Saturday 28 May 2016

Dear Prof Chandler


“Politics is not fortune telling where fate is seen as a static situation at one point of time in the future that is pre-determined and cannot be changed whatever you do or try to do before that happens.”

CNRP president Sam Rainsy, 18 May 2016, The Cambodia Daily


“Cambodians have always thought their country is more important than it is. They have every right to do that, but they just have to look and see how many people they’ve got, where they stand, what natural resources they have and so on. They’re just not a power to be reckoned with.”

Monash Emeritus Professor David Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America


“Don't get involve [sic] with confrontational politics… Unless you’re somebody like Mu Sochua - she’s got American husband and I think that saves her in a way. She's very brave, she's courageous, but most people don't have that kind of backing. You know, putting her in jail with her American husband is just not a good thing to do, and she's brave. But I don’t think people are going to be brave by themselves.”

Monash Emeritus Professor David Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America


“But I think the Vietnamese – who are not given much credit at all by any Cambodians for this – stopped the Khmer Rouge. … They [Vietnamese] fought them [the Khmer Rouge] on the Thai border. They lost several thousand people… this is extraordinary.”

Monash Emeritus Professor David Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America


“I mean his son [expected to succeed Hun Sen] would have to start making deals and arrangements now, to make sure that he is friends with people who are floating Hun Sen. That’s the Oknha, the various big business people, tycoons of various kinds, big interests, make sure that: When my father dies and I come in that you guys won’t object to this because your financial arrangements will not be bothered.”

Monash Emeritus Professor David Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America



Assuming the transcript of your recent VOA interview is accurate, your statements on Cambodia issues are fascinating. You may be fortune telling, but you have an unfair advantage: your critical thinking. You can reach the sum of 2 plus 2, while some others will have to wait and pray for an outcome that is different from 4.

They are banking on their hope that international movers and shakers will intervene for their interest or what they say is Cambodia’s interest. They believe foreign powers owe Cambodia a proper democracy and human rights.

You are right that Cambodians think their country is more important than it is. They have yet to realise foreigners fundamentally act to serve their own interests, not Cambodia’s or anyone else’s. Currently, these foreigners are focussing on commercial and/or geopolitical exploitations, and dancing to the tune of whoever in power.

It is perplexing, nevertheless, that your viewpoints seem inconsistent. After downgrading the effectiveness of the international community role in Cambodia issues, you go on to claim that Mu Sochua’s American husband saves her, despite your deep admiration for her courage. An implication is that Cambodian brave souls can get involved in confrontational politics, against your advice, as long as they manage to secure an American spouse. Unless you mean a Caucasian spouse – not just any American – the suggestion will fall flat, as a number of American-Cambodians arbitrarily thrown into Hun Sen’s jail is growing.

Anyhow, it is rather interesting that you claim Vietnam is not given “much credit at all by any Cambodians” for their sacrifice of several thousands of their people’s lives to topple Pol Pot. This is a gross understatement of the Cambodian capacity for gratitude and generosity.

At least, Hun Sen, who represents half of the voting population, has bent over backward to pay his debt of gratitude in the past three decades. You may know the Vietnamese armed forces own the telecommunication cable grid throughout Cambodia, and control at least 40,000 hectares of economic land concessions conveniently located next to the common border in addition to many rubber plantations. There have been free influxes of Vietnamese migrants into Cambodia, and in exchange, outflows of wood and rice paddy to Vietnam. The list of gratitude and generosity goes on…

Vietnam should be elated with the list that the other half of voters brand as the list of dangerous way-over-the-top tributes. They may indeed expect more for their sacrifices to install their protégé Hun Sen in power and keep him there. You do; and you won’t be disappointed as Hun Sen promises an eternal gratitude.

