Pseng-Pseng: 2016 Annual Awards

Pseng-Pseng

2016 Annual Awards

 Here we are, dishing out awards for 2016 memorable performances in Cambodian politics.

Tamer Award – Hun Sen

It is uncertain if Hun Sen tames a lion or a donkey, but he surely has subdued CNRP. Contrary to Kem Sokha’s claim of no-condition pardon, there are so many of them he may not see. He writes a humbled request for it as if he is guilty as convicted. The CNRP strips Sam Rainsy of his role and status of being equal to prime minister, despite the latter’s protest. Both CNRP leaders re-issue the statement denouncing those who insist on slandering the Huns; previous statement and deregistration of a culpable member are insufficient. Kem Sokha sings praises of Hun Sen’s achievements; CPP says he now speaks the truth, implying he used to lie. There may be more to come. Without them, would Hun Sen have issued a Get-out-of-jail Free card in his Monopoly game?

$4 Million Role Model Award – Thy Sovantha

Thy Sovantha is a living role model for those pragmatists who aim to brighten their future. At a tender age of only 22, she has achieved much more than what any educated pragmatists could ever dream of. Politics has made her fail Bac II exam twice, but she knows what counts is with whom she ingratiates herself – nothing else. She rubs shoulders with a PM’s son. Her affectionate grandpa PM is more than happy to donate $1 million for her pocket money. It would take him more than 72 years to afford it with his declared monthly salary of $1,150 without eating. Then, there is another $3 million for her from international donors details of which she refuses to disclose. As some intellectuals might say this role model is a nonsense, the education minister gives her a permit to run a university – just to make it a complete nonsense.

Thy Sovantha also has a full impunity. She delivers death threats at will to the new minority leader who has a status equal to prime minister. Authorities take no actions; mum’s the word.

Consensus Award – Joint recipients Vietnam, Hun Sen, and Sam Rainsy

It is a historic consensus among the recipients that Bonne maps and UTM maps are the same. While Vietnam and Hun Sen just say so, Sam Rainsy goes further – when a Bonne map with a scale of 1/1000,000 is expanded with a magnifier to a scale of 1/50,000, it becomes an UTM, which is twice as clear. Never mind if they have different names and mapping methodologies. Thus, when a Toyota is enlarged it is the same as a Rolls Royce.

Pseng-Pseng: NagaCorp and Bushy Institute

Pseng-Pseng

NagaCorp and Bushy Institute

“Naga…is still experiencing notable growth in revenue and we expect it to continue to do so going forward.”

Grant Govertson, a principal analyst at Union Gaming Research Macau, 24 September 2104, The Cambodia Daily

“If NagaWorld does not comply with the Ministry’s instructions [that it must rebuild the gate to its original form], the Ministry will rethink and decide accordingly.”

Minister for Cult and Religion Min Khin, Letter to NagaWorld, 5 May 2014

“Bringing a horse to exchange for a horse is good policy for the government. At the end, a horse is still a horse. We did not lose anything.”

Premier Hun Sen on building and land swapping metaphor, 9 February 2012

“Besides the work of the Buddhist Institute, the Ministry of Cult and Religion has budgeted for building repairs and renovations, and for a new four or five floor building on the Buddhist Institute location to carry out programs connecting Buddhism to society, to provide halls for training Ajars, offices, which are long term objectives in accordance with the government’s guidelines.”

Ministry of Cult and Religion, Public Announcement, 17 September 2014

NagaCorp shareholders are laughing all the way to the bank. The company that runs its flagship NagaWorld in Phnom Penh rakes in a net profit of 40.6% of revenue in 2013. The shareholders investment has grown 8.4 times since 2009 with an annual average growth rate of 53%.

The jaw-dropping profitability is likely to continue. NagaCorp holds a 70 year licence running through 2065 that includes a 41 year monopoly within a 200 kilometre radius of Phnom Penh. It pays no taxes on income or gaming revenue, besides a fixed fee of $5.1 million in 2013, amounting to a mere 1.5% of total revenue.

So how does NagaCorp manage to secure such a sweet monopoly that will last for so long? It cannot be a questionable mental health of government decision makers. If it were, they would be locked up in an asylum, not running Cambodia for decades.

It must be then that their brain is tainted with financial incentives that are undisclosed. NagaCorp is clever enough not to reveal anywhere what they pay for the numb brains. Or more likely, they could give those decision makers, or their proxies, parcels of shares the value of which will grow in concert with their push for NagaCorp profits.

Nevertheless, NagaCorp proudly lauds its contribution of over $530,000 in 2013 to its claimed long-standing and strong partner Cambodian Red Cross. It doesn’t care that the partner has not publicly recorded the donation anywhere, or what the partner does with it.

What NagaCorp does care about is ensuring on-going fortunes for its shareholders.  It is so confident of business successes that it has begun planning Naga3, though it won’t complete the current $369 million Naga2 until 2016. Naga3 is a further expansion into hotel businesses to be located where the Buddhist Institute (BI) currently sits.

