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‘Hun Sen is taking the piss’: Labor MP unloads on Cambodian dictator
Australia and the world made a promise to the Cambodian people, to stand up for human rights, peace and democracy. But 28 years on, the world has failed to keep its promise. Instead, Hun Sen’s regime has attacked human rights; killed democracy; given away the Cambodian people’s sovereignty; accumulated secret wealth overseas; and undermined prosperity in our region.
ប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលីនិងពិភពលោកបានសន្យាជាមួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអោយក្រោកឈរឡើងដើម្បីការពារសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស សន្តិភាព និងប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ។ តែ២៨ឆ្នាំមកនេះ ពិភពលោកបរាជ័យក្នុងការរក្សាកិច្ចសន្យារបស់ខ្លួន។ ជាការជំនួសវិញ របបលោកហ៊ុន-សែន បានវាយប្រហារទៅលើសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស សំលាប់លទ្ធិប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ បោះបង់ចោលអធិបតេយ្យភាពដែនដីរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ សន្សំទ្រព្យរាប់កោដិទុកនៅក្រៅប្រទេស និងបំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញសុខដុមរមនាក្នុងតំបន់។
‘Hun Sen is taking the piss’: Labor MP unloads on Cambodian dictator
WAtoday, By James Massola, October 22, 2019 — 4.30pm
Jakarta: Federal Labor MP Julian Hill has launched an extraordinary attack on Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, declaring the dictator has sold out his country to China and warning the rising superpower is using the same tactics it used to militarise the South China Sea.
Mr Hill, whose seat of Bruce is home to one of the largest Cambodian-Australian populations, said that on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords that ended Cambodia’s long and bloody civil war, democracy was dying.
![Chinese investment brings violence and drugs to once sleepy backpacking town in Cambodia](https://cf-images.ap-southeast-2.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/3910869709001/821a4a65-8fa3-4ad0-833c-b9b864b4294e/20c1f103-f9f2-4490-bd92-a6bd81efa08e/1280x720/match/image.jpg)
Billions of dollars of Chinese investment have transformed the town of Sihanoukville in CambodiaThirty-nine found dead in truck in Essex, UK
The MP recently spent a week in Cambodia on a self-funded study tour where he met with civil rights groups, union activists and the remnants of the now-banned political opposition.
“Australia and the world made a promise to the Cambodian people, to stand up for human rights, peace and democracy. But 28 years on, the world has failed to keep its promise,” he told Parliament.
“Instead, Hun Sen’s regime has attacked human rights; killed democracy; given away the Cambodian people’s sovereignty; accumulated secret wealth overseas; and undermined prosperity in our region.”
In a speech that goes much further than the Labor leadership has been willing to in criticising the links between China and Cambodia, Mr Hill said “I don’t mean this as anti-China rhetoric … must be honest and say that I do not see what Hun Sen has let China do in Cambodia as positive”.
“It [Chinese investment] may be couched as BRI [Belt and Road Infrastructure investment], but it shows all the signs of Hun Sen allowing the development of naval and air facilities to facilitate Chinese military planning. The same salami slicing tactics that the world saw in the South China Sea are at work.”
Sihanoukville, which has seen a huge amount of Chinese investment, is “like the fantasies about the Wild West of old. Casinos. Booze. Guns. Riches. Women”.
“Sihanoukville is the worst place I have ever been.”
CAMBODIA
China’s takeover of Sihanoukville is almost complete, despite base row
Hun Sen won all 125 seats in the parliament in elections in July 2018 and has banned the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party. Former leader Kem Sokha is under house arrest in Phnom Penh, other leaders including Sam Rainsy and Mu Sochua are in exile while many activists and politicians have been jailed.
Rainsy has recently threatened to return to Cambodia on November 9 to lead a popular uprising, prompting threats of violence and military intervention from Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 34 years.
Against this back drop, Hill said Australia’s current approach to “just keep talking” to the Hun Sen regime was insufficient.
Hill said Australia should ramp up sanctions against Cambodia, get back into the “information game” through Radio Australia and short wave radio and push back by using our considerable soft power resources.
