Gov’t approves changes to duties of its top leadership

THE government on Tuesday approved changes to duties and responsibilities of its senior leadership, merely three months after King Norodom Sihamoni removed Nhem Vanda from his positions as Senior Minister and First VicePresident of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM).

Vanda was dismissed for “lacking responsibility and telling a lie” following the collapse of a seven-storey building in Sihanoukville, which left 28 people dead and 26 injured in June. Four Chinese nationals were detained over the tragedy, with the building’s owner charged with involuntary manslaughter and causing bodily harm.

Vanda was replaced by Senior Minister Kun Kim.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the reshuffle was normal and in line with the government’s ongoing reforms.

“We make the changes because some vacancies need to be filled, including the one left by His Excellency Nhem Vanda. It’s nothing unusual. Officials are to be reshuffled from time to time. Their duties and responsibilities are to be divided to meet the goals set by the top leadership,” he said.

A directive signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday officially appointed Kim as NCDM first vice-president.

“His Excellency Kun Kim, the Senior Minister in charge of veterans and people with disabilities, is to carry out duties assigned by the prime minister,” said the directive.

Kin Phea, the directorgeneral of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute, said such reshuffles are routinely made by the government during its five-year mandate.

“It is normal to reshuff le the government . . . nothing unusua l. Vaca ncies need to be filled, so when one is removed f rom a posit ion, somebody wi l l have to ta ke over. It is s t a n d a r d p r o c e d u r e f o r appointment and assignment of dut ies. It is made of f icia l w it h such a d i rec t ive,” he said.

On June 24, King Norodom Si ha moni issued t wo separate Roya l Decrees, wit h one stripping Vanda of his Senior Minister in cha rge of Specia l Mi s s i o n s a nd t h e o t he r appointing him as an adv iser to t he government, t he ra nk st i l l equ iv a lent of a sen ior minister.

T he pr i me minister f i r st announced Vanda’s fa ll from grace in his June 24 Facebook post. Cit i ng reasons for his removal, Hun Sen said Vanda was busy sleeping in Kampot prov i nce whi le t he resc ue a nd operat ions tea ms were bu s y d i s c over i ng v ic t i ms trapped under the rubble of t he building.

Vanda declined to comment on Wednesday.