By Savery
Sralanh Khmer
Translated from Khmer
Although the discord has not yet taken a big enough shape for the public to see, the internal conflict in the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] has erupted here and there in some ministries and departments. This time, this internal conflict could hurt the power of Prime Minister Hun Sen because of a person so close to him who is also his big guru.
Outwardly, there seems to be no problem at all between PM Hun Sen and Deputy PM and Cabinet Minister Sok An. Both live like fish and water. However, deep down, Hun Sen is beginning to show some signs of worry about Sok An because lately the latter has pushed him into many careless, illegal businesses and set up traps and tricks to ensnare and harass the faction of CPP Chairman Chea Sim and Secretary-General Say Chhum.
Knowing that the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum group is too weak to pose any threat or challenge to the power in the party and the royal Government, Hun Sen told Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum that if the CPP cheated on the elections again as it did during past elections, he would give them only 10 percent of the posts in all ministries and institutions and if Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum were not happy with that, they could do whatever they wanted and come to get him through whichever way they liked; Hun Sen said he would be waiting to welcome them and play along.
A CPP official close to Prak Sokhon, state secretary for the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers and adviser to PM Hun Sen, said that Sok An knew that the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum group would never dare to stand up against Hun Sen. So, he (Sok An) started preparing moves to gradually reduce Hun Sen's influence, the same way Hun Sen did to Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum. The unofficial source further affirmed that Sok An started preparing strategy to seize power from Hun Sen both in the party and in the government.
The source familiar with Prak Sokhon further said that Sok An has already appointed people close to him to occupy important positions. For example, he has appointed Leng Penglong as secretary-general of the National Assembly and Gen. Dom Hak as vice chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee and of the Apsara [Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siemreap] Authority. He also appointed two vice chairmen of the General Audit and appointed provincial and municipal officials to replace the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] officials recently dismissed under the effect of the 50 percent plus 1 formula.
The source further said that the two vice chairmen of the Anti-Corruption Committee are a man of Sok An, namely Dom Hak, and a man of Hun Sen, namely Gen. Mol Roeup. These two men always honestly present reports to their bosses: Dom Hak reporting to Sok An and Mol Roeup reporting to Om Yentieng, chairman of this institution, or reporting directly to Hun Sen himself.
The source affirmed without giving any clear proof that Hun Sen was slightly aware of this. He ordered Prak Sokhon to monitor all the activities of Sok An, and he started making decision without asking Sok An's advice, especially when Sok An was on mission abroad.
A source close to Chea Sim's cabinet said that Sok An drafted a message on 18 October 2006 in support of the party coup staged by Nhiek Bun Chhay to expel Prince Norodom Ranariddh as chairman of the FUNCINPEC Party. The source affirmed that a few hours after the extraordinary congress ended Deputy PM Sok An sent this letter to Chea Sim to sign so that the media would support Kev Puth Reaksemei as FUNCINPEC chairman.
The official at the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers close to Sok An said that all messages concerning important affairs were drafted by Sok An, sometimes without consulting with Hun Sen.
The expansion of his influence and appointments of his loyalists to various ministries and institutions have aroused Hun Sen's suspicion against Sok An.
A source at Tuol Krasang [Hun Sen's residence] said that lately Hun Sen has rarely sought Sok An's advice like before. Concerning really important businesses, Hun Sen now directly consults with the Vietnamese or seeks to understand them himself by learning from the ancient Chinese tales depicted in the movies, especially the stories about the mandarins around the emperor vying with one another for power and about the strategy to preserve his power.
The source close to the CPP headquarters (K-85) at the Chamkar Mon state palace expressed concern that one day Sok An would do what Nhiek Bun Chhay did in wresting control of the FUNCINPEC Party from Prince Ranariddh, for Sok An's activities have lately become quite unusual.
A CPP elder said that the internal war inside the CPP would degenerate into a serious conflagration stemming from the wrangling over the petroleum income and the power struggle following the 2008 elections if this party could steal ballots as in past elections.
The Cambodian masses said that if the above scenario is vindicated, it means that the problems inside the CPP are extremely grave, and this is a retribution that Hun Sen deserves for listening to Sok An's advice to break up other parties and to suppress and oppress the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum faction.
