Hun Sen on verge of ruining his legacy

Prime Minister Hun Sen addresses a crowd of garment workers on Phnom Penh’s Veng Sreng Boulevard yesterday, invoking the deadly crackdown on wage riots that took place there in 2014. Facebook

Thu, 14 September 2017

Post Staff

One would think that, after being in power for three decades, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would feel more secure about his position. Sadly, this is not the case. The strongman has a weak temperament, and no mandate from the people is enough to put him at ease. As he prepares for a general election next year, he has decided to go after his political challengers and critics.

ប្រតិ្តកម្មរបស់សហគមន៍អន្តរជាតិជុំវិញការចាប់ខ្លួន ឧត្តម កឹម សុខា ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ

វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ី​សេរី​បង្ខំ​ចិត្ត​ផ្អាក​ដំណើរ​ការ​ការិយាល័យ​នៅ​ភ្នំពេញ

បទសម្ភាសន៍លោក កឹម សុខា ជាមួយលោក ជុន ច័ន្ទបុត្រ

Dr So Naro Part 167 តើទំនាក់ទំនងជាមួយអាមេរិកគឺជាអំពើក្បត់ជាតិ ?

ពលរដ្ឋ​ស្រុក​បវេល​ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង​បង្ខំ​ចិត្ត​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​លើ​​ផ្លូវ​ភក់

Sam Rainsy's interview with VOA សម រង្ស៊ី សម្ភាសន៍ជាមួយ VOA

https://www.facebook.com/rainsy.sam.5/videos/1545594115497316/

Sam Rainsy

August 2 at 11:31pm · 

០២ សីហា ២០១៧ / 02 August 2017

យុវជនជាច្រើន បានសរសេរប្រាប់ខ្ញុំថា ៖ "ទោះជាគេ បានដករូបថតលោកពូ យ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ តែខ្ញុំបានឆ្លាក់រូបលោកពូ ក្នុងដួងចិត្តរបស់ខ្ញុំរួចហើយ"។ (បទសម្ភាសន៍ជាមួយសម្លេងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ថ្ងៃ ០១ សីហា ២០១៧)

Many youth have written to me: "Even though they are removing your photo from public places, I have already carved it in my heart and mind." (Interview with Voice of America, August 1, 2017).

• 

សមត្ថកិច្ច​បិទបាំង​ព័ត៌មាន​ពី​ការចុះពិនិត្យ​ជម្លោះព្រំដែន​នៅ​ស្រុក​កំពង់...

Post-local election will be a tough fight for CNRP in next year general election

By Khmer Wathanakam
www.khmerwathanak.blogspot.com

The most intense local election competition has done with a result of unfavorable for both leading parties-- CNRP and CPP-- though CPP can manage to maintain about 70 per cent of their commune chiefs or 1,165 communes and sangkats, CNRP has wrestled to regain more than 400 commune chiefs from the CPP.  And the popular votes CNRP got 45 per cent while CPP received 48 per cent and the other 10 small parties received the combined popular votes 7 per cent according to unofficial data from NGO. However, the NEC did not reveal the number of seats each party received yet. But they expect The CPP will receive at least 6,000 seats and CNRP will receive over 5,000. At the same time both parties have claimed their popular votes have increased from previous election in 2013. nonetheless according to NGO, CPP still maintain their votes from 2013: about 3.3 million votes while CNRP have increased their vote to 3.15 million votes, closer to CPP.  Now we have seen that the gap of popular votes between the two major parties get closer from term to term even if CPP still hold power firmly in both local and national levels. How can CNRP try to break this iceberg, meaning to close the gap of popular votes and win over the CPP which has ruled the country nearly 40 years. If election is hold freely and fairly as if in the Western democracies, CNRP would win landslide since 2013, but the political environment in Cambodia is very tight and dangerous. CNRP, the largest opposition in the country has been persecuted severely from the ruling party, CPP: their leader Sam Rainsy was forced in exile in the third times and many CNRP's activists and human right defenders were jailed without reason. Thus, how can CNRP manage to win the national election in 2018 without a fair playing field?

