Op-Ed by Chanda Chhay
Watching the fallouts resulted from Mr. Hor Nam Hong’s (Cambodian foreign minister) lawsuits against people who made statements, quoted, or pointed out that he was the jailer at Boeung Trabek re-education camp during the Khmer Rouge’s era makes me both amused and appalled at how ignorance and misunderstanding could spiral out of hand. With due respects to all parties involved, I would like to point out that this is a classic case of talking pass each other, which stems from the neglect to correct each other’s mistakes.
According to Searching for the Truth Magazines, a publication of the Document Center of Cambodia, it appeared that Mr. Hor Nam Hong was part of the Khmer Rouge’s diplomatic corps being recalled to Cambodia to be re-trained in 1976-77. Boeung Trabek was the center or prison in which those diplomats and their families were held.
One must know that some jails have two tiers of jailers (people who were appointed to supervise and/or persecute the prisoners). The first tier jailer is someone whom the authority puts in charge of the overall prisoners. The second tier jailer is a prisoner or prisoners whom the authority, or first tier jailer, appointed to oversee his or her fellow prisoners. We should note that the second tier jailer is also A PRISONER. To the best of my knowledge, Boeung Trabek was this kind of jail, and Mr. Hor Nam Hong was the second tier jailer who had no real authority to determine who should be sent to Toul Sleng or to their death. From what I have learned so far through reading the sketchy history of Boeng Trabek, the first SECOND TIER jailers at Boeung Trabek were Chao Seng and Vann Piny. When Chao Seng and Vann Piny were sent to Toul Sleng and subsequently executed by Duch and company, Hor Nam Hong was appointed to take their place. Given the fact that, like Chao Seng and Vann Piny, Mr. Hor Nam Hong was also a member of the KR diplomatic corps, it was very likely that he would be next in line to go to Toul Sleng should the KR Angkar decide to eliminate the rest of the diplomatic corps at Boeung Trabek. One could perhaps make a plausible argument that Mr. Hor Nam Hong’s, along with about half of the prisoners at Boeung Trabek, survival to these days was a courtesy of the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. Without this critical event, Hor Nam Hong might not be around to sue everyone all over the world. Again, I think it is incumbent upon Mr. Hor Nam Hong, as a public figure and a survivor of Boeung Trabek, to clarify this mess so that this ambiguous issue is put to rest once and for all. Also, those other Boeung Trabek survivors should speak up so that we all could benefit from learning the truth. Believe it or not, nothing is harder than finding the truth.
And by the way, I think it is reflecting badly on your integrity, Mr. Foreign Minister, to sue journalist on the ground of defamation and disinformation. As a public figure and a veteran diplomat, you should know better that journalists only report what they learned and heard from their sources. If you think that the information, which affected your honor, is incorrect, tell them to correct it. Period! To take any action beyond that is despicable!!!
Chanda Chhay
Washington, D.C. (USA)
According to Searching for the Truth Magazines, a publication of the Document Center of Cambodia, it appeared that Mr. Hor Nam Hong was part of the Khmer Rouge’s diplomatic corps being recalled to Cambodia to be re-trained in 1976-77. Boeung Trabek was the center or prison in which those diplomats and their families were held.
One must know that some jails have two tiers of jailers (people who were appointed to supervise and/or persecute the prisoners). The first tier jailer is someone whom the authority puts in charge of the overall prisoners. The second tier jailer is a prisoner or prisoners whom the authority, or first tier jailer, appointed to oversee his or her fellow prisoners. We should note that the second tier jailer is also A PRISONER. To the best of my knowledge, Boeung Trabek was this kind of jail, and Mr. Hor Nam Hong was the second tier jailer who had no real authority to determine who should be sent to Toul Sleng or to their death. From what I have learned so far through reading the sketchy history of Boeng Trabek, the first SECOND TIER jailers at Boeung Trabek were Chao Seng and Vann Piny. When Chao Seng and Vann Piny were sent to Toul Sleng and subsequently executed by Duch and company, Hor Nam Hong was appointed to take their place. Given the fact that, like Chao Seng and Vann Piny, Mr. Hor Nam Hong was also a member of the KR diplomatic corps, it was very likely that he would be next in line to go to Toul Sleng should the KR Angkar decide to eliminate the rest of the diplomatic corps at Boeung Trabek. One could perhaps make a plausible argument that Mr. Hor Nam Hong’s, along with about half of the prisoners at Boeung Trabek, survival to these days was a courtesy of the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. Without this critical event, Hor Nam Hong might not be around to sue everyone all over the world. Again, I think it is incumbent upon Mr. Hor Nam Hong, as a public figure and a survivor of Boeung Trabek, to clarify this mess so that this ambiguous issue is put to rest once and for all. Also, those other Boeung Trabek survivors should speak up so that we all could benefit from learning the truth. Believe it or not, nothing is harder than finding the truth.
