By Srei Ka
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
Recently there was a report that two-star General Thong Lim might replace Phnom Penh Municipal Police Department [PPMPD] Commissioner Touch Naroth, who is to be transferred to a service in the Ministry of Interior [MoI]. However, a senior MoI official said that Touch Naroth's replacement will not be Thong Lim but someone else.
This official said that the order to appoint a new PPMPD commissioner has already been signed. The public announcement is expected to be made in the next two weeks at the most.
The same MoI official said that Thong Lim is a two-star general. He cannot be PPMPD commissioner because this post is for a one-star general only. Therefore, because Thong Lim's rank is too high for this post he cannot take it.
The PPMPD commissioner's post is for a one-star general only but even three-star generals would love to have it. If being a two-star general is too high for the PPMPD commissioner's post Thong Lim would wish one of his stars be taken away. Being a big shot in a ministry without posts or with posts that are not lucrative, one would prefer being just a one-star general. Many have regretted that they get promotion too fast and exceed the requirement for the post of municipal police chief.
For example, if Thong Lim is only a one-star general, maybe he would be given the post of PPMPD commissioner; but he would not since he is above this position. So, he cannot sit in the PPMPD commissioner's chair.
According to the same MoI official, the person who would take over the PPMPD commissioner's post is a one-star general who works at the MoI.
When Heng Pov was still at large, there were rumors that Sar Kheng's man Ek Kret could fill Heng Pov's chair as PPMPD commissioner. At that time, Ek Kret was police commissioner of Kandal province. However, because Ek Kret was negligent in his work and was never aware of Hun Sen's itineraries and goings and comings in Kandal province, Hun Sen fired him by removing him from the post of police commissioner of Kndal province. He then transferred Ek Kret to the MoI Intervention Police Unit.
Yesterday, when asked if Ek Kret was to be Touch Naroth's replacement, the same MoI official claimed that it was not Ek Kret but someone else. There could be two candidates for the PPMPD commission's post. One is Chhai Sinarith, head of the MoI General Information Department and the other is Mok Chito, head of the MoI Penal Department. However, according to the MoI official, Mok Chito is most likely to be chosen, for he has successfully served Hok Lundy.
Mok Chito used to be head of the Serious Crime Squad of the PPMPD and the government also used to assign him to carry out many jobs with efficiency, especially during the 1993 election. Therefore, Touch Naroth's replacement could be Mok Chito more than Chhai Sinarith. Besides, Chhai Sinarith was claimed to be very indecisive and incapable of handling important missions. He is incompatible with the police work, which requires a man with the characteristics of a leader or a man with plenty of male ego, which Chhai Sinarith lacks.
Mok Chito was transferred by Hok Langdi from Pailin City to the MoI to head its Penal Department in order to eliminate Heng Pov and his gang. Since acceding to the post of head of the MoI Penal Department Mok Chito has worked most efficiently in wiping out the entire Heng Pov gang. This quality is most appreciated and it could oblige Hok Lundy to appoint Mok Chito as Touch Naoth's replacement.
According to the same MoI official, the current situation in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh, calls for a person like Mok Chito, who knows when to play it rough and when to be nice. Therefore, Touch Naroth's replacement is most likely to be Mok Chito than anyone else. Besides, Mok Chito is also a general with only one star.
Some police officers agreed that it is more likely that Mok Chito would replace Touch Naroth. Therefore, the news that Thong Lim is coming to the PPMPD commissioner's office is not true.
The MoI official said that the decision on the PPMPD commissioner's post will be known next week or the week after that.
This official said that the order to appoint a new PPMPD commissioner has already been signed. The public announcement is expected to be made in the next two weeks at the most.
The same MoI official said that Thong Lim is a two-star general. He cannot be PPMPD commissioner because this post is for a one-star general only. Therefore, because Thong Lim's rank is too high for this post he cannot take it.
The PPMPD commissioner's post is for a one-star general only but even three-star generals would love to have it. If being a two-star general is too high for the PPMPD commissioner's post Thong Lim would wish one of his stars be taken away. Being a big shot in a ministry without posts or with posts that are not lucrative, one would prefer being just a one-star general. Many have regretted that they get promotion too fast and exceed the requirement for the post of municipal police chief.
For example, if Thong Lim is only a one-star general, maybe he would be given the post of PPMPD commissioner; but he would not since he is above this position. So, he cannot sit in the PPMPD commissioner's chair.
According to the same MoI official, the person who would take over the PPMPD commissioner's post is a one-star general who works at the MoI.
When Heng Pov was still at large, there were rumors that Sar Kheng's man Ek Kret could fill Heng Pov's chair as PPMPD commissioner. At that time, Ek Kret was police commissioner of Kandal province. However, because Ek Kret was negligent in his work and was never aware of Hun Sen's itineraries and goings and comings in Kandal province, Hun Sen fired him by removing him from the post of police commissioner of Kndal province. He then transferred Ek Kret to the MoI Intervention Police Unit.
Yesterday, when asked if Ek Kret was to be Touch Naroth's replacement, the same MoI official claimed that it was not Ek Kret but someone else. There could be two candidates for the PPMPD commission's post. One is Chhai Sinarith, head of the MoI General Information Department and the other is Mok Chito, head of the MoI Penal Department. However, according to the MoI official, Mok Chito is most likely to be chosen, for he has successfully served Hok Lundy.
Mok Chito used to be head of the Serious Crime Squad of the PPMPD and the government also used to assign him to carry out many jobs with efficiency, especially during the 1993 election. Therefore, Touch Naroth's replacement could be Mok Chito more than Chhai Sinarith. Besides, Chhai Sinarith was claimed to be very indecisive and incapable of handling important missions. He is incompatible with the police work, which requires a man with the characteristics of a leader or a man with plenty of male ego, which Chhai Sinarith lacks.
Mok Chito was transferred by Hok Langdi from Pailin City to the MoI to head its Penal Department in order to eliminate Heng Pov and his gang. Since acceding to the post of head of the MoI Penal Department Mok Chito has worked most efficiently in wiping out the entire Heng Pov gang. This quality is most appreciated and it could oblige Hok Lundy to appoint Mok Chito as Touch Naoth's replacement.
According to the same MoI official, the current situation in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh, calls for a person like Mok Chito, who knows when to play it rough and when to be nice. Therefore, Touch Naroth's replacement is most likely to be Mok Chito than anyone else. Besides, Mok Chito is also a general with only one star.
Some police officers agreed that it is more likely that Mok Chito would replace Touch Naroth. Therefore, the news that Thong Lim is coming to the PPMPD commissioner's office is not true.
The MoI official said that the decision on the PPMPD commissioner's post will be known next week or the week after that.