The CPP still has its ill will to destroy its rival, CNRP, at all cost. In the next couple months, there will be more campaigns to weaken and destroy CNRP plotted by the CPP. Especially, its president Kem Sokha who had numerous pending cases against him in Hun Sen's control court. And the new commune chiefs and council members from CNRP will face more obstacles to run their communes too. The CPP may not provide enough fund to develop any commune run by CNRP, and they face with unfair accusation of corruption, crime, and any activity that the CPP can manipulate.

Leaked emails from Deputy PM Sok An's office

The following email was leaked to Khmerization from someone named Sokan Sok, which is the name of one of Deputy PM Sok An's sons, from exactly the same email address as Sokan Sok's Gmail email  (sokan.sok@gmail.com) seen below. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ceo <ceo@nagacorp.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 1:45 PM
Subject: greetings
To: sheila@sheilacopps.ca
Cc: JDV <venecia@pldtdsl.net>, Mushahid Hussain <mushahid.hussain@gmail.com>, sokan.sok@gmail.com, eypantla@gmail.com

Excellency

Hope this note of mine will see Excellency  in good health and high spirits and would like to take this opportunity to send Seasons Greetings to you and your family!

I am entrusted by Excellency De Venecia to have been chosen at the last meeting in Mexico city as the Chairman of the ICAPP-COPPAL Business Council (ICBC) . Having been put in this position of reasonability and prestige by many supporters , I am a great believer  that ICBC should be active and very much alive to work truly towards the very purpose of its existence; for this purpose, someone with status and reputation working on full time basis should be engaged. We name him as the President/CEO ( ICBC, Asia) , whose services/employment  shall be paid by my office and shall be assisted & supported by a group of individuals, including analysts and economists the secretariat of which shall be in turn be guided by an international PR Agency like Hill & Knowlton ( incidentally the PR agency of our group)

The President/.CEO of the business council shall be responsible for cementing the relationship of the business communities of Asia and Latin America by cooperating and collaborating with each other to create win-win smart partnership for the better economic benefits of the respective regions. The business council shall periodically and as often as practicable , promote initiatives ( like organizing seminars with Forbes Asia Conference, Channel News Asia Conferences and other regional conferences ) , dialogues and meetings to bring the relevant parties to work  closer together with objectives to create awareness & opportunities, form  joint ventures and partnerships . The candidate is expected to travel extensively and  network  with governmental , political & business leaders, and individual parties to further the Business Council's vision, mission and long term relationships that shall meet the Business Council's objectives.

Instinctively , I remember that Excellency great dedication to the cause of ICAPP and proximity to Latin American countries shall be the ideal person of choice to fill in this position as President, ICBC Asia.  I shall be most grateful if I can move this subject matter a little bit forwards if Excellency express an interest to serve this very noble cause of crating a regional powerhouse which can further perpetuate the legacy of ICAPP. I suggest that the cabinet/office  of the Chairman of the Asian leg of ICBC shall be based in Phnom Penh , which shall work closely with office/cabinet of the Vice Chairman of ICAPP HE DPM Sok An  here in Phnom Penh; proximity of Phnom Penh to East Asia and South East Asia is definitely an advantage.

Thanks for your kindness / best regards

Thanks and regards

Lipkeong Chen ( Tan Sri Datuk Dr)

Chairman

ICBC Asia.              \

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ly Tayseng <tayseng@hbs.com.kh>
Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Subject: Final Version of MOA
To: manith hun <manithhun@hotmail.com>, sopheak nika <sopheakmen@yahoo.com.au>, sokan.sok@gmail.com, sengnhak@lypgroup.com

Dear All,

Please see attached final version of Memorandum for Chup (Cambodia) Co., Ltd.  Please also note I have reviewed Cambodian law on commercial enterprise and made an informal consultation with the officer in charge of commercial registry of Ministry of Commerce to ensure that we can register this MOA without any further change.  I found out that we need to change one provision regarding the appointment and removal of directors.

