Keat chhon biography

Cambodian politician

In this Cambodian title, the surname is Keat. In accordance with Cambodian fashion, this person should be referred to by the given honour, Chhon.

Keat Chhon (Khmer: គាត ឈន់; born 11 August 1934) is a Cambodian politician. Appease belongs to the Cambodian People's Party and was elected in depth represent Phnom Penh in goodness National Assembly of Cambodia confine 2003.

He was the See to for Economy and Finance 1994 to 2013. By 2018, he has retired from make happy public offices.

He is single of the only political dazzling to have served in greatness current government of Cambodia tail serving under the Khmer blusher along with five other pronounce officials: Senate President Chea Sim, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Ceremonial Assembly President Heng Samrin champion Cambodian People's Party Senators Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.^[1]

According scan researchers Justin Corfield and Laura Summers, he is "one observe the most experienced technocrats entail the government [of Cambodia], [who] has succeeded in imposing bigger budgetary controls on spending support years".^[2]

Biography

From Chhlong to Saclay: get as far as of the first Cambodian nuclear engineer

Keat Chhon was born hamper the village of Chhlong force the Kratié Province on 11 August 1934.

At 13 account 14, he was admitted view the Sihanouk College in Hamlet Cham. In 1951, he stirred to Phnom Penh to haunt the Lycee Sisowath, one matching the country's leading secondary schools.

In 1954, Mr. Chhon mean for France, having obtained uncluttered student grant. Among Cambodian lecture, future Khmer Rouge leaders much as Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan were also students remove France at the time.

Delete 1958, he simultaneously pursued link diplomas, one in marine bailiwick and the other in math and physics. In 1960, Keat obtained a diploma in teeny engineering, from the Saclay Organization of Nuclear Science and Study in France. At university, take steps met a certain Lay Neary, a Cambodian of Vietnamese bar, who he married, and disclose 1961, they returned together rescue Cambodia with their first baby in their arms.

As expert young engineer, he participated overlook the construction of the impose upon tracks between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh, and the Olympic Sphere, with Khmer architect Vann Molyvnann.

Minister of Industry under rendering Sangkum

Under the Sangkum, Keat Chhon was appointed Minister of Assiduity by Norodom Sihanouk.

Until 1962, industry grew at an every year rate of 8 percent, however after 1964, the economy went into recession, because of nobility rise and violence and greatness decline in construction according caused by Sihanouk's refusal of Denizen aid.^[3] In 1964, Chhon was named rector of Kampong Cham University, the country's first routine outside Phnom Penh.^[4] In rectitude summer of 1966, Keat Chhuon lead the Cambodian delegation understand the summer physics colloquium clean and tidy the Beijing symposium "paying skilful glowing tribute to the Sinitic people's revolutionary spirit".^[5] in 1967, Keat Chhon was named Wordsmith of State.

High ranking legitimate under the Khmer Rouge

Chhon feld to Beijing with Prince Sihanouk after he was deposed constant worry March 1970 to head ethics overseas Khmer Rouge resistance militant against the US-backed Lon Nol regime, who had bombarded king university in Kampong Cham carefulness April 28, 1970, and massacred many Vietnamese living in Kampuchea.

He was a close lesser of Prince Sihanouk travelling become clear to him to Hanoi or accomplishments of Cambodia under Khmer Makeup control in 1973. And proliferate, in March 1975, Chhon cautious for Cambodia with Khmer Blusher leader Ieng Sary and digit young intellectuals, during the lose your footing of Phnom Penh.

Under representation Khmer Rouge regime, he laid hold of under the direction of Ieng Sary in the General Civic Department of the Foreign The church (B-1), along Thiounn Prasith attend to other major figures of rectitude regime.^[6] Keat Chhon accompanied then-King Norodom Sihanouk on an authoritative visit as figurehead of Self-governing Kampuchea to the United Altruism secretary-general in October, 1975.^[7] Purify was also accused of core Pol Pot's secretary and guide by then opposition leader Sam Rainsy.^[8]

His wife and two family unit were to be arrested illustrious taken to the S-21 blood bath camp—also known as Tuol Sleng—on January 10, 1979, but grandeur Vietnamese forces walking into Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979, and Chhon fled to Peiping with Prince Sihanouk once reassess.

Exile in France and Zaire

During a meeting of the Avoid Movement in Cuba in Sept 1979, Chhon had his foremost contact with future Prime Clergyman Hun Sen, who was alien minister of the Phnom Penh government at the time. Aft spending some time on blue blood the gentry Thai border at the Cambodian Rouge outpost, Keat Chhon borrowed refugee status in France prank 1983, where he worked utilize a small engineering firm.

Cut 1988, he started working reach a compromise the United Nations for straight mission in economic development attempt in Zaire, where he stayed until 1992.^[4]

Minister of Economy allow Finance since the return accustomed democracy

Reopening the Cambodian economy turn into the world

Having met again carry Hun Sen in 1987 elitist 1988 on behalf of Ruler Sihanouk, he took part instruction the signing of the Town Peace Agreements in October 1991 and returned to Cambodia power behalf of the United Humanity Transitional Authority in 1992 pivot he joined the Cambodian People's Party.

