Distinction Awards 2014

The year 2014 opens with a tragedy – the Veng Sreng murder, and closes with another tragedy – Roka HIV spread. And in between there are plenty of tragedies for those who have no connection to high places.

Still, a few manage to earn Pseng-Pseng annual accolades. Here are the winners and their category.

*Bravery Award: Hun Sen’s Mercenaries

“They weren’t afraid of the protesters throwing stones, they were only angry at them. I saw them shooting only to kill. It was like watching children play with fireworks.

Ouk Mara, 17, student wounded on her way home from school, 8 January 2014, The Cambodia Daily

“I was standing just outside my doorway watching everything when I was shot and I have no idea where the bullets came from. The military police were running around shooting indiscriminately, they had become so angry after the people started throwing stones at them.”

Heath Rady, 20, wounded female worker from the Canadia Industrial Park, 8 January 2014, The Cambodia Daily

“They didn’t shoot to threaten us, they shot to kill us.”

So Nar, 27, wounded while standing on the third floor of a residential building on Veng Sreng Street, 8 January 2014, The Cambodia Daily

Hun Sen launches the year with gun fires by ordering his military police to shoot to kill, murdering five, and seriously injuring at least 42. They open fire to disperse protestors along Veng Sreng Street in Por Senchey district. They have guts to shoot those who have no idea they would walk into a gunfight with a few stones.

The district’s name literally means “Blessing with So Much Victory” – very aptly for the murderers, not the victims. Or an anagram of the name is the victory blessing for [Hun] Sen, marking his historic achievement in the district.

*The Best Property Agent Award: Hun Sen

“Prime Minister Hun Sen rejects all of the plans that have been designed. When I ask him why, his answer is simple: ‘To sell the land’.”

Retired architect and urban planner Vann Molyvann, 31 December 2013, Next City

“But at the moment they don’t have this vision, they don’t have clear planning for the city. So many developers come to Cambodia and they do what they want. There are many buildings built in different styles, which ruins the image of the city.”

CocochiCam Designs CEO Toshishige Kawauchi, 19 December 2014, The Phnom Penh Post

Nothing can stand between the man and his piles of cash. Concrete jungles worth a few billion bucks are shooting up like mushrooms in the dark – without urban planning and regard for construction and building safety, and health regulations. They say plans and regulations are coming.

Meanwhile, lakes are filled, land subdivided, and sold like hot cakes. There have already been floods, death, and injuries associated with putting the cart before the horse.

Agent Hun Sen’s thinking is clear and simple – making money first and fast. And GDP huggers celebrate as these activities are added to the GDP growth.

*The Great Supreme Hypocrite Award: Tep Vong

“I … ask the relevant establishments, the National Assembly, the Senate, the government and all political parties, to please create procedures to make the ordained monks and novice monks stay neutral…[and] avoid participating in activities that support or oppose any political party and participating in elections.”

Tep Vong, The Great Supreme Patriarch, 18 December 2014, The Cambodia Daily

“អង្គអនុសំវច្ឆរមហាសន្និបាតមន្ត្រីសង្ឍទូទាំងប្រទេសលើកទី ២០ បានសម្រេចគាំទ្រយ៉ាងពេញទំហឹង​នូវ​បេក្ខភាពសម្តេចអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុនសែន ជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី សម្រាប់អាណត្តិខាងមុខ និងអាណត្តិ​ក្រោយៗទៀត ...”

សង្ឃប្រកាស លេខ១០៤/១១ ស.ន.ក.ជ ចុះថ្ងៃទី២១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ ២០១១

The clergy has enough hypocritical sense to propose a suspension of monks’ right to vote after feeling monks ignore his call for an eternal support for Hun Sen premiership.

To follow through his latest logic, he may move next to ban police, armed forces, and public servants to ensure their political apathy.

*The Turning Point Award: Sam Rainsy & Kem Sokha

“So we now have this role of the opposition being recognized and the minority leader, who will be the dialogue partner of the prime minister. I and Mr. Hun Sen would speak as near equals on issues of national interest.”

CNRP president Sam Rainsy, 29 November 2014, The Cambodia Daily

What Sam Rainsy sees as the turning point delivers his deputy to CPP’s Heng Samrin as the latter’s new deputy in the National Assembly, and let himself play second fiddle to Hun Sen as honorific and symbolic prime minister. He can now speak with the premier on “near equal” footing.

