Stop the insults, PM tells CNRP + Pacquiao was robbed: Hun Sen

[geovalin]

May Titthara

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday ordered ruling Cambodian People’s Party officials to investigate opposition party members who routinely “insult” the CPP leadership, threatening to suspend a long-sought detente between the two parties if the behaviour did not cease.

The warning shot comes as Cambodia National Rescue Party head Sam Rainsy seeks a meeting with Hun Sen to discuss the country’s land-dispute epidemic.

Hun Sen and Rainsy began a “culture of dialogue” after reaching an agreement in July last year to end a nearly year-long period of political limbo since the 2013 general election.

The two leaders made a highly symbolic public appearance together at the Angkor Archeological Park during Khmer New Year, which royalist Funcinpec party president Prince Norodom Ranariddh lampooned as looking “like a couple on their honeymoon”.

But Hun Sen yesterday made clear that he remained irritated with CNRP deputy president Kem Sokha and other officials who have taken a more hardline stance on the relationship between the two parties.

The culture of dialogue, the premier said, could only continue so long as lower-level opposition officials stopped “insulting” the CPP, which he said was too often the victim of slander.

“Examine from behind the scenes whether or not they [CNRP officials] say our minds are Vietnamese and only our bodies Cambodian, that I am a communist dictator and other slurs. We have to check this because His Excellency Sam Rainsy has announced there should be no insults to one another,” he said.

Hun Sen warned the CNRP last month that the culture of dialogue would be in jeopardy if it did not rein in deputy president Kem Sokha, who has made a number of fiery speeches challenging the CPP in recent months. Rainsy subsequently told the party to temper its rhetoric.

Say Chhum, a veteran CPP politician, was told to lead the inquiry into who was still slandering the CPP.

“I thank those people who supported the culture of dialogue and those in the opposition who do not intend to insult [the CPP] or think of us as rivals or the enemy,” Hun Sen said.

Yem Ponharith, a CNRP spokesman, said that the party agreed with Hun Sen that the culture of dialogue should also be respected throughout the country and at all levels.

On Friday, the opposition issued a statement to local officials ordering them not to resort to insults or threats when campaigning on key party issues, such as sovereignty, illegal immigration, protection of natural resources, judicial reform and corruption.

“We have educated our sub-national authorities to adhere to a high standard of morality of speech and good governance,” Ponharith said. “We need to be transparent and don’t want to see this culture lead to illegal activities where the blame can be placed at the feet of the CNRP.”

Despite causing friction with more hardline party members and supporters, the opposition appears set on continuing cooperation with the ruling party. Rainsy said last week that he was “not afraid to lose some support and voters in the short-term” as a result.

Sokha on Sunday announced that Rainsy was seeking to meet Hun Sen to discuss the resolution of land disputes – an issue the CNRP campaigned on at election time – which he blamed on sub-national government officials who fail to report the truth to their superiors.

Speaking to villagers in Kratie province’s Chhlong district, he said “only the culture of dialogue can address the [land dispute] matters and if it cannot settle them, it will be finished”.

At the same event, Rainsy said he would inform Hun Sen of the “true story” of Cambodia’s land crisis. “Provincial and local authorities are always reporting false information,” he said.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/stop-insults-pm-tells-cnrp

Pacquiao was robbed: Hun Sen

Mon, 4 May 2015

Tat Oudom

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ripped into the judges of Sunday's “fight of the century” between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather, slamming the result as “unbelievable”.

At the opening of a road in Pursat on Monday, the premier labelled the result “too bad” and expressed his dismay that the victory awarded to Mayweather.

“It was brilliant, my best friend,” he said sarcastically, referring to the United States.

“The whole world reacted; and it was not a small reaction, it was so big because Floyd [Mayweather] was always running and protecting but Pacquiao always beat him into the corner of the ring – I did not believe America was like that.”

All three judges unanimously awarded the 12-round bout to Mayweather with two scoring the fight at 116-112 in the American's favour and another 118-110.

Mayweather fought defensively, constantly evading the notoriously fast and aggressive Pacquiao but nevertheless, according to The Guardian, landed 67 more punches.

US embassy spokesman Jay Raman declined to comment on the premier's remarks on Monday.

Hun Sen has been fond of remarking during his career that “international standards exist only in sports” when faced with criticisms on issues such as human rights or democratic governance.

[geovalin]

Cambodia PM refuses bet payout after Pacquiao loss

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen admitted on Monday he won’t make good on a $5,000 bet he lost on the recent bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and regional hero Manny Pacquiao because he was so incensed by the match outcome.

The 62-year-old strongman delivered a nine-minute rebuke of judges who ruled Mayweather had squarely beaten Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday, Philippine time).

Echoing many of Pacquiao’s Filipino compatriots who have also cried foul, Hun Sen accused the American officials of being biased toward Mayweather in the $400-million fight.

“Yesterday, us viewers could barely give a point for Floyd, but the three judges unanimously decided Floyd was the winner,” he said.

Hun Sen added that he had made a $5,000 bet with an official on the match outcome, a bet he would no longer honor.

“I would not settle this, I will not give you the money,” he said without giving further details.

The admission is somewhat surprising given gambling is technically illegal in Cambodia outside of licensed casinos — although there is a thriving black market for betting on everything from the English Premier League to local cock fights.

The strongman’s betting habits were not lost on many Cambodian social media users.

“Hun Sen violated the betting rules by gambling on boxing,” wrote one Facebook user So Naro.

Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia with an iron fist for the last 30 years, tolerating little opposition.

He is known for his love of sports, particularly football, and has previously broken off from speeches to give his thoughts on a recent match or surprise score.

AFP

http://www.manilatimes.net/cambodia-pm-refuses-bet-payout-after-pacquiao-loss/181178/