Lonesome Hun Sen

“China has never attached any political condition in aiding and investing in Cambodia. Bilateral cooperation between the two nations are open and transparent and history will show that Chinese investment is not a trap.”

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, 26 September 2019, Khmer Times

It has been a worrying time for Hun Sen. He has been losing “friends” left, right, and centre.

According to a source in his inner circle, China has become non-committal. It still says it supports Hun Sen but refuses to specify how it will do so despite his numerous requests for details. This is a serious deprivation of substance Hun Sen needs for his sanity. He knows China has a habit of backing a winner of the day, so it can again change side if Sam Rainsy manages to bring people’s power with him on 9/11. Ambassador Wang confirms Chinese investments and aid are not political, which means China will deal with whoever in power in Cambodia. Could Beijing fly a new victor to Cambodia in a 747 jet like it used to for Prince Sihanouk?

The source claims China advises Hun Sen to do what it has done with its Hong Kong dissidents – allowing them to run amok in the streets until they run out of steam. Hun Sen rejects the idea as it has no palatable options for him should a 9/11 momentum grows out of control.

Eternal friend Vietnam is dropping Hun Sen. It is well-known Vietnam has not been thrilled with Hun Sen’s close alignment with Beijing. The source claims Hanoi demands he sign a declaration denouncing China in the South China Sea dispute. An analysis argues if Beijing decides to use forces in the dispute, Vietnam will be its first target. Hun Sen refuses the demand telling Hanoi he can secretly sign anything but not for public consumption. It seems his September trip to Vietnam announced in August is postponed indefinitely; there has been no report on it. Hun Sen is worried, according to the source, that this precarious relationship may lead to Hanoi facilitating Sam Rainsy’s transit in Vietnam.

Hun Sen also suffers a snub from Western diplomats in Cambodia. The source claims when his lobby team speaks of his remarkable economic growth, the envoys speak of human rights and freedom. The US will cheer when a Chinese naval base project in Cambodia is dead.

Hun Sen’s effort with ASEAN may fall flat. Thailand has expedited a CNRP member on his request, but this time involves a huge fish. It may remember it is Hun Sen who interferes in its internal affairs by assisting former Thailand prime minister Yingluck to escape Thai court on corruption charges; he issues her a Cambodian passport. If Thailand harbours a grudge against Hun Sen, Sam Rainsy may walk into Cambodia with reportedly at least 200,000 Cambodians working in Thailand.

The Lao premier says he will comply with Hun Sen’s extradition request, but it is unlikely without a greenlight from his patron Hanoi. Malaysia’s Mahathir keeps asking Hun Sen, unsuccessfully, to stand with ASEAN against China. Anyhow, any of the ASEAN members may just regard extraditing Sam Rainy as an act of violating the ASEAN non-interfering principle and ignore the request.

His eleventh-hour efforts fail. He must feel lonely.

Ung Bun Ang

28ix19

Funny News You Can Use

For a regime that hails its rule of law every time they move their lips, there is no clear difference between “theft” and “loan”. They transform theft into loan with ease even without legal documents to indicate who is a lender who is a borrower.

National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha instructs all loans by his officers be returned to court. However, his spokesman Eng Hy claims it is not certain if there is anything borrowed from the court. Either the boss is stupid or ignorant, or his subordinate is smart enough to put his boss’s mental stability and capacity into questions.

Anyhow, according to the Ministry of Justice, it does not matter whether it is a theft or loan. Its spokesman Chin Malin says those assets, confiscated from alleged crimes as evidence awaiting trial, need to be used to preserve their value. Really? Why does he not quote any relevant law when claiming this?

And what does the court say in all this? Absolutely nothing.

The legalised theft appears also widespread. Sao Sokha asks for a listing of these real estate, non-real estate, and valuables like vehicles, motorcycles, rifles, pistols, mobile phones, computers, etc. The ignorant commander has no idea about the extent of the theft-loan system he is dealing with.

«ចំពោះនាយទាហាន នាយទាហានរង នៃកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថ ដែលបាន ខ្ចីចលនទ្រព្យ អចលនទ្រព្យ និងរតនវត្ថុផ្សេងៗ ដូចជា រថយន្ត ម៉ូតូកង់ កាំភ្លើងវែង‑ខ្លី ទូរស័ព្ទដៃ កុំព្យូទ័រ ... ។ ល ។ ពីសាលាដំបូងរាជធានី‑ខេត្ត យកមកប្រើប្រាស់ ជាមធ្យោបាយសម្រាប់ធ្វើការងារនោះ គឺត្រូវប្រគល់ជូនសាលាដំបូងរាជធានី‑ខេត្តវិញ ជាកំហិត។»

