A Change of Guard

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Monday 5 September 2011

WikiLeaks: The U.S and Vietnam concerned Cambodia might become a second Burma


By Khmerization
Source: WikiLeaks

The U.S and Vietnam have privately expressed concerns of immense China's influence over Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) and are worried that Hun Sen could turn Cambodia into a second Burma, said U.S cables published by WikiLeaks.

The concerns were discussed at length between the visiting U.S Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill with a number of Vietnamese senior leaders during his visit to Vietnam in 2008.

During the meeting with the Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Le Van Bang, Mr. Hill asked Vietnam to put pressures on Hun Sen not to incline too much toward China. However, Mr. Le said Vietnam has not much influence over Hun Sen any longer. "Hun Sen does not listen to Vietnam, Ba Hung said, because Vietnam has no leverage. China, however, has leverage - and thus Hun Sen's ear. Regardless, Vietnam will continue to press Cambodia to act responsibly", said the cable.

In another cable in 2005, Vietnamese Deputy PM Vu Khoan told Mr. Eric Johns, the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, that the situations in Cambodia is very grave and asked the international community assist Cambodia in moving toward the right directions. "The situations in Cambodia is very grave and the international community should find a way to encourage Cambodia to develop the country in the right directions to ensure peace, stability and prosperity", he said.

However, in another cable in 2006, Mr. Do Ngoc Son, Director General of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, warned the U.S not to pressure Hun Sen too much on human rights abuses because repetitive pressures are counter-productive. "If the U.S continues to say the same thing over and over again about human rights abuses and corruption in Cambodia, the U.S will be forced out of Cambodia like what had happened with Burma and then all the influences will come from China", said Do.

Mr. Hill and Vietnamese officials had mainly focused their discussions of the concerns of China's influence over South East Asian countries, particularly over Cambodia, Burma and Laos. "Vietnam is worried about China's increasing influence in Southeast Asia, particularly Burma, Cambodia and Laos, and urged the United States to engage more with these countries. Hun Sen, they predicted, will "not go too far" in his political actions, which are designed to protect his efforts to secure public support for his coalition in advance of the 2008 elections in Cambodia. Incentives will have more of an effect on Hun Sen than criticism", said one cable.

The cable added that during the meeting between Mr. Hill and Vietnamese FM Nguyen Dzy Nien, both had "agreed that the situations in Burma and Cambodia are troubling". The cable added that Mr. Hill had expressed concerns that Cambodia might become a second Burma, but he was advised by the Vietnamese foreign minister to be frank with Hun Sen. "For example, the situation in Cambodia is worrisome. Hun Sen is creating problems and may be turning Cambodia into the next Burma. FM Nien responded that Hun Sen 'will listen if you speak frankly to him'", said the cable.

In another cable, Mr. Hill had expressed concerns about Hun Sen's order to arrest oppositions and government critics during the meeting with Vietnamese Deputy PM Khoan. "On Cambodia, the United States is concerned about Hun Sen's recent decisions to arrest government critics", said the cable.

Another cable said that "A/S Hill noted his concern that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is making mistakes that will be difficult to overcome". The cable added that Mr. Hill has also expressed concerns that "recent arrests in Cambodia do not bode well in this regard", but "He also noted the importance of stability to Cambodian officials", added the cable.


The leaked cable also accused Hun Sen of invovling in "murderous activities" during the Khmer rouge regime. On border issue with Cambodia, Vietnam "admitted separately that the border issue is 'complicated'". Mr. Nguyen Do Hanh, Vietnam's border chief, suggested that "in the end, the border will be based on the French demarcation, with minor adjustments."

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, aren't these leaks indicating clearly that Hun Sen and his CPP are somewhat indepedent from Vietnam?

What other conclusions can you draw from the leaked documents?

Pissed off

Anonymous said...

Hmmm that is really odd for the Viet Cong government expressed concern over pm Hun Sen's influenced by China??? Is that why the Vietnamese governments are rushing to steal some more Khmer lands and speed up
border demarcation by the year of 2012???

Tuk Tuk Driver said...

It sounds like Cambodia is no longer influence by Vietnam or pupet government claimed by Sam Rainsy. With this weakileak, there are many question relate to Sam Rainsy sentenced to ensure that he cannot participate in the election. The biggest question, did Vietnam and USA wanted to replace PM Hun Sen with Sam Rainsy? It seems logical choice because he deem more friendly and open to US than China. I remembered Sam Rainsy made many trips to N. Vietnam prior to his outsted by Cambodia court. There was not much detail about his trip to why he was there; it was almost like a secret trip for secret dealings. I don't know how Sam Rainsy followers take this Weakileak but it raises many question about Sam Rainsy ability to criticize the government and remain care free to move around whereever he wanted to go in Cambodia without fear for his safety. Did somebody guaranteed his safety? Why PM Hun Sen fears Sam Rainsy? Could Sam Rainsy be the Vietnam agent to replace PM Hun Sen? Why Vietnam and US nervous about Cambodia turning to China and concerns about human rights? Is it human right that cause the grave concerns or is it something else? The history repeat iself again, Cambodia leader has to walk a tight rope. Cambodia shouldn't abondon it relationship with China or US and Cambodia cannot allow these countries to drag them into civil war because of the spratly islands dispute. For the Lotus Revolution, I can see that they pick up steam for the wrong reason which will damage its country stability if it move forward because the super power is looking for their self interests not yours. They couldn't careless if you have human right or democracy. For those that love Cambodia sincerely and wanted change through violent; I say "stop", dont't fall into the trap that laid out by the super power and your neighboring country for you to kill Khmers. Disorderly in the society is good opportunity for others to take advantage of you by taking your side and supply you with weapons, monies etc to acheive what they wanted by disrupting China influence and recreate the new master that will influence Cambodia. Cambodia should remain mutual with these countries and don't try the King Sihanouk's move. How could a boy study in Buddha Pogada cause nervous to the super power? Cambodia is a strategic bloc that control Southeast Asia and stop influence of China. Vietnam was former enemy of United States but now they are close friend concerns about the human right violation in Cambodia not in Vietnam where people cannot vote or move around freely. I wonder sometime if USA really care about human right. If it is not human right, then what is it? could it be oil and gas in those spratly island?

