Showing posts with label CPP internal dispute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CPP internal dispute. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Intrigue in ruling CPP detailed
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Post Staff
The Phnom Penh Post
DIPLOMATIC cables made public by WikiLeaks yesterday reveal simmering tensions within the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and revive long-standing suspicions over alleged government involvement in some of the Kingdom’s most notorious political killings.
The cables repeatedly allude to alleged factionalism in the CPP, long denied by government officials, between camps allied with Prime Minister Hun Sen and with Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Senate president Chea Sim.
In a 1994 cable, Hun Sen reportedly says the faction rumours, which began circulating in the mid-1980s, “were not true then, nor are they true now”.
Later communiqués, however, reveal potential fissures in the party.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Graft Arrests Prompt Questions of ACU Motive [-Peal See Peal]
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Washington, DC Wednesday, 19 January 2011
“If it’s an internal dispute or twisting within the internal party, we could see this as a beginning of a fracture.”
The recent corruption arrests of four policemen within the ruling Cambodian People’s Party have raised questions of whether there is friction within the party or whether the new Anti-Corruption Unit is flexing new muscles.
The police officials, who were arrested for corruption in connection with drug trafficking, were arrested in recent weeks following an investigation by the ACU, which is headed by a senior adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Om Yentieng.
Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, a minority opposition, said time will tell.
“If it’s an internal dispute or twisting within the internal party, we could see this as a beginning of a fracture,” he said. On the other hand, if it is the “true will” of the government, it’s a “good matter” for Cambodians, he said.
Those arrested were Moek Dara, former secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs; Hun Hean, former police chief of Banteay Meanchey province; his deputy, Chheang Son; and Chea Leang, an official in the Ministry of Interior’s anti-drug office.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Beast Unit
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| Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com) |
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Mystery over Hok Lundy’s chopper crash
Hok Lundy (in blue uniform) standing next to his boss and in-law Hun Xen (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)
Hok Lundy crashed helicopter (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)19 August 2010
By Tim Ravy
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Soch and Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
The person who was imbued with extreme power, a ruthless man whom everybody are scared of, a drug dealer whose name appeared on the US government blacklist, a leader of a successful coup d’état, a man who knew the in and out of the assassinations of countless politicians, journalists and actresses, that person was no other than the defunct General Hok Lundy. His death was a tragedy for his family and for those who use to reap profit from him, however, for the victims who suffered under his hands, Hok Lundy’s death is a wish that they have prayed for.
Following the 54th anniversary of Cambodia’s independence on 09 November 2008, 4-golden-star general Hok Lundy climbed on his personal helicopter with General Sok Sa’em, the deputy army chief of staff heading to Svay Rieng province, but a few hours later, it was reported that Hok Lundy’s helicopter crashed after lightning struck it. Nobody in the helicopter survived, two pilots also counted among the dead. The helicopter broke into pieces, and the body remains were no longer complete, i.e. all that were left were bits and pieces of flesh and bones that were spread and mixed up all over.
Investigating cops from the ministry of Interior (MoI) were dispatched to the spot in the middle of the night to check on this accident. The MoI cops indicated that the helicopter crashed from lightning strike, and not from sabotage. The announcement of this hypothesis calmed down the emotion reigning among many people.
Villagers living near the crash scene claimed that during that evening, they heard a loud explosion noise in the air that was very unusual, then they saw the helicopter flying above the trees falling down and exploded one more time. The villagers all went to look at the helicopter which exploded into pieces all over the place and smoke was bellowing out. Some of villagers tried to find money and jewelry among the debris because they didn’t know it was Hok Lundy’s body. It was not until the cops and the local authority arrived to look at the situation for the anarchy on the scene to stop.
General Sok Sa’em was a Svay Rieng native, he used to be the army commander for Kratie province for more than 10 years. During the 1997 coup d’état, he took his soldiers from Kratie and set them up in a beltway located between Phnom Penh Thmei and Tuol Kok, i.e. from the Traloak Bek area to the national TV antenna. The goal of the beltway was to prevent Nhek Bun Chhay’s Funcinpec army from entering Phnom Penh, and it was also a beltway to protect the houses of top government officials in Tuol Kok as well. It was after the success of the coup that he was promoted to deputy army chief of staff.
General Hok Lundy who was of Viet descent, was the former Phnom Penh city governor whose hands were covered with blood for ordering the crackdown of students in 1992. He was transferred to Svay Rieng to occupy the position of provincial governor before Hun Xen promoted him to the national police commissioner in 1994. Hun Xen and Hok Lundy met in Vietnam prior to 1979 and later the pair became in-laws. In 1997, Hok Lundy became the coup leader by ordering the killing of several dozens of high-ranking Funcinpec army officers, including General Ho Sok, the secretary of state at the minister of Interior who was arrested [and later shot and killed]. General Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police commissioner who was also a blood enemy of Hok Lundy, unmasked him, saying that Hok Lundy was involved with numerous crimes. Brad Adams, the director of Human Rights Watch for Asia, claimed that after Hun Xen, Hok Lundy was the most fearful man in Cambodia.
There was no surprise in Brad Adams’ assertion because even local human rights organizations, opposition officials, labor union officials, as well as those around Hok Lundy clearly knew about this fact. Furthermore, the US government even blacklisted him for his involvement in human and drug trafficking in 2004, and the US even canceled his visa for a visit to the US.
A reliable source indicated that Hok Lundy was the one who openly allowed Thai fishing boats to illegally come into Cambodian waters. The large casinos in Phnom Penh and along the border were all under Hok Lundy’s protection because the casino owners paid him each month several tens of thousands of dollars. Casino workers confirmed that Hok Lundy would show up in the casinos very often at night time. He was gambling with rich Chinese tycoons and in one evening he could lose up to $1 million, he also owed the casinos and sometime he would pay them back, but sometime, he wouldn’t. Hok Lundy’s action displeased the top CPP leaders, but when he died, several people were overjoyed, including Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior. For that occasion, Sar Kheng even had his gray hair dyed all black.
Immediately after the helicopter explosion, a group of US students and professors from a polytechnic institute in California conducted a scientific experiment. They used a small helicopter loaded with passengers, then they subjected it to artificial lightning, but the helicopter engine did not have a short circuit, nor did it explode from lightning and thunder. Based on the experiment above, it can be concluded that the helicopter carrying Hok Lundy could not explode from lightning, unlike what the Cambodian police claimed, but it was most likely subjected to a bomb explosion.
The hypothesis advanced by the US researchers seemed to be reliable because when one travel by plane at night time, planes have to cross rains, thunders and lightning, but the plane never met any danger. Furthermore, if the helicopter engine had a short circuit and fell down, then it wouldn’t fall into bits and pieces like this, and the passenger bodies would not be broken into pieces like this either because the helicopter was flying at a low altitude.
There are two possible suspicions: (1) there were an explosion from the grenades the two generals took with them, and (2) there was a planned sabotage. Analysts claimed that the explosion from grenade that they took with them could be plausible because nearby villagers heard the explosion in mid-air and the plane fell immediately afterward, that was why the bodies were torn apart into small unrecognizable pieces. Nevertheless, the planned sabotage hypothesis is also credible because Hok Lundy was not the only person in Cambodia who can plan a sabotage attack [like the 1997 coup], there are others who also have this ability and they are his enemies or the enemies of his boss, and they have the ability to end the life of this “ferocious tiger” as well. Hok Lundy’s own boss could also be the one who decided to end his life because this tiger is getting more ferocious, he no longer listened to his bosses and his ill reputation was spreading both inside and outside the country, in particular from his drug and human trafficking activities, etc… Therefore, a secret plan was concocted to save the face of the government and the ruling CPP party.