Leaked documents: Agreements between Sok An's daughter-in-law Cham Krana and Edwin Tan, a Singaporean national

The following email was leaked to Khmerization from someone named Sokan Sok, which is the name of one of Deputy PM Sok An's sons, from exactly the same email address as Sokan Sok's Gmail email  (sokan.sok@gmail.com) seen below. 
Note: Cham Krasna is Sokan Sok's wife and a daughter of Cham Prasidh, who was ex-Minister of Commerce. - Khmerization
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SHARE SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS SHARE SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into on                              (the “Agreement Date”) by and between the following parties:

 (1)       Mrs. Cham Krasna, a citizen of the Kingdom of Cambodia holding Cambodian ID number 010800343, with the current residential address at No. 20, Street 400, Village 9, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Mrs. San Kiriny, a citizen of the Kingdom of Cambodia holding Cambodian ID number 100006057(01), with the current residential address at No. 755, Monivong Blvd, Sangkat Boeung Trorbek, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, (together, herein referred to as the “Seller”);

(2)        Mr. Tan Phong Guan, a citizen of the Republic of Singapore holding Singaporean Identity Card number S2003029A, with the current residential address at ………………. ; Mr. Vann Ky, a citizen of the Kingdom of Cambodia holding Cambodian ID number 010263268, with the current residential address at No. 33E2, Street 191, Village 3, Sangkat Tomnobtek, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Mr. Tes Doem, a citizen of the Kingdom of Cambodia holding Cambodian ID number 020483607, with the current residential address at Village Trapaing Smach, Khum Mkak, Srok Ang Snuol, Kandal, Cambodia, (herein referred to as the “Purchaser”); and

(3)        Angkor (Cambodia) International Co., Ltd, a private limited liability company duly incorporated and registered under the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia with commercial registration no. Co. 8617/06P dated 07 April 2006, and having its registered principle address at No.2C, Street 120, Sangkat Phsar Thmey 2, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, the Kingdom of Cambodia, represented by Mrs. Cham Krasna (herein referred to as the “Company”).

The Seller, the Purchaser and the Company are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”.

(A)       WHEREAS, in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company dated 25 March 2016 (the “MOA”), the Company has a registered capital of KHR20,000,000 (twenty million Khmer Riels), or USD5,000 (five thousand US Dollars);

(B)       WHEREAS, the Seller is currently a registered shareholder, holding 1,000 (one thousand) shares, representing 100% of the total common shares in the Company;

(C)       WHEREAS, the Seller wishes to sell and transfer to the Purchaser and the Purchaser wishes to purchase and accept the transfer of 100% of the Common Shares, totaling 1,000 shares (the “Target Shares”), in the Company held by the Seller on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement;

(D)       WHEREAS, the Parties express their intention that, in giving effect to the Agreement, they will respect, and comply in full with, the provisions of applicable Cambodian law.

Leaked documents from Sok An's son: Investment in Cambodia - Confidential

The following email was leaked to Khmerization from someone named Sokan Sok, which is the name of one of Deputy PM Sok An's sons, from exactly the same email address as Sokan Sok's Gmail email  (sokan.sok@gmail.com) seen below. - Khmerization

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sokan Sok <sokan.sok@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: Investment in Cambodia - Confidential
To: Shane Stone <slselect@ozemail.com.au>

Dear Sir,

I will forward your enquiry accordingly and i look forward to further communication with you soon.

Thank you for your patience thus far and please allow us a few days to look into this matter.

I trust this email finds you well.

Best regards,

Kan

On Wed, Aug 28, 2013 at 6:57 AM, Shane Stone <slselect@ozemail.com.au> wrote:

Good morning Sok An, I have been trying to get the attached email through to your father. Would you be so kind to draw it to his attention.

Regards.