Hence, will the BI be allowed to stand between local NagaCorp shareholders and piles of cash?

NagaCorp has indeed cultivated a straight flush. Minister Min Khin who runs the BI is very accommodating. He permits NagaWorld to flatten the BI’s main gate, as part of Naga2, to construct an underground carpark underneath the BI. And if NagaWorld fails to rebuild the gate to its original conditions, there may be no repercussion.

Min Khin has already leased 3,000 square metres of BI land for Naga2. It is only a logical progression that Naga3 will be allowed to bulldoze the BI out of its present location. The accommodating minister may sell it, or swap it.

For properties swapping, NagaCorp won’t find any decision maker anywhere more understanding than Premier Hun Sen. He has a simplistic view on property values – they are all the same. Therefore, he is likely to accept NagaWorld’s possible offer of a block of bushland somewhere for the prime BI location. And he will be thrilled if NagaWorld throws in a four-or-five-floor building to keep Min Khin excited about his expansion plan for the BI.

Then the NagaCorp straight flush will turn BI into a Bushy Institute.

Ung Bun Ang

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Parthian Shot:

Who runs the Cambodian Red Cross, the recipient of NagaCorp’s generosity, and how they manage their financial affairs? Some of the answers are in “The Dark Cross Cambodia Bears”, Pseng-Pseng, 20 May 2014 at pseng-pseng.blopspot.com.

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

(Pseng-Pseng is published on the first, tenth, and twentieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com)

Pseng-Pseng in Cartoon: Hun Sen’s Democracy Lockdown

 Pseng-Pseng in Cartoon

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Hun Sen’s Democracy Lockdown

Image courtesy of Michael Leunig

Pseng-Pseng Says:

·        If great democracy lockdowns last three or four hours, Hun Sen is attempting the greatest of all time. His has already been a few months and is likely to continue indefinitely.

·        Yes, a full-blown lockdown will make Hun Sen’s democracy the most beautiful sight with peace and tranquillity like a graveyard.

·        It has been so peaceful and tranquil that Hun Sen will choose to forget giving an all-clear signal. Would the citizens then ever give themselves the all-clear?

Ung Bun Ang

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Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Pseng-Pseng: The Ghost Power

Pseng-Pseng

The Ghost Power

“When [public servants salaries] going through bank accounts, ghosts do not know how to get the money; thus there is no need to look for ghost officials, ghost soldiers, ghost police officers, or any ghosts. It requires a passbook, and ghosts cannot hold the passbook.”

Premier Hun Sen, 17 February, 2014

«បាន​ន័យ​ថា ខ្លួន​ខ្មោច ខ្លួន​នៅ​ទទួល​យក​ប្រាក់​ខែ ដូច្នេះ លើក​នេះ​យើង​ចាប់​ខ្មោច​ម្ដង។ មាន​ន័យ​ថា បញ្ហា​សាមញ្ញ​ទេ គឺ​អ្នក​ដែល​រក្សា​ក្របខ័ណ្ឌ​ខ្មោច​នេះ​ទុក ហើយ​យក​លុយ​របស់​ជាតិ យក​ដាក់​ហោប៉ៅ​ខ្លួន​ឯង អ្នក​នោះ​ត្រូវតែ​ប្រឈម​មុខ​នឹង​ការ​កេង​យក​ផលប្រយោជន៍​ដោយ​ខុស​ច្បាប់»។

Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) president Om Yentieng, 17 August, 2014, Radio Free Asia

The ACU president seems to disagree with the premier who boasts they can stop ghost public servants at the bank, despite the latter’s claimed ability to communicate with King Father’s spirit at the latter’s cremation. Om Yentieng may see the ghosts are too cunning to let any passbooks stand between them and the money. Hence, he moves the battlefield from the bank to workplaces.

It is uncertain how or why the ACU president comes to believe the premier is wrong. It is quite possible the premier’s 29 January directive that all public servants’ salaries go through their bank account is not fully implemented. If not, why not? But again, this is not the first time his directives are ignored.

Or, the direct credit system alone does not, or cannot, work to starve the ghost public servants who are so much appealed to the earthy attraction of money. It can certainly make it more convenient to access the pay. (A Ghostlike Reform, Pseng-Pseng, 28ii14).

The ghost power is demonstrated in the latest case of jailing three villagers in Chantrea district of Svay Rieng province over a 64 hectare land dispute between at least 50 local families and a military police (MP) officer reportedly from Phom Penh. The case has been ongoing for more than a decade; and obviously, nobody has bothered to report it to the premier, who assures those who care to believe him that none is to be locked up for any land dispute.

The MP officer wins the case incognito. The supreme court rules the case in his favour, but Supreme Court vice-president Khoem Pan refuses to talk about it. Commune police chief in Chantrea Has Siyet says he could not remember the case details. Svay Rieng provincial prosecutor Hing Bunchea, who carries out the arrests, says he just follows the court order.