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Tags: Hun Sen illegitimacy, Hun Sen is Master of Manipulation
Sam Rainsy will again stunt the world this November 9, 2019
Not just violating the Constitution, abusing power and declaring enemies with his own people, Hun Sen dares to make any concession while in power such as exchange from good to evil by defending and promoting the evils, the thieves and the murderers. A concession to China to freely use Khmer land for military purpose, concession to Vietnam in border demarcation, etc. Hun Sen dare all kinds of concessions to foreign nations and individuals who dare to defend his power during this fragile transitional period.
Sam Rainsy will again stunt the world this November 9, 2019
We remember Sam Rainsy’s homecoming on July 19, 2013, when nearly million of people in Phnom Penh, especially young people, came out to receive and welcome him. The greeting procession was long crowded from the airport to the CNRP headquarters. Observers of the situation observed that his overwhelming popularity at that time was because he was a political figure who has been realistic in bringing real democracy to the Khmer people. And what turned out to be the overwhelming majority of supporters at the time was because the government under Hun Sen had been constantly harassing him especially through the court orders. Cambodia courts have had bad reputation in its profession. Among those court orders, charging against Sam Rainsy of removing border posts and accusing him of damaging the Cambodian government’s friendship with Vietnam were the ignition leaded to such people tsunami gathering.
![](https://www.sophanseng.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Let-the-Cambodia-earth-witness-for-the-Sam-Rainsy.jpg)
The events of 9 November 2019 are more logic than 2013. Sam Rainsy’s party’s resignation is seen as his high-paid example and this act aimed to keeping the CNRP life from new amended laws orchestrated by Hun Sen. But the arrest of Kem Sokha, the successor of the party, dissolving the party prior the convicting and prosecuting Kem Sokha, further upset more than three million members who voted for CNRP.
Sam Rainsy’s repatriation as CNRP’s acting president and return to the country to save the party is something that over 3 million party’s supporters cannot stay silence.
Hun Sen, on the other hand, observers of the situation have seen much of the wrongdoing as a result of conceit and delusion allowing himself drunken in endless thirst for power. Instead of acknowledging the reality of the dwindling popularity under his leadership for more than 30 years, declaring himself to retire or taking a rest from politics as a statesman, Hun Sen has resorted to vengeance with his own people. Nearly half of the kingdom population who voted for the CNRP, Hun Sen ordered to arrest their leader, detained on false charges, dissolving the party without conducting credible judicial procedure. Judgment of the Supreme Court without any real legal basis and the stealing of the 55 Assembly seats as well as the 5007 commune councillors directly voted by the people is a gross political authoritarianism.
Read More …Posted in Economics, Education, Election, Leadership, Politics, Social | Comments Off on Sam Rainsy will again stunt the world this November 9, 2019
Tags: Sam Rainsy Leadership
Petition to the Secretary General of the United Nations
His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations;
We, the undersigned, request your urgent intervention for the safe repatriation of Sam Rainsy, Acting President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and his colleagues to Cambodia on November 9, 2019.
Just a month ahead, the violent rhetoric from Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia is ominous: shelling heavy weapons, dispatching troops along the border, and shooting Rainsy’s airplane etc. Over 250 CNRP’s activist members are either accused by the court or extrajudicially detained by authorities. Kem Sokha, President of the CNRP, has been in detention two years (the first year in jail; the second year under “house arrest”), the CNRP was dissolved by order of the court prior to the general election in 2018. Hun Sen stole the seats of Member of Parliament and Commune Councillors whom people voted for them, and banned 108 Cambodian citizen from involvement in politics.
These actions are unconstitutional and violating the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 as well as international covenant on civil and political rights Cambodia has ratified.
With Paris Peace Agreement and the mandates of the United Nations, we ask that your excellency intervene to prevent a deadly confrontation from November 9, 2019 onward.
[Please click this link change.org to sign the petition.]