The two hypotheses above are more plausible than the claim made by the Cambodian police which blamed the accident on the weather condition. It is suspected that the on-scene investigators have found bomb pieces, but this truth was hidden from the public. Nevertheless, a ferocious terrorist leader whose hands are sullied with blood of several dozens of victims had left this world already, this is a wakeup call for all the current leaders who are involved in misdeeds, telling them to return to the right path in order to avoid Hok Lundy’s fate.
Following the 54th anniversary of Cambodia’s independence on 09 November 2008, 4-golden-star general Hok Lundy climbed on his personal helicopter with General Sok Sa’em, the deputy army chief of staff heading to Svay Rieng province, but a few hours later, it was reported that Hok Lundy’s helicopter crashed after lightning struck it. Nobody in the helicopter survived, two pilots also counted among the dead. The helicopter broke into pieces, and the body remains were no longer complete, i.e. all that were left were bits and pieces of flesh and bones that were spread and mixed up all over.
Investigating cops from the ministry of Interior (MoI) were dispatched to the spot in the middle of the night to check on this accident. The MoI cops indicated that the helicopter crashed from lightning strike, and not from sabotage. The announcement of this hypothesis calmed down the emotion reigning among many people.
Villagers living near the crash scene claimed that during that evening, they heard a loud explosion noise in the air that was very unusual, then they saw the helicopter flying above the trees falling down and exploded one more time. The villagers all went to look at the helicopter which exploded into pieces all over the place and smoke was bellowing out. Some of villagers tried to find money and jewelry among the debris because they didn’t know it was Hok Lundy’s body. It was not until the cops and the local authority arrived to look at the situation for the anarchy on the scene to stop.
General Sok Sa’em was a Svay Rieng native, he used to be the army commander for Kratie province for more than 10 years. During the 1997 coup d’état, he took his soldiers from Kratie and set them up in a beltway located between Phnom Penh Thmei and Tuol Kok, i.e. from the Traloak Bek area to the national TV antenna. The goal of the beltway was to prevent Nhek Bun Chhay’s Funcinpec army from entering Phnom Penh, and it was also a beltway to protect the houses of top government officials in Tuol Kok as well. It was after the success of the coup that he was promoted to deputy army chief of staff.
General Hok Lundy who was of Viet descent, was the former Phnom Penh city governor whose hands were covered with blood for ordering the crackdown of students in 1992. He was transferred to Svay Rieng to occupy the position of provincial governor before Hun Xen promoted him to the national police commissioner in 1994. Hun Xen and Hok Lundy met in Vietnam prior to 1979 and later the pair became in-laws. In 1997, Hok Lundy became the coup leader by ordering the killing of several dozens of high-ranking Funcinpec army officers, including General Ho Sok, the secretary of state at the minister of Interior who was arrested [and later shot and killed]. General Heng Pov, the former Phnom Penh police commissioner who was also a blood enemy of Hok Lundy, unmasked him, saying that Hok Lundy was involved with numerous crimes. Brad Adams, the director of Human Rights Watch for Asia, claimed that after Hun Xen, Hok Lundy was the most fearful man in Cambodia.
There was no surprise in Brad Adams’ assertion because even local human rights organizations, opposition officials, labor union officials, as well as those around Hok Lundy clearly knew about this fact. Furthermore, the US government even blacklisted him for his involvement in human and drug trafficking in 2004, and the US even canceled his visa for a visit to the US.
A reliable source indicated that Hok Lundy was the one who openly allowed Thai fishing boats to illegally come into Cambodian waters. The large casinos in Phnom Penh and along the border were all under Hok Lundy’s protection because the casino owners paid him each month several tens of thousands of dollars. Casino workers confirmed that Hok Lundy would show up in the casinos very often at night time. He was gambling with rich Chinese tycoons and in one evening he could lose up to $1 million, he also owed the casinos and sometime he would pay them back, but sometime, he wouldn’t. Hok Lundy’s action displeased the top CPP leaders, but when he died, several people were overjoyed, including Sar Kheng, the minister of Interior. For that occasion, Sar Kheng even had his gray hair dyed all black.
Immediately after the helicopter explosion, a group of US students and professors from a polytechnic institute in California conducted a scientific experiment. They used a small helicopter loaded with passengers, then they subjected it to artificial lightning, but the helicopter engine did not have a short circuit, nor did it explode from lightning and thunder. Based on the experiment above, it can be concluded that the helicopter carrying Hok Lundy could not explode from lightning, unlike what the Cambodian police claimed, but it was most likely subjected to a bomb explosion.
The hypothesis advanced by the US researchers seemed to be reliable because when one travel by plane at night time, planes have to cross rains, thunders and lightning, but the plane never met any danger. Furthermore, if the helicopter engine had a short circuit and fell down, then it wouldn’t fall into bits and pieces like this, and the passenger bodies would not be broken into pieces like this either because the helicopter was flying at a low altitude.
There are two possible suspicions: (1) there were an explosion from the grenades the two generals took with them, and (2) there was a planned sabotage. Analysts claimed that the explosion from grenade that they took with them could be plausible because nearby villagers heard the explosion in mid-air and the plane fell immediately afterward, that was why the bodies were torn apart into small unrecognizable pieces. Nevertheless, the planned sabotage hypothesis is also credible because Hok Lundy was not the only person in Cambodia who can plan a sabotage attack [like the 1997 coup], there are others who also have this ability and they are his enemies or the enemies of his boss, and they have the ability to end the life of this “ferocious tiger” as well. Hok Lundy’s own boss could also be the one who decided to end his life because this tiger is getting more ferocious, he no longer listened to his bosses and his ill reputation was spreading both inside and outside the country, in particular from his drug and human trafficking activities, etc… Therefore, a secret plan was concocted to save the face of the government and the ruling CPP party.
The two hypotheses above are more plausible than the claim made by the Cambodian police which blamed the accident on the weather condition. It is suspected that the on-scene investigators have found bomb pieces, but this truth was hidden from the public. Nevertheless, a ferocious terrorist leader whose hands are sullied with blood of several dozens of victims had left this world already, this is a wakeup call for all the current leaders who are involved in misdeeds, telling them to return to the right path in order to avoid Hok Lundy’s fate.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: CPP's Internal Conflict
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Peal Si Peal ("Dog eats dog"): Hun Sen demands for an investigation into Ke Kim Yan
Hun Sen (L) and Ke Kim Yan (R) playing golf together during happier time14 Feb 2008
By Ung Chansophea
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
During a meeting of the Council of Ministers held behind closed door on 23 January, Hun Sen justified the reason for the sacking of the former army chief of staff: partly because the latter is involved in land disputes.
Hun Sen ordered the minister of Land Management and Urban Planning, the new RCAF chief of staff, the Phnom Penh city hall, and all “concerned institutions” to open an investigation into Ke Kim Yan, during a meeting held behind closed door on 23 January, a minute of the meeting of which was made public on Thursday 12 Feb.
The investigation, which should allow the court to look into the case, will look into the legality of land properties owned by companies linked to Ke Kim Yan that are located in Phnom Penh, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear province.
According to the circular issued during the meeting, which bears Sok An’s signature, Ke Kim Yan’s sacking on 22 Jan 2009 was justified as being an army reform, but it was also a determination to resolve land disputes involving high-ranking army officers.
Hun Sen ordered the minister of Land Management and Urban Planning, the new RCAF chief of staff, the Phnom Penh city hall, and all “concerned institutions” to open an investigation into Ke Kim Yan, during a meeting held behind closed door on 23 January, a minute of the meeting of which was made public on Thursday 12 Feb.
The investigation, which should allow the court to look into the case, will look into the legality of land properties owned by companies linked to Ke Kim Yan that are located in Phnom Penh, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear province.
