Thursday, 15.3.2007: The Government Investigates, And Claims Payment For A Debt Of Nearly $1.3 Million From Samdech Chakrapong

Posted on 17 March 2007. Filed under: Week 499 |

The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 499

“Phnom Penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia decided to investigate to claim a debt of nearly US$1.3 million from Samdech Chakrapong, the acting president of the Norodom Ranariddh Party. This investigation was made soon after Samdech Chakrapong severely criticized the current government.

“Mr. Khieu Kanharith, the Minister of Information and the spokesperson of the government, said on 14 March 2007, that in the past there was a request to the government for debt reductions, but Samdech Chakrapong did not understand about it, and he also fired criticism at the government. Therefore, the Minister said, that now there are lawyers who re-examine the legal procedures to claim a debt of nearly US$1.3 million that Samdech Chakrapong owes the government. In the past, Samdech Chakrapong sought a compromise with Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Samdech Hun Sen was also willing to make an unofficial out-of-court compromise with him. But now the lawyers are re-examining the legal procedures to claim this debt.

“Samdech Chakrapong could not be reached for comment because his phone was switched off. Mr. Muth Chantha, the spokesperson of the Norodom Ranariddh Party, said that, speaking of the law of bankruptcy, if a company officially declares its bankruptcy, the state will cancel the company’s debt. He added that the information leaked at this time that the lawyers were ordered to investigate this debt. This issue seems to be synchronized with the political situation of the last few days. Therefore, this issue is related to politics.

“Samdech Chakrapong owes the state a debt of nearly US$1.3 million from the time when he operated Royal Phnom Penh Airways.

“The government declared it would claim the debt from Prince Chakrapong after the Prince held a press conference to severely attack the government. In an interview of 12 March, the Prince alleged that the government interfered in the affairs of the court, and the conviction of Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh] was politically motivated. The Prince suggested the government should turn its attention to a number of other urgent matters, such as the adoption of an anti-corruption laws and the trial process of Khmer Rouge leaders.

“The government declared to claim the debt from Prince Chakrapong, after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Samdech Krom Preah in absentia to 18 months in jail, and ordered him to pay US$150,000 in compensation, and to return the Funcinpec headquarters to Funcinpec. Samdech Krom Preah considered this conviction as aiming to prevent him from returning to the country to join in the upcoming elections.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4236, 15.3.2007

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 15 March 2007

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1291, 15.3.2007

Ms. Lisa Filipetto, Australian Ambassador To Cambodia, Terminates Her Mandate And Took Her Leave Of Samdech Hun Sen
[About 3,000 workers conducted] A Strike To Remove A Translator From A Factory Because He Is Good At Cursing Workers When They Don’t Work Overtime [in the Makenet Footwear Factory, Phnom Penh]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #5991, 15.3.2007

Two Civil Society Organizations [COMFREL and ADHOC] Express Concerns Over Violence During The Upcoming Election Campaign, While The Authorities Prepare Themselves To Ensure Security
Khmer People Entering The Thai Markets Are Required To Take Stricter Security Checks [at the Poipet border-crossing]
The Phnom Penh Municipality Declares That It Will Protest Against Those Who Incite Others Over The Boeng Kak Area Plans [appealing to the citizens to cooperate with the authorities in developing this area]
The Deputy Prime Minister Sok An Held A Discussion With World Bank Experts [and spoke about three questions: 1-Transparency and Good governance which Cambodia has implemented. 2-Fighting against corruption. 3-Judicious system reform. Sok An said draft on terrorism and money laundering has been sent to the National Assembly; the government is trying to reform the administration and the judicial system]
The Birth Rates In The Urban Area Is Low [2.8 births per women], While The Birth Rate In The Rural Area Is High [3.5 births per women]
Mr. Takahashi Fumiaki, the Japanese Ambassador To Cambodia, Terminates His Mandate, And Took His Leave Of Mr. Suy Sem [the Minister of Industry, Mining and Energy]

Moneaksekar, Vol.14, #3110, 15.3.2007

Khmer Rouge Witnesses Are Worrying About Their Safety And Security For Fear That Somebody Will Be Vindictive With Them
Do Not Use Branch Offices of the Cambodian Red Cross To Conduct A Campaign For The Cambodian People’s Party [some Red Cross officials give donations of the Red Cross but take the opportunity to promote the CPP]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4236, 15.3.2007

The Government Investigates, And Claims Payment For A Debt Of Nearly $1.3 Million From Samdech Chakrapong
Boeng Kak Residents Will Not Be Relocated To Outskirts [the Phnom Penh Municipality announced to the citizens that it would not relocate them]

Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #353, 15.3.2007

A Private Malaysian Airplane Carried the Deputy Prime Minister Sok An’s [five] Fighting Cocks From Malaysia To Phnom Penh
The State And Private Media Are Too Biased Towards The Ruling Party [COMFREL – the Committee for Free and Fair Elections – officials monitored all events that occurred so far before and during the process of the commune council elections]

Go to last week’s editorial