Cambodia Says No Strings Attached in Recent Chinese Aid

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, right, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen during their meeting in China on Sept. 2. (Associated Press)

September 6, 2012
By Patrick Barta
The Wall Street Journal

China has done a lot to support Cambodia over the years with millions of dollars in aid, loans and investment. But after reports this week that China has pledged another $500 million in soft loans and grants—and publicly thanked Cambodia for its support in Southeast Asia—Cambodian officials want to be sure no one suspects the little country is falling too much under China’s sway.

Cheam Yeap, chairman of the Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit at the Cambodian National Assembly, said China’s loans have nothing to do with Cambodia’s recent support for China in disputes involving the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by China and several Southeast Asian states. That backing includes a now-famous episode in July when members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations failed to reach a consensus on how to resolve conflicts in the sea at their latest summit in Phnom Penh, failing even to issue their customary joint communiqué at the end.

Representatives from the Philippines and other nations blamed Cambodia for resisting any agreement that would embarrass China, which has long indicated its desire to negotiate settlements in the South China Sea on a bilateral basis, away from multilateral forums.

The latest loans are just “encouragement from China’s premier Wen Jiabao” Mr. Cheam Yeap said, adding that China doesn’t ask for anything in return. Rather, China just “sees that Cambodia is in need for [money] to develop the country,” he said. “This is not the first time that China has provided concessional loans to Cambodia.”

CPP NatAss does not object to the giving away of Khmer land to Vietnam: Cheam Yeap

ជាម យៀប

លោក ជាម យៀប៖ សមាជិកសភា មិន​ជំទាស់​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ដោះដូរ​ភូមិ នៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា​-​វៀតណាម​

ថ្ងៃទី 26 មិថុនា 2012
ដោយ: រតនា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: សមាជិកសភា បាន​សម្តែង​នូវ​ការគាំទ្រចំពោះ​ការចុះ​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង រវាង​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា ជាមួយ​នឹង​គណៈកម្មាធិកា​រ​កិច្ចការ​ព្រំដែន​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម លើ​អនុស្សរណៈដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ ស្ថិតនៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​។​

​លោក ជាម យៀប សមាជិក​សភា​មណ្ឌល​ព្រៃវែង និង​ជា​សមាជិក​អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​កណ្តាលគណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា បាន​លើកឡើង​ថា ការដោះដូរ​ភូមិ​របស់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ស្ថិតនៅតាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន យោង​តាម​កិច្ចព្រមព្រៀង​ជាមួយ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម គឺជា​ការធម្មតា និង​ធ្វើ​ស្របតាម​ច្បាប់​។​

​លោក ជាម យៀប បានបញ្ជាក់​ថា "​ខ្ញុំ​សុំ​ជម្រាប​ថា អា​ហ្នឹងជា​ការធម្មតា ពីព្រោះ​ថា​យើង​ ​កន្លងទៅ មិនទាន់​ដឹង​ថា ខាង​ណាជា​របស់​ខ្មែរ ខាង​ណា​ជា​របស់​វៀតណាម​ទេ​។ ប៉ុន្តែ​នៅពេល​នេះ យើង​យក​ផែនទី​តម្កល់នៅ​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ ដែល​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ព្រំដែននៃ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ​រៀបចំ​ធ្វើទៅតាម​កិច្ចសន្យា​របស់​ខ្លួន​។ អា​ហ្នឹង​គេ​ត្រូវ​មើល​ចេញ​ចូល​យ៉ាងណា​នោះ ជា​ការដោះដូរ​កាត់កងធម្មតារ​បស់​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ ឬ​របស់​ខេត្ត​ទាំងពីរ ឬ​ស្រុក​ទាំង​ពីរ ឬ​ឃុំ​ទាំងពីរ នៅ​ភូមិ​ទាំងពីរ​របស់​ខេត្ត នៅ​ជាប់​ព្រំដែន​ជាមួយគ្នា​"​។​

"...the ruling party is just like a big snake that eats little frogs”: Does Cheam Yeap wants to eliminate the frog in the pot?

