​បាត់​បង់។

អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំមើល​បរិស្ថាន​ពិភពលោក ក្លូបល វីតណេស (Global Witness បាន​ចាត់​ទុក​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ថា​ជា​ប្រទេស​សម្រាប់​លក់។

មន្ត្រី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ពុំ​អាច​ស្នើ​សុំ​ការ​បំភ្លឺ​បាន​ទេ​ចំ​ពោះ​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​នេះ។ តែ​ទោះ​ជា​បែប​ណា​ក្ដី លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ក្នុង​ពេល​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ បាន​ចេញ​ប្រតិកម្ម​ជា​សាធារណ ដោយ​លោក​ហៅ​ការ​រក​ឃើញ​នោះ​ថា អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំ​មើល​បរិស្ថាន​នេះ​ថា ជា​ចោរ។

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

No support from opposition parties in the exchange of border villagers with Vietnam

គណបក្សប្រឆាំង មិន​គាំទ្រ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ជាមួយ​វៀតណាម ដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​ខ្មែរ នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​ទេ​

ថ្ងៃទី 20 មិថុនា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News
"The SRP is totally opposed to this, we are totally opposed to the giving away of Khmer land to Vietnam because this amounts to national treason. There is no exchange to be made with all Cambodian lands. 21 of Cambodian provinces prior to 1949 are inside Vietnam right now, they are part of Kampuchea Krom. Therefore, don’t tell us that this village or that land belong to Vietnam anymore. There is no such thing, they are all Cambodian territories." - Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman
ភ្នំពេញ: មន្ត្រី​គណបក្ស​ជំទាស់​ចំនួន ២ ដែល​មាន​អាសនៈ នៅក្នុង​សភាជាតិ មិន​បាន​សម្តែង​នូវ​ការគាំទ្រ​ដល់​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​ទទួលបន្ទុក​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន នៃ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ដែល​បាន​ចុះ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ជាមួយ​នឹង​គណៈកម្មាធិកា​រ​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​ក្នុង​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​មួយចំនួន នៃ​ខេត្ត ដែល​ស្តិត នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ឡើយ​។​

​ក្រុម​សមាជិក​សភា​បក្សប្រឆាំង បាន​អះអាង​ថា នឹង​ធ្វើ​លិខិត​កោះហៅ​ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​កិច្ច​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា មក​ឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺ​នៅក្នុង​សភាជាតិ នាពេលខាងមុខ​។​

​លោក អ៊ូ ច័ន្ទ​ឫទ្ធិ សមាជិក​សភា​មណ្ឌល​ព្រៃវែង នៃ​គណបក្ស​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា "​ខ្ញុំ​យល់​ថា មិនគួរ​មាន​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ទេ បើសិន​ដី​ខ្មែរ គឺជា​ដី​ខ្មែរ ជា​របស់​ខ្មែរ បើ​ដី​វៀតណាម ជា​របស់​វៀតណាម​។ មិន​អាច​ថា ដី​របស់​ខ្មែរ ដូរ​ឲ្យទៅ​វៀតណាម ហើយ​វៀតណាម ដូរ​ដី​ឲ្យ​ខ្មែរ​វិញ​នោះទេ​។ មិន​ដែល​ប្រទេស​ណាមួយ គេ​ធ្វើ​ការដោះដូរ​ដី​ទេ​។ ដូច្នេះ​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​នោះ វា​ជា​រឿង​មួយ​មិន​សមរម្យ​ទេ​"​។​

​ចំណែក​លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ អ្នកនាំពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី អត់​គាំទ្រ​នៅ​លើ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង នៃ​ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំ​ដែល​ជាមួយ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​នោះ​ទេ​។​

​លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ បានបញ្ជាក់​ថា "​គណបក្ស​សមរង្ស៊ី សូម​ប្រឆាំង​ដាច់ខាត ហើយ​សូម​ប្រឆាំង​ដាច់ខាត ចំពោះ​ការ​កាត់​ដី​ខ្មែរ ទៅ​ឲ្យ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម​ព្រោះនេះជាអំពើក្បត់ជាតិ។ ដី​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងអស់​អត់​មាន​ការដោះដូរ​អ្វី​ទេ​។ ដី​ខ្មែរ​កាលពីមុន​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៤៩ គឺ​២១ ខេត្ត​ក្រុង​ឯណោះ នៅ​វៀតណាម​សព្វថ្ងៃ ដែល​ជា​ទឹកដី​កម្ពុជា​ក្រោម​។ ដូច្នេះ​កុំមក​និយាយថា ដី​នៅ​ភូមិ​នេះ ដី​នៅ​កន្លែង​នោះ សុទ្ធតែ​ជា​របស់​វៀតណាម​។ អត់​មាន​ទេ គឺជា​ដី​របស់​ខ្មែរ​ទាំងអស់​”​។​