Honourable Shane L. Stone AC PGDK QC FAIM FAICD FACE F Fin | Chairman

Mayfair (UK) in Australia              

Anne Street Partners Financial Group| Anne Street Partners Capital Limited | QNV Constructions
Chairman’s Office | 19^th Floor, 333 Ann Street, Brisbane | Direct line: 07 3112 3330 | Fax: 07 3112 3301

Mobile 0419 80 6121 | personal email slselect@ozemail.com.au

Head Office | 42 Siganto Drive, Helensvale QLD 4212 | PO Box 3435, Helensvale Town Centre QLD 4212 Tel: +61 7 5556 1200 | Fax: +61 7 5556 1245

Web: www.annestreetpartners.com.au 

Executive Assistant | Mrs. Gloria Kleidon

Telephone: +61 7 5556 1207 | Mobile: +61 431 272 338 | Email  gkleidon@annestreetpartners.com.au 

BRISBANE | GOLD COAST | TOWNSVILLE | ADELAIDE | PERTH | NEWCASTLE | DARWIN | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | LONDON | WASHINGTON

P Consider the environment before printing this e-mail 

This Email contains confidential information intended only for the use of the person named above. It may also be subject to legal professional privilege. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution of any part of the email or attachments is prohibited. If you have received this Email in error please notify us by telephone on +61 2 9252 5422 as soon as possible. The author has used its best efforts to ensure that this communication is free from computer viruses and other defects. However, it is your responsibility to scan or otherwise check this communication, and future communications from us, for viruses and other defects. We do not represent that this communication, or any future communication, is:
(a) free of viruses or other defects, nor
(b) received by you in the original form in which it was sent and without having been intercepted and/or tampered with by third parties,
and specifically disclaims liability to you and any other person for any loss or damage resulting (directly or indirectly) from the receipt or use of this communication (including any attachments).

From: Shane Stone [mailto:slselect@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Thursday, 15 August 2013 11:27 AM
To: 'an_sok@camnet.com.kh'
Subject: Investment in Cambodia - Confidential

Your Excellency,

Good morning. Congratulations on your re-election. I look forward to working with you in the time ahead in ICAPP.

I mention some time back that I was in the process of developing some interests in Cambodia. I seek your advice and counsel as to how best to progress matters. My association is through the Transcontinental Group (TRG). I have had a long association with the principals of this company.

Conflict in East Sea (Hoang Sa, Truong Sa islands)

Flag of Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF)

The Khmer Krom are ethnic Khmer who inhabit Kampuchea Krom, an area in southern Vietnam that was once part of the Khmer Empire. According to Vietnamese government figures (1999 census), there are 1,055,174 Khmer Krom in Vietnam. Other estimates vary considerably, with up to 7 million reported to Taylor (2014) in his The Khmer lands of Vietnam. In the late 1970s, the Khmer Rouge regime attacked Vietnam in an attempt to reconquer the areas which were formerly part of the Khmer Empire. In 1975-1977, the Khmer Rouge regime controlled An Giang and Kien Giang provinces. In 1979, this military adventure was a total disaster and precipitated the invasion of Cambodia by the Vietnamese army and subsequent downfall of the Khmer Rouge, with Vietnam occupying Cambodia.

Hoang Sa, Truong Sa islands were lost to China in 1974. Now, Vietnam government requests China to return. Cambodia wants to request Vietnam government to return the land of Khmer and Koh Tral (Phu Quoc Island)?

Read more on Khmer Krom in Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Krom

Thanks to all Khmerization Administrators and Readers

I have abandoned Khmerization for a long time, not out of my choice but out of circumstances. I have been unwell for sometimes and I'm pretty pre-occupied with my works and family. For all these reasons, I'm very sorry that I have left it to some people to carry on the works of Khmerization for me. I wish to appeal to those who have the time and the dedication to carry on the works of Khmerization to step forward and continue the works.

I wish to thanks all those who dedicated their time and hard works to serve the Khmerization readers, particularly School of Vice, Manekseka Sangkum, Khmer Wathanakam and others. You have done such a fantastic job. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I wish to inform readers that I am unable to return to manage Khmerization full time. However, I'll try to pop in from time to time. Thank you to all the dedicated Admins and readers.