By claiming that "... the ruling party is just like a big snake that eats little frogs", does Cheam Yeap mean to say that Hun Xen, Cambodia's largest frog in the pot, will be eliminated soon? (Cartoon by Sacrava)

Opposition Parties Look to Merge

Two main opposition groups hope to join forces against Cambodia’s ruling party.

2012-06-07
Radio Free Asia

Leaders from the two main opposition parties in Cambodia will meet in the Philippines late this month to discuss a merger ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections, according to officials from both political groups.

Human Rights Party (HRP) President Kem Sokha said the plan to meet with Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) President Sam Rainsy came after he made an appeal to unite in the interest of promoting democracy in Cambodia. The two parties have tried unsuccessfully to unite over the last two years.

Sam Rainsy on Tuesday also issued a public statement calling on all democrats and political parties to join forces to compete against Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

Burma’s Election Should Be a Call to Cambodia: Opposition [-Burmese Junta has the CoC to bring in progress, unlike CoC-less Hun Xen?]

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (C) waves to the crowd as she leaves National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters after addressing journalists and supporters in Yangon on April 2, 2012. (Photo: AFP)

Wednesday, 04 April 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“It’s chronic among our Cambodian leaders to not learn from our own history.”

Cambodian opposition officials welcomed the elections in Burma over the weekend that gave 43 of 44 contested seats to the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but they also said the voting demonstrates a need for change in Cambodia’s own political system.

Kem Sokha, leader of the Human Rights Party, said Cambodia must change its system, or “people today will turn toward uprisings for change.”

Burmese leaders faced international pressure to organize the election, he said. “In Cambodia, the ruling party has to show the international community that future elections are held in a free and fair manner.”

Despite the election, Burmese junta leaders remain squarely in power. The National League for Democracy, which is led by Suu Kyi, does not have enough seats to alter the constitution or change policy.

Nevertheless, opposition lawmaker Son Chhay said the election signaled unprecedented change in the country and was welcomed by the international community. It also signaled a willingness of Burmese leaders to progress.

“It’s chronic among our Cambodian leaders to not learn from our own history,” he said. “When they hold power, they think about how to personally centralize power and they forget their roles for the nation and the people. They think only of mutual destruction for personal power.”

"The CPP and its supporters consider this as a core gratitude to Vietnam”: Cheam Yeap

PMs dedicate battle memorial

Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, yesterday presided over a commemoration to their fallen comrades who were killed in a landmark resistance battle against the Khmer Rouge.

Long Khan district in Vietnam’s Dong Nai province was the site of a brutal battle between Hun Sen’s troops and the Vietnamese battalions that aided him and Cambodian Khmer Rouge cadre.

“I would like to express gratitude to Nguyen Tan Dung, Le Kha Phieu [former president of Socialist Republic of Vietnam], and other leaders who took part during the ceremony, and wish to have a friendship tie between Cambodia and Vietnam that is sustainable and successful,” Hun Sen said in his speech broadcast by TV5 Cambodia yesterday.

រដ្ឋសភា​គ្រោង​ប្រជុំ​ដកអភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​ម្នាក់​របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង - CPP-controlled NatAss to lift SRP MP's parliamentary immunity

ថ្ងៃពុធ, 14 ខែធ្នូ 2011
ដោយ ហេង​ រស្មី វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ | ភ្នំពេញ

«អ្វី​ដែល​ហេតុការណ៍​កើត​ឡើង​គឺ​ដោយសារ​តែ​លោក​មេធាវី​ហ្នឹង ​គាត់​បាន​យក​អ្នកទោស​ហ្នឹង​ទៅ​ ហើយ​លោក​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ ​គាត់​បាន​ដាក់​នៅ​ក្នុង​ឡាន​គាត់​ទៅ។ ខ្ញុំ​ក៏​រាយការណ៍​ពី​ភាព​អសកម្ម​ទៅ​ស្ថាប័ន​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​ហ្នឹង ​បាន​វា​កើត​ហេតុ​អីញ្ចឹង​នោះ»។