This MP officer is treated like a ghost. Though they refer to him as Soem Chhean, not many know, or are prepared to reveal, his identity. Svay Rieng provincial MP commander San Bun Than hangs up when asked if he knows Soem Chhean. Phnom Penh MP commander, Major General Roth Sreang, denies Chhean is in his unit. National MP spokesman Kheng Tito pleads ignorance, saying he is unable to tell if Chhean is an MP officer at all. It seems this ghost is so formidable that he must be under an unmentionable patronage.

Hence, back to his search for ghosts in all government workplaces, the ACU president would need all the luck he can muster. He is dealing with ghosts who are usually invisible; and worst still, their unmentionable patrons may lie beyond the ACU reach as well.

Still, some little ghosts will be caught and made an example of. The ACU game is to be seen doing and achieving something – just enough to intimidate small potatoes and to keep the gullible longing for reforms thrilled, without doing any real damage to the patronage system that has benefited a few so much for so long.

Ung Bun Ang

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(Pseng-Pseng is published on the first, tenth, and twentieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com)

Pseng-Pseng: Hun Sen Says He is a Dummy

Pseng-Pseng

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Hun Sen Says He is a Dummy

“We didn’t plan to burn Hun Sen’s effigy, but he is the one who reminded us yesterday.”

Melbourne resident Va Malina, 23 February 2018, The Phnom Penh Post

“សុំផ្ដាំទៅអាអ្នកត្រៀមធើបាតុកម្ម មុខរបស់លោកឯងត្រូវចាំ [ចង្អុលម្រាមដៃ] ជាកិតិ្ដយសនៃរដ្ឋាភិបាលរបស់លោកឯង ប៉ុន្ដែអ្នកឯងហ្នឹង ជាសេរីភាពរបស់អ្នកឯង តែអ្នកឯងកុំភ្លេចថា ខ្ញុំក៍មានប្រជាជននៅខាងក្រៅប្រទេសគាំទ្រ ហើយជួបរាប់រយនាក់ច្រើនជាង។ ជានិច្ចជាកាល ខ្ញុំទៅណាក៍ដោយ អ្នកធើបាតុកម្មមានប្រមាណជា១០ភាគរយនៃអ្នកដែលមានជួបខ្ញុំតែប៉ុណ្ណោះ។ ... ស្រែកទៅ ធើទៅ ស្រែកទៅ​ ស្រែកទៅ ប៉ុន្ដែសុំផ្ដាំ កុំដុតរូបអោយសោះ។ ដុតរូប អញតាមដល់ផ្ទះ ប្រាប់អោយហើយ។ ជំនាន់ធ្វើបាតុកម្ម២០១៣ អត់ហ៊ានដែរ សម្ដេចក្រឡាហោមប្រាប់ទៅទូតអាមេរិកាំងថា ឯកឧត្ដម ប្រាប់ពួកអ្នកធើបាតុកម្ម ស្រុកខ្មែរអប្បីយជំនឿ ស្រុកខ្មែរអប្បីយជំនឿ បើហ៊ានតែធើរូប ហើយដុតរូប ច្បាស់ជាមានរឿងហើយ។ ខ្ញុំប្ដូរផ្ដាច់ពេលហ្នឹង បើហ៊ានតែធើរូប​អាស្អី ទីញមោងរូបខ្ញុំយកទៅដុត អញតាមវ៉ៃដល់ផ្ទះអ្ហែង ប្រាប់អោយហើយ។ ហ៊ីស អានេះ និយាយអោយច្បាស់ សិទ្ធិរបស់ឯងមាន បើសិទ្ធិអ្នកឯងមានសិទ្ធិដុតគេ គេមានសិទ្ធិវ៉ៃអ្នកឯង មានទាស់ខុសអី? អាហ្នឹងសិទ្ធិទៅ​ សិទ្ធិមក។ អ្នកឯងដល់ហឹង្សាលើរូបកាយគេ ហើយអ្នកឯងចាត់ទុកថា អាហ្នឹងរូបហ៊ុនសែនយកទៅដុត តាមដល់ផ្ទះ អត់ទេ ក្របួចយកតែម្ដង។”

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន    ថ្ងៃទី២១ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨   វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

«​ខ្ញុំ​សូម​ផ្ដាំ​ទៅ​ស្គាល់​ពី​អាស៊ាន​ឲ្យ​ច្បាស់​បន្តិច​។ អាស៊ាន​ បើ​អត់​ ហ៊ុន សែន អត់​មាន​ន័យ​ថា​អាស៊ាន​ទេ​។ ហ៊ុន សែន អាច​ជំទាស់​មិន​ឲ្យ​ចេញ​សេចក្ដី​ថ្លែងការណ៍​ណា​មួយ​រួច ​រវាង​អាស៊ាន និង​អូស្ត្រាលី​។ សាកល្បង​លមើល​ទៅ​ មិនមែន​ត្រឹម​តែ​អូស្ត្រាលី​ អាច​គាប​សង្កត់​កម្ពុជា​ទេ ហ៊ាន​មើល​ កម្ពុជា​សូម​ដាក់​បញ្ហា​ទុក​ជា​មុន បើ​សិន​ជា​អ្នកឯង​ហ៊ាន​ផ្ដេសផ្ដាស​។ កម្ពុជា​តែ​ម្នាក់​អាច​នឹង​ធ្វើឲ្យ​គាំង​ទាំងអស់​នៃ​ការ​ចេញ​សេចក្ដី​ថ្លែងការណ៍​ព្រោះ​របៀបរបប​ការងារ​របស់​អាស៊ាន វា​ត្រូវ​តែ​មាន​កុង​សង់ស៊ីស រឿង​អី​ដែល​ [​យើង​] ​ត្រូវ​ហោះ​ពី​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​គេ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​អូស្ត្រាលី​។​»

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃទី២២ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨  ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍​ 

“Cambodians have always thought their country is more important than it is.”

