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