Tep Sarath (right), Pang Sokheoun (middle) and former ven. Tim Sakhorn (left)
Former Ven. Tim Sakhorn arrived in Sweden in 3 July 2009 at 3pm at Örnsköldsvik airport. He now lives in Örnsköldsvik city. He feels homesick and of course the weather is still cold even though it is summer. It is hard for him to stand with such a cold weather in Sweden. Our Khmer people here welcomed his arrival and everyone is happy to see him. He is not alone here.
In Solidarity!
Upon her arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport on Saturday 4th July 2009, she was surrounded by reporters and was interviewed. But she refused to answered the interview with one of them who was from Cambodian Television network (CTN), the Media which is known to be biased to the CPP.
She said: “I will not give an interview to CTN because it is biased and which has never broadcast independent news, but was always broadcasting information that is biased toward the ruling party.”
Experiencingly, when I was in Cambodia, there were many false publications about me published by these biased CPP controlled media, and then I have thought it would be better not to have interviewed with them for our information given to them have never been sourcefully or neutrally reported but it was taken for granted and falsified just to benefit the CPP.
I think her refusal is really positive and I do ancourage other activists and oppositions to do the same as a boycott to those biased reporters in Cambodia who work without caring for their profesional and ethical principles as journalists. They should be the ones who stand in the front line to fight along with other Human Rights activists and democrats against the present dictator, and stand for real freedom of expression for the promotion of democratic process in the country, instead of submision to the dictator and ignoring their professional value and very important roles in the society.
Best wished to Neak Ming Mu Sochau. She has become our example for the the struggle of our country’s true liberation from injustice and ditatorship.
Quotable quote:
“As a reporter, I approach every situation knowing that everyone has his or her own agenda. It’s not a bad thing; it’s just a fact.” Maria Bartiromo
Alternative Watch
20 June 2009
Round One of the current disputes at the Cambodian northern border
could be awarded to Thailand. It is uncertain, however, if this
outcome is attributable to Cambodia’s corrupt mentality or to
Thailand’s brilliant moves.
Thailand advances its drive into Preah Vihear when Cambodian leaders
withdraw their population from the area. Preah Vihear provincial
governor Preap Tan says the government moves more than 460 families
from Kor Mouy village, located at the base of the mountain on which
the temple stands, to about 20 Km inside the border, so that, “we do
not want to see them injured or killed if a firefight should happen
again at any time.” This means they either ignore, or are ignorant of,
the international practice of settling border disputes that
predominantly bases on permanent civilian occupancy in any part of
disputed territory. They must know human settlements are the best
border protection there is.
Their concern for the safety of the villagers sounds touching, but is
more of a hypocrisy when considering their grand scheme for Kor Mouy
village. The Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO plans a large
tourism park with a museum, a parking lot, and a traditional market.
It is very unlikely that such an investment would come with an
expectation of any firefights; someone other than the villagers will
reap the commercial benefit.
That someone has to be at or near the top. The villagers who are
astute enough to reject the redevelopment plan claim they have been
threatened by Hing Bunheang, the commander of the prime minister’s
bodyguards now stationed at Preah Vihear temple. When they seek an
intervention from the prime minister, cabinet official Pal Chandara
sends them back to the commander by incredulously saying Hun Sen has
no authority in the matter.
The removal of the permanent civilian occupancy could now leave Preah
Vihear wide-open to credible claims. And Thailand wastes no time.
First, it will next week ask the World Heritage Committee for a joint
listing of Preah Vihear with Cambodia. Thailand argues the listing
last July violates the registration process, and is contrary to UNESCO
regulations and spirit because it has created the disputes between the
two nations. Second, Thailand will also submit two Thai luminaries as
candidates to replace retiring members of the World Heritage Committee
so that “it could follow the Preah Vihear issue closely”. It is very
shrewd of Thailand to generate disputes so that the regulations are
violated, and to effect the Committee stacking.
The Cambodian leaders would have a real fight on their hand if they
had any interest beyond those of their special group that seem to have
driven their current relocation tactic and dispute management. The
Hague verdict that has given Cambodia the temple ownership may no
longer be solid enough to keep it outside the Thai grab. For a nation
that has lost so much territory due to its leadership apathy and
corruption, the joint-listing and management is perhaps a better
outcome than losing Preah Vihear to Thailand altogether.
