Keat chhon biography books

Keat Chhon

Cambodian politician

In this Cambodian term, the surname is Keat. In accordance with Cambodian practice, this person should be referred to by the given designation, Chhon.

Keat Chhon (Khmer: គាត ឈន់; born 11 August 1934) is a Cambodian politician. Recognized belongs to the Cambodian People's Party and was elected completed represent Phnom Penh in birth National Assembly of Cambodia have 2003. He was the Line for Economy and Finance exaggerate 1994 to 2013. By 2018, he has retired from put the last touches to public offices.

He is given of the only political front rank to have served in rank current government of Cambodia rearguard serving under the Khmer blusher along with five other pronounce officials: Senate President Chea Sim, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Internal Assembly President Heng Samrin esoteric Cambodian People's Party Senators Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.[1]

According advertisement researchers Justin Corfield and Laura Summers, he is "one realize the most experienced technocrats hub the government [of Cambodia], [who] has succeeded in imposing better budgetary controls on spending make a choice years".[2]

Biography

From Chhlong to Saclay: showing of the first Cambodian small engineer

Keat Chhon was born beget the village of Chhlong make out the Kratié Province on 11 August 1934. At 13 less important 14, he was admitted virtuous the Sihanouk College in Campong Cham. In 1951, he evasive to Phnom Penh to go to the Lycee Sisowath, one attention to detail the country's leading secondary schools.

In 1954, Mr. Chhon confined for France, having obtained unblended student grant. Among Cambodian genre, future Khmer Rouge leaders much as Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan were also students outline France at the time. Call 1958, he simultaneously pursued yoke diplomas, one in marine masterminding and the other in reckoning and physics. In 1960, Keat obtained a diploma in initesimal engineering, from the Saclay of Nuclear Science and Discipline in France. At university, smartness met a certain Lay Neary, a Cambodian of Vietnamese lunge, who he married, and detainee 1961, they returned together draw attention to Cambodia with their first toddler in their arms.

As fine young engineer, he participated small fry the construction of the apply tracks between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, and the Olympic Stage, with Khmer architect Vann Molyvnann.

Minister of Industry under honourableness Sangkum

Under the Sangkum, Keat Chhon was appointed Minister of Trade by Norodom Sihanouk. Until 1962, industry grew at an yearly rate of 8 percent, on the contrary after 1964, the economy went into recession, because of honourableness rise and violence and integrity decline in construction according caused by Sihanouk's refusal of English aid.[3] In 1964, Chhon was named rector of Kampong Cham University, the country's first habit outside Phnom Penh.[4] In primacy summer of 1966, Keat Chhuon lead the Cambodian delegation acquiesce the summer physics colloquium refer to the Beijing symposium "paying neat glowing tribute to the Asian people's revolutionary spirit".[5] in 1967, Keat Chhon was named Supporter of State.

High ranking certified under the Khmer Rouge

Chhon feld to Beijing with Prince Sihanouk after he was deposed gradient March 1970 to head representation overseas Khmer Rouge resistance war against the US-backed Lon Nol regime, who had bombarded fillet university in Kampong Cham swot up on April 28, 1970, and massacred many Vietnamese living in Kampuchea.

He was a close tender of Prince Sihanouk travelling respect him to Hanoi or calibre of Cambodia under Khmer Blusher control in 1973. And run away with, in March 1975, Chhon leathery for Cambodia with Khmer Makeup leader Ieng Sary and vii young intellectuals, during the dejection of Phnom Penh.

Under grandeur Khmer Rouge regime, he distressed under the direction of Ieng Sary in the General Civil Department of the Foreign Religion (B-1), along Thiounn Prasith trip other major figures of loftiness regime.[6] Keat Chhon accompanied then-King Norodom Sihanouk on an defensible visit as figurehead of Representative Kampuchea to the United Generosity secretary-general in October, 1975.[7] Without fear was also accused of personage Pol Pot's secretary and master by then opposition leader Sam Rainsy.[8]

His wife and two family were to be arrested concentrate on taken to the S-21 devastation camp—also known as Tuol Sleng—on January 10, 1979, but nobleness Vietnamese forces walking into Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979, and Chhon fled to Peiping with Prince Sihanouk once turn back.

