Hun Sen’s Robbery Show

“Weapons control involves some complicated problems. I’m telling the truth: We control the weapons of our units and we control the legal weapons, but for illegal weapons, we cannot control them. We do not say they are only for thieves, but even civil servants and some private individuals are also using illegal weapons.”

Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mok Chito, 23 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

“At that time [Intermittent fightings gainst Thai soldiers near Preah Vihear temple] some weapons were allowed to be used. Sometimes, they could not reach their destination and be returned after the event.”

Interior Minister Sar Kheng, 16 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

“The surveillance cameras are necessary equipment to monitor the traffic situation and other offenses along the street…. They will help to collect images to serve security affairs, like to see who has violated the traffic law,”

Deputy National Police Commissioner Him Yan, 23 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

“According to reports, robbers with the same faces are the ones fighting with the Phnom Penh Municipal Police. …They come out (of prisons) and rob again and again in many places.”

Premier Hun Sen, 15 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

“Religions educate people to do good deeds, not to steal and rob. But armed robberies have taken place in the last few weeks”

Premier Hun Sen, 15 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

Hun Sen springs into actions, or pretends to – and the rest of the herd follows – in response to a litany of street robberies in many cities.

It is likely that they are springing into hot air. First, a working group is formed to “boost understanding among ministries and law enforcement officials to crack down on crime”. It seems like one of those committees in which individuals who can do nothing individually sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

Second, Mok Chito claims they have under control only legal weapons, not the illegal ones. Perhaps, one of his complicated problems is that he does not understand the illegal weapons often come from the legal ones. His minister Sar Kheng admits some of the legal weapons fall into illegal hands. Nevertheless, he does not say how and why the transactions occur. Still, many know how corruption works.

Third, newly-installed street surveillance cameras may not lead to criminals arrest. Video films showing dozens of protestors turning criminals when they brutally assault two opposition parliamentarians in daylight have not produced any arrest beyond the three who confess. After all, one of the protest leaders has just been appointed as a personal assistant to Hun Sen. The selective implementation of law will override any usefulness of those cameras.

Anyhow, robbers are used to pulling faces at Hun Sen. Another group of robbers has for decades robbed the public blind, enjoying, and flaunting their loots. Corruption is robbery, is it not? Hun Sen knows who these office robbers are. He even asks them to look at the mirror and scrub off the dirt on their bodies. All the office robbers can see in the mirror is a smiling dollar sign. They give a different meaning to the famous Harry Truman’s “The buck stops here” – the dollar stops at Hun Sen’s coffer.

Interestingly similarities between the street and office robbers are striking. Both groups are armed, have access to AK-47 riffles, and ready to shoot.

Both have the same faces. Hun Sen says the street robbers are released from prison only to rob again and again. He sees the office robbers day-in and day-out raiding public purses again and again. He must know a notable variation between the two is that the former has been to jail while the latter is at large.

The two groups also share common motivations for their actions: birth defect, greed, or hunger, or a combination of them. Some claim the office robbers have no choice but to rob due to their starving salaries. Hun Sen says he won’t increase them, because the government has no money. He does not say, however, why there is no money in the public purse. He could increase the salaries to the extent that there is no need for all them to rob the public. Then again, this would indeed remove all the thrills from robbing and the fun of flaunting the loots.

And Hun Sen is right the robbers are not so religious.

Ung Bun Ang

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Parthian Shot

The self-esteem of these samdechs is so low that they are asking for respect, in lieu of earning it. It won’t be long before they make Cambodia a “polite” nation.

“Using ‘Mr.’ to refer to samdechs is impolite.”

Secretary of state Mao Ayuth, 17 December 2015, The Cambodia Daily

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Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy to Dump Sihanouk Map

“We now have found that all maps that we have received from the Royal Government, the CNRP and the French Institute are the same.”

Sok Touch, Head of the border research group of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, 14 August 2015, the Phnom Penh Post

“You [Opposition MP Om Sam An] instructed your assistant to ask me about the map with a Vietnamese seal on it, and you say I can’t answer it. You talk nonsense… Any map that comes from a particular library will bear a seal of that library. It is not that difficult to answer.”

Sok Touch, Head of border research group of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, 25 August 2015, Radio Free Asia

“Whoever dares to use the language of ‘fake maps’ will face legal actions urgently. There will be no tolerance and we will not waste time.”