Professor David P. Chandler, 16 May 2016, Voice of America Khmer

Now, why does Hun Sen raise his dummy burning in Australia on the eve of his visit to that country, especially when no-one is thinking of it?  Whatever the reasons, he must want to test his absolute authority beyond the border of Cambodia. The authority he wields to terrorise his critics at home moves into another jurisdiction.

In a crude language that makes gangsters proud of him, Hun Sen has succeeded in inciting Cambodian overseas to torch his dummies despite his threats to have torchers beaten up. Diasporas in Australia and Canada have taken up the Hun Sen dare, and burnt his dummies.

How Hun Sen responds may largely depend on what the burning does to his body and ego.

He says the burning is an act of violence on his body. He equates himself to the dummy, to which he refers in Khmer as “Ting-Moung”. He should know by now what the burning has done to his body. Unless it has turned into ashes like the torched “Ting-Moung”, he ought to re-assess his primitive supernatural belief.

Hun Sen worships a Neak Ta he keeps at his city residence in a shrine well-decorated and maintained 24/7. All glass windows of the residence and all mirrors within are scribbled with shell lime powder to keep evil spirits away.

He may indeed have a phantom pain in his egoistic head though – any absolute authoritarians would. If so, he may want to consult his fortune-teller or psychologist to manage his anxiety; there is little he can do now to stop the burning of his Ting-Moung.

Pseng-Pseng: How Hun Sen Widens his Power Base Cracks

Pseng-Pseng

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How Hun Sen Widens his Power Base Cracks

“Due to an important personal issue, I delegate full power as chief of joint staff to Lieutenant General Hun Manet to assume the duty as of the date of signature [21 February 2018].”

Chief of Joint Staff General Kun Kim, 2 March 2018, Khmer Times

“I am a law enforcer, and the armed forces defend the government. Provided that there are orders, I must enforce, I must defend the government. Even… if we expend flesh and blood, we must enforce the law.”

RCAF Deputy Commander-in-chief General Kun Kim, 31 August 2016, The Phnom Penh Post

A battle line has been drawn within the CPP. Hun Sen fires the first shot by replacing four-star general Kun Kim with his son Manet for the top job. Pseng-Pseng’s 24 March 2017 edition expounds four indications of a CPP crack.

General Kun Kim was once a Hun Sen’s dutiful minion; in any autocracy, none will move to the top without earning trust. He is prepared to shed Khmer blood for Hun Sen, and vows to arrest the two opposition leaders on order. He has done his duty so well Human Right Watch labels him as Hun Sen’s axe man.

Besides the resignation, Hun Sen demands the general sort out the “important personal issue” soon or facing imprisonment on criminal charges. Hence, what is this “issue” that enrages Hun Sen?

There could be two major possibilities: Hun Sen may suspect Kun Kim of being one of generals who are no longer interested in being a trigger-happy on his command; or, Kun Kim may be one of landowners who are indiscreetly disgruntled by Hun Sen’s new mega-airport project in Kandal that will damage their land interests.

First, with the latest round of promotions, the number of Cambodian generals is estimated to exceed 3,000, though an official number remains a top secret. It may be too embarrassing to disclose there are enough stars to lit up a whole town. However, Hun Sen has been worried that his wishes are no longer their commands. He reacts intensely to Sam Rainsy’s persistent appeals to the armed forces not to shoot dissenting citizens. Hun Sen needs as many trigger-happy generals as he can muster.

Fast promotions of his sons to top jobs over veteran and more experienced generals could do much to disquiet his top brass. It has become very awkward for some of them to look up to their junior officers for guidance and approvals on major decisions.

Pseng-Pseng in Pic: Hun Sen Shirtfronted

Pseng-Pseng in Pic

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Hun Sen Shirtfronted

Hun Sen visits Phnom Penh Safari where his jungle law & rules are challenged

No-fear-or-favour media report that Hun Sen, virtually flanked by his dozen dirty generals, is shirtfronted by a jungle Champ during his visit to the Phnom Penh Safari. The Champ has told the media that the Hun Sen’s jungle law is so legalistic that he is keen to test its justice.

The said-media do not report outcomes of the Champ’s charge into Hun Sen’s chest. They have been forced to either close or sell off to a with-fear-and-favour media group.