![](http://khmeroversea.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/A-ban-leaflet.jpg)
ឯកឧត្ដមអានតូនីយូ ហ្គូតតើរែស(António Guterres) អគ្គលេខាធិការអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ៖
យើងខ្ញុំដែលបានចុះហត្ថលេខាខាងក្រោម សូមស្នើសុំអន្តរាគមន៍ពីឯកឧត្ដមជាបន្ទាន់សម្រាប់ការធ្វើមាតុភូមិនិវត្តន៍របស់លោកសមរង្ស៊ី ប្រធានស្តីទីគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិនិងសហការីរបស់គាត់មកកាន់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាវិញនៅថ្ងៃទី៩ ខែវិច្ឆិកាឆ្នាំ២០១៩ នេះ។
នៅសល់តែមួយខែទៀតទេ វោហារស័ព្ទដ៏ឃោរឃៅពីលោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែននៃប្រទេសកម្ពុជាប្រកដោយហឹង្សាធ្ងន់ធ្ងរគឺមានការបញ្ជាអោយបាញ់ផ្លោងអាវុធធ្ងន់ៗ បញ្ជូនកងទ័ពទៅត្រៀមចាំតាមច្រកព្រំដែន និងការបាញ់យន្តហោះដែលដឹកលោកសមរង្ស៊ី។ សកម្មជនគណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិជាង២៥០នាក់ត្រូវបានតុលាការចោទប្រកាន់ឬឃុំខ្លួនក្រៅប្រព័ន្ធច្បាប់ដោយអាជ្ញាធរ។ លោកកឹមសុខា ប្រធានគណបក្សសង្រ្គោះជាតិបានជាប់ឃុំ២ឆ្នាំ (ឆ្នាំទី១ ជាប់ពន្ធនាគារ ឆ្នាំទី២ក្រោម“ការឃុំខ្លួនក្នុងផ្ទះ”) គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិត្រូវបានរំលាយតាមដីការបស់តុលាការមុនការបោះឆ្នោតសកលឆ្នាំ២០១៨ ។ លួចយកអាសនៈរបស់សមាជិកសភានិងសមាជិកក្រុមប្រឹក្សាឃុំ-សង្កាត់ដែលប្រជាជនបានបោះឆ្នោតអោយពួកគេ និងហាមឃាត់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរចំនួន ១០៨នាក់មិនអោយចូលរួមក្នុងជីវភាពនយោបាយ។
សកម្មភាពទាំងនេះគឺមិនស្របនឹងរដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញនិងរំលោភលើកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីសឆ្នាំ១៩៩១ ក៏ដូចជាកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងអន្តរជាតិស្តីពីសិទ្ធិពលរដ្ឋនិងសិទ្ធិនយោបាយដែលប្រទេសកម្ពុជាបានផ្តល់សច្ចាប័ន។
ដោយមានកិច្ចព្រមព្រៀងសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីសនិងអាជ្ញាសិទ្ធិរបស់អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិយើងខ្ញុំទាំងអស់គ្នាសូមស្នើសុំអោយឯកឧត្តមជួយអន្តរាគមន៍ទប់ស្កាត់ការប្រឈមមុខដាក់គ្នាស្លាប់រស់ចាប់ពីថ្ងៃទី៩ ខែវិច្ឆិកាឆ្នាំ ២០១៩ តទៅ។
[សូមមេត្តាចុច change.org ដើម្បីគាំទ្រញត្តិ]
Posted in Economics, Education, Election, Leadership, Politics, Researches, Social | Comments Off on Petition to the Secretary General of the United Nations
Tags: Petition to the UNs, Secretary General of the United Nations
Chinese naval base in Cambodia
According to a draft of the deal between Phnom Penh and Beijing, China would obtain a 30-year lease on the port, as well as a permit to station troops and storing weaponry. Two piers would be newly constructed, one for Cambodian and one for Chinese use. Chinese military personnel would be allowed to carry Cambodian passports, and Cambodians at the base would be required to get official permission from China to enter the Chinese section at the base.
