A Post-Mortem: Hun Sen’s Dishonour

“The summit will be used for the [Australian] prime minister and ministers actually to engage their counterparts or aspects of our relationship, including the matter [Hun Sen’s threat of violence] that you [Australian senator Penny Wong] have raised today.”

Australian Foreign Affairs Secretary Frances Adamson, 5 March 2018, The Phnom Penh Post

«… រឿង​អី​ដែល​ [​យើង​] ​ត្រូវ​ហោះ​ពី​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​គេ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​អូស្ត្រាលី?… អូស្ត្រាលី​គួរ​តែ​អរគុណ​កម្ពុជា ​មិនមែន​ហៅ​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នោះ​ទេ កុំ​ច្រឡំ។​»​

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃទី២២ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨  ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍​ 

According to Hun Sen, his trip to Australia is a resounding success. Among other claimed achievements, he boasts an Australian official development assistance (ODA) of A$87.40 million; he brags about travelling with a motorcade escort and a small Cambodian flag flying on an official car. He flatters himself that his visit is an honour for Australia.

Yet, the success seems far from being resounding. Hun Sen may not realise Australia has pulled a fast one on him. The ODA amount is already in the Australian May budget last year for 2017-18 handout to Cambodia. This means, whether he turns up or not, Cambodia has already secured it. Moreover, if he must know, the amount is few million dollars less than that of the previous year. This is not something Hun Sen should brag about unless he intends to mislead his supporters.

The ODA stunt allows PM Malcom Turnbull, who insists on “frank engagement” with all ASEAN countries, to rein in Hun Sen and take him to task behind closed door on his violence threat to Australian citizens, democracy, human rights, and the July elections. Hun Sen must be satisfied with the Australian trick as he does not carry out his threat to use his ASEAN veto to block the Sydney Declaration at the end of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. He has been prepared to be the Summit spoiler. Incidentally, it does not seem a great begging year for Hun Sen. The US announces cut to an aid they have already cut; now Australia approves the aid that they have already committed.

Furthermore, at the Sydney Summit Hun Sen is treated as if he is an ASEAN leader of no significant consequence. While those leaders are courteous to each other with polished and respectable manners, they appear to marginalise his presence. First, at a group photo of the leaders with an Opera House background, they choose to ignore Hun Sen; he says he has been busy in the toilet. Some would quip he must be suffering the effect of the dummy burnings – more severely than he has anticipated.

Second, on a Sydney Harbour ferry trip, the ASEAN leaders congregate leaving Hun Sen alone on front row seats. As there is no published reason for the isolation, public speculations abound. Perhaps they do not wish to be associated with him when they see protest photos and negative headlines in local newspapers about him annihilating his political oppositions. They may think the Cambodian premier needs to do some serious thinking and leave him to it. They may be right as Hun Sen does not look lonely, but being in deep thought, perhaps working out how to pursue those dummy burners home to beat them up.

While Hun Sen may be right that he is not flying all the way to Sydney to be lectured on sensitive issues, he may not learn from Australia that his absolute power is limited to Cambodia. Outside his comfort zone, he can be dishonourable and humiliated, can’t he?

Ung Bun Ang

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By the Way

The crack within CPP is becoming clearer with a leak from senior CPP figures. Stay tuned – more leaks will come out unless there is a CPP implosion.

“<Hun Sen was told by the Vietnamese very bluntly that he’d been in power too long and it was time to go,> the insider with close ties to senior figures in the premier’s ruling Cambodia People’s Party (CPP), which is believed to be divided over his tactics to sideline the main opposition party, told Asia Times.”

Reporter Alan Parkhouse, Hun Sen Willing to Risk Losing his Oldest Ally, 27 March, 2018, Asia Times

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How Hun Sen Widens his Power Base Cracks

“Due to an important personal issue, I delegate full power as chief of joint staff to Lieutenant General Hun Manet to assume the duty as of the date of signature [21 February 2018].”