រដ្ឋសភា​កម្ពុជា​គ្រោង​នឹង​ដក​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​តំណាងរាស្រ្ត​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​មួយ​រូប​តាម​ការ​ស្នើសុំ​រស់​តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​កណ្តាល។

លោក ​ជាម ​យៀប ​ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ទី​២ ​នៃ​រដ្ឋសភា​ខាង​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ព្រហស្បត្តិ៍​ស្អែក​នេះ ​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​អចិន្រ្តៃយ៍​នៃ​រដ្ឋសភា ​នឹង​កោះប្រជុំ​ ដើម្បី​សម្រេច​ដក​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​លោក​ ចាន់​ ចេង នៃ​សមាជិក​សភា​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សម​ រង្សី។

លោក ​ចាន់​ ចេង ​សមាជិក​តំណាងរាស្ត្រ​គណបក្ស​សម ​រង្ស៊ី​ត្រូវ​បាន​លោក ​លឹម​ សុគន្ថា​ ចៅក្រម​នៃ​តុលាការ​ខេត្ត​កណ្តាល​បាន​ផ្ញើ​របាយណ៍​មួយ​ទៅ​ស្ថានប័ន​ដែល​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​កាល​ពី​ខែ​តុលា​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ​អំពី​ភាព​មិន​ប្រក្រតី​មួយ ​ចំពោះ​លោក​ចាន់ ​ចេង ​ដោយសារ​តែ​លោក​ចៅក្រម​ បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា​លោក ​ចាន់ ​ចេង​បាន​ប្រើប្រាស់​មធ្យោបាយ​ដឹក​ជញ្ជូន​ជន​ដែល​ត្រូវ​ចោទ​ចេញ​ពី​ពន្ធនាគារ​ខេត្ត​កណ្តាល។

លោក ​ជាម ​យៀប ​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា ការ​ដក​អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិ​សមាជិក​សភា​ណាងរាស្ត្រ​មិនមែន​ជា​រឿង​ធំដុំទេ។

បុរសជើងខ្លាំងភ្នែកទោល និង បុរសជើងខ្លាំង យមរាជអន្ទោល- Cyclops versus 6-feet-under

ឈាម ដាប ថា​៖

1. ដែក ចោរ និង កាដាហ្វី ភ្នែកខុស គ្នា មួយភ្នែកទោល មួយភ្នែកកញ្ចឹងក
2. កាដាហ្វីបានអំណាចដោយខ្លួនឯងចំណែក ឯ ដែក ចោរ បាន អំណាច ដោយសារ បងអួនវៀត ណាម

CPP MP Cheam Yeap said:

1. Dek-chor Hun Xen and Gaddafi have different eyes: One is a cyclops and the other one can't see from 6-ft under the desert
2. Gaddafi won the power by himself, Dek-chor got his power thanks to the Viets

ជាម យៀបៈ ហ៊ុនសែន និង ហ្គាដាហ្វី ខុសគ្នាមេយ និងដី

Saturday, 05 November 2011
ដោយៈ សុក្រ វិច្ឆិកា-ហួន ស្រីលីន
DAP-New

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ មន្រ្តីជាន់ខ្ពស់មក ពីគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា គឺ លោក ជាម យៀម បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា សម្តេច ហ៊ុន សែន និង ហ្គាដាហ្វី ខុសគ្នាស្រឡះ គឺមេឃ និងដី ។

ការថ្លែងរបស់មន្រ្តីរូបនេះ ធ្វើឡើងបន្ទាប់ពីមន្រ្តីគណបក្ស សមរង្ស៊ី មួយរូប បានចេញសេក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍របស់ខ្លួន ដើម្បីបញ្ជាក់ពីការទទួល ស្គាល់សំដី ប្រៀបប្រដូចវាសនា សម្តេច ហ៊ុន សែន និង ហ្គាដាហ្វី នាពេលកន្លងមក។

Chor Yeap - Op-Ed by Anonymous

Oil and Gas Expected Late Next Year: Lawmaker

An unidentified Cambodian man sleeps under a poster of a petroleum advertisement on a street in the capital Phnom Penh, file photo. (Photo: AP)

Thursday, 22 September 2011
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

"Oil and gas production represent an “opportunity” for increased economic growth and poverty reduction."

