New design of Iradium phone calling card posted on Iradium's website (Photo: Iradium.fr)
Iradium phone calling card which causes an outcry among CambodiansForeign Minister Denounces Vietnamese Writing on Angkor Wat Phone Card
Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 August 2007
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday condemned Vietnamese phone card companies profiting from the image of Angkor Wat, a revered symbol for many Cambodians.
In a meeting with a Vietnamese delegation this week, Hor Namhong called phone cards with the image of the temples overlaid with Vietnamese writing a "serious offense.
"This is a national issue," he said.
He has asked the Cambodian embassies in Vietnam and France to look into the card companies and has asked Vietnamese authorities to stop the practice, Hor Namhong said.
Cambodia Independent Teachers Association President Rong Chhun said he had seen the cards in question on a recent trip to Europe and had written the foreign minister about them.
He was pleased Hor Namhong had taken up the issue, he said.
Cambodian students rioted in 2003 after rumors circulated among them that a Thai actress had claimed Angkor Wat should be returned to Thailand. The rumor was never confirmed, but the all-night rioting that ensued left the Thai Embassy and several Thai businesses in Phnom Penh looted and torched.
In a meeting with a Vietnamese delegation this week, Hor Namhong called phone cards with the image of the temples overlaid with Vietnamese writing a "serious offense.
"This is a national issue," he said.
He has asked the Cambodian embassies in Vietnam and France to look into the card companies and has asked Vietnamese authorities to stop the practice, Hor Namhong said.
Cambodia Independent Teachers Association President Rong Chhun said he had seen the cards in question on a recent trip to Europe and had written the foreign minister about them.
He was pleased Hor Namhong had taken up the issue, he said.
Cambodian students rioted in 2003 after rumors circulated among them that a Thai actress had claimed Angkor Wat should be returned to Thailand. The rumor was never confirmed, but the all-night rioting that ensued left the Thai Embassy and several Thai businesses in Phnom Penh looted and torched.
4 comments:
Iradium is a French company, so why is Hor Namhong complaining to Vietnamesephone card companies? Why does nobody complain about Ankgor being used to sell cigarettes or beer?
khmer people educate ourself, our younger generation. we need to stand up together and speak against the oppressor of our khmer soul. united we will stand, otherwise, we ll be just khmer in oversea. like a broken zigzaw puzzle.
Anon. 9:56 AM,
The logical issue that has brought to our Khmer attention around the world and needed to be shot down immediately is the local word "Vietnam" with our Precious Angkor Wat Temples picture.
Anon. 10:10 AM,
No offense, but you are contradicting yourself.
What I want to know is, whether the Cambodian government is going to pursue for damages or at least demanding for public apology.
2L
Let's be careful on posting comments here. Not only Khmer do post comments, but Youn/its agents do the same:
The first comment must be from Youn: We're aware of Angkor being used to sell cigarettes and beers, however the meaning of Angkor when used properly, mean Khmer in nature. When such phone company uses Angkor logo on its products, it merely intends to allow illusion that Angkor belongs to VN by putting its Vietnames alphabets in it. And that is what Vietname is doing to transform Khmer nation into its own from rulling in Phnom Penh through its agents through intl. campaign of making Khmer look like Youn (this is a good example).
Its agents include Hok Long Dy, Keat Chhun, Oum Yintieng, Say Phou Thang - remember I excluded my father-Hun Sen because his end is near, and he knows it.
Back to the matter again on Angkor phone cards: If anybody has legal background, please look into the adoption language by UNESCO on Angkor to see if any language would render a lawsuit case against this France-based company. We will get it to stop, and possibily get some compensation. That would be the message to Youn that their intentions are not free.
Hun Maneth,
Post a Comment