22 August 2007By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On Wednesday, the French embassy in Cambodia expressed its deep regret following the use of a picture of Angkor Wat with the word Vietnam written above it by the French company Iradium World Diffusion.
Fabienne Manchecal, spokeswoman of the French embassy, called this an ignorant action which affects Cambodians’ emotion. She added that this issue does not involve France and that it only involves a private company.
Fabienne Manchecal said: “I really regret to observe that human ignorance knows no bound like this, such as the case of this phone calling card for example. They put a picture of Angkor Wat but write Vietnam instead, this affects Cambodian people. This is a company looking for some monetary gain only, how could they commit such an ignorant act?”
Fabienne Manchecal’s declaration came after Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs, asked the Cambodian embassy in France to bring this issue with the Iradium World Diffusion company, and asks it to stop the distribution of such phone calling cards, and recall all cards bearing such unauthorized picture of Angkor Wat.
Hor Nam Hong said: “… The Ho Chi Minh (Paris?) consul is to look into this case, and issue a protest. We will find the company which commits this act, and we will protest with them because this is a national issue.”
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), indicated that, up to now, no results can be seen yet, however, he said that his teachers’ association will not stop here and it will pursue the case further.
Rong Chhun indicated: “If this issue cannot be improved, or if there is no apologies given to our Cambodia, we will organize a protest to demand that this company issues an apology and that it removes the word “Viet Nam” written above the picture of Angkor Wat. This was done to try to shortchange Cambodian history.”
During the course of history, France gave the Kampuchea Krom territories and placed them under the Vietnamese occupation. This action caused anger among Cambodians until the present.
Recently, the Khmer Kampuchea Krom community has asked France to revisit this case which took place 54 years ago.
Fabienne Manchecal, spokeswoman of the French embassy, called this an ignorant action which affects Cambodians’ emotion. She added that this issue does not involve France and that it only involves a private company.
Fabienne Manchecal said: “I really regret to observe that human ignorance knows no bound like this, such as the case of this phone calling card for example. They put a picture of Angkor Wat but write Vietnam instead, this affects Cambodian people. This is a company looking for some monetary gain only, how could they commit such an ignorant act?”
Fabienne Manchecal’s declaration came after Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs, asked the Cambodian embassy in France to bring this issue with the Iradium World Diffusion company, and asks it to stop the distribution of such phone calling cards, and recall all cards bearing such unauthorized picture of Angkor Wat.
Hor Nam Hong said: “… The Ho Chi Minh (Paris?) consul is to look into this case, and issue a protest. We will find the company which commits this act, and we will protest with them because this is a national issue.”
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), indicated that, up to now, no results can be seen yet, however, he said that his teachers’ association will not stop here and it will pursue the case further.
Rong Chhun indicated: “If this issue cannot be improved, or if there is no apologies given to our Cambodia, we will organize a protest to demand that this company issues an apology and that it removes the word “Viet Nam” written above the picture of Angkor Wat. This was done to try to shortchange Cambodian history.”
During the course of history, France gave the Kampuchea Krom territories and placed them under the Vietnamese occupation. This action caused anger among Cambodians until the present.
Recently, the Khmer Kampuchea Krom community has asked France to revisit this case which took place 54 years ago.
5 comments:
People go to youtube and type down sloppysucker1, this bastard is a vietnamese n his been posting up vids and very racist comment about cambodia. In his vids he even shows that cambodia will be become part of vietnam in 2070. You guy have to check it out and also his website his got alot of racist shit about cambodia. Get this guy membership remove or something.
Good job Cambodian government.. I'm prouded that our people stood up against unfair, unjustice, and slavery.
We, Khmer, will definitely get everything back from the thieves. We will stand together to fight for our people and for our nation until the end of the day.
well Frence should be given Khmer Krom land Back to us.PHK
Youn Ho Chi Minch promised Sihanouk that he would give back Kampuchea Krom if he won the War with US. Then Sihanouk entered the war. We cost about 2 millions of our men, but ah youn broke his promise... I don't think we will get our land back easily... We have to be careful...
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