Thursday, 31 December 2020
Sunday, 27 December 2020
2020 Annual Awards
The year 2020 may see the unusual become usual and the extraordinary turn ordinary. Yet, Covid-19 has not deterred some lucky few from their well-deserved Pseng-Pseng Annual Awards.
Money Spinner Award – NagaWorld (Naga Corp Ltd)
Now, Hun Sen throws in another cash cow to the NagaWorld pot. It is to build modern entertainment centre and hotel concrete jungles only 500 metres from Angkor Wat park ground. Expect this sacred icon to become a part of the theme park like a Disneyland development. Never mind that the Naga concretes will destroy serendipity, serenity, and aesthetic of the Angkor awe.
Yet, there is no free lunch. Grand benefactor Hun Sen must earn a chunk of cash under the table from these money printing permits. He cannot be as stupid as his opponents say he is.
Super Tax Collector Award – Kong Vibol
Director-General of Tax Department Kong Vibol claims 2020 tax revenue will be about 1% higher than that of the previous year’s collection. This means, in defiance of Covid trade restrictions and havoc, there are more taxpayers in 2020, or the same or smaller number of taxpayers together pay more tax. How impressive… if the 2020 tax collection were true.
The tourism sector that contributes 32.7% to the 2019 GDP claims there is no cashflow to pay for their tax liabilities this year. The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents President Chhay Sivlin is now asking for a cancellation of all outstanding tax liabilities for the sector. Unless she is a whinger-for-nothing type, the plea makes the super tax collector a liar. The Covid-19 may also send the garment industry that contributes about 16% to the GDP into a similar predicament.
Double-Talk Award – Premier Hun Sen
Hun Sen says his government has kept under control what he refers to as the 28 November Community Outbreak Incident. Covid-19 has sent CPP high-profilers into quarantine in droves.
But he says he cannot yet close the case due to the following five reasons. First, health officials do not know all locations the infected have been 14 days before the outbreak. Second, many potential infected have not come forward to report on their contacts or for testing for fear of being placed under quarantine. Third, those who are in contact with the infected have not complied with the testing regime. Fourth, it is unclear if those under the quarantine have undertaken a required number of tests to verify they are negative. Fifth, the health officials are uncertain about the number of those who have come to contact with the infected in regional and provincial areas.
Thus, if there are still so many unknown and uncertainty according to his statement, how can Hun Sen conclude that he has the Covid spread under control? His double-talk is almost an art form.
Enjoy 2021, anyhow. The Huns and their mob will.
Ung Bun Ang
27xii20
Honourable Mention
Copycat – Sam Rainsy
Well, it is said if you cannot beat them, join them. After years of concealing frustrations, Sam Rainsy is coming out with guns blazing. The unrefined language he recently uses again and again to deride Hun Sen and the King may make Hun Sen, who is a master of brutish language proud; they say imitation is the best form of flattery, is it not?
Then again, it may also stuff up Mu Sochua’s plan to return to Cambodia on 4 January, unless it is all along meant to be a mere political posturing for point scoring.
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Sunday, 20 December 2020
Thursday, 10 December 2020
Hun Sen Sets Up a Blame Game
«ដូចនេះខ្ញុំសុំអំពាវនាវចាប់ពីថ្ងៃនេះទៅរយៈពេល ១៥ ថ្ងៃយ៉ាងតិច គឺជាដំណាក់កាលសាកល្បងដ៏ធំបំផុតរបស់កម្ពុជា ឆ្លងរួច ឬមិនរួចគឺវានៅក្នុងពេលនេះឯង។ បើប្រឹងតែរដ្ឋ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមិនប្រឹងទេ មិនចូលរួមទេនោះគឺមិនជោគជ័យទេ។»
នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍ ថ្ងៃទី១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០២០
«ប៉ុន្តែមកដល់ខែ១១នេះ ប្រែប្រួលបន្តិច ដោយសារមានរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងការបរទេសមួយប្រទេសមួយ គឺ ហុងគ្រី។ គាត់មានជំងឺហ្នឹង តែគាត់មកកម្ពុជា។ ដល់ពេលអញ្ចឹង អ្នកធ្វើការជាមួយ បានឆ្លងមួយចំនួន។ ប៉ុន្តែមួយចំនួនទៀតអត់ឆ្លងទេ។»
រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង សំឡេងវីអូអេខ្មែរ ថ្ងៃសុក្រ ទី១៣ វិច្ឆិកា២០២០
“It is very clear the diplomat [in Bangkok Hungarian embassy] was infected by the Hungarian minister [Péter Szijjártó]. The infection happened in Thailand. We have evidence to say so.”
Sophon Iamsirithavorn, chief of the Communicable Diseases Division, Thailand Department of Disease Control, Khmer Times, 11 November 2020
«ប៉ុន្តែ ឥឡូវនេះ ប្រសិនបើអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាពាក់ម៉ាស់ តើខ្ញុំត្រូវពាក់អ្វីទៀត? »
នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ហ៊ុន សែន ខ្មែរថែមស៏ ២៦ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ២០២០
«ពេលវេលានេះមិនមែនជាពេលវេលាស្តីបន្ទោសគ្នា ហើយក៏មិនមែនជាពេលវេលាទម្លាក់កំហុសឱ្យអ្នកនេះឱ្យអ្នកនោះទេ តែជាពេលវេលាត្រូវសាមគ្គីភាពគ្នា។ »
នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍ ថ្ងៃទី១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ២០២០
It seems Covid-19 community infections Hun Sen dubs as “incidents” have taken off with vengeance. They send many anxious government elites including Hun Sen himself into quarantine. Hun Sen warns the first half of December 2020 is a critical period for Cambodia. He says if the community outbreaks are not contained, it will be disastrous.
It is not a surprise that the elites ignite the outbreaks. After all, Hun Sen has perfected a regime of privileges and entitlements for themselves riddled with recklessness and double standard. It is conducive to a perfect storm.
First, the recklessness is mind-boggling. Prak Sokhon says visiting Hungarian Peter Szijjarto has been certified Covid-free before he lands in Phnom-Penh. Sar Kheng says he has not. Only one of these two deputy premiers knows what he talks about. Prak Sokhon is happy to let loose Szijjarto to rub shoulders with his local cohorts. Sar Kheng prefers to whine post-factum. Thailand claims Szijjarto has infected others after arriving in Bangkok from Phnom-Penh.
Second, the double standard is astounding. Hun Sen calls for a public cooperation to quell the transmission, yet he says he does not have to wear a mask because everyone has already done so. He exercises the elite privilege of being special, arrogant, and above all rules. While they can take a comfort refuge in home quarantine, garment workers are packed like sardines in their truck transports to and from work, and on factory floors, risking community infections.
