Viet-Khmer Samaki

To those beneficiaries of the Viet-Khmer Samaki, enjoy the wonder of a cultural spin you have nurtured. You must be proud of this gradual loss of Khmerness.

https://youtu.be/Fwo6f5IIrdg

Video description (Translated from Vietnamese by Google Translate):

Dance of people: Rice drum; Mr. Ba Hung; Svay chanti; Madizone; Coming to my Vietnamese people (The Vietnam-Cambodia Youth Army Festival: "General Mekong River - Deep Love")

Composition: The Northern Folk Song; Cambodian Folk; Tran Kiet Tuong; Xuan Nghia

Choreography: Van Hung; Minh Hoài; Tien Trung

Performing: The group of dancers of Doan Van Cong Military Zone 7 and military students at schools in Military Region 7

Ung Bun Ang

28vii19

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The $300 Hun Sen Glorifies

“ប្រេង យើងអត់មានផលិតទេ យើងនាំចូលទាំងអស់ យើងអត់មានក្រុមហ៊ុនប្រេងទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែឥឡូវនេះ ក្នុងពេលនេះ ទោះបីតម្លៃទី ផ្សារយ៉ាងម៉េចក៍ដោយ តែប្រេងយើង ប្រេងសាំងដូចជានៅតាមស្ថានីយ៏ត្រឹមតែ ៣៦៥០។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៧ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

“និយាយពីប្រាក់ខែយើង ៣០០មែន ក៍ប៉ុន្តែយើងអាចរស់បានដោយសារទំនិញ របស់យើងវាថោកជាង វាថោកជាង តម្លៃស៊ីចុកវាថោកជាង​ ហើយពន្ធដារយើងវាមិនធ្ងន់ អញ្ចឹងគេឃើញយើងប្រាក់ខែប៉ុណ្ណេះ ប៉ុណ្ណេះ ជួនកាលគេពេបជ្រាយអាប្រាក់ខែហ្នឹង ប៉ុន្តែសួរថា​ គេនៅក្រៅប្រទេសណ៎ ប្រាក់ខែច្រើន តែសួរថា ពួកគេអាចសន្សំបានទេ?។ ឥឡូវដូចថា ៣ពាន់ គេអាចចាយបានត្រឹមតែ៣រយ ហើយទុកបាន២៧០០? អត់ទេ អត់មានលទ្ធភាពទេ។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៧ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

« ខ្ញុំសូមដាក់បទបញ្ជាទៅគណៈកម្មការថា លើកក្រោយ បើចាប់បានផលិតផលទាំងអស់ហ្នឹងហើយ ត្រូវតែចាប់បានម្ចាស់ដែរ បើមិនចាប់បានម្ចាស់ទេ ខ្ញុំនឹងមិនមកកម្មវិធីបំផ្លាញ ទៀតទេ។ នេះជាលក្ខខណ្ឌខ្ញុំ ព្រោះករណីហ្នឹង ធ្វើវាមិនចប់សោះ ហើយយើងមានការងារផ្សេងជា ច្រើនដែលត្រូវធ្វើ ហើយយើងមិនគួរអង្គុយបក់ផ្សែងដដែលៗ អ៊ីចឹងទេ កាលណាបានចប់? លើកក្រោយ បើចង់ឲ្យខ្ញុំមកទៀត ទាល់ចាប់បានម្ចាស់ ទើបខ្ញុំមកទៀត… ។»

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៣ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Despite being well-travelled, Hun Sen displays a selective sense of what is going on around him. Hun Sen claims a $300 monthly income in Cambodia is better than a $3,000 elsewhere. He does not specify where, but he says over there, people cannot live with the $3,000 while Cambodians could do only with 10 percent of that amount in his Land of Wonders. Indeed, one can wonder.

He brags that though Cambodia imports all fuels, its pump price is only 3,670 riels per litre. He ignores that with an exchange rate of 3,980 riels per USD, the $300 could buy only 327 litres of Gasoline 92, even less with Gasoline Super 95. Meanwhile, the $3,000 could get 3,896 litres in the US, or 2,670 litres elsewhere as the world average fuel price is $1.12 per litre. Thus, the $300 in Cambodia have far less purchasing power, especially for imports.

He claims his $300 goes a long way because foodstuffs and consumer goods are cheaper in Cambodia. Perhaps he is right. They are cheap because they are fake. There has been so much of fake products flooding local markets that Sar Kheng is sick and tired of inhaling the smokes when presiding over ceremonies to burn those confiscated.

Yet, there is no relief in sight. Sar Kheng is frustrated that tons of fake products and out-of-date foodstuffs are seized, but none of their owners are apprehended. Most are imports and Hun Sen has recently abolished Camcontrol, which is the authority charged to keep these fake stuffs out of the country. Thus, the fake products will continue to be available and putting at risk the health of the 72% of the population World Bank classifies as poor and near-poor.