Chief of Joint Staff General Kun Kim, 2 March 2018, Khmer Times

“I am a law enforcer, and the armed forces defend the government. Provided that there are orders, I must enforce, I must defend the government. Even… if we expend flesh and blood, we must enforce the law.”

RCAF Deputy Commander-in-chief General Kun Kim, 31 August 2016, The Phnom Penh Post

A battle line has been drawn within the CPP. Hun Sen fires the first shot by replacing four-star general Kun Kim with his son Manet for the top job. Pseng-Pseng’s 24 March 2017 edition expounds four indications of a CPP crack.

General Kun Kim was once a Hun Sen’s dutiful minion; in any autocracy, none will move to the top without earning trust. He is prepared to shed Khmer blood for Hun Sen, and vows to arrest the two opposition leaders on order. He has done his duty so well Human Right Watch labels him as Hun Sen’s axe man.

Besides the resignation, Hun Sen demands the general sort out the “important personal issue” soon or facing imprisonment on criminal charges. Hence, what is this “issue” that enrages Hun Sen?

There could be two major possibilities: Hun Sen may suspect Kun Kim of being one of generals who are no longer interested in being a trigger-happy on his command; or, Kun Kim may be one of landowners who are indiscreetly disgruntled by Hun Sen’s new mega-airport project in Kandal that will damage their land interests.

First, with the latest round of promotions, the number of Cambodian generals is estimated to exceed 3,000, though an official number remains a top secret. It may be too embarrassing to disclose there are enough stars to lit up a whole town. However, Hun Sen has been worried that his wishes are no longer their commands. He reacts intensely to Sam Rainsy’s persistent appeals to the armed forces not to shoot dissenting citizens. Hun Sen needs as many trigger-happy generals as he can muster.

Fast promotions of his sons to top jobs over veteran and more experienced generals could do much to disquiet his top brass. It has become very awkward for some of them to look up to their junior officers for guidance and approvals on major decisions.

Second, Kun Kim is among those minions who own, or claim to own, some land in the area earmarked for the airport and airport-city project that covers 2,600 hectares. They must know project developer Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC) is a mere front for Hun Sen’s business interests. A source in the Hun Sen inner circle claims OCIC caps their land compensations even though market prices have skyrocketed by at least three-times since the project’s announcement in January. Essentially, Hun Sen reaps most benefits for himself and his family – by squeezing his minions; the greed may disgust Kun Kim. Nevertheless, it is ironic that many of these minions who are used to screwing over vulnerable villagers, become victims themselves.

Hun Sen must know the grumbling within the CPP, and hence the need to keep the lid on his generals. The source claims the only way Kun Kim could “sort out this issue” is to lay bare his cohort network. It seems the general is only the first of many to come, unless his cohorts strike Hun Sen in response now with a colour revolution he deserves.

Ung Bun Ang

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By the Way

There has been a frantic mobilisation of the 90% of diaspora in Australia that Hun Sen says are his supporters to welcome him in Sydney this weekend.

Ambassador Kuy Kuong drafts into the 90% all students from Cambodia by their names, literally ordering them to go see Hun Sen.

For others, especially those in Melbourne, there is an offer on the table from a promoter by the nickname of Yeay Chab for those who volunteer to go. For the insignificant ones, there is a minimum one-off payment of $300; for the significant ones, like those in business or high-profiles in the community, the lumpsum cash offer is up to $1,500 plus airfare and accommodation in Sydney. Excellent deal for a holiday.

By the way, when Hun Manet was in Australia, a similar cash incentive deal (smaller amount, of course) for a restaurant dinner party in his honour was offered. As it turned out, he must have been half-broke as he could afford only the food bills, not the cash incentives, which was a real disappointment for many.

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Hun Sen Says He is a Dummy

“We didn’t plan to burn Hun Sen’s effigy, but he is the one who reminded us yesterday.”