It seems however, Hun Sen has survived the shirtfront. A few days after the Safari visit he rants and raves about the jungle challenge, and vows not to react any longer to any provocations even from tiny parties in the 29 July elections.

And on Hun Sen’s order, the Champ is arrested, charged, and jailed; they throw away the key.

Ung Bun Ang

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Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Pseng-Pseng in Cartoon: Hun Sen’s Cane Shares

Pseng-Pseng in Cartoon

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Hun Sen’s Cane Shares

Image courtesy of Michael Leunig

Another voter has just been arrested for an alleged violation of a new lèse-majesté law Hun Sen made up a few months ago. It seems the cane shares have begun with ridiculing the King whom Hun Sen has brought to heel and is likely to extent to those who are running campaigns, like the Clean Fingers Campaign, to boycott the July elections against the King’s wishes.

When shared by half of eligible voters, the cane shares will not be so hurting, if not so honourable and privileged. There will not be much more any sensible leaders can do, but to surrender to the will of the people after the cane shares.

Nothing can un-nerve any tyrants like half of the voters taking the cane shares. Those tyrants like Pol Pot and Hun Sen pretend to be strong but are surrounded themselves with loosely worded-laws, rules, and edicts that sound just, but allow their interpretations at will to persecute anyone – mainly to calm down their own nerves.

 Pseng-Pseng

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2020 Annual Awards

 

The year 2020 may see the unusual become usual and the extraordinary turn ordinary. Yet, Covid-19 has not deterred some lucky few from their well-deserved Pseng-Pseng Annual Awards.

Money Spinner Award – NagaWorld (Naga Corp Ltd)

NagaWorld has for years secured from Hun Sen a monopoly to run a gambling den in Phnom Penh. For three years to 2019, it amasses a staggering net profit of US$1.167 billion. The lucrative license to print money has been extended for another 10 years to 2045.

Now, Hun Sen throws in another cash cow to the NagaWorld pot. It is to build modern entertainment centre and hotel concrete jungles only 500 metres from Angkor Wat park ground. Expect this sacred icon to become a part of the theme park like a Disneyland development. Never mind that the Naga concretes will destroy serendipity, serenity, and aesthetic of the Angkor awe.

Yet, there is no free lunch. Grand benefactor Hun Sen must earn a chunk of cash under the table from these money printing permits. He cannot be as stupid as his opponents say he is.

  

Super Tax Collector Award – Kong Vibol

Director-General of Tax Department Kong Vibol claims 2020 tax revenue will be about 1% higher than that of the previous year’s collection. This means, in defiance of Covid trade restrictions and havoc, there are more taxpayers in 2020, or the same or smaller number of taxpayers together pay more tax. How impressive… if the 2020 tax collection were true.

The tourism sector that contributes 32.7% to the 2019 GDP claims there is no cashflow to pay for their tax liabilities this year. The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents President Chhay Sivlin is now asking for a cancellation of all outstanding tax liabilities for the sector. Unless she is a whinger-for-nothing type, the plea makes the super tax collector a liar. The Covid-19 may also send the garment industry that contributes about 16% to the GDP into a similar predicament.

Double-Talk Award – Premier Hun Sen

Hun Sen says his government has kept under control what he refers to as the 28 November Community Outbreak Incident. Covid-19 has sent CPP high-profilers into quarantine in droves.

But he says he cannot yet close the case due to the following five reasons. First, health officials do not know all locations the infected have been 14 days before the outbreak. Second, many potential infected have not come forward to report on their contacts or for testing for fear of being placed under quarantine. Third, those who are in contact with the infected have not complied with the testing regime. Fourth, it is unclear if those under the quarantine have undertaken a required number of tests to verify they are negative. Fifth, the health officials are uncertain about the number of those who have come to contact with the infected in regional and provincial areas.

Thus, if there are still so many unknown and uncertainty according to his statement, how can Hun Sen conclude that he has the Covid spread under control? His double-talk is almost an art form.

 

Enjoy 2021, anyhow. The Huns and their mob will.

 

Ung Bun Ang

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Honourable Mention

 

Copycat – Sam Rainsy

Well, it is said if you cannot beat them, join them. After years of concealing frustrations, Sam Rainsy is coming out with guns blazing. The unrefined language he recently uses again and again to deride Hun Sen and the King may make Hun Sen, who is a master of brutish language proud; they say imitation is the best form of flattery, is it not?

Then again, it may also stuff up Mu Sochua’s plan to return to Cambodia on 4 January, unless it is all along meant to be a mere political posturing for point scoring.

 

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Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Pseng-Pseng: Hang Choun Naron's Policy Pitfall

Pseng-Pseng

Hang Choun Naron's Policy Pitfall

“It is true that quality education is quality teacher, but if the students do not work, good teachers will not solve the problem”.

Education minister Hang Choun Naron, 30 August 2014, Interview with Radio Free Asia

“There will be no exceptions at the second exam. At that time, you will at least be held in pre-trial detention for one month—that would be long enough to remove your name from the payroll… You are the teachers and if you mistreat or cheat your own students it would not be different from a father raping his daughter.”