Hun Sen must feel the Covid heat and plans to deflect any blame. He is setting up a blame game, while saying it is not time to condemn each other. He asks for a full co-operation from the public warning their commitment and effort will determine a success or failure of his outbreak response. He holds them responsible.
He must know a chunk of the public will breach health guidelines for curbing the community infections. In his crosshairs are communities that are too poor to follow them. For instance, a recent survey by Professor LeBaron of University of Sheffield shows some 88 percent of Cambodian garment workers have been forced to reduce food consumption due to lower incomes. Then there are over a million of migrant workers who are travelling back and forth to Thailand looking for work. The destitute will risk anything by going anywhere to secure incomes and food. It is inconceivable that adequate benefits from Hun Sen’s economic measures during Covid pandemic, like cash distributions, will reach the poor in a regime riddled with corruption and nepotism.
Thus, Hun Sen has secured a perfect scapegoat for his potential Covid disaster. He is smart to quickly rule out his initial plan to declare a state of emergency, which would deprive him of blaming anyone else for his fiasco. This could become another Hun Sen’s legacy: the CPP elites keep their privileges and entitlements without taking any responsibility for their Covid outbreaks and blame others for their inability to put the genie back into the bottle.
Ung Bun Ang
10xii20
Fake News You Can Laugh At
In what sounds like a beggar-tone, Sok Eysen virtually bends his knees and beg Joe Biden for the US debt forgiveness. He stoops so low as he asks for what he says only a tiny sum.
Yes, Biden, who calls Xi Jing Ping a thug, may just do that for the sake of, as Eysan says, “collecting friends” like Hun Sen and “ease the political tension in the world” that Sok Eysan implies Hun Sen has created. How grandiose his master has been.
“When he won the election, Joe Biden gave hints that he will collect friends and ease the political tension in the world…Meanwhile, I think Cambodia’s debt [to the US] is very small. Therefore, I think there is a possibility that the US may cancel the debt or use it to help build and develop Cambodia. I think it is a good thing.”
Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysa, Khmer Times, 30 November 2020
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Wednesday, 11 November 2020
How Hun Sen Democracy Masterclass Could Save Trump
“You know, winning is easy. Losing is never easy, not for me it’s not.”
Out-going President Donald Trump, Forbes, 3 November 2020.
Trump and Hun Sen share a similar trait of a sore loser. Trump puts on children pants and throws tantrums when facing the 2020 presidential election loss. Hun Sen becomes hysterical when he loses the 1993 national election. They have no grace to accept defeat.
If Trump attended Hun Sen’s masterclass on the latter’s brand of democracy, he would learn he has failed to apply Hun Sen’s power protection insurance measures. Hun Sen boasts a few years ago that world leaders can learn from him on how to run a country, i.e. hanging on to power.
Trump would learn Hun Sen’s democracy rests on the premise that elections can only proceed if there are pre-determined satisfactory outcomes. The 1993 elections leave the outcomes to chance. But since then, Hun Sen has ensured outcomes of all later elections fall in line with his predictions. The latest one in 2018 renders Hun Sen all the seats in the National Assembly.
The stark difference between the 1993 election and the later ones is the control of the election process. Hun Sen adds a prefix H onto UN that has been responsible for the election that has made him lose. Trump would know he lacks control over the election process and learn how to take over one. Hun Sen ensures his ruling party controls a majority of the National Election Committee members. It is a win-win democratic contest for Hun Sen: head he wins, tail they lose.
Trump now relies on courts to flip the election loss. But many, even among his party, do not like his chance. He produces no evidence to support his persistent claim of election frauds and thefts. They say he has demeaned the American democracy.
Trump would discover from the masterclass another Hun Sen’s effective favourite. He would understand he has failed to adopt a complete stacking of courts with judges who cannot refuse lucrative offers. Trump has applied this strategy, only to a limited extent though. He has packed the Federal Supreme Court but leaving state courts in key election states to run amok, which is a sloppy work by Hun Sen’s standard.
Hun Sen has packed all Cambodian courts with judges who are high-ranking members of his ruling party. They are the kind of judges who, when Hun Sen tells them to jump, will ask him, “How high, Samdech Techo?”. Often, a wink from Hun Sen will suffice for these judges to act. Only brave or stupid ones refuse to curry favour with him. Trump would realise that his court actions without corruption are futile.
Trump must wish he had attended the Hun masterclasses on how to run a bastardised democracy both cherish. He would secure the second, or as many terms as he fancies. There is consolation, though. Like Hun Sen’s opponents, Trump could now embark on disruptive behaviours of nuisance value. After all, Trump has tweeter followers of around 81 million whom he can enjoy tweeting his rants even at wee hours of any day.
Ung Bun Ang
11xi20
Amusement Behind the News
Teenager climate change activist Greta Thunberg tells Donald Trump, in her tweet, to chill after he demands vote counting in the US presidential election be stopped.
Her tweet is verbatim, except the names, to the one Trump tweets in December last year after she is named Time’s Person of the Year.
Well, the young lady does have a long memory and wit, and the old man with a dull mind forgets what goes around comes around.
“So ridiculous. Donald must work on his Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!”
Greta Thunberg, Twitter, 6 November 2020
“So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!”
Donald J Trump, Twitter, 12 December 2019
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Tuesday, 20 October 2020
Cambodia-China
Unfree Trade Agreement
« EBA គង់មានថ្ងៃណាមួយនឹងបាត់បង់ តែកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសេរីរវាងកម្ពុជា និងចិនគឺនៅជារៀងរហូត។»
នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ទំព័រហ្វេសប៊ុក ថ្ងៃទី១២
ខែតុលា ឆ្នាំ២០២០
“The commodities which are still taxed are [under the
Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)] rice, rubber, tobacco, sugar,
powders and paper products. If these products are under the current quota they
will be tax-free, but anything beyond the quota offered will be taxed while a
further 51 commodities, including auto parts will be taxed products. However,
those products are not currently produced and exported from Cambodia. They will
be taxed for up to 10 years before taxes on them are lifted.”
Lead FTA negotiator Commerce Ministry secretary of
state Sok Sopheak, 29 July 2020, Khmer Times
Hun Sen is right on two accounts: that Cambodia will one day lose the EBA benefits, and that the CCFTA will last “forever”, albeit the Buddha’s impermanence mantra.
Hun Sen has indeed worked hard to ensure the fateful day will come sooner, by violating human rights and bastardising democracy, which is against EU mandatory requirements for their EBA concession. He has lost 20% of it so far.