Thursday, June 07, 2012

បក្ស​សម​រង្ស៊ី​សុំ​ឲ្យ​រាប់​សន្លឹក​ឆ្នោត​ឡើង​វិញ - SRP calls for a vote recount at about 10 polling stations

តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សម​រង្ស៊ី លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ (RFA/Sok Serey)

នៅ​គ្រា​ដែល​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជាតិ​រៀប​ចំ​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត (គ.ជ.ប) មិន​ទាន់​ប្រកាស​ជា​ផ្លូវ​ការ​នូវ​លទ្ធផល​ឆ្នោត​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​ឃុំ-សង្កាត់ អាណត្តិ​ទី​៣ នោះ។ គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង សម រង្ស៊ី បាន​ប្រកាស​ពី​ជំហរ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ម្តង​ហើយ ម្តង​ទៀត ដោយ​ពុំ​ទទួល​យក​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​នោះ​ឡើយ

2012-06-07
ដោយ សេក បណ្ឌិត
Radio Free Asia

ប៉ុន្តែ មន្ត្រី គ.ជ.ប ហាក់​មិន​ចាប់​អារម្មណ៍​ចំពោះ​ការ​ថ្លែង​បញ្ជាក់​ពី​ជំហរ​របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​នោះ​ទេ។ ទោះ​យ៉ាង​ណា​ក្តី មក​ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៦ ខែ​មិថុនា គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង សម រង្ស៊ី បាន​ដាក់​ពាក្យ​បណ្ដឹង​ប្រមាណ​ជា ២០០​បណ្ដឹង ដែល​កើត​មាន​ក្នុង​ខេត្ត ក្រុង ចំនួន ៤ ទៅ គ.ជ.ប ដើម្បី​ដោះស្រាយ ក្នុង​នោះ ក៏​មាន​ការ​សុំ​ឲ្យ​រាប់​សន្លឹក​ឆ្នោត​ឡើង​វិញ នៅ​តាម​ការិយាល័យ​ប្រមាណ ១០​កន្លែង

មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​នៃ​គណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី អំពាវ​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​នយោបាយ​ដែល​ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​លទ្ធិ​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ រួម​គ្នា​កែ​ទម្រង់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត ឬ​សមាស​ភាព​មន្ត្រី​រៀប​ចំ​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត គ.ជ.ប បច្ចុប្បន្ន។

អ្នក​តំណាង​រាស្ត្រ និង​ជា​អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង សម រង្ស៊ី លោក យឹម សុវណ្ណ មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​០៦ មិថុនា ថា បើ​សិន​ជា​ពុំ​មាន​ការ​ផ្លាស់​ប្ដូរ គ.ជ.ប នោះ​ទេ ភាព​អយុត្តិធម៌​នៅ​តែ​កើត​មាន​ជា​និច្ច នៅ​ពេល​មាន​ការ​បោះ​ឆ្នោត​ម្តងៗ។

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

National Assembly Passes Law to Regulate Prisons

Cambodia has around 15,000 prisoners in 28 prisons across the country, creating severe overcrowding and unrest.

Monday, 07 November 2011
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“This is against some international conventions to ban the use of labor forces in prisons for the interests of a private individual.”
The National Assembly passed a law to reform prisons on Monday, but critics say its wording remains unclear and that one section that allows prisoners to work for private companies should not have been included.

Cambodia has around 15,000 prisoners in 28 prisons across the country, creating severe overcrowding and unrest. Other problems within the system include corruption within the judiciary and the prison system, and arbitrary detention and releases.