This “near equal” is not enough for CNRP director of information Meach Sovannara and other party members who are thrown in jail due to what CNRP claims as a political motive. An equal footing may just set them free. Nevertheless, the jailing of these low grade followers may not an issue of national interest.

*The Colourful Language Award: Hun Sen and Tep Vong

"...ទេ ចុះមកឆ្កួតជាមួយនឹងអាត្មាម៉េច អាឆ្កួត មកឲ្យធ្វើអំពាវនាវម៉េច កុំមកនាំអញឆ្កួត អញមិនឆ្កួតទេវើយ អញប្រាប់មិញហើយថា ច្បាប់ជារឿងរបស់ខ្លួនឯងទេ កុំនាំអញឆ្កួត អញមិនឆ្កួតជាមួយពួកអាជំគួតអស់ហ្នឹងទេ។"

The Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, 17 December 2013, VOD Hot News

“Don’t come to beg from them [the government]. They have no rice for you. They only have dog shit for you.”

The Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong, 18 December 2013, The Cambodia Daily

«ឥឡូវ​គេ​ដោះ​ហើយ​តើ ​ដូច្នេះ​ហើយ​បាន​ជា​ចៅហ្វាយ​ខេត្ត​រត់ទាំង​យប់។​ អី​ក៏​ភ្លើ​ម្ល៉េះ! ​តែ​អា​នេះ​ភ្លើ​ខូច។ ​កុំ​ព្រហើន​ពេក​ណា​ អាក្មេង​ព្រហើន!។លោក​ឯង​និយាយ​យក​ចំណេញ។​ អាង​ឡើង​អាង​ចង់ទម្លាក់​នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី។​ ​មើ​លោក​ឯង​សាកមើល!​ ​បើ​ក្បាល​ប៉ាន​ដែក ​សុំ​អញ្ជើញ! ​ខ្ញុំ​ប្រើ​ភាសា​ថា ​លោក​អ្នក​ ថ្លៃថ្នូរ​ជំនួស​ពាក្យ​ថា ​អាល្ងង់។​ អានេះ​អាង​មាន​វីអូអេ​ វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ី​សេរី។​ (តែ)​អញ​មាន​ទូរទស្សន៍​វ៉ី ។​»

សម្តេចអគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​​ ហ៊ុន សែន ២១សីហា ២០១៤ វីអូអេ

Even with their glorified title, their language could still make them sound like they are dust of life. There is no diamond in the rough.

The best thing is that their audience is immune to the vulgarity. Other high-profile politicians adopt the language, but fail to make it as colourful.

Anyway, have a great 2015; all the winners will.

Ung Bun Ang

30xii14

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Pseng-Pseng is published on the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Ho Chi Minh: “Go West, Young Viets”

“វីដេអូ​ឃ្លិប​រយៈពេល​ជិត​៣​នាទី បង្ហោះ​លើ យូធូប (Youtube) បង្ហាញ​ថា វៀតណាម​ផ្ដល់​មេដាយ​ឲ្យ​ស្ត្រី​ខ្មែរ​ទាំង​បី​រូប​នេះ ដោយសារតែ​ពួកគាត់​ជា​អ្នកមាន​ស្នាដៃ​ក្នុងនាម​ជា​ចារនារី​យោធា និង​ជា​អ្នកស្នេហាជាតិ​កម្ពុជា។… អ្នកស្រី ហង់ បុរី [ជា​មន្ត្រី​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​ក្រសួងការពារជាតិ​កម្ពុ​ជា បាន​ទទួល​មេដាយ​នេះ​ដែរ] លើក​ឡើង​ថា ការដែល​វៀតណាម​ផ្ដល់​មេដាយ​ឲ្យ​ស្ត្រី​កម្ពុជា​នេះ ជា​ការ បញ្ជាក់​ថា​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​វៀតណាម​ទាំងអស់ គោរព​ស្រលាញ់​មន្ត្រី​ខ្មែរ ដូចជា​ឪពុកម្ដាយ​ពួកគេ​អញ្ចឹង​ដែរ។”

​​អ្នកផ្សាយព័ត៌​មាន វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី វណ្ណ វិចារ ២៦ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤ វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