Khmerization

Hun Chea - A Gun smuggler import guns from Thailand ហ៊ុន ជា ក្មួយប្រុសហ៊ុនសែន ជាអ្នករត់ពន្ធជួញដូរកាំភ្លើងខុសច្បាប់

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8sMWOf7ww

ចង់ដឹងថា មានភស្តុតាងនិងសំលេងគ្រប់គ្រាន់ហើយ តើមានមន្ត្រីប៉ូលីសនិងតុលាការណា
ហ៊ានចាត់ការហ៊ុនជាទេមើលទៅ? ក្នុងនោះក៍មានកាំភ្លើងម៉ាក Glock
ដែលដូចទៅនឹងកាំភ្លើងដែល ជួបសំលាប់ ប្រើបាញ់ សំលាប់លោគកើមឡី។
កាំភ្លើងទាំងនោះត្រូវបានលួចនាំចូលពីថៃ ដោយទាហ៊ានម្នាក់ឈ្មោះ Sokpheak Dey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005310168252
តើហ៊ុនជា ជាអ្នកផ្តល់កាំភ្លើងអោយជួបសំលាប់ឬយ៉ាងណ

Hun Chea Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hunchea007 and
https://www.facebook.com/ហ៊ុន-ជា-HUN-CHEA-1359931837354641/

Hun Chea,one of Hun Sen's nephews is an arm dealer, he is working with
a police officer named Sokpheak Dey to illegally import guns from
Thailand.


Hun Chea ปืนผิดกฎหมายนำเข้าจากประเทศไทยไปยังประเทศกัมพูชา
https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif

Leaks documents about Hun Family: Hun Sen spent $584,415.07 US dollars to buy "like" on Facebook

Now you have more stories on your headlines

Samdech Hun Sen https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6idlF5S0VTbWRSNW8

• In 2016 Samdech Hun Sen paid about $10,000 per day to promote his Facebook page. Mr. Duong Dara leads the Facebook team. Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByqchITKdN6idE5Yd1QzeEIycEE/view
• In 2015 Hun Sen told Dr. Sok Touch to keep secret of the border issue
• In 2014 Lim Keanhour paid his own money $175K for some works related to Hun Sen's base Toul Krawsang

Hun Kimleang (Hun Sen's niece) and Neth Savoeun https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6iVXNPRmxhakpXb3M

• According to her record, she has about $26M deposited in many banks local and abroad, while Neth Savoeun has only around $20K in his bank account. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6iLWVRYmMyZUJlR1E
• Their 24 year olds daughter has $7M deposited at Sathapana Bank https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6ieU41UElLZEFqcmc
• They are all citizen of Saint Christopher and Nevis https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6icmR5MjR2N3hBejQ

Hun Maly and Sok Puthyvuth - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6iTkNDLWZwWHdWekk

• Sok Puthyvuth illegal hunting https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByqchITKdN6iNWw0bVE5MFE5UVk
• Sok Puthyvuth hand written letters to Hun Sen

Find more leaks at https://www.facebook.com/cambodialeak/

Hun Sen buy "like" on Facebook.

Leaks documents requesting Hun Sen to open Casino

CNRP Proposed Vice-Presidents to Visit South Korea

BY KUCH NAREN | APRIL 28, 2017

CNRP vice-presidents-elect Pol Ham and Eng Chhay Eang are expected to arrive in South Korea on Thursday to meet migrant workers.

Mr. Ham and Mr. Chhay Eang, who were elected by the party as vice-presidents in February but have yet to get an all-clear by the Interior Ministry, planned to promote the party among Cambodian workers, said Yim Sinorn, head of CNRP’s Youth Wing in South Korea.

Spectators gesture during a Khmer New Year event in South Korea on earlier this month, in a photograph posted to Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng’s Facebook page.

“Their primary purpose as members of parliaments is to come to see our citizens here, and to meet with supporters in order to provide them with the latest news and the party political stance,” he said.

Maid in Hong Kong

ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រប្រទេសកម្ពុជា មួយរយៈកាល (ពីឆ្នាំ ១៩៥១ ដល់ឆ្នាំ ១៩៩១) ដែលគ...

