Rumours milling around that Gen. Dul Koeun had died

Gen. Dul Koeun (R) and Gen. Hok Lundy (L).

Deum Ampil newspaper
6th March, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

There are rumours that Gen. Dul Koeun, Chief of Logistics and Finance at the Ministry of Interior, had died.

Gen. Dul Koeun was an arch-rival of the late Gen. Hok Lundy, the Police Commissioner who died of helicopter crash on 9th of November, 2008.

After the arrest of his bodyguard, Col. Pheng Phay, on charges of attempted murder of Mr. Thong Uy Pang, rumours are milling around that Gen. Dul Koeun had been arrested by Military Police and detained at Ministry of Interior along with Gen. Ke Kim Yan. Afterward, there are rumours that Gen. Dul Koeun was seriously sick and was sent to Calmette Hospital. Rumours were milling around that he had died at Calmette hospital and his body was sent to his home for funeral.

Since the sacking of Gen. Ke Kim Yan, the Cambodian People's Party had suffered unfortunate and malicious rumours of internal divisions. There were rumours that Gen. Ke Kim Yan was arrested and detained by the Military Police. Later, rumours are circulating that Mr. Khieu Kanharith, Minister of Information, had died. And now rumours about the death of Gen. Dul Koeun had surfaced.

The rumours about Gen. Dul Koeun's death had been milling around for sometimes, but on the morning of the 4th of March, the rumours had spread like a wild fire.

Unexpectedly, on the morning of the 5th, Gen. Dul Koeun had telephoned Deum Ampil News to say that he is still alive, strong and healthy. And he appeals to the authority to find out the source of the rumours so they can be punished.

Heng Pov's accomplice who is Gen. Dul Koeun's bodyguard arrested for attempted murder of editor-in-chief of Koh Santepheap newspaper

Col. Pheng Phay in handcuff (top). Gen. Dul Keoun (R) and the late Gen. Hok Lundy (L) were arch-rivals (bottom).

Doeum Ampil News
22nd Feb, 2009
Reported in English by Khmerization

Gen. Dul Koeun's bodyguard was arrested for attempted murder of Koh Santepheap's editor-in-chief more than 10 years ago.

Col. Pheng Phay, a police officer attached to the Ministry of Interior and a bodyguard of Gen. Dul Koeun, chief of Logistics and Finance of Ministry of Interior, was arrested by a group of military police on the morning of 21st February on Norodom Boulevard while returning from dropping off Gen. Dul Koeun at a golf club.

The Phnom Penh Court has issued an arrest warrant for Col. Phay Pheng since nearly two years ago. The police found Col. Phay Pheng after they received the arrest warrant but were scared to arrest him hecause he was a colonel working in the Ministry of Interior and because he was a bodyguard of Gen. Dul Koeun. But recently, the police received an order from the higher authority to arrest him.

Oknha Thong Uy Pang, editor-in-chief of The Koh Santepheap Daily, and one of his bodyguards were shot and wounded when attending a religious ceremony organised by his family at Wat Teuk Thla on the outskirt of Phnom Penh more than 10 years ago. During the shoot out, one of the attackers, presumed to be Heng Veng who is the brother of Gen. Heng Pov, was wounded but he has escaped arrest. Heng Veng was then put on a plane to get treatment in Vietnam. At that time, Heng Pov claimed that his brother was wounded during an operation to crackdown on drug-traffickers.

After Gen. Heng Pov, Commissioner of Phnom Penh Police, had a fall out with Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2006, he was accused of masterminding the assassination attempt on Oknha Thong Uy Pang. Gen. Heng Pov was extradited from Malaysia and arrested along with his alleged accomplice, Tram Vuthy alias Ly Rasy. Two other alleged accomplices, Heng Veng and Phay Pheng, remain at large until Phay Pheng was arrested on the morning of 21st February, 2009.

There are reports that, after the arrest of Phay Pheng, Gen. Dul Koeun has strongly intervened to secure his release but the court told him that it cannot release Col. Phay Pheng because they are afraid that they might have a problem with the "higher authority".

Doeum Ampil News was unable to contact Gen. Dul Koeun in relations to the above allegations and the arrest of Col. Phay Pheng.

It must be noted that Gen. Dul Koeun, like Gen. Heng Pov, was an arch-rival of the National Police Commissioner, the late Gen. Hok Lundy.

Car carrying Dul Koeun’s bodyguards rolled over and kill one cop

Friday, February 13, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A car carrying bodyguards for a high-ranking police officer rolled over and killed one of the bodyguards and injured 9 other cops. The traffic accident took place in the early morning of 12 Feb, and it was caused by intense dust that impaired the car driver’s visibility. The car driver missed the road and sent the car rolling several times. The black Toyota Vigo car, equipped with blaring siren, that rolled over was filled with bodyguards of General Dul Koeun, the deputy director of the department of supplies and finance of the ministry of Interior. The accident took place when General Dul Koeun traveled to join a ceremony held in the morning of Thursday 12 Feb in Aural district, Kampong Speu province. The general was accompanied by numerous bodyguards protecting him. According to report, the car involved in the accident carried 10 bodyguards: 4 sitting in the front seat, and 6 sitting in the back. The accident took place because the driver could not see the road due to intense dust, he then missed the road and sent the car rolling. The accident led to 1 cop death, 4 seriously injured and 5 slightly injured.

