Hun Sen Publicly Chastises Radio Reporter Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
17/05/2007
Click here to listen to Heng Reaksmey report Hun Sen's rant in Khmer
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Prime Minister Hun Sen chastised a Radio Free Asia reporter as "insolent" Thursday, in the third public brouhaha between authorities and journalists this month.
Catching Hun Sen outside the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, RFA reporter Keo Nimuol asked whether the recent sacking of a Funcinpec tourism minister meant the end of coalition partnership between the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the royalists.
The question incited a tirade from the prime minister.
"What institution do you represent?" Hun Sen barked. "RFA is always like that. RFA's name, the question, I use one word, go ahead and broadcast it.
"I am telling you, I have seen RFA's face," Hun Sen said. "Your radio station is insolent, and the one who asks questions is insolent too. You see for yourself; why do you need to ask? Funcinpec's ministers, state secretaries, undersecretaries and deputy prime ministers are here. I am speaking here now so that Cambodian TV stations tell RFA, not only is RFA insolent, even the one who asks questions is insolent."
The word the prime minister used translates as insolent but has much stronger implications in Cambodia's hierarchic culture.
"It is normal that when a person in power blames us [that] we are concerned and unhappy," reporter Keo Nimuol said. "His words are serious, like the insolent, the rude one, the radio station is insolent."
He always addresses the prime minister by the proper title, "samdech," he said. "We said, 'Samdech, what do you think about the cessation of the alliance between the CPP and Funcinpec?' It is a general question posed by journalists who need information for their stories, and he can answer the question however he likes."
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said he worried such a public display would embolden Hun Sen supporters looking to curry favor into harming the journalist.
Cambodia Center for Human Rights Director Ou Vireak said the threat was a "continuation" of a trend.
"The present threat is a continuation of threats on press freedom and journalistic freedom," he said. "In cases where the people in power issue threats at their will, journalism is made stagnant" and democracy is endangered.
Earlier this month, a high-ranking police official tried forcing a local reporter to his knees, to apologize for a too-familiar address, and another RFA reporter was threatened with arrest and had his identification card taken away while covering a student demonstration in Siem Reap.
Catching Hun Sen outside the National Assembly in Phnom Penh, RFA reporter Keo Nimuol asked whether the recent sacking of a Funcinpec tourism minister meant the end of coalition partnership between the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the royalists.
The question incited a tirade from the prime minister.
"What institution do you represent?" Hun Sen barked. "RFA is always like that. RFA's name, the question, I use one word, go ahead and broadcast it.
"I am telling you, I have seen RFA's face," Hun Sen said. "Your radio station is insolent, and the one who asks questions is insolent too. You see for yourself; why do you need to ask? Funcinpec's ministers, state secretaries, undersecretaries and deputy prime ministers are here. I am speaking here now so that Cambodian TV stations tell RFA, not only is RFA insolent, even the one who asks questions is insolent."
The word the prime minister used translates as insolent but has much stronger implications in Cambodia's hierarchic culture.
"It is normal that when a person in power blames us [that] we are concerned and unhappy," reporter Keo Nimuol said. "His words are serious, like the insolent, the rude one, the radio station is insolent."
He always addresses the prime minister by the proper title, "samdech," he said. "We said, 'Samdech, what do you think about the cessation of the alliance between the CPP and Funcinpec?' It is a general question posed by journalists who need information for their stories, and he can answer the question however he likes."
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said he worried such a public display would embolden Hun Sen supporters looking to curry favor into harming the journalist.
Cambodia Center for Human Rights Director Ou Vireak said the threat was a "continuation" of a trend.
"The present threat is a continuation of threats on press freedom and journalistic freedom," he said. "In cases where the people in power issue threats at their will, journalism is made stagnant" and democracy is endangered.
Earlier this month, a high-ranking police official tried forcing a local reporter to his knees, to apologize for a too-familiar address, and another RFA reporter was threatened with arrest and had his identification card taken away while covering a student demonstration in Siem Reap.
21 comments:
The truth is insolent then the reporter of the truth is insolent.