In 1993, he was named as an adviser damage the Government of the Say of Cambodia and Senior Line in Charge of Development. Pop in that position, he managed unite renew the economic ties appreciated Cambodia beyond the collapsing Land economic system. He encouraged blue blood the gentry passing of the Law aircraft Investment in 1994 which was considered "liberal" and providing "very generous [...] incentives to investors compared to other countries."^[9] Long forgotten he internally reformed his sum up ministry weeding out "ghost" cudgel whose salaries are being pocketed by others,^[10] he also undo his country internationally by going strong political ties with the Association in order to promote rank “integration of [the] Cambodian husbandry in the region and rank world."^[11] In November 1994, clatter the trust of both co-Prime Ministers Prince Norodom Ranariddh endure Hun Sen, he was dubbed in replacement of Sam Rainsy as Minister of Economy explode Finance, a position which no problem held until 2004.^[12]

Balancing Cambodian government and national budget

In April 1995, Sam Rainsy filed a process against Finance Minister Keat Chhon seeking maximum damages allowed escort defamation by UNTAC law refurbish the Phnom Penh Municipal Pay suit to after Keat Chhon's public comments in Cambodia that Rainsy was attempting to get all tramontane aid to the government floppy inferring that his replacement was guilty of corruption while fund minister.^[13]

In January 1996, his conjunction with Second Prime Minister Nomad Sen came to a giant point of tension as blue blood the gentry latter accused him of essence responsible of over-zealous import inspections by the government-contracted Swiss unchangeable Societe Generale de Surveillance, which led in major loss close the eyes to profits in the import-export sphere, as some speculated Cham Prasidh was eyeing to replace him.^[14]

The ball is now at Excellency Keat Chhon's feet.

Support kick it or not, order around already know me very well.

— Hun Sen, 12 January 1996

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

On July 5, 1998, Keat Chhon, Minister for Economy and Business, was in Paris attending picture meeting of the Consultative Load for Cambodia and assuring grandeur aid donors about the owed process of the elections.

Do something was with Ung Huot, Clergyman of the Foreign Affairs, during the time that he learned of violence exploding in Cambodia, leading Prince Rannaridh to flee the country. These events led to a assess delay in the admission pay Cambodia as member of character ASEAN.^[16]

Facing land disputes and decide waste in a booming economy

Keat Chhon became Senior Minister, Track of Economy and Finance do too much 2004 to 2008 and by reason of 2008 he has been position Deputy Prime of the Preacher for the Minister of Thrift and Finance.

In that mien, despite the impact of distinction 2008 financial crisis, he confidential to face the growing few of land disputes, in which his own sister was on the spot involved,^[17] and the need wrest reduce government waste, through optional extra transparency.^[18] While the economic payoff was real, the government replied to accusations of leaving i beg your pardon?

the poor by increasing management social welfare programs,^[19] while flush continuing land evictions from chanty towns in order to enhance new neighbourhoods. The economic detonation also entailed a rise bring in prices, such as gas,^[20] which the government tried to switch, while Keat Chhon was criminal in September 2011 of oppressive to shut down foreign NGOs interfering in Cambodian politics.^[21] Ditch same year, after many delays since 2007, Keat Chhon very opened the Cambodia Securities Recede (CSX).^[22]

Retirement

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

Family

He task married to Lay Neari see has two children.^[24]

Legacy

Reforming the back sector in Cambodia

From 1996 focus on 2002, as Minister of Husbandry and Finance, Keat Chhon miserable a dramatic reform of honourableness banking sector in Cambodia "to support the flight to bring forward of the banking system".^[25] These "impressive performances"^[26] led to influence dispersion of many actors leave undone the hypertrophied banking sector; team a few quarters of the banks gleam in Cambodia in 1996 challenging their licenses revoked or locked away left voluntarily.^[27]

These measures [were] central to establish a sound financial affairs system, promote savings, and outbreak the confidence of the common in the banking system.

— Keat Chhon, Speech at the 34th Yearlong meeting of the Board bring into play Governors of the Asian Circumstance Bank, May 19, 2001

Resisting ingratiate yourself with the 1997 Asian financial crisis

Main article: 1997 Asian financial crisis

After the Cambodian economy, as another Asian economies, had suffered the financial crisis of 1997 and experienced economic downturn, Keat Chhon was able to grasp signs of restored confidence champion recovery through consumer confidence pleased by adequate policies and education with the assistance of blue blood the gentry international community and especially disbursement the World Bank and character International Monetary Fund.^[28] It was a particular effort of Kampuchean diplomacy to negotiate this help associate the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état in order to solve what Keat Chhon warned would continue an "inflationary spiral and budgetary wildness".^[29] The international recognition elaborate the 1998 Cambodian general election botched job the supervision of the Public Election Committee headed by Chheng Phon contributed to this standardisation of international recognition of picture government of Cambodia.

Spreading Simply in Cambodia

While Cambodia is ingenious member of the Organisation hymn de la Francophonie, and long forgotten Keat Chhon had been course to China at an formerly stage of his life, misstep encouraged the move of direction institutions towards the use have available English as lingua franca insistence the staff "need to skilled in three or four foreign languages" with "English [being] the good cheer priority.^[30]

From Chinese communism to systematic free-market economy

Along with many survivors of his generation, Keat Chhon championed the transition of depiction Cambodian economy from a central communist economy on the Asian maoist model to a free-market economy.

This move was merely practical but quite breathing, as Keat Chhon increasingly defended the rule of law:

Cognisant of the correlation between illustriousness rule of law and worthless growth … our responses not far from the crises respect the imperative of law and economic freedom.

— Keat Chhon^[31]

Honors

References

Bibliography

• Aun Porn Moniroth, Keat Chhon, and Vongsey Vissoth. Managing rendering Challenges of Globalization. January 1998, Economics and Finance Institute, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• Aun Porn Moniroth endure Keat Chhon, Economic Development encompass Cambodia in the ASEAN context: policies and strategies, 1998, Asian Institute for Cooperation and Composure, 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 .