Bin Chinn tapped to replace Sok An
Hun Sen’s right-hand man, Sok An’s political influence had waned in recent years and his passing was unlikely to impact the power balance within the Cambodian People’s Party, observers noted yesterday.
“[First] it looks like a longterm and terminal illness, and the CPP is likely much more prepared for any transition,” Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank, said.
“Second, the power dynamic has already been shifted since the 2013 election, with much of his power stripped. It was nowhere close to how much influence he used to have.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a long-time and wellconnected observer said the erosion of Sok An’s powerbase began before the CPP’s poor showing at the last national election, as the late minister’s creation of an “empire” within government and financial circles had sewn distrust.
“His power in the administration, supplemented by his financial links, gave Sok An a threatening position within the government, that is why Prime Minister Hun Sen had to do something,” he said.
“From 2008, many of his powers have been gradually taken away from him, many people loyal to him were quietly put somewhere else.”
Unre a c h a b l e y e s t e rd a y, Chhin, who became a deputy prime minister in 2007, has been chairman of the interministerial National Authority for Land Dispute Resolution since 2008, when he replaced Sok An, who presided over the body when it was established in 2006.
He was also president of the Constitutional Council between 2001 and 2007, and previously a lawmaker for Prey Veng for the CPP.
EangVuthy of Equitable Cambodia said that while “some progress” had been made in addressing land disputes, it was difficult to assess Chhin’s contribution as the issue remained a “big and complex problem”.
Meanwhile, opposition poli- tician and former member of the Constitutional Council Son Soubert said he considered Chhin an honest and efficient leader, who he said instituted evaluation-based recruitment for staff at the body.
“I hope Mr Bin Chhin’s up to the task. He has the qualities [needed],” he said.