Outwardly, there seems to be no problem at all between PM Hun Sen and Deputy PM and Cabinet Minister Sok An. Both live like fish and water. However, deep down, Hun Sen is beginning to show some signs of worry about Sok An because lately the latter has pushed him into many careless, illegal businesses and set up traps and tricks to ensnare and harass the faction of CPP Chairman Chea Sim and Secretary-General Say Chhum.
Knowing that the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum group is too weak to pose any threat or challenge to the power in the party and the royal Government, Hun Sen told Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum that if the CPP cheated on the elections again as it did during past elections, he would give them only 10 percent of the posts in all ministries and institutions and if Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum were not happy with that, they could do whatever they wanted and come to get him through whichever way they liked; Hun Sen said he would be waiting to welcome them and play along.
A CPP official close to Prak Sokhon, state secretary for the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers and adviser to PM Hun Sen, said that Sok An knew that the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum group would never dare to stand up against Hun Sen. So, he (Sok An) started preparing moves to gradually reduce Hun Sen's influence, the same way Hun Sen did to Chea Sim, Sar Kheng, and Say Chhum. The unofficial source further affirmed that Sok An started preparing strategy to seize power from Hun Sen both in the party and in the government.
The source familiar with Prak Sokhon further said that Sok An has already appointed people close to him to occupy important positions. For example, he has appointed Leng Penglong as secretary-general of the National Assembly and Gen. Dom Hak as vice chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee and of the Apsara [Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siemreap] Authority. He also appointed two vice chairmen of the General Audit and appointed provincial and municipal officials to replace the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] officials recently dismissed under the effect of the 50 percent plus 1 formula.
The source further said that the two vice chairmen of the Anti-Corruption Committee are a man of Sok An, namely Dom Hak, and a man of Hun Sen, namely Gen. Mol Roeup. These two men always honestly present reports to their bosses: Dom Hak reporting to Sok An and Mol Roeup reporting to Om Yentieng, chairman of this institution, or reporting directly to Hun Sen himself.
The source affirmed without giving any clear proof that Hun Sen was slightly aware of this. He ordered Prak Sokhon to monitor all the activities of Sok An, and he started making decision without asking Sok An's advice, especially when Sok An was on mission abroad.
A source close to Chea Sim's cabinet said that Sok An drafted a message on 18 October 2006 in support of the party coup staged by Nhiek Bun Chhay to expel Prince Norodom Ranariddh as chairman of the FUNCINPEC Party. The source affirmed that a few hours after the extraordinary congress ended Deputy PM Sok An sent this letter to Chea Sim to sign so that the media would support Kev Puth Reaksemei as FUNCINPEC chairman.
The official at the Cabinet of the Council of Ministers close to Sok An said that all messages concerning important affairs were drafted by Sok An, sometimes without consulting with Hun Sen.
The expansion of his influence and appointments of his loyalists to various ministries and institutions have aroused Hun Sen's suspicion against Sok An.
A source at Tuol Krasang [Hun Sen's residence] said that lately Hun Sen has rarely sought Sok An's advice like before. Concerning really important businesses, Hun Sen now directly consults with the Vietnamese or seeks to understand them himself by learning from the ancient Chinese tales depicted in the movies, especially the stories about the mandarins around the emperor vying with one another for power and about the strategy to preserve his power.
The source close to the CPP headquarters (K-85) at the Chamkar Mon state palace expressed concern that one day Sok An would do what Nhiek Bun Chhay did in wresting control of the FUNCINPEC Party from Prince Ranariddh, for Sok An's activities have lately become quite unusual.
A CPP elder said that the internal war inside the CPP would degenerate into a serious conflagration stemming from the wrangling over the petroleum income and the power struggle following the 2008 elections if this party could steal ballots as in past elections.
The Cambodian masses said that if the above scenario is vindicated, it means that the problems inside the CPP are extremely grave, and this is a retribution that Hun Sen deserves for listening to Sok An's advice to break up other parties and to suppress and oppress the Chea Sim-Sar Kheng-Say Chhum faction.