It is so ironic that while the EU punishes Hun Sen for his human rights and democracy substandard, it awards communist Hanoi an EU free trade agreement. It seems the difference between Hun Sen and Hanoi is that one pretends to uphold human rights and democracy, the other does not.
Hun Sen is right again that the CCFTA will last. It would crumble only if his opponents were capable of convincing China that they could offer a better alternative for China. Just ask Prince Sihanouk and comrade Pol Pot how better interests drive China’s adaptable foreign policies.
Without an opposition miracle, China will keep the CCFTA forever. Why would China do anything to damage it when it enjoys a favourable trade imbalance of 7 to 1 and other by-products? In fact, a prominent ASEAN economics adviser believes China is the one who has first initiated the CCFTA to push its own interest agenda. The Agreement is done in haste, with only three rounds of negotiation, and Cambodia has not even bothered to conduct any cost and benefit study before plunging into it
China has enjoyed an effective control over Cambodian economy and foreign policies, despite the strongman’s rhetoric otherwise on his national sovereignty. He has recently appointed as his adviser, with a rank of a minister, a naturalised-Cambodian Chen Zhi, who has also been Sar Kheng’s adviser since 2017. He is the head of conglomerate Prince Group that has fast become one of the country’s most dominant business operators. Hence, China is consolidating its stranglehold on Cambodia.
A small consolation for Hun Sen, however, is possible crumbs from the rich man’s table. He has used this CCFTA to entice US investments, saying Cambodia could be a launching pad into Chinese markets. Anyhow, this effort may be a dud as there is an extensive stretch of China’s FTA network, including one with ASEAN, for investors to choose from.
Still, the CCFTA is likely to disappoint Cambodia. First, Sok Sopheak confirms Cambodia’s main productions like rubber, sugar, tobacco, and beyond China’s imposed quota, rice, are not tariff-free. Second, even with tariff concessions local producers will struggle to break into the markets that are well-known for being price conscious. Their production costs are high, and their economy of scale is small. Third, tax-free imports from China of almost 10,000 products makes them cheaper, which will flatten any competition from local manufacturers.
China may not, in the long run, leave any crumbs at all. It prefers giving away handouts and loans that excites Hun Sen to no end, encouraging him to put Cambodia’s head in a noose.
Ung Bun Ang
20x20
Fake News You Can Use
It is uncertain why main opposition CNRP has been so over-ambitious and over-zealous in whatever they dream of. If they are to hold a demonstration, they will speak of a “mass” turnout. If they are to conduct any campaign, they speak of a system or regime collapse. All their grand rhetoric has invariably ended in hot air.
The latest campaign is their call for an online and world-wide petition to end all impunities of the Hun Sen regime. They want 500,000 signatures so that they could take court actions outside Cambodia against father of impunities Hun Sen. After 14 weeks, as of 16 October 2020 at 9:00 am, there are 25,130 signatures; organisers tell RFA they are thrilled with the outcome, though they still want 500,000.
Here is the catch. At this rate, it would take another five years to reach their target, assuming of course, that the rate of 1,795 signatures per week at Week 14 remains constant. It has been dropping, yet, from a peak of 2,862 per week in Week 4. In absolute terms, the weekly signature number has declined from peak 3,636 to a mere 606 in Week 14.
The impunity campaign for 500,000 signatures has fast become another flop, unless they resort to Hun Sen’s favourite click-farming.
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Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Another Leadership That Fails Cambodia
«ហ៊ុនសែនទេដែលខ្លាចសមរង្ស៊ី ហ៊ុនសែនទេដែលបិទទ្វារ… ហ្នឹងហើយ ឃើញថាហ៊ុនសែនខ្លាចសមរង្ស៊ី មិនមែនសមរង្ស៊ីខ្លាចហ៊ុនសែនទេ។ឥឡូវលើកទីពីរនេះ ក៏ខ្ញុំនឹងបង្ហាញ ខ្ញុំអត់មាន អត់មានអ្វីខ្លាចទេ… ទោះជាហ៊ុនសែនខ្លាចស្រមោលខ្ញុំយ៉ាងណា ក៏ខ្ញុំនៅតែទៅ ដើម្បីអោយហ៊ុនសែនលោះព្រលឹង។»
ប្រធានស្ដីទីគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃទី ២៥ កញ្ញា ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
«អ្នកប្រជាធិបតេយ្យក្លែងក្លាយ អត់មានមក មកត្រូវផ្ចាញ់ផ្ចាល មកបន្ទុចបង្អាក់នូវផែនការ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់ថ្នាក់គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិទេ។ ចង់មកកែអេងឆៃអ៊ាង កែ សមរង្ស៊ី កែបានប្រយោជន៍អី គាត់ អេងឆៃអ៊ាង សមរង្ស៊ី ព្រោះថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំគណបក្ស សង្គ្រោះឯទៀតអត់មានអំណាចឯណា យើងកំពុងប្រើប្រាសបញ្ញាស្មារតី។»
អនុប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ អេង ឆៃអ៊ាង ថ្ងៃទី ២៥ កញ្ញា ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
«ត្រូវតែកំណត់គោលដៅធំៗ កុំយករឿងកំប៉ិកកំប៉ុកមករញ៉េរញ៉ៃ។ …ខ្ញុំមិនដែលចាប់អារម្មណ៍រឿងបុគ្គលកំប៉ិកកំប៉ុក ស៊ីសង ស៊ីសងគោលដៅធំៗ… ។»
ប្រធានស្ដីទីគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃទី ២៥ កញ្ញា ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
«បើយើងចង់អោយមានការបន្តវេនពិតប្រាកដ វាមិនមែនចាំបាច់សមរង្ស៊ី កឹមសុខាថា ទាល់តែចាត់តាំងអ្នកនេះ បណ្តុះបណ្តាលអ្នកនេះ ហ៊ុនសែនចាត់តាំងអ្នកនេះ
បណ្តុះបណ្តាលអ្នកនោះ…។»
អនុប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ អេង ឆៃអ៊ាង ថ្ងៃទី ២៥ កញ្ញា ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
«… មិនត្រូវនរណាទាំងអស់ក្រាញអំណាចរហូតទៅដល់លើសពី៧០ទេ ល្មមឈប់ហើយ ៧០ឆ្នាំ…ខ្ញុំជឿថា សំណើរនេះ យុវជនខ្មែរទាំងអស់រង់ចាំយូរហើយ មិនមែនតែគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិទេ គ្រប់គណបក្សទាំងអស់ក៏ចង់អោយយុវជនមានឱកាសងើបឡើងមកដើម្បីមកដឹកនាំប្រទេស ។»
ប្រធានស្ដីទីគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃទី ២៥ កញ្ញា ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
The interview Sam Rainsy and his lieutenant Eng Chhai Eang grant Radio Free Asia on 25 September 2020 re-confirms that they are not capable of mounting credible campaigns for anything beyond nuisance value.