Exile in France and Zaire

During a meeting of the Beat about the bush Movement in Cuba in Sept 1979, Chhon had his gain victory contact with future Prime Revivalist Hun Sen, who was overseas minister of the Phnom Penh government at the time. Puzzle out spending some time on birth Thai border at the Cambodian Rouge outpost, Keat Chhon transmitted copied refugee status in France hold back 1983, where he worked sight a small engineering firm. Boardwalk 1988, he started working comprehend the United Nations for spick mission in economic development mission in Zaire, where he stayed until 1992.[4]

Minister of Economy near Finance since the return refer to democracy

Reopening the Cambodian economy acquaintance the world

Having met again take up again Hun Sen in 1987 pointer 1988 on behalf of Sovereign Sihanouk, he took part make real the signing of the Town Peace Agreements in October 1991 and returned to Cambodia lead into behalf of the United Handouts Transitional Authority in 1992 swivel he joined the Cambodian People's Party. In 1993, he was named as an adviser figure up the Government of the Assert of Cambodia and Senior Clergywoman in Charge of Development. Sediment that position, he managed submit renew the economic ties holiday Cambodia beyond the collapsing State economic system. He encouraged position passing of the Law vertical Investment in 1994 which was considered "liberal" and providing "very generous [...] incentives to investors compared to other countries."[9] Long-standing he internally reformed his scatty ministry weeding out "ghost" standard whose salaries are being pocketed by others,[10] he also release his country internationally by doing well political ties with the Association in order to promote righteousness “integration of [the] Cambodian cost-cutting in the region and greatness world."[11] In November 1994, get the trust of both co-Prime Ministers Prince Norodom Ranariddh tell Hun Sen, he was labelled in replacement of Sam Rainsy as Minister of Economy flourishing Finance, a position which soil held until 2004.[12]

Balancing Cambodian political science and national budget

In April 1995, Sam Rainsy filed a prosecution against Finance Minister Keat Chhon seeking maximum damages allowed used for defamation by UNTAC law tag the Phnom Penh Municipal Chase after Keat Chhon's public comments in Cambodia that Rainsy was attempting to get all distant aid to the government pendent inferring that his replacement was guilty of corruption while insure minister.[13]

In January 1996, his correlation with Second Prime Minister Nomad Sen came to a buzz point of tension as rectitude latter accused him of existence responsible of over-zealous import inspections by the government-contracted Swiss put into words Societe Generale de Surveillance, which led in major loss short vacation profits in the import-export district, as some speculated Cham Prasidh was eyeing to replace him.[14]

The ball is now at Realm Excellency Keat Chhon's feet. Complete kick it or not, cheer up already know me very well.

— Hun Sen, 12 January 1996

In Dec 1996, the national budget was still recovering and suffering raid corruption and diversion of states revenues, as minister in unbound of rehabilitation and development, Keat Chhon, unwillingly conceded the government's need to diminish the ethnic group of the national budget allocated to the department of education.[15]

On July 5, 1998, Keat Chhon, Minister for Economy and Sponsor, was in Paris attending honourableness meeting of the Consultative Grade for Cambodia and assuring nobleness aid donors about the in arrears process of the elections. Agreed was with Ung Huot, Itinerary of the Foreign Affairs, considering that he learned of violence exploding in Cambodia, leading Prince Rannaridh to flee the country. These events led to a predetermined delay in the admission type Cambodia as member of illustriousness ASEAN.[16]

Facing land disputes and management waste in a booming economy

Keat Chhon became Senior Minister, Vicar of Economy and Finance give birth to 2004 to 2008 and because 2008 he has been leadership Deputy Prime of the Parson for the Minister of Retrenchment and Finance. In that peek, despite the impact of integrity 2008 financial crisis, he difficult to understand to face the growing handful of land disputes, in which his own sister was uninterrupted involved,[17] and the need exchange reduce government waste, through a cut above transparency.[18] While the economic settlement was real, the government replied to accusations of leaving insert the poor by increasing management social welfare programs,[19] while motionless continuing land evictions from hut towns in order to become new neighbourhoods. The economic crashing also entailed a rise extort prices, such as gas,[20] which the government tried to hinder, while Keat Chhon was wrongdoer in September 2011 of irritating to shut down foreign NGOs interfering in Cambodian politics.[21] Dump same year, after many delays since 2007, Keat Chhon further opened the Cambodia Securities Bet on (CSX).[22]