Cambodia expects to see its first flow of oil and gas from offshore blocs in December 2012, a senior lawmaker said.

Speaking at a resources conference over the weekend, Cheam Yiep, a Cambodian People’s Party parliamentarian, said “if nothing changes, Cambodia will get its first oil on Dec. 12, 2012, at noon.”

Oil and gas production represent an “opportunity” for increased economic growth and poverty reduction, he said.

However, Cheam Yiep said the goal was not yet to put a polished product on the market, but to sell the raw resources.

Dong Chi (Comrade) Cheam Yeap - Opinion by Anonymous

Cheam Yeap: Cambodia never used power to oppress anybody (sic! sick! SICK!)

Synopsis: CPP MP Cheam Yeap rejected the statement issued by Surya Subedi, the UN Special Raporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, who indicated that leadership in Cambodia is conducted through orders rather than through the rule of law. Cheam Yeap said that everybody is Cambodia is under the law, starting from the king and that Cambodia has never suppressed freedom rights on its people.

KI-Media Note: Cheam Yeap is right, everybody in Cambodia is under the law, from the king down to the ordinary citizen. Of course, in Cambodia, there is only person is above the law: he is the king-maker by the name of Hun Xen because he is above the king.

No political arrangement for Sam Rainsy to return in time for election: CPP Cheam Yeap

សម រង្ស៊ី មិនអាច មានលទ្ធភាព ចូលរួមការ បោះ ឆ្នោតនា ពេលខាងមុខ

Tuesday, 02 August 2011
ដោយ ៖ សេង ផល្លាភ
សារព័តមាន​ ដើមអំពឹល

ភ្នំពេញ ៖ ប្រធានគណបក្ស សម រង្ស៊ី លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ដែលកំពុងនិរទេសខ្លួន បន្ទាប់ពីតុលាការកម្ពុជា សម្រេចផ្ដន្ទាទោស ឱ្យជាប់ពន្ធនាគាររយៈពេល១៤ឆ្នាំ និងគ្មាន លទ្ធភាពវិលចូលមាតុភូមិវិញនោះឡើយ សម្រាប់មកឈរឈ្មោះ និងចូលរួមការបោះ ឆ្នោតនាពេលខាងមុខដ៏ខ្លីនេះ។

ការលើក ឡើងយ៉ាងដូច្នេះ ត្រូវបានធ្វើឡើងពីសំណាក់ មន្ដ្រីជាន់ខ្ពស់ និងសមាជិកសភា មកពីគណ បក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា ដែលកំពុងកាន់អំណាច លោក ជាម យៀប ដែលបានថ្លែងប្រាប់ក្រុមអ្នក យកព័ត៌មាន នៅវិមានរដ្ឋសភា នាព្រឹកថ្ងៃទី ២ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១១នេះ ។

លោក ជាម យៀប បានមានប្រសាសន៍ ថា លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ដែលបច្ចុប្បន្ន ក្លាយជា ទណ្ឌិតរបស់ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជានោះ ពុំមាននីតិ សម្បទាគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ក្នុងកិច្ចការងារ នយោ បាយ ឬក៏មាន លទ្ធភាពចូលរួមឈរឈ្មោះ និង បោះឆ្នោត ខាងមុខនេះទេ ។

លោក ជាម យៀប បានបញ្ជាក់ថា ប្រសិនបើលោក សម រង្ស៊ី ចង់បានមកវិញ នូវនីតិសម្បទាគ្រប់គ្រាន់ ក៏ដូចជាសិទ្ធិចូល រួម បោះឆ្នោតនិងបោះឆ្នោត លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ត្រូវតែអនុវត្ដទោសកំហុស របស់ខ្លួនឱ្យបាន ចប់សព្វគ្រប់ តាមរយៈតុលាការមកវិញ ដែរ។