According to the circular issued during the meeting, which bears Sok An’s signature, Ke Kim Yan’s sacking on 22 Jan 2009 was justified as being an army reform, but it was also a determination to resolve land disputes involving high-ranking army officers.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Document links RCAF shake-up to land deals [-Shouldn't other senior govt leaders in the Hun Sen regime be sacked for doing the same as Ke Kim Yan?]
Ke Kim Yan (L) and Hun Sen (R), his boss: The boss got away free, the subordinate got sacked for doing the same thing (Photo: AP)PHNOM PENH, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The official record of a Council of Ministers meeting held the day after the Jan. 22 dismissal of RCAF (Royal Cambodian Armed Force) Commander-in-ChiefKe Kim Yan said that the government has ordered an investigation of the former military leader and his business associates over several land deals across the country, national media reported Saturday.
CPP (the Cambodian People's Party) and military officials have repeatedly claimed that the ouster Ke Kim Yan was solely to promote reforms within the military, but according to the minutes of a Jan. 23 meeting of the Council of Ministers, land issues were also at play in the decision, the Cambodia Daily newspaper said.
According to the meeting minutes, "The Council of Ministers has been informed and commented on the termination of the position of commander-in-chief from HE Ke Kim Yan based on two reasons:
"First, reforming the RCAF rank and file by adhering to work effectiveness in the military rank and file.
"Second, involvement with land issues by a top, powerful person in the military rank and file .. and doing business by using the name of military for personal gain."
The minutes go on to describe a resolution by the Council of Ministers to have both military and government bodies investigate Ke Kim Yan's land dealings.
However, newly appointed RCAF Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun and Defense Minister Tea Banh both said they are not looking into Ke Kim Yan's properties.
"Anything relating to Ke Kim Yan has ended since his termination from the position of RCAF high commander," Tea Banh told the Cambodia Daily.
CPP (the Cambodian People's Party) and military officials have repeatedly claimed that the ouster Ke Kim Yan was solely to promote reforms within the military, but according to the minutes of a Jan. 23 meeting of the Council of Ministers, land issues were also at play in the decision, the Cambodia Daily newspaper said.
According to the meeting minutes, "The Council of Ministers has been informed and commented on the termination of the position of commander-in-chief from HE Ke Kim Yan based on two reasons:
"First, reforming the RCAF rank and file by adhering to work effectiveness in the military rank and file.
"Second, involvement with land issues by a top, powerful person in the military rank and file .. and doing business by using the name of military for personal gain."
The minutes go on to describe a resolution by the Council of Ministers to have both military and government bodies investigate Ke Kim Yan's land dealings.
However, newly appointed RCAF Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun and Defense Minister Tea Banh both said they are not looking into Ke Kim Yan's properties.
"Anything relating to Ke Kim Yan has ended since his termination from the position of RCAF high commander," Tea Banh told the Cambodia Daily.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Rumours of Divisions Between Hun Sen and Chea Sim
The CPP trio: the is-no-good Heng Samrin, the quite-bad Chea Sim, and the very-ugly Hun Sen (Photo: Reuters)5th February, 2009
Kampuchea Thmey newspaper (Pro-CPP newspaper)
Translated from Khmer to English by Khmerization
There were rumours that on the afternoon of 3rd of February, Mr. Chea Sim, Senate President and President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has tendered his resignation from the CPP, citing ill health.
To quell the rumours, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government, told reporters that the rumours are untrue and that the three Samdechs (a royal titles meaning “Sir” conferred to Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin) are as united as ever.
Mr. Kanharith told Kampuchea Thmey that he heard the rumours as well, but said that the rumours must have been fabricated by the opposition camps. Mr. Kanharith added that he has conveyed the news to Mr.Hun Sen to ask for explanation from Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Hun Sen responded that the rumours are laughable by adding that they are untrue.
The rumours have been spread by words of mouth that Mr. Chea Sim has tendered his resignation at 5pm on the afternoon of 3rd February due to ill health.
The rumours said that, after Mr. Chea Sim resigned, Mr. Hun Sen took over the presidency of the CPP, Mr. Sar Kheng became Vice-President and Mr. Sok An became Secretary-General of the CPP.
Mr. Hun Sen replied through Mr. Kanharith that these rumours are laughable and that they are untrue story that was probably created by local opposition groups. He added that, in fact, Mr. Chea Sim is healthier and stronger than before.
Mr. Khieu Kanharith added that, before rumours of Mr. Chea Sim’s resignation surfaced, there were rumours that the three Samdechs (Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin) have bitterly verbally clashed about the removals and the reshuffles of the military leaders and about the reforms in other government institutions.
Mr. Kanharith added that he doesn’t need to explain any further about the unity of the three Samdechs as the three Samdechs were seen chatting cordially among themselves when all of them bid farewell to the king when the king left for a medical check-up in Beijing on the 4th of February. Mr. Kanharith added that the cordial conversations among the three Samdechs were signs of a strong unity among them.
Mr. Kanharith said that the three Samdechs are still the top leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party.
To quell the rumours, Mr. Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government, told reporters that the rumours are untrue and that the three Samdechs (a royal titles meaning “Sir” conferred to Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin) are as united as ever.
Mr. Kanharith told Kampuchea Thmey that he heard the rumours as well, but said that the rumours must have been fabricated by the opposition camps. Mr. Kanharith added that he has conveyed the news to Mr.Hun Sen to ask for explanation from Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Hun Sen responded that the rumours are laughable by adding that they are untrue.
The rumours have been spread by words of mouth that Mr. Chea Sim has tendered his resignation at 5pm on the afternoon of 3rd February due to ill health.
The rumours said that, after Mr. Chea Sim resigned, Mr. Hun Sen took over the presidency of the CPP, Mr. Sar Kheng became Vice-President and Mr. Sok An became Secretary-General of the CPP.
Mr. Hun Sen replied through Mr. Kanharith that these rumours are laughable and that they are untrue story that was probably created by local opposition groups. He added that, in fact, Mr. Chea Sim is healthier and stronger than before.
Mr. Khieu Kanharith added that, before rumours of Mr. Chea Sim’s resignation surfaced, there were rumours that the three Samdechs (Chea Sim, Hun Sen and Heng Samrin) have bitterly verbally clashed about the removals and the reshuffles of the military leaders and about the reforms in other government institutions.
Mr. Kanharith added that he doesn’t need to explain any further about the unity of the three Samdechs as the three Samdechs were seen chatting cordially among themselves when all of them bid farewell to the king when the king left for a medical check-up in Beijing on the 4th of February. Mr. Kanharith added that the cordial conversations among the three Samdechs were signs of a strong unity among them.
Mr. Kanharith said that the three Samdechs are still the top leaders of the Cambodian People’s Party.
Monday, February 02, 2009
More RCAF officers to be removed: source
Monday, 02 February 2009
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
A PROPOSAL to remove another 20 senior military commanders from all areas of the army is under consideration by the minister of defence, a top official said.
"[Commander-in-Chief] Pol Saroeun has requested that dozens of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces [RCAF] commanders be removed and promoted. The proposal has been received by Defence Minister Tea Banh," a senior official at the Defence Ministry who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media told the Post Sunday.
"The list is being examined by Tea Banh but has not yet been approved," he said, adding that the reshuffle would affect the infantry divisions, the navy, RCAF command headquarters and the Ministry of Defence itself.
In a sweeping reshuffle of the Kingdom's military leadership, Ke Kim Yan was removed from his post last week and his former deputy, General Pol Saroeun, was appointed the new commander-in-chief. Seven officers were bumped up to the post of deputy commander-in-chief, including four-star General Kun Kim and General Meas Sophea, in a move observers said was politically motivated.
New RCAF Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun insisted that the new list was not a political shake-up.
"It is not a reshuffle. It is not this at all," he told the Post Sunday.