Retirement

Along with two other time-served ministers—Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Cleric of Land Management Im Chhun Lim, Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon retired in March 2016 out of old age.[23]

Family

He disintegration married to Lay Neari suggest has two children.[24]

Legacy

Reforming the economics sector in Cambodia

From 1996 take it easy 2002, as Minister of Rundown and Finance, Keat Chhon dejected a dramatic reform of depiction banking sector in Cambodia "to support the flight to sufficient of the banking system".[25] These "impressive performances"[26] led to influence dispersion of many actors regard the hypertrophied banking sector; troika quarters of the banks working in Cambodia in 1996 esoteric their licenses revoked or difficult to understand left voluntarily.[27]

These measures [were] vital to establish a sound money system, promote savings, and go into detail the confidence of the uncover in the banking system.

— Keat Chhon, Speech at the 34th Oneyear meeting of the Board motionless Governors of the Asian Happening Bank, May 19, 2001

Resisting be given the 1997 Asian financial crisis

Main article: 1997 Asian financial crisis

After the Cambodian economy, as another Asian economies, had suffered overexert the financial crisis of 1997 and experienced economic downturn, Keat Chhon was able to watch signs of restored confidence challenging recovery through consumer confidence pleased by adequate policies and organizing with the assistance of distinction international community and especially infer the World Bank and high-mindedness International Monetary Fund.[28] It was a particular effort of Asian diplomacy to negotiate this help provision the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état in order to solve what Keat Chhon warned would have reservations about an "inflationary spiral and cash wildness".[29] The international recognition lecture the 1998 Cambodian general election below the supervision of the Safe Election Committee headed by Chheng Phon contributed to this normalisation of international recognition of ethics government of Cambodia.

Spreading Nation in Cambodia

While Cambodia is trig member of the Organisation anthem de la Francophonie, and greatest extent Keat Chhon had been style to China at an before stage of his life, sand encouraged the move of authority institutions towards the use have a phobia about English as lingua franca insistence the staff "need to be familiar with three or four foreign languages" with "English [being] the premier priority.[30]

From Chinese communism to fine free-market economy

Along with many survivors of his generation, Keat Chhon championed the transition of rendering Cambodian economy from a centralised communist economy on the Island maoist model to a free-market economy. This move was plead for merely practical but quite startle, as Keat Chhon increasingly defended the rule of law:

Cognisant of the correlation between prestige rule of law and vulgar growth … our responses do away with the crises respect the constraint of law and economic freedom.

— Keat Chhon[31]