មេបញ្ជាការកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថលើផ្ទៃប្រទេស នាយឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ សៅ សុខា ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៧ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

«តុលាការបានស្នើទៅក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ [ឲ្យធ្វើដូច្នេះ] ប៉ុន្តែខ្ញុំមិនដឹងទេថា តើមានទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិដែលបានខ្ចីពីតុលាការ ឬអត់នោះទេ។»

អ្នកនាំពាក្យកងរាជអាវុធហត្ថលើផ្ទៃប្រទេស អេង ហ៊ី ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៧ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

«វត្ថុតាងមួយចំនួនទាមទារឲ្យមានការប្រើប្រាស់ជាប្រចាំនិងការថែទាំ ព្រោះបើទុកចោល វាធ្វើឲ្យខូចតម្លៃរបស់វា។»

អ្នកនាំពាក្យក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ជិន ម៉ាលីន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៧ ខែ​កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

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Dear Dr Mahathir

“This [high-rise buildings] is a sign of prosperity. And I believe that this is due to your hard-working people… highly skilful people who have contributed towards rebuilding Phnom Penh and Cambodia,”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“But now it [Cambodia] has changed very much. What is lacking is facilities for education and training."

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“Today, Syria is almost wiped out. Iraq is in a bad state and Yemen is fighting. That is the effect of regime change on countries not ready for democracy.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“So one has to be very careful… My advice to young people the world over is to really know the people they choose. They must be as sure as possible to choose the right people to lead their countries.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“They say when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled – so we may be trampled. Not only Cambodia, but Malaysia too. So, in order to avoid being trampled down by fighting elephants, we [Asean members] should come together so we can strengthen ourselves.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“Once you are indebted to other countries, you are no longer independent. So value your independence. Even if your national development is slowed down, it is worthwhile because you don’t want to again be colonised by others – not directly, but indirectly through their influence over your economy.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“So why are you not proud of your own culture? Your own ways of living, of thinking? Today, because of easy communication, you can see what is happening in other countries. Sometimes you copy them, which is okay if the things are good. I think the systems of government and democracy, for example, are very good – we should copy that.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, Khmer Times

“We have a number of Cambodians working in Malaysia and we need to look after them, their healthcare, and well-being so that they will have full benefits from the work they do in Malaysia.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, Khmer Times

If your statements in Cambodia reported by local media are accurate, i.e, they come straight from the horse’s mouth, not from another hole at the opposite end, you are a real seasoned politician. However, your lavish compliments for Hun Sen’s high-rise buildings may cloud his understanding of your other not-so-subtle messages.

You must know the praise that massages your host’s ego does not reflect integrity of those buildings. At least 14 buildings in Sihanoukville are on order to be demolished, other 70 are being examined for defects, after a building collapse that kills 28 and injures 26 people. If they are highly skilled as you remark, they must be sloppy to pass such low-quality work. No wonder you mention later that Cambodia lacks facilities for education and training.

Hun Sen may miss your message for a regime change in Cambodia. You say the fighting in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen is because they are not democracy ready. Your subtle message to Cambodians is that since Hun Sen always claims his regime is democratic, Cambodia is now due for a regime change.

You advise Cambodian youth to choose their leaders carefully, which is wise. There are always risks associated with new untested leaders, and often it is difficult to evaluate their long-term leadership effectiveness, as experienced in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the youth can assess their current leader’s performance; the longer Hun Sen stays in power the more clearly the youth can see how he damages Cambodia and creates nuisance for the Asean bloc.

You are right that superpowers look after their own interest. You say to avoid being trampled by fighting elephants, Asean member states ought to band together. Hun Sen is unlikely to take this advice; he is curling up between hind legs of one of those elephants, where he must feel safe.

Dismissing your concern on impacts of foreign debts, Hun Sen is adamant he can stop China from using its loans of about $6 billion to Cambodia to dictate his policies and actions. You must know China has already had virtually a free reign in Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. It is hence doubtful if your host heeds your request that all Asean nations remain “steadfast in defending their national integrity”.

It is interesting that you advise Cambodians to uphold their own culture; you must know they have not. They adapt rather well to foreign cultures. They turn the Valentine’s Day into the Loss of Virginity Day. They copy Vietnamese aesthetics and artistic designs for their New Year decors. Many schools and government offices are closed, or manned with skeleton staff, to rejoice Chinese/Vietnamese New Year.

Finally, you may have neither power nor influence over Hun Sen, but you certainly have the power to honour your commitment to humanly treat Cambodian maids working in Malaysia. You must know many of them suffer in silence. The number of their repatriations to Cambodia jumps from 34 in 2014 to 272 in 2016, besides dead ones. Will you keep your words and protect them?