Vietnam has done so well that these benefits will continue even after Hun Sen. Those Oknhas, tycoons, and big interests that you claim a successor must seek their blessings are just beneficiaries, not benefactors, of the regime that Hanoi has its finger on the pulse. They are not the power base – Hanoi is. Hence, Vietnam’s stamp of approval is mandatory to avoid another Pen-Sovann doom.

Otherwise, your interview is commendable.


Ung Bun Ang
28v16


Partian Shot


If Hun Sen is right that he is not responsible for the 1997 coup, then the Vietnamese army must be because it is the only forces that can so decisively demolish the Funcinpec troops. It is indeed another episode of sacrifice that goes straight into Hun Sen’s book of debt of gratitude.


“Somebody asked him [Hun Sen] – this is long ago – in ’97 – they said, ‘Were you responsible for the coup?’… he said, ‘If I’d been responsible, they’d all be dead.’ That’s what he said. ‘They’d all be dead. There would be no surviving Funcinpec.’”

Monash Emeritus Professor David Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America




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Monday 16 May 2016

Hun Sen Implies He Is Not


“​ហ៊ុនម៉ាណែតហៅខ្ញុំពូពីរខែ។​ ខ្ញុំចូលទៅជិតម្ដាយវា វាអត់ឲ្យចូលជិតទេ។ ទាល់តែដេកលក់ បានយើងមានលទ្ធភាព។​

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុនសែន​ ថ្ងៃទី១២ ឧសភា ២០១៦ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី


“Mr. Hun Sen said Lt. Gen. Manet suggested that the premier should dare the CNRP to place a bet on a DNA test: If Lt. Gen. Manet was his biological son, the CNRP would have to quit politics, while the ruling CPP would have to quit if the DNA test did not match.”

Cambodia Daily reporter Kuch Naren, 13 May 2016, The Cambodia Daily


“He (Sam Rainsy) wants to seem against the Vietnamese, but in fact his mother is Vietnamese. We have no mothers who are Vietnamese....”

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan, 14 April 14, The Cambodia Daily




The rumour about who a real father of the premier’s son Hun Manet is has been floating in cyber wilderness for years with a limited traction confined to a small fervid group. However, Hun Sen, who has lately unleashed so much of his wrath onto oppositions, breathes life into the dog in coma. Now the rumour becomes headlines; and Hun Sen inadvertently implies he is not the biological father.

According to the premier, Hun Manet for two months addressed him as “Uncle” and prevented him from coming close to his mother. He says only when Manet was asleep that “it” would be possible. While the “it” is clear, timing of the alienation is not.

When was it? Was it after Manet’s return from his recent North America trip in which he received some hostile receptions and brought the rumour back with him? Unlikely. It would be too immature of anyone to behave in such a childish manner.

Then it must have been when he was quite young – yet old enough to give Hun Sen the cold shoulder for two months. Was it possible that the child was only protecting his mother from a man he treated as a stranger? Hun Sen might have been too busy with state affairs at the time that his son would take two months to accept him as the father.

Now Hun Manet, whom the premier says is the most patient kid among his siblings, must be frustrated with the rumour. He makes two suggestions to the premier so that the matter can be once and for all settled – a DNA testing and a wager on the outcome with the opposition party. This would prove who is who, and a party that loses the wager would leave politics. He must believe the premier is his biological father to entertain such challenges. Hun Sen rejects both, however.

The rejection bears a significant implication. Contrary to Manet’s belief, Hun Sen must know Manet’s father is not him. Otherwise, he would accept the test and the bet, and win – nothing sweeter than removing one’s recalcitrant opponents in a bet that one knows the outcome beforehand. To pass up such an opportunity means Hun Sen knows he would lose.

So why does Hun Sen after all these years pull the rumour trigger, shooting himself in the foot? One possible answer is that his burning desire to show off his awesome power is getting the better of him. This rumour gives him another excuse to pound all his opponents, ignoring any ramifications. Perhaps, in the next reckless outburst he may be driven to blurt out the identity of the biological father. He may not know who, though.