According to Bun Seng, commander of Military Region 5, which covers Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin provinces, it is up to the Kingdom's military leaders whether to shake up the army or not.
"The region is not affected by this. Any reshuffle is just for top leaders," he said.
"[Commander-in-Chief] Pol Saroeun has requested that dozens of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces [RCAF] commanders be removed and promoted. The proposal has been received by Defence Minister Tea Banh," a senior official at the Defence Ministry who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media told the Post Sunday.
"The list is being examined by Tea Banh but has not yet been approved," he said, adding that the reshuffle would affect the infantry divisions, the navy, RCAF command headquarters and the Ministry of Defence itself.
In a sweeping reshuffle of the Kingdom's military leadership, Ke Kim Yan was removed from his post last week and his former deputy, General Pol Saroeun, was appointed the new commander-in-chief. Seven officers were bumped up to the post of deputy commander-in-chief, including four-star General Kun Kim and General Meas Sophea, in a move observers said was politically motivated.
New RCAF Commander-in-Chief Pol Saroeun insisted that the new list was not a political shake-up.
"It is not a reshuffle. It is not this at all," he told the Post Sunday.
According to Bun Seng, commander of Military Region 5, which covers Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pailin provinces, it is up to the Kingdom's military leaders whether to shake up the army or not.
"The region is not affected by this. Any reshuffle is just for top leaders," he said.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tea Banh: All's well in the not-so-well RCAF
Military Stable After Shake-Up: Minister
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
30 January 2009
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
30 January 2009
Seeking to quell rumors of further shake-ups in the military after the sacking of its commander-in-chief last week, Defense Minsiter Tea Banh said Thursday the military is now stable.
Gen. Ke Kim Yan was removed from his post commander of the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces in a surprise order last week, with Prime Minister Hun Sen accusing him of conducting private business enterprises rather than running the military.
The shake-up, which put Gen. Pol Saroeun as military chief, led to worries amid the ranks of regional and division forces that further firings were possible.
“People who say that are just talking, but nothing has happened,” Tea Banh said Thursday.
Gen. Ke Kim Yan was removed from his post commander of the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces in a surprise order last week, with Prime Minister Hun Sen accusing him of conducting private business enterprises rather than running the military.
The shake-up, which put Gen. Pol Saroeun as military chief, led to worries amid the ranks of regional and division forces that further firings were possible.
“People who say that are just talking, but nothing has happened,” Tea Banh said Thursday.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Ke Kim Yan uncertain of future plans [-Another case of "Peal Si Peal - Dogs Eat Dogs"?]
Friday, 30 January 2009 Written by Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
GENERAL Ke Kim Yan, former commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, is uncertain of the future following his unceremonious removal from the post last week.
"I have no idea of what work I will do in future," Ke Kim Yan told the Post Thursday. "The whole country knows I have stopped being commander-in-chief, [so] let everything be quiet from now on."
The general previously said he resigned his post for "health" reasons, but Deputy Prime Minister Nhek Bun Chhay said Tuesday that the CPP stalwart was removed by Prime Minister Hun Sen because his business activities were distracting him from his role as head of the armed forces.
"Prime Minister Hun Sen told a Cabinet meeting that Ke Kim Yan has a lot of land. He is a military officer, and he is also involved in business," he said. "While he is in the military and does business, he should give up his work."
But a senior official in the Council of Ministers, who declined to be named, said the prime minister was more specific, saying the former RCAF chief was removed for illegal land deals and failing to fulfill the duties of his office.
"Ke Kim Yan was withdrawn from the post of commander-in-chief because he has much illegal land and is not active along the border with the soldiers," the official quoted Hun Sen as saying during the Friday meeting.
"He has a lot of illegal land in the provinces ... and he is not as active as other commanders like Kun Kim and Hing Bun Heang."
"There are bigger problems than this, but we can't release them to the public. They are internal issues," the official added.
"I have no idea of what work I will do in future," Ke Kim Yan told the Post Thursday. "The whole country knows I have stopped being commander-in-chief, [so] let everything be quiet from now on."
The general previously said he resigned his post for "health" reasons, but Deputy Prime Minister Nhek Bun Chhay said Tuesday that the CPP stalwart was removed by Prime Minister Hun Sen because his business activities were distracting him from his role as head of the armed forces.
"Prime Minister Hun Sen told a Cabinet meeting that Ke Kim Yan has a lot of land. He is a military officer, and he is also involved in business," he said. "While he is in the military and does business, he should give up his work."
But a senior official in the Council of Ministers, who declined to be named, said the prime minister was more specific, saying the former RCAF chief was removed for illegal land deals and failing to fulfill the duties of his office.
"Ke Kim Yan was withdrawn from the post of commander-in-chief because he has much illegal land and is not active along the border with the soldiers," the official quoted Hun Sen as saying during the Friday meeting.
"He has a lot of illegal land in the provinces ... and he is not as active as other commanders like Kun Kim and Hing Bun Heang."
"There are bigger problems than this, but we can't release them to the public. They are internal issues," the official added.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sacrava's Political Cartoon: CPP's Internal-War
Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)Analysts Say Cambodia Needs Military Shakeup To Bolster Army: Dogs eat dogs time!
Government Carries Out Top Level Army Reform
23 Jan 09
By Brevin
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
23 Jan 09
By Brevin
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
Phnom Penh: Gen. Ke Kimyan has ended his position as Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces on 22 January by virtue of royal decree signed by King Samdech Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni.
Gen. Pol Saroeun has been promoted to Commander in Chief to replace Ke Kimyan, with seven other flag officers appointed Deputy Commanders in Chief. This is the highest-level military reform unprecedented in the terms of the three previous governments.
Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, said, "This is a normal reshuffle. It is a military reform." He added that this was not a removal and that Ke Kimyan would continue to work in the military sector. However, he declined to comment when asked what position Ke Kimyan would be appointed to in the restructuring. [passage omitted on the royal decree appointing the new Commander in Chief and his deputies]
The king issued a royal decree terminating the position of Ke Kimyan and appointing Gen. Pol Saroeun as Commander in Chief and seven Deputy Commanders in Chief at the suggestion of Samdech Decho Hun Sen.
Cambodia has carried out this major military reform at the time when it has border dispute with Thailand.
Analysts said that this military shakeup might be part of Cambodia's understanding that it was necessary to bolster the Army after the country had been threatened by a neighboring country.
Ke Kimyan had held the post of Commander in Chief since the first-term government born from the general election organized by the United Nations in 1993. He had been appointed to the post after he resigned as MP on 5 July 1994. Before holding the commander-in-chief post, he was an under secretary of state of national defense in the era of the State of Cambodia.
Gen. Pol Saroeun has been promoted to Commander in Chief to replace Ke Kimyan, with seven other flag officers appointed Deputy Commanders in Chief. This is the highest-level military reform unprecedented in the terms of the three previous governments.
Khieu Kanharith, information minister and government spokesman, said, "This is a normal reshuffle. It is a military reform." He added that this was not a removal and that Ke Kimyan would continue to work in the military sector. However, he declined to comment when asked what position Ke Kimyan would be appointed to in the restructuring. [passage omitted on the royal decree appointing the new Commander in Chief and his deputies]
The king issued a royal decree terminating the position of Ke Kimyan and appointing Gen. Pol Saroeun as Commander in Chief and seven Deputy Commanders in Chief at the suggestion of Samdech Decho Hun Sen.
Cambodia has carried out this major military reform at the time when it has border dispute with Thailand.
Analysts said that this military shakeup might be part of Cambodia's understanding that it was necessary to bolster the Army after the country had been threatened by a neighboring country.
