• Noteworthy News
  • KhmerPAC
  • What is KhmerPAC?
  • What does KhmerPAC do?
  • Value
    • Philosophy
    • Basic Value
    • Propriety
  • Letters to Kacvey
    • Welcome to the new way of corresponding!
  • Who is Kacvey?
  • Other Opinionators
    • Friends
    • Contributors
  • Futurism

Khmer Politics Alternatives Circle

~ Thinking outside the box about Cambodia

Khmer Politics Alternatives Circle

Category Archives: International

The “Weak Strongman” or Two Weak Strongmen

02 Friday Apr 2021

Posted by KhmerPAC in Institution, International, Politics, Stories

≈ Leave a comment

My dear Kacvey,

Do you recall the term “weak strongman” that was in this letter “The Weak and Desperate Strongman” of 9 October 2017, and that has also been used in our later correspondences?

Well, Foreign Affairs has published an article under the signature of Timothy Frye and titled: “Russia’s Weak Strongman – The Perilous Bargains That Keep Putin in Power”

What an interesting article that presents so many similarities with our original “weak strongman”!

Enjoy the reading with your students!

“Delay Is Preferable To Error”

04 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, International, Issue, Politics, Social

≈ Comments Off on “Delay Is Preferable To Error”

My dear Kacvey,

Today is 4 January 2021, and you, without a doubt, have heard that the return of the vice-president of the opposition has been postponed to 15 January 2021.

Since the weak strongman in the City of Tonlé Buon Mouk has confirmed that he is a pure selfish coward and funk in refusing to issue entry visa to her and to other members of the opposition to attend the court hearing for which they have been summoned, it is fair to assess that such coward strongman has weighed his dilemma on the scale of risks: no matter what happens, for his political safety, it would be preferable for him, for now, to keep the opposition outside the country, be it in France or the US, by using whatever means available: ugly, illegal, irrational, insane or otherwise; simultaneously, inside the country, he would continue the politics of repression by his goons and injustice by his kangaroos court. He is not that dumb not to know that if the vice-president returned, she would be acclaimed and welcomed like the former oppo No. 1 did in July 2013. The specter of that return combined with the one related to the funerals of Mr. Kem Ley in July 2016 still haunt him day and night, because never in his life he has been recognized, acclaimed, cherished or respected like in those 2 events, albeit 3 years apart. Worst, as of now, the only contact with the people, even his own people, is through the solitary screen of Facebook in his gilded 4-wall palace guarded by thousands of bodyguards.

The following articles are for your students to keep abreast of the fluidity of the situation and to ponder consequently. The letter will be updated as situation evolves:

– RFA, 2 January 2021
ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំ​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ​លើក​ពេល​វិល​ចូល​ស្រុក​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី៤ ទៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៥ មករា​វិញ
– Phnom Penh Post, 4 January 2021
Former senior CNRP lawmaker’s return postponed
– VOA, 4 January 2021
មាតុភូមិ​និវត្តន៍​របស់​លោក​ស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ ​ត្រូវ​ជួប​ឧបសគ្គ​ដោយ​ពុំ​ទាន់​បាន​ទិដ្ឋាការ​ប្រភេទ ​K
Cambodian Gov’t Says Mu Sochua Free to Come Back, But Won’t Issue Visa

Is this postponement to 15 January 2021 a blessing in disguise for the opposition or “timeo danaos et dona ferentes” for the coward? Since no mortal can predict the future, it would not be imprudent or injudicious to reflect on the words of:
1) Thomas Jefferson in his letter to George Washington on 16 May 1792: “Delay is preferable to error“, and
2) Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in his interview with Smithsonian Magazine in November 2010:  “A delay is better than a disaster.”

Stay tuned!

=====
Update:

