Expat businessman restores remote pagoda in Cambodia

The ceremony to inaugurate the restored Aung Sular Mani Pagoda in Cambodia. (Pic: Aung Shin)

March 12 - 18, 2012
By Aung Shin and May Sandy
Volume 31, No. 618
Myanmar Times

THE restoration of a Myanmar-style stupa in a remote corner of Cambodia has brought the two countries closer together, a senior Cambodian official said last week.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Ms Men Sam An said at a ceremony on March 3 to mark National Culture Day that the pagoda, in the western province of Pailin, would also help promote the practice of Buddhism in her country.

Ms Men Sam An was speaking one day ahead of a formal ceremony to inaugurate the restored Aung Sular Mani pagoda and hoist its hti. The ceremony was conducted in traditional Cambodian and Myanmar style and was attended by senior officials from Cambodia and Myanmar as well as local residents.

Minister for Religious Affairs Thura U Myint Maung told The Myanmar Times at the ceremony that he was pleased to see the Cambodian government’s keen support for the restoration project.

Dog nominated 4-golden star general by Hun Xen? (Chien nommé général 4 étoiles par Hun Xen?)

Y Chhien handsomely compensated by Hun Xen for kowtowing to Hanoi about 07 January?

Y Chhien nominated to 4-golden-star general by Hun Xen

Thursday, January 21, 2010
By E.B.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The Pailin governor was given a promotion. He is now joining the rank of 2,000 other generals in the RCAF.

It was during the inauguration of business buildings and new army barracks inside the Cambodian Royal Navy headquarters held in Phnom Penh on Monday 18 January, that the Pailin governor, Y Chhien received the precious honor from Hun Sen’s hand, The Cambodia Daily reported.

Hun Xen also indicated that he wanted to promote soldiers who have served in the army in the past. Y Chhien, Pol Pot’s former bodyguard and secretary of the KR division 415, is joining the rank of about 20 generals who hold the rank of 4-golden stars.

In 2006, among the 110,000-soldier-strong RCAF, 613 held the rank of general, i.e. a ratio of 1 general per 179 soldiers. This ratio is far higher than that of the US army in 2004. In the US, the ratio is one general per 1,347 soldiers.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Y Chhean

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

Out with the old Pol Pot boss, in with New Hanoi Boss: Y Chhean

Y Chhean (Photo: Rasmei Kampuchea)

Former Pol Pot's chief bodyguard supports 7th January Day

Monday, 18 January 2010
Source: RFA
By Khmerization

A former Pol Pot's chief bodyguard has declared his support for the 7th January Day, a day the Vietnamese army toppled the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Ee Chhean (pictured), former Pol Pot's chief bodyguard and current Governor of Pailin province, said he supported 7th January Day wholeheartedly and scorned anyone who opposed the 7th January Day as not being Khmers. "We must be proud of the 7th January Day. There are some people who opposed the 7th January Day and other certain media had also opposed the 7th January Day. Anyone who opposed the 7th January Day are not Khmers", he said.

Mr. Ee Chhean, who is an ethnic Jarai from Cambodia's eastern province, an ardent supporter of the Khmer Rouge regime and once a sworn enemy of the Vietnamese, served as Pol Pot's chief bodyguard and fought the Vietnamese army until he defected to the government in 1996. He now considers 7th January Day as the second birth of the Cambodian people.

Mr. Yim Sovan, spokesman for the opposition Sam Raisy Party, said after the Vietnamese invasion from 1979-1993, Cambodia has faced destructive wars and misery. 23rd October 1991, the day of the Paris Peace Accords, is the second birth of the Cambodian nation, he said. He scorned Mr. Ee Chhean for labelling the opponents of 7th January Day as not Khmers. "Mr. Ee Chhean used to be a former leader of the Resistance Movement fighting against the Vietnamese invasion. I think that, both Mr. Ee Chhean and other Khmer Rouge leaders and Khmer Rouge fighters during that time were not from other racial groups , but they were all Khmers", he said.

Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said Mr. Ee Chhean's comments are intended to restrict the freedom of expression of those who opposed the 7th January day. "7th January Day is a day that Vietnam came to colonise Cambodia", he said.

Luxury golf course for Cambodia's former KRouge zone: PM

An ex-communist rebel hitting the green

Children stand on a bulldozer as they watch the helicopter of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen take off after a ground-breaking ceremony in Pailin March 26, 2008 to repair the road between Battembang and Pailin province. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Onlookers watch a ground-breaking ceremony in Pailin March 26, 2008 for the repair of the road between Battembang and Pailin province. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that he wants a luxury golf course to be built in the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin, adding that even ex-rebels liked to hit the greens.

