Seng Theary, current executive director of the Center for Social Development (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo)CSD faces internal dispute
23 May 2008
By Sophal Mony
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
The Center for Social Development (CSD) cancelled its first annual general meeting after 2 police officers from the Ministry of Interior went inside the CSD compound to hand over a firing letter to Ms. Seng Theary, the CSD executive director. The letter was delivered on order of two of the former board directors.
Soeung Chandara, CSD finance director, indicated that Vi Houi, the chairman of the board of director, and Mrs. Peung Yok Hiep, a board director [KI-Media note: CSD indicated that the pair were former border directors who were recently replaced by a newly elected board of directors], ordered two police officers to meet with Ms. Seng Theary, at 08:00 AM, on Thursday morning, to deliver a letter to fire her at the CSD, however, CSD employees prevented these police officers from taking this action claiming the police action was against the law.
Soeung Chandara said: “This action (by the former two board directors) is not good at all … Do they have a mission letter? Do they have an order letter or anything else? When they (police officers) said no, then their action was illegal.”
On Thursday, CSD organized its first annual general meeting to showcase its action plan, as well as to announce a number of reports on activities completed by the center. However, CSD was forced to delay the meeting due to the presence of the police officers and due to internal dispute with its (former) board of directors.
Peung Yok Hiep, a (former) board director, claimed that the she and Vi Houi, the (former) chairman of the board of director, used these police officers to protect their personal safety, and the pair ordered the police officers to hand the letter to fire Ms. Seng Theary, current CSD executive director: “That letter was a letter to fire her.”
Vi Houi declared that the problem occurred because of internal dispute between the (former) board of directors and the administrators of the CSD: “The internal problem (occurred) because of the relationship between the CSD executive director and the board members, there is a lack in understanding of each party’s role…”
The CSD board of directors must include 5 directors, however, currently, there are only two of them: Vi Houi, the chairman of the board, and Peung Yok Heip, a board director, however, Mrs. Chea Vannath’s position is not clear yet because the center is still asking her. The other 2 board members resigned: Keat Sokun and Kate Bryson.
Seng Theary, CSD executive director, declined to comment on this issue to reporters. However, Im Sophea, CSD executive aid, indicated that this issue arose because the CSD bylaws are not clear: “It is wrong for each person to comment about their role.”
Both sides claimed that they are currently looking for an arbitrator to end this dispute.
Soeung Chandara, CSD finance director, indicated that Vi Houi, the chairman of the board of director, and Mrs. Peung Yok Hiep, a board director [KI-Media note: CSD indicated that the pair were former border directors who were recently replaced by a newly elected board of directors], ordered two police officers to meet with Ms. Seng Theary, at 08:00 AM, on Thursday morning, to deliver a letter to fire her at the CSD, however, CSD employees prevented these police officers from taking this action claiming the police action was against the law.
Soeung Chandara said: “This action (by the former two board directors) is not good at all … Do they have a mission letter? Do they have an order letter or anything else? When they (police officers) said no, then their action was illegal.”
On Thursday, CSD organized its first annual general meeting to showcase its action plan, as well as to announce a number of reports on activities completed by the center. However, CSD was forced to delay the meeting due to the presence of the police officers and due to internal dispute with its (former) board of directors.
Peung Yok Hiep, a (former) board director, claimed that the she and Vi Houi, the (former) chairman of the board of director, used these police officers to protect their personal safety, and the pair ordered the police officers to hand the letter to fire Ms. Seng Theary, current CSD executive director: “That letter was a letter to fire her.”
Vi Houi declared that the problem occurred because of internal dispute between the (former) board of directors and the administrators of the CSD: “The internal problem (occurred) because of the relationship between the CSD executive director and the board members, there is a lack in understanding of each party’s role…”
The CSD board of directors must include 5 directors, however, currently, there are only two of them: Vi Houi, the chairman of the board, and Peung Yok Heip, a board director, however, Mrs. Chea Vannath’s position is not clear yet because the center is still asking her. The other 2 board members resigned: Keat Sokun and Kate Bryson.
Seng Theary, CSD executive director, declined to comment on this issue to reporters. However, Im Sophea, CSD executive aid, indicated that this issue arose because the CSD bylaws are not clear: “It is wrong for each person to comment about their role.”
Both sides claimed that they are currently looking for an arbitrator to end this dispute.
