Son Chhay denies he's a spy

MP Son Chhay's request to have the border issue clarified by Mr Hun Sen might have irritated the latter and prompted him to come up with the "little spy" story, and Chhay's current investigation into corruption in Siem Reap [among other things] could also be a factor behind the on-going allegation over CNRP leadership's involvement in large-sum bribe money. Time will reveal the truth or veracity in such allegations, but on the balance of probability the originators of these allegations do have self-evidently far more to answer before the Cambodian people than would be those accused by them of wrong-doings. Once again, you be the jury! - School of Vice 

'On December 23, Prime Minister Hun Sen alleged that Chhay

"was his little spy" and had accepted $10,000 to work as an informant.'

Fri, 29 December 2006 PPP

Post Staff

Born on the first day of 1956 in Siem Reap, Son Chhay received his graduate and post-graduate degrees in South Australia where he remained as a school teacher and ex-pat Cambodian activist until 1993. A former head of the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party's finance department, he sought refuge in Adelaide after the 1997 coup. Now a senior parliamentarian for the Sam Rainsy Party, he has been a strident government critic for many years. On December 23, Prime Minister Hun Sen alleged that Chhay "was his little spy" and had accepted $10,000 to work as an informant.

Hun Sen's accusation was later confirmed by senior CPP officials present at the time.

Chhay wrote to Charles McDermid on December 28 about the prime minister, politics, and espionage.

What do you think about Hun Sen's statement that you "were his little spy?"

Let us remember that Hun Sen has been involved in many warfares as a person who has great experience in commanding armies, and still considers himself a kind of "warrior," and as a result he has developed the effective practice of using whatever means to destroy his opponents; typical in communist strategy.

One kind of practice has a special saying in Khmer "Dot oy kloch, roch oy chhao," which means if you can not make use of it, destroy it. So this "spy" thing is not just to be used as a strategy to divide my party but also to destroy my political career as well.

What will be the fallout from this situation?

I think it is a good thing that this "spy" thing has come out in public because it has been used to threaten me many times in the past, including in 2001 when a note was dropped off at my house (which I consequently reported to the UN Human Rights office) before I was illegally removed from my position as Chair of the National Assembly Committee in charge of Telecommunications for exposing corruption within the Ministry of Communications. And, the same year, a note with tapes, containing my one-off conversation with Hun Sen during my peace initiative in 1997, was also sent to my party head office.

My mistake, that led to his allegation, was that I accepted $10,000 when I returned to Cambodia around September 1997 with my own initiative to find a solution to the political crisis in lobbying with the "power-holder" of the country at that time I was informed at the time that MPs who did not leave the country after the July 1997 coup had received payment. Because not accepting the money would have been seen as a negative reaction to what I understood was a goodwill gesture and it would be hard for me to convince Hun Sen that I was genuine in getting him to compromise in allowing exile politicians to return and organize the elections in 1998. I was very proud of my efforts during this difficult period in helping to reach a resolution.

Why would Hun Sen point you out as his "spy" to the Council of Ministers?

What does he gain by this?

From what I heard, it was not only myself that was mentioned at the Council of Ministers meeting.

There were other political figures also mentioned with one type or another type of threat and insult. The language used at this meeting was unpleasant and not how you would expect a cabinet of ministers to behave. The strategy was to instill fear among all members of the cabinet that if they do not behave with certain expectations be aware of what can happen to them.

What kind of leader would actually admit to hiring spies for $10,000? Is this a common practice in Cambodian politics?

I do not know, since I have never been a spy at any point in my life, but it has raised everyone's eyebrows to learn that our country's leader is running the country based on information he is getting from his "spies" and not from his knowledge of how the country should be managed and focusing his effort, as it should be, on social justice, well-being of the people and human security.

What did the Prime Minister mean when he said "you can talk, but not too much?"

[It meant] You can talk to maintain the façade of democracy in Cambodia but not to touch the nerve of the real issues that affect the country and the people.

Is it true, as election monitor Hang Punthea says, that you have never been "pro-government?"

I have never been pro- any of the governments since 1993 even though I would consider myself to have provided over the years constructive criticism to encourage the government to be more accountable to the Cambodian people.

In early 1995, I was informed by the UN Human Rights officials at the time that myself and Mr Kem Sokha were in danger. There was a murder attempt on our lives by military personnel. While Mr Kem Sokha and his family left the country with the help of an international organization, I could not do so since my wife was still working in the country. Therefore at this critical time I tempered my criticism at the government for a certain period to protect my family.

Sadly, after all these years, the people in power show little political will to change in the manner that would ensure both the vision and commitment necessary, as a government, to induce positive development for Cambodia including introducing much needed legal reforms such as anti-corruption legislation put forward as a bill by myself back in 1994 but instead continue to focus only on power and money, and there appears to be no room for anything else.

What would you like to see happen - politically - in Cambodia in 2007?

For 2007, I would like to see the ruling party change their attitude to promote a free and fair election so that people will be able to gain some level of protection by whoever are elected into the public office, especially the commune council, instead of being abused time after time where election results have not produced anything better for their everyday life.

Our national institutions, such as the Judiciary, Armed Forces, Parliament, the Constitutional Council, the National Electoral Commission, should also be strengthened so that whoever will win the 2008 election is able to take over the responsibility of managing the country without any intimidation or interference.

What are the biggest issues facing Cambodia today? Is the ruling party doing enough to combat them?

The biggest issues are poverty, unemployment, corruption, abuse of power, fear, drug abuse and social division.

The people have been divided, which is again reminiscent of the Pol Pot era where the people who were pro the ruling party would be protected and rewarded while others will be treated as the enemy of the state and open to abuse.

The CPP appear to lack the ability and political will to solve these issues and therefore, on the contrary, the situation is worsening.

In your opinion, will Sam Rainsy ever be prime minster of Cambodia?

Rainsy would be the best choice to be prime minister of Cambodia right now. But there are many obstacles ahead of us, starting from an election process that is currently biased to the armed forces and the courts.

Posted in: khmer news