Ke Kimyan had held the post of Commander in Chief since the first-term government born from the general election organized by the United Nations in 1993. He had been appointed to the post after he resigned as MP on 5 July 1994. Before holding the commander-in-chief post, he was an under secretary of state of national defense in the era of the State of Cambodia.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Lieutenant General Chhin Chanpor sacked by Hun Sen
24 Jan 2009
By Pov Ponlok
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
By Pov Ponlok
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
The deputy commander-in-chief of the military police, General Chhin Chanpor, was removed from his position today.
The sub-decree for his removal signed by Hun Sen on 22 January stated that General Chhin Chanpor has been removed from his position as deputy commander-in-chief of the military police, however, the sub-decree did not provide ant reason for this sacking.
This is the second removal of a high-ranking general this week, following the sacking of Ke Kim Yan, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).
The sub-decree for his removal signed by Hun Sen on 22 January stated that General Chhin Chanpor has been removed from his position as deputy commander-in-chief of the military police, however, the sub-decree did not provide ant reason for this sacking.
This is the second removal of a high-ranking general this week, following the sacking of Ke Kim Yan, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).
Friday, January 23, 2009
Cambodia’s army changes its head
Hun Sen showing Ke Kim Yan the exit door?Cambodia's Gen. Ke Kim Yan, left, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, listens to his Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, during the celebration of Independent Day, Nov. 9, 2007, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The head of Cambodia's armed forces has been dismissed from his post and replaced by a loyalist of Prime Minister Hun Sen. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
22 Jan 2009
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
General Ke Kim Yan, the current army commander-in-chief, was sacked to make way for his deputy.
General Ke Kim Yan was replaced at the head of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces by one of his deputies, General Pol Saroeun. The latter will be aided in his new duty by the following generals: Kun Kim, Meas Sophea, Mol Roeup, Chea Dara, Hing Bun Heang, Sao Sokha and Ung Samkhan.
Following this nomination musical chair, General Ung Samkhan will leave his position as chief of the navy to General Tea Vinh.
The nominations were conducted through a royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday 22 January.
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, indicated that the replacement of the commander-in-chief was part of the current state reform (sic!). Khieu Kanharith indicated also that “General Ke Kim Yan will stay with the RCAF,” without indicating the new position of the sacked general.
General Ke Kim Yan was replaced at the head of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces by one of his deputies, General Pol Saroeun. The latter will be aided in his new duty by the following generals: Kun Kim, Meas Sophea, Mol Roeup, Chea Dara, Hing Bun Heang, Sao Sokha and Ung Samkhan.
Following this nomination musical chair, General Ung Samkhan will leave his position as chief of the navy to General Tea Vinh.
The nominations were conducted through a royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday 22 January.
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman, indicated that the replacement of the commander-in-chief was part of the current state reform (sic!). Khieu Kanharith indicated also that “General Ke Kim Yan will stay with the RCAF,” without indicating the new position of the sacked general.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Premier Lost Ally, Not Power, in Chief's Crash
The late Hok Lundy is pictured directly behind Prime Minister Hun Sen as the premier returns from a trip to Beijing in October. (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)By Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17 November 2008
Prime Minister Hun Sen lost a strong ally within the Interior Ministry when the plane carrying late police chief Hok Lundy crashed Nov. 9, but officials say the prime minister's power will not be affected by a replacement.
Officials said last week that the loss of Hok Lundy, who led the national police since 1994, would be great to the government, but they were convinced national stability would not be affected.
"Nothing will change, stability will remain," said Em Sam An, secretary of state for the Interior Ministry, as he greeted a delegation of Vietnamese officials during funeral ceremonies for Hok Lundy last week. "We are sorry to lose the man. But our forces are in place and in good order. No problems will arrive. The situation in our country is getting better."
Hok Lundy was a powerful member of the Cambodian People's Party, appointed by Hun Sen "as part of an internal power play in the CPP" to take control of the police from CPP stalwarts Chea Sim, who is president of the Senate, and Sar Kheng, who is Minister of the Interior, said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch.
Hok Lundy's appointment came at a time of instability, following a failed coup attempt against Hun Sen and then co-prime minister Norodom Ranariddh, in 1994. His death, in a helicopter crash in Svay Rieng province, was a loss of a powerful right hand, but was not destabilizing, Adams said.
"After Hun Sen, he was probably the most feared man in Cambodia," Adams said.
Gen. Neth Savoeun, Hok Lundy's deputy and Hun Sen's nephew-in-law, has been named to replace the late police chief. Hok Lundy faced accusations of murder, extrajudicial killings and human trafficking, as well as collaboration in the 1997 grenade attack on opposition supporters that killed 16 people.
Neth Savoeun, who was the head of the criminal police section in the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, comes from the same security system, Adams said.
"Even in the 1980s, [Neth Savoeun] had a reputation for being among the most violent members of a very repressive security system," Adams said. "He too has been implicated in many serious human rights abuses and other crimes over the past two decades."
That appointment will likely not be challenged by Sar Kheng, Adams said.
Gen. Neth Savoeun declined comment.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry and adviser to Sar Kheng, dismissed the allegations, saying the police were on a five-year plan to maintain stability.
Even the US had shown Hok Lundy was "clean," he said, and had offered him a visa in 2007 to visit Washington for talks with the FBI.
"We know that Brad Adams has never talked good about our country, Cambodia," Khieu Sopheak said. "The facts differ from what he says."
He denied a factional split within the CPP, citing the party's win of 90 of 123 National Assembly seats in July's elections as proof of unity.
"Brad Adams' comments bear no merit," he said. "I mean, the dog barks, and the CPP cart moves ahead to 90 seats."
Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho, declined to comment on Hok Lundy's reputation, following Cambodian tradition, but said she hoped the new police chief would better honor human rights.
"I am speaking carefully because he has died, and we should not curse the dead," she said. "Cambodians know His Excellency Hok Lundy, so I don't need to comment more. The US government denied him a visa, so we all know there were a lot of allegations."
Her sentiments were echoed by Lt. Gen. Sok Phal, another Hok Lundy deputy, who warned reporters off strong criticism last week, asking they not "write something irrelevant which would impact the Khmers or our leaders" and should "write proper articles in his name, as the leader of the national police."
Officials said last week that the loss of Hok Lundy, who led the national police since 1994, would be great to the government, but they were convinced national stability would not be affected.
"Nothing will change, stability will remain," said Em Sam An, secretary of state for the Interior Ministry, as he greeted a delegation of Vietnamese officials during funeral ceremonies for Hok Lundy last week. "We are sorry to lose the man. But our forces are in place and in good order. No problems will arrive. The situation in our country is getting better."
Hok Lundy was a powerful member of the Cambodian People's Party, appointed by Hun Sen "as part of an internal power play in the CPP" to take control of the police from CPP stalwarts Chea Sim, who is president of the Senate, and Sar Kheng, who is Minister of the Interior, said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch.
Hok Lundy's appointment came at a time of instability, following a failed coup attempt against Hun Sen and then co-prime minister Norodom Ranariddh, in 1994. His death, in a helicopter crash in Svay Rieng province, was a loss of a powerful right hand, but was not destabilizing, Adams said.
"After Hun Sen, he was probably the most feared man in Cambodia," Adams said.
Gen. Neth Savoeun, Hok Lundy's deputy and Hun Sen's nephew-in-law, has been named to replace the late police chief. Hok Lundy faced accusations of murder, extrajudicial killings and human trafficking, as well as collaboration in the 1997 grenade attack on opposition supporters that killed 16 people.
Neth Savoeun, who was the head of the criminal police section in the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, comes from the same security system, Adams said.
"Even in the 1980s, [Neth Savoeun] had a reputation for being among the most violent members of a very repressive security system," Adams said. "He too has been implicated in many serious human rights abuses and other crimes over the past two decades."