1. SEA GLOBE, 5 January 2021
‘Be a leader’: Sochua calls on king to intervene to ensure her return
2. The Diplomat, 7 January 2021
A Letter from a Cambodian Woman in Exile
3. RFA, 8 January 2021
រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ប្រកាន់​ជំហរ​មិន​ផ្តល់​ទិដ្ឋាការ​ឲ្យ​ថ្នាក់​ដឹក​នាំ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ចូល​ស្រុក​តតាំង​ក្ដី​ក្នុង​តុលាការ​ឡើយ
4. The Diplomat, 11 January 2021
The Cambodian government says it will not grant travel documents to exiles hoping to return to stand trial.
5. RFA, 11 January 2021
មេធាវី​ការពារ​ក្ដី​ឱ្យ​មេ​ដឹក​នាំ​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​គ្រោង​ដាក់​លិខិត​ទៅ​តុលាការ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១២ មករា​ជួយ​អន្តរាគមន៍​អាច​ឱ្យ​កូនក្ដី​ខ្លួន​មាន​វត្តមាន​នៅ​តុលាការ
Opposition Lawyer to Request Court Allow Clients Entry to Cambodia to Face Charges
6- Thmey Thmey, 13 January 2021
លោកស្រី មួរ សុខ​ហួរ ស្នើសុំ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​អន្តរាគមន៍​លើ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ​ឱ្យ​ខ្លួន​ចូល​ស្រុកវិញ​ ដើម្បីតតាំងរឿងក្តី
7- RFI, 16 January 2021
ដំណើរមាតុភូមិនិវត្តន៍របស់ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំអតីតគណបក្សប្រឆាំង ទទួលបរាជ័យជាលើកទីពីរ
លោក​ស្រី មូរ សុខហួរ ទាមទារ​រក​យុត្តិធម៌ ក្រោយ​ត្រូវ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​អាកាសចរណ៍​បដិសេធ​មិន​ឲ្យ​ឡើង​យន្តហោះ

The Three Kingdoms

17 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, Governance, Institution, International, Politics, Social

≈ Comments Off on The Three Kingdoms

My dear Kacvey,

Please do not be alarmed by the title of this letter; it has nothing to do with the classic “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” 三国演义 with states of Wei 魏, Shu 漢 and Wu 吳, nor with Liu Bei 刘备, Cao Cao 曹操, Zhu Geliang 诸葛亮, Zhang Fei 张飞 or Guan Yu 关羽 etc… It is rather about the three kingdoms in current Southeast Asia, and on the way how each suzerain, in dealing with or governing his people, is seen in contemporary time through media.

Numerous articles have been written about the suzerains of these three kingdoms that you and your students could easily find in google for expansive information. However only 3 articles have been chosen as a base for discussion in this letter.

Malaysia
Reuters, 25 October 2020
Malaysia’s king rejects emergency rule in blow to PM Muhyiddin

Thailand
The New York Times, 18 November 2020
‘Now, We Fight Face to Face’: Thailand’s Protests Shatter Taboos
Reuters, 18 December 2020
The last taboo

Cambodia
Radio Free Asia, 21 October 2020
ឧត្ដម​ទីប្រឹក្សា​ផ្ទាល់​នៃ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ថ្លែង​ថា ព្រះរាជា​បច្ចុប្បន្ន ដូច​ជាប់​ឃុំ​ក្នុង​វាំង ព្រោះ​ស្ថាប័ន​រដ្ឋាភិបាល
Radio Free Asia, 30 October 2020
“រដ្ឋាភិបាល​មិន​បាន​គាំទ្រ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​បំពេញ​ព្រះរាជ តួនាទី​ពេញលេញ​តាម​រដ្ឋធម្មនុញ្ញ”

Your students should be suggested to conduct a comparative study on the difference in way the suzerains reign over and rule their subjects. Today’s news from Sweden could give some impetus to the thinking when the Swedish monarch, as reported in Business Insider, openly said: “I think we have failed. We have a large number who have died, and that is terrible”

This brings us to recall 1) what the Proverbs of Solomon said: “In the multitude of people is the king’s honor; but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince”, and 2) what Bhumibol Adulyadej, king of Thailand, once said about himself: “I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. Because if you say the King cannot be criticized, it means that the King is not human.”

Please let us know when they complete their homework!

=====
Update:

1. Asia Times, 12 January 2021
Does Cambodia have a ‘puppet king’?

Summit for Democracy

28 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, Governance, Human Rights, International, Politics

≈ Comments Off on Summit for Democracy

My dear Kacvey,

Please keep these two articles in your archives and wait until it happens to see whether the weak strongman that has become Cambodian most corrupt autocrat would make the list:

1. Foreign Affairs: Why America Must Lead Again – Rescuing U.S. Foreign Policy After Trump by Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and
2. Politico: Are you on the list? Biden’s democracy summit spurs anxieties — and skepticism by Nahal Toosi.

Justice Thurgood Marshall, once, wrote: “Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.”

The Elements of the China Challenge

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in International, Politics

≈ Comments Off on The Elements of the China Challenge

My dear Kacvey,

This file is for your archives: The Elements of the China Challenge
https://beta.documentcloud.org/documents/20407448-elements_of_the_china_challenge-20201117

Enjoy the reading!

The Hungarian Super Spreader

04 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, International, Issue, Politics

≈ Comments Off on The Hungarian Super Spreader

My dear Kacvey,

Were you invited to meet the Hungarian Péter Szijjártó who was on a flash visit in the City of Tonlé Buon Mouk? If you were you have to read this letter while in voluntary quarantine, … and listening to Frank Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies!

