PM takes aim at Post, analyst

Editorial by Khmer Circle: 

It's not inconceivable that this regime has its spies and moles planted inside various agencies including news institutions and civil groups, as well as, obviously, the main political Opposition CNRP at various levels from the grass roots up. 

How often have we learned of individuals and groups "defecting" to the ruling side over the years, especially, leading up to every national election? 

As for the Phnom Penh Post, the manner in which its news editor (foreigner) sticks like glue to, and repeats almost like a programmed automaton, this fictional line that the otherwise perfectly neutral Khmer term for Vietnamese  - Yuon - is "pejorative", "derogatory", "crude" etc. does tend to suggest that a pro-regime influence is at large within the newsroom, or the editor's own immediate social circle, for him to be so implacable and convinced on the insistence and repetition. 

To those of us who understand the country's history and culture, this deliberate misinformation may not be a huge deal, and perhaps, is better off ignored. After all, foreigners or non-Cambodians cannot be expected to appreciate fully all the shades and nuances of the culture in question. Yet, it's unavoidable that the majority of the paper's non-Khmer readership will deduce from this misinterpretation that those who use this particular term - Yuon - must therefore be driven by racial prejudice, resentment, racism, "anti-Vietnamese sentiment" and the like. And certainly since most of the reported offending remarks to this effect are attributed to Opposition personalities, this is clearly meant to discredit Cambodian people's best viable platform for change to the present single party rule by the CPP. At the same time the charge of racial incitement and the associated fear of being branded along this line will have the effect of driving what are in fact major social concerns and legitimate national crises under the carpet. The issue of voter registration involving illegal foreigners presently facing the ruling administration and the NEC is one among such casualties of this poisoned political climate.

Be reminded also that the Vietnamese communists (Vietcongs  - who put the current regime in power) have always relied on infiltration and sedition as their main weapon in paralysing and undermining the enemy camp, to which modern day news relaying services such as the said paper belong. 

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Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at the National University of Management’s graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photo supplied

3 Feb, 2017 Mech Dara and Shaun Turton

PPP

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday claimed to have an audio recording of an interview between a Post journalist and an opposition source, which circumstances suggest could have been obtained illegally.

The premier made the remarks during a speech at a graduation ceremony on the capital’s Koh Pich, during which he also criticised prominent political analyst Meas Ny, who yesterday said he felt “very anxious” about being singled out.

Hun Sen claimed he had obtained a recording of comments by Cambodia National Rescue Party chief whip Son Chhay about the opposition’s decision this week to not attend parliament, prior to them appearing in yesterday’s edition of The Post and suggested he had a person inside the newsroom.

“When The Phnom Penh Post interviewed you, [The Post] sent your original audio to me . . . yesterday,” he said, holding up yesterday’s edition of Post Khmer.

“Don’t forget, inside The Phnom Penh Post there is my person.”

There is no evidence of any collusion between Post staff and the premier. The circumstances surrounding the interview, however, suggest that if an audio recording was obtained, it would have, of necessity, been accessed illegally.

The interview with Chhay was conducted on a reporter’s personal phone, and audio of the conversation was not distributed. Comments were filed for publication and edited as per regular newsroom procedure.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan yesterday denied that the state monitored journalists’ communications and refused to explain why the premier had boasted of having a person “inside” The Post.

“We don’t monitor anything, it’s not necessary to monitor anything, but we just learn from when you print the newspaper, that’s enough,” he said.

The government has denied it taps phones, which is illegal unless permitted by a “legitimate authority”, according to a 2015 telecommunications law widely criticised for giving the state broad snooping powers.

But the recent leak online of a covertly recorded phone conversation said to feature CNRP lawmaker Ho Vann speaking with a mistress, and a similar leak last year that revealed an alleged affair by opposition leader Kem Sokha, have fuelled concerns that communications are being monitored.

During his speech yesterday, the premier appeared particularly upset with Chhay’s defence of the opposition’s decision to skip parliament.

Chhay had said the party would not attend votes it saw as negative, such as Tuesday’s ballot to rewrite the assembly’s internal regulations to strip the CNRP of its status as the parliament’s minority group, which was yesterday endorsed by the Constitutional Council.

Yesterday, the premier – who had already vowed to block the opposition’s plans to summon three ministers to parliament in response to their absence – doubled down on his criticism, warning Chhay he could face “arrest” if he made any statements that ignored the outcome of Tuesday’s vote.

Hun Sen then turned his attention to political analyst Meas Ny who, in an interview with the Cambodia Daily published yesterday, noted that blocking the CNRP from summoning ministers to parliament violated the Constitution, which enshrines lawmakers’ rights to call officials to the assembly.

“I know the Constitution. I do not hold a PhD degree, but I am the father of doctors since not less than two of my children hold PhDs,” Hun Sen said yesterday, later adding: “Meas Ny, I would send a message to you, to not go too far”.

Contacted yesterday, Ny said he was rattled by the comments, and worried for his safety.

“As a person trained as a social scientist, it is hard for me to close my mouth, but I have to be careful to maintain my analysis but also keep myself safe,” he said.

Deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch Phil Robertson, noting last year’s murder of political analyst Kem Ley, yesterday said the premier’s singling out of Meas Ny was “chilling” and a “direct” threat.

“Every time he opens his mouth these days, PM Hun Sen shows his dictatorial, rights-abusing character in a way that should frighten anyone concerned about the protection of human rights and preservation of democracy in Cambodia,” he said.