Hun Sen is consumed by self-conceit. He challenges earners outside Cambodia to save 90% of their $3,000 income. The only people who could save 90% of their income is the 3% of the Cambodian population that World Bank grades as “prosperous”. This select group is dominated by Hun Sen, his family, and his significant minions whose actual incomes often far exceed their legitimate one.

He is out of touch with low income earners even though he often talks at garment workers. He must know only a few could earn $300 a month by toiling with enormous overtimes in addition to their mandatory 48-hour week that pays a mere $182 a month. Their frequent mass fainting attest to the fact that they may have neither money for nutritional foods nor time for adequate rest. He must know there are over a million Cambodians being forced to take risks working abroad for an average monthly income of $300, leaving behind their young children and family to fend for themselves.

It is shameful Hun Sen continues to exploit cheap labour by lauding fake lifestyles that are detrimental to public health and family development in the long run. He has kept them poor so that they make millions for him, his family, and his minions to enjoy.

Ung Bun Ang

4iv19

Fake News You Can Use

The talk of riel replacing dollar as a main currency in Cambodia has been on and off for ages.

Now, the “who is who” in Cambodia’s financial world describe the riel power in glowing terms. They say the riel lowers production costs, creates jobs, promotes investments and exports, and earns more revenues for the State. Oh, they also say it is about sovereignty and national pride as well. Perfect.

The only thing riel has failed to do so far is to create spine and guts for decision-makers to implement a hara-kiri. Someone in the government knows the currency that has been so far responsible for economic growth and riel stability is the dollar, not the riel, not even the ability of those who run the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Without the US dollar, the riel value will plunge down the drain, taking the whole economy and the Hun Sen government with it. Anyone with brain would trust neither the riel nor those in the Ministry to control and stabilise the riel and thus economy without the US dollar.

That is why after the talks, there is only hot air. The use of riel has plummeted from 46% in 1993 to about 10% in 2013.

“The use of the riel promotes investment and creates jobs. The use of riel will help our country obtain more revenue from issuing the currency.”

National Bank of Cambodia Deputy Governor Neav Chanthana, 26 March 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“It is about sovereignty – we will have our own currency and it is a source of national pride as well.”

Acleda Bank President and Group Managing Director In Channy, 26 March 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

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Revival of Hun Dynasty?

“... ហើយពូអត់ខ្លាចអ្នកណាបំពុលទេ អត់ខ្លាចអ្នកណាបំពុលទេ ហើយខ្ញុំមិនជឿ លើកលែងតែពួកភេរវជនដែលចង់អោយពូស្លាប់។ មិនដឹងថាមានការអីកើតឡើង កុំភាន់ច្រឡំណា៎ រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញកម្ពុជា ខ្ញុំកំពុងតែគិតគូរ កែឬមិនកែ។ រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញរដ្ឋកម្ពុជា គេប្រើពាក្យអញ្ចេះ នៅពេលដែលដំណែង នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីនៅទំនេរជាស្ថាពរ គណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីមួយត្រូវរៀបចំឡើងវិញ។​ មានន័យថាម៉េច? មានន័យថា បើនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ស្លាប់ គឺរដ្ឋាភិបាលអាលាយតែម្ដង អាលាយ។ អត់មានអ្នកណាធើ នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីស្ដីទី បានទេ អត់មានទេ អាហ្នឹងត្រូវអោយច្បាស់នៅកន្លែងហ្នឹង ត្រូវអោយច្បាស់។​”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃ១៣ មិនា​ ២០១៩ យូធូប

“ហើយឥឡូវនេះពូជាប្រធានបក្សផង​ ជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីផង អញ្ចឹងអ្នកណានឹងស្នើអ្នកណា ជាបេក្ខភាពនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ជាអ្នកណា? ... រឿងមិនមែនលេងសើចទេណា៎ មិនមែន លេងសើចទេ។ ដល់អត់ពីហ៊ុនសែនទៅ ត្រួតត្រាមិនបាន រត់ជាន់ជើងគ្នា រឿងហ្នឹង។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃ១៣ មិនា​ ២០១៩ យូធូប

“តិចរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីបន់អោយនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីស្លាប់ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីបន់អោយនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីស្លាប់ មានដំណែងហ្នឹង ស្មើបន់អោយឯងអស់សក្តិនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីដែរ ត្រូវច្បាស់ណា នៅត្រង់ហ្នឹងរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញចែងច្បាស់ ហើយ អាចំណុចហ្នឹង។... បើសិនជាពូងាប់ វាអត់ មាននរណាតែងតាំងនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីស្ដីទីកើតទេ អញ្ចឹងរដ្ឋាភិបាលហ្នឹងវាអាលាយ បណ្ដោយ។ អញ្ចឹងកុំបន់អោយហ៊ុនសែនងាប់អី កុំបន់អោយហ៊ុនសែនងាប់អី​។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃ១៣ មិនា​ ២០១៩ យូធូប

It seems the Hun dynasty is ready to re-emerge after disappearing for over a thousand years. Remember the legend of Preah Thong and Neang Neak who establish the first royal dynasty in Nokor Phnom of the pre-Angkor era? Contemporary Chinese envoys Kang Tai and Zhu Ying call them “Hun Tien”, Liu Ye, and Funan respectively. If Hun Sen has his way, there will be a second coming of the Hun dynasty.