Ung Bun Ang
Quotable Quote:
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft
underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without
signposts.”
C. S. Lewis (1898–1963), Irish-born British novelist.
The Screwtape Letters.
This is one of the controversial new lights sits inside crevice in Angkor Wat.
Today is the day that Sok An answers the question regarding to the Angkor Wat light project launched by Apsara Authority in order to attract more tourists to the spot in the wake of the global economic crisis.
According to dap-news Sok An denied all the allegations that the light decoration distroyed Angkor Wat and assured that the engineers didn’t make holes in order to equip those electric bulbs and he strongly condemned Moeung Son for spreading false information about the nature of the light fixtures.
To my concern, I would like to appeal to all SRP’s congressmen, NGO’s represenatatives, and other Khmers in the country who consciously love our Angkor Wat, please go to Angkor Wat directly and witness the light fixtures at place. Please don’t sit only in one place, or only in the National Assembly seat and ask those CPP’s corrupt leaders to explain the things at will. Please do your job with the good will, commitment, and consciousness.
GO NOW AND SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES! PLEASE BE THE REAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE!
Then, please spread us the reality of the light fixtures. DO IT PlEASE!
This is one of the pictures posted in RFA. site which the demage can be seen clearly.
According to this picture I don’t believe Sok An’s explanation.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti said on Thursday he will take his time to explain fully to all 21 members of the World Heritage Committee why Thailand wants a review of the decision to register Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.
Why don’t you take time to educate your people to love your neighbors and respect the soveriegnty of other country, instead of going to Spain and claim for what historically doesn’t belong to you? Well, you may tell Unesco straight away that you want to rob Preah Vihear again or at least you want to share the cake with Cambodia.
Mr Suwit, in his capacity as chairman of the Thai world heritage committee, will lead a Thai delegation to attend the 32nd WHC meeting beginning on Monday in Seville, Spain.
Maj-Gen Tawatchai Samutsakhon, the Second Army deputy chief in charge of intelligence and operations, said he was not worried by a suggestion that Thailand’s push for a review of the WHC resolution would cause confrontation between Thai and Cambodian troops in the disputed border areas.
You don’t need to say that because your arrogant people have never worried about the confrontation with not only Cambodia but with all your neighbors. As we know, what your people worry about is losing face and losing what you have tried to steal from others. I mean If you have ever worries about the relationship between our countries you will never have sent your troops to invade Cambodia.
The two sides understood each other well and he would ensure any problems were settled by negotiation if border conflict occurred.
Clearly, We, Cambodians, do understand that you never have good intetion to us at all. That’s it!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Op-Ed by Leng Sovady
Distributed online
Hok Lundy, the former number 1 of the Cambodian police, on the post since 1994, 58 years old and a 4 star general, died on November 9th, 2008 in a helicopter crash when he flew from Phnom Penh to his native province of Svay Rieng. The three other passengers of the aircraft were the deputy commander of the land army forces, Sok Sa Em, and the 2 pilots. All of them died.
Until now, the authorities (the Courts and the police) have not issued any outcome of the criminal investigation. Yet, Hok Lundy was the chief of the police. The government in power in Phnom Penh would apparently like to hush up the investigation held on this case.
I think, this point is really questionable.
After eyewitnesses, only Hok Lundy’s corpse, among 4, was torn to tiny pieces by the outburst. Before his funerals, doctors spent a long time sewing pieces scattered back on his corpse. The explosion of a bomb, put under Hok Lundy’s seat, caused the helicopter accident and the loss of a large part of the corpse. The man who caused the bomb attack, had certainly decided to eliminate him, considering the power of the bomb.
There have been many airplanes crashed so far in the world and the disasters have never demaged as such that of Hok Lundy’s corpse if it’s an accident. It’s only bomb that was capable to cause such a damage.
The investigation would have been easier to find out tracks of powder if the authorities had decided to see to it. On the contrary, the police and rumours led by the government in power put forward several hypotheses: lightning because Hok Lundy had phoned, a mistake in piloting, a rough weather, a technical problem. Or Hun Sen’s order, because Hok Lundy was a Vietnamese.
After reliable sources, it was Phnom Penh’s casino gangs’ work. Hok Lundy was a frequent visitor to the casinos. He had gambled away a lot (2 million dollars) but he didn’t want to repay the money the casinos lent to him.