That appointment will likely not be challenged by Sar Kheng, Adams said.
Gen. Neth Savoeun declined comment.
Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry and adviser to Sar Kheng, dismissed the allegations, saying the police were on a five-year plan to maintain stability.
Even the US had shown Hok Lundy was "clean," he said, and had offered him a visa in 2007 to visit Washington for talks with the FBI.
"We know that Brad Adams has never talked good about our country, Cambodia," Khieu Sopheak said. "The facts differ from what he says."
He denied a factional split within the CPP, citing the party's win of 90 of 123 National Assembly seats in July's elections as proof of unity.
"Brad Adams' comments bear no merit," he said. "I mean, the dog barks, and the CPP cart moves ahead to 90 seats."
Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho, declined to comment on Hok Lundy's reputation, following Cambodian tradition, but said she hoped the new police chief would better honor human rights.
"I am speaking carefully because he has died, and we should not curse the dead," she said. "Cambodians know His Excellency Hok Lundy, so I don't need to comment more. The US government denied him a visa, so we all know there were a lot of allegations."
Her sentiments were echoed by Lt. Gen. Sok Phal, another Hok Lundy deputy, who warned reporters off strong criticism last week, asking they not "write something irrelevant which would impact the Khmers or our leaders" and should "write proper articles in his name, as the leader of the national police."
Thursday, April 17, 2008
'Tug of War' Over Top Military, Defense Ministry Posts Said Stirring Up Again
07 Apr 08
By Den Sorin
Moneaksekar Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
By Den Sorin
Moneaksekar Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
A high-ranking Cambodian People's Party [CPP] official said that despite agreement within the CPP concerning the positions in the armed forces, it is not yet certain that there would be no changes because contestants are waiting to see the balance of forces between the two sides and the post-election actual situation first.
Previously Hun Sen wanted to have Neang Phat replace Tea Banh as Defense Minister and Kun Kim as armed forces Supreme Commander. However, if such an arrangement was made Hun Sen would have total control of the armed forces and Chea Sim would then be even more meaningless than now when he is already meaningless. Therefore, the party elders urged both sides to exchange positions between Ke Kimyan and Kun Kim, for Hun Sen wanted Kun Kim to replace Ke Kimyan as armed forces Supreme Commander while Chea Sim wanted Ke Kimyan to replace Tea Banh as Defense Minister.
Hun Sen consented to such a trade-off and the situation inside the CPP concerning power in the armed forces became calm for a while. However, recently the tug of war inside the military ranks within the CPP stirred up again because Hun Sen wanted to change his mind concerning the top post in the Ministry of National Defense as he did not wish to see Ke Kimyan have it.
The CPP official meanwhile said that Hun Sen recently strongly censured Tea Banh for not knowing how to use diplomatic language when he talked with the Vietnamese leaders, leading the state news agency controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam to publish a report about Tea Banh's call on the Vietnamese Defense Minister to provide assistance in maintaining security during the elections, a report promptly quoted by the state-controlled Agence Khmere de Presse.
The CPP official said that the Defense Minister is expected to handle the administration's political affairs. Therefore, the Defense Minister needs to be a person well-versed in diplomacy. Because Tea Banh showed his inexperience in diplomacy Hun Sen wanted to remove him from the Ministry of National Defense while the Chea Sim side wanted Ke Kimyan to replace Tea Banh since Ke Kimyan's seat at the armed forces Supreme Command was snatched by Hun Sen and given to his close confidant Kun Kim. However, Hun Sen now wants to renege by expressing his desire to take over both the armed forces Supreme Commander's and the Defense Minister's posts. This has caused quite a commotion inside the party.
The CPP official further disclosed that Hun Sen has steadily promoted Neang Phat in preparation for him to be seated in the Defense Ministry's top post. People inside the armed forces previously predicted that the Defense Minister's seat would surely go to Moeng Samphan, an in-law of Hun Sen, because Moeng Samphan was seen getting promoted quite often. However, after Moeng Sampohan stopped being a Hun Sen in-law, Hun Sen instead reserved this top post at the Defense Ministry for Neang Phat. For this reason, Neang Phat has been seen promoted to four-star general and made Hun Sen's personal adviser with a rank equal to that of a minister. He recently was given the title of Senior Minister so that he could hold the Defense Minister's post.
The CPP official said that in this third term Defense Minister Tea Banh is also Deputy Prime Minister. In the next term the Defense Minister probably will not double as Deputy Prime Minister, but will be just a Senior Minister. Nevertheless, the question of who between Ke Kimyan and Neang Phat will be Defense Minister has no sure answer to it yet because the key to Hun Sen's remaining Prime Minister is still in the hands of the Chea Sim group. Therefore, if Hun Sen really goes back on his word there surely will be an implosion of problems.
Previously Hun Sen wanted to have Neang Phat replace Tea Banh as Defense Minister and Kun Kim as armed forces Supreme Commander. However, if such an arrangement was made Hun Sen would have total control of the armed forces and Chea Sim would then be even more meaningless than now when he is already meaningless. Therefore, the party elders urged both sides to exchange positions between Ke Kimyan and Kun Kim, for Hun Sen wanted Kun Kim to replace Ke Kimyan as armed forces Supreme Commander while Chea Sim wanted Ke Kimyan to replace Tea Banh as Defense Minister.
Hun Sen consented to such a trade-off and the situation inside the CPP concerning power in the armed forces became calm for a while. However, recently the tug of war inside the military ranks within the CPP stirred up again because Hun Sen wanted to change his mind concerning the top post in the Ministry of National Defense as he did not wish to see Ke Kimyan have it.
The CPP official meanwhile said that Hun Sen recently strongly censured Tea Banh for not knowing how to use diplomatic language when he talked with the Vietnamese leaders, leading the state news agency controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam to publish a report about Tea Banh's call on the Vietnamese Defense Minister to provide assistance in maintaining security during the elections, a report promptly quoted by the state-controlled Agence Khmere de Presse.
The CPP official said that the Defense Minister is expected to handle the administration's political affairs. Therefore, the Defense Minister needs to be a person well-versed in diplomacy. Because Tea Banh showed his inexperience in diplomacy Hun Sen wanted to remove him from the Ministry of National Defense while the Chea Sim side wanted Ke Kimyan to replace Tea Banh since Ke Kimyan's seat at the armed forces Supreme Command was snatched by Hun Sen and given to his close confidant Kun Kim. However, Hun Sen now wants to renege by expressing his desire to take over both the armed forces Supreme Commander's and the Defense Minister's posts. This has caused quite a commotion inside the party.
The CPP official further disclosed that Hun Sen has steadily promoted Neang Phat in preparation for him to be seated in the Defense Ministry's top post. People inside the armed forces previously predicted that the Defense Minister's seat would surely go to Moeng Samphan, an in-law of Hun Sen, because Moeng Samphan was seen getting promoted quite often. However, after Moeng Sampohan stopped being a Hun Sen in-law, Hun Sen instead reserved this top post at the Defense Ministry for Neang Phat. For this reason, Neang Phat has been seen promoted to four-star general and made Hun Sen's personal adviser with a rank equal to that of a minister. He recently was given the title of Senior Minister so that he could hold the Defense Minister's post.
The CPP official said that in this third term Defense Minister Tea Banh is also Deputy Prime Minister. In the next term the Defense Minister probably will not double as Deputy Prime Minister, but will be just a Senior Minister. Nevertheless, the question of who between Ke Kimyan and Neang Phat will be Defense Minister has no sure answer to it yet because the key to Hun Sen's remaining Prime Minister is still in the hands of the Chea Sim group. Therefore, if Hun Sen really goes back on his word there surely will be an implosion of problems.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
'Nepotistic' Hun Sen Said Arranging for Son Hun Manet To Become Defense Minister
15 Nov 07
By Sreika
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
By Sreika
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
The rumor that Hun Sen's eldest son Hun Manet is going to be Defense Minister has triggered a general alarm within the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] because there are many CPP army chiefs suitable for this position. Besides, since the power between the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions has already been clearly defined why there is this rumor about Hun Sen's eldest offspring becoming Defense Minister?
