Soldier and flag

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kid, soldiers

helicopter

Hun Sen getting

out of helicopter

Evan Williams:  Three years after losing elections, Hun Sen has re-emerged as the country's most powerful leader.

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His autocratic style has reached such limits that he can shock even the party faithful - brought here for a provincial school opening.

This time he offers convicted Khmer Rouge war criminal and mass murderer Ieng Sary an amnesty for splitting with Pol Pot and calling for talks with the government.

Hun Sen at microphone, audience listening

Hun Sen:  On behalf of one PM, I guarantee Ieng Sary's life, his security and encourage him to bring his forces to our side.  The past is one thing ...

Williams:  Although breaking Cambodia's law it's all in the name of peace.  But in the process Hun Sen fired another round in Cambodia's new cold war.  A war that has threatened to split the government.

01.37

Parliament in session

Cambodia's three-billion dollar Parliament rarely gets a quorum.  There are only enough MPs here this day because it's a special session to debate urgent legislation.

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But debate is limited - those who criticize the government too severely risk expulsion.

One of the few remaining outspoken MPs, Ahmad Yahya, says you have to choose the right words to survive.  And he says, Cambodia's elected representatives are scared.

02.15

Interview with Ahmad Yahya

Super:

AHMAD YAHYA

Funcinpek Party MP

Ahmad Yahya:  Even myself and other members of Parliament are scared to go to the you know, the rural areas because the grassroots is there and the intimidation is there sometimes.

02.29

Driving shot, man with gun travelling in car, Rainsy driving, guards in back

Williams:  One of those politicians is Sam Rainsy.  Ousted from his Funcinpac Party and Parliament for criticising official corruption, Cambodia's former finance minister launched his own party. 

Illegal because the government refuses to let him register, Rainsy defiantly tries to spread his message.

It's ironic that mass murderer, Ieng Sary could be officially recognised by the government before Rainsy is allowed to register his party.

But opposition politics in Cambodia means armed guards riding shotgun.

Interview with Sam Rainsy

Super:

SAM RAINSY

Dissident Political Leader

Rainsy:  They use the local police, the militiamen and even soldiers who come to create disturbances.

03.22

Rainsy getting out of car, erecting sign, man with gun

Williams:  Today Sam Rainsy is trying to open four new party offices in rural Cambodia.  But supporting Rainsy in the countryside is a dangerous business.

03.43

As Rainsy tries to put up one of his party signs, government militia turn up.  They've been ordered to shoot up the office and it's sign.  And probably anyone in the way.

This is what Rainsy often finds.  The government denies responsibility but it's clear who they work for.

Rainsy:  I'm really concerned by the presence of armed militiamen.  There are a few of them around us, two of them tried to stop us from raising the signboard. 

04.19

Interview with Rainsy

They are half drunk and there are other people with even rocket propellers so I'm very concerned that after we go they may come and intimidate and terrorize the owner of the house to pull the sign down.

Williams:  That's exactly what happened - three of the signs put up that day were torn down and destroyed on the orders of the local CPP or commune chief.

People on boat

Music

on river

Williams:  In the heart of rural Cambodia it's undeveloped - but it's rich in resources like timber, rubber, rice, tobacco.  Critics say these resources are being plundered for short term profit by those who control them - and that means those in power.

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Ferry on river

To see first hand Sam Rainsy took us to one of the richest provinces Kompong Cham - just two hours up river from the capital Phnom Penh.

Despite voting for Funcinpac the province is still controlled by Hun Sen's CPP and that means so are it's main industries.

Rubber plantation

Rubber from these old plantations was once one of the Cambodian government's biggest single export earners.  Now he says it's just another part of the CPP's money making machine.

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Rainsy:  According to my estimates the state is losing every year about 30 million US dollars and the money actually goes to the coffers of the Communist Party and to the pockets of some individuals who happen to be high ranking officials of the Communist Party of the government.

Interview with Prince Norodom Rahariddh

Williams:  While the CPP rakes profits off state enterprise, Rainsy and others claim Funcinpac is also on the take.

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Williams:  There's no secret that there's widespread allegations of high-level corruption, is that a problem for the country?  Or how big a problem is it becoming?

Super:

Pr. NORODOM RAHARIDDH

Funcinpec Prime Minister

Rahariddh:  You know I'd like to tell you that -  please try on the contrary to give me which country that you cannot find corruption - widespread or not widespread - maybe Singapore?  But besides that, which countries in which we cannot find any corruption.  you know we are a very undeveloped country.