ជាមួយគ្នានេះ ប្រធានគណៈកម្មការ សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ ធនាគារ និងសវនកម្មនៃ រដ្ឋសភា បានសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ថា បើទោះបីមានការ គាបសង្កត់ ពីសហគមន៍អន្ដរជាតិ ឬក៏ អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ ក្នុង ករណីនេះ ក៏ដោយ ប៉ុន្ដែប្រធានគណបក្សប្រឆាំងរូប នេះ ត្រូវតែទទួលទោសឱ្យបានពេញលេញ ដែលតុលាការកម្ពុជា បានផ្ដន្ទាទោសក្នុង សំណុំរឿងចំនួន២ ឱ្យជាប់ពន្ធនាគាររហូត ទៅដល់ ១៤ឆ្នាំនោះ។

យោងតាមលោក ជាម យៀប គ្មានការ សម្របសម្រួល ខាងផ្នែកនយោបាយណា មួយនោះទេ នៅក្នុងសំណុំរឿងប្រធាន គណបក្សប្រឆាំងរូបនេះ ដើម្បីមានលទ្ធភាព វិលមកប្រទេសវិញ។ សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា លោក សម រង្ស៊ី ត្រូវបានតុលាការខេត្ដស្វាយរៀង និងសាលាដំបូងរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ ផ្ដន្ទាទោស ឱ្យជាប់ពន្ធនាគាររយៈពេល ១៤ឆ្នាំ និងបង់ ថវិការាប់លានរៀល ក្នុងសំណុំរឿងចំនួន២ គឺពាក់ព័ន្ធ ទៅនឹងការដកតម្រុយបង្គោល ព្រំដែន នៅស្រុកចន្ទ្រា ខេត្ដស្វាយរៀង និង ការក្លែងបន្លំ ឯកសារ សាធារណៈរឿងព្រំដែន រវាងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា-វៀតណាម ។

ដោយ ឡែកលោកស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ សមាជិកសភា គណបក្សប្រឆាំង ក៏ត្រូវបានលោក ជាម យៀប អះអាងថា មិនទាន់ត្រូវបានទទួល អភ័យឯកសិទ្ធិនៅឡើយនោះទេ រហូតមក ដល់ពេលនេះ។

CPP MP: Sam Rainsy has 2 choices (sic!)

21 June 2011
By Yun Samean
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

The chairman of the World Federation of Liberal International who is also a EU MP demanded that the Phnom Penh regime allows Sam Rainsy, the SRP President, to return home so he may participate in the 2013 general election. The EU MP asked that the Phnom Penh regime put into application the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia, and that it brings in election reform.

On Tuesday 21 June, CPP MP Cheam Yeap warned that Sam Rainsy can returned back to Cambodia only if he stops defaming the Phnom Penh regime, otherwise, Sam Rainsy will face jail.

Cheam Yeap’s warning came after the chairman of the World Federation of Liberal International, who is also a powerful EU MP, demanded that the Phnom Penh regime allows Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia so that he can safely join the election.

The Khmer Rouge break into a cold sweat when they are called Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge No. 2 Regime. Top Row: Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin, Bottom Row: Nguon Nhel and Cheam Yeap

19 April 2011
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

The declaration made by Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy on 17 April, during the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the takeover of power by the Khmer Rouge, saying that the current regime in Cambodia is the Khmer Rouge regime No. 2, has attracted the ire of officials from the ruling regime. Some even went on to threaten with incitation on the people to demonstrate against the opposition party, while others threaten to sue Sam Rainsy. All these reactions came at a time when the public clearly know that these officials were indisputably Khmer Rouge.

Nguon Nhel, the 2nd vice-president of the NatAss (National Assembly) from the ruling CPP, threatened that his group were the ones who liberated the people from the KR regim, and he added that Sam Rainsy’s accusation could lead to a demonstration opposing the latter. Nguon Nhel went on to boast his bosses, saying that only the three Samd-achs [Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin] were the ones who liberated the people from the Khmer Rouge on 07 January 1979, and they also pushed the KR leaders to trial.