According to the schema of the power sharing arrangement between the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions, the Ministry of National Defense [MND] belongs to the Chea Sim side while the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces [SCAF] goes to the Hun Sen side because within the military frameworks the SCAF can give orders in battles or carry out military undertakings while the MND takes care of policy only. It is for this reason that Hun Sen has accepted the power within the SCAF frameworks, allowing the Chea Sim faction to take over the MND. As for Ke Kimyan, longstanding army chief of the CPP in the Chea Sim faction, he has agreed to give up his top post in the SCAF in exchange for the post of Defense Minister to be relinquished by Tie Banh because in the CPP Tie Banh is regarded as an old ox waiting to drop dead from the foot-and-mouth disease.
Moreover, because the government led by the CPP wanted to maintain tight diplomatic (as received) relations with Thailand, both politically and militarily speaking, the seat at the MDF has been reserved for Tie Banh for a long time. Now, however, the ties between Thailand and Cambodia, both political and military, have become dormant or moribund since the coup d'etat in Thailand last year or since Thailand was controlled by the generals. Consequently, Tie Banh now seems to be much less worthy to the CPP, in the eyes of both the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions, because Tie Banh is neither a Chea Sim or a Hun Sen man. He is a member of the wing of Say Phuthang, the second most powerful man in the CPP during the Communist era. Therefore, when the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions are wrangling over the power in the armed forces, Tie Banh is automatically going to be rejected.
According to a high-ranked CPP official, because of the plan to redistribute the party's internal power within the armed forces, the CPP leaders have all agreed with one another that in the coming term Kun Kim will be Supreme Commander and Ke Kimyan Defense Minister. But suddenly there was a rumor floating around. The recent rumor that Hun Sen's eldest son Hun Manet is going to be the next Defense Minister has shocked people throughout the CPP. However, as the rumor that his son would be the next Defense Minister was shaking up the CPP, Hun Sen diverted attention from this problem by launching an attack against the opposition party instead. He did not talk about internal developments in the CPP for fear that people would know that there is trouble inside his party.
On 14 November, yesterday, Hun Sen claimed at the ceremony distributing diplomas to graduate students that his son is not going to be Defense Minister now but he does not know about the future. Hun Sen admitted that his son does work in the Defense Ministry but for the time being he is not Defense Minister.
Political analysts said that to hear Hun Sen speak like that one gets the impression he has already made all necessary arrangements for his son. It is just that this is not yet the right time; it is going to be later or when the opportunity comes. For this reason, Hun Sen dares to claim that for now his son is not yet Defense Minister but that no one can predicts the future.
Also yesterday Hun Sen attacked a political party he did not mention by name. He only said that this party has a president whose wife is an MP. He said that because of that this party is very nepotistic while he himself is not nepotistic at all. Although Hun Sen did not call this party by name most people understood that he meant the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP].
According to a political analyst, Hun Sen cannot criticize other parties of being nepotistic because his CPP is the most nepotistic of all parties.
Some officials in the CPP also agreed that Hun Sen is the most nepotistic leader because almost all power in the government is wielded by his men. For example, Cabinet Minister Sok An is not only his big guru but also his in-law. Cambodia's top police chief Hok Langdi is also a Hun Sen in-law, and so are a few other government officials.
The CPP officials said that in the past Sok An and Cham Prasith were not on very good terms with each other, but now Cham Prasith has become Sok An's in-law; therefore, Cham Prasith has also become a Hun Sen man. So, when one talks about power in the government, one knows that almost all the civilian, police, and military officials have become Hun Sen's men. And we have not yet talked about Hun Neng, Hun Sen's big brother who has been a veteran governor of Kampong Cham province. Hun Neng was briefly transferred from Kampong Cham according to Chea Sim's conditions or demand but he has since returned to Kampong Cham province.
According to a political analyst, if Hun Sen criticizes the SRP of being nepotistic because the wife of its president is an MP, then he is wrong because the same thing happens in the CPP and the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, and Peaceful Cambodia] Party as well. In the FUNCINPEC Party a husband is the party's president while his wife is the party's prime ministerial candidate. The CPP even sent a message to congratulate the wife of the FUNCINPEC Party's president for her nomination. The same takes place in the CPP. Hun Sen is Prime Minister and his wife is the chair of the Red Cross. Moreover, the wives of many other CPP leaders and CPP officials also have played important roles.
Therefore, if we talk about power networking in the government, Hun Sen is the most nepotistic. Even some CPP officials have concurred with this assessment. For this reason, Global Witness recently published a report exposing the logging activities in Cambodia that were made possible through large-scale nepotism.
According to the schema of the power sharing arrangement between the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions, the Ministry of National Defense [MND] belongs to the Chea Sim side while the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces [SCAF] goes to the Hun Sen side because within the military frameworks the SCAF can give orders in battles or carry out military undertakings while the MND takes care of policy only. It is for this reason that Hun Sen has accepted the power within the SCAF frameworks, allowing the Chea Sim faction to take over the MND. As for Ke Kimyan, longstanding army chief of the CPP in the Chea Sim faction, he has agreed to give up his top post in the SCAF in exchange for the post of Defense Minister to be relinquished by Tie Banh because in the CPP Tie Banh is regarded as an old ox waiting to drop dead from the foot-and-mouth disease.
Moreover, because the government led by the CPP wanted to maintain tight diplomatic (as received) relations with Thailand, both politically and militarily speaking, the seat at the MDF has been reserved for Tie Banh for a long time. Now, however, the ties between Thailand and Cambodia, both political and military, have become dormant or moribund since the coup d'etat in Thailand last year or since Thailand was controlled by the generals. Consequently, Tie Banh now seems to be much less worthy to the CPP, in the eyes of both the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions, because Tie Banh is neither a Chea Sim or a Hun Sen man. He is a member of the wing of Say Phuthang, the second most powerful man in the CPP during the Communist era. Therefore, when the Chea Sim and Hun Sen factions are wrangling over the power in the armed forces, Tie Banh is automatically going to be rejected.
According to a high-ranked CPP official, because of the plan to redistribute the party's internal power within the armed forces, the CPP leaders have all agreed with one another that in the coming term Kun Kim will be Supreme Commander and Ke Kimyan Defense Minister. But suddenly there was a rumor floating around. The recent rumor that Hun Sen's eldest son Hun Manet is going to be the next Defense Minister has shocked people throughout the CPP. However, as the rumor that his son would be the next Defense Minister was shaking up the CPP, Hun Sen diverted attention from this problem by launching an attack against the opposition party instead. He did not talk about internal developments in the CPP for fear that people would know that there is trouble inside his party.
On 14 November, yesterday, Hun Sen claimed at the ceremony distributing diplomas to graduate students that his son is not going to be Defense Minister now but he does not know about the future. Hun Sen admitted that his son does work in the Defense Ministry but for the time being he is not Defense Minister.
Political analysts said that to hear Hun Sen speak like that one gets the impression he has already made all necessary arrangements for his son. It is just that this is not yet the right time; it is going to be later or when the opportunity comes. For this reason, Hun Sen dares to claim that for now his son is not yet Defense Minister but that no one can predicts the future.
Also yesterday Hun Sen attacked a political party he did not mention by name. He only said that this party has a president whose wife is an MP. He said that because of that this party is very nepotistic while he himself is not nepotistic at all. Although Hun Sen did not call this party by name most people understood that he meant the Sam Rainsy Party [SRP].
