Prime Minister Hun Manet selected new provincial governors and police chiefs at the sub-national level, all with close ties to CPP elites that mirror the connections of recently announced national appointees.
Government-aligned media Fresh News published a royal decree and a sub-decree Wednesday listing the newly selected leaders.
The royal decree, signed by King Norodom Sihamoni, states that Peng Ponsa was appointed as Svay Rieng provincial governor, Prak Sophoan as Siem Reap provincial governor, and Suon Somalin as Prey Veng provincial governor, Ponsa is the son of the recently appointed Supreme Council advisor of the King, Men Sam An. Ponsa’s brother, Peng Ponea, was also appointed to the position of Public Works and Transportation Minister.
Sophoan is the son of former Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn, and served as deputy provincial governor until his Wednesday appointment. He is also provincial president of the Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia. Sophoan replaced Tea Seiha, who was recently promoted to National Defense Minister.
“For my commitment, I have loved Siem Reap since I was young and will try to continue the work of Mr. Tea Seiha because he has helped to develop a lot,” Sophoan told CamboJA on Thursday. “I will continue to work hard on development gaps and to help the people of Siem Reap.”
Somalin replaces Chea Somethy, the newly appointed Social Affairs, Veteran and Rehabilitation Minister.
Hun Manet also appointed two high ranking police chiefs, Sar Ratha and Choun Narin, as deputy National Police chiefs.
Ratha is the son of former Interior Minister Sar Kheng, and was serving as deputy general director of the General Immigration Department before his Wednesday appointment.
Following Narin’s appointment as deputy National Police chief, the Interior Ministry announced Thursday it has selected him as Phnom Penh Municipal Chief. He will replace Sar Thet, who was recently promoted to National Police Chief, in this position.
“Throughout my life, I have served to protect citizens and be honest for the nation and my motherland,” Narin told CamboJA Thursday after seeing the announcement of his appointment. He declined to comment further, saying he had not yet taken office.
On Thursday, Hun Manet presided over the first meeting of the new Office of the Council of Ministers. He outlined key policy priorities based on the ruling CPP political platform, saying he aimed to serve national interest and respond to people’s needs.
“I have also outlined the key measures that I will lead and implement, to respond to dire needs and address challenges and reforms in key areas, as wished and desired by our Cambodian people,” he said.
The prime minister said he planned to expand on the previous achievements of the Royal Government, including “protecting and continuing to maintain peace, political stability and public order,” as well as “respecting rule of law, rights and freedoms and people’s dignity in a liberal multi-party democracy.”
He also outlined five key strategic priorities moving forward: ensuring crisis-resilient economic growth of around 7% per year; creating more jobs, especially for young adults; achieving a poverty reduction target of less than 10%; continuing to strengthen governance capacity and improving the quality of public institutions, the private sector, and investments; and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development and building resilience to climate change.
When asked about the new sub-national appointments, San Chey, executive director of the NGO Affiliated Network for Social Accountability Cambodia, said he has no hope for change with the new government because the new leaders will still carry out the old strategies of the previous government.
“If they want to change the situation of leadership and good governance, they should create new strategies to reflect the situation,” he said. “For my opinion, I am not surprised about the shifting positions [of officials being promoted] because I don’t see new signs [of change].”
