Norodom Sihanouk pays an official visit to the
Sihanoukian National Army (ANS) in 1988
ANS base No. 1, Cambodia
Friday, July 1, 1988
Sihanoukian National Army (ANS) in 1988
ANS base No. 1, Cambodia
Friday, July 1, 1988
Photo: NorodomSihanouk.info
CPP: Hun Xen to remain the party's candidate for the title of "Dictator of Cambodia"
Jan 7, 2010
General-Dictator Hun XenHun Sen only PM candidate of Cambodia's ruling party: CPP
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) reassured Thursday that Prime Minister Hun Sen is the only candidate for the prime minister from its party for the next elections.
Giving speech at the party's commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the downfall of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, Chea Sim, president of the CPP and president of the Senate said that Hun Sen will be the "only candidate from his party for prime ministerial position" in next general election.
Hun Sen, 57, has been in power for already 25 years and is considered the longest government leader in office in Asia.
After several decades of civil war, Cambodia held its first general election in 1993 under the full supports from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
Since then, Cambodia hold its election every five years and HunSen was re-elected prime minister ever since.
Giving speech at the party's commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the downfall of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime, Chea Sim, president of the CPP and president of the Senate said that Hun Sen will be the "only candidate from his party for prime ministerial position" in next general election.
Hun Sen, 57, has been in power for already 25 years and is considered the longest government leader in office in Asia.
After several decades of civil war, Cambodia held its first general election in 1993 under the full supports from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
Since then, Cambodia hold its election every five years and HunSen was re-elected prime minister ever since.
Cracking down on Cambodians to serve Hanoi's interest: Hun Xen's true nature?
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen at Phnom Penh international airport November 8, 2009. Cambodia marked the 31st anniversary of the fall of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime on Thursday in celebrations clouded by the threat of a crackdown on opponents of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen. (REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea/Files)Cambodia marks liberation under cloud of crackdown
Thu Jan 7, 2010
By Prak Chan Thul
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia marked the 31st anniversary of the fall of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime on Thursday in celebrations clouded by the threat of a crackdown on opponents of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Before the festivities, attended by thousands of people in the capital Phnom Penh, the premier vowed to arrest anyone seen handing out leaflets opposing his rule, the latest in what rights groups say is a growing campaign to silence dissent.
Hun Sen's warning to his critics, who say the government is abusing its power to crush all forms of political opposition, came five days after a court issued an arrest warrant for main opposition leader Sam Rainsy.
The crackdown coincides with trouble in one of Southeast Asia's most impoverished economies after an unprecedented boom which saw economic production expand 10 percent annually in the five years up to 2008. Since then, foreign investment has collapsed, tourist arrivals have plummeted and construction has stalled.
Data this week showed about 30,000 workers in the garment industry, a mainstay of the economy, lost their jobs last year as exports to the United States shrank.
Opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua, sued by Hun Sen in July after she accused him of defamation, on Thursday called on the public to resist what she said were intimidation tactics by authorities. "We must still continue to express opinions, not back down because of threats," she said. "We must give a clear message that we can't accept the closure of free expression."
ARREST THREAT
Hun Sen on Tuesday announced the threat to arrest anyone handing out leaflets that express opposition to him or his policies. He said he had seen some such leaflets that were printed in neighbouring Thailand for distribution in Cambodia.
"Leaflet distributors be careful, I will arrest," he said.
He also rejected claims he had been using the courts to intimidate his opponents and warned Rainsy to "be prepared" to go to prison, adding that his long-time political rival, who is now in exile in Europe, would not be pardoned.
The threat appeared effective. No opposition leaflets appeared during Thursday's celebrations marking an invasion by Vietnamese forces in 1979 that toppled the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge, blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people.
The National Assembly, dominated by the ruling Cambodia People's Party, passed legislation last year outlawing protests of more than 200 people and tightening existing defamation laws in what opponents said were measures to prevent criticism and keep rival politicians in check.
Risk analysts say despite corruption and concerns over human rights and judicial interference, Cambodia's political and economic stability should remain intact in the foreseeable future, with little threat to the government's grip on power.
South Korea and China, the country's biggest sources of investment, signed agreements late last year to pour more money into Cambodia, which will open its first stock exchange later this year as part of a $2 billion project to build a new financial centre.
Rainsy, who heads a party named after him, is accused of causing criminal damage after uprooting several border demarcation posts to appease farmers.
(Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Jason Szep)
Cambodia praises border landmark planting with Vietnam
The Stooges praised his master's border posts that encroached into Cambodia?
Yuon stooges at the service of Hanoi? (Photo: Khem Sovannara)01/07/2010
VOV News (Hanoi)
The Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Chea Sim, has praised the planting of border landmarks between Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 31st anniversary of Cambodia’s Victory Day on January 7, the CPP party leader voiced his support for the completion of border landmark planting for the sake of peace and stability in the three nations.