VB said...

The US's foreign policies are no longer visible against China. What the US's doing right now is just for survival and appeasement toward the world. The US really needs a strong leader like Ronald Reagan who was not afraid of spreading freedom around the world.

Cambodia has no choice but to choose China and at least much better than Vietnam. However, Cambodia also diversifies its foreign policies in Japan, S. Korea, Middle East, and USA.

Based on current portfolio, Cambodia should be patient and wait to see the fluctuation in the world. As the result in the next ten or fifteen year, annual rate of return plus compound interest rate will provide Cambodia a big smile.

Anonymous said...

I agree with both Tuk Tuk Driver and VB. Both are very good observation and food for thought. We don't know the truth and who really behind Sam Rainsy. I am not sure if his followers know it either.

Anonymous said...

ជន​រងគ្រោះ says:

Monday, 5 September 2011 08:17 am

លោកឡឹម ពិសិដ្ឋ បានឆ្លើយតបតាមសំណើអត្ថបទ របស់ សុភាព ស.ស. កខគឃង ចង្រិតឆ្នាស់និង ខ្មែរជនបទ។ សូមអរគុណលោក ឡឹម ពិសិដ្ឋ បានឆ្លើយតបតាមសំណើ

លោក អៀរ ចាន់ណា ជាអ្នកណា? មកពីណា? មាននិន្នាការទៅរកអ្វី? ហេតុអ្វីបានជាធ្វើអ្នកបកប្រែ? ដើម្បីអ្វី? ឮសូរថាលោក ជា ជន​សង្ស័យផងមែនទេ? តើលោកបានធ្វើ ឬទេ? ហ៊ានទទួល​ខុសត្រូវ ទេ? ឮ សូរថាលោក ចប់នៅមហាវិទ្យាល័យណា? ខ្ញុំសង្កេតឃើញថាលោកចេះភាសា អង់គ្លេសច្រើន តើលោក ទៅរៀនមកពីណា ? តើលោកធ្លាប់បង្រៀននៅសាលារៀនណា? តើលោកបង្រៀនថ្នាក់ទីប៉ុន្មានដែរ? បើករថ​យ​ន្ដ​ជូន ជនរងគ្រោះ ដល់ផ្ទះ រៀងរាល់ពេល តើមានកំហុសឬទេ? បុរស​ម្នាក់​​នេះ​លប​លួច​រកស៊ី​ក្រៅ​ផ្ទះ​​ឬ ? មានអ្នកណាដឹង ពីប្រវត្តរបស់លោកទេ? ឮថា លោកមានដើមកំណើតជា ខ្មែរកាត់ចិនផង តើមែនទេ? ឮសូរថាលោក ចូលចិត្ត បកអាក្រាត លាប​ពណ៌​​ ញុះញង់ ពួកនេះ ពួកនោះ និង ធ្វើ​ឲ្យបែកបាក់មិត្តភាព ខ្មែរនិងខ្មែរ ទៀតផងតើមែនទេ? មានអ្នកដឹងការពិតសូមជួយប្រាប់ ខ្ញុំផង ព្រោះខ្ញុំចង់ដឹងការពិត ។ និស្សិត អៀរ ចាន់ណា សុំឆ្លើយតបតាមសំណើអត្ថបទឲ្យ បានដូច និស្សិត ឡឹម ពិសិដ្ឋ ។

Anonymous said...

Most of Sam Rainsy supporters are blind followers any way. They will say and do any thing just to get more vote without deep thinking of the long term affect to Cambodia as a whole !!

It is just like old Cambodian saying " A Chey theark Teak Hey Ey ! Hey Ey ! "

Anonymous said...

Really? Why not? It is at least a good start!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Who the hell is Vietnam anyway and why should Camodia had to listen to that dog anyway? This should be a good sign that Hun Sen is slowy breaking free from Hanoi's leash. Hanoi is paranoid because it does not want Cambodia to pick a new master, which is China. China is the enemy of Vietnam, to have Cambodia turn away is not a good sign for Vietnam. Now Vietnam and USA are giving each other blowjobs then try to demonize Cambodia? Anyway, don't try take anything coming from WikiLeaks as truthful.