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 time

14 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.

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.