ACU president Om Yentieng, 28 August 2014, The Cambodia Daily

It seems like a chicken and egg situation – which one comes first, students, or teachers? The education minister is decisive: it must be students. He says the students are more important due to the fact that better teachers prefer Phnom Penh, yet the Phnom Penh’s pass rate is lower than those of two isolated provinces in the recent Bac II exams. His logic is flawed – he ignores the overwhelming evidence that the Phnom Penh rate is much higher than the national average. Hence, his policy that focuses on students by making them studious, moving curriculum emphasis from arts to science, and strengthening teacher training, may be ineffective.

First, the ministry has implemented the teacher training program countless times in the past few decades, and the outcome is that students must rely on outright cheating to achieve the over 80% pass rate. Thus, the minister’s policy of strengthening it will more likely exacerbate a resources misuse.

Second, the change of emphasis from arts to science is sound. The minister is right Cambodia needs more engineers and technicians, making math and science subjects imperative. But the challenge is how to move from arts that many think is easy – though Mozart’s IQ exceeds 160 – to science that requires a well-functioning left brain hemisphere. Of course, students with an Einstein IQ could work their way to anything. But the majority will require teachers who are well-qualified and well-resourced; otherwise, both the teachers and students will be stumbling in the dark to nowhere.

Third, the minister’s policy of making students work, or work harder, is appropriate. He may be right tightening exam processes will induce students to work hard, but the unscheduled resit he must organize to appease his premier is likely to lessen the policy effectiveness. If a higher pass rate is necessary to maintain profits of the premier’s personal interest groups that run universities, any manipulations – including resit and lower test standard – will encourage the students to continue behaving as if study is an option.

The best way to inspire students to work hard is to improve a variable that constantly comes face to face with them: the teachers. Only teachers can make complex subjects, like math and science, fun to learn and easy to absorb.

Nevertheless, to carry out their role effectively, teachers need decent remunerations for a respectful life. They would stay focused on teaching effectiveness and on students’ progress, not on their stomach. There would be no need for them to keep their classroom enterprises, or moonlighting elsewhere to survive.

A scrutiny of pass rates for expensive private schools in Phnom Penh confirms teachers come first. Theirs are much higher than the Phnom Penh average; and a better logic is that rich parents are not stupid enough to pay top dollars for mediocre teachers.

Anyhow, it appears the dilapidated education will continue for more decades, yet. The recent ACU’s threat of jail time for teachers is outrageous, but it is consistent with the mentality that keeps teachers in the dump.

Ung Bun Ang

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Pseng-Pseng is published on the first, tenth, and twentieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Pseng-Pseng: Hun Sen Will Reign Until 90

Pseng-Pseng

10 March 2015

Hun Sen Will Reign Until 90

“How can [someone] be the premier until 90? It never happens. My father was 90 when he died.”

Premier Hun Sen, 4 March 2015, The Phnom Penh Post

“When…[Hun Sen and Bun Rany] go anywhere, we [all members of the new working group] must go first to prepare the security there.”

Commander of the Prime Minister Bodyguard Unit (PMBU) General Hing Bun Heang, 6 March 2015, The Cambodia Daily

«ចាំ​មើល​កងទ័ព​យើង​យ៉ាង​ម៉េច? គ្រាន់បើ! អរគុណ! ស្មាន​តែ​ទុក​លោក​ឯង​អី តែ​លោក​ឯង​មិន​ធ្វើ​ មាន​អ្នក​ដទៃ​ទៀត​ធ្វើ​ហើយ កុំ​ឆ្ងល់​ពេក»។

​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្ងៃទី២៦​ កុម្ភ: ​២០១៥ ​វិទ្យុ​អាស៊ីសេរី

Never happens? Hun Sen may be right. But that does not stop him from taking measures to ensure he rules until 90.

First, he has just formed a working group of 14 of top military and police generals to oversee security for himself and his wife. It is the latest addition to the PMBU that consists of a few thousands of troops and that has been active for decades. There are so many stars in the new working group that their reflection of sunlight would blind even those with sunglasses. It is unclear why the presence of all these fourteen trusted lieutenants are required at all functions where Hun Sen and his wife attend; it seems either Hun Sen can only depend on a few, or his paranoia has reached a new height, or all of the above.

To ensure a long lasting reign, Hun Sen runs an army within an army. It is unclear that Hun Sen has much trust on the army, arguing it must protect his government in the face of threat – not from any external enemies – but from any hostile opposition within. He warns the armed forces that if they refuse his demand, there will be some special force presumably under the command of Hun Sen and Co taking care of the recalcitrant army. Many of the top commanders of the army and police are promoted into the CPP central committee, either as reward for their absolute loyalty and as an insurance policy for a continuing power certainty.

Second, his group of trusted lieutenants which includes a self-proclaimed Hitler disciple are prepared to act like a psychopath; they are ready to shoot dead unarmed civilians who they say are trouble makers. This is to ensure that the spirit of Cambodian people the Khmer Rouge broke some four decades ago will ever remain broken for the sake of peace and stability Hun Sen & Co requires.