Hun Sen is flagging another butchering time for the Constitution as if it has not been through enough in the past decades. Previous ones are for Hun Sen to control the country while alive; this time seems to ensure he can run it from his grave, albeit via a proxy; hence, a revival of the Hun dynasty.

Hun Sen says the Constitution needs amending because it has no provision for replacing a dead or permanently-absent premier. He claims without an amendment there will be power vacuum that leads to chaos after his demise.

He is dead wrong, at least on the first account.

The Constitution indeed has adequate provisions to address Hun Sen’s pretext. In the event of a permanent vacancy, Article 125 of the Constitution refers to Article 119 that spells out how a premier is installed. It requires the president and two vice-presidents of the National Assembly to forward their premier nomination to the king who will then send the nominee and a new government to the National Assembly for a vote of confidence before a royal assent is promulgated. If the three legislature dignitaries all dropped dead at the time, which is highly unlikely, the Constitution might need some tweaking. Still, a powerful Hun Sen can arrange that outcome when necessary – like what he has it done to Hok Lundi, Kem Ley, Chut Wutty, and other distractions.

Why does Hun Sen choose to misrepresent the Constitution and circumvent Article 119 and 125?

From his perspective, the main problem with these articles is that they deprive him of power to nominate his successor; they only come into play after his demise. This is unacceptable to any autocrat who aims to control worldly affairs from their grave. He wants to ensure his eldest son Manet succeeds him as premier. And he doubts if Manet ever will, without the amendment.

Hun Sen is aware of internal CPP exasperations. First, he warns his government ministers not to wish him dead, which means some of them must have done so behind his back. He points out the obvious that they will lose their ministerial position when the government must dissolve upon his death. Second, a secret ballot Hun Sen conducts last January within the CPP Central Committee shows they prefer Sar Kheng as the next premier. Once they are convinced that Hun Sen is dead and will not resurrect, the National Assembly – dominated by the CPP Central Committee members – may ignore Hun Manet under Article 119.

Yet, Cambodia may end up with a hereditary premiership in a non-hereditary monarchy. How weird.

Ung Bun Ang

24iii19

Fake News You Can Use

Sar Kheng makes his drug bursts so simple that you don’t have to be smart to understand. In fact, it is easier to understand if you are less smart.

He says there is only one policeman who is single-handedly responsible for the 50 kg of drugs stacked away in the Club Rock. He is now on the run, and Sar Kheng asks he give himself up for some clemency. For the more than 500 kg of drugs that have been confiscated since 2018, this unlucky law enforcer is the only one Sar Kheng is after. This is a drug bust with such a surgical precision that must be a model for the rest of world.

The bugger must be wondering why he is the only one sacrificial lamb in the patronage system that is deeply-rooted all over the government echelons.

«ដូច​ខ្ញុំ​បាន​និយាយ​នៅ (សាលា) រាជធានី ថា ក្នុង​ប៉ុន្មាន​នាក់​ហ្នឹង ឥឡូវ​យើង​ឃើញ​ថា មាន​ប៉ូលិស​មួយ ដែល​កំពុង​តាម​រក​ចាប់ខ្លួន​។ មាន​ដីកា​នៅ​។ មាន​ដីកា​ហើយ​។ គេច​ទៅ​ណា​ក៏​អត់​រួច​ដែរ​។ រឿង​រកស៊ី​គ្រឿងញៀន គេច​ទៅ​ណា ក៏​មិន​រួច​ដែរ។ បើ​ថា ល្អ មក​បង្ហាញខ្លួន​មក​។ វា​អាច​ថា មាន​ការ​បន្ធូរបន្ថយ​អ្វីខ្លះ ក្រែង​តុលាការ​បន្ធូរបន្ថយ ខ្ញុំ​មិន​ដឹង​ទេ ប៉ិន​គ្រាន់​ថា បើ​ថា គេច​ទៅ​ណា ក៏​គេច​មិន​រួច​ដែរ។ យើង​ស្គាល់​អត្តសញ្ញាណ ស្គាល់​អ្វី​អស់ហើយ។»

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង ថ្ងៃ​ទី១១ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

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Hun Sen’s Successor: Sam Rainsy or Sar Kheng?