Ung Bun Ang

12ix19

Funny News You Can Use

So, according to government spokesman Phay Siphan, Hun Sun’s brand of democracy is defined by the economic growth of about 7% p.a., infrastructure development throughout the country, and their participation in the UN peacekeeping forces – nothing much to do freedom and human rights of the people. Is he suggesting the West that has managed only 2% or 3% economic growth per annum for decades is not democratic, or is not as democratic as Cambodia?

Indeed, if he keeps on repeating the rubbish often enough, sooner or later he will believe in it. But the question is how often, or much longer, he must dish it out before others, including EU and US, buy this home-grown democratic mongrel.

«យើងបានបង្ហាញភ័ស្ដុតាងជាក់ស្ដែងឲ្យបុគ្គលទាំងនោះបានឃើញពីទំហំសេដ្ឋកិច្ចកំពុងរីកចម្រើនខ្លាំង ក្នុងរង្វង់៧ភាគរយក្នុង១ឆ្នាំ ព្រមទាំងបាននិងកំពុងកសាងហេដ្ឋារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធគ្រប់ទីកន្លែង និងបង្ហាញពីការចូលរួមសកម្មភាពការពារសន្ដិសុខពិភពលោក តាមរយៈ ការបញ្ជូនកងទ័ពមួកខៀវទៅធ្វើការជាមួយអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិជាដើម។»

អ្នកនាំពាក្យរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ៦ កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

   

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Lessons from Hong Kong Rebellion

“It was you who taught us peaceful protests don't work.”

A Hong Kong rebellion graffiti, 2 September 2019, ABC Four Corners

In preparation for the 9/11 show-down in Cambodia, there are 11 lessons from the current Hong Kong rebellion Hun Sen’s nemesis may want to adopt.

1.      Frontliners are backed by a brigade of self-organised medics, scouts, firemen, and supply runners.

2.      Use of black t-shirts as uniform and apparatus for safety and ID protection

3.      Quick groups meetings

4.      Use of umbrellas to avoid photo detections

5.      Use of laser beams to distract police

6.      Barricades to block roads

7.      Many decisions are made through discussions and voting on the spot

8.      No target for the authority – deliberate decision not to have a central leader in the protest actions after all known leaders have all been arrested.

9.      Use of online forums and encrypt apps like Telegram to communicate and vote on ideas for tactics and target locations, and to post warnings on locations and actions of the police

10.  Underground popup shops to sell gas masks, goggles, helmets, and hard hats, sales of which are restricted by authority

11.  “Be water” tactics – they appear and disappear from locations to location – to confuse and overwhelm the police

Details of these are in a report by Sophie McNeill of ABC’s Four Corners, broadcast on 2 September 2019. Below is the link to the full report.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4N6Oe3g2Q

or, https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/rebellion/11472262

Consider and learn.

Ung Bun Ang

4ix19

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Does Sam Rainsy Have It?

«ខ្ញុំ​នឹង​នាំ​ពលករ​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​ថៃ​ពីរ​លាន​នាក់​បង​ប្អូន នៅ​ម៉ាឡេស៊ី នៅ​កូរ៉េ នៅ​ជប៉ុន ​ដែល​ពួក​គាត់​បង្ខំចិត្ត​ទៅ​ស៊ី​ឈ្នួល​ធ្វើ​ការងារ​ស្រុក​គេ ទៅ​ផ្ទះ​យើង​វិញ​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា ទៅ​យក​ផ្ទះ​យើង ទៅ​យក​ដីធ្លី​យើង​វិញ ទៅ​យក​ប្រទេស​យើង​វិញ ​កុំ​ឲ្យ ហ៊ុន សែន ប្លន់។»

ប្រធាន​ស្ដីទី​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ​​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៩ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

«ក្រសួងការបរទេសទាំង២កំពុងតែរៀបចំការងារហ្នឹងហើយ [ទស្សនកិច្ចនៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម] ព្រោះសម្ដេចតេជោទើបសម្រេចកាលពីម្សិលមិញ (២០សីហា)។»

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២២ សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Again and again since the 1993 elections has Hun Sen proved he has “it” – the killer instinct. He makes himself the second premier despite CPP losing the elections. He executes the 1997-armed clash to become the only premier. He has many socio-political activists persecuted and murdered.

Meanwhile, there has been no clear indication that long-standing opponent Sam Rainsy has it. He may yet to flex his killer instinct after all these decades, if he ever has one. Perhaps, 9 November (another 9/11?) – the date he chooses to return to Cambodia – is his opportunity to confirm he badly wants Hun Sen’s job. Indeed, stepping onto Cambodian soil on 9/11 requires the killer instinct.