«គេ​មាន​ការ​រៀប​ចំ​មុន​ហ្នឹង​ពី​៥ទៅ​១០​ឆ្នាំ ប៉ុន្តែ​យើង​ទើប​នឹង​ចាប់​ផ្ដើម​នៅ​ឆ្នាំ​នេះ​ ហើយ​ឆ្នាំ​ក្រោយ​សមាហរណកម្ម​អាស៊ាន​នឹង​ចូល​មក​ដល់។ អញ្ចឹង ខ្ញុំ​ភ័យ​ព្រួយ​ ខ្លាច​ថា​យើង​ធ្វើ​អត់​ទាន់​បាន​ដូច​គេ។ »

កញ្ញា សុក ច័ន្ទ​បរមី និស្សិត​ឆ្នាំ​ទី​១​នៃ​សកលវិទ្យាល័យ​ភូមិន្ទ​នីតិសាស្ត្រ​និង​វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ១៨ វិច្ឆិកា ២០១៤  ​​វិទ្យុវីអូអេ

«ចា៎បារម្ភ  ព្រោះ​ថា​ប្រព័ន្ធ​អប់រំ​យើង​នៅ​អន់​ជាង​ប្រព័ន្ធ​អប់រំ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​នៅ​ក្នុងអាស៊ាន​ដទៃ​ទៀត។ បារម្ភ​ថា​ពេល​ចូល​អាស៊ាន​ទៅ យើង​អត់​អាច​មាន​ឱកាស​ទទួល​បាន​ការងារ​ល្អ​ដូច​គេ ។»

កញ្ញា អ៊ូច សាខន​លក្ខិណា និស្សិត​មក​ពី​សកលវិទ្យាល័យ ភូមិន្ទ​នីតិសាស្ត្រ​និង​វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ១៨ វិច្ឆិកា ២០១៤  ​​វិទ្យុវីអូអេ

“For example, now we have 35,000 workers and we are asking for an increase of perhaps 40,000 to 50,000. The premier [Hun Sen] stressed that Cambodian workers in South Korea would not only receive money but also increase their experience and technological skills they can use back home.”

Kao Kim Hourn, a minister attached to Premier Hun Sen, 16 December 2014

«ឥឡូវ​យើង​ សម្បូរ​តែ​អ្នក​រៀន​ខាង​វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ​សង្គម ​អត់​មាន​អ្នក​រៀន​ខាង​ផ្នែក​វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ​ដូច​ជា​វិស្វកម្ម​អី​ជាដើម ដល់​ពេល​វិនិយោគ​គេ​មក​ដល់​ គេ​ត្រូវ​ការ​សាងសង់​រោងចក្រ ផលិត​គ្រឿង​ឧបករណ៍​អេឡិចត្រូនិក​ជាដើម អញ្ចឹង​យើង​ត្រូវ​ការ​អ្នក​ចេះ​ខាង​ផ្នែក​អេឡិច​ត្រូនិក​និង​ខាង​ផ្នែក​កម្មន្ត​សាល​ជាដើម។»

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​អប់រំ យុវជន​និង​កីឡា លោក​បណ្ឌិត ហង់ ជួន​ណារ៉ុន ១៨ វិច្ឆិកា ២០១៤  ​​វិទ្យុវីអូអេ

Ho Chi Minh might have been inspired by American author Horace Greely’s call some 150 years ago for young Americans to go conquering the West. However, Ho’s long term vision is modest – all he wants is just Indochina. He would be proud of his descendants who have pursued his strategic plan so relentlessly and effectively. Vietnam’s control and influence have gradually penetrated into Cambodian society, economy, and psyche.

The latest satisfaction for Vietnam is a fresh confirmation by Cambodian elites of their loyalty to Vietnam. Hun Sen’s two sisters and a top Cambodian Defence official are thrilled to receive Vietnamese third highest medals of honour for their outstanding achievement in “military espionage” and their “patriotism to Cambodia”.

A few know what these espionage and achievements entail; but whatever they are, they must benefit Vietnam to warrant such high accolades. It would be ridiculous for Vietnam to decorate someone who would do damages to its interest. The Cambodian elites, however, may never wonder why Vietnam would bestow such praises for their patriotism to Cambodia, unless the two nations are practically amalgamated.