He also criticised antagonist forces for interfering with the planting of border landmarks to serve their own ends without caring about national interests.
Chea Sim said that he backed the CPP party and Cambodian Government’s efforts to deal with the dispute over territory with Thailand through peaceful solutions in order to build a common border line for the sake of friendship, peace, stability and development of both countries.
Regarding the court proceedings against leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, Chea Sim said the CPP and Cambodian Government strongly criticize the self-serving elements’ intention of using the court to undermine peace, national reconciliation and development in Cambodia.
Earlier on January 6, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that there would be no tolerance of those forces seeking to disrupt the ceremony to mark Cambodia’s Victory Day (January 7, 1979-January 7, 2010). He asked security forces to arrest those distributing leaflets aimed at undermining the celebration.
PM Hun Sen also reaffirmed the historical significance of Victory Day on January 7 when the Cambodian people successfully overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 31st anniversary of Cambodia’s Victory Day on January 7, the CPP party leader voiced his support for the completion of border landmark planting for the sake of peace and stability in the three nations.
He also criticised antagonist forces for interfering with the planting of border landmarks to serve their own ends without caring about national interests.
Chea Sim said that he backed the CPP party and Cambodian Government’s efforts to deal with the dispute over territory with Thailand through peaceful solutions in order to build a common border line for the sake of friendship, peace, stability and development of both countries.
Regarding the court proceedings against leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, Chea Sim said the CPP and Cambodian Government strongly criticize the self-serving elements’ intention of using the court to undermine peace, national reconciliation and development in Cambodia.
Earlier on January 6, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that there would be no tolerance of those forces seeking to disrupt the ceremony to mark Cambodia’s Victory Day (January 7, 1979-January 7, 2010). He asked security forces to arrest those distributing leaflets aimed at undermining the celebration.
PM Hun Sen also reaffirmed the historical significance of Victory Day on January 7 when the Cambodian people successfully overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime.
The Hero or the Traitor?
By Pang SokheunOrginally Posted at: The Son of the Khmer Empire
To show off his muscle as a strong leader, the nationalist, the conpetent and the defender of the nation HunSen has verbally and militarily been ready to attack Thailand at anytime if he has the chance without thinking of the consequence. With this, he is entitled as the only HERO of Cambodia by his group.
To maintain such a self-claimed status, he has never listened to suggestions, petitions and complaints from any NGO, Opposition party, and expert on border conflicts with the neighboring countries, esp., with Vietnam-his master.
Clearly, SRP leader Sam Rainsy, upon the request of the farmers, uprooted six border posts which illegally installed in their rice fields. His act was not appreciated or cooperated by Hun Xen, but he is condemned and now is under the arrest warrant accusing him of destroying public property and racism.
The three named in the warrants – Prak Chea, 28, Neang Phally, 39, and Prak Koeun, 38 – joined with opposition leader Sam Rainsy in uprooting the posts during a Buddhist ceremony in Chantrea district on October 25, claiming they were placed on their land by Vietnamese authorities.
However, CPP and Vietnam also uprooted many other border posts which claimed to be illegally installed on Cambodian territory as released by SRP Cabinet in its statement on: ”Other border markers surreptitiously removed“, and they contradictorily are not condemned and charged for the same act.
"Sam Rainsy pulled out six wooden poles at border the marker # 185. But subsequently, similar wooden poles at nearby border markers # 184, # 186 and # 187 have also been removed by the authorities themselves. At marker # 184 even the concrete foundations under the wooden poles have been dug out, put onto a tractor and taken back to Vietnam.
As Sam Rainsy has exposed, the poles he pulled out were planted on Cambodian farmers’ rice fields that are private properties with the farmers holding legal land titles to justify ownership of their land. Therefore, since the wooden poles were planted on their private properties without their consent, the farmers were entitled to remove them (the poles) or to ask somebody else to do it for them, which Sam
Rainsy did at marker # 185.
Now realizing they are on weak legal ground in the prosecution of Sam Rainsy and the concerned farmers, the authorities have surreptitiously resorted to do the same thing as Sam Rainsy did, i.e. removing illegally imposed border markers, which is leading to a judicial imbroglio illustrating the political nature of the charges levied against Sam Rainsy."
This act of Viet and puppet CPP is witnessed by Pov Pheap , second deputy chief of Samrong commune in Chantrea district, who said Tuesday that:
“Tthe border markers in question had in fact been removed by Vietnamese authorities on November 16, the same day that Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity was lifted, paving the way for the charges against him.
“Sam Rainsy just pulled out six wooden border poles and they accused him of destroying public property, but when Khmer and Vietnamese authorities came to pull out the others nearby, that was not illegal,” Pov Pheap said.