​​“This is why I need to say this again and again – while Hun Sen is holding power, a coup will not happen.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen, 25 January 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

«បើខ្ញុំឲ្យហ៊ុនសែនចាប់ខ្ញុំ ខ្ញុំក្លាយ ទៅជាកែមឡី ខ្ញុំក្លាយទៅជាកឹមសុខា។ ឥឡូវកែមឡីជាវីរបុរសមែន ប៉ុន្តែកែមឡីមានបានជួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ឲ្យរំដោះខ្លួនពីរបបផ្ដាច់ការមកដល់ពេលនេះទេ? អត់ទេ។ លោកកឹមសុខាឲ្យហ៊ុនសែនចាប់ ឥឡូវនេះរងការឃុំឃាំងពីពន្ធនាគារ មកឃុំឃាំងក្នុងផ្ទះ អត់មានសេរីភាព តើជួយរំដោះប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ បានទេ? ជួយទៅ បំផុសបំផុលអន្តរជាតិបានទេ?... ខ្ញុំមិនទៅឆោត ឲ្យគេចាប់ងាយៗ ឲ្យគេសម្លាប់ងាយៗ ទេ។ យើងធ្វើអី យើងត្រូវតែលៃលកឲ្យ មានលទ្ធភាពឈ្នះ ឲ្យប្រជារាស្ត្រឈ្នះ យើងរៀបចំផែនការណាមួយដែលជោគជ័យ យើងមិនទៅធ្វើ លេងៗ ឲ្យគេកម្ចាត់យើងងាយៗ អ៊ីចឹងទេ។ បំណងរបស់ខ្ញុំ គឺចង់ឈ្នះដោយសន្តិវិធី។

ប្រធាន​ស្តីទី​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៨ ខែកុម្ភៈ ​ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

“គ្រប់​ជ័យ​ជម្នះរបស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា មិន​មែន​កើត​ឡើង​ដោយ​សារ​តែអច្ឆរិយ​បុគ្គល​ណា​មួយ​ឡើយ តែ​គឺ​ជា​ការ​ប្រមូល​ផ្តុំ​នូវ​ការ​ខិត​ខំ​ប្រឹង​ប្រែងរបស់ថ្នាក់​ដឹក​នាំ និង​ការ​ចូល​រួម​គាំទ្រ​ពី​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ ។”

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១១ ខែកុម្ភៈ ​ ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ

“គេមិនយកកម្លាំងយោធាទៅអនុវត្តន៍ដីកាទេ... មានអី នឹកយោធា ​ទៅប្រើយោធា  រដ្ឋច្បាស់អន្តរធាន ហើយ... យើងគិតតែមួយជ្រុង ពីយើងកាន់អំណាច ប៉ុន្តែកាន់អំណាច វាមិនមែនអាងទៅលើកំភ្លើង នោះទេ។ វាមិនមែនអញ្ចឹងទេ មិនមែនទេ។ ស្ថានការណ៏ឥឡូវនេះ គឺយើងលេងអញ្ចឹងអត់បាន ហើយទៅមុខនេះ រឹតតែមិនបានទៀត។”

រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ស​ខេង   ថ្ងៃទី១៣​ កុម្ភៈ ២០១៩   វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

Hun Sen has issued a stern warning: while he is charge, no coup d’état will ever happen, let alone succeed. He may or may not be right. There are two possible sources of a coup: Sam Rainsy revolt or a CPP insider.

The revolt is unlikely, despite a cacophony surrounding Sam Rainsy’s talk of going home. First, he is risk-averse, incapable of capitalising on what usually arises from jailed and/or dead heroes. He claims dead heroes like Kem Ley, cannot help liberating people from dictatorship. He says jailed Kem Sokha cannot and does not influence international opinions or actions.

Obviously, he trivialises impacts of jailed or dead heroes, like Gandhi, Mandela, Luther King, Aquino, etc… that initiate turning points in the world. He fails to fully appreciate why the US and EU currently put pressures on Hun Sen. Then again, for each dead or jailed hero in human history, there are thousands of politicians who are nothing more than just political irritations to their nemesis.

Second, Sam Rainsy still speaks of peaceful means when opposing a mafia-like Hun Sen whose ruthless killing is legendary. He may forget his previous humiliating encounters with Hun Sen when offering his written apologies to his nemesis in exchange for Hun Sen’s peace and mercy.

Sam Rainsy says he is waiting for a right moment to return.

Perhaps, after a CPP implosion that has tormented Hun Sen.

CPP’s Sar Kheng has already opened fires. First, he claims all the CPP victories have not been achieved by any single extraordinary person; they have come from a collective effort of the whole CPP leadership. Sar Kheng must be disgusted with the recently inaugurated Win-Win Monument that glorifies only Hun Sen. He demands the local media refer to the Royal Government of Cambodia, not “Hun Sen” government.

Second, Sar Kheng, who controls the police force, takes a firm stance against military groups that commit violent crackdowns on victims of land disputes in Preah Sihanouk and Kratie provinces. Even though he knows the military is under a full control of Hun Sen’s son and his close cohorts, Sar Kheng pulls no punches when declaring that powerful people cannot use armed forces to serve court orders. He is adamant they cannot rely on their guns, not now, not in the future. He has drawn a line in the sand.

A bad omen for Hun Sen is that Ministry of National Defence spokesman Chhum Socheat comes out to support Sar Kheng’s position. This should not, however, surprise Hun Sen as he knows Sar Kheng is well-connected. A secret ballot Hun Sen conducts in early January reveals the almost 1,000 members of the CPP Central Committee prefer Sar Kheng, not Hun Manet, as their next premier.

