Hun Sen surrounds himself with generals acting as advisors

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Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The Strongman and his chiefs

03 Feb 2009
By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

“Cambodia hold the world record in useless nominations to government positions. This creates an important drain on state resources” - Rong Chhun, CITA President

Following a royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on 27 January 2009, 19 high-ranking army officers were nominated as personal advisors to Hun Sen.

Among these advisors, two will hold a rank equivalent to that of state minister: Pol Saroeun, the newly nominated army chief of staff, and Meas Sopha, Pol Saroeun’s deputy. Six other generals will hold a rank equivalent to that of a minister, and 11 will hold a rank equivalent to that of a secretary of state. All these new advisors already occupy important positions at the National Defense ministry, in particular, Ung Samkhan, the army deputy-chief of staff, Tea Vinh, [Tea Banh’s brother] the royal navy chief, and Soeung Samnang, the air force chief.

As a matter of fact, on 04 October 2008, King Sihamoni already signed another royal decree nominating 104 high-ranking officials to the position of Hun Sen’s advisors, following the latter’s re-election to office.

To an astute observer, this plethora of advisors is a mean [used by Hun Sen] to neutralize some high-ranking government officials. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Trachers’ Association (CITA), declared over the phone to Cambodge Soir Hebdo: “Cambodia hold the world record in useless nominations to government positions. This creates an important waste of state resources.”