Through this I think our compatriots will justly judge about this case and give justice to MP Sam Rainsy as well as the three farmers whose lands lost to Youn invader and now are being jailed and condemned by the puppet leader -Hun Sen.
U.S. to consider turning Cambodia's debt into development aid
January 07, 2010
Xinhua
The United States Congressman Eni Faleomavaega told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday that he will discuss with his colleagues about Cambodia's debt if it can be turned into assistance for development projects in this country, a Cambodian official said.
Eang Sophaleth, Hun Sen's spokesman told local reporters that during the meeting with Hun Sen on Thursday morning in Phnom Penh, Eni Faleomavaega said he will discuss with his colleagues after returning to the United States about the debt.
Eni Faleomavaega, who was accompanied by his two Congressmen Joseph Cao and Mike Honda, was making a two-day visit to Cambodia.
Cambodia has several times asked the United States government to consider canceling its debt amounting to some 300 million U.S. dollars it borrowed since 1972.
The U.S. has not yet answered to Cambodia's request for the debt written-off.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Commission and a senior member of the Cambodian People's Party said several countries including China have written off Cambodia's debts owed some decades ago.
Cambodia is also asking Russia to cancel its debt that amounts around to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.
read more “U.S. to consider turning Cambodia's debt into development aid”
Xinhua
The United States Congressman Eni Faleomavaega told Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday that he will discuss with his colleagues about Cambodia's debt if it can be turned into assistance for development projects in this country, a Cambodian official said.
Eang Sophaleth, Hun Sen's spokesman told local reporters that during the meeting with Hun Sen on Thursday morning in Phnom Penh, Eni Faleomavaega said he will discuss with his colleagues after returning to the United States about the debt.
Eni Faleomavaega, who was accompanied by his two Congressmen Joseph Cao and Mike Honda, was making a two-day visit to Cambodia.
Cambodia has several times asked the United States government to consider canceling its debt amounting to some 300 million U.S. dollars it borrowed since 1972.
The U.S. has not yet answered to Cambodia's request for the debt written-off.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Commission and a senior member of the Cambodian People's Party said several countries including China have written off Cambodia's debts owed some decades ago.
Cambodia is also asking Russia to cancel its debt that amounts around to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Cambodian official warns UN-backed tribunal as country marks overthrow of Khmer Rouge
6/01/2010
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A Cambodian official warned a U.N.-backed genocide tribunal on Thursday not to interfere in the country's internal affairs as the Southeast Asian nation marked the overthrow of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime 31 years ago.
Speaking to some 7,000 supporters, Chea Sim, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said it would not allow the court to destroy the country's peace and national reconciliation. He said the tribunal must try only the most senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
The ultra-communist Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown by invading Vietnamese forces on Jan. 7, 1979.
The tribunal is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the group's policies during its 1975-79 rule.
The tribunal, which includes both foreign and Cambodian lawyers, has charged five senior Khmer Rouge leaders with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
"We oppose attempts to use the chamber for ill intentions which would have an impact on peace, national reconciliation and development, which have been our hard-won achievements," Chea Sim, who is also senate president, said in a speech at party headquarters in Phnom Penh.
Some foreign prosecutors have attempted to bring more former Khmer Rouge members before the tribunal, but the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen has so far blocked such moves.
Hun Sen and a number of other senior government leaders held positions in the Khmer Rouge, and China, now Cambodia's No. 1 ally, backed the Khmer Rouge regime.
Casting a wider net might ignite tensions and problems for Hun Sen's government and offend the Chinese.
The tribunal tried its first defendant, prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, last year on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and taken away to be killed. A verdict is expected early this year, and he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Speaking to some 7,000 supporters, Chea Sim, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said it would not allow the court to destroy the country's peace and national reconciliation. He said the tribunal must try only the most senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
The ultra-communist Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown by invading Vietnamese forces on Jan. 7, 1979.
The tribunal is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the group's policies during its 1975-79 rule.
The tribunal, which includes both foreign and Cambodian lawyers, has charged five senior Khmer Rouge leaders with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
"We oppose attempts to use the chamber for ill intentions which would have an impact on peace, national reconciliation and development, which have been our hard-won achievements," Chea Sim, who is also senate president, said in a speech at party headquarters in Phnom Penh.
Some foreign prosecutors have attempted to bring more former Khmer Rouge members before the tribunal, but the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen has so far blocked such moves.
Hun Sen and a number of other senior government leaders held positions in the Khmer Rouge, and China, now Cambodia's No. 1 ally, backed the Khmer Rouge regime.
Casting a wider net might ignite tensions and problems for Hun Sen's government and offend the Chinese.
The tribunal tried its first defendant, prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, last year on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and taken away to be killed. A verdict is expected early this year, and he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty. Cambodia has no death penalty.
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