Premier Hun Sen, 27 August 2015, The Phnom Penh Post

“Now we all remember by heart, passing from one to another, that the area of Kingdom of Cambodia is 181,035 km2, [but] until now that we are working on the border demarcation, we do not know how this number comes about… We do not know because we are still working on it. Just like what Samdech Prime Minister writes in his book, it can vary. But for now, we do not wish to say [what it is] because we are still working on it.”

Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the National Authority in Charge of Border Affairs Koy Pisey, 11 August 2015, Radio Free Asia

“កែ​ដើម្បី​កែ​ដើម្បី​បញ្ជាក់​ថា យើង​មាន​លទ្ធភាព​យក​ផែនទី​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​មុនៗ មុន​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៣៣ បើ​ផែនទី​មុន​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៣៣ ជាពិសេស​ផែនទី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៤ វា​ល្អ​ប្រសើរ​ជាង​សម្រាប់​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា យើង​យក​ផែនទី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៤។   បើ​យើង​យក​ផែនទី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៤  យើង​ត្រូវ​តែ​លុប​ផែនទី​ឆ្នាំ​១៩៣៣ ។”

ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ    សម រង្ស៊ី ​ ១៦ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥  ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

“បើ​សិន​​ជា​រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ​បាន​ចែង​ថាផែនទីនៃ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជាប្រើ​ប្រាស់​ផែនទីខ្នាត១/៥០០០០ ខ្ញុំព្រះករុណា​ក៏​សុខចិត្ត​លុបចោល​កិច្ច​ព្រមព្រៀង​​សន្ធិសញ្ញា​ជាមួយ​ វៀតណាមដែរ។  តែ​មាត្រា​ទី​២នៃ​រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ​គេ​ឲ្យ​ប្រើថាផែនទីអធិបតេយ្យ​របស់កម្ពុជា​ មាន​ចែង​នៅក្នុ​ង​ផែនទីខ្នាត​១/០០០០០បោះពុម្ពក្នុង​ចន្លោះឆ្នាំ​​១៩៣៣-១៩៥៣ដែលអន្តរជាតិទទួល​​ស្គាល់​​​​៦៣-៦៩ ។”

នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន  ១៧ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥     V   VOD

With so many maps floating around, the map issue for border demarcation is as clear as mud. However, to remove any confusion and brouhaha, Hun Sen & Co. rule that all the maps from the UN, the opposition, and others are all identical to theirs. It makes no difference if some of them are UTM or Bonne based, with or without signatures of the joint Vietnam Border Committee stamped with a Vietnamese seal. They cannot even wait for other maps they have requested from the US and French governments. As a good measure to ram the map identicalness down the public’s throat, Hun Sen threatens legal actions against those who dare to utter the word “fake”.

Now that all the maps are not fake, and are the same as the one Article 2 of the Constitution specifies, why then do they want to amend the Article? Hun Sen says there is a mistake in it. Koy Pisey elaborates the Article would cede 50 Km2 to Vietnam. But how do they come up with such a specific loss, when they will not know the area of Cambodia until they finish the current demarcation?

While Hun Sen and Co. want to change the Article to avoid the imaginary loss, their culture of dialogue partner Sam Rainsy will support the amendment if this leads to a territorial gain. He suggests any amendment go back to 1914, not just 1933 as in Article 2 to maximise the advantage. With this kind of logic, why not extending to the Angkor period when the Cambodian empire ruled most part of South East Asia? Both are blind to the fact that the amendment will effectively remove the being “internationally recognised border”, which means Cambodia may lose some legal ground in any territorial claim dispute.

And Hun Sen intends to go further. He wants to use maps with 1/50,000 scale in lieu of the 1/100,000 specified in Article 2, so that he can annul all border treaties he has signed with Vietnam. A common sense dictates that the Viets will agree to scrap any of them if and only if the 1/50,000 maps offer them better benefits – at least more than what they get now.

Thus, while the opposition is driven by greed, Hun Sen is building up a case for dumping the map endorsed by the Constitution and King Sihanouk.

Sihanouk, who was dominant in founding the 1991 Paris peace accord and the 1993 Constitution, approached the border issue with an expectation that Vietnam would owe Cambodia a debt of gratitude; he allowed them to use Cambodia as a supply route and sanctuary during the war. In return, Vietnam duly recognised in the 60’s the Cambodian border as per Sihanouk map.

Therefore, by dumping Article 2, the Hun Sen’s debt repayment will go beyond lauding the Viets for swallowing their words. And the minority leader with status equal to prime minister is to follow suit for the sake of his expected gain or the culture of dialogue.