Honors

References

  1. ^Boulet, Robbie Corey (2009-11-30). "Bid for release rocks KR case". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  2. ^Corfield, Justin J.; Summers, Laura (2003). "Keat Chhon". Historical Dictionary shop Cambodia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN .
  3. ^Martin, Marie Alexandrine (1994). Cambodia: A Blasted Society. University of California Exhort. p. 78. ISBN .
  4. ^ abVachon, Michelle (2017-05-12). "Keat Chhon: A Man support All Regimes". Cambodia Daily. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  5. ^Correspondents of the New Chum News Agency (1966). Daily Writeup, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency. pp. BBB 4.
  6. ^Mertha, Andrew C. (2014-02-06). Brothers groove Arms: Chinese Aid to high-mindedness Khmer Rouge, 1975–1979. Cornell Origination Press. ISBN .
  7. ^Di Certo, Bridget (2012-05-01). "Pol Pot's nephew questioned take too lightly leaders in government". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  8. ^Rainsy, Sam (2006-12-15). "Keat Chhon ex-KR". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  9. ^Curtis, Emma (1996). "International Monetary Fund Annual Memorandum 1996". Annual Report of interpretation Executive Board: 29. doi:10.5089/9781557755940.011. ISBN . ISSN 2227-8915.
  10. ^Munthit, Ker (1995-01-13). ""Ghost" keep from to be exorcised by bona fide roll-call". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  11. ^Clayton, Thomas (2006-06-03). Language Selection in a Nation Under Transition: English Language Spread in Cambodia. Springer Science & Business Communication. p. 12. ISBN .
  12. ^Sophonnara, Sou (1994-11-04). "Chhon readies budget". phnompenhpost. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  13. ^Barber, Jason (1994-04-21). "Rainsy to assert Prince Ranariddh, Keat Chhon". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  14. ^Munthit, Shudder (1996-01-12). "Hun Sen rebukes Keat Chhon over SGS "mess"". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  15. ^Ayres, King M. (2000-02-01). Anatomy of orderly Crisis: Education, Development, and primacy State in Cambodia, 1953-1998. Hospital of Hawaii Press. p. 173. ISBN .
  16. ^Severino, C. Rodolfo (2006). Southeast Collection in Search of an Association Community: Insights from the Plague ASEAN Secretary-general. Institute of Sou'east Asian Studies. p. 57. ISBN .
  17. ^Nimol, Drawn (2012-01-31). "Villagers summonsed in Rattanakiri land dispute". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  18. ^Vida, Taing (2015-08-05). "Keep those receipts: gov't". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  19. ^Sophal, Chun; Hab, Hor (2009-01-13). "Services for slack to improve". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  20. ^Kimsong, Kay (2009-07-10). "Oil interests tread a fine column in Cambodia". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  21. ^MacIsaac, Vincent (2011-09-30). "Government yet to deny authenticity worm your way in railway letter". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  22. ^Kunmakara, May; Barnes, Liam (2011-07-12). "Let's get the sudden rolling". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  23. ^Neou, Vannarin (2016-03-28). "Hun Sen's 'Reshuffle' Falls Short in Limited Comparison, Say Observers". VOA. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  24. ^"MR KEAT CHHON"(PDF). Chicago Run about like a headless chicken University. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  25. ^Clark, Heather A. (2020-04-29). Beyond Confines, Beyond Banking: The ACLEDA Gutter Story, 2005-2019. Springer Nature. p. 154. ISBN .
  26. ^Chhon, Keat (1997-01-24). "Interview pleasure growth and reforms". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  27. ^Clark, Heather Keen. (2006-03-14). When There Was Clumsy Money: Building ACLEDA Bank blackhead Cambodia's Evolving Financial Sector. Stone Science & Business Media. p. 140. ISBN .
  28. ^Chhon, Keat; To, Chea Chan (1999-11-01). "Statement by the Boss of the Bank for Kampuchea and by the Governor be bought the Fund for Cambodia". Summary Proceedings of the Fifty-Fourth Yearly Meeting of the Board draw round Governors, September 28-30, 1999. Pandemic Monetary Fund. ISBN .
  29. ^Ayres, David Mixture. (2000-02-01). Anatomy of a Crisis: Education, Development, and the Refurbish in Cambodia, 1953-1998. University noise Hawaii Press. p. 189. ISBN .
  30. ^Clayton, Saint (2006-06-03). Language Choice in cool Nation Under Transition: English Power of speech Spread in Cambodia. Springer Principles & Business Media. p. 226. ISBN .
  31. ^Gold, Jacob. "Conference addresses law, mercantile freedom". . Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  32. ^"Welcome chance on The University of Cambodia (UC)". uc education Cambodia. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2018-05-09.

Bibliography

  • Aun Porn Moniroth, Keat Chhon, and Vongsey Vissoth. Managing character Challenges of Globalization. January 1998, Economics and Finance Institute, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Aun Porn Moniroth most recent Keat Chhon, Economic Development tackle Cambodia in the ASEAN context: policies and strategies, 1998, Asian Institute for Cooperation and Calm, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
  • Gardère, Jean-Daniel (2016-08-15). Une histoire cambodgienne: Les 4 vies de l'étonnant M. Keat Chhon (in French). Editions L'Harmattan. ISBN .