​វីដេអូ​ឯកសារ “ខ្ញុំជា ឈុត វុទ្ធី” ទាំង​ស្រុង​ជា​ភាសាខ្មែរ

Ven But Buntenh's commentary [In Khmer]

Thun Saray on current political crisis

ទុក្ខវេទនារបស់ព្រះសង្ឃ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរដែលរស់នៅកម្ពុជាក្រោម

Unlikely Partners: Cambodia and the Eurasian Economic Union

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen during a welcoming ceremony for heads of the delegations at the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi, Russia, May 20, 2016.

Image Credit: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

Even if the economic rewards aren’t astronomical, the partnership is beneficial for both sides.

By Cristina Maza

March 01, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is Cambodia buying crocheted fabric from Belarus and leather saddles from Kyrgyzstan?

In its efforts to bolster trade and forge new international alliances, the Southeast Asian Kingdom has opted to increase ties with some unlikely partners: the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

Launched by Russia in 2015 as a counterweight to the European Union, the EEU came into force with the accession of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Shortly thereafter, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joined its ranks.

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But while the EEU’s raison d’être was ostensibly economic, its financial benefits are considered largely inconsequential. The union represents a market of a little over 180 million people and a GDP of around $2.2 trillion, but most members have low levels of industrialization, and there continue to be disagreements over tariffs and protectionism even within the union.

How China Came to Dominate Cambodia

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) extends a hand shake to China's President Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (November 7, 2014).

Image Credit: REUTERS/Jason Lee

How Cambodia went from denouncing China to being Beijing’s most faithful client state.

By David Hutt

September 01, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was Cambodia paid off?

In June, it reportedly forced ASEAN to retract a strongly-worded statement on the South China Sea dispute, irking many of its regional partners. (It did the same in 2012.) A few days later, China promised Cambodia another $600 million in aid and loans. Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed the allegation his government was ‘bought’ was not “fair for Cambodia,” adding: “I will not allow anyone to insult the Khmer nation. I am not supporting any one country.” However, the Chinese government certainly thought Cambodia was being deferential. The outgoing Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, Bu Jianguo, lauded Cambodia’s “neutral and fair stance over the South China Sea issue.” She added: “Not only the government of China, but also millions of our people appreciated Prime Minister Hun Sen’s stance.”

With the ASEAN and East Asia Summits fast approaching, the prevailing expectation is that Cambodia will once again earn China’s ‘appreciation’ by blocking any unified movement on the South China Sea issue.

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In recent months, the Cambodian government has engaged in much encomium over China. On August 3, Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong stated that Cambodia’s development “could not be detached” from Chinese aid. Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan enthused: “Without Chinese aid, we go nowhere.” Such remarks are clear examples of just how close Cambodian and China have grown.

Cambodia's Anti-Vietnam Obsession

Buddhist monks burn Vietnamese flags made of paper as they protest near the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh (October 8, 2014).

Image Credit: REUTERS/Samrang Pring

Anti-Vietnamese sentiment dominates Cambodia, even among otherwise progressive NGOs and political groups.

By Tim Frewer

September 06, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On June 21, 2015 a mixed contingent of soldiers and police descended upon Areyksat village in Kandal province to forcibly remove 55 houseboats and 10 houses on the river banks. Unlike other violent evictions — which are far from rare in Cambodia — the logic of removal was not to make way for development or infrastructure, but for “environmental reasons.” The people, all of whom happened to be ethnic Vietnamese, were purportedly “polluting the area” – which, according to local authorities, impacts on “local beauty” and “national and international tourism.” On one of the many pro Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) news channels that night, the news presenters gleefully presented the story, noting that “illegal immigrants have to respect the rule of law” and local authorities should be commended for “protecting the environment.” They even [incorrectly] added that a number of the evictees had been deported to Vietnam – to triumphant smiles.

Two weeks later, this small Vietnamese community was pondering where to go when a large group of students — flanked by government officials — came to clean up the area, walking around picking up litter. They cited the need for “citizens” to protect and clean the environment. In a bizarre scene “student environmentalists” joined soldiers in “cleaning up” the local “environment” (which really equated to a straight out eviction), to the astonished stares of the recently evicted.