យោងតាមពង្រាយឯកសារដោះដូររវាងក្រុងភ្នំពេញនិងប៉េកាំង ចិននឹងជួលកំពង់ផែរយៈពេល៣០ឆ្នាំ ក៏ដូចជាការអនុញ្ញាតអោយឈរជើងទ័ពនិងស្តុកគ្រឿងសព្វាវុធ។ ផែខ្នាតតូចពីរនឹងត្រូវកសាងឡើង មួយសម្រាប់ខ្មែរនិងមួយទៀតសម្រាប់ចិនប្រើប្រាស់។ បុគ្គលិកកងទ័ពចិននឹងត្រូវអនុញ្ញាតអោយកាន់លិខិតឆ្លងដែនខ្មែរ ហើយនៅមូលដ្ឋាននោះ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរត្រូវសុំការអនុញ្ញាតពីភាគីចិនគ្រប់ពេលបើចង់ចូលទៅក្នុងមូលដ្ឋានរបស់ចិននោះ។
Chinese naval base in Cambodia
![Chinese naval base in Cambodia](https://globalriskinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/images-800x500_c.jpeg)
Op-Ed: by Hannah Elten , October 6, 2019
The undisclosed military pact between China and Cambodia forms another significant example of China pursuing dual-use infrastructure projects in the Asia-Pacific – while simultaneously denying the existence of such projects. Moreover, Hun Sen’s denial of the deal demonstrates that the Cambodian government, once viewed by Western countries as a potential ally in the region, is growing ever closer to China. Lastly, Chinese access to Ream base marks another step towards a looming rivalry with India in the Pacific region.
Cambodia and China have reportedly signed a secret deal allowing Chinese military troops access to the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand. While both Cambodia and China have denied such an agreement, recent statements made by US military officials stationed in the Asia-Pacific leave little doubt about the integrity of the report.
Developments and Denial
Cambodian officials, including Ministry of Defense spokesman General Chum Sutheat, were swift in their rejection of the suggestion that Beijing is allowed to establish a military presence in Cambodia. However, suspicions have long circulated the Dara Sakor resort, a $3.8 billion investment project entirely financed and built by the Chinese Union Development Group (UDG). The project is located near both the run down Ream Naval Base and the coastal town of Sihanoukville.
Several points indicate the veracity of the WSJ report: Around 70 km away from Ream, UDG is also constructing Dara Sakor airport, which is due to open next year and will contain a runway longer than the one at Phnom Penh airport, raising concerns that it is ultimately envisioned also to serve aircrafts of the Chinese Air Force. At Ream itself, satellite images show that an area inside the base has been recently cleared and a bridge at the entrance is being repaired, potentially in preparation for construction work.
According to a draft of the deal between Phnom Penh and Beijing, China would obtain a 30-year lease on the port, as well as a permit to station troops and storing weaponry. Two piers would be newly constructed, one for Cambodian and one for Chinese use. Chinese military personnel would be allowed to carry Cambodian passports, and Cambodians at the base would be required to get official permission from China to enter the Chinese section at the base.
Same, same – but different
The implementation of the alleged agreement seems to follow the rules of a playbook Beijing has previously used.
In the past, China had frequently denied plans for maritime infrastructure abroad, even when construction was already underway, such as in the case of its outpost in Djibouti and the creation of artificial islands in the South China Sea. Chinese scholars and political analysts do not use the term “base”, instead of naming facilities “strategic support points”, pointing out their commercial purpose and operation via state-owned companies (such as UDG). Yet, their dual-use potential is palpable. While they are unlikely to be capable of sustaining primary combat operations, they could almost certainly provide logistical support, such as fuel, to passing naval ships, long distances away from Chinese territory.
The Chinese-Cambodian agreement appears to be more agreeable towards China than similar agreements it has concluded in the wider region. It also reflects how dependent Hun Sen’s government has become in Beijing. Cambodia, although still the recipient of large amounts of development aid from Western countries such as the US and the EU, has increasingly sidelined its relations with these countries in favour of proximity to Beijing – most likely because its loans are coming with no strings attached with regards to human rights and functioning democratic institutions. Over the past two years alone, the Cambodian government has accepted more than $600 million in loans as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Broader geopolitical implications
On a full geopolitical scale, Chinese access to Ream has the potential to accelerate growing tensions with India in the Pacific region. Itself pursuing a deep-water port at Sambang, Indonesia, at the entrance to the Malacca Strait, India might see the advantages of its presence there reduced if China encroaches on the Strait via Cambodia, without having to rely on ships stationed at Hainan island overly.
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Tags: China in Cambodia