Anyhow, while it is uncertain who will be left standing after a duel of the CPP titans, the risk averse Sam Rainsy will miss out. A new Sar Kheng government would be unlikely to welcome him home and his role. He may remain a political outcast.

Ung Bun Ang

22ii19

Fake News You Can Use

After his trip to China, Hun Sen agrees to sit down with Pseng-Pseng Frank Chat.

FC:    According to you, Sire, your recent trip to China is very successful. Congratulations.

HS:   Yes, I rake in the Chinese yuan by the billion, and Xi’s special assurance that China will remain behind me all the way to fight the EU and US nonsensical trade pressures on me.

FC:    How did you convince China to do so much for you?

HS:   I reported to Xi, among other issues, the political situations in Cambodia after the general elections, government reform programs, my determination to prevent external interference into Cambodia’s internal affairs, and my request for more Chinese investors in Cambodia.

FC:    Did President Xi report to you internal political situations in China and his government programs for China?

HS:   No, he didn’t. Why should he? You must know China is a sovereign State adhering to a principle that it allows no foreigners, including me, to meddle in its internal affairs.

FC:    But why do you report Cambodian problems to China if, like you say, Cambodia is a sovereign state?

HS:   Well, you need to put out your dirty linen for your benefactor to see that you really need their assistance and what they can do to help.

FC:    So, when you ask foreigners for help sort out Cambodian internal affairs it is not an interference; otherwise, they are meddling. Is that right?

HS:   Yes, just like when I asked Vietnam to come in. It is a quintessence of my win-win policy – Vietnam wins, and I win.

FC:    Is it true that the CPP Central Committee choose Sar Kheng, not your son Manet, to succeed you?

HS:   Yes, but you know only my opinion counts.

FC:    Sorry, Sire, I must run now. I can hear something ticking…

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Sar Kheng Standing Behind Hun Sen

«ឥឡូវគាត់លេងផែនការចូលមក ៥០/៥0។ សម រង្ស៊ីអ៊ី ចេះអាចប្រថុយប្រថាន។ ប៉ុន្តែប្រថុយប្រថានពេលហ្នឹងឥឡូវ យើងយ៉ាងម៉េច? គណបក្សនេះ គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិសព្វថ្ងៃ អត់មានទេ។ អត់មានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិទេ ជាផ្លូវច្បាប់។ សម រង្ស៊ី ទៅធ្វើប្រធានស្តីទីគណបក្សដែលអត់មាន នេះ។ អាហ្នឹង យើងយល់ថាម៉េច? គណបក្សវារលាយបាត់ហើយ វាអត់មានគណបក្ស ហ្នឹងទេ។ មានចុះបញ្ជីនៅក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃឯណាទៀត បើតុលាការលុបបាត់ហើយ។ គាត់ទៅធ្វើប្រធានស្តីទី ជាផ្លូវច្បាប់ អ្នកណាទទួលស្គាល់?។ អត់ទាំងបានចុះបញ្ជីនៅក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃផង ឲ្យគេទទួលស្គាល់! បើចុះ ក៏យើងមិនចុះឲ្យដែរ។»

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​មហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៨ ខែ​មករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng (SK) agrees to sit down and chat to Pseng-Pseng Frank Chat (FC). The following is an excerpt.

FC: Welcome to Frank Chat.

SK: It’s my pleasure to be frank.

FC: Your statement above shows you are going all out to ensure Sam Rainsy will not return. Why?

SK: There is no need for him to put himself at risk. There will be some changes in Cambodia.

FC: Oh, how so?

SK: Are you aware that the CPP Central Committee chooses me to succeed Hun Sen, not his son Hun Manet?

FC: Yes, but how did you know that when Hun Sen had hijacked the ballot box and counted the votes himself at home?

SK: Of course, one of my narks informed me of the outcome.

FC: Were you surprised that you were the chosen one, not his son?

SK: No.

FC: Why did Hun Sen hijack the ballot box though?

SK: You must understand the man has been worried sick about the current situation, especially an ever-growing frustration within the CPP. He is holding a time bomb close to his chest; and it is ticking.

FC: Why does he hold it close to his chest?

SK: Well, he’s in charge. He has been calling all the shots, hasn’t he?

FC: When do you think it is going to explode?

SK: Not if I can help it. Because if it does, not only Hun Sen and his families that will go into pieces, so too will the whole CPP including me. I must take charge to defuse it.

FC: Many people believe you are standing behind Hun Sen all the way.

SK: Indeed, I am. They say only a true friend stabs you in the front. I would prefer doing it from the back.

FC: Hun Sen has disarmed all troops particularly those deployed at the borders; all weapons throughout the country are appropriated, stored, and locked in warehouses. And Hun Manet has the key.

SK: There is always an Achilles heel in any person or organisation.

FC: Hun Manet is building up his elite troops with new recruits. His father removed many once-trusted generals from top positions like dead heaps.

SK: That is one of the most important triggers that tick away the bomb.

FC: When is the right time to make your move?