Cambodia Police Generals, Hun Sen's Close Aides, Said Still in Confrontation

National Police Chief Gen. Hok Lundy(L) and Police Gen. Dul Koeun (R)

Dul Koeun and Hok Lundy Are Still in Confrontation

13 Feb 08
By Ratanak
Sralanh Khmer newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous

Dul Koeun, deputy commissioner of the National Police and director general of the Logistics Department, is again being in confrontation with Hok Lundy, commissioner of the National Police at the time when Prime Minister Hun Sen entrusts Dul Koeun with more works to do.

An official at the Interior Ministry disclosed that lately, Hun Sen had assigned Dul Koeun to be in charge of receiving officials from other parties who joined and worked with the Cambodian People's Party [CPP]. While the process proceeded, Dul Koeun was being in the spotlight. He behaved cockily and his underlings at the [Logistics] department, too, showed arrogance toward their colleagues in the party.

The official also disclosed that Hok Lundy did not really dare challenge Dul Koeun as before, because he also confronted Sok An, deputy prime minister and minister of the Council of Ministers Office. Besides, Dul Koeun also had good relationship with four-golden-star Gen. Kon Kim, a deputy commander in chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and Hing Bun-heang, Hun Sen's chief bodyguard. Therefore, Hok Lundy dared not strongly confront Dul Koeun as previously, despite the haughtiness displayed by Dul Koeun's subordinates.

The source further disclosed that last year, the conflict between Hok Lundy and Dul Koeun was extremely tense due to Hok Lundy's objection to the establishment of the Interior Ministry's Logistics Department, which permits Dul Koeun to spend money without the need of going through the national police commissioner. However, after Hun Sen mediated, it subsided for a while.

Moreover, the interior ministry official disclosed that lately, Dul Koeun was much more recognized than Hok Lundy, because he had managed to persuade officials of other parties to join the CPP. Hok Lundy was not impressed as before by the head of the government since the story about Heng Peou, former deputy commissioner of the National Police and adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, broke out.

Nevertheless, Hun Sen still considered Hok Lundy his right-hand man, because the national police chief had led some 400 military police officers to surround Senate Chairman Chea Sim's residence in the night of 12 July 2004, forcing the latter to sign the constitutional appendix on the formation of the packaged government and National Assembly. As such, Hun Sen had only appreciated Dul Koeun to an extent that does not cause Hok Lundy to lose face too much.

The interior ministry official also disclosed that if Prime Minister Hun Sen did not take action in time, the confrontation between Dul Koeun and Hok Lundy might erupt on the eve of the election.

Closing ceremony for Hun Sen private bodyguard unit traning course ... financed by CPP deep pockets

Cambodian PM's Envoy Gen. Dul Koeun Closes Bodyguard Unit Training Course

11 Jan 08
Television Kampuchea (TVK)

(Top to bottom) Maj. Gen. Nuon Narin, director of Cambodian-Indonesian Krang Chek Training Center, presenting report on the center's past activities; Deputy chief of Prime Minister Hun Sen's cabinet, Gen. Hing Bun-heang, presenting speech; Prime Minister Hun Sen's representative Gen. Dul Koeun addressing the gathering (Television Kampuchea, 11 Jan)

On 11 January, Cambodian Government-run Phnom Penh Television Kampuchea in Cambodian at 1200 GMT carried a four-minute video report, during its primetime evening newscast, on a ceremony held under the presidency of "His Excellency [HE] Gen. Dul Koeun, director general of the Logistics and Finance Department of the Interior Ministry and high representative of Samdech Akkeak Moha Senapakdei Decho Hun Sen, prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia," to close the ninth training course for a special bodyguard unit at the Cambodian-Indonesian Krang Chek Training Center in Kandal Province on 11 January.

The announcer says that after Maj. Gen. Nuon Narin, director of Cambodian-Indonesian Krang Chek Training Center, presented a report on the center's past activities, [deputy chief of Prime Minister Hun Sen's cabinet] Gen. Hing Bun-heang said, "So far, Samdech Hun Sen's bodyguard unit has developed in all fields thanks to attention, instruction, care, financial and material support, and resources offered by Samdech Decho Hun Sen and his wife, Deputy Prime Minister HE Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister HE Tie Banh, the army commander in chief, the commissioner of the National Police, and generous people in and outside the country."

The announcer says that taking the floor, HE Gen. Dul Koeun "conveyed greetings, commendation, and high valuation from Samdech Akkeak Moha Senapakdei Decho Hun Sen, prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia and his wife, to the senior and junior officers and troops of Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen's bodyguard unit." HE Gen. Dul Koeun also asked all the trainees to use their skills and knowledge to "protect full safety and order for Samdech Decho Hun Sen and his wife as well as for top national leaders."