"Now if Pailin had a golf course, it would be a good thing," the premier said, speaking at a road construction project in the remote town near the Thai border that was one of the last refuges of the communist guerrillas.

The area is already home to a number of casinos, and has become increasingly open to tourism since the Khmer Rouge surrendered in 1996, which was the last year that Hun Sen was in Pailin.

In Pailin "the sound of monks chanting has replaced the sound of gunfire," Hun Sen said, adding that Pailin governor Ee Chhean, a former rebel fighter, was no stranger to the greens.

Cambodia doubled its number of luxury golf courses last year to four and hopes to have eight by 2010 in a bid to lure more high-end tourism from the fast-growing sport in Asia.

Y Chhean, Ieng Vuth Evaded the Forum

Y Chhean (Photo: Rasmei Kampuchea)

16-01-2008
By Den Sorin
Moneaksekar Khmer
Unofficial Translation from Khmer by KRtrial.info

The Co-Investigating Judges representing the Khmer Rouge tribunal have traveled to Pailin in order to explain the former officials and people of the Khmer Rouge in this former Khmer Rouge stronghold to understand the former Khmer Rouge trial and to calm their fears.

The Khmer Rouge tribunal's representatives, visiting the former Khmer Rouge soldiers and people, included co-Investigating Judges You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde.

Yesterday (on Tuesday) in Pailin's Municipal Hall, there was a meeting with more than 100 former Khmer Rouge officials. However, Y Chhean, Pailin governor, and his deputy Ieng Vuth shirked from attending the forum. Ieng Vuth is an important "character" in the forum since his parents are being detained at the Khmer Rouge tribunal. But, he did not appear in meeting in which he could ask the tribunal's representatives whatever he wanted to.

According to legal observers, before and after the arrest of Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith, who are Ieng Vuth's parents, Ieng Vuth dared to talk to foreign and local journalists. In contrast, now as the representatives of the Khmer Rouge tribunal visited Pailin to hold the public forum, Ieng Vuth evaded it.

Another Pailin's deputy governor Koeut Sothea, who is also a former Khmer Rouge official, was seen in the forum yesterday, which was attended only by former Khmer Rouge officials, whilst Y Chhean and Ieng Vuth disappeared. In the forum held in Pailin's Municipal Hall, journalists were only allowed to take pictures, but could not listen to the question and answer session. However, the journalists and observers will be permitted to listen freely in the forum on Wednesday.

According to Khmer Rouge tribunal officials, the today’s forum (on Wednesday) which will be held in Koang Kang Pagoda, is expected approximately 200 participants, including former Khmer Rouge officials soldiers and people to attend.

According to the former Khmer Rouge officials who attended the yesterday’s forum in Pailin's Municipal Hall, although it was an open forum, Cambodian and international co-Investigating Judges who are the representatives from the Khmer Rouge tribunal could not answer their questions.

"They come to Pailin to hold the public forum on the Khmer Rouge trial, but when former Khmer Rouge officials asked them, they could not answer," said the former Khmer Rouge officials, adding that they asked questions relating to the rumour of the further arrest of the former Khmer Rouge officials. "It is said that only former top Khmer Rouge leaders will be tried, but we want to know which is the highest or the lowest level of the Khmer Rouge officials that will be tried," they said.

At present, top leaders such as Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith have been arrested. Duch was not a top leader of the Khmer Rouge, but was the former chief of Tuol Sleng prison, involving deeply with the regime.

Former Khmer Rouge officials said that at the present time some former Khmer Rouge leaders in the Central Committee of the Communist party were still at large and that there was a rumour circulating around that about 10 more Khmer Rouge leaders would be arrested. That is why some former Khmer Rouge officials wanted to know how high rank a Khmer Rouge official is considered a “top leader” and how low rank they are, in order to avoid confusion.

However, You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde told the former Khmer Rouge officials that the decision [to consider someone as a top Khmer Rouge leader] did not depend on them but on the investigation and voices of the Trial Chamber’s co-Judges with at least 4 out of 5 as well as voices of Supreme Court Chamber’s co-Judges with at least 6 out of 9. Therefore, if the investigation could place burdens on any former Khmer Rouge leader, the Co-Judges are the ones who decide whether the arrest of that former Khmer Rouge leader is possible. If they could find the [supporting] voices as mentioned above, the arrest would be made immediately.

According to a source close to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, some former Khmer Rouge military commanders might also be arrested. And this is the reason why the rumour of the arrest of around 10 more former Khmer Rouge commanders and officials caused unrest. The representatives of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, visiting the former Khmer Rouge base, are going to hold another public forum on Wednesday in which journalists and observers will be allowed to listen until the end.