Yim Sovann, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said during the Assembly session Monday that a section of the law that allows private companies to contract with prisoners to manufacture goods was particularly worrying.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Yim Sovann: I’ve never seen a country leader in the world with so many bodyguards as Hun Xen

A show of force by Cambodia's Strongman

03 August 2011
The Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Yim Sovann, spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party – the top opposition party in Cambodia, had strongly criticized a CPP party leader who maintains a huge number of bodyguards. Yim Sovann said that this action affects the livelihood of the poor. Yim Sovann’s criticisms came yesterday, after the inauguration of a warehouse for tanks belonging to Hun Xen’s bodyguard unit which was built a cost of $28 million.

Yim Sovann told The Phnom Penh Post: “I’ve never seen any country leader in the world with so many bodyguards as PM Hun Xen, and I think that the national budget used to maintain this bodyguard unit will affect the livelihood of the poor and it will create corruption inside the country.”

At the same time, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), criticized the fact the PM has so many bodyguards, it will affect social problems. “I believe that the bodyguards for the PM, the ministers and other high-ranking officials have used their influence on social problems, such as in illegal logging, land-grabbing and various disputes etc…

The exact number of bodyguards for Hun Xen is not officially announced. However, based on the size of the warehouse for tanks, armored personal carriers (APC) and military gears yesterday, [Hun Xen’s bodyguard unit’s warehouse can] store hundreds of tanks and APC in there.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Oil import tax under fire from opposition

Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Chun Sophal
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIA’S tax on oil imports came under fire from opposition members as too high yesterday, but government officials maintain the duties are a necessary source of income for the national budget.

The Kingdom will have difficulty competing with its neighbours if it does not cancel or reduce rates on the oil import tax, said Sam Rainsy Party senator Yim Sovann.

High import taxes have caused oil prices to increase on domestic markets compared to countries like Thailand and Vietnam, which encourages illegal smuggling, he said.

“The cancellation of this import tax will result in a loss for the national budget,” he said. “But we will gain benefits for our economy and people because we can produce more finished products at low prices for exports to international markets.”

The government collects 1,200 riel (US$0.30) per litre of import oil, according to Yim Sovann. Higher oil prices increased the costs for Cambodia’s goods, making it challenging to compete with products from other countries.


“We cannot compete with products from other countries as long as we cannot reduce the difficulties stemming from [high] oil and electricity prices,” he said.

However, government officials said the revenue was crucial for the national budget.

Kong Vibol, secretary of state at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, told the National Assembly yesterday that oil import revenue increased to US$250 million this year, a 19 percent increase on 2009.

“We will lose about $250 million if we cancel the full oil import tax as requested by Senators from the opposition party,” he said.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

SRP and civil society plan to visit border posts

A border post planted on top of land belonging to Cambodian farmers in Takeo
09 Nov 2010
By Neth Pheaktra
Radio France Internationale
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Officials of the SRP party and the civil society indicated today that their group will travel to visit the planting of border posts along the Cambodian-Viet border next week. The reason for the visit is to check to make sure that these border posts do not encroach inside Cambodian territories, unlike what the local villagers have been raising.

SRP officials and Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU), announced today that their group will visit the location of the planting of border stakes and border posts along the Cambodian-Viet border next week. The plan was set up after local villagers in Memot district, Kampong Cham province, claimed that Vietnam encroached the borders on their farms.

SRP MP Yim Sovann indicated that officials from his party will travel to the border after the Independence celebration. He said that report of the visit will be sent to the government via the National Assembly in order to find a resolution for the villagers, should there actually be encroachments. Rong Chhun also indicated that his group will also visit the location of the planting of border stakes along the Cambodian-Viet border as well.


However, government officials said that the planting of the border stakes is the prerogative of the government to check their legalities. Phay Siphan, secretary of state and mouthpiece of the Council of Ministers, declared that those who want to visit the border post locations, must determine themselves clearly as being either a politician, or a technician, or a tourist. This determination is set so as to facilitate the work of the public safety officers. Phay Siphan warned that if there is any damage made to the border stakes and the border posts, which are public properties, the government will take legal measures.

Nevertheless, Yim Sovann and Rong Chhun claimed that their visits will not disturb the border posts because these are only peaceful visits. Rong Chhun said that his group is no scared to face the law because his group does not serve the interest of anyone in particular, but only the interest of the nation.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

UN Rights Office Important, Valuable: Clinton

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says keeping the UN office open would provide "good results and reputation for the Cambodian government." (Photo: AP)
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 02 November 2010
“The human rights situation in Cambodia compared to the past is deteriorating.”
Members of the opposition joined with local rights groups in supporting the UN's local human rights office, a day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it a “valuable resource.”