And by the way, I think it is reflecting badly on your integrity, Mr. Foreign Minister, to sue journalist on the ground of defamation and disinformation. As a public figure and a veteran diplomat, you should know better that journalists only report what they learned and heard from their sources. If you think that the information, which affected your honor, is incorrect, tell them to correct it. Period! To take any action beyond that is despicable!!!
Chanda Chhay
Washington, D.C. (USA)
19 comments:
Hor Nam Hong should come clean and tell the whole world about his job duirng Khmer Rouge instead of going crazy suing the whole world. Hor Nam Hong cannot shut up the world's opinions talking the story of his affair in KR. It won't be going away until Hor Nam Hong knows how to deal with the problems he may have done and why people suspected he did.
Come on Hor Nam Hong! Let's Be a real. More than 6 billions around the world using internets and how Hor Nam Hong is going to stop the story of his affairs in KR?
Come clean and tell the story from your very own mouth to the world instead of being paranoid and biting everyone like a crazy dog.
My beloved Chanda Chhay!
According to your firmly valuable insight of more closely researching and intensely cross-examining Mr. Hor Nam Hong's past history, was he also one of the Killingfield victims, like my beloved family or million innocent Khmers?
From a poliSickal standpoint, do you conscientiously contemplate that what CPP has desperately wanted, in order to psychologically eliminate SRP's members one by one, if CPP won't ultimately have to put SamRainsy in jail?
It is easy to agree with what Chanda Chhay says in this article. There are also a few books on Boeung Trabaek. One of them is "J'ai cru au Khmers rouges" by Ho Tong Hoeung, a Boeng Tabaek survivor now lives in Europe. His is known to Hor Nam Hong and Sam Rainsy. It seems no one jailed in this re-education center was member of Khmers Rouge Communist Party. Actually, most of them were Sihanouk followers or United Front members in Europe or elsewhere in the world. Your readings are corrects since they are corroborated the views and interviews on the subject. But it is understandable that people see those prisoners as Khmers Rouges themselves, since they choose to come back to the country after the fall of Phnom Penh and the country fully under control of the Khmers Rouges. At least those returnees are guilty by their association to the KR. Mr. Hor Nam Hong and the oppositions need to explain each others on this and solve the problem outside the court. We need some degree of fair play here during the election. No one is guiltier than others. Let's make peace and stop the finger pointing to each others like in the past thirty years. Enough is enough!!!
My beloved 12:40AM!
Your statement is uncorruptedly reasonable.
Unfortunately, evidently, and historically speaking, most of Khmer leaders' mentality have an incurable disease of the selfish and arrogant belief, "Only I can rule the nation!", in order to secure his permanent status, they will unconscientiously get rid or even kill anyone who dare standing in front of their faces. Therefore, enough is monstrously never enough for their indescribly insanse mentality!
How can Mr. Hor Nam Hong surprisingly hold the high rank in all four regimes, Sihanouk, Lon Nol, Pol Pot, and Hun Sen?
To 10:40AM
Thank you for the insight on Boeung Trabek. I wish I could read Ho Tong Hoeung's book, but, unfortunately, I don't read French. Hopefully, more Boeung Trabek's survivors come forth and give more inputs to the issues. My purpose of writing the article is to encourage people, esp. Mr. Hor Nam Hong and his nemeses (antagonists), to look beyond their personal egos and see one another as respectable fellow human beings. Names calling, finger pointing, and accusation bring us nothing but hatred.
Again, thank you for your input.
Chanda C.
Mr. Ho Nam Hong he is the super star are rising for four generation s but at the last rising star he is the comet, Damn this is the bad luck for Cambodia and CPC party that keep him in side , let think a bout the gas of that comet it can heat Cambodia for hundred years, come on Mr. Ho the truth is the truth
I am very saded to see this article written by Chanda Chhay who has assumed the story from the book and from others collecting article. This is a kind of works done by what we called extrem accademic ( in Cambodia we Chess Kob Prapork chrork arch chralen). As a victims of Khmer Rouge who has suffered from the start of the regime 1977-1979, I have to remind to those who learn the regime from the books that we must identify who were the khmer Rouge who were not the khmer Rouge. All khmer rOuge were killers.
1-For those who has join the Khmer rouge before 1975, they were qualified themselve as Moula Than Chas. This group of people has all their top priority in making decision to the lives of other group.