SK: When the internal tension reaches the point of no return, I will take over just before the bomb explodes. The overthrow will give a distinct impression to everyone that there will be changes, or something different is on the card. The US and EU pressures would somewhat dissipate to give the new regime a breathing space. It could be a long breathing space for my pig (Personal Interest Group).

FC: In this scenario, where is Sam Rainsy? He is now asking the people to rise.

SK: Yes, against Hun Sen, not against me. Sam Rainsy could wait until I work out how the 2023 elections will deliver me pre-determined results.

Ung Bun Ang

11ii19

Fake News You Can Use

So, according to Dr Ky Sereyvuth, director of Centre for China Studies of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, there are strings attached to all foreign aid, except some are, some are not. Yeah, right. Does the director know what he is talking about? His mind must be wandering in awe around the enormity and generosity of the Chinese aid.

The muddled doctor also assures his Radio France Internationale listeners that there are only winners in trade – no losers. He may be right for a PhD who adores every ounce of Chinese aid.

Nevertheless, it is uncertain if the director is ignorant, or ignores to mention that a country – in his field of Centre study China – with a huge and persistent trade surplus with Cambodia is a “better” winner – much better than its partner that carries a chronic trade deficit years after years.

“ជំនួយណាក៍មានចំណងដែរ គ្រាន់តែជំនួយខ្លះមានចំណង ជំនួយខ្លះអត់ចំណង។ ”

ប្រធាន​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​សិក្សា​ចិន​នៃ​រាជ​បណ្ឌិត​សភា​កម្ពុជាបណ្ឌិត គី​ សិរីវឌ្ឍន៍   វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ ថ្ងៃទី២៣ មករា​ ២០១៩

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Hun Sen’s Imaginary Arrest

“ខ្ញុំសុំយកឧកាសនេះ ដើម្បីទម្លាយនូវអាថ៌កំបាំងមួយដែលអ្នកដ៏ទៃមិនបានដឹង។ ប៉ុន្តែ ឥស្សរជននៅទីនេះមួយចំនួនបានដឹង: ឯកឧត្តមទាបាញ់ ឯកឧត្តមកែគីមយ៉ាន ឯកឧត្តម ប៉ុលសារឿន។ ខ្ញុំនិងឯកឧត្តមប៉ុលសារឿនក្នុងឋានៈជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ជាប្រធានក្រុម ប្រឹក្សារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីនៅពេលនោះ ហើយឯកឧត្តមប៉ុលសារឿនជានាយអគ្គសេនាធិការ នៅ ពេលនោះ ត្រូវបានគេចាប់ឃុំក្នុងផ្ទះរួចស្រេចទៅហើយ។ ប្រហែលជានេះជាព្រឹត្តិការណ៍

ដែលអ្នកការទូតទាំងឡាយ និងប្រិយមិត្តបរទេសអាចដឹងយល់អំពីបញ្ហានេះ។ គឺនៅថ្ងៃទី២ ខែមិថុនា ឆ្នាំ១៩៩៣ ឯកឧត្តមប៉ុលសារឿនត្រូវបានគេចាប់ឃុំនៅក្នុងផ្ទះមុនខ្លួនខ្ញុំ។ បន្ទាប់ ទៅ ខ្ញុំក៍ត្រូវ ជាការធ្វេសប្រហែសដ៍ធំមួយរបស់ខ្ញុំ ដែលបានធ្វើដំណើរទៅកាន់ផ្ទះអ្នកដ៍ទៃ ហើយមានតែតៃកុងឡានម្នាក់និងមានអង្គរក្សម្នាក់ ខ្ញុំក៍ត្រូវបានចាប់ឃុំក្នុងផ្ទះ។ ប៉ុន្តែខ្ញុំក៍ បានប្រាប់ទៅអ្នកដែលចាប់ខ្ញុំឃុំនៅក្នុងផ្ទះថា ដើម្បីជៀសវាងការបង្ហូរឈាម ខ្ញុំសុខចិត្ត ចាកចេញពីដំណែង ហើយប្រគល់ឲ្យអស់លោកធ្វើនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីបន្ត ព្រោះអ្នកទាំង នោះមិនព្រមទទួលស្គាល់លទ្ធផលនៃការបោះឆ្នោតនោះទេ។ ដូច្នេះដើម្បីនឹងដោះស្រាយ បញ្ហារបស់ពួកគេ គឺចាប់នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីហ៊ុនសែន ដែលជាអ្នកយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រធំបំផុត របស់ គណបក្សប្រជាជនតែម្តង។ ខ្ញុំបានប្រាប់ថា យើងមិនអាចធ្វើយ៉ាងដូច្នេះទេ កុំជៀស ដើម្បី ជៀសវាង ការបង្ហូរឈាម។ ល្ងាចនេះ នៅម៉ោង៦ល្ងាច ខ្ញុំនឹងប្រកាសលាលែងចេញពី ដំណែង ឲ្យរដ្ឋសភារបស់អតីតរដ្ឋសភារបស់រដ្ឋកម្ពុជានៅសេសសល់ សុំបោះឆ្នោតជ្រើស រើសនាយក រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីថ្មី។ ពេលនោះខ្ញុំនៅចាំបានថា ឯកឧត្តមទាបាញ់ និងឯកឧត្តម កែគីមយ៉ាន បានប្រតិកម្មយ៉ាងខ្លាំង ហើយបានបញ្ជាក់ថា ប្រសិនបើមានការលាលែងពី ដំណែងរបស់ខ្លួនខ្ញុំ ការបង្ហូរឈាមមួយនឹងត្រូវចាប់ផ្តើម។ ដូច្នោះបំណងប្រាថ្នានៃការចាប់ ខ្លួនហ៊ុនសែន ដើម្បី នឹងសំរេចនូវការបំផ្លាញចោលលទ្ធផលនៃការបោះឆ្នោតឆ្នាំ១៩៩៣ ដែលរៀបចំដោយ អ៊ុនតាក់ គឺមិនត្រូវបានសំរេច តាមរយៈការជួយសង្គ្រោះ ដែលខ្ញុំសុំយក ឧកាសនេះ ថ្លែងនូវការអរគុណចំពោះអ្នកទាំងឡាយ ដែលជាពិសេសឯកឧត្តមទាបាញ់ ឯកឧត្តមកែគីមយ៉ាន ដែលជួយសង្គ្រោះខ្ញុំនៅក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈដ៍លំបាកនោះ។ ...​ ខ្លួនខ្ញុំទទូច ឲ្យមានទទួលស្គាល់ ឲ្យទទួលស្គាល់នូវលទ្ធផលនៃការ បោះឆ្នោត បើទោះបីជាការចាត់តាំង ការបោះឆ្នោតដ៍ស្មោគគ្រោករបស់អ៊ុនតាក់ ក៍ប៉ុន្តែ យើងត្រូវតែទទួលស្គាល់នូវលទ្ធផលនៃ ការបោះឆ្នោតនោះ។ ដោយសារភាពរឹងរូស របស់ខ្ញុំនេះហើយ បានជាខ្ញុំត្រូវទទួលនូវការចាប់ខ្លួន។”

នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​ ហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃទី​២៤​ មករា​ ២០១៩    ​​វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្តរជាតិ

According to Hun Sen, there was a major showdown among CPP top officials on how to deal with the party’s loss in the 1993 UNTAC-organised elections. Hun Sen says he was prepared to accept the loss and step down from the top job. Others objected and arrested him. Hun Sen does not say who the mutineers were, but expresses his gratitude to Tea Banh and Ke Kim Yan, who he says reacted very strongly to his willingness to quit, for coming to rescue and release him. The mutineers and rescuers could be in the same cohort; Hun Sen says they all spoke of bloodshed without him in charge.

As it turned out, not only did Hun Sen stay he forced his way to remain in power post-election. The new government had to include Hun Sen as a second prime minister to avoid his threat of secession and renewed war.

If the story were true, Hun Sen would be a committed democrat of Kneenex tissues type – thick and soft. He says he told the party to accept the elections’ results, notwithstanding, he says, the “filthy” process. Only those with rocks in their head would accept a loss in a filthy election, while only autocrats and dictators would welcome any elections they win, no matter how dirty they are.

Hun Sen cannot be the Kleenex tissues type. After all, he proclaims himself to be a CPP top strategist. He often refers to conniving schemes and plots he has learned so well from Chinese epic The Three Kingdoms. He has climbed to the top within a communist hierarchy for fourteen years prior to the UNTAC elections. In that period, Hun Sen enjoys absolute power for eight years under a ten-year close control and mentoring of the Vietnamese communists. Would any autocrats or communists like Hun Sen give up power so readily? Unlikely.

Thus, why does Hun Sen choose to reveal this fiction? Why now?

Perhaps he wants others to believe he is a democrat, and more importantly, to agree that democrats ought to accept elections’ outcomes, no matter how filthy their processes are. He can say he has. This would mitigate enormous pressures put on his regime by the EU and US that value little his brand of democracy. It cannot be a comfort for Hun Sen to witness the thrust of western democracies’ intervention in a current political upheaval in Venezuela supporting the country’s opposition and demanding a fresh election. It seems like a disaster being unveiled for an already-anxious Hun Sen.

Perhaps the fiction is just a relief valve for Hun Sen to cope with the intensifying pressures from various quarters. His constant display of power – vulgar verbal abuses, assassinations of critics, movements of troops and military hardware, shootings of demonstrators, intense persecutions of members of the court-dissolved opposition party, and harassments of dissidents, seems only to worsen his stress. The accumulated tensions he has brought upon himself over the years may eventually be enough to push him over the edge.

Ung Bun Ang

02ii19

Fake News You Can Use

It is time some PhD surrounding Tea Banh or the West Point graduate broke their balls answering the minister’s question in the following quotation: a regular election alone does not sufficiently constitute democracy.