The Cambodian government has said it wants to close the rights office, and Prime Minister Hun Sen told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon he wanted the office head in Cambodia to be sacked.

But Clinton said on a visit here Monday the office provided technical assistance to the government and NGOs. “We think the work is important and we'd like to see it continue,” Clinton said.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, welcomed the support and said the office was necessary to monitor ongoing rights abuses in the country.


“The human rights situation in Cambodia compared to the past is deteriorating,” he said.

Pung Chiv Kek, president of the rights group Licadho, said the UN rights office provided resources to Cambodians and the government.

Keeping it open would provide “good results and reputation for the Cambodian government,” she said.

Thun Saray, head of the rights group Adhoc, said the closure of the office would “make concerns and hesitation from the international community in providing aid to Cambodia.”

Addressing concerns over the office on Monday, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters the government has not made a decision on whether to close the office.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

PM blasts SRP’s call for help

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy speaks at a press conference in December 2008. (Photo by: Heng Chivoan)

Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Cheang Sokha and Brooke Lewis
The Phnom Penh Post


PRIME Minister Hun Sen lashed out at the opposition Sam Rainsy Party yesterday, criticising it for attempting to attract local and international intervention in cases against exiled leader Sam Rainsy.

The comments, delivered during a ceremony inaugurating a new bridge on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, came three days after Senate President Chea Sim wrote a letter to the SRP’s Acting President Kong Korm, informing him that he would not petition the government to allow Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia under renewed parliamentary immunity.

Sam Rainsy, who is currently abroad, was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail after an incident in October last year in which he helped villagers uproot wooden demarcation poles near the Vietnamese border.

Kong Korm wrote to Chea Sim on September 11, saying that the Senate had a “duty” to try to broker a compromise that would pave the way for Sam Rainsy’s return.

But the premier said yesterday that Sam Rainsy should stop trying to avoid serving time in prison.

“If you don’t come to jail, the prison will go to take you,” he said. “In recent days [the SRP] tested Samdech Chea Sim, but Samdech Chea Sim responded that [he would] let the court proceed with its job.”

Hun Sen said he believed the SRP had expected him to respond personally after Kong Korm sent the letter to the Senate, and that this expectation was contradictory because the SRP had “cursed me every day as a puppet” of Vietnam.

He said that the opposition party should not expect his help to resolve Sam Rainsy’s case if it truly believed he was powerless.

“I am a puppet, I don’t have a right to resolve it,” he said.

He said the SRP had also sought help from the United States, but that he was unconcerned about the issue being raised during his upcoming visit to America.

“Another test is that they will use international [pressure], including the president of the United States,” he said. “In four more days I will meet US President Barack Obama. What will he say to me?”

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that Sam Rainsy had not formally requested help from the US, but that he had “met with several US congressmen” in recent months, with whom he had discussed his sentence. Yim Sovann said the party had also sought help from the United Nations and the United Kingdom.

“We appeal to all independent countries to put pressure on the government,” he said, and added that, as development partners, the international community had a “duty” to pressure the government to resolve the case.

“Sam Rainsy is the president of the major opposition party. We cannot say that Cambodia is a democratic country when the opposition leader has been sentenced by the court for political reasons,” he said. “Everbody knows that the court in Cambodia is not independent.”

Yesterday’s ceremony marked the opening of the Prek Phnov bridge, which links National Roads 5 and 6A, and is intended to ease congestion around the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge.

The premier said yesterday that the Ly Yong Phat Group, which is owned by ruling party senator and business tycoon Ly Yong Phat, invested US$42.5 million in building the bridge. He noted that while motorcycle drivers and pedestrians can use the bridge free of charge, the company will charge a toll of 5,700 riels (US$1.34) for small vehicles, such as minivans and cars, and 34,000 riels (US$8) for large trucks.

“The LYP Group will have to transfer the bridge to the government [after 30 years] and the government will consider whether to continue charging the fee or not,” he said.

Yim Sovann said yesterday that private companies should not finance public infrastructure with the intention of charging for its use.

“In this country people pay taxes for road maintanence,” he said. “People shouldn’t have to pay tolls for national roads.”

