Week 591

There Are Economic Police Officers Who Tell Merchants along National Roads to Pay Money to the New Leader – Thursday, 18.12.2008

Norbert Klein Leave a comment

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 591

 
“While the Ministry of Interior is replacing economic police officer by appointing the deputy director of the economic police, Mr. Seang Bunleang, to replace Mr. Run Rath Veasna, some officers who want to please their new leader tell merchants along national roads to hurry to bring things to please Mr. Seang Bunleang.
 
“At the Ministry of Interior yesterday evening, there were announcements to replace many high ranking officials of this ministry, especially anti-drug officials. But what was interesting was the replacement of the position of the director of the Anti-Economic Crimes Police Department of the Ministry of Interior, which is described as a lucrative position. Mr. Seang Bunleang is said to be a brother-in-law of Prime Minister Hun Sen. But the assignment is not made by the Prime Minister. It is an assignment by the Ministry of Interior.
 
“It should be noted that the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Sar Kheng, had issued an order for economic police officers working along all national roads to immediately return to their places of work. It is known that many police officers of the Ministry of Interior returned, but there are some provincial economic police officers that took the opportunity to seek money along national roads. Only after there was an order from the Deputy Prime Minister, economic police officers returned back to the Ministry of Interior and stopped setting up check points along national roads.

“However, when the director of the Anti-Economic Crimes Police Department was replaced yesterday, a lower level economic police officer, who is known to know many illegal merchants along national roads, started to contact those illegal merchants to tell them to hurry to pay some money regularly and monthly to the new leader. This source said that although they were recalled from posts along national roads, some economic police officers still have some influence to demand money from merchants who smuggle goods along the roads.
 
“The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Sar Kheng, seems to be unaware of this announcement of officers to find benefit for the new leader. But it is not believed that those officers received orders from Mr. Seang Bunleang who was recently nominated. Sometimes, an individual takes the opportunity to seek benefit, using the influential name of their new leader, when there seems to be a chance. Nevertheless, one day all benefits will end up in the pockets of the leader.
 
“Therefore Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng should take definite action to recall those economic police officers. Police officers do not need to spend time to set up check points like before. It is expected that the Deputy Prime Minister will take strong action against economic police officers at the Anti-Economic Crimes Police Department who tell merchants to hurry to please their new leader.
 
“It should be noted that presiding over the ceremony to replace high ranking officials of the Ministry of Interior yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng still continues to blame the economic police. But it is not expected that this situation will change, because immediately after that, there were those instructing the merchants. Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng should send expert officers to investigate this case thoroughly to stop them to commit such activities, otherwise the Deputy Prime Minister’s recommendations are useless.
 
“The economic police and illegal smugglers are like the tongue and the teeth which are related to each other for mutual benefit, like customs officers and smugglers. Leaders of this institution all know the lower level officers’ tricks. However, leaders always receive also some benefit from their lower level officers. Actually, an economic police officer had told merchants smuggling goods along national roads these days to find benefits to please the newly nominated leader.
 
“Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng still considers cracking down on smuggling as an important challenge. But they have to wait to see whether Mr. Seang Bunleang has the ability to enforce the order of Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng or not. Some commit inappropriate activities by demanding money from merchants, and it is suspected that those lower level officers might be able to keep the leader quiet. But wait to see what will happen soon at the Anti-Economic Crimes Police Department.” Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3642, 18.12.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 18 December 2008

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1823, 18.12.2008

  • Ambulance of Bopha Meas Clinic Faces a Fine Due to Violating the Ministry of Heath’s Circular [which bans private ambulances to pick up patients]
  • MH Bio-Energy, Which Produces Ethanol Oil in Cambodia, Made Its First Export to Foreign Countries [it exported 9,600 kiloliter of ethanol, corresponding to 9,600 tonnes, to the European Union]
  • The United States ofAmerica and Cambodia Cooperate to Create the First Malaria Laboratory [Phnom Penh]
  • Two [of six] Cambodian Students Win Bronze Medals from the International Olympia of Young Scientists [in Korea]

 
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.2, #306, 18.12.2008

  • Samdech Euv [Father King] Admires Doctor-of-Law Say Bory for Bringing Honor to the Nation [because he is the first Khmer who was invited to be an inspector for a doctoral degree examination at a well-known university in Paris on 3 December 2008]

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #161, 18.12.2008

  • The Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party Plan to Unite in Future [according to a discussion held at the Human Rights Party headquarters about a merger of both parties]
  • Citizens of Two Communes Continue to Seek an Intervention [from the Prime Minister] to Avoid that Electric transmission Lines Be Extended Above Their Houses [they fear it could affect their health – Pleung Chhes Rotes and Pong Tuek communes, Dangkao, Phnom Penh]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6528, 18.12.2008

  • A Letter of the Prime Minister Orders to Dissolve the Chuob Lan Enterprise, so There Is No More Demand for Tax on Second Hand Clothes Export at the Poipet Border Crossing Point
  • More Than 4,000 Chi [approx. US$3,980,000] Became Robbers’ Food: There Were Continuing Gold Robberies at Tram Khnar Market [in Takeo] Taking 950 Chi [US$945,250], at Prek Ta Chrouk Market [in Kandal] Taking 200 Chi [approx. US$199,000], and at Svay Pak Taking More Than 3,000 Chi [approx. US$2,985,000 in Phnom Penh – all robbers escaped]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3642, 18.12.2008

  • [Senator] Pov Sith Sues [Phnom Penh governor] Kep Chuktema for Grabbing 44 Hectares of Land on Koh Pich [Phnom Penh]

 
Rasmei Angkor, Vol.15, #1392, 18.12.2008

  • Man Lured a Nine-Year-Old Girl to Be Raped in a Guesthouse Room for Four Days [he was arrested – Phnom Penh]

 
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4771, 18.12.2008

  • Every Evening Thousands of Tourists Risk Their Lives Climbing up Bakheng Temple in Siam Reap [because the steps up the mountain are steep – to see Angkor Wat shining like gold when the sun sets]
  • In Fourteen Years, Cambodia Received US$24,768 Million for Investments
  • The Ministry of Tourism Announced to Be Looking for Projects to Invest in [to develop tourism in Cambodia]
    The United Nations Authorizes Land and Air Attacks against [Somali] Pirates

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3642, 18.12.2008

  • There Are Economic Police Officers Who Tell Merchants along National Roads to Pay Money to the New Leader

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