2-For all the people who has not participated with their kHmer Rouge fight for tehir victory were all Prachea Chon Thmey or Prison of war. This group has no human right at all. Their lives have depended to the mercy of Moula Than Chas.
Hor Nam Hong was a member of Moulathan Chas. He has join his khmer rouge group since 1970 as a capacity of a Diplomate in France.
Boeung Trabek was a training centre to endure Khmer Rouge leadership. Those who can be endured and can be survived from their training, will be promoted to be the leaders. We cannot compare their endurance to Prachea Chon Thmey. This group has their choice. They have join Khmer Rouge to be rewarded for their position.
But for Prachea Chon thmey, they can be killed any time by Moula Than Chas. Moula Than chas were the eyes and authority of the Khmer Rouge.
During the removal of Chao Seng and Vann Pinny, there was a power struggle between Pol Pot group and a rebel group ( a moderated group of Hu Nim and Hu Yon ). Therefore all Hu Nim and Hu Yon group have been removed and have been killed in Tuol Sleng and so on. Only Pol Pot group can be promoted to be the chef of Boeung Trabek. In Khmer Rouge regime, even a group leader, that position has also given to Moula Than Chas too. They didn't trusted to Prachea Chon Thmey at all. Therefore, to be a chef of Boeung Trabek, that person have to be trustworthy by Pol Pot and Ieng Sary. Hor Nam Hong cannot say that his life will be next after CHao Seng and Vann Pinny at all because he was the one who has been crowned by Pol Pot and Ieng Sary. Sihanouk has file law suite against Hor Nam Hong for killing his Cousin and his family, that is a different matter and Sihanouk has no evidence of that. But to say that Hor Nam Hong was a khmer Rouge and a chef of Boeung Trabek, it was true and undeniable. They were all comfirmed by his own public statement. Areak Prey
Prey Sor is the only solution for Ah Fake Scam Rainxy and his cyclo drivers cabinet and media. They are not rational, and we don't have time to waste, listening to rhetorics and excuses.
wish your wish come true even it sound stupid 4:09AM!if ah Kwach is dare without Hanoi 's order?
Keat Chhon is a smart one but Ho Namhong isn't.
In Cambodia they call them :
"The flowers blossom in every season"
They were/are Khmer Rouge killers who their master Hanoi.
Eveyday they serve their master plan without condition.
Today Ho Namhong acts stupid to show his past as one of Khmer Rouge Killers.He abuses the authority to shut up people who dare to against his master Hanoi.
We all should learn & understand the root of the conflict in Cambodia.
Ho Chi Minh's Indochina is on their
process.
Hi Arak rey,
your explaination about the class in the Khmer Rounge regime was absolutely correct, no one ca say wrong. At that time, only the Moul La Than Chass can decided all what they wanted and they were the real communist/ killermaschine. I am one of servivor in this regime, knew it very well like you or other cambodian in killing fields. Khmer farmer
Ho Nam Hong won't be step down unless Hun Sen Heng Somrin and Chea Sim resign as well because those khmer killer too so the solution is Cambodian PPL still want to vote for the khmer killers ???
Nope, Hun Sen doesn't followed anyone like Ah Scam Rainxy. PM only lead because he's a leader.
heh, Idiot 9 16am. You need to go back study your ESL. "doesn't follow" no "ed".
bwin special quote!!!
Which party will win most seats on July 27, 2008?
1- CPP = 1.001
2- SRP = 100
3- FUN = 1,000
4- HRP = 10,000
5- NRP = 100,000
6- KDP = 1,000,000
7- HDDP = 10,000,000
8- SJP = 100,000,000
9- KRP = 1,000,000,000
10- DLP = 10,000,000,000
11- APP = 100,000,000,000
bwin Cambodia!
You're right, 9:20, but I don't speak English. I speak Khmenglish. See the difference?
Roum RITH Si vraiement HOR NAM HONG a été mis en cause il doit démissionner pour se défendre Samdach HS aurait du lui demander de démissionner pour se défendre , mais comme on a pu constater qu'il continue à excercer ses fonctions le cambodge n'est pas un pays démocratique mais un pays monocratique, bien sur avec la bénédiction du prétendu pere de la nation NS Ami blogger ne pas les insulter ces gens faut prouver avec des arguments que vous êtes tous ce sont des gens qui possedent ARYATHOAR MERCI Petite parenthèse je me souviens NS a beaucoup beaucoup insulté les opposants et les Khmers ISSARARAK veut dire strakchun épris de LIBERTE
1:08PM. I second you are ashamed to confess you are wrong. That's what CPP always do.
OH shut da fukk ah.mae youn instruments 7:08PM.
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