First, it is most unlikely Sam Rainsy will turn up in Cambodia. He claims he has convinced the world that Hun Sen fears him when the latter stops at nothing to prevent him from setting foot in Cambodia last November. It is now, he says, his turn to prove that he does not fear Hun Sen – by just turning up. As he has learned lessons from the aborted trip, he will not release travel details until he knocks on Hun Sen’s door to make him jump. How daring.
Yet, Sam Rainsy inadvertently highlights his inner thought. Though he claims Hun Sen fears even his shadow, he keeps on asking the strongman for a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card for his return. Why would he need what is akin to his nemesis’s blessing?
Then there is a flexible timeframe for the trip. Sam Rainsy says it will depend on two variables: situations in neighbouring countries and negotiations with regional influencers he does not elaborate. His track records show the flexibility is more like a pretext for indefinite delays. It will remain unclear until then who fears whom.
Second, the CNRP has been falling apart. Scores of well-educated long-standing colleagues have left the party in drove. Eng Chhai Eang brands them as “fake” democrats, saying any intent to change either Sam Rainsy or himself is futile because they hold no [state] power. He expects “real” democrats to give them a blank cheque, and to grow enough spine to raise their challenges when in power. And look where that get those who are critical of comrade Pol Pot after their 1975 victory.
Sam Rainsy makes it clear he is not interested in managing different or dissenting views, casting them aside as noises. He says they are personal issues for personal interests, which have no place in his big picture. Here, a similarity between Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy on how they deal with dissenting views is striking despite a tiny twist. While Sam Rainsy snubs dissenters when they wave goodbye, Hun Sen ensures dissidents are oppressed, silenced, or pushed out of sight; many are now in exile.
Third, the CNRP leaders are convinced succession planning is of no benefit. They reject their role in selecting and nurturing future leaders. Their succession understanding is limited to setting a universal retirement age at 70 for everyone to progress up the ladder. Ironically, Sam Rainsy forgets he has already past the 70 mark. Facing the CPP’s active succession planning, CNRP will have no effective successors in the long run to stop the CPP from what they say destroying the country.
If there were a second Miracle on the Mekong that sweeps Sam Rainsy into power, there would be a second Hun Sen who would continue to persecute dissenters and condemn Cambodia to replicate the CNRP doom.
Ung Bun Ang
30ix20
Fake News You Can Use
So, Hun Sen has no idea what the size of Cambodia is. Koy Pisey says they are going to find that out after their demarcation with Vietnam. But Hun Sen knows during the process that the demarcation has given Cambodia an extra 2,000 hectares. How does he work out this gain when he does not know what he has to begin with?
He spends five hours and twenty minutes in the National Assembly explaining how the gain has come about. And those with intellect equal to an inverse of their position applaud his monologue effort whenever they are awake from their intermittent pleasure of snoozing.
«ឥឡូវនេះ យើងទាំងអស់គ្នាចាំរត់មាត់តគ្នាថា ផ្ទៃក្រឡាដីរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជាមានចំនួន១៨១,០៣៥ គីឡូម៉ែត្រការ៉េ ហើយរហូតមកដល់ពេលនេះ ពួកយើងធ្វើព្រំដែនគឺអត់ដឹងថា តួលេខហ្នឹងបានមកដូចម្តេចដែរ។ ហើយឥឡូវហ្នឹងថាអោយ…យើងអត់បានដឹងថាប៉ុន្មាន ដោយសារយើងកំពុងតែធ្វើការ ប៉ុន្តែដូចសៀវភៅសម្តេចនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីលោកមានដាក់ហើយ វាអាចនឹងប្រែប្រួល ប៉ុន្តែយើងឥឡូវនេះយើងមិនទាន់ហ៊ាននិយាយទេ ដោយសារយើងកំពុងតែធ្វើការងារហ្នឹងនៅឡើយ។ នៅពេលដែលយើងធ្វើចប់សព្វគ្រប់ យើងដឹងមានផ្ទៃក្រឡាមួយច្បាស់លាស់អោយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋបានជ្រាប…។»
អនុប្រធានគណៈកម្មាធិការព្រំដែន កុយ ពិសី ថ្ងៃ១១សីហា ២០១៥ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
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Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com
Thursday, 10 September 2020
Why Hun Sen Uses Violence
« … អញ្ចឹងគាត់(ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ) បញ្ជាក់មកវិញថា អត់មានបាត់ទេ តែផ្ទុយទៅវិញ គាត់បាន គាត់ឃើញមានការ មានដីមួយចំនួនដែលយើងបានទទួលមកវិញផងដែរ …មកពីលោករ៉ុងឈុនក្តី លោកសោភ័នក្តីហ្នឹង ថា ជួយសុំដីដែលកម្ពុជានឹងទទួលបានបន្ទាប់ពីបញ្ចប់ការខ័ណ្ឌសីមានិងបោះបង្គោលហ្នឹង យើងអាចបានដីមួយចំនួនមកខាងកម្ពុជា អញ្ចឹងពួកគាត់ថានឹងជួយសុំដីហ្នឹងអោយពួកគាត់ធ្វើស្រែចំការដាំដុះ អញ្ចឹងហើយ បានជាគាត់ចូលរួមហែហម…។»
« យើងអត់ទាន់ឯកភាពគ្នា យើងទុកនិងស្នើឲ្យខាងបារាំង នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីទាំង២ បានស្នើឲ្យប្រធានាធិបតីបារាំងជួយលើតំបន់ដែលនៅសេសសល់១៦ ភាគរយនោះ ដើម្បីឲ្យគាត់បង្រៀនយើងក្នុងការចម្លងពីផែនទីបោន ១លើ១០០ពាន់ មក១លើ៥០ពាន់។ សំណើនេះមិនទាន់ ចេញជាលទ្ធផលដុំកំភួននៅឡើយ ដោយសារយើងមិនឯកភាពគ្នា ជាបែបបទបច្ចេកទេស ។»
ទេសរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីទទួលបន្ទុកកិច្ចការព្រំដែន វ៉ា គឹមហុង ថ្ងៃទី២៨ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍
Surprise, surprise. After all, there is no land loss at border village Trapaeng Thlong, according to a top delegation of the border committee that has visited and talked to locals there. It would be a relief, indeed.