While they are putting their neck on the chopping block, they might as well tell the minister to give the international communities some intelligence. They cannot be that stupid to believe everything the small group of his opponents tell them. Tea Banh needs to know even in the old time Khmer ancestors still could come up with proverb that, “Don’t use a flat-basket to cover up the dead elephant”, let alone in an age of advanced information technology when too many people have access to smart phones, cameras, internet, Facebook, etc…

Then again, the man may not be capable of comprehending anything beyond his own fake news.

«… ហើយប្រទេសទាំងនោះ ឆោតល្ងង់ ចាញ់បោកការភូតកុហករបស់ក្រុមប្រឆាំង។ ខ្ញុំយល់ម្យ៉ាងចាញ់បោកក្រុមតូច១ បោកបាន។ គេដើរបោកថា កម្ពុជាអត់មានគោរពប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ និងដើរបោក កម្ពុជាហ្នឹងអត់ចេះគោរពសិទ្ធិមនុស្សទេ។ អានោះជឿតែម្តង… យើងមានលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ដោយរៀបចំការបោះឆ្នោត មិនដែលយឺតយ៉ាវ ។ តើនោះមិនមែនជាលទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យទេឬ?។ »

ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី និង រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងការពារជាតិ ទៀ បាញ់ ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៥ មករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

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Hun Sen’s Internal Time Bomb

«ជាន់កអាហ្អែងថែម អាហ្នឹងវារឿងតែប៉ុណ្ណឹង។ អាហ្អែងខូច អញកាត់ទោសអាហ្អែង អានេះជាផ្លូវច្បាប់។ តែអាហ្អែងទៅអំពាវនាវឲ្យគេបំផ្លាញកម្ពុជា។ អ៊ីចឹង មានអីត្រូវទុកឲ្យអា ហ្អែងរស់តទៅទៀត! ឲ្យច្បាស់! សុំកុំប្រមាថ ហើយសុំកុំព្រមានចំពោះកម្ពុជា។

នាយក រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៥ មករា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

PM Hun Sen is so committed to eliminating fake news that he talks candidly to PP about his current worries:

PP: You often use a vulgar language in public. Why?

HS: To show off my authority and threaten my foes as well as my minions.

PP: Many succumb to your threats; a few don’t...

HS: That is because I have not been vulgar enough. I will do better.

PP: One of the recalcitrant is Kem Sokha whom you lock up in his room like a naughty kid.

HS: Well, there is a sign in his room reminding him that he can walk out any time.

PP: No conditions?

HS: Indeed, there is. He must denounce Sam Rainsy, like Kong Korm did.

PP: What is the difference between the two men?

HS: Kong Korm is smart and accommodating. I told him I could drum up cases to confiscate all the land he ever owns. What do they say? If you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow. I have tried to grab Kem Sokha’s balls even before he was locked up.

PP: What if Kem Sokha has no balls?

HS: I will use his freedom as a leverage to get the EU import tax off my back. The EU can have his freedom, and I the tax concessions.

PP: Why are these concessions so important to you?

HS: A loss will devastate my power base.

PP: What do you mean? Are you worried about possible revolts if factories’ workers lose their jobs due to a possible export cut?

HS: No, the workers are the least of my worry.

PP: Oh, how so?

HS: Most fear me. It will take them a long time and courage to revolt.

PP: So, what is your main worry?

HS: My top minions and generals. They can anytime mount a revolt against me. The export cut will hurt their financial and mental well-beings.

PP: How so, sire?

HS: They have direct financial interests in those factories and in the “Made-in-Cambodia” label they have sold to apparel factories in China for years.

PP: Is this why you called a meeting of the CPP Central Committee a few days ago?

HS: Yes, and I have worked out who a potential challenger to my power is.

PP: How, sire?

HS: I asked the members of some 900 or so to nominate – in a secret ballot – their preferred candidate among Hun Manet, Say Chhum, Sar Kheng, Aun Pon Monirath, and Prak Sokhon to succeed me.

PP: So, they know who your successor is…

HS: Not quite. I brought the ballot box home to count and keep the outcome to myself.

PP: It must be your son Hun Manet.

HS: No, it’s Sar Kheng.

PP: Sar Kheng???

HS: Yes, he’s the man who prefers a generic term, “Royal Government of Cambodia”, rather than “Hun Sen Government or Regime” that clearly acknowledges my glorious achievements so far.

PP: You are right to be so anxious and vulgar, sire.

Ung Bun Ang

22i19

Fake News You Can Use

It is rather refreshing that, according to Heng Vanda, the education sector has almost got rid of corruption. He pays tribute to Minister Hang Chuon Narong for the latter’s reform effort. It is refreshing because, buried in the pile of manures, there is a little sparkling diamond untarnished.

Perhaps, Heng Vanda sends Hun Sen a message that if leaders are clean there will be no corruption issues.

Then again Hen Vanda may just be ingratiating himself with the Minister for something in his form of corruption labyrinth.

“If leaders are clean, then there will be no problems with money or corruption… I can say that there is very little corruption now in the education sector.”

High Education Association chairman Heng Vanda, 11 January 2019, Khmer Times

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