Melbourne resident Va Malina, 23 February 2018, The Phnom Penh Post

“សុំផ្ដាំទៅអាអ្នកត្រៀមធើបាតុកម្ម មុខរបស់លោកឯងត្រូវចាំ [ចង្អុលម្រាមដៃ] ជាកិតិ្ដយសនៃរដ្ឋាភិបាលរបស់លោកឯង ប៉ុន្ដែអ្នកឯងហ្នឹង ជាសេរីភាពរបស់អ្នកឯង តែអ្នកឯងកុំភ្លេចថា ខ្ញុំក៍មានប្រជាជននៅខាងក្រៅប្រទេសគាំទ្រ ហើយជួបរាប់រយនាក់ច្រើនជាង។ ជានិច្ចជាកាល ខ្ញុំទៅណាក៍ដោយ អ្នកធើបាតុកម្មមានប្រមាណជា១០ភាគរយនៃអ្នកដែលមានជួបខ្ញុំតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ... ស្រែកទៅ ធើទៅ ស្រែកទៅ​ ស្រែកទៅ ប៉ុន្ដែសុំផ្ដាំ កុំដុតរូបអោយសោះ។ ដុតរូប អញតាមដល់ផ្ទះ ប្រាប់អោយហើយ។ ជំនាន់ធ្វើបាតុកម្ម២០១៣ អត់ហ៊ានដែរ សម្ដេចក្រឡាហោមប្រាប់ទៅទូតអាមេរិកាំងថា ឯកឧត្ដម ប្រាប់ពួកអ្នកធើបាតុកម្ម ស្រុកខ្មែរអប្បីយជំនឿ ស្រុកខ្មែរអប្បីយជំនឿ បើហ៊ានតែធើរូប ហើយដុតរូប ច្បាស់ជាមានរឿងហើយ។ ខ្ញុំប្ដូរផ្ដាច់ពេលហ្នឹង បើហ៊ានតែធើរូប​អាស្អី ទីញមោងរូបខ្ញុំយកទៅដុត អញតាមវ៉ៃដល់ផ្ទះអ្ហែង ប្រាប់អោយហើយ។ ហ៊ីស អានេះ និយាយអោយច្បាស់ សិទ្ធិរបស់ឯងមាន បើសិទ្ធិអ្នកឯងមានសិទ្ធិដុតគេ គេមានសិទ្ធិវ៉ៃអ្នកឯង មានទាស់ខុសអី? អាហ្នឹងសិទ្ធិទៅ​ សិទ្ធិមក។ អ្នកឯងដល់ហឹង្សាលើរូបកាយគេ ហើយអ្នកឯងចាត់ទុកថា អាហ្នឹងរូបហ៊ុនសែនយកទៅដុត តាមដល់ផ្ទះ អត់ទេ ក្របួចយកតែម្ដង។”

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន    ថ្ងៃទី២១ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨   វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

«​ខ្ញុំ​សូម​ផ្ដាំ​ទៅ​ស្គាល់​ពី​អាស៊ាន​ឲ្យ​ច្បាស់​បន្តិច​។ អាស៊ាន​ បើ​អត់​ ហ៊ុន សែន អត់​មាន​ន័យ​ថា​អាស៊ាន​ទេ​។ ហ៊ុន សែន អាច​ជំទាស់​មិន​ឲ្យ​ចេញ​សេចក្ដី​ថ្លែងការណ៍​ណា​មួយ​រួច ​រវាង​អាស៊ាន និង​អូស្ត្រាលី​។ សាកល្បង​លមើល​ទៅ​ មិនមែន​ត្រឹម​តែ​អូស្ត្រាលី​ អាច​គាប​សង្កត់​កម្ពុជា​ទេ ហ៊ាន​មើល​ កម្ពុជា​សូម​ដាក់​បញ្ហា​ទុក​ជា​មុន បើ​សិន​ជា​អ្នកឯង​ហ៊ាន​ផ្ដេសផ្ដាស​។ កម្ពុជា​តែ​ម្នាក់​អាច​នឹង​ធ្វើឲ្យ​គាំង​ទាំងអស់​នៃ​ការ​ចេញ​សេចក្ដី​ថ្លែងការណ៍​ព្រោះ​របៀបរបប​ការងារ​របស់​អាស៊ាន វា​ត្រូវ​តែ​មាន​កុង​សង់ស៊ីស រឿង​អី​ដែល​ [​យើង​] ​ត្រូវ​ហោះ​ពី​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​គេ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​អូស្ត្រាលី​។​»