What a farce, however. It has done a sloppy job. First, its alternative fact-finding trip is limited. It speaks to 11 families who it says have spoken to dissident Rong Chhun. This is about 10% of the 106 families who complain to Rong Chhun about their land loss. Statistically, it would be fine if the 10% came from a random sampling; it does not. The delegation gets to those villagers only because they have appeared in Chhun’s video clips. Moreover, it visits only border marker 117 location, while Rong Chhun’s visit and report cover more extensively from markers 114 to 119. These limitations must compromise their finding’s credibility.
Second, it is most unlikely the 11 families spill their guts out in what the delegation’s Koy Pisey calls “heart-to-heart” talks with it. The villagers must know the dissident and scores of his supporters are thrown in jail after Hun Sen has ordered a summary arrest of anyone who calls him out in defiance of his ban on border debates. They cannot trust Hun Sen’s court. The appeal court refuses Rong Chhun’s bail application on a ground that a release would allow him to re-commit the alleged offence of inciting and causing public disorder. It has presumed he is guilty, even before hearing the case.
However, one positive result the delegation has achieved is its conviction that Hun Sen’s claimed acquisition of 2,000 hectares of land from Vietnam after the border demarcation has gained some traction among the villagers. Koy Pisey says they want a share of this windfall, though Hun Sen never explains how Hanoi, after sacrificing up to 25,000 Vietnamese lives to demolish Pol Pot and to install him in power, would promise the gift.
While Hanoi does not have a track record of gifting their land to Cambodia, Hun Sen does, to Vietnam. His recent gift is a new 1:25,000 border demarcation map, after being converted twice from 1:100,000 map.
It is a flawed map full of imaginary border lines. It ignores the Uti Possidetis principle of border demarcation, which yields to Vietnam some famous Cambodian villages. When explaining why the map conversion is only 84% completed, Var Kimhong highlights a fatal defect in the map conversion process. He says the outstanding 16% will need technical guidance from former protectorate France following a disagreement on conversion technicalities between Cambodia and Vietnam. This means they have employed at least two different processes in converting the original 1:100,000 map: one for the 84% and another for the 16%. Why do they need more than one method?
This may be why Hun Sen cannot explain his border demarcation without saying the 84% involves some cover-up of his repayment of his gratitude debt to Vietnam. Violence on those who call him out is an easier option.
Ung Bun Ang
10ix20
Fake News You Can Use
As if Hun Sen’s violence inflicted on his critics is not enough, murder-suicide act is also taking a stronger hold in the country. The violence has been sweeping through the Kingdom of Wonders, and several best brains wonder why.
The King, who usually minds his own business, expresses his concern for a crashing down of morality and social virtue. Perhaps, he still minds his own neck when he refers to the crash in the whole world, not particularly in Cambodia.
High-profile experts and intellectuals have their own theory for the rampant murder-suicide violence. Dr Ka Sunbaunat attributes it to uncontrollable anger, and he prescribes anger management course to fix it. Some PhD at the country’s top research institution Royal Academy of Cambodia puts it down to family break-ups. Another PhD researcher reckons drug addiction is the trigger.
None asks further whys. None wanders, in a modified Star Trek’s prologue, “to boldly go where none of their cohorts has dared go before”.
Still, is this subtlety all the country’s best brains could offer? There are several possible reasons for it. One of them is that they want neither incitement nor social disorder. They must remember, from Hun Sen’s perspective, there is so much peace to thank for.
“From my own studies and observations of my patients, those who have committed the crime do not feel anything but anger when they did it. Usually this has something to do with people’s cruelty, but on the other hand, it is also associated with the perpetrator’s inability to control their anger.”
Cambodia’s leading psychiatrist Dr Ka Sunbaunat, 2 September 2020, Khmer Times
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Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Hun Sen’s Imaginary Border Lines
«ចេញមកប៉ុន្មាន ចាប់ប៉ុណ្ណឹង រឿងទល់ដែនអត់ឲ្យមានរញ៉េរញ៉ៃទេ។ កុំថារដ្ឋាភិបាលហ៊ុនសែនផ្ដាច់ការ! នេះមិនមែនជាការតស៊ូមតិទេ អ្នកខ្លះចេញមកថានេះជាការតស៊ូមតិ… អត់តស៊ូមតិទេ នេះជារឿងផ្លូវច្បាប់សុទ្ធសាធ។»
“អញ្ចឹងផែនទី [បោន] ហ្នឹងវាអត់ច្បាស់លាស់ វាអត់ជាក់លាក់ទេ ខ្សែព្រំដែនលើផែនទីនិងលើដីជាក់ស្តែងវាអត់ដូចគ្នា។ ដូច្នេះហើយ ដែលចាំបាច់ ក្រុមជំនាញនៃប្រទេសទាំងពីរគឺគូសចម្លងពី១០០ពាន់មក៥០ពាន់សិន ចា៎ ពេលវាហើយ បានយើងយកអា៥០ពាន់ហ្នឹងទៅគូសពិនិត្យលើដីជាក់ស្តែងបោះបង្គោលជាមួយគ្នា។ អញ្ចឹងយើង យើងគូសចម្លងលើលើផែនទីនៅអូហ្វីស [office] នៅការិយាល័យហើយបានយើងចុះនៅទីដីជាក់ស្តែង។ អញ្ចឹងយើងបោះបង្គោលនៅលើដីជាក់ស្តែងមូលដ្ឋានយកពី១០០ពាន់មក ហើយមកគូរលើ៥០ពាន់ ហើយបានយក៥០ពាន់ទៅបោះនៅទីដី។ហើយឥឡូវនេះដែលយើងធ្វើ២៥ពាន់នេះ គឺយើងយកវាអោយកាន់តែច្បាស់ គឺមានន័យថា ពី១០០ពាន់ បង្រួមមក៥០ពាន់ ៥០ពាន់បង្រួមមកនៅ ពង្រីក ចា៎ះ ខ្ញុំសុំទោសដែលខ្ញុំប្រើពាក្យបង្រួម គឺថាពី១០០ពាន់ យើងយកមក៥០ពាន់ យើងពង្រីកយក២៥ពាន់ គឺវាកាន់តែច្បាស់ កាន់តែជាក់លាក់ វាកាន់តែច្បាស់លាស់ទៅតាមអ្វីដែលមានបច្ចុប្បន្ន។”
អនុប្រធានលេខាធិការដ្ឋានអចិន្ត្រៃយ៍គណៈកម្មការធិការជាតិទទួលបន្ទុកព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា កុយ ពិសី ថ្ងៃទី ៣ សីហា ២០២០ វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ
Hun Sen is adamant border issues are not debatable; he insists they be legal issues. He promises to arrest every single one of those who dare calling him out on his border demarcation with Vietnam. He has already had critic Rong Chhun and six of his supporters arrested, so far.