If you weren’t, the links below will tell you how the visit ended up and the souvenir that the visitor left behind for the weak strongman. While you’ll be reading them, chances are that you certainly recall the Westerdam saga in Kg Som on 13-14 February 2020 where the weak strongman played superman with no fear of the corona virus.

The list will be updated as availability of info happens.

France 24, 4 November 2020
Hungarian minister tests positive for virus on Southeast Asia tour

Asia Times, 4 November 2020
Hungarian minister tests positive in Southeast Asia

Associated Press, 4 November 2020
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Remix, 4 November 2020
Hungarian FM Szijjártó has coronavirus, isolated in Bangkok hospital

Thmey Thmey, 4 November 2020
សម្តេច ហ៊ុន សែន ដាក់ខ្លួននៅដាច់ដោយឡែក ក្រោយជួបរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេសហុងគ្រីដែលមានកូវីដ-១៩

Channel News Asia, 4 November 2020
Hungary’s foreign minister tests positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Thailand

VOA, 4 November 2020
ក្រោយ​ចេញ​ពី​កម្ពុជា រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការ​បរទេស​ហុងគ្រី​តេស្ដ​វិជ្ជមាន​កូវីដ​១៩

Euro News, 4 November 2020
Hungary’s foreign minister tests positive for coronavirus while on state visit to Thailand

RFI, 4 November 2020
លោកនាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រីហ៊ុន សែន និងអ្នកពាក់ព័ន្ធជិតស្និទ្ធមានលទ្ធផលតេស្តអវិជ្ជមានកូវីដ១៩

Bangkok Post – 4 November 2020
Hungarian foreign minister tests positive on arrival in Bangkok

VOA, 5 November 2020
មនុស្ស​ជាង​៦០០​នាក់ ធ្វើ​តេស្ត​កូវីដ លទ្ធផល​អវិជ្ជមាន ក្រោយ​ប្រាស្រ័យ​ទាក់ទង​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ហុងគ្រី
Hundreds Test Negative After Coming in Contact with Infected Hungarian Minister

VOD, 5 November 2020
Official Says Hungarian Delegation, Foreign Ministry Asked for No Masks

RFI, 5 November 2020
ក្រសួងសុខាភិបាល៖អ្នកប៉ះពាល់ជាមួយរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីការបរទេសហុងគ្រីមាន៦២៨នាក់ ប៉ុន្តែសុទ្ធតែតេស្តអវិជ្ជមានទាំងអស់

RFA, 5 November 2020
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ត្រូវ​​ក្រុង​ក្នុង​ផ្ទះ ១៤​ថ្ងៃ ក្រោយ​ជួប​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ការបរទេស​ហុងគ្រី ដែល​ផ្ទុក​កូវីដ១៩

VOA, 6 November 2020
មនុស្ស​ជាង​២០០​នាក់​ទៀត ធ្វើ​តេស្ត​កូវីដ លទ្ធផល​អវិជ្ជមាន ក្រោយ​ប្រាស្រ័យ​ទាក់ទង​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ហុងគ្រី

RFI, 6 November 2020
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ព្រមានពីការផ្ទុះកូវីដ១៩ នៅកណ្ដាលទីក្រុង ប្រសិនបើការធ្វើចត្តាឡីស័កមានភាពខ្ជីខ្ជា

RFA, 7 November 2020
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ព្រមាន​ពី​ការ​ផ្ទុះ​រាលដាល​ជំងឺ​កូវីដ១៩ ក្នុង​សហគមន៍ បើ​ធ្វេសប្រហែស​ក្នុង​ពេល​ធ្វើ​ចត្តាឡឺស័ក

RFI, 7 November 2020
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ប្រគល់​ការងារ​សង្គម​ទៅ​លោក ស ខេង ខណៈទំនាក់​ទំនង​អន្តរជាតិប្រគល់​ទៅ លោក អូន ព័ន្ធមុនីរ័ត្ន

San Francisco Chronicle, 8 November 2020
Cambodia shuts schools in capital area as virus precaution

RFI, 8 November 2020
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន៖ លទ្ធផលវិជ្ជមានកូវីដ១៩លើអង្គរក្សខ្មែរ គឺជាបញ្ហាធ្ងន់ធ្ងរបំផុត

Phnom Penh Post, 8 November 2020
PM: Covid situation in Cambodia ‘alarming’

Straits Times, 9 November 2020
A*Star researchers simulate how droplets fly when a Covid-19 patient coughs without a mask