The LYP company also owns a toll bridge in Koh Kong province.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

If the rich minority is the enemy of the SRP, then Cambodia’s poor majority must be the SRP’s best friend, isn't that so, Mr. Hun Xen?

21 Sept 2010
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Hun Xen said about the criticisms and the alleged cursing of the opposition party on the rich and the oknhas (rich businessmen) that: “All these rich people are the enemies of the opposition already.” Hun Xen added that he still remembered that Pol Pot did the same thing to create equality, i.e. an equality by bringing down everybody and making them all poor [KI-Media note: Yes, Hun Xen remembered this well because, he is no stranger to Pol Pot’s action, in fact Hun Xen himself was a commander inside Pol Pot’s rank, therefore, he was most likely one of the henchmen Pol Pot used to conduct these misdeeds]

Hun Xen made these criticisms during the inauguration of the Prek Phnov bridge inauguration in the morning of 20 September 2010. Hun Xen added that: “As for us [the CPP], we are doing everything to embrace the rich, to embrace the private sector to act as the locomotive for economic growth, and to take the private sector to pull up our economy. Because the private sector, when it builds a factory, it could help provide jobs to 4 to 5,000 people. Therefore, if all the rich become all poor, then it would be just like the Pol Pot era. But we differ from that, we are looking for means to attract the rich to drop money into the development of the country [KI-Media note: Hun Xen’s rich cronies are also involved in numerous land-grabbing from the poor also]. In some countries, during certain periods of Cambodia, the powerful in Cambodia took their money overseas, such as Lon Nol [who took out] about $30 million.” [KI-Media note: How about the corrupt CPP officials and Hun Xen’s own family members, how much did they take out of Cambodia after putting the country for sale?]

Hun Xen added that he regretted to see opposition MPs being so dumb to dare order how to put to use private funds. He added he regretted to see this opposition MP talk with dumbness.

He said that a few days back, he talked about the construction of a 555-meter high rise building having 90 floors by Pung Khiev Se. Then, at that time, this opposition MP said that this is not the time to talk about using funds to build high rise buildings, instead this is the time to invest in agriculture and to build houses for farmers.

Hun Xen said that he can accept this suggestion if the funds belong to the state, but he said that he cannot understand why an opposition MP dares issue orders on private funds like this. [KI-Media note: Now we can see clearly a government leader who could not grasp the country’s priorities. The question is who is the dumbest one here?]. This means that a dictatorship will soon take place if these people come to power [KI-Media note: That’s what happens when someone could not see further than the tip of his nose, isn’t it?]. We are developing the market economy where the state has no right to force the private sector to use their funds in any sector that we want, in the past, all that we did was to call them to shell out their money to buy rice only.” [KI-Media: Is Hun Xen confessing that he did order the private sector to follow his whim here?]

Hun Xen added that he is ashamed, because as a Cambodian, he does not want others to be too dumb, so he is lecturing them, he is explaining to them so that people do make mistake on the government and that this is private fund where orders cannot be placed on them. He said that these [opposition] people, when the government walks to the west, they walk to the east instead, this is suicidal politics, he is telling them.

Hun Xen added that he does not want the opposition to be so dumb until people look down on them, and also look down on the entire country by the same token, he wants them to have some cleverness in their talk. He added: “how can they talk with the US, if they are so dumb? They boasted to be the US students, to have good relationships with the US, my foot.”

He added that the opposition boasted of meeting with US leaders, and there were 2 radio stations that broadcasted about the meeting: Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.

Regarding the opposition seeking intervention on opposition leader Sam Rainsy, Hun Xen indicated that the opposition was testing on the CPP, such as asking Chea Xim to intervene on Sam Rainsy’s behalf, but Chea Xim claimed that the opposition should follow the course of the law.

Hun Xen said that if such request were sent to him, he would scribble back: “I am a puppet with no right to decide”. Hun Xen made this claim because the opposition accused him of being a leader that only listens to an unnamed country [Vietnam].

Regarding the opposition seeking intervention from the international community and the US president, Hun Xen said that in 4 days, he will meet and have dinner with Barak Obama. Hun Xen stressed that, as an opposition leader who uprooted a border post [KI-Media note: If Hun Xen is clever, he wouldn’t confuse border stakes with border post, would he?] and who seek intervention from foreign countries, he also wants foreign countries to scold Hun Xen, let’s just see if Obama will scold Hun Xen or not?”

