A Change of Guard

សូមស្តាប់វិទ្យុសង្គ្រោះជាតិ Please read more Khmer news and listen to CNRP Radio at National Rescue Party. សូមស្តាប់វីទ្យុខ្មែរប៉ុស្តិ៍/Khmer Post Radio.
Follow Khmerization on Facebook/តាមដានខ្មែរូបនីយកម្មតាម Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khmerization.khmerican

Friday 6 April 2012

Hun Sen: we won’t be bought [Hun Sen has gone crazy again, this time in front of the world leaders and media]

Prime Minister Hun Sen delivers a speech to the ASEAN delegates during a press conference yesterday afternoon. Photo by Meng Kimlong

Shane Worrell with additional reporting by Cheang Sokha
Thursday, 05 April 2012
Phnom Penh Post

After a week of global media reports dissecting Cambodia’s relationship with China, Prime Minister Hun Sen had apparently had enough yesterday – lashing out at the media and analysts he termed “crazy” in what proved an unexpected conclusion to the 20th ASEAN Summit.

The premier spent a good part of the concluding press conference defending his government from claims that China was buying its support.

“Cambodia is not [being] bought by anyone,” he said, referring to the millions of dollars in loans and aid Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged on Saturday.

Hun Sen went on to praise China at length for “saving” the ASEAN economy in 1997 and showing generosity to Europe during the 2008 economic crisis, but insisted he had never felt pressure from Chinese leaders to “do this or do that”.

That, of course, was precisely the suggestion of some analysts, who posited that last weekend’s visit by Hu had been made with the intention of enlisting Cambodia’s aid in squelching debate on the controversial South China Sea issue.

Hun Sen said that, contrary to published reports, the South China Sea had always been on the summit’s agenda. “That is a serious misunderstanding. The South China Sea must always be in discussions until the completion of the Code of Conduct,” he said.

And it wasn’t just journalists who had gotten it wrong, he said, saying a certain “bald-headed doctor”, believed to be a reference to independent analyst Dr Lao Mong Hay, a critic of the China-Cambodia relat-ionship, had also misread the situation.

“I regret the thinking of some political analysts, including the bald-headed doctor,” he said. “The Chinese president was not coming to talk about [the South China Sea]. Doctors, or [those who are] not doctors, should learn more information.”

The prime minister also used his time in front of the assembled international press to criticise a letter he said opposition leader Sam Rainsy had sent to Hu encouraging China to resolve the South China Sea dispute individually with each country involved.

It was “silly philosophy,” he said.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for Sam Rainsy, said ASEAN meetings were places to discuss important issues, not attack someone’s opinions. “We should not take our internal differences into ASEAN meetings,” he said.

Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, said Hun Sen’s comments had given the world a glimpse of what the Cambodian government was like.

“The international community is watching ASEAN, and in a way, they get to see the real government,” he said.

“There are so many different things ASEAN needs to focus on. Diverting attention away from them to a personal attack is fairly unprofessional.”

Dr Lao Mong Hay said Hun Sen, “as head of government”, had the right to make such comments.

“I don’t assume it is me Hun Sen is referring to . . . there are other commentators,” he said.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a crazy stupid leader he is in Cambodia

Anonymous said...

Hun sen is the "host" why tell the world about his personal issue with his own people.He should not mention about ball head guy said what front of these leaders.The issue is he shall focus on the the hosting his guests and the issues that they came to discuss.

Anonymous said...

It's not that personal. He was pointing toward international media and reports who believed base on the bald-head doctor's assumption. Not even his opinion. It was his assumptiom.

Anonymous said...

not on my watch. i am the boss now. so listen up friends. those that object, please close the door behind you.

Anonymous said...

PM blame analyst about south China sea but he should blame himself and his foreign minister for lack of coordination in hadling the south China sea disput, his foreign minister declared the issue of south China sea will off the agenda therefore analyst raise the issue why?. At the end of meeting he blame analyst and his critic of wrong thinking because the south China sea issue was raised in the meeting. What the...

Anonymous said...

He is a crazy prime minister. Uneducated PM who caused an embarrassment to Cambodia in in the eyes of the world media.

Anonymous said...

Actually the bald doctor, so-called independent analyst, wanted to help Vietnam to bring external superpowers into the rift. He actually wants Cambodia as chairman of ASEAN to help Vietnam in using this regional body to internationalize a regional issue, while only some country members are involved The bald head doctor is more keen in serving Vietnam interests than his own country interest! Shames on you bald head PHhD!

Anonymous said...

I dont think the ball head guy has anythings to do with your (PM) acted like wild animal in the cage,he(Hun Sen) talked like that every time. I have listened to his speech in graduation while back he similar to the speech in the summit always blame someone for something.The ball head guy is not advisor to Hun Sen,the ball head guy has the right to voice his opinion like all of us in here.Chin is his boss,Yuon is boss,but he favorite the bigger boss this time because he will got alot of money from his rich boss.The ball head guy just don't wants to see Cambodia bought and sold by Chin.Why the ball head is in the subject at the first place? this summit is not about him.Why Hun Sen even care to talk about him!?....Hun sen needs to control his emotion don't let personal raw emotion get the best of him,make him look so childish on the world stage.