Thmey Thmey, 9 November 2020
លោក សួស យ៉ារ៉ា, ទូតហុងគ្រីនៅកម្ពុជា និង​មន្ត្រីកសិកម្មឆ្លងកូវីដ-១៩ពីរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីហុងគ្រី

VOD, 9 November 2020
Three More Found With Covid-19 in Second Tests After Hungarian Visit

Cambodianess, 9 November 2020
Three More Test Positive for COVID-19 After Contact with Hungarian Foriegn Minister

Phnom Penh Post, 10 November 2020
PM urges calm in wake of ‘November 3 event’

UCA News, 10 November 2020
Cambodia acts after bodyguard tests positive for Covid-19

U.S. News & World Report,11 November 2020
Cambodia Bans State-Organized Events in Capital Over Virus

The Guardian, 11 November 2020
Cambodian PM isolating after Covid outbreak linked to Hungarian minister

VOD, 12 November 2020
Foreign Minister Defends Szijjarto, Citing Hungary’s Support on EBA
PM’s Assistant Asks ‘What Did I Do Wrong?’ After Dozens Quarantined

RFA, 14 November 2020
មន្ត្រី​ការបរទេស​ហុងគ្រី ថា​រឿង​មិន​ពាក់​ម៉ាស់ គឺ​នាំអាទិ៍​មកពី​ខាង​ភាគី​កម្ពុជា

Let us ponder on a few things just to satisfy our own curiosity:
– Was the visitor tested before arriving in Pochentong?
– Were the Pochentong airport or government officials given the test results before deplaning?
– If the visitor was tested positive in Bangkok after an hour flight from Pochentong, did he get it before boarding the plane or in the plane?
– If he got it before boarding the plane, did he get it while in contact with maskless hosts, himself being maskless, or did he get it even before landing in Pochentong?
– Now, the weak strongman and his tribesmen are “self-quarantined”, but in such an autocratic regime, who dare control or verify whether or not they abide by the health requirements?
– Is this the way diplomacy is conducted between two ex-communist-turned-autocratic regimes?
– What type of friend is this, who came and went without telling that he tested positive and left with a “quarantine” souvenir for the host and his entourage?
– This whole enchilada reminds of this article by The Washington Post.
– More than 800 people, including ministers and high-ranked government officials, were estimated to be “in close contact” with the guest. Could it be statistically possible that none of these 800 people were tested positive? And what if the weak strongman, an ex-heavy smoker, were tested positive, would the public be informed?

How this will play out in the weeks or months to come is everybody’s guess, but one thing is certain, “something” will have to happen either in the Magyar capital or in the City of Tonlé Buon Mouk, as this fits exactly what Dr. Anthony Fauci has said: “A pandemic influenza would mean widespread infection essentially throughout every region of the world.”

The corona virus does not carry any passport, either Cambodian or Hungarian. It flies with and inside whom who flies.

“We may have to cut loose the two to save the eight”

01 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Institution, International, Issue, Politics

≈ Comments Off on “We may have to cut loose the two to save the eight”

My dear Kacvey

A bombshell of news exploded on 24 October 2020 by an article published by “Mothership” in Singapore. You and your students will discover its content on your own through this link: Bilahari Kausikan: Asean may have to cut members if they continue to be led by an external power – True neutrality means taking positions based on your own interests, and not allowing others to define your interests for you.
https://mothership.sg/2020/10/bilahari-asean-china/

That article by Bilahari Kausikan drew different reactions from inside and outside Cambodia as follows:

Fresh News, 27 October 2020
Open Letter: A Singaporean Wolf Warrior Is Destroying ASEAN Unity and Centrality
http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/19862-2020-10-27-09-23-34.html

Asia Times. 28 October 2020
Time to boot Cambodia out of ASEAN

South China Morning Post, 28 October 2020
Bilahari Kausikan dismisses claims he is an ‘agent’, after hinting Asean should expel Cambodia, Laos over Chinese influence
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3107483/bilahari-dismisses-claims-he-agent-after-hinting-asean-should

The Straits Times, 29 October 2020
Retired Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan dismisses claims by Cambodia of being agent to foreign power
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/retired-singapore-diplomat-dismisses-claims-by-cambodia-of-being-agent-to-foreign

Phnom Penh Post, 28 October 2020
‘No chance Cambodia booted out of ASEAN’
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/no-chance-cambodia-booted-out-asean

The Diplomat, 29 October 2020
Could ASEAN Really Cut Laos and Cambodia Loose?
https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/could-asean-really-cut-laos-and-cambodia-loose/

VOA, 30 October 2020
មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​កម្ពុជា​ប្រតិកម្ម​នឹង​សំណើ​ឱ្យ​ដក​កម្ពុជា​ចេញ​ពី​អាស៊ាន​ថា​ជា​«គំនិត​បង្ក​ហេតុ»
https://khmer.voanews.com/a/hun-sen-aide-hit-back-at-proposal-to-boot-cambodia-out-of-asean/5641659.html

The list will be updated with additional reactions as they become known.