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃទី២២ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨  ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍​ 

“Cambodians have always thought their country is more important than it is.”

Professor David P. Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America Khmer

Now, why does Hun Sen raise his dummy burning in Australia on the eve of his visit to that country, especially when no-one is thinking of it?  Whatever the reasons, he must want to test his absolute authority beyond the border of Cambodia. The authority he wields to terrorise his critics at home moves into another jurisdiction.

In a crude language that makes gangsters proud of him, Hun Sen has succeeded in inciting Cambodian overseas to torch his dummies despite his threats to have torchers beaten up. Diasporas in Australia and Canada have taken up the Hun Sen dare, and burnt his dummies.

How Hun Sen responds may largely depend on what the burning does to his body and ego.

He says the burning is an act of violence on his body. He equates himself to the dummy, to which he refers in Khmer as “Ting-Moung”. He should know by now what the burning has done to his body. Unless it has turned into ashes like the torched “Ting-Moung”, he ought to re-assess his primitive supernatural belief.

Hun Sen worships a Neak Ta he keeps at his city residence in a shrine well-decorated and maintained 24/7. All glass windows of the residence and all mirrors within are scribbled with shell lime powder to keep evil spirits away.

He may indeed have a phantom pain in his egoistic head though – any absolute authoritarians would. If so, he may want to consult his fortune-teller or psychologist to manage his anxiety; there is little he can do now to stop the burning of his Ting-Moung.

Still, there are obstacles for him to alleviate the anxiety. First, despite persistent claim of upholding rule of law, Hun Sen does not practice it. Rather than trying to prosecute Ting-Moung burners in court, Hun Sen takes the law into his own hands. He must know he has no control over independent courts.

Second, authoritarian Hun Sen is not satisfied with the 90% support he says he has among the overseas diaspora. Any politicians would kill for the popularity level. Yet, he allows the 10% to drive him around the bend – perhaps straight into his early grave with his current high blood pressure and diabetes.

Third, if David Chandler is correct, Hun Sen is suffering from a severe case of an exaggerated sense of his own importance. While on paper he can stuff up any Asean consensus, the plain truth is that often consensus statements are merely a public relations icing-on-the-cake exercise. There are bilateral dealings between Australia and each of the Asean nations to well serve their respective interests.

Fourth, there seems to be a slight psychopathic trait in Hun Sen’s character. While delivering threats to beat up Australian citizens in Australia, Hun Sen claims his visit bestows honour to the country. Australians would have rocks in their head, if they agreed with him.

Then again, Hun Sen may choose to stay home to nurture the phantom pain inflicted by the current bout of the Ting-Moung burning.

Ung Bun Ang

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By the Way

Pseng-Pseng has learned Cambodian ambassador Koy Kuong in Canberra has shifted into overdrive to protect Hun Sen from all evil spirits, and to ensure that he will not suffer any voodoo effect or turn into dust like his Ting-Moung they are burning and are going to burn.

Pseng-Pseng understands Koy Kuong has difficulties in securing a service of monks in Sydney to perform blessing chanting and rituals. He may have to import monks from Cambodia. In case he could not secure any locals to do the beating and go to jail for Hun Sen, he may as well arm these imported monks with baton, if not gun.

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Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com