Here is why and how the strongman must resort to animalistic instinct.
First, the process of the border demarcation is at best compromised, at worst fraudulent. According to Koy Pisey, the 1:100,000 Bonne map, referred to in the Constitution, is unclear; expert teams from both countries claim border lines in the map do not match with those on the ground. Yet, they proceed to use the unclear map as a base and enlarge it into, they say, a clear 1:25,000 map.
However, the experts’ enlargement process is rather arbitrary. Pisey says they first, on their drawing board, work on a 1:50,000 scale by adding imaginary border lines that are absent in the indistinct 1:1000,000 map, and they then go to plant markers on the ground. Once back to their office, they add further improvised border lines in the 1:50,000 map to finalise what they claim a much clearer 1:25,000 map.
This creative enlargement process explains why Heng Samrin’s birth village of Anlung Chrey at the border area is one of seven locations that have consequently slid into Vietnam’s territory. It may explain why Hun Sen recently repeats his boast that Vietnam has given him 2,000 hectares (or 20 sq km) of land, though he does not elaborate where this land concession is, and why Vietnam is so generous.
Hun Sen is incapable of justifying his border decisions because they are made under a dominant-vassal relationship he worships, despite his persistent claim of equal footing in the negotiations with Vietnam. He often professes his debt of gratitude to Vietnam for their 1978-79 military interventions and the power they have vested in him. He ignores Sihanouk’s vital contributions to Hanoi’s victory in the Vietnam war. In every meeting with Cambodian officials, Vietnamese do not fail to remind their counterparts to take care of Vietnamese citizens residing in Cambodia, while Hun Sen overlooks a plight of millions of Khmer Krom who live in Vietnam as a minority group. There are 27 Cambodia-Vietnam friendship monuments throughout Cambodia to remind locals of the Vietnamese good deeds; but there is no reciprocal gesture in Vietnam to remind locals of the Cambodia’s role in their victory over the Americans. Hun Sen has made Cambodia as a perfect vassal state of Vietnam. Thus, there cannot be any level-playing field in negotiations of any kind for anything in a benefactor-vassal relationship. The integrity of the new 1:25,000 map is fatally tainted.
Therefore, he must resort to arrests and prosecutions to stifle his critics. Rong Chhun is right to question validity of imaginary border lines on the 1:25,000 map in Trapaeng Plong Commune where he has met 106 farmers who complain their combined 60 hectares of land are slipping away.
Ung Bun Ang
26viii20
Fake News You Can Use
Back to Heng Samrin’s Anlung Chrey birth village and Thlok Trach village that the Hun Sen creative map shows belong to Vietnam, the man refuses to budge. He has almost 200 houses built in the villages and surrounding areas along the border, never mind how he can afford to fund it. This gives Hun Sen a headache. He would have Heng Samrin thrown in jail and charged under Articles 494 and 495 of the criminal code for inciting to commit a felony and disturbing social security.
But Hun Sen remembers the “Thank You, Peace”, so he instead offers Hanoi a compromise to keep everyone happy: let the buggar keeps his birth village, and Hanoi can have a replacement land somewhere, perhaps except Nam Yang.
That somewhere else could be in Trapaeng Plong Commune where Rong Chhun puts his foot down on behalf of the 106 anxious families at a border between markers 114 and 119. But Rong Chhun is no Heng Samrin; he ignores the “Thank You, Peace”. And Hun Sen decides to apply a full force of his law.
“This [Heng Samrin’s] construction [almost 200 houses] is to help farmers living along the border; recipients felt ‘encouraged’”.
Tbong Khmum Provincial Governor Ly Leng, 12 January 2016, The Phnom Penh Post
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Monday, 22 June 2020
Will Hun Sen’s Antagonists Waste a Crisis?
“If Cambodia and other countries in the globe are able to control the outbreak of the Coronavirus by 70 percent at the end of this year, the growth of the tourism sector in Cambodia is expected to recover by around 30 percent in 2021 and 2022… Cambodia will need at least four to five years to see the growth of the tourism sector resuming to normal.”
Pacific Asia Tourism Association Cambodia Chapter (PATACC) chairman Thourn Sinan, 17 June 2020, Khmer Times
“Expect to see more bargain prices in the market towards the end of the year as businesses become desperate for cash-flow and begin selling assets to maintain current operations.”
CBRE Cambodia’s director of property management Dan Davies, 18 June 2020, Khmer Times
“Housing developers come under the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) regulation. However, mortgage lending are [sic] not regulated by them. So, I am not sure if MEF has that data. We do not capture that data [too] and information on the risk is not shared with the banking sector.”
Credit Bureau Cambodia CEO Oeur Sothearoath, 11 June 2020, The Phnom Penh Post
“តាមការដែលខ្ញុំកត់សំគាល់ឃើញ គឺប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ [ខ្មែរ] គឺគាត់មានទឹកចិត្ត ប៉ុន្តែអ្វីដែល ចំណុចដែលខ្វះខាត ចំណុចសំខាន់ហ្នឹង គឺគាត់ត្រូវការមេ … ដល់មានដឹកនាំផ្ទាល់អញ្ចឹង ទៅ គឺមនុស្សទៅហើយ។ ប៉ុន្តែដល់មករយៈក្រោយនេះ គឺថាមេដឹកនាំ វាអត់មាន។”
អនុប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ អេងឆៃអ៊ាង ថ្ងៃទី ៨ មិថុនា ២០២០ ទូរទស្សន៍អាស៊ីសេរី
The latest UNCTAD report says economies for Developing Asia, covering Cambodia, are projected to suffer up to a 45% decrease in foreign direct investment inflow due to the pandemic. Chheng Kim Long of Asian Vision Institute claims Cambodia’s reduction exceeds 40%. The World Bank says the pandemic has hard hit Cambodia’s three main drivers of economic growth: tourism, manufacturing exports, and construction, which together accounts for more than 70% of the growth and almost 40% of paid employment. This means 1.76 million jobs are at risks.
Tourism professionals predict it will take at least four years for the industry to bounce back. This forecast now appears optimistic after the latest outbreak has swept through Beijing, a supplier of about 40% of all foreign tourists to Cambodia. GMAC secretary-general Ken Loo expects July and September conditions to be worse for garment workers. Of about 580 garment and footwear factories, more than 180 have suspended their operations, while another 60 are at risk of closure. The construction industry is choking with high vacancy rate in commercial and residential markets. Owners and operators are racing to the bottom to lower their rents.