It is very unlikely that Hun Sen will make the comeback a risk-free for Sam Rainsy considering their chronic animosity and what is at stake. The latter boasts he is going to bring with him two million Cambodians working abroad to take back their real estate properties Hun Sen has swindled. Though he may not end up with the number – his previous grandiose claims often are pure hot air – Hun Sen is still anxious because he must know many agree with Sam Rainsy that he has robbed the nation blind. His relaxed façade of composing poems ridiculing the return is just a faint cover for the anxiety exposed by intense crackdowns on CNRP supporters throughout the country.

According to a source within Hun Sen’s inner circle, there will be no negotiation with the opposition before the 9/11. Sam Rainsy will be disappointed if he expects it for a safe passage.

Nevertheless, the source claims there could be one if Sam Rainsy managed to bring with him a sizable people’s power that Hun Sen believes he could not squash. One of Hun Sen’s considerations is to use the king to initiate a peace negotiation. A leader without the killer instinct will bow to the apathetic king and negotiate. They would accept a compromise with an incurable delusion that they can later change Hun Sen.

With this tactical move, the source says, Hun Sen aims to use his opponent’s naivety and the royal illusive authority to remove any fangs of the people’s power, at least in the short run, to give any opposition a chance to do a Funcinpec hara-kiri. The Funcinpec leadership embraces corruption that brings them all: positions, wealth, plus an eventual demise. Founder King Sihanouk would turn over in his grave as they wreck his legacy.

However, for good measure, Hun Sen has yet again turned to Vietnam. After a recent meeting with its foreign minister, Hun Sen will make an impromptu visit to Vietnam soon under a pretext of luring Vietnamese investors to Cambodia. Nobody explains why the Vietnamese investments suddenly become so urgent, as if foreign investments have not done enough damages to local livelihood.

Anyhow, the question is: Will the CNRP acting president unveil a killer instinct to overcome Hun Sen’s 9/11 gauntlet and ability to manage the corruption temptation that has destroyed Funcinpec?

Ung Bun Ang

01ix19

Funny News You Can Use

A report that Cambodia rejects Vietnam’s request for an automatic naturalisation of illegal Vietnamese migrants in Cambodia makes many high-profile Cambodians proud of their national souvereignty. They forget to ask why Vietnam has the guts to make such a request at the first place, if Chheang Vun is not lying.

The irony is that in the same breath, Chheang Vun asks Vietnam to help curb timber smuggling from Cambodia to Vietnam. He does not say what the Vietnamese response is. Perhaps, they would give him a two-finger salute, rather than words.

Would Vietnam say yes after Cambodia’s rejection of the bulk naturalisation request?

Even without the rejection, it is in Vietnam’s best interest to keep the timber smuggling from Cambodia going full swing. Vietnamese news website Cong Thuong claims Vietnam’s export of timber and forest products during the first 6 months of this year has reached about $5.23 billion, up 20 percent over the same period last year. The Vietnamese General Department of Forestry expects that the export for the whole 2019 to reach $11 billion. A large chunk of these Vietnamese exports is made possible with the courtesy of the Cambodia’s corrupt leadership that merely pretends to fight deforestation. Meanwhile, forest coverage in Vietnam has been increasing. This is indeed part and parcel of repaying the eternal gratitude Hun Sen has expressed so often for his power and prosperity.

They are laughing all the way to the bank, while Agriculture Ministry spokesman Srey Vuthy says he has no idea about the timber trade revenue for Cambodia. Well, as they say, ignorance is bliss.

«វៀតណាមបានស្នើយើងពីរឿងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាម ដែលមករស់នៅតំបន់ហ្នឹងយូរមកហើយ ម៉េចក៏យើងមិនផ្ដល់សញ្ជាតិឱ្យអ៊ីចឹង។ ខ្ញុំនិងគណៈប្រតិភូយើងបានឆ្លើយតបយ៉ាងច្បាស់លាស់អំពីរឿងនេះថាយើងមានច្បាប់ទម្លាប់របស់យើង ហើយច្បាប់ទម្លាប់ទាំងនោះ រួមមានច្បាប់សញ្ជាតិផង និងច្បាប់អន្តោប្រវេសន៍ផង។ យើងមិនអាចឱ្យសញ្ជាតិដោយស្វ័យប្រវត្តិ ចំពោះបងប្អូនវៀតណាម ដែលមករស់នៅខុសច្បាប់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសយើងបានទេ។»

ប្រធានគណៈកម្មការកិច្ចការបរទេស សហប្រតិបត្តិការអន្តរជាតិ ឃោសនាការនិងព័ត៌មាននៃរដ្ឋសភា ឈាង វុន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២១ សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

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