Kacvey, as you now have perused all the above, some hard questions will certainly be thrown at you by your students. Let just prepare the possible or plausible questions:
– Why did Bilahari Kausikan raise this issue in an open public forum?
– Why at this time when the multifaceted relations between the US and China are at the lowest level: US elections, world pandemic (causes and consequences), trade war espionage, and South China Sea?
– Why at this time when the US State Secretary and the Chinese Foreign Affaires are crisscrossing Asean and Indian subcontinent capitals?
– Is there or is there not an imaginary relation between what Bilahari Kausikan said with the issues of Dara Sakor and Ream seen from the regional and global perspectives and eyes?
– Would it also draw reactions by Asean and non-Asean “officials”, observers, academicians, strategists or press commentators?
– Does the weak strongman have enough intellectual, cultivated and polyhistoric ammunitions to directly challenge or fire back at Bilahari Kausikan’s arguments through conventional channels and not on the screen of his Facebook page in Khmer?
– By discussing “Cambodia”, would Bilahari Kaisaukan mean Cambodia as a nation or its current autocratic leader that has Chinafied Cambodia? Would Bilahari Kausikan review his opinion if Cambodia is under different leadership and politics in the future?

Hope your students drill you to the core, and for those who are not interested, they should read what Plato, once wrote: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors” and Dante Alighieri: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”

=====

Update:

Fresh News, 30 October 2020
Cambodian Journalist Recalls Bilahari, Former Singaporean Diplomat

Abandoning Multilateralism for Shackled Bilateralism

24 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, International, Issue, Politics

≈ Comments Off on Abandoning Multilateralism for Shackled Bilateralism

My dear Kacvey,

At the opening of the general debate at the United Nations 75th General Assembly on Tuesday 22 September 2020, the Phnom Penh Post reporter Niem Chheng penned an article: “Hun Sen says developing nations ‘targets of rivalry’”

Your students and you can debate in the online class on various issues which are the subject of the United Nations General Assembly main agenda titled: “The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism.”

This letter is intended to introduce some ideas into your discussions on the specific case of Cambodia under the regime of the ex-KR weak strongman.

1. Has the weak strongman forgotten that it was the multilateralism of the United Nations that ended the war among Khmer in which the weak strongman was first a warrior with the genocidal Khmer Rouge and then later a puppet of a foreign force?

2. Has he forgotten that he was part the Supreme National Council (SNC) that was a party tot the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements?

3. Has he forgotten that it is through the United Nations multilateralism implemented by United Nations Transit Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) that he has become what he has been since the completion of the elections in May 1993?

4. Why has he now totally abandoned the multilateralism and espoused instead the unconditional bilateralism with China in every aspect of Cambodia economy, politics, military, human rights and international affairs?

5. Where is he going to find the money to reimburse the $30-to-$40 billions of loans that China have so far made to Cambodia, where as his government not only in complete bankruptcy now but also incapable of paying the $250 millions loan to the US?

6. Why has he signed contracts for Dara Sakor and Ream, prostituted Kg Som with Chinese casinos and thugs, and made long-term concessions of lands, forests, and water to Chinese investors, private or state owned enterprises?

7. Are there projects in Cambodia of the same magnitude in 6. above under Western or non-Chinese financiers and investors?

8. Where have those $30-to-$40 billions gone, since 99% of the country still lives in poverty, unemployment and indebtedness to microfinance, while the 1% wears $millions insane luxury watches, owns private jets, and has residences in the US, UK, France, and Cyprus?

9. In the presence of current virus pandemic that originated in Wuhan, the political and trade conflict between the US and China, the closing of hundreds of garments factories, the withdrawal of special tariffs treatment by the European Union, the return of thousands and thousands of migrant workers from neighboring countries, and the complete paralysis of tourism industry, does he realize that all issues shown in this letter are no longer in his hand, no matter how loud and lonely he and his sycophants claim in local forum? Does he understands he can’t solve those problems anymore because they are way beyond his domestic and personal ability and they will be instead handled over his head? He who created his own quagmire that he can’t extract himself out of it: the law of centrifugal force.