Major players in these sectors are scrambling for air. GMAC demands a 30% wage cut. Tour operators are puzzled why Hun Sen keeps Cambodia open for tourists yet imposing stringent financial and health constraints on them to enter. Property agent Dan Davies calls on those with spare cash to swoop up property bargains during the distress, which would keep him in business.
Meanwhile, a major foundation for the whole economy is wobbling. Many consumers and investors are in debts. Loss of incomes or jobs has already begun to cause distress, especially those borrowers who have no savings. Dan Davies expects the market to be flooded with properties this year as speculators or investors could no longer service their loans.
What raises a stink is that nobody knows the exact extent of the debts. The number of USD 28 billion debt, which bankers and government officials have bandied about, excludes loans by pawn brokers and mortgages by housing developers. Oeur Sothearoath says this shadow banking is unregulated and unreported. Loan restructures may become futile if the Covid-19 outbreak persists like it has in America and now in Beijing.
Yet, Hun Sen’s responses to the pandemic are bewildering. He cuts the State budget by half for 2021-2023, while Keynesian economists would require a public sector to spend like crazy to raise economic activities, while his NBC technocrats inject more liquidity into the banking system.
Thus, Covid-19 has thrown Hun Sen into deep water. But his lucky star may still shine as his antagonists in-exile could waste the crisis and throw him another lifeline. From 10,000 km away, Sam Rainsy incites Cambodian people to revolt. From his comfort in-exile, Eng Chhai Eang says people are ready but nobody leads them. The self-proclaimed national rescuers still prefer to rely on remote control; they still blame Hun Sen for Sam Rainsy’s failure to return last November.
Ung Bun Ang
22vi20
Fake News You Can Use
Hun Sen must find some solace in announcing construction projects worth a total of USD 1.37 billion for the first five months of 2020. Sarin Vanna gloats that the Cambodian construction sector is doing well compared to others in the world.
Spin doctor Sarin Vanna glosses over the facts that the five-month number makes up only 37% of the entire foreign direct investment flow into Cambodia in 2019, and that they are just projects on paper. It is most likely only a few of them will ever materialise. Only cowboy speculators and investors will proceed with expert forecasts of high vacancy rate and funding and debt crisis that has no end in sight.
However, everyone including Hun Sen deserves a break. Right?
“Construction investment projects in Phnom Penh were recorded at more than $1.3 billion from January to May. While many sectors globally are facing a serious downturn in their fortunes because of the knock-on effects of COVID-19, the Kingdom’s capital received a total 583 projects during the five months period.”
Phnom Penh municipal Department of Land Management, Urban Planning, Construction and Cadastre Director Sarin Vanna, 17 June 2020, Khmer Times
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Saturday, 30 May 2020
How Lucky Hun Sen Has Been
The rise and rise of Hun Sen have been largely by default. Pol Pot, Pen Sovann, and Chan Sy fail their Vietnamese benefactor who has installed them as their consecutive power proxies in Cambodia. They insist on protecting the Cambodian territorial integrity, which Vietnam detests. Hun Sen is their fourth choice that turns out to be far more accommodating.
Hun Sen’s lucky star dips momentarily after an unexpected loss in the 1993 UN organised elections, but begins its rise unabated. Greed for government positions and wealth cripples and decimates election winner FUNCINPEC.
Hun Sen is a direct beneficiary of the Pol Pol’s brutality that smashes Cambodian revolting spirit into pieces, allowing Hun Sen to keep it flattened with minimal effort. There is no need for him to have so many killed, tortured, and jailed to have a joy ride with his “thank you peace” slogan.
He is lucky his opponents for decades have had no killer instinct. They have delivered political punches that are of nuisance value; they merely pretend to want his job. The latest flop is a much-publicised Sam Rainsy’s return to Cambodia last November. It becomes hot air when he claims a success as a few of his democratic acquaintances in Indonesia and Malaysia allow his visit there. Kem Sokha says the return plan is illegal, in which he wants no part. He says he is happy to respect and comply with Hun Sen laws and court that have jailed him and others at will.
The opponents have a simple mind, incapable of strategic thinking and planning; they would make a poor chess player. Ingrained in the opposition psyche is a hope that Hun Sen will allow them to come in to destroy his loots. A popular explanation for the November no-show peddled within the CNRP is that it is because Hun Sen prevents their president from entering Cambodia. It is so naïve to expect that Hun Sen is stupid enough to give his nemesis a chance to grab power from him. If their rolls were reverse, would Sam Rainsy – with a risk of losing all – welcome into the country his enemy who calls on his army to revolt?
The mind-boggling naivety is infectious among CNRP prominent members and supporters. Their recent plan is to create a united front to restore democracy in Cambodia. Their claimed “dream”, with Sam Rainsy’s explicit backing, is to unite all political thinkers, factions, parties, unions, etc… before approaching Hun Sen – not to displace him – but to only reform his democracy of which the man has been so proud. The astonishing gullibility of the dream is their confidence that Hun Sen would bow to western pressures and talk and agree to their democratic reform agenda. They expect Hun Sen to then wake up and walk away from all his power, wealth, and security, which would be outcomes of their dreamed reform.
No wonder Hun Sen is lucky. He must think a formidable challenger to his absolute authority has yet to be born.
Ung Bun Ang
30v20
Fake News You Can Use
Is Hun Sen kidding when he dismisses motordop operators’ cry for relief after they lose incomes due to economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic? He tells them to sell their motorcycle for food; that his government is broke.
His minions say it is just a joke as if he is funny guy. They lock up TVFB news director Sovann Rithy, who does not laugh and quote Hun Sen’s outburst verbatim in his news service. As they accuse him of inciting the public to disrupt social order and peace with the joke, they must think some take it seriously.
Hun Sen may be one of them. He has announced a raft of measures meant to cushion the impacts, though specifics and simple processes are rare. Still, public complaints on the ground are now growing louder as the reliefs are not forthcoming.
Perhaps Hun Sen is not joking after all that the State is broke after showing off his big heart showering some 2,500 Westerdam cruise passengers with five-star hotel accommodations, local tourist attractions, and entertainments. While he helps those middle-class foreigners to go home when the coronavirus interrupts their holidays and fun, his heart shrinks ignoring his own citizens stranded overseas where they have slaved away for a subsistence livelihood.
«ក្មួយដែលសួរមកពូថា អ្នករត់ម៉ូតូឌុបគាត់ត្អូញត្អែរ តើមានរដ្ឋប៉ះប៉ូវទេ? លក់ម៉ូតូចាយសិនទៅ ទិញអង្ករស៊ីសិន ព្រោះបើឱ្យរដ្ឋប៉ះប៉ូវទាំងអស់ ងាប់បាត់ រដ្ឋឯណាមានលុយ?»
នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន សន្និសីទសារព័ត៌មានស្ដីពីជំងឺកូវីដ១៩ កាលពីថ្ងៃទី៧ មេសា នៅក្នុងវិមានសន្តិភាព
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Thursday, 26 March 2020
Hun Sen Fails Covid-19 Test
“However, a drop in trade volume cannot be avoided because the pandemic is going to affect economic activity at a global level.”
Anonymous official at the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh, 20 March 2020, The Phnom Penh Post
«ក្រសួងសុខាភិបាលរបស់យើងអត់ទាន់មានផែនការរួមទេ។ មានការប្រជុំបន្ទាន់មួយដែរ ប៉ុន្តែអត់មានធ្វើអ្វីផង។ ទម្លាក់មកឲ្យខាងសន្តិសុខវិញ។ បញ្ហាក្រសួងដែលយើងហៅមកលើកមុន មកដល់ពេលនេះ គាត់ខំប្រឹងប្រែង ប៉ុន្តែនៅមិនទាន់គ្រប់ជ្រុងជ្រោយ នៅមានការខ្វះខាតច្រើន ហើយខ្វះធនធានមនុស្ស។ ចំនួនមនុស្សដែលថា ២០០០ នាក់ហ្នឹងអត់មាន ដូចការបានត្រៀមទេ។ អ្នកដែលធ្វើការនៅសល់តែប៉ុន្មាននាក់ដដែល។»
អគ្គនាយកនៃអគ្គនាយកដ្ឋានស្រាវជ្រាវចារកិច្ចនៃក្រសួងការពារជាតិ និងជាអនុប្រធានគណៈកម្មាធិការត្រួតពិនិត្យនៃគណៈកម្មាធិការមជ្ឈិមបក្ស ហ៊ុន ម៉ានិត ថ្ងៃទី២១ ខែ មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី
“More than 1,000 people came in and we have not yet checked their health and they go to their villages. Now I asked each provincial governor to instruct local authorities to ask the people who have just returned from Thailand to let doctors check their health.” [the number is now updated to 15,000]
Interior Minister Sar Kheng, 23 March 2020, Khmer Times
“Cambodians are panicking... Parents are panicking.”
Psychiatrist and former dean of the University of Medical Sciences Dr Ka Sunbaunat, 18 March 2020, Khmer Times
“ទីផ្សារបញ្ជាទិញមួយចំនួន បានស្នើឲ្យមានការផ្អាកដឹកជញ្ជូនទំនិញទៅកាន់ទៅទីនោះ គឺសំដៅទៅលើទីផ្សារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក និងទីផ្សារអឺរ៉ុប ដែលពេលនេះទីផ្សារធំទាំងពីរ កំពុងទទួលរងនូវផលប៉ះពាល់ពីកូវីដ-១៩យ៉ាងខ្លាំង។”
អគ្គលេខាធិការរង និងជាអ្នកនាំពាក្យសមាគមរោងចក្រកាត់ដេរនៅកម្ពុជា កាំង ម៉ូនីកា ថ្ងៃទី១៩ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ២០២០ វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ
Hun Sen is right Covid-19 fear is worse than the virus. The irony is that he, who has instilled fear on others to maintain power, now must squash public fear to sustain his power. Perhaps, as a fear monger, he could also control, not just inflicting, it.
Nevertheless, there are crucial indications that, by design or by sheer incompetence, he has whipped up fear of Covid-19. First, he fails to make Cambodia a self-sufficient economy in food security. It has run chronic and severe trade deficits in foodstuffs, especially with Thailand and Vietnam. As they now close the borders due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, food imports will be disrupted. So confirms the Vietnamese embassy. Their priority is their own citizens, not Cambodians.
Second, measures to contain the pandemic are persistently ineffective. Khmer Times has called for the Health Minister’s sacking. Hun Manit says the Ministry is incompetent. The latest blunder is an unmonitored passage at border checkpoints of some 15,000 migrant workers returning home from Thailand. Sar Kheng is frantic fetching them for testing after the ship has sailed. A BBC analysis indicates if one carrier infects 1.5 persons, the total number of the infected will only be 57 in 30 days. However, if 2.5 persons is infected, the 30 days number will rise exponentially to 406. Sar Kheng should panic.
Third, Hun Sen now divides scarce resources between containment and treatment phase. He is looking for empty hotels and schools to house infected patients. It may be a pre-emptive strike, but he forgoes the opportunity to flatten the contagion curve. A run-away infection will overwhelm the health system that he rejects for his personal care, despite a two-week crash course in fighting Covid-19 offered by seven Chinese doctors who have just flown in.
Fourth, Hun Sen has established a National Commission for Combatting Covid-19 that has no public health experts in charge, only politicians like himself and other five deputy premiers. If experiences of other long-established commissions to combat critical problems, like deforestation and drug trafficking, can be of any guide, this new commission solely groups those who can do nothing individually to sit and decide that nothing can be done together.
Hence, it is Hun Sen’s incompetence that induces public fear and panic. If psychiatrist Sunbaunat is right, a public panic has begun. Only the well-off or well-connected can afford to access and hoard foodstuff amidst price gouging. Many will lose their job and incomes. Garment buyers have announced their order suspension. Tourism has stalled with empty hotels and unemployed guides. Debts, rents, and other non-discretionary payments can no longer be made. Economic activities will grind to a halt. Lives will be lost to the virus.
If his drawcard is China, Hun Sen might be cushioned from long-run impacts of the pandemic. The question is then what he will do in return for the Chinese favour. He will lie again and say, “anything, but sovereignty”.
Pol Pot would be smiling in his grave, proud of his clone.
Ung Bun Ang
26iii20
Fake News You Can Use
Hun Sen may fail to contain Covid-19, but he has enjoyed a better success in limiting the contagion on social media. In the last few weeks, he has had 17 persons arrested, several Facebook accounts blocked, and over 74 Facebook accounts and pages closely watched. Hun Sen accuses them of peddling misinformation to whip up fear and panic to smear his good name and of his regime. He does not need their help to do that, does he?
He insists everyone take in “official” information. He is so calculating that he releases the number of infected persons in the night perhaps so that few people know about it. This way he does not smear his good name, not generate fear, and gets himself arrested.
“The official announcement is being delayed to late evening or even night so that when the news breaks, people may be in bed and will miss the immediate impact of the news.”
Anonymous Ministry of Health official, 23 March 2020, Khmer Times
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