Ho could almost smell the success from his grave. One of these elites proclaims Vietnamese people love and respect Cambodian government officials like their parents. This means the Cambodian officials will ensure more of their Vietnamese children are born and bred as locals. It is an assimilation process at its best.

And the advent of the Asean Economic community (AEC), due in 2015, could not be more blessing for Vietnam. First, Cambodia has tolerated an education system that does not depend on brain power for jobs. While students are worried about their professional career in the AEC environment, Premier Hun Sen expects Cambodian labourers working abroad to pick up technological skills there and bring them home. He proposes Korea take many more than the present 35,000 Cambodian labourers without imposing any upper limit. With another 700,000 Cambodian labourers in Thailand, according to Hun Sen’s thinking, Cambodia is ready for the AEC, despite these labourers doing manual work rejected by locals, earning chicken feed, if not being exploited.

Second, Vietnam could not wait to officially send into Cambodia their graduates in engineering, nursing, architecture, surveying, medicine, dentistry, accounting, and hospitality to compete against Cambodian returnees from their work stint abroad. These are the eight professions the AEC allows under its “free” flow of skilled labour. This free flow is, indeed, still subject to local laws and regulations; and Cambodia has a labour law that limits a maximum proportion of foreign workers to 10% of any entity.

Whether Hun Sen’s thinking is naive or not, eternal patron Vietnam can always get him to bend the rule so that it can provide Hang Chuon Naron as many technical and engineering graduates as he wants. After all, it is only natural – if not obligatory – that the parents whom Vietnamese people adore will not let their Vietnamese offspring down.

This is another gigantic nail Cambodian elites allow Ho’s descendants to drive into the Khmer coffin.

Ung Bun Ang

20xii14

Parthian Shot

The Viets worked it all out almost 200 years ago what made Cambodians tick. Vietnamese General Truong Minh Giang reported below to Emperor Minh Mang in 1834. And the Cambodians have not since changed much, besides thinking they are now smarter with their PhDs.

"After studying the [Cambodian] situation, we [Vietnamese] have decided that Cambodian officials only know how to bribe and be bribed. Offices are sold; nobody carries out orders; everyone works for his own account."

David Chandler, A History of Cambodia, 4th Edition, 2008. Westview Press, Page 150

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CNRP Invests in Future Miracle

“ឥឡូវខ្ញុំសុំផ្តល់សេចក្តីសង្ឃឹមជូនបងប្អូនជនរួមជាតិ។​ យើងក្រឡេកមើលគជបបច្ចុប្បន្ននេះ  ប៉ុណ្ណឹងហើយ នៅតែគណបក្សប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាចាញ់គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិផង អាស្រ័យទៅលើប្រជាពលរដ្ឋទេ។ បើសិនជា គជបថ្មី ល្អជាងហ្នឹងតែបន្តិច  រឿងអីយើងមិនឈ្នះ? ។”

អនុប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ កឹម សុខា ទី​៣ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤ ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

“បើនិយាយពីការកែទំរង់នេះ  និយាយឲ្យអស់​  បើថាគណបក្សប្រជាជនជាអ្នកមិនកែទំរង់ ប្រហែលជាការ កែទំរង់ហ្នឹង ពិបាកធ្វើបានណាស់  ខ្ញុំនិយាយដោយស្មោះត្រង់។”

ព្រុំ សុខា តំណាង​ក្រុម​ដឹកនាំ​ការចរចា​តំណាង​អោយ​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី​ ថ្ងៃ​ច័ន្ទ ទី ៣ ខែ​វិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤

“Pung Chhiv Kek is not troubled by the new restriction and is still waiting for demands made months ago to be met. She has asked for conditions, that the National Election Committee (NEC) is independent, members have [parliamentary-style] immunity, the right to choose staff autonomously, the right to autonomously control its budget. If this is all OK, she will agree, if not, she will decline.”

