Communist ultra-royalist?

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)
Left to right: Heng Xamrin, Chea Xim and Hung Xen (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

Ruling party leaders are determined to defend the throne

03 January 2010
By Pen Bona
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Chea Xim, president of the CPP, and prime minister Hun Xen, the CPP vice-president of the ruling party, are determined to be faithful to the king and to defend the throne. Such determination took place after king Sihamoni granted the topmost rank of 5 golden stars to the top 3 CPP leaders.

In separate letters sent to King-Father Norodom Sihanouk who is currently under medical care in Beijing, China, leaders of the ruling CPP party indicated that they are faithful and they will protect the throne. Chea Xim indicated in his letter that he will use his strength to serve the nation, the religion and the king. On the other hand, Hun Xen also said that he is determined to defend the king and the throne without any deviation, and he even said that he will take the heroism example set by King-Father.

The latest letter exchanges between King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and King Norodom Sihamoni with the CPP leaders show the loving tender relationship between the government and the royal palace. This loving tenderness takes place after the king granted the topmost military title to the three CPP leaders.

It should be noted that the 3 CPP leaders – Chea Xim, senate president, Heng Xamrin, the national assembly president, and prime minister Hun Xen – recently received the promotion of topmost 5-golden-star general from King Sihamoni last month. The three were also granted the title of Samdach Akkok Moha Thommok Pothisal Chea Xim, Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Cho Hun Xen, and Samdach Moha Ponhea Chabsrey Heng Xamrin by King-Father Norodom Sihanouk.

In a letter welcoming the 5-star promotion, King-Father praised the three VIPs, calling them nationalists who brought in victory in every field.

However, the opposition party criticized the CPP of endangering democracy in Cambodia instead. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who was issued an arrest warrant for the destruction of border stakes in Svay Rieng province, issued successive statements condemning the CPP leaders, in particular Hun Xen, for silencing the opposition voice through the use of the court system.

Sihanouk thanks Hun Sen for “providing justice to him” [-Scratch my back, I scratch yours?]

Click on the letter in Khmer to zoom in

22 March 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

During the 18 March 1970 anniversary, Hun Sen paid tribute to the [Sihanouk’s] Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime.

Norodom Sihanouk wrote a thank you letter to Hun Sen. The letter dated 20 March said: “I deeply thank you, Samdach Hun Sen, for providing justice to me and to our history. I wish you a large success in your long term mission as head of the kingdom’s government,” King-Father wrote from his residence in Beijing.

Reminiscing about the 18 March 1970 coup d’état, Hun Sen expressed his admiration toward to the Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime while then-Prince Sihanouk was leading Cambodia between 1954 and 1970.

During a travel to the province of Pursat on Saturday 21 March, Hun Sen again evoked the date of 18 March 1970 and the troubled period that followed: “If there were no such wars, Cambodia would have continued to be developed under the continuity of that era where the country was being led [by Norodom Sihanouk],” he indicated.

Hun Sen took opportunity to criticize “some foreigners” who “create obstacles to peace in Cambodia.” “Dear foreigners, if you do not wish to help the Khmer people, do not push us to make war either. It was the war that led us to the Pol Pot regime,” he added.