Ung Bun Ang

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Parthian Shot

Here, it is – the language of self-proclaimed impartial academia full of integrity Sok Touch. Now Hun Sen has another made-in-heaven excuse to throw a few more dissidents in jail for inciting a war against his patron State.

Anyway, what is this “unofficial” map? Why is it “unofficial”? Does this map show Lam Dong province, which according to Google Map is situated about 100 km east of the Vietnam-Cambodia border, sharing a common border with Cambodia?  What has happened to Binh Phoc and Dak Nong provinces that are supposed to lie between Lam Dong province and the Cambodian border?

“… One map submitted by the CNRP was an unofficial map of Vietnam’s Lam Dong province. If you use that section of the map, we will have a dispute that can lead to war with Vietnam.”

Sok Touch, Head of the border research group of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, 15 August 2015, The Cambodia Daily

Hun Sen: Destination Prey Nokor

“Vietnam strongly criticises recent violent actions by some Cambodian extremists that violate both Vietnam’s and Cambodia’s laws as well as treaties and agreements signed by both sides.”

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Le Hai Bin, Vietnamese Communist Party’s official newspaper Nhan Dan, 30 June 2015

“[This request for UN maps] also has the objective to avoid and end the incitement of extreme nationalism by some quarters in Cambodia to create confusion among the national and international public to make political gains, which could create a catastrophe for the whole Cambodian nation.”

Premier Hun Sen, Letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 6 July, 2015

“If you [Mr Om Sam An] works with the maps – the maps lodged at the UN, you will render automatically 50 Km2 of land to Vietnam because the maps that we lodged with the UN – eventhough they are not for border demarcation – we will lose 50 Km2. That is why the current government that abides by Article 2 of the Constitution does not entirely use the specified map.”

Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the National Authority in Charge of Border Affairs Koy Pisey, 11 August 2015, Radio Free Asia

“[We] have not used any untrue maps; they have been approved by co-presidents of the joint border committee and [the committee’s] technical chief.”

Senior minister Var Kimhong, 3 July 2015, the Cambodia Daily

“Now we have the map in our hands, so when there are problems we can know where our border is… We can explain to our people to let them know where our land is and where they are posting the [border] poles.”

Tbong Khmum provincial governor Prach Chan, 16 July 2015, the Cambodia Daily

“We’ll use it to check the real geography to see and know where Cambodia and Vietnam’s land is without estimating. This map will let us make a clear argument and help us when we report to the top leaders about compliance with the correct map.”

Governor of Kandal province Mao Phirun, 16 July 2015, the Cambodia Daily

“[T]here will be…a training course about checking the border, to make everyone know how to manage the situation on the border, because they cannot manage the border as they do not know which side belongs to us and to them.”

Interior Minister Sar Kheng, 9 July 2015, the Cambodia Daily

“The current government uses [for border demarcations] the map specified in Article 2 of the Constitution…  And if the government uses this map everyday Mr Om Sam An has no right to say the government uses fake maps. If Mr Om Sam An says the government uses fake maps, then this means the Constitution is fake. If the Constitution is fake, then the whole Cambodia is fake, is it not?”

Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the National Authority in Charge of Border Affairs Koy Pisey, 11 August 2015, Radio Free Asia

“The Cambodian Constitution was written with a mistake, a mistake that ties our own arms by putting in it the map printed between 1933 and 1953.”

Premier Hun Sen, 17 July 2015, the Cambodia Daily

Vietnam must be gratified to see Hun Sen goes into bat for them in the border issues so eloquently. He picks up a cue from the Viets fast. Less than one week after Le Hai Bin has uttered the word “extremists”, Hun Sen runs with it like a devout disciple as shown in his letter to Ban Ki-moon requesting help to deal with “extreme nationalism” in Cambodia.

It is now confirmed at least the Constitution-specified map is not the only one in play. Koy Pisey claims other maps are also used – without realising that move alone violates Article 2 of the Constitution. She does, however, justify the breach: it is done to gain 50 Km2 of land, which would go to Vietnam under the Constitution-specified map.

While breaking laws is nothing unusual for Hun Sen, the Viets concession of this 50 Km2 land is. First, as Var Kimhong confirms, the maps used for the border demarcation are all approved by Vietnam. Would Vietnam accept the Constitution-specified map solely? It may be a compromise that other maps are included for its interest if the Cambodian Constitution-specified map is considered at all.