I think Hun Sen should have more worry with Hok Lundy than Sok An. Sok An nothing nothing wrong to hun Sen. He is a small fish in the pond compare to Hok Lundy. Unlike Sok An, Hok Lundy has a force, older than Hun Sen, has been looked down by Hun sen many times. Hok Lundy has committed many crmes until USA has refused his visa to USA. He has also created a problem with Heng Pov. Hok Lundy knew Hun Sen crimes from outside to inside. Hok Lundy will one day created a big mess in Phnom Penh especially in Hun sen garden of human fleshes lying around.
ReplyDeleteeVERRY ONE AFTER YOU HUN SEN, YOU BLOCK THEIR WAY FOR TOO LONG!
ReplyDeleteEVEN YOUR SON MAY KICK YOUR ASS SOMEDAY!
What gives these idiots powers arn't titles or money. Its the people they control, if the people (army, villagers, citizens, NGO, etc...) would just stop one day, and do what's right for the country, then you have a real democracy.
ReplyDeleteWhoever wrote this article about the CPP's internal problem is a propaganda. The CPP is very tricky. They wanted to show to people that they are about to fall apart. They do this because they want to make people happy espcecially SRP, Funcinpec, rannaridh...etc. Hun Sen, Sok An, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin are so close to each other. Do not dream they would fall apart. wake up SRP, Funcipec. You guys should be one party if you want to win in the next election. Don't be like rannardih, kick him out of srok khmer.
ReplyDeleteTo 8:26AM
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 200%! Cambodian people and the world can be easily confused by the communists and the Vietcong!
Remember my word!
Communist will only trust another communist and that mean only CPP will trust CPP and no one else! I saw this game play before between Chea Sim and HUN SEN!
There is no internal rift between them. For example, H.E Dul Koeun from Sar Kheng group has been promoted to special adviser to PM Hun Sen.
ReplyDeleteFully agree with 8:26 AM. This power game of the CPP will give their opponents a false sense of victory. Then, the opponents usually become careless and make all the wrong moves.
ReplyDeleteThe high-ranking CPP members only know too well that they cannot truly afford an internal crack in their party. They put up the show of having different factions in their party, then they observe the reaction of their local opponents and the international community. It's a communist party with all the national resources at their disposal, and they have been in the game for a very long time.
Remember the 1997 coup? The Funcipec military commanders were fooled to think they could take on the CPP troops that they did not even have any backup plans. They thought they could successfully apply their jungle warfare experience in the battle for the city. In the end, Funcinpec troops had to run for miles without ammunition, food and water.
The other parties should be worried when they hear about a rumour of an imminent conflict within the CPP. Because it is them who will have a lot to lose.
I like to know more about Mr.SOK AN. He seems more of a man in good sence than Mr.Commnunist PM.
ReplyDeleteHis former education? anybody know?
I didn't think, he was a forme KR, but how he got into Mr. PM's closet net making me wondering around until now. He was a native Phnom Penh man. Can anyone confirm this fact?
AH SOK AN is nothing more than a Chinese clan who is willing to live under the Vietcong domination!
ReplyDeleteWherever you find the Chinese and you will find the Vietnamese! Wherever you see the Vietnamese and you will see the Chinese! The Chinese and the Vietnamese are in the same boat when it come to politic and business not to mention bad business! Do you think AH DARK SKIN VIETCONG SLAVE HUN SEN will have a chance at anything? Never! Never! Never!
AH HUN SEN is just counting the day and waiting for his turn to die for the Vietcong and the Chinese!
They are evils. Just to look closely who is the worst of all. Communist is communist. If anything happen and if they are not in power, all of them will be course and must find layers to protect them.
ReplyDeleteIt's revolutionary cycle. Hun Sen, if you are a fan of chinese films, you must understand the game of power. Noone dare talking to you while you have power, but noone respect you the whole life if you try to grip power in your hands lifelong. One day either your pure enemy or your pure friends or even your own children will not stand with your gripping of power anymore because they also need power, then you will suffer very hurtfully the loss of everything before your own friends or your own children.
ReplyDeleteSok An, Hok Lundy.... lean forward to you because they don't have enough strength to challenge your yet. But it's not always like that. One day one of these men will need you to choose either leaning forward to them or being killed. What would you choose Hun Sen!!!? Hun Sen power is hot, it needs people who hold it to take some rest, otherwise it could make you burned, nah!!!! Do you wait till that day!!!?