Too eager to look at others’ faults, Hun Sen couldn’t see his right hand man’s cockfighting addiction

Hun Sen ciriticizes gambling addicts

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime minister Hun Sen attacked officials belonging to some political parties who like gambling, and he also called on CPP officials in the coalition government not to gamble. In a speech given on Tuesday, Hun Sen said: “Some likes to visit gambling parlors, and their non-presence there is very few. Please gamble some more because your types are very good (pejorative), but CPP and Funcinpec officials are prohibited (from gambling), if you gamble, I am begging you not to gamble, let officials from other parties gamble, then they will curse the government saying that the country is filled with casinos. But, they themselves are going there for gambling.” Even though Hun Sen did not name any name, people know that he is pointing at Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, whom the news media used to report that he was a gambler. In response to this criticism, Eng Chhay Eang said that gamblers are not just those belonging to any particular party, even officials belonging to the ruling party are addicted to gambling also, such as cockfighting (Sok An is known to be a famous addict of cockfighting). Eng Chhay Eang said that Hun Sen’s comments are not important, because the government is the one which authorized gambling all over the country, and when people frequent these casinos, he accused them of being addicted to gambling.

Hun Sen criticizes the SRP of using the youths as a stepping stone

Thursday, March 6, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Prime minister Hun Sen criticized without openly naming the Sam Rainsy Party, saying that the SRP is currently using the youths as a stepping stone to grab the prime minister position. In a declaration made to about 2,000 students, during a ceremony for the distribution of diplomas on Wednesday, Hun Sen said: “Their propaganda saying that Mr. Hun Sen will stay as prime minister until he is 90-year-old as long as people still vote for him, is a violation on the rights of the youth. At the end, this party’s president said that he is the one who wants to the prime minister, not these youths at all.” Hun Sen’s comment was raised only a few days after the SRP held its First Congress for the SRP Youth Movement to select a youth representative to lead the SRP Youth Movement. The SRP considers the youth force as its new force to bring changes to the country’s governance. Eng Chhai Eang, SRP Secretary-general, told The Mekong Times that Hun Sen made this declaration because he is afraid of the youths whom he cannot find jobs for all of them. He retorted to Hun Sen by saying: “Therefore, for the youths to have jobs, the SRP must have power.”