10. The weak strongman is no longer the one that he showed himself to be like in the past; instead he’s now sick, isolated from the people he pretends to govern, but oppress instead, self-prisoner in his 4-wall palace protected by a corps of bodyguards, and no more confidence and trust from his peers inside the corrupt people party.

Kacvey, like everything on earth, autocracy also has an end.
Fasten your seat belt tightly!

Dara Sakor, a base or not a base?

15 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, Governance, International, Issue, Politics

≈ Comments Off on Dara Sakor, a base or not a base?

My dear Kacvey,

Let start this letter with 3 archival records that you certainly have remembered to refresh our memory:
1) Report by Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS): Harbored Ambitions, and
2) Report by Human Rights Watch (HRW): Cambodia’s Dirty Dozen – A Long History of Rights Abuses by Hun Sen’s Generals
3) Report by Asia Society Policy Institute: Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued severe sanctions against some protagonists as indicated in 1), 2) and 3) above.  The sanctions are contained in a department press release titled: Treasury Sanctions Chinese Entity in Cambodia Under Global Magnitsky Authority.

Let reproduce the full text of the press release for easing reading:

“WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated one Chinese state-owned entity, Union Development Group Co., Ltd. (UDG), for seizure and demolition of local Cambodians’ land for the construction of the Dara Sakor development project. OFAC designated this People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-owned entity pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption, and their supporters. UDG conducted some of these activities through Kun Kim (Kim), a senior Cambodian general previously designated by OFAC on December 9, 2019 pursuant to E.O. 13818, for his involvement in corruption.“After falsely registering as a Cambodian-owned entity in order to receive land for the Dara Sakor development project, UDG reverted to its true ownership and continued to operate without repercussions,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The United States is committed to using the full range of its authorities to target these practices wherever they occur.”“In addition, the land provided to UDG extends into Botum Sakor National Park, a protected natural area that can only be handed over by royal decree. In order to receive the land, UDG registered itself as a Cambodian-owned company, headed by a Cambodian national, but nevertheless within three years of receiving the land, UDG switched back to being a Chinese-owned and operated company without repercussion.

“MALIGN CHINESE INVESTMENT IN CAMBODIA

“The PRC has used UDG’s projects in Cambodia to advance ambitions to project power globally. UDG-funded activities have forced Cambodians from their land and devastated the environment, hurting the livelihoods of local communities, all under the guise of converting Cambodia into a regional logistics hub and tourist destination. As is too often the case with Beijing’s One Belt One Road initiative, these activities have disproportionately benefited the PRC, at the expense of the Cambodian people.

“Of additional concern are media reports that the Cambodian government spokesperson, Phay Siphan, said that Dara Sakor could be converted to host military assets. A permanent PRC military presence in Cambodia could threaten regional stability and undermine the prospects for the peaceful settlement of disputes, the promotion of maritime safety and security, and the freedom of navigation and overflight.

“Today’s action builds upon recent steps taken by the United States to demonstrate our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific, and the sovereignty of the Cambodian people. The United States is actively taking steps to deter the PRC’s exploitative investments and to stand with our partners and allies in Southeast Asia.

“UNION DEVELOPMENT GROUP

“UDG is a PRC state-owned entity acting for or on behalf of a PRC official that, on May 9, 2008, was granted a 99-year lease with the Cambodian government for 36,000 hectares (approximately 90,000 acres) of land in the Koh Kong province of Cambodia. Following the approved lease, UDG began to develop the $3.8 billion Dara Sakor project, ostensibly to be used as a tourism development. The size of the development is in violation of Cambodian law, which limits land concessions to 10,000 hectares.

“Additionally, UDG, through Kim, used Cambodian military forces to intimidate local villagers and to clear out land necessary for UDG to build the Dara Sakor project. Kim was instrumental in the UDG development and reaped significant financial benefit from his relationships with UDG. Specifically, with the assistance of Cambodian military forces provided through Kim, UDG prevented local villagers from planting rice paddy fields on the disputed land and was also accused of burning down the houses of villagers with whom it had conflicts, and of using private security and Cambodian military forces to control the movements of local villagers. Both the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Cambodia’s Council of Ministers asked UDG to stop using Cambodian military forces to take land from the Cambodian people. Cambodia’s Council of Ministers issued a directive ordering UDG to stop destroying villagers’ property; however, UDG ignored the directive and continued the destruction.

“UDG is designated for being a person acting for or on behalf of a current or former government official, who is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery.

“SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the entity above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by it, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or otherwise exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services from any such person.

“GLOBAL MAGNITSKY

Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the President signed E.O. 13818 on December 20, 2017, in which the President found that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity that it threatens the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.”