Second, if the land were Vietnam concession to Hun Sen, what would it get in exchange? The public will never know because Koy Pisey has already declared some information must stay as State secrets.

At the border though, it is more worrisome. In all these years of border demarcations, regional officials have no idea where the border is and how to manage it. That is why provincial governors are so excited to now have the maps and a Sar Kheng’s training course on border management. They are closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

However, to make up for this operational deficiency, there are now new border committees. Hun Sen has established another committee of the CPP top brass and a Royal Academy of Cambodia research group. They look more like some gathering of individuals who can do nothing individually, and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

No need to be in despair, though. Hun Sen still has an ace up his sleeve. To overcome what Koy Pisey refers to as a possible fake Constitution and fake Cambodia, Hun Sen says there is a mistake in Article 2 that disadvantages Cambodia.

The offending Article will be amended in due course. Hun Sen has prepared enough groundwork to ensure he will have the two third majority in the National Assembly required for any Constitutional amendment. A number of opposition activists have already been arrested, and some parliamentarians are put on tenterhooks. Besides, minority leader Sam Rainsy has already proposed the amendment, according to Hun Sen.

The bottom line is the border demarcation is based on a set of maps that Vietnam approves, which could deliver Cambodia that 50 Km2. Hence, if Hun Sen lasts long enough, Cambodia will get Prey Nokor back in due course, unless the Viets are not as dumb as they are implicated.

Ung Bun Ang

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Parthian Shot:

An imaginary justice renders 18 month jail sentence to four unionists who block a road traffic for about one hour – the same sentence for Chhouk Bandit who shoot three workers. The reason for the same sentence because the road block could kill people who are stuck in traffic for about an hour. The fact that no one actually dies does not count. And the court logic is bewildering.

“There is no image of them [the unionists] shooting three people but they blocked the road. Those who cannot travel, how many [would] die because they could no longer breathe? You can’t see an image of that. The people who [could] die while they blocked the road, they could not file a complaint because they are already dead.”

Deputy prosecutor of the Svay Rieng provincial court Phan Ratana, 13 August 2015, the Cambodia Daily

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The Bar and the Golden Rule

“Tell me what country allows you to have a 100 per cent banking licence, to allow foreigners to own 100 per cent in the telecom sector, to allow foreigners to own 100 per cent of the agricultural business? Only Cambodia.”

Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, 8 October 2014, the Phnom Penh Post

“You [foreign investors] have a dollarized economy here; you’re able to repatriate your revenue; if you make money you can take it with you; you can basically have 100 percent foreign ownership; there are tax preferences here in Cambodia that are frankly better than in the region.”

US Ambassador William Todd, 8 July 2014, the Cambodia Daily

“During the [trade] presentations, I made a statement that when I come back to Cambodia I will need to talk to our prime minister to nominate Ambassador Todd to be our expert or an official on the CDC (Council for the Development of Cambodia)… He’s done such a great job making presentations…in terms of the investment opportunities in the country and I really appreciate that, ambassador. You’ve done such a tremendous job for us.”

Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, 8 October 2014, the Phnom Penh Post

“When they [foreign lawyers] come to our country, they act as if the Bar never exists. They go straight and set up a legal consulting company with Ministry of Commerce and apply for business and legal consulting services from tax department... then immediately start to provide legal services, they do not even care about consulting with the Bar to see whether their business is legal or try to apply for registration with the Bar to see if the bar can accept it.”

Former Bar secretary-general and HBS LAW managing director Ly Tayseng, 5 May 2015, Campro Forum

“Their illegal practice [not registering with the Bar] has affected confidence and value of the legal profession, and damaged the interests of the public.”

Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia, 8 December 2014 Statement

So, what can those 50 illegal foreign lawyers do – they are violating the local law by refusing to register with the Bar – that Bar’s members of almost 1,000 cannot? A fair bit, actually.

First, they come with monies foreign investors bring into the country. It is unlikely that the investors would fly in solo with millions of dollars without their own lawyers, or at least without lawyers they can trust, which immediately disqualifies local lawyers. Or the local lawyers would find it tough to secure the trust.

Second, the foreign investors and their lawyers must know how the Cambodian court system works. It does not necessarily require legal skill in a court of law that allows free flows of bribes. It is an open secret that money can buy the “right” connection that opens all doors – even those with rusty locks. And it does not need an Einstein brain to identify where the right connection is. Here some local lawyers may be of some use as long as they specialise in connection networks.