Cheam Yeap, another CPP MP from Prey Veng province, expressed his anger, saying that calling the current regime as the Khmer Rouge regime No. 2 is defamation, and he threatened to sue [Sam Rainsy].

Henchman Cheam Yeap rejects Sam Rainsy’s accusation on his bosses

The former KR commanders from left to right: Xamd-ach Heng Xamrin, Xamd-ach Chea Xim, Xamd-ach Hun Xen (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

17 April 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Regarding the declaration made by opposition leader Sam Rainsy linking the current CPP leaders to the Khmer Rouge leaders, Cheam Yeap, a henchman of the CPP regime and a CPP MP, rejected this accusation. He also warned that Sam Rainsy could face another lawsuit because of such accusation. Cheam Yeab said: “If the three Samd-achs – Samd-ach Chea Xim, Samd-ach Hun Xen and Samd-ach Heng Xamrin – give an eye signal to the lawyers, these lawyers could sue Mr. Sam Rainsy and the latter could face more jail time. (sic!) But, I know that Mr. Sam Rainsy is desperate, he wants to return back home, this is why he raises one issue after another.” Cheam Yeap added that Samd-ach Chea Xim, Samd-ach Hun Xen and Samd-ach Heng Xamrin knew that Pol Pot was a traitor to the nation and he killed people, that’s why these KR traitors fled to Vietnam to form the 02 December 1978 movement to liberate people from the KR regime [KI-Media Note: Vietnam said they were the one who liberated Cambodia, Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin only hitched a ride with them.]

Sochua in legal limbo

SRP lawmaker Mu Sochua (left) speaks during a press conference in Phnom Penh in January. (Photo by: Sovan Philong)

Thursday, 24 February 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Outspoken opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua could remain without her parliamentary immunity for up to five years, according to a leaked letter from the Ministry of Justice, drawing criticisms from legal experts who say her immunity should have been restored already.

In a January 28 letter to the National Assembly, Long Phol, a secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice, stated that Mu Sochua could have her immunity restored in two ways.

She can either lodge a request with the Appeal Court a year after her punishment is completed, or wait for the immunity to be restored automatically, five years after the completion of her punishment.

“The restoration of lawmaker Mu Sochua’s immunity depends on the consideration of the parliament conforming to the consciousness of the law on lawmaker’s conditions, parliament’s internal order and the penal procedure code,” read the letter, a copy of which was obtained yesterday by The Post.

NatAss Prez nixes independent bridge investigation

“If we set up a committee, we don’t know what to do” - Incompetent Cheam Yeab

Assembly President Nixes Separate Bridge Inquiry

Chun Sakada & Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh & Washington Tuesday, 07 December 2010

“It is regretful, but we will not give up on our investigation.”

National Assembly President Heng Samrin on Tuesday denied an opposition party request that parliament establish a special commission to investigate the deadly Nov. 22 bridge stampede.

A government committee determined the stampede, which killed 353 people and injured nearly 400, was an accident due to panic on the crowded Diamond Bridge.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said in days following the disaster that no officials would be held responsible for what he called a “joint mistake” in an unforeseeable event.

But opposition lawmakers said the National Assembly should establish an investigation of its own, a request Heng Samrin said was “not a necessity.”

Son Chhay, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, who signed the request with two other parliamentarians, said the denial showed “non-responsibility by the National Assembly.”

“It is regretful, but we will not give up on our investigation,” he said. “We will work closely with some non-governmental organizations to independently investigate the real cause and information on the deadly incident, and push the government to fine government officials who lacked responsibility.”

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights, an independent organziation, has said it will pursue its own investigation into the tragedy.

Speaking on “Hello VOA” Monday night, Kimsour Phirith, another lawmaker for the opposition, said the government findings were not enough.

“This was not a natural disaster like a tsunami or volcano eruption, where we were not able to know it in advance,” he said.

“Responsible officials,” he said, should be held accountable through resignations or suspensions.

However, Cheam Yiep, a National Assembly member for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, said the government investigators had “done their job to handle the problem.”