Pung Chhiv Kek’s senior colleague at Licadho Am Sam Ath, 2 December 2014, The Phnom Penh Post

“ដូច្នេះគជបថ្មីហ្នឹងគឺ សំរេចលើសមាសភាពអគ្គធិការដ្ឋាន ហើយសំណើរ ទៅរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល។ រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល នឹងរៀបចំឲ្យមានអនុក្រិត្យមួយ ។ អនុក្រិត្យហ្នឹងគ្រាន់ តែឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំងសំណើរតាមសំណើរ ហើយសំណើរហ្នឹង គឺសំណើរគជប តាមមតិ ភាគច្រើន ដូចយើងនិយាយអំបាញ់មិញ។”

ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​៣ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤ ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

“ ខ្ញុំដូចជាមិនឆ្ងល់អីទេ គណបក្សកាន់អំណាច ទោះបីអត់មានច្បាប់ ក៍គេចង់ធ្វើអីក៍បានដែរ ហើយជួនកាល គេយកច្បាប់មកប្រើដើម្បីផលប្រយោជន៍អំណាចរបស់គេ។ គេធ្លាប់ធ្វើហើយ គេបានធ្វើទៀត ដូច្នេះហើយ រឿងនេះ គេចង់ធ្វើអីក៍ស្រេចទៅលើគេដដែលដែរ។”

អនុប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ កឹម សុខា ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​៣ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤ ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

“ ឥឡូវគេចង់រំលាយអីក៍បានដែរ ពីព្រោះដរាបណាគណបក្សប្រជាជនមានសម្លេងច្រើនជាង៥០%បូក១ នៅរដ្ឋសភា គេចង់ធ្វើអ្វីក៍បានដែរឥឡូវហ្នឹង។”

ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ ទី​៣ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤ ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

They are indeed achievements of historic proportion for the CNRP: a balanced NEC, recognition of a Minority leader in parliament with a formal status equivalent to premier, and to top it all, a TV station. They make the party believe it will win future elections. It has won so many seats under the current CPP-controlled NEC; thus, it is only logical that a balanced NEC will deliver an election victory.

However, assuming that CNRP still aims to make Hun Sen a Minority leader, could the achievements plus a newly-embraced culture of dialogue really bring CNRP to power?

Perhaps more to the point is this: will Hun Sen allow enough reforms for him to lose power? Prum Sokha confirms, with all his sincerity, no reform is possible without the CPP’s approval.

There is no reason for Hun Sen to execute reforms to the extent that he puts his power and wealth at risk. He is shrewd enough to allow some superficial reforms that are necessary to entertain an illusory hope that real changes are forthcoming. Hence, he is still in effective control of these historic achievements that thrill CNRP so much.

First, if Pung Chhiv Kek declines the ninth membership of the balanced NEC, which is likely as her conditions for acceptance are so far discarded, the two parties will look elsewhere for her replacement. A CPP trump card is that it can stall the process until CNRP agrees to a candidate CPP wants. Unless CNRP bows to CPP again, the deadline for setting up a balanced NEC by the end of February 2015 may just be to confirm the current one stays.

Second, assuming a “suitable” replacement is found, a new NEC is formed and proceeds to select its secretariat executives. If the ninth member is CPP-compliant, any proposed executives will satisfy the CPP who will then issue a government sub-decree to officially appoint them. Though the CNRP assumes the sub-decree issue is just a rubber stamp, the CPP can still decide to withhold it if it believes it cannot at least influence any proposed secretariat put forward by the new NEC.

It may take a bit more than the culture of dialogue, Minority leadership, and a TV station to turn the NCRP’s historic achievements into miracles. The biggest assumption of all is that if Hun Sen loses any elections, he will gracefully hand over the power that has served him and his personal interest groups so well for decades. He did not back down after the 1993 elections defeat, why would he do it now? Plus, he has a lot more at stake now than ever before.

The CNRP leaders may well know all this. Beyond their political rhetoric on winning elections, they admit that even with the balanced NEC, the CPP still can do what it wants due to its 50% plus one parliamentary majority. They are now speaking of institution building for future generations – as if they have given up on rescuing the nation in their lifetime.

Ung Bun Ang

10xii14

Parthian Shot:

Premier Hun Sen is annoyed with his critics who are more fearful of being struck by lightening than his wrath.

“... ប៉ុន្តែដល់ពិតបា្រកដ ជេរ ។ គេឲ្យនិយាយក្នុងសភា ម៉េចក៍មិននិយាយ?​ បើមិនបានជេរគេហ្នឹង រន្ទ:វាបាញ់ ឬស្អី? ”

​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី​៤ ខែ​ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤  ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

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Pseng-Pseng is published on the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com