The gangs would have interceded with Hun Sen to advise Hok Lundy to stop gambling. But he didn’t obey. The amount of 2 million dollars is not so important for the gangs, but they feared Hok Lundy’s revenge after his humiliation. Moreover, he had a stake in other casinos, in particular at Bavet – Svay Rieng.
Since Hok Lundy’s death, who was allied with Hun Sen by marriage of their children, racketeering on underground casinos fell into the clans of Chea Sim and Sar Kheng’s hands, respectively the party leader and the Home secretary. Hun Sen understood that his opposition benefitted from this providential present, and he ordered the closure of the underground casinos.
The authorities, doubtlessly knowing who caused this bomb attack, should have acted enough to stalk the murderers, but on the contrary, they remained speechless. This fact proves the gangs have taken over the economic system and the Cambodian political affairs.
I do believe in this article that the death of Viet-Hok Lundy is not an accident but it about PEAL SI PEAL. From now on the person who is happiest about the death of Hok Lundy is Hun Sen. Hun Sen may be now able to sleep well because Hok Lundy is the only thron in his eyes.
Are we all equal before the law according to our constitution in Charpter II, article 31, point 2 on “The rights and obligation of Khmer citizens”? Of course not, because Hun Sen is privileged in the case of defamation suit sued by MP Mu Sochau.
“The court does not belong to the Council of Ministers. If a poor person or I am forced to go to the court, the prime minister must go to the court as well. If the court is just, it must be balanced,” said MP Mu Sochau.
The reason is that Hun Sen didn’t show up at the municipal court, but instead the prosecutor was asked to see Hun Sen at the Council of Minister for questioning.
Who know if the prosectutor questioned Hun Sen or Hun Sen questioned the prosecutor.
Ky Tech, Hun Sen’s lawyer, gave the reason why Hun Sen didn’t go to the municipal court was based on personal security and court independence.
“The questioning session had been moved for security reasons, adding that the appearance of Hun Sen’s bodyguards at the court could have led the public to believe that the court could not reach an independent ruling.”
It is not about the present of bodyguards that threat the court independence, but it is about Hun Sen’s arrogance, cruelty, and thuggish manner that threat it.
Moreover, the present of thousands of bodyguard to protect Hun Sen day and night, at home and wherever he goes also means that he is truly a coward and weak leader of Cambodia, because:
If he is truly a strong leader and truly loved by Cambodians as he keeps boasting all the time that Cambodian people dearly love him and that is why they have voted for him, so he must not need such thousands of bodyguards to protect him day and night both at home and to wherever he visits. Because if Cambodian people loved him, they would need him. If they needed him, then Hun Sen’s personal safety and security would be always rested with them. No one would harm him and he would be always safe and secured no matter where he goes.
Furthermore, the claim that he has repeatedly made that he has always served his people and loudly barked that Cambodia would always have peace, security, and stability, if the CPP would be re-elected in and if he would be elected for the Prime Minister again and again, is absolutely nonsense.
It seems that he is a real liar that:
Hun Sen is atually the weakest leader in the world. He has no trust in his people and so neither the people of Cambodia. He has no personal security in the country where he himself rules. He sees his enemies everywhere he goes in his own country where all the security forces-military and police, are under his tough controll. He sees his enemies everywhere among his own people, who he has always claimed that they dearly love him and voted for him to be their leader.
Do you all agree with me? Please tell me what you think about Hun Sen.
Mu Sochau, the member of parliament for Kompot province, is facing the immunity striff off by the majority (un-Cambodian) parliamentarians of Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and supported by the kangaroo court.
“The issue of lifting [Mu Sochua's] immunity has been included in the agenda for this session of the Permanent Committee, and a decision will come on June 22, when the Assembly will [decide whether to] adopt” the committee’s recommendations, senior Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker Cheam Yeap told the Post Monday.
Why is she lifted her immunity? Why not Hun Sen? Constitutionally, Mu Sochau’s case must not be that serious and the immunity must not be in the agenda. Because the case is not the flagrante delicto as stated in our constitution in Charpter VII, article 80 about the National Assembly. It is just a civil case and is not a penal prosecution. As Dr. Lao Monghay, a researcher at the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, said:
“The method of lifting immunity should not be used in this case. There will be public concern, especially among opposition supporters.”