Third, beyond the military power, Hun Sen also moves on political front. He has tamed the CNRP to the extent that the latter gives blessing to proposed changes to election laws that by and large will ensure he will have no chance of losing any future elections. With others, the restriction of the NGO participation in the election and all public servants including armed forces and court officials being free to campaign for the CPP, will keep Hun Sen in power while giving the CNRP what it calls “hope” of winning.

Still, even if Hun Sen did not want to rule until he turns 90, he might have no say in the matter. With his claimed legacies that have provided so much riches to his personal interest groups, the likelihood is that Hun Sen & Co will ensure he is breathing under any circumstances. He may have to be on life support until they decide for him that enough is enough, just like what he did to his own father whom he had kept on life support for about a year.

Ung Bun Ang

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Pseng-Pseng is published on the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Pseng-Pseng: It’s Time to Walk Off the Plank

Pseng-Pseng

24vii18

It’s Time to Walk Off the Plank

Join others to break the Hun Sen’s lemming and walk off the plank. Over three million voters have.

Congratulations to those who have signed a petition calling for investigations by Australian authorities into illicit activities in Australia by Hun Sen’s minions who use Australia as their safe heaven. Their assumption that they are above the law in Australia – just like they are in Cambodia – must be put to test. You can ensure they take the test by sharing the petition among your peers and encouraging them to sign it. A reasonable support for the petition will move the Australian authorities to investigate and prosecute any criminals. It is possible then to have their travel visas to Australia banned, and their ill-gotten assets frozen. Here is the petition link.

https://chn.ge/2Nl5u5H

Another way of walking off the plank is to boycott the forthcoming elections. Boycotting is not illegal. Lawyer Choung Chu Ngi concludes, after examining relevant laws, that there is no legal obligation whatsoever to vote. Hun Sen is also very clear about this when he confirms in Sydney in March Cambodia has no compulsory voting system like Australia. Thus, you are free to vote or not to vote.

Furthermore, the lawyer says there is no law stipulating that appealing – or inciting as Hun Sen prefers to hyperbolise it – someone not to vote is illegal; it is because not voting is not unlawful. He gives an example to illustrate the point. As loving someone is not illegal, leading someone to fall in love is not unlawful. Hence, you are free to appeal or lead others not to vote.

Pseng-Pseng: A Post-Mortem: Hun Sen’s Dishonour

Pseng-Pseng

30iii18

A Post-Mortem: Hun Sen’s Dishonour

“The summit will be used for the [Australian] prime minister and ministers actually to engage their counterparts or aspects of our relationship, including the matter [Hun Sen’s threat of violence] that you [Australian senator Penny Wong] have raised today.”

Australian Foreign Affairs Secretary Frances Adamson, 5 March 2018, The Phnom Penh Post

«… រឿង​អី​ដែល​ [​យើង​] ​ត្រូវ​ហោះ​ពី​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ឲ្យ​គេ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នៅ​ប្រទេស​អូស្ត្រាលី?… អូស្ត្រាលី​គួរ​តែ​អរគុណ​កម្ពុជា ​មិនមែន​ហៅ​កម្ពុជា​ទៅ​ស្ដី​ឲ្យ​នោះ​ទេ កុំ​ច្រឡំ។​»​

នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ហ៊ុនសែន  ថ្ងៃទី២២ កុម្ភ: ២០១៨  ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍​ 

According to Hun Sen, his trip to Australia is a resounding success. Among other claimed achievements, he boasts an Australian official development assistance (ODA) of A$87.40 million; he brags about travelling with a motorcade escort and a small Cambodian flag flying on an official car. He flatters himself that his visit is an honour for Australia.

Yet, the success seems far from being resounding. Hun Sen may not realise Australia has pulled a fast one on him. The ODA amount is already in the Australian May budget last year for 2017-18 handout to Cambodia. This means, whether he turns up or not, Cambodia has already secured it. Moreover, if he must know, the amount is few million dollars less than that of the previous year. This is not something Hun Sen should brag about unless he intends to mislead his supporters.

The ODA stunt allows PM Malcom Turnbull, who insists on “frank engagement” with all ASEAN countries, to rein in Hun Sen and take him to task behind closed door on his violence threat to Australian citizens, democracy, human rights, and the July elections. Hun Sen must be satisfied with the Australian trick as he does not carry out his threat to use his ASEAN veto to block the Sydney Declaration at the end of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. He has been prepared to be the Summit spoiler. Incidentally, it does not seem a great begging year for Hun Sen. The US announces cut to an aid they have already cut; now Australia approves the aid that they have already committed.