Thursday, September 09, 2010

PPenh Municipal Court Delays Sam Rainsy's Verdict


Report by To Serey, Radio Free Asia
Video by Mom Sophon

Opposition Cautious on Stronger Ties With Iran

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Wednesday, 08 September 2010

“Cambodia should just fulfill its tasks to ensure the rule of law, human rights and non-corruption, and then a lot of investors will wish to come to our country.”
Cambodia should be cautious in its relationship with Iran, which is facing international sanctions for its nuclear policies, an opposition lawmaker said.

“If we generate a relationship with a country that the international community sees as a country that it can barely work with, that makes Cambodia lose credibility too,” said Yim Sovann, a spokesman and lawmaker for the party.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong visited Tehran last month, signing agreements on trade, economics power and investment with leaders there. But Yim Sovann said making such deals was not necessary to draw investment.

“Cambodia should just fulfill its tasks to ensure the rule of law, human rights and non-corruption, and then a lot of investors will wish to come to our country,” he said.

However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Koy Kuong said Cambodia's international position is one of non-alliance, so there should be no divide in its diplomacy.

“Iran has a lot of friends also,” he said. “It is not only Cambodia who is a good friend of Iran.”

Cambodia has had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1992, but it has not established an embassy or consulate there. This month Cambodia provided for diplomatic visa exemptions and passports in its embassies abroad.

A Cambodian diplomat told VOA Khmer Cambodia was looking to Iran for investment and tourism amid a feeling that relationships with the West have not provided enough benefit.

And an analyst said the move toward Iran was likely prompted by a desire to push the West to pay more attention to development rather than “pressure.”

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Opposition is concerned about the loss of democracy in Cambodia

SRP MPs press conference held on 20 August (Photo: Ly Meng Huor, RFI)

20 August 2010
By Ly Meng Huor
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer


On Friday 20 August, a group of SRP MPs expressed their great concerns by declaring that Cambodia could lose her democracy. SRP MP Son Chhay indicated that the 4th mandate National Assembly (NA) is placed under the thumb of the ruling party and opposition MPs are discriminated and have no duties in the NA at all. Furthermore, government officials do not properly respect the letter of the law when it comes to replying questions asked by MPs, either in writing or verbally.

The concerns over the loss of democracy in Cambodia stems from the fact that SRP MPs saw that the NA is losing its role. The current NA is becoming much weaker and it also lost its role in following up the work performed by the government, for example, pushing the government to accept its responsibility, to perform its work efficiently and with transparency, all of these were not done properly at all.

In this morning press conference, Son Chhay, the SRP whip, indicated that the 4th mandate NA has been organized differently from previous mandates. The NA is now under the organization control and the exclusive leadership of the ruling party, contrary to any NA in a multipartite democratic nation. Furthermore, the role of the opposition MPs in the NA is not respected and the opposition is also facing discrimination as well.

In today’s statement, the SRP indicated that government officials do not properly respect Article 96 of the constitution in their response to questions asked by MPs, both in writing and verbally. At the same time, the government continues to hide public documents, including trade agreements, the grants and concessions, the various development plans, and the government made decision without any transparency and without the participation from the representatives of the people.

According to Son Chhay, for the past 17 years, starting from 1993 until now, only 6 ministers came to provide verbal replies to the NA and some ministers do not even bother to reply to questions asked by the MPs. In 2009, the opposition sent questions to the government through 132 letters, but the government only replied to 39 of them. In the eight months of 2010, the SRP MPs sent 47 letters to the government, but only 15 of them received an answer.

Nevertheless, Tith Sothea, the mouthpiece of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PQRU) of the Council of Ministers, indicated that in the past, government officials usually replied in writing to the questions raised by MPs according to the law, and sometimes, they even provided verbal reply to the NA floor.

Tith Sothea added that the CPP government received the majority of the voice in the NA, and that it is leading the country democratically (sic!) by respecting the rights of the people (sic!), the owner of the votes, according to democracy (sic!), and that it is not a lawless dictatorial regime (sic!).

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

After Illness, Hun Sen Issues Warning to Rivals

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Monday, 19 July 2010

I want Cambodian people to judge his speech” - Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday gave only his third public address since reportedly falling ill with swine flu last month.