However, to be fair if Mu Sochau is to be lifted her immunity to pave the way for Hun Sen’s defamation suit against her to go ahead, Mu Sochau’s defamtiona suit against Hun Sen must also be carried out, and Hun Sen’s immunity must be strifted off. Because Hun Sen is also an MP of Kandal province.
Amusingly, the suit against Hun Sen is dismissed by the Cambodian municipal court who reasoned that:
Hun Sen’s speech was a general speech and he did not mention anyone name, the word ” Mouk Krass” was not directed at any particular person but was andvice for the general public to behave appropriately, and the PM’s speech has no ill intention to cause any hurt, to defame or to insult any individual, including Mrs. Mu Sochua.
If we remember the cases of defamation against Sam Rainsy sued by CPP during the election campaign in July 2008 when he was giving a speech in Kratie province criticizing the CPP’s leaders by quoting the reports of Global Witness’ the “Thief of the Nation“, and the case sued by Ho Nam Hong on 22 April 2008 over his speech at a ceremony to commemorate the seizure of power by the Khmer Rouge and the beginning of their massacres of the Cambodian people on that day in 1975, all the speeches he made, he said without naming any persons, however, he was sued, lifted his immunity, and lost all the cases.
What are the differences between Sam Rainsy’s speeches and Hun Sen’s speeches? Actually, Sam Rainsy’s speeches are acceptably based on history, fact, and researchful documents which he would have won all the cases. Unlike Sam Rainsy’s speeches, Hun Sen’s speeches are personally developed from his nature and feeling towards his opponents and completely a speech of ignorance, the thug, intentional insult, the uncivilized and unethical behavor. As a result, Hun Sen is not condemned, and yet the municipal court claimed that Hun Sen’s speeches are to advice the general Cambodians to behave appropriately.
Should we Cambodians accept this kind of thuggish advice? Frankly, his speeches are best known as the symbol of insult, the uncilvilized, and violence and with these he continues to disgrace and devalue all the Cambodians.
And what has Mu Sochau defamed Hun Sen? She just sues against Hun Sen’s immoral and insulted words for defaming her personal dignity. Therefore, to countersue Mu Sochau is indirectly to sue against Hun Sen by replacing the accused with the targeted scapegaot, and with this Hun Sen is disgraced to the lowest level of human being.
Notice: Who says Hun Sen is a strong man? Actually, he is absolutely a true coward leader of all times in the world. He can’t even faces his own words. He doesn’ t dare to fight with Mu Sochau in a fair play at court. Or simly if he is sure that his words are not directed to Mu Sochau, let he goes to Preah Ang Dang Keu in front of Royal Palace and swear for truth. I hope he dares not!
Hun Sen and his gangs think they are smart, of course not, because with this case the the public are upset, the moral support for Hun Sen continues to fade away, and Hun Sen’s leadership will be completely vanished some days.
These few weeks the most disturbing and untolerable news that has stirred up my life day and night is concerning the Angkor Wat light decoration aiming at attracting more tourists to the country during the global economic crisis initiated by Apsara Authority.
Can this equipped light attaract more tourists to Angkor Wat and Cambodia as a whole while a leader of a country is incompetent to lead a country with transparency, security, stability, human right respects, and yet committing corruption and dependent on alm and submitting to neigboring countries?
Apsara Authority claimed that it is done according to international standard, consulting UNESCO and other related institutes.
As reaction against the light decoration, manny ordinary Cambodians, scholars, congressmen, and as well as NGOs’ representatives have voiced their concern over the affect of the equipped lights.
As a result Hun Sen government doesn’t only listen to Cambodian people who, if the our constitution is truly respected, are the master of the country, yet it has tried to silent all the critics.
Personally, the light decoration is untolerable and I think those who allows this project to be carried out is considered as a traitor and are untolerable.
Those people must think about the long term and should have done their best to preserve this most wonderful work of our greatest ancestors who have built this marvelous heritage for the world, for us and has become the soul, the spirit, and the pride of our people and nation.
More to be posted on this issues.
Is Hun Sen’s government different from those Cham and Siam in the past who distroyed our beloved Angkor Wat when they invaded us?
“CPP MPs will meet to lift Mu Sochua’s immunity, if the tribunal would ask for it, in order to ease the investigations”, said Om Yintieng.