Could this U.S. sanction be the second Sword of Damocles after the one gifted by the European Union to the weak strongman? There is reason not to suggest otherwise: the weak strongman has not been seen in public for quite some time. What is he pondering in the darkness of the four walls of his palace ornated with so many insane luxury watches and protected by thousands of bodyguards … from his own enemies inside?

=====
Update with articles of interests:

– 23 September 2020 – Global Reporting Center: Rough Seas: Malaysia, Cambodia & Thailand
– 28 September 2020 – The World: Opening the door to Chinese investment comes with risks for Southeast Asian nations
– 2 October 2020 – Reuters: Cambodia demolished U.S.-built facility on naval base: researchers
– 2 October 2020 – Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative: CHANGES UNDERWAY AT CAMBODIA’S REAM NAVAL BASE
– 4 October 2020 – South China Morning Post: Cambodia caught in the middle of US-China clash over South China Sea military bases
– 4 October 2020 – Nikkei Asian Review: Cambodia naval base set to undergo China-led expansion
– 17 October 2020 – South China Morning Post: As China calls, is writing on wall for US-Cambodia military ties?
– 21 October 2020 – The Diplomat: Cambodia, China and the Dara Sakor Problem
– 9 November – Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative: UPDATE: ANOTHER U.S.-BUILT FACILITY AT REAM BITES THE DUST
– 10 November 2020 – VOA: Cambodia Demolishes Second U.S.-Built Facility at Ream Naval Base
– 24 January 2021 – The National Interest: Why America Fears the Creation of Chinese Military Bases in Cambodia

The Blue Tent That Became a Permanent Wooden Structure or How New Cyclopic Chéy Chétha Drew the Map of the New Kampuchea Krom

28 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by KhmerPAC in Event, History, International, Issue, Politics

≈ Comments Off on The Blue Tent That Became a Permanent Wooden Structure or How New Cyclopic Chéy Chétha Drew the Map of the New Kampuchea Krom

My dear Kacvey,

This letter is intended to be a compilation of news for your students to be aware of the situation on Srok Khmer’s territorial dis-integrity that the ex-KR weak strong man has manipulated to serve his own personal interests and for him to pay the debt that he had contacted on 7 January 1979 for his sustenance in the grip of corrupt and autocratic power.

The letter will be updated as news come in.

Radio Free Asia
លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ​ប្រាប់​ឱ្យ​លោក វ៉ា គឹមហុង ជួប​ពលរដ្ឋ​បាត់​ដី​នៅ​ខេត្ត​ត្បូង​ឃ្មុំ
https://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/Hun-Sen-orders-Border-Committee-Chairman-Mr-Var-Kim-Hong-to-visit-people-living-a-long-border-in-Tbong-Kmum-province-08252020225836.html

Voice of America
អាជ្ញាធរខេត្តកណ្តាលថា យោធាវៀតណាមសង់ជម្រករឹងមាំថ្មីនៅព្រំដែន
https://khmer.voanews.com/a/kandal-provincial-police-reports-vietnamese-military-building-new-firm-shelter-on-border/5560193.html

Cambodianess
Vietnam Is Building Permanent Military Structures along the Cambodian Border in Kandal Provincehttps://cambodianess.com/article/vietnam-is-building-permanent-military-structures-along-the-cambodian-border-in-kandal-province

Radio Free Asia
រដ្ឋាភិបាល ប្រគល់​ផែនទី​ថ្មី ខ្នាត ១/២៥ ០០០ ឲ្យ​អាជ្ញាធរ​យក​ទៅ​ប្រើប្រាស់​ជា​ឯកសារ​ព្រំដែន​ផ្លូវ​ការ​ជាមួយ​ប្រទេស​វៀតណាម
https://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/Government-provides-new-topographic-maps-to-35-public-institutions-for-official-use-08272020145739.html

Phnom Penh Post
VN ‘violates’ border with concrete shelter
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vn-violates-border-concrete-shelter

Vietnam+
Vietnam-Cambodia border topographic maps to be sent to UN
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnamcambodia-border-topographic-maps-to-be-sent-to-un/182009.vnp

Radio Free Asia
Cambodia Distributes New Map of Border With Vietnam Despite Claims it Cedes Land to Hanoi
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/border-08272020172606.html

Cambodia Daily
ប្រមុខការពារជាតិ ថាបញ្ហាព្រំដែន ត្រូវបានក្រុមប្រឆាំងយកធ្វើជាអាជីវកម្មនយោបាយ
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/2020/08/28/16/45/49628/

