Allegations of United States support for the Khmer Rouge

Cambodia: five decades on from the Khmer Rouge, Hun Sen proves himself the ultimate survivor with his plan to hand power to his son

Retrieved on:

Friday, July 28, 2023

Hun Sen, who has been at the helm of the Cambodian government since 1985, won a “landslide” general election victory on July 23.

Key Points:

Hun Sen, who has been at the helm of the Cambodian government since 1985, won a “landslide” general election victory on July 23.
The five seats won by the royalist Funcinpec party are claimed to be (token) evidence of this.
Hun Sen himself served with the Khmer Rouge in the early years of the regime, later fleeing to Vietnam.
He consolidated his position with a coup in 1997, and his CPP party has won every subsequent election.

Dealing with the opposition

In 2013, controversy over the results evolved into a boycott of Cambodia’s elected national assembly (the lower house of the bicameral parliament).
Political and social debate and opposition were, however, heavily restricted in the run-up to the 2017 local and 2018 national elections.
Electoral law amendments restricted the role of Rainsy and curtailed political opposition.
This time, the main opposition came from the Candlelight Party (drawing in part on elements of the former CNRP), which achieved 22%.
Not taking any chances, political rhetoric from the CPP continued to highlight the dangers of voting for opposition parties, and led to Facebook (a widely used platform in Cambodia) considering banning Hun Sen for a video threatening to beat up opposition figures.

A new generation?

Hun Sen has indicated that the transfer of power is part of his plan for continuing peace, stability and development.
He will retain leadership of the CPP and remain a lawmaker, assuming leadership of the Senate (upper house) when the incumbent retires.
The true test of stability in a democracy is, arguably, continuity during a transition of leadership and change of governing party.

Cambodia PM Hun Sen will shut down opposition on election day – even if he can no longer threaten voters on Facebook

Retrieved on:

Saturday, July 1, 2023

On June 30, 2023, the Facebook page of Hun Sen – who has ruled the country as leader of the Cambodian People’s Party for almost four decades – appeared to have been deleted.

Key Points:

On June 30, 2023, the Facebook page of Hun Sen – who has ruled the country as leader of the Cambodian People’s Party for almost four decades – appeared to have been deleted.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Hun Sen had removed the page or Meta had taken it down.
Cambodia has had Hun Sen as prime minister for 38 years.

Many parties, no opposition

The problem for democracy watchers is that the list of parties allowed to run does not include the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party.
Further, the Candle Light Party – the last vestige of real, credible opposition in Cambodia – was not permitted to register for the forthcoming election for bureaucratic reasons.
The missing paperwork that prevented registration is believed by CLP supporters to have been taken during a police raid on opposition headquarters years ago.

Khmer Rouge commander to autocratic leader

Hun Sen rose to power after being installed as deputy prime minister and foreign minister by the Vietnamese forces that liberated Cambodia in 1979 from the Khmer Rouge – a murderous regime in which Hun Sen served as a commander – and then occupied the country for a decade.
With his country still under Vietnamese occupation, Hun Sen became prime minister in 1985 after his predecessor, Chan Sy, died in office.
Since then, he has used the power of incumbency – along with a large dose of brute force – to remain in office.
After falling out with his co-premier, Hun Sen orchestrated a coup in 1997 and replaced Norodom Ranariddh.

From autocracy to nepotocracy?

In advance of the July 23 vote, the government has cracked down on independent media.
One of the last truly independent outlets, the Voice of Democracy, was shuttered by Hun Sen. Its crime?
Yet, Voice of Democracy was nonetheless blamed and told to apologize, which it did, but then was still shuttered.
Cambodia’s anti-democratic rule and human rights abuses have been condemned by the European Union, the White House and the United Nations.

LANDMINE CHARITY CALLS FOR A 'MARSHALL PLAN FOR MINES' FOR UKRAINE

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Open-source satellite imagery indicates there are minefields that stretch for hundreds of kilometres in the east and the south of the country.

Key Points:

Open-source satellite imagery indicates there are minefields that stretch for hundreds of kilometres in the east and the south of the country.
One single fortified mine line runs 90km from the Russian border to north of the town of Lysychansk in the east.
A definitive and coordinated 'Marshall plan for mines' would be a clear call to action for the international community."
Brady Afrik, an open-source satellite analyst, has identified hundreds of km of Russian defensive fortifications in southern and eastern Ukraine.

LANDMINE CHARITY CALLS FOR A 'MARSHALL PLAN FOR MINES' FOR UKRAINE

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Open-source satellite imagery indicates there are minefields that stretch for hundreds of kilometres in the east and the south of the country.

Key Points:

Open-source satellite imagery indicates there are minefields that stretch for hundreds of kilometres in the east and the south of the country.
One single fortified mine line runs 90km from the Russian border to north of the town of Lysychansk in the east.
A definitive and coordinated 'Marshall plan for mines' would be a clear call to action for the international community."
Brady Afrik, an open-source satellite analyst, has identified hundreds of km of Russian defensive fortifications in southern and eastern Ukraine.