I actually encourage Mrs. Mu Sochou to continue her lawsuit against Mr. Hun Sen for defamation to give him a lesson for his trashy speeches slandering, insulting, and threatening others wherever he goes, to see if juridical system in our country is still controlled by and preserved for only Hun Sen, and to know the stance of those MPs from the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) if they are for the Cambodian people or only for the CPP and Hun Sen.
Now those MPs of CPP start to show their true color as the DAP reported that:
“ On Friday (24th April), Mr. Hun Sen had lodged a counter-suit against Mrs. Mu Sochua and had implied that the 90 members of parliament from the Cambodian People’s Party had agreed to support the lifting of Mrs. Mu Sochua’s parliamentary immunity.”
In another report, it even goes further that,
“ Government officials have warned that Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua could face legal action and a possible suspension of her parliamentary immunity following last week’s announcement she would sue Prime Minister Hun Sen for defamation.”
According to our constitution article 31 which states that, “Every Khmer citizens shall be equal before the law, enjoying the same rights, freedom and fulfilling the same obligations regardless of race, color, sex, language, religious belief, political tendency, birth origin, social status, wealth or other status.” In this sense, if MP Mu Sochua is to be lifted her immunity, without exception, constitutionally Hun Sen’s immunity must be lifted, too, as Hun Sen is a representative of Kandal province.
Practically, I do agree with Mr. Arak Prey’s comment which reasons that, in practice, Mr. Hun Sen cannot countersue Mrs. Mu Sochua at all before he must make a defense first. If he can defense his lawsuit, then he can countersue. At the same time, he cannot use government lawyer to run for his private mistake at all. Mrs. Mu Sochua doesn’t sue the government but she sues Mr. Hun Sen personally. The law must be clearly identified.
In this case, we are absolutely sure that Mrs. Mu Sochua would win the case if our country had an impartial and independent court system. However, we are made to believe that Mrs. Mu Sochua will surely lose the case for daring filing the lawsuit against the shameless and irresponsible leader like Mr. Hun Sen who has now consolidated all the power in his hand.
Will it just be another big joke lawsuit in Cambodia?
I just recieved an article from Lok Pou Dy kareth on “Khmer Mean Pouch”.
The article is short but it bases on solid historical ground and it does reflect the way we are as Khmer, the Khmer who have lived on the Sovannaphumi land.
To read his article please click here: Khmer Mean Pouch by Dy Kareth
A two-week vocation for the auspecious days of our traditional Khmer Happy New Year, I was travelling to other countries for some personal affairs as well as for our national issues.
Now I just pointed out my trip to Norway, which I had a chance to meet many beloved Cambodians in Norway during the Khmer Happy New Year celebration and was scheduled to meet some of my close colleagues, Ir Chana (former Secreatary General of Students` Movement for Democracy and presently a Secretary General of SRP-Norway), Man Nath (former President of Cambodian Independent Civil Servant Association and National Assembly Staff and presently the President of Cambodian Watchdog Council International), Chham Chhany(former President of Cambodian Farmer Association and presently the Presient of SRP-Norway) and the best friend from Cambodia, Rong Chhun, the Presidents of Cambodian Independent Teacher Association (CITA) and Cambodian Trade Union.
In Norway, we were scheduled to meet some key personalities, and related to our field of work, I pleasantly would like to inform just the result of our meetings with the President of Trade Union of Norway in Southern Regoin, Fagförbunen, (TUN) and Local Trade Union of Norway which is conclusively positive as follow:
For Happy Khmer New Year in Norway, I hade a chance to attend the celebration for a while and I observed that our Khmer people in Norway are so united and do care for our tradition and culture as most of our beloved Cambodians do in our home country – Cambodia. They performed the Apsara dance, Tep Mohory Dance, Peacock dance, and traditional costume live show. It is my first time to attend such a wonderful Khmer Happy New Year abroad with our beloved countrymen since I left our country at the end of 2005. Honestly, I am so proud of them.
I am supposed to extend my stay in Norway until 10 May 2009 in order to meet a very humble key politician from our country and to attend the National Congress of the Norwegian Conservative Party in Oslo from 7 to 10 May 2009. But I have to leave early because my study and work are overloaded now. I hope i can fix them when back to Sweden.
May Budha Bless Cambodia and Cambodians!
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