Radio Free Asia
“ទីតាំង​វៀតណាម​បោះតង់​ជា​កន្លែង​លោក រ៉ុង ឈុន គ្រោង​ទៅ​ពិនិត្យ​កាល​ពី​លោក​នៅ​មាន​សេរីភាព”
https://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/RongChhun-wished-to-witness-hundred-tents-set-up-by-Vietnamese-08272020121539.html

Phnom Penh Post
Minister lashes out at critics of VN border map
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minister-lashes-out-critics-vn-border-map

Cambodia Daily
លោក វ៉ា គឹមហុងថា ត្រូវរឹងចាំរបាយការណ៍ពីអាជ្ញាធរមូលដ្ឋានខេត្តត្បូងឃ្មុំ មុននឹងចុះទៅពិនិត្យបញ្ហាបង្គោលព្រំដែន
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/2020/08/28/16/44/49629/

Radio France Internationale
លោកបណ្ឌិតសុខ ទូច៖ បើនិយាយមិនស្តាប់គ្នា កម្ពុជាអាចសង់ប៉ុស្តិ៍មួយដែរនៅទល់មុខនឹងប៉ុស្តិ៍របស់ទាហានវៀតណាម
https://www.rfi.fr/km/%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%98%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B6/20200828-%E1%9E%80%E1%9E%98%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%96%E1%9E%BB%E1%9E%87%E1%9E%B6-%E1%9E%9C%E1%9F%80%E1%9E%8F%E1%9E%8E%E1%9E%B6%E1%9E%98-%E1%9E%9F%E1%9E%84%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%82%E1%9E%98-%E1%9E%96%E1%9F%92%E1%9E%9A%E1%9F%86%E1%9E%8A%E1%9F%82%E1%9E%93

Voice of America
អាជា្ញធរ​កម្ពុជា​រុញ​ដាក់​គ្នារឿង​របាយការណ៍​ទាហាន​វៀតណាម​សង់​សំណង់​រឹងមាំ​នៅ​ព្រំដែន​ខេត្ត​កណ្តាល
https://khmer.voanews.com/a/cambodian-authorities-have-no-answer-to-vietnamese-construction-in-controversial-border-area/5561615.html?

Cambodia Daily
គណបក្សសង្គ្រោះជាតិ ដែលនៅតែឈ្មោះផ្ញើលិខិតចំហជូន លោក ហ៊ុន សែន ឲ្យចាត់ការយោធាយួនចូលឈ្លានពានបូរណភាពទឹកដីកម្ពុជា
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/2020/08/29/17/56/49650/
ប្រធានរាជបណ្ឌិតសភាកម្ពុជាថា ជម្រើសចុងក្រោយ កម្ពុជានឹងសង់សំណង់រឹង តទល់ជាមួយវៀតណាមតែម្តង
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/2020/08/29/17/56/49651/
យុវជននាំគ្នាធ្វើយុទ្ធនាការលើបណ្តាញសង្គមឲ្យមានការដោះលែង លោក រ៉ុង ឈុន
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/2020/08/29/17/56/49652/

អាជ្ញាធរ​ខេត្ត​កណ្ដាល​ថា វៀតណាម​បន្ត​សង់​សំណង់​រឹង ២ទៀត តាម​តំបន់​ព្រំដែន​មិនទាន់​ឯកភាព​គ្នា
https://www.rfa.org/khmer/news/politics/Vietnam-built-10-more-posts-in-undecided-border-area-09232020165824.html

Stay tuned!

=====
Update:

– RFA, 2 December 2020
អ្នកឃ្លាំមើល​ព្រំដែន​ថា វៀតណាម​មិន​គោរព​សន្យា​ក្នុង​ការ​រុះ​តើ​តង់ ពី​តំបន់​ព្រំដែន

← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • The Weak Strongman Admits he is a Dictator
  • The “Weak Strongman” or Two Weak Strongmen
  • “Delay Is Preferable To Error”
  • There was 9 November 2019. Now, it’s 4 January 2021
  • The Three Kingdoms

Recent Comments

KhmerPAC on The Corrupt, The Dirty, The Sa…
Chum Sirath on The Corrupt, The Dirty, The Sa…
KhmerPAC on The Big Mess in the City of To…
Sod Sad (សុទ្ធ សាធ) on The Big Mess in the City of To…
Sod Sad (សុទ្ធ សាធ) on A Horrid and Crooked Victory

Categories

  • Book
  • Culture
  • Event
  • Governance
  • History
  • Human Rights
  • Institution
  • International
  • Issue
  • Justice
  • Politics
  • Social
  • Stories

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

  • April 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014

Powered by WordPress.com.