The Bar’s sudden urge to uphold the rule of law may carry little weight, if any. The hard sell of Cambodia as a place for foreign monies by Sun Chantol gives a distinct impression that nothing will be allowed to stand in the way. The cosy relationship between Sun Chantol and William Todd, who is outspoken in protecting the foreign lawyers’ interest, will throw the Bar’s rule of law rhetoric into Choeung Ek dumpsite. Why do the Ministry of Commerce and/or the tax department not refer those foreign lawyers who wish to set up legal services to the Bar? Don’t they know the Bar exists? Don’t they realise there are rules on practising laws in the country? Or, they simply don’t care about the rule of law as long as the money flows in.

Then, what can premier Hun Sen, who is a member of the Bar, do to force these foreigners to register? Very little, really. His livelihood is not connected to running any legal practices like other Bar members. The threat of bankruptcy that purportedly arises from the unregistered foreign lawyers does not stare him in the face. His sole interest is in the money foreigners bring in.

The Bar’s campaign to apply the registration rule for all is facing defeat; it has fallen on deaf ears. A consolation prize is that the Bar, which is a union for lawyers, is not alone in failing to uphold the rule of law. Other unions of workers and other victims of money have been there, and bitterly disappointed. The Bar’s concern for damages these illegal practices do to public interest is touching. However, it is about time they knew it is an illegal jungle out there. And those with the most money win.

Anyhow, it may be comforting to know the rule by law, or the golden rule – those who have the gold make the rules – does not discriminate whether workers are in factories or legal practices. 

Ung Bun Ang

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Parthian Shot

It sounds like a fair court system that does not discriminate between the bright and not so bright of the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions (RAJP) graduates. When it is not so certain who should make more money as a judge or prosecutor, the Academy opts for the lottery to determine the future wealth of their graduates.

At least the lazy thinking is consistent with the golden rule that does not discriminate whether it is the Bar or other unions it runs over.  

“The reason we chose this [lottery] method is because we do not want to compel the one who is outstanding or weak to become a judge or a prosecutor; we leave it for luck to decide.”

RAJP president Chhorn Proloeung, 28 November 2014

Notice:

Pseng-Pseng will take a break in June and July. The next issue will appear on 30 July 2015. It may not deserve a break, but target issues do.

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The Bar’s Rule of Law

“We always respect the WTO commitments, but that doesn’t mean foreign lawyers can practice their profession here without respecting the laws of Cambodia. They are just required to be registered, like in other countries, and the U.S. Embassy should reconsider and do some…legal research. If it is necessary to take legal action, I will file a suit.”

BAKC (Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia) president Bun Honn, 29 April 2015, the Cambodia Daily

“Cambodia has opened up its services sector per our WTO commitments but they [foreign lawyers] are still subject to domestic regulations. Opening up a service sector does not mean free and unregulated entry.”

Cambodian WTO lead negotiator Dr Sok Siphana, 3 May 2015, Campro Forum

“I note that a number of foreign advisors who are not even admitted to the Bar in their home countries or countries of origin, and do not have capacity to read Khmer legislative texts, are trying to mislead some government authorities, investors and the public here and there including their countrymen in Cambodia or at their home countries, that they are allowed to legally practice laws in Cambodia and solicit the engagement of their services in obvious disregard of Cambodian laws and the WTO provisions. [Sic]”

Former BAKC secretary-general and HBS LAW Managing Director Ly Tayseng, 5 May 2015, Campro Forum

The outcry for the rule of law, which is so common among blue-collar workers and victims of land grabbing, development, etc…, has spread to legal practitioners. It remains to be seen if the intelligentsia would do any better.

The BAKC, which is a union for lawyers, is convinced legal powers are on their side. The 1995 Law on the Bar Statutes empowers them to control the legal profession in the country. It is compulsory for all lawyers to register with the Bar before they can open up their shop. Architect of the Cambodia’s WTO membership Sok Siphana emphatically rejects a notion that WTO regulations can overshadow the local ones.

In their 8 Dec 2014 statement, the Bar extol the virtue of the rule of law, and seek to enforce their compulsory membership on some 50 or so foreign lawyers who have been practising their trade in Cambodia without the registration. And, the foreigners object.

They may have reasons for the objection. If professional contempt is one of them, then the Bar ought to look at themselves.