Speaking in front of Svay Rieng University and appearing healthy, Hun Sen warned would-be detractors that he would tightly hold onto power, and he promised to be the leader of the country in both 2013 and 2018 general elections.

Hun Sen and five cabinet members were reported to have fallen ill with the the H1N1 virus last month, causing the cancelation of several high-level meetings, including with a delegation of German diplomats.

“The opposition party has been talking about my health since my absence,” Hun Sen said. “They say that I was kept in the house or that I fled Cambodia.”

Hun Sen said this could have inferred a coup d'etat and he warned that if such an event took place, Cambodia would erupt into open violence.

Whoever dares to commit a coup d'etat, they should have a head of iron,” he said.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, declined to comment on Hun Sen's statements. “I want Cambodian people to judge his speech,” he said.

Whoever arrests Hun Xen will face armed confrontation … I will stay in power until 2028: Hun Xen in swine flu delusion?

(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Hun Xen: “Whoever arrests Hun Xen will face armed confrontation”

19 July 2010
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale

Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer



Today, PM Hun Xen expressed stern reactions against the opposition party. Hun Xen claimed that the opposition took the opportunity to meet to discuss about his health problem and the opposition would have believed that Hun Xen would be under house arrest. Such hypothetical discussions by the opposition earned Hun Xen’s reaction and clarification.

In the morning of 19 July, during the inauguration of a new building and the distribution of diplomas to students at the Svay Rieng university, Hun Xen indicated that when he was affected by swine flu a few weeks ago, leaders of the opposition party – it is understood that Hun Xen was referring to the SRP – held a meeting to discuss about forming an alliance with another opposition party. Hun Xen indicated that prior to the opposition leaders’ talk on the alliance, they discussed about his case.

Hun Xen said that he knew everything, he heard everything about what everybody talked about. Hun Xen declared that, during the meeting, some opposition officials said that he (Hun Xen) has eye problem. Some said that he (Hun Xen) was arrested and taken out of the country, while some others suspected that he was placed under house arrest. Because of all these comments, Hun Xen can no longer take them, and he has to come out to react very strongly against them because they affect his power and his duty.

Hun Xen said that the presumptions made by the opposition are nothing more than dumb presumptions, and they are merely tests that were conducted. Hun Xen responded to the opposition by saying that if the opposition suspected that he was arrested, why didn’t the opposition conduct a demonstration? Hun Xen explained that if he were to be arrested, then it would mean that it is tantamount to a military coup, then armed confrontation would take place as well. As PM, Hun Xen claimed that nobody dares arrest Hun Xen, and only Hun Xen can arrest others. At this point, Hun Xen yelled out his warning, saying: “Whoever wants to topple me illegally, they will get armed confrontation back.” Furthermore, Hun Xen, the vice-president of the CPP party, announced that he will remain in power until 2028.

Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, was not surprised by Hun Xen’s reaction. Regarding Hun Xen’s revealing the SRP’s internal meeting – which Hun Xen claimed he knew about everything – Yim Sovann simply replied that his party is a democratic party and nothing is secret about it. He said that everybody is welcomed to attend and listen to his party meeting.

Regarding Hun Xen’s declaration that he would hold onto power until 2028, Yim Sovann said that if the people still vote to support Hun Xen, and that the vote were to be conducted freely and fairly, i.e. without cheating or buying of votes, then Hun Xen can stay as prime minister forever.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

SRP: Accusation of terrorism on activists is a trick

08 July 2010
By Meas Mony
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Cambodia’s opposition indicated that the terrorism accusation leveled by the Kampong Thom provincial court against SRP activists is a trick to weaken the SRP.

Yim Sovann, SRP MP and spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday that 4 SRP activists were accused of terrorism by the Kampong Thom provincial court. Yim Sovann said that this a renewed accusation after the same problem took place once in 2004 when the court summoned these men to go to court to clarify, but had to release them back due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Yim Sovann said: “They [the CPP] know that they cannot stop the SRP’s popularity, therefore, they don’t know what else to do but to raise this old case back in order to threaten our party.”

The four suspects include: Uk Thorn, SRP advisory chairman for Balaing district; Kim Hong, Kroya commune councilor; and Koy Koeun and Choam Cheav who are both SRP activists.