“If we set up a committee, we don’t know what to do,” he said. “It is not our expertise.”

He suggested that the legislative body bring government representatives to answer questions, a process Kimsour Phirith said had proven ineffective in the past.

“Instead of coming to answer questions, they just come to read their answers and ignore the questions,” he said.

No stampede investigation by the CPP-controlled NatAss

Cheam Yeap

01 Dec 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

The National Assembly (NatAss) rejected the request made by the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) to set up a special commission to investigate the deadly stampede accident that took place on 22 November at Pich Bridge. CPP Cheam Yeap said that the NatAss does not need to set up an additional investigation committee because the government already closed the investigation. Cheam Yeap’s rejection came after 4 SRP MPs asked Heng Xamrin, the NatAss president, to set up an independent commission to investigate the cause of the death and injuries on Pich Bridge.

Coward CPP MPs scared to visit border post with Vietnam, do they even understand their duty as MP?

Cheam Yeab (Photo: RFA)

CPP MPs refuse to visit borderline

21 Nov. 2010
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Oss Srok
Click here to read the article in Khmer

CPP MPs, who controlled the largest number of parliament seats, claimed that they have no need to visit the border posts as requested by the opposition party because they have total trust in the CPP government. This claim was made after SRP MPs invited all MPs from all parties to visit and review the border post planting to confirm them on their own. However, the request was rejected by the ruling CPP party and, in turn, these CPP MPs viewed this request as an attempt for political gain.

Cheam Yeab, the CPP MP from Prey Veng province, made this rejection this weekend, saying that MPs from the ruling CPP party who hold 90 seats at the National Assembly (NatAss), have no need to visit the border post planting as requested by the opposition because they trust the CPP government. Cheam Yeab explained that the NatAss provided its confidence vote to the government to lead the country, therefore, the government is responsible in front of the NatAss and in front of all the Cambodian people. Furthermore, the government has experts in border affairs.

The reaction came after SRP MPs asked all MPs, including CPP MPs, to visit the border post planting operation along the Viet border so that they may see the situation directly. However, to Cheam Yeab, MPs have no border expertise, therefore, MPs have no basis to evaluate the border post planting.

The border affair is a topic of contention between the government and the opposition, as well as a number of civil society organizations. The SRP plans the visit a border post located in Dar commune, Memot district, Kompong Cham province by the end of November. The plan to visit the border post took place after more than 200 villagers protested, saying that they lost their rice fields and farmlands because of the planting of this border post.

However, sVar Kim Hong, chairman of the government border committee, considered this protest as a result of incitation from the SRP. This border expert claimed that the planting of border post no. 109 in Dar commune, Memot district, was done with the participation of the local authority and the local population, and this operation did not lead to any loss of farmers’ land.

Nevertheless, Rong Chhun’s group from the Cambodia Watchdog Council also plans to visit this border post in Memot district on 24 November. However, Cheam Yeap indicated that the opposition and the civil society’s raising of this border problem was only done to gain popularity (sic!).

“Ban Ki-moon has no right to resolve any problem”: A scared CPP Cheam Yiep claims

Cheam Yiep, the CPP bulldog
(Photo: RFA)

26 Oct 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

CPP MP Cheam Yiep declared that Ban Ki-moon has no right to resolve the issues raised by the SRP, but Ban Ki-moon only has the rights to raise these issues to discuss with Hun Xen. Cheam Yiep added that the SRP always raised the same issues over and over, he said: “Mr. Ban Ki-moon has no right to resolve these issues. Those who contravene the law cannot prevent the lifting of parliamentary immunity at all.” Cheam Yiep added that when the court asks [the National Assembly (NatAss)] lo lift the immunity for a MP, the NatAss must lift this immunity, and that this is the normal procedure. Cheam Yiep said also that: “The NatAss does not belong to any party, it belongs to five parties in the entire nation, but the CPP is leading the NatAss because it received more than 2/3 the number of seats. Therefore, we [the CPP] are not riding the horse without holding its bridles (meaning that the CPP has no concerns about any other party).”