CPP promotes 5 officers and one vice-PM to the rank of 4-golden-star general

Serey Kosal, a former Funcinpec loyalist who is now serving the Yuon puppet regime, was rewarded by 4 golden stars (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

15 March 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
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The CPP has decided to promote 5 army officers who are close to the party to the rank of 4-golden-star general. A former Funcinpec defector who is currently a vice-PM was also promoted to the rank of 4-golden-star general as well.

Based on a royal decree signed by Chea Sim, the Senate president and interim head of state, dated 09 March, General Chea Dara, Hing Bun Heang, Sao Sokha, Nhek Huon and Phan Nguon are all promoted to the rank of 4-star generals. At the same time, Serey Kosal, a former fighter from the Funcinpec rank, who recently defected to the CPP and who was nominated as vice-PM, was also promoted to the rank of 4-star general also.

According to the number provided by the minister of Defense, the RCAF counts 2,200 army generals from the rank of 1-golden-star to 4-golden-star.

It should be noted that, after Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin were promoted to the rank of 5-golden-star generals recently, officers loyal to the CPP were encouraged and strengthened. The situation in Cambodia currently is likened to the Burmese Junta leadership.

10 new ministers appointed

Gen. Ke Kimyan talks to the press during a visit to his troops in Preah Vihear in late 2008.

Koh Santepheap newspaper
11th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Ten new ministers will be appointed to the government positions in an extraordinary session of parliament to be held on 12th March, 2009. At the same time, the parliament will also vote to re-instate Mr. Sam Rainsy's parliamentary immunity which was lifted on 26th February, 2009 for failing to pay fines. Mr. Sam Rainsy paid the fines on the same day as when his immunity was lifted.

In a statement signed by Mr. Leng Peng Long, secretary-general of the National Assembly, the parliament announced the following nominations for appointments:

1. Gen. Ke Kimyan, the sacked Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, will be appoimted as Deputy Prime Minister.

2. Mr. Serey Kosal, defector from the royalist Funcinpec Party, is to be appointed Senior Minister and Government Special Envoy.

3. Mr. Sourn Rachana, to be appointed Secretary of State for Public Works and Transportation, in place of Mr. Kep Thorn who had passed away.

4. Mr. Samraing Kamsan, to be appointed Secretary of State of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, in place of Mr. Khau Meng Heang who resigned on health reasons.

5. Mr. Hing Thoraksy, to be appointed Secretary of State at the Council of Ministers.

6. Mr. Tek Reth Samrech, to be appointed Secretary of State at the Council of Ministers.

7. Mr. Keo Remy, former vice-president of the Human Right Party, who defected to the CPP, to be appointed Secretary of State at the Council of Ministers.

8. Mr. Chhuon Dara,, to be appointed Secretary of State of Ministry of Commerce.

9. Mr. Ahmad Yahya, defector from the Sam Rainsy Party, to be appointed Secretary of State of Ministry of Social, Veteran and Youth Affairs.

10. Mr. Sam Satha, to be appointed Secretary of State at the Council of Ministers.

Another rat jumping off the sinking F'pec ship

Serey Kosal on Tuesday just after his defection to the CPP was announced. Funcinpec stalwart throws in the towel and defects to ruling party (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Funcinpec stalwart throws in the towel and defects to ruling party

Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Written by Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Former CPP critic Serey Kosal defects, voices praise for PM Hun Sen

SEREY Kosal, a former Funcinpec resistance commander and long-time critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen, announced on Tuesday his defection to the ruling Cambodian People's Party following a year of political setbacks.

"I see that Funcinpec could not unite itself since the party was seriously divided and losing popularity following the [national election] on July 27," he told the Post Tuesday.

"After 20 years of opposing the Vietnamese-backed CPP, I now recognise the achievement of the national and international policies of the CPP."

During the factional fighting of 1997, Serey Kosal commanded troops loyal to Funcinpec and describes himself as having been a "hardline" opponent of Hun Sen and the CPP since the early 1980s.

But he now lauds the CPP's approach to national unity, pursued through the integration of politicians of all political persuations without discrimination towards former opponents.

"Hun Sen was angrier with me than he was with the other members in Funcinpec, and now he still welcomes me," he said.

CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed Tuesday that Serey Kosal had joined the CPP and would be given the post of senior minister.

"The CPP is a party with good discipline, so people want to work with it," he said.

Ok Socheath, adviser to Funcinpec President Keo Puthrasmey, was concerned the steady defection of senior party members to the CPP would hurt the party at the 2013 national elections, but said the party still had the ability to rebuild.

Top Royalists Lock Horns in Lawsuit [-NRP's You Hockry vs F'pec Serey Kosal]

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
12 September 2008

Two senior officials from opposing royalist parties were called into a Phnom Penh court Friday, in a defamation and disinformation complaint highlighting the fractured nature of Cambodia's royal politics.

Norodom Ranariddh Party Secretary-General You Hockry filed a complaint on June 19 against Funcinpec Deputy Secretary-General Serey Kosal, accusing him of defamation and disinformation for comments made ahead of July's election.

Both men were called into court Friday. If found guilty, Serey Kosal faces up to five years imprisonment and 100 million riel, or $25,000, in fines.