Uk Thorn said that this accusation stems from an event that took place in 2004. He explained that Kroya commune villagers living in Santuk district, were concerned about rumors spreading that a group of thieves would attack villagers with syringes during their sleep. The group of thieves was called the “paper tiger.” Uk Thorn’s colleagues reported the concerns to the provincial authority through a letter, however the end result was that the authority turned around and accused his group of spreading rumors and of creating unrest, then the court went on to accuse his group of terrorism.

Yim Sovann said that Kroya villagers suffered from the confiscation of their lands by the authority to give to a Yuon company for a rubber plantation. Because of this condition, the villagers went on to provide strong support to the opposition SRP party. This was the reason why the CPP created problems to try to weaken the SRP.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Corruption is more dangerous than terrorism: Yim Sovann

22 April 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer


As the new $1.6 million counter-terrorism building is being inaugurated in Phnom Penh by Hun Xen, Yim Sovann, SRP spokesman, said that: “It seems that there is no need yet for the government to improve counter-terrorism. Corruption is the main problem facing us.”

Yim Sovann declared: “We must prepare to fight terrorism. But now, terrorism is not a problem in Cambodia, but the terrorists could use Cambodia to launder dirty money if corruption still persists.”

The counter-terrorism unit is led by Hun Manet, Hun Xen’s son. This unit will be a mixture of members from other units, including from Brigade 70, Hun Xen’s bodyguard units. Members of Brigade 70 will form the majority of the counter-terrorism unit.

Cambodia is not noted for serious terrorism activities. There are some minor events that are classified [by the government] as terrorism, but these events are suspected to be set up by politicians to place blames on their opponents.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Fall of PPenh marked with political spat [-Tith Sothea defending his KR bosses?]

Monday, 19 April 2010
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post


THE opposition Sam Rainsy Party on Saturday held a ceremony at the Choeung Ek killing fields marking the 35th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge, though a government official later accused the party of using the occasion to score political points.

Party president Sam Rainsy, who is currently in self-imposed exile, addressed the gathering from Brussels, stressing that it was important for Cambodians not to forget the “cruel killing” carried out by the Khmer Rouge.

He went on to say that although the “current regime” does not “kill people cruelly”, it is guilty of making Cambodians “fearful, poor and ignorant”.

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann, meanwhile, said the Khmer Rouge tribunal should initiate investigations into high-ranking government officials who he said were guilty of committing crimes during the regime years.

“We would like to call on our leaders not to kill people like the Khmer Rouge did. And we would like to call for the international court to make an investigation into more present leaders who were involved in killing people during the Khmer Rouge regime and to bring them to be punished,” Yim Sovann said.

A number of senior government officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, were Khmer Rouge cadres before they defected from the regime and helped launch an offensive against it.

Tith Sothea, a member of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers, on Sunday said the SRP should not have used the anniversary to “split Khmers from Khmers”, and that the allegations from Yim Sovann were unacceptable.

Tith Sothea has previously said that Sam Rainsy is the “true criminal”, citing the two-year jail term the opposition leader received in January for charges related to an incident in which he helped uproot border posts in Svay Rieng province.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Land grant statistics revealed in govt report

Monday, 12 April 2010
Chun Sophal
The Phnom Penh Post


THE GOVERNMENT provided 124,000 hectares of land to 19 companies in concessions last year, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The concessions, spread across eight provinces, were for the growth of eight agro-industrial products, including rubber, Cambodia’s second-most lucrative crop after rice.

“We hope that the companies will be able to grow more rubber in the coming years,” said Chay Sokun, deputy director of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sunday.

The amount of rubber grown in Cambodia increased by 20 percent in 2009, filling 83,000 hectares, according to the report, released April 6. Of those, about 22,350 came from land concessions, and the rest from private farmers.

Yim Sovann, a member of parliament for the Sam Rainsy Party, said that nearly half the land given in concessions has yet to be developed. Some companies have merely logged the land, and others have tried to enlarge their plots by encroaching on land of local villagers, he said. If work is not being done, concessions should be returned, he added.

The government gave more than 1.3 million hectares of land in concessions between 1993 and 2009, but only about 957,000 hectares remain under valid contracts. The rest of the concessions have been officially cancelled, according to the ministry.

“We have already cancelled economic concession contracts with 41 companies, and we will continue to cancel them if we find that any have failed to develop the land they received from the government,” said Chay Sokun.