Ah HUN SEN is ah UNEDUCATED BARBARIAN
Prime Minister CPP ( Communist Pro youn Party)
Ah Hun Sen is the criminal against humanity in Cambodia
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http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2006/08/hun-sens-dirty-jobs-heng-pov-reveals.html
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One Party
One Man
One Country......
Hun Sen Niyeay Samdey Ban Douch Chker Prous Nas Na," Anyway I think that is the end of his term". no one would Care of him. Comment by Prohok Khmer lived in Mass USA.
I believe that the word "Insolent" which Hun Sen has said to RFA is total insult to the media. He is the only one leader on earth who dare to say that word to the media of any size. Now it is up to RFA which has station in the USA to work sort out with Hun Sen. The reporter has asked a genuine question and he has done his job. Well done. Usually, as a coalition government, the PM has no power to sack Minister of their coalition partner. If there is an allegation of corruption, then, Funcipec party need to suspend their own minister for full investigation. That position will be replaced by another Funcipec party. THe disgraced Minister must surrender all his position for police to investigate and send to court for sentencing if there is a corruption involved. If Funcipec walk out from the government, CPP cannot carry on to govern by themself. Hun Sen must declare for a snap election. THe new rule of 50%+1 cannot applied into this government because this coalition has set up before this law has reamended. Areak Prey
We, Cambodians, are ashamed to have an uneducated prime minister like ah Hun Sen
Reporters have rights to ask any question to high-rank officials, either prime minister, in the world.
If ah Hun Sen (Kbal youn khloun Sat') told RFA reporters are insolent, so ah Hun Sen is very ILL-BRED and uneducated barbarian person
Moron
bozo
idiot
Primate
All of these things are fit you very well Hun Xen.
That is a Khmer Rouge Language use between 1975-1979 Hun Sen Please emial to me Dum Ass.
Kwasscheatsrey@yahoo.com
Khmer Jom Rom Nong Chan
Prohok khmer.
RFA and Keo Nimuol is not insolent, but Hun Sen is very insolent. He is unprofessional and uneducated prime minister. But some Khmer people still admire him as a strong man. These people are traitors and Khmer-Youn who know nonething but their power and will. They don't care how the country leads to disaster or disappear from the map as long as they enjoy making money.
Okay Somdach, next time carry a
small bottle of fishsauce with
you, and when you see an RFA
journalist approachs you, just pull
out the bottle of fishsauce, and
tell them, "Go ahead ... make my
day!"
Not a good idea cause he might drink the fish sauce when he foaming up his mouth because this idiot keep talking for hours without taking any break.
What do you mean, "not a good
idea"? It a very good journalist
deterent, and you can used it
to pickle mangoes too.
Mr. HUN SEN, do you know who are you.
Are you the Prime Minister or evil man?
Please go back mirror yourself and think properly.
Words speak by itself, who is insolent everyone knows already. So let him be who he was. but pitty being a khmer who has this kind of leader.
AZ
how many radio stations are insolent?
Ah Hun Khvang Zen only allows Yuon to ask him anything not his own Khmer. This Samdech fake is worst than animal.
It's Hun Sen Him Sen that is insolent, arrogant and bloodthirsty. His behavior reveals his true nature: a KR
This guy's temper hit the roof, on the topic just show that he is concern of his action. Keep the kind of question and the truth about him will be revealed.
This leader will get assasinated one day by his own CPP Men. Very soon. Wait and see.
5:58 AM look fuck head Hun Sen would not be famous if I wasn't there to ask question. Hun Sen just got beat the fuck up from Hanoi and is going to through hot flush period. lol
Yeah Somdeck Pler next time you carry your fish sauce like your pler prostitute adviser recommend and I carry my RPG to the interview.
The guy is having a HOT FLUSH lmao
Hey, everyone get tickoff once in
a while. What is wrong with that?
It is part of being human. Plus,
Somdach has made 300% improvement
now. He's far better than some
of his tiptop generals, and
don't tell me you don't know about
that.
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