According to a political analyst, Hun Sen cannot criticize other parties of being nepotistic because his CPP is the most nepotistic of all parties.
Some officials in the CPP also agreed that Hun Sen is the most nepotistic leader because almost all power in the government is wielded by his men. For example, Cabinet Minister Sok An is not only his big guru but also his in-law. Cambodia's top police chief Hok Langdi is also a Hun Sen in-law, and so are a few other government officials.
The CPP officials said that in the past Sok An and Cham Prasith were not on very good terms with each other, but now Cham Prasith has become Sok An's in-law; therefore, Cham Prasith has also become a Hun Sen man. So, when one talks about power in the government, one knows that almost all the civilian, police, and military officials have become Hun Sen's men. And we have not yet talked about Hun Neng, Hun Sen's big brother who has been a veteran governor of Kampong Cham province. Hun Neng was briefly transferred from Kampong Cham according to Chea Sim's conditions or demand but he has since returned to Kampong Cham province.
According to a political analyst, if Hun Sen criticizes the SRP of being nepotistic because the wife of its president is an MP, then he is wrong because the same thing happens in the CPP and the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, and Peaceful Cambodia] Party as well. In the FUNCINPEC Party a husband is the party's president while his wife is the party's prime ministerial candidate. The CPP even sent a message to congratulate the wife of the FUNCINPEC Party's president for her nomination. The same takes place in the CPP. Hun Sen is Prime Minister and his wife is the chair of the Red Cross. Moreover, the wives of many other CPP leaders and CPP officials also have played important roles.
Therefore, if we talk about power networking in the government, Hun Sen is the most nepotistic. Even some CPP officials have concurred with this assessment. For this reason, Global Witness recently published a report exposing the logging activities in Cambodia that were made possible through large-scale nepotism.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Hun Sen Said Using Death of Heng Samrin's Adviser-Cum-Drug-Suspect as 'Scepter'
06 Nov 07By Den Sorin
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
A senior military officer of the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Um Chhay's case could lead to a clash within the CPP leadership. Although Um Chhay was dead his case remains very much alive, causing cold sweat to run down the backs of some CPP officials and army chiefs.
As claimed by the police a day after Um Chhay jumped to his death, although Um Chhay had died his confession could lead to a few people involved. But since this is a very delicate matter it was agreed that the case be shelved indefinitely but any party leaders who have some wounds in their backs should accept the conditions of the ones who hold aces in their hands.
Um Chhay's death though relatively mysterious had surrounding circumstances that are not mysterious at all. They merely are being kept as trump cards in the party's power struggle.
A source claimed that Um Chhay's case has given the Hun Sen faction an upper hand within the CPP, for Hun Sen did not have any relationship with this type of person. The source said that under these circumstances Hun Sen can now remove any army chief from his post no matter which faction he is with or which wing he is under. But Hun Sen would not kill his comrades in arms or his own people like one would snap the neck of a buffalo. He would allow him to live and then gain his respect and fear as long as he lives.
A high-ranking CPP official said that the Um Chhay incident involved a high-ranked army commander. Um Chhay and the said military officer had been friends for a long time. In the past, Um Chhay wanted to be an adviser to this military chief if he could get a rank of colonel or brigadier general. However, after this army chief learned that Um Chhay had a shady business and fearing negative repercussion on his reputation, he quickly introduced Um Chhay to Heng Samrin, who accepted him as his adviser. In reality, Heng Samrin did not know anything about Um Chhay's dishonest business because Um Chhay rarely stayed in Phnom Penh, living most of the time in Banteay Meanchey province.
This CPP officer said that Heng Samrin also did not gain any benefit from Um Chhay. Heng Sarin was shocked when he learned about Um Chhay's arrest and charge for involvement in narcotics. For this reason, Heng Samrin quickly requested a royal decree to remove Um Chhay from his stable of advisers.
A CPP military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he knew that during the times of the State of Cambodia Um Chhay trafficked antique statue heads. In those years Um Chhay was close to the late Long Sopheap, commander of the 4th Military Region based in Siemreab. When he was army chief Long Sopheap also was involved in a scandal concerning the smuggling of antique statue heads. After Long Sopheap died Um Chhay was out of the public eyes for a while. Later, he befriended a high-ranked military officer and received a vast piece of land as concession in Banteay Meanchey province.
It is not certain what kind of relations this military chief had with Um Chhay but in Um Chhay's confession before he jumped to his death from a window of the police detention building inside the compound of the Interior Ministry he incriminated this army chief. For this reason, Hun Sen used this case as a weapon for counterattacking some leaders in his party. Um Chhay's case is tantamount to the scepter with which Hun Sen can use to dispatch anyone he likes. For example, Hun Sen can remove the army chief involved with Um Chhay anytime he likes. He does not do it now only because he wants to keep him to bargain for something inside the party. Now, Um Chhay's case has been drawn by the CPP leaders into their power wrangling within the party, particularly into the rivalry between factions.
As claimed by the police a day after Um Chhay jumped to his death, although Um Chhay had died his confession could lead to a few people involved. But since this is a very delicate matter it was agreed that the case be shelved indefinitely but any party leaders who have some wounds in their backs should accept the conditions of the ones who hold aces in their hands.
Um Chhay's death though relatively mysterious had surrounding circumstances that are not mysterious at all. They merely are being kept as trump cards in the party's power struggle.
A source claimed that Um Chhay's case has given the Hun Sen faction an upper hand within the CPP, for Hun Sen did not have any relationship with this type of person. The source said that under these circumstances Hun Sen can now remove any army chief from his post no matter which faction he is with or which wing he is under. But Hun Sen would not kill his comrades in arms or his own people like one would snap the neck of a buffalo. He would allow him to live and then gain his respect and fear as long as he lives.
A high-ranking CPP official said that the Um Chhay incident involved a high-ranked army commander. Um Chhay and the said military officer had been friends for a long time. In the past, Um Chhay wanted to be an adviser to this military chief if he could get a rank of colonel or brigadier general. However, after this army chief learned that Um Chhay had a shady business and fearing negative repercussion on his reputation, he quickly introduced Um Chhay to Heng Samrin, who accepted him as his adviser. In reality, Heng Samrin did not know anything about Um Chhay's dishonest business because Um Chhay rarely stayed in Phnom Penh, living most of the time in Banteay Meanchey province.
This CPP officer said that Heng Samrin also did not gain any benefit from Um Chhay. Heng Sarin was shocked when he learned about Um Chhay's arrest and charge for involvement in narcotics. For this reason, Heng Samrin quickly requested a royal decree to remove Um Chhay from his stable of advisers.
A CPP military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he knew that during the times of the State of Cambodia Um Chhay trafficked antique statue heads. In those years Um Chhay was close to the late Long Sopheap, commander of the 4th Military Region based in Siemreab. When he was army chief Long Sopheap also was involved in a scandal concerning the smuggling of antique statue heads. After Long Sopheap died Um Chhay was out of the public eyes for a while. Later, he befriended a high-ranked military officer and received a vast piece of land as concession in Banteay Meanchey province.
It is not certain what kind of relations this military chief had with Um Chhay but in Um Chhay's confession before he jumped to his death from a window of the police detention building inside the compound of the Interior Ministry he incriminated this army chief. For this reason, Hun Sen used this case as a weapon for counterattacking some leaders in his party. Um Chhay's case is tantamount to the scepter with which Hun Sen can use to dispatch anyone he likes. For example, Hun Sen can remove the army chief involved with Um Chhay anytime he likes. He does not do it now only because he wants to keep him to bargain for something inside the party. Now, Um Chhay's case has been drawn by the CPP leaders into their power wrangling within the party, particularly into the rivalry between factions.
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