The irony is that if Phay Siphan were right about Sam Rainsy being born to a Vietnamese mother, and if the rumour were right that Manet’s biological father were Vietnamese, then the next Cambodia premier would be a Vietnamese descendant.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen may or may not regret discussing Manet’s suggestions in public.


Ung Bun Ang
16v16



Parthian Shot

A revised news report to comply with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s demand that titles of all dignitaries be included in the text reads:


Land of Samdech Wonders, January 2016

In a preparation for an impending visit by Princess Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari of Thailand in February 2016, there is a meeting of the Extraordinary Royal Working Committee at the Preah Barum Reachea Veang Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol in Phnom Penh, chaired by Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

In company of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, noble participants are Samdech Kittek Proeut Bandit Bun Rany Hun Sen President of Cambodia Red Cross, wife of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister; Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdach Preah Bâromneath Norodom Sihamoni Preah Mohaksat Nai Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea; Samdech Chavea Veang Kong Sam Ol Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace, Samdech Vibol Sena Pheak Kdei Say Chhum Senate President; Samdech Akkek Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin National Assembly President; and Samdech Krala Houm Sar Kheng Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The Extraordinary Royal Working Committee discusses the most contentious issue: the royal toilet facility for Princess Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumariin, who is scheduled to stay a few hours at Lake Yeak Laom, Rattanakiri.

Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister states at the royal meeting:

“I, Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, am aware that the Preah Barum Reachea Veang Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol has no cash to supply the royal toilet for Princess Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari in Yeak Laom, which costs about $40,000.

I am not surprised that there has been a few month delay in receiving the payment from His Excellency Minister for Economy and Finance, and that the Royal Place these days operates on payday loans from Samdech Chavea Veang Kong Sam Ol Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace. I just ask Samdech Chavea Veang Kong Sam Ol Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace to keep his interest charge in line with micro finance rates of not less than 2.5% per month. Of course, my Royal Government of Cambodia can do anything but does not want to pay less than what farmer borrowers pay to the micro finance. Fair is fair.

If funding is still in doubt, maybe Samdech Kittek Proeut Bandit Bun Rany Hun Sen President of Cambodia Red Cross, wife of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, can use the Red Cross fund to subsidise the expenses. After all, under the radiant leadership of Samdech Kittek Proeut Bandit Bun Rany Hun Sen President of Cambodia Red Cross, wife of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, the Red Cross raises about $13 million a year from a small number of generous benefactor Oknhas whose businesses have greatly prospered under the brilliant leadership of me, Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Besides, the Red Cross can take this royal toilet provision as a mercy dash to help relieve Princess Somdech Phra Debaratanarajasuda Chao Fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimagunakornpiyajat Sayamboromrajakumari from any toilet break emergency during Her Royal Highness stay of only a few hours. It is important to show the world that even in remote regions, under my auspicious leadership there are five-star toilets for any wants.

Here is an excellent idea. Samdech Kittek Proeut Bandit Bun Rany Hun Sen President of Cambodia Red Cross, wife of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, can afterward relocate the $40,000 toilet to an eligible residence near Vimean Ekrareach to avoid any criticism of extravaganza.

Finally, I am sure Samdech Kittek Proeut Bandit Bun Rany Hun Sen President of Cambodia Red Cross, wife of Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister, Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdach Preah Bâromneath Norodom Sihamoni Preah Mohaksat Nai Preah Reacheanachak Kampuchea, Samdech Chavea Veang Kong Sam Ol Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace, Samdech Vibol Sena Pheak Kdei Say Chhum Senate President, Samdech Akkek Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin National Assembly President, and Samdech Krala Houm Sar Kheng Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, have enjoyed the discussion as much as I have.

As there is no other matter, I, Samdech Akkek Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, chairing this meeting of Extraordinary Royal Working Committee at the Preah Barum Reachea Veang Chaktomuk Serei Mongkol in Phnom Penh, now close the meeting.”


So the meeting is closed.



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