The announcer says that afterward, HE Gen. Dul Koeun bestowed decorations on the officers, state officials of Kandal Stoeng District, and national and international generous people. He also handed out "donations from Samdech Decho Hun Sen and his wife" to the center.

Hok Lundy and Dul Koeun are biting fighting for the last bone leftover from the killing fields

21 Jul 07
By Soriya
Samleng Yuveakchon Khmer (Voice of Khmer Youth)
Translated from Khmer and posted online

With the emergence of successive plans to reshuffle a number of important officials under the Interior Ministry's jurisdiction, it has been said that these affairs were arranged by Dul Koeun, a former minion of Hok Lundy who currently is no longer subordinate to him. At the Interior Ministry not only the police officers formerly under Hok Lundy's command would be affected by the upcoming transfer orders, even some of those close to Deputy Prime Minister [DPM] Sar Kheng also would face dismissal or replacement. This series of reshuffle has become quite interesting.

A reliable source disclosed that Seng Sereibot, a senior officer of the Economic Police Unit under the Interior Ministry would be removed and replaced by Run Roatveasna whose mother is a confidante and longtime business partner of Dul Koeun in the procurement of police uniforms. In other words, it can be said that Run Roatveasna is a member of the Dul Koeun faction. In the past, Run Roatveasna was an officer of the Kampong Chhnang provincial Military Police. He asked to be transferred to the National Police Department [NPD] a few years ago and worked his way up rapidly as people know that Lady Phal, his mother, is a businesswoman close to many Interior Ministry big shots, particularly doing business in providing uniforms and clothes for the NPD. Therefore, in most people's eyes Run Roatveasna's promotion to a higher job is not difficult to understand.

Besides Run Roatveasna, the Interior Ministry also is ready to reshuffle police commissioners in at least eight provinces and municipalities. This reshuffle is said to have taken place successively. The police commissioner of Sihanoukville, namely Dong Saroeun, has already been sacked. According to sources, Mau Peou, police commissioner of Kampong Thum province, is next on the removal list because of the logging scandal. At the same time, In Chiva, police commissioner of Kampot province, has already been removed and replaced by Uk Samnang, a brother-in-law of Ma Chhoeun, who is an in-law of DPM Sar Kheng.

Among those to be removed soon figures the not so competent General Tuch Naroth, police commissioner of the Phnom Penh Municipality, despite the fact that this police general is related to DPM Sar Kheng from Mrs. Men Sam-an's side. Of all the provincial and municipal police commissioners facing dismissal only Tuch Naroth has been described as a sure shot to go. Nevertheless, Interior Ministry officials refused to say who among the provincial/municipal police commissioners are going to be sacked in the near future.

In addition to the above-mentioned reshuffle plans, there are reports on the transfers of a number of other important Interior Ministry officials, including Mrs. Un Sokunthea of the Traffic in Persons and Minors' Protection Department replaced by Bit Kimhong, former deputy police commissioner of the Phnom Penh Municipality.

The reshuffle of the above officials was described as a normal procedure that should not cause any confusion or surprise. Some Interior Ministry officials sniffed at the worry of some officials, saying that only those who do not work should be alarmed by the news of the layoff. Those who work would consider it a normal practice, they said.

No matter how normal this is officials at the Interior Ministry still see that Dul Koeun strangely is trying to consolidate his own force, which has caused some Interior Ministry police officers to be alarmed and some of them to be really worried. This is because there are too many chiefs to salute to, and those who have money do not know whom they should gratify.

This reshuffling has been claimed by some sources as being part of Dul Koeun's vigorous strategy to contain the power of NPD Director-General Hok Lundy.

Early last week, a reliable source of information disclosed that Sar Kheng summoned into his office two senior Interior Ministry officials suspected of quarreling with one another, namely Dul Koeun and Hok Lundy. But it was not known what was discussed inside Sar Kheng's office. However, whatever they talked certainly was not about the weather. It must have been something considerably important, for inside the Interior Ministry there has been serious confrontation since the creation of the Logistics and Finances General Department [LFGD] headed by Dul Koeun, who formerly was a subordinate of Hok Lundy. When Dul Koeun was promoted to the same rank as Hok Lundy, some people said it became difficult for the latter to deal with him, for not so long ago this person was below Hok Lundy and now he wants to be his equal.

Moreover, Dul Koeun in his capacity as the Interior Ministry's LFGD director-general has started showing that he is a bone in Hok Lundy's throat by re-arranging the working structures under his command. People see that Dul Koeun's method has added fuel to Hok Lundy's indignation. Nevertheless, it has been explained that these two big officials of the Cambodian People's Party still could walk together into Sar Kheng's office for talks. And let us not forget that Hok Lundy is a member of the Central Committee's Political Bureau with about the same rank as Sar Kheng.