Hun Sen with crowd

Williams:  Meanwhile his rival co-premier Hun Sen was in Cambodia's northwest on a development binge and pressing the flesh.

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Clapping

Williams:  It may be an organized crowd and Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party are masters at these old style political rallies.

But there is no doubt Cambodia's second prime minister has a great affinity with this rural crowd and he knows well that 80% of Cambodia's voters come from country areas like this.

Women dancing, Hun Sen and wife opening school

Music

Today Hun Sen and his wife are opening another Hun Sen development centre - largely funded from their personal fortunes. 

They've opened more than 300 schools like this mostly with their own money or funds from his Cambodia People's Party.

08.45

Hun Sen voice-over:  This is the type of work I established in 1979 why should it not continue.  Such a work is not an electoral campaign.

Interview with Hun Sen

Hun Sen:  To be a good leader is to understand people and help the people.  We cannot be a leader to these people when we cannot see the difficulties.  In such a way, I'd rather be a monk than a prime minister.

Williams:  Is it fair to say that Hun Sen is already running the country, really, this is really the ...

Hun Sen:  You see that I'm running the country so long ago.  Seventeen years I've been controlling.  Do you consider me not the leader of the country?

Williams:  No, I do now. I'm saying is it fair to say that Hun Sen is now still running the country really.

Hun Sen:  Yes.

Guards with guns, Williams with Christine Sirivudh, newspaper photos, leaving in car

Williams:  And Hun Sen has used his position ruthlessly.  He still controls much of the army and police.  His tough personal bodyguard often used for the dirties work - like arresting political opponents.

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Princess Christine Alfsan Norodom knows that fear first hand.  She's the unlikely victim of blatant government repression.

Her husband, Prince Norodom Sirivudh is the former foreign minister, secretary-general of the winning Funcinpac party and half brother of the king.

A few months ago, he was arrested by Hun Sen: toughs, sentenced to ten year's jail and exiled for plotting to assassinate Hun Sen.

He might have made some careless remarks but most observers say they were trumped up charges in a purely political trial.

Interview with Christine Sirivudh

Christine Sirivudh:  The point really was to eliminate someone - a voice that was becoming a little too powerful against the present government.  I don't think anyone even those who brought the charges, take them seriously.

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Williams:  What does that say about the state of freedom of expression and political activity if that can happen?

Christine Sirivudh:  Well, it says don't raise your head too high.  If you're part of the system, stay in the system.  The minute you get out of the government and you're a powerful person that may draw some audience, you become an enemy.

Interview with Rahariddh

Williams:  Could you tell me why you, first of all as Funcinpac Prime Minister, why you couldn't save Prince Norodom Sirivudh from exile and sentencing?

Super:

Pr. NORODOM RAHARIDDH

Funcinpek Prime Minister

Rahariddh:  His majesty the king and myself we have altogether saved Prince Sirivudh from being put in jail or even being killed.  I think that is the least really, we could do for him - Yes.

11.56

Rahariddh getting out of car, greeting people

Williams:  The heart of that government remains an alliance between Hun Sen and the first Prime Minister Prince Norodom Rahariddh.  But tension between the two prime ministers has recently reached new heights.

Prince Rahariddh threatened to pull out of the coalition if Hun Sen did not hand over regional power sharing as agreed.  Hun Sen in reply called Prince Rahariddh a real dog - an unforgivable insult in Cambodia - if he didn't follow through with the threat - warning he's ready to exile more Royals.

It's clearly anything but a warm and co-operative relationship.

Williams:  Could you describe to me Hun Sen as a politician, as a leader?

Interview with Rahariddh

Rahariddh:  No, please don't ask me such a question, otherwise it will not be possible for me to be with him to run the country.  I think it better to ask your question to the people who will have the right and duty to go through the elections and to decide the next prime minister.

13.08

Sunrise, fishing, kids, statute, people praying

Music

Williams:  While Cambodians pray for a lasting peace their future is anything but blessed. 

Open rivalry between the two prime ministers paralyses much government work but both believe they will win outright next time.

Cambodians thought they were getting democracy this time but increasingly that's just a word to paper over intolerance and suppression - shades of the one party rule Cambodians have always known.

Given this government's record many fear the campaign for Cambodia's next election will be violent and bloody.  And this time the world will not be watching quite so closely.

ENDS

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