[Vietnamization] Pseng-Pseng: Hun Many Moves Angkor Sangkran Closer to the East

Pseng-Pseng

30iv15

Hun Many Moves Angkor Sangkran Closer to the East

“នេះមិនមែនជាការខុសនៃរចនាបទខ្មែរនោះទេ ព្រោះថា អ្វីដូច ខ្ញុំមិនមែនជំនាញទេ លោកគ្រូដែល គាត់ចេញមកពីសាលារចនា គាត់អាចបញ្ជាក់បានបន្ថែម ហើយគាត់នឹងអាចមានលទ្ធភាពគ្រប់ គ្រាន់ ក្នុងការចេញមកពីសៀវភៅរបស់គាត់ ដែលគាត់បានសិក្សាកន្លងមក ពន្យល់ថាកន្លែងណា ខ្លះជារចនាបទ។ អញ្ចឹងគឺវាមានការយល់ច្រឡំមួយចំនួនដែលបានកើតឡើង ដែលក្នុងនោះយើងខ្ញុំ ដែលខ្ញុំខ្លួនឯង ដោយសារខ្ញុំបានឆ្លងរៀបចំព្រឹត្ដិការណ៍នេះ ទទួលស្គាល់ថាអ្វី ទិដ្ឋភាពមួយចំនួន វាធ្វើឲ្យមជ្ឈដ្ឋានមួយចំនួនមិនមានពេញចិត្ដ ។ ហើយផ្អែកលើ ដោយសារផ្អែកលើជាស្មារតីអង្គរ សង្ក្រាន្ដ  គឺដើម្បីទំាងអស់គ្នា ។ ទោះបីមហាជនមានលក្ខណ:ភាគតូចក៍ដោយ ក៏យើងចង់ឲ្យ គាត់មកចូល រួមដោយមានភាពរីករាយដែរ។​ ពួកគាត់បានលើកឡើងច្រើនថា រចនាបទនេះ វាមិនមែនរបស់ខ្មែរ ហើយគាត់បានឲ្យយើងខ្ញុំទាំងអស់គ្នាដើម្បីពន្យល់ទៅវិញថាតើជារចនាបទក្លោងទ្វារ នេះ គឺកន្លែងណាដែលជាខ្មែរ។ អានេះគឺលោកគ្រូពីសាលារចនា គាត់ដឹង ក្រោយព្រឹត្ដិការណ៍ ចូលឆ្នាំ នឹងអាចមានឧកាសដើម្បីបកស្រាយ។ ក៏ប៉ុន្ដែចំណោទសួរ ដែលគួរសួរទៅវិញផងដែរ ថារចនាបទកន្លែងណាដែលខុសមែនទែន សុំឲ្យបែកចែកក្លោងទ្វារហ្នឹង តើរចនាបែបណាខុសពី រចនាបទខ្មែរ។”

អ្នក តំណាង រាស្ត្រ និងប្រធាន​សហភាព​សហព័ន្ធ​យុវជន​កម្ពុជា ហ៊ុន ម៉ានី  ថ្ងៃទី១៦ មេសា​២០១៥ វិទ្យុបារាំងអន្ដរជាតិ

Congratulations must go to the premier’s son Hun Many and his Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) for a successful Angkor Sangkran 2015. Besides breaking two Guinness world records, the festival attracts a record number of tourists, and scores a public relations coup when it brings together for the first time two political adversaries.

Amid the excitement and accolade, however, there is a slight hiccup that is likely to have political implications. It is a matter of the festival gateway design that causes a public uproar, especially on Facebook. The thrust of a common criticism is that the design is aesthetically Vietnamese.

And what is fascinating is how UYFC president Hun Many respond to his critics. He rejects any suggestion that the design, which is dominated by bright yellow and orange colours, is Vietnamese-influenced. He relies on a book by a School of Fine Arts teacher, who he says will explain after the celebrations how the design reflects Khmer arts. The public is waiting.

The UYFC president takes a moral high ground when he backs down so that all, he says, can enjoy the celebrations. He changes the design soon after one of the gateways is severely damaged by strong winds and later burned down by arsonists.

Indeed, this artistic glitch may mean little to Hun Many. Nevertheless, his critics see it differently. First, Hun Many does not seem to know that one can please a majority but not everyone. He gives in to the critics whom he says is just a minority. Then again, he has been brought up in a system where the minority in effect rules.

Second, the design change may upset those he implies make up the majority that is happy with the original version. They say it allows creativity, even though it is bordering on plagiarising the cultural taste of the Viets. If the original were already Khmer, then the modification of the design to a gold and dark brown colours would be less Khmer.

Third, it is a concern that Hun Many demands the critics explain how the design is not Khmer. Either he pretends not to know, or he cannot really tell the difference. This bodes well with the thinking behind the original design that could represent a slow and protracted penetration of the Viet culture into the sub-consciousness of the UYFC, especially the president who is slated to take charge after his father, if not a major leadership role.

It seems a bit like the old story of the frog that gets boiled alive because the temperature of the water in which it sits rises only gradually, thanks to its ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Some Cambodians appear to be quite able to take in the growing realisation that the Viets have been coming in the forms of immigration, border landmass, and now culture. This may just be a repayment of the debt of gratitude to the Viets Hun Many’s father treats as being eternal.

And the Viets are smiling.

Ung Bun Ang

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Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published on the tenth, twentieth, and thirtieth day of every month. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com