It is possible the Bar have failed to do enough for the legal profession to command respect. They have ignored the foreign lawyers registration for twenty years – long enough to convince anyone that the Bar has perpetually broken its own regulations and obligations. Now they preach the rule of law, after breeding a sentiment that if the Bar can break them, so can others.

The Bar’s actions to rein in the foreign lawyers seem feeble. They appear to beg the violators to register “as soon as possible” – without imposing any deadline, leaving an impression that time is on the violators’ side. Bun Honn says he will drag them to court only if necessary, without realising that breaking a law is all it needs to be necessary. He may not be confident the court will apply the rule of law, despite claims that some foreign lawyers are not even registered in their own country. The Bar is riddled with doubts.

Indeed, it may take the Bar another twenty years to complete the registration, which gives much comfort to those who would argue “Rome is not built in a day” for any procrastination.

Beneath this Bar’s sudden urge to enforce the rule of law, there may lie a hidden commercial agenda. It seems bankruptcy is staring some local lawyers in the face. A long-standing lawyer who vigorously advocates the registration for all has already declared he is not making any money, and prepared to shut down his firm and drive taxi in the West for a living. Will the registration of the foreign lawyers really make his firm profitable?

If the Bar’s rhetoric is driven by commercial interests of their members, it will be amazing how a competition from the 50 odd foreign lawyers can drive some local lawyers up the wall and out of business. What can those 50 do that Bar’s members of almost 1,000, which include big names like premier Hun Sen, cannot?

Ung Bun Ang

20v15

Parthian Shot

It is understandable why Hun Sen refuses to pay when he loses his bet on the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. After all, five grand is almost half of his declared income under the anti-corruption law.

However, if he reneges on a lousy five grand for a simple reason that he does not like the referees’ decision against his interest, what will he do if he loses the next election? Or, what will he do to the elections to make sure he wins?

“Now if we are talking about yesterday’s fight, I owe you [$5,000], but I will not pay.”

Premier Hun Sen, 5 May 2015, the Cambodia Daily

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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

The Tale of the Fish, the Ants, and the Impunity

“​ ឥឡូវខ្ញុំកំពុងនៅធ្វើជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ទំាងអស់គ្នានៅជាមួយបាន។​  ប៉ុន្ដែ ស្រាប់តែ ដល់ពេលណា មួយ ស្រាប់តែឯកឧត្ដមសមរង្ស៊ីធ្វើនាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រីម្ដង ឧទាហរណ៍ណា + (សើចទាំងអស់គ្នា)  ស្រាប់ ដល់ពេលហ្នឹងឯកឧត្ដមអត់ឲ្យខ្ញុំរស់នៅ ស្រាប់ទៅធ្វើបាបខ្ញុំ ដល់ធ្វើបាបខ្ញុំ ការកម្លំាងវ៉ៃបកត្រឡប់មកវិញ គឺធើឲ្យឯកឧត្ដមនៅមិនសុខដែរ។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រីហ៊ុនសែន ថ្ងៃទី​២៦ មេសា​ ២០១៥  វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ

“គឺយើងមិនមែនជាសត្វត្រី​ យើងមិនមែនជាសត្វស្រមោច យើងជា មនុស្ស យើងជាខ្មែរដូចគ្នា។ “

ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សមរង្ស៊ី  ថ្ងៃទី​២៦ មេសា​ ២០១៥ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

“អ្នកដែលដឹកនាំប្រទេសជំនួសអ្នកដែល ចាកចេញពីដំណែងក៏មិនត្រូវទៅរករឿង  មិនត្រូវទៅ សងសឹក  ហើយទៅគុំគួនអ្នកដែលគេកាន់ អំណាចពីមុនៗទេ។”

ប្រធាន​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សមរង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃទី​២៦ មេសា​ ២០១៥  វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

“អ្វី​ដែល​ខ្ញុំ​កត់​សម្គាល់ និទ្ទណ្ឌភាព​នៅ​កម្ពុជា ជាពិសេស​ក្នុង​បរិបទ​នៃ​ការ​ដឹក​នាំ​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​យើង​បច្ចុប្បន្ន  គឺ​មាន​ការ​កើន​ឡើង​ខ្លាំង​មែន​ទែន។ ដូច្នេះ ខ្ញុំ​មក​សិក្សា​បន្ថែម​នេះ គឺ​ដើម្បី​ជា​ចំណេះ​ដឹង​មួយ​សម្រាប់​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​បន្ត  ហើយ​ចូលរួម​លុប​បំបាត់​និទ្ទណ្ឌភាព​នៅ​កម្ពុជា នា​ពេល​ខាង​មុខ។”

យុវជន អៀប អូន  ថ្ងៃទី​ ​ ​ ៣ ខែ​ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥  វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

“If they [children of the rich and powerful allegedly committing crimes] have not been arrested, they need to be arrested. There is no need to report on whose son it is or which tycoon’s child. Do not mention it. They are equal in society and the law… This makes people comfortable.”