In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge court goes to the Khmer Rouge

Tue, 15 Jan 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - About 150 former Khmer Rouge attended meetings with the prosecuting judges of the impending Khmer Rouge tribunal Tuesday, although many of their leaders did not, officials said. The visit by the prosecuting judges and officials of the joint UN-Cambodia 56-million-dollar tribunal followed concerns the rank and file members of the movement from former stronghold Pailin would not cooperate with the tribunal.

Court media officer Reach Sambath said the ice was broken and the two-day visit, which ends Wednesday, was a success. Some local officials in the remote municipality on the north-western border with Thailand, around 500 kilometres from the capital, expressed doubt.

"We feel it was a success. Many people asked questions, and we answered," Sambath said from Pailin by telephone.

However local officials said many of the majority former Khmer Rouge residents remained unconvinced that trying their aging former leaders, five of whom are currently in custody and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, was necessary and remained scared they may yet be targeted.

Officials said Pailin governor and former Khmer Rouge commander Y Chhien was not there. The area's parliamentary representative Ieng Vuth, whose mother Khieu Thirith and father Ieng Sary are both in jail awaiting trial at the hearings, was also not present.

"Many people asked why jail them when they are so old and why only focus on the 1975-79 period," local deputy director of religion, Sam Savouen, said.

Other officials, most of whom are former Khmer Rouge and many of whom still credit former deputy prime minister of the regime, Ieng Sary, with brokering a deal with the government in 1996 which ended the fighting while leaving the Khmer Rouge in charge of the resource-rich area, declined comment and did not attend.

Sambath said the court would visit a pagoda and speak with more people Wednesday before ending the visit, hopefully winning more hearts and minds along the way with honesty and detailed answers.

"We want their trust and we need their participation," he said.

Up to 2 million people died during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-79 ultra-Maoist Democratic Kampuchea regime which sought to abolish social classes, markets, religion and even money in a drive to create an agrarian utopia.

KRouge judges open first talks in former rebel stronghold

Co-investigating judge of the "Killing Fields" tribunal, French Marcel Lemonde (L) speaks during their first meeting with former lower ranking of Khmer Rouge rebels at Pailin city hall in the northwestern province of Pailin January 15 ,2008 REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

PAILIN, Cambodia (AFP) — Judges from Cambodia's genocide tribunal met Tuesday for the first time with former Khmer Rouge rebels in one of their last strongholds to urge them to cooperate with the UN-backed court.

Although the court's mandate allows it to try only the most senior Khmer Rouge leaders, many lower-ranking cadres suspect they could be prosecuted for atrocities committed by the regime, which seized control of Cambodia in 1975.

"We hope our meeting will help clear up any misunderstanding about our mission in order to convince them to give evidence in future trials," said judge You Bunleng.

"The court cannot implement its task without their support and involvement," he said before meeting with government and security officials -- many of whom were once Khmer Rouge members -- in western Cambodia's Pailin region.

Pailin was one of the final refuges of the brutal regime which was driven out of power in 1979. Soldiers and officials fled to the remote region to regroup and try and battle the new government.

Judges and other tribunal officials will on Wednesday meet with villagers, many of whom were also members of the communist movement, at the end of their brief visit to the remote region.

Up to two million people died of starvation, disease and overwork, or were executed under the Khmer Rouge, which emptied Cambodia's cities, exiling millions to vast collective farms in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia.

Schools, religion and currency were also outlawed and the educated classes targeted for extermination by the communists.

Five regime heads have been detained so far on war crimes and crimes against humanity charges, and tribunal officials have not ruled out more arrests.

Pailin governor and former Khmer Rouge cadre Y Chhean said it would be up to individual ex-rebels whether to cooperate with the court's efforts to gather evidence.

The tribunal was established in July 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and the United Nations, with trials expected to begin in mid-2008.

Before Nuon Chea’s arrest, negotiation was held with Y Chhean

Thursday, September 20, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

According to the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper, before Nuon Chea’s arrest was made in his home located near the Thai border, the ECCC prosecutors and officials met to negotiate with Y Chhean, the governor of Pailin city, beforehand, one day prior to Nuon Chea’s arrest, for fear of reactions that could occur when he is taken away. The negotiation with the Pailin city authority lasted one whole day before the arrangements on all issues were completed, and before the city of Pailin agreed to this request. The ECCC co-prosecutors did not dare sleep in Pailin city that night of the negotiation with Y Chhean, they traveled to Battambang province to sleep there.
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KI-Media Note: Y Chhean, the current CPP governor of the city of Pailin was a sidekick of the late Khmer Rouge defense minister Son Sen, and allegedly a former bodyguard of Pol Pot.