National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun, 6 May 2015, The Cambodia Daily

The 8 May 2015 joint declaration by the party in government and the one out of government renounces a Cambodian proverb on retribution: “During a high tide, fish eats ants, when water recedes the ants eat the fish.” Both parties pledge there will be no retribution to prove the proverb wrong.

It sounds very reasonable – nobody could ever win in the cycle of retributions. As Mahatma Gandhi says, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”. There is no need for all to be blind.

However, for decades the tide has remained high and the fish has been eating ants: land grabbing, deforestation, farm evictions, starving wages, etc… The issue is how much longer the fish will continue to enjoy the ants. Will the well-touted culture of dialogue stop the fish’s appetite there and then? Not likely. There is a high probability the ants would remain victims for some time even if the fish wanted to stop because the weak are an easy target.

According to premier Hun Sen, minority leader Sam Rainsy has offered him a law that would guarantee amnesty from prosecution for previous leaders after they step down from office, though Sam Rainsy says it is the premier who asks for it. Anyhow, Hun Sen says he rejects it.

It seems there are a number of possible reasons for the rejection. First, the premier may think his fish has not been eating the ants. He often claims he is not well-informed, and often pleads ignorance. Sam Rainsy has now offered to report accurately to him what is going on, which may help.

Second, the premier can ensure the tide will never recede with the help of his top generals – one of them self-proclaims to be a Hitler’s disciple – who are ready to shoot unarmed civilians. He warns they will rise up with arms against those who bother him after he leaves office.

Third, he may encourage his fish to eat the ants faster so that if the water must recede, then there will be no ants to revenge. It may not be too obvious to him that when the water recedes the fish will die, even without the ants, and reveal their true nature – being rotten.

Anyhow, while Hun Sen takes out insurance policies to ensure a continuous high tide, Sam Rainsy commits himself to impunity for all, arguing Cambodians are human, not fish or ants.

Hence, whether Hun Sen is in or out of power, impunity will continue to shine. At national leadership level, the impunity encourages non-accountability, giving leaders a free reign to do whatever with a veneer of national interests without any concern for repercussions. No wonder many kill to remain leaders.

On the ground level, the likes of General Neth Savoeun and student Iep Oun will continue to be frustrated that criminals get away with their crime, and victims remain victims without recourse. And the culture of dialogue, as it is configured, will unlikely give them any relief.

Ung Bun Ang

10v15

Parthian Shot

So, according to the National Assembly Committee 1 chairman Eng Chhai Eang, the good intention of environment minister Say Sam Al to solve a land grabbing problem in Koh Kong is not enough.

It seems the high officials Eng Chhai Eang refers to behind the land conflict are as powerful as, if not more than, the minister’s father Say Chhum who Hun Sen says will be the next president of the Senate.

“រឿងហ្នឹង ខ្ញុំឃើញឯកឧត្ដមរដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី ​( សាយ​ សំអាល់)ហ្នឹង  លោកមានសុឆន្ទ: ក្នុងការដោះស្រាយ។  ប៉ុន្ដែមានបញ្ហាស្មុគ្រស្មាញខ្លះដែលធ្វើឲ្យឯកឧត្ដមរដ្ឋមន្ដ្រីពិបាកធ្វើការ  គឺដោយសារមានមន្ដ្រីជាន់ ខ្ពស់ផ្សេងៗទៀត មានការលូកដៃលូកជើងនៅទីនោះ ដែល ធ្វើឲ្យឯកឧត្ដមរដ្ឋមន្ដ្រីដែលលោកមាន ឆន្ទ:ដោះស្រាយ ហ្នឹងជួបការលំបាក។”

​ប្រធាន​គណៈ​កម្មការ​ទី១ រដ្ឋសភា អេង​ឆៃអ៊ាង  ថ្ងៃទី​ ៥ឧសភា​ ២០១៥  ​វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្ដរជាតិ

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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