Written by Ngoun Sovan and Thet Sambath
The Phnom Penh Post
Thai foreign minister says he intended to praise Hun Sen as ‘sportsmanlike" and "big-hearted".
PRIME Minister Hun Sen lashed out at Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for allegedly branding him a "gentleman with the mind of a gangster", as Thai diplomats scramble for their dictionaries, claiming the phrase was a routine compliment that was lost in translation.
"I am neither a gangster nor a gentleman, but a real man," the prime minister said Tuesday during the inauguration of Samdech Hun Sen Quay in Preah Sihanouk province's Stung Hav district.
Hun Sen said the comments came to light in late March after lawmakers belonging to Thailand's opposition Puea Thai Party showed parliament video footage of Kasit referring to Hun Sen as a "gangster", during which Kasit amended his phrase to "gentleman with a mind of a gangster".
"If you used such language with other countries ... your country would drop down to a cheap status," said Hun Sen.
"If I insulted your king and queen, what would you say? If I insulted your prime minister or your ancestors, what would you say?"
Hun Sen also said he had an electoral mandate and requested the Thai government to respect the dignity of his office as the legitimate leader of Cambodia. "I am not angry with you, but you must use dignified words ... with other state representatives," he said.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, agreed that the Thai foreign minister, as a professional diplomat, should not use such words to refer to the prime minister of another nation. "[Hun Sen] is an elected prime minister, and when he says things like this, it casts disdain on our nation," he said Tuesday.
A matter of semantics
But Thai officials have defended Kasit, saying the Cambodians mistakenly confused the Thai term nak leng - meaning "gangster" - with the phrase jai nak leng, which translates as "big-hearted", "generous" or "manly".
"Jai nak leng in Thai is a compliment, it is very positive," said Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"A man who is responsible for his work is also called jai nak leng. My foreign minister ... did not have any intention to mean it in a negative way."
In a letter to You Ay, Phnom Penh's ambassador to Bangkok, Thai Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Wirasakdi Futrakul claimed the term meant "big heart", and that if the term had been meant in a negative sense it would not have appeared next to the term suparb burut ("gentleman").
"My foreign minister was complimenting Hun Sen as a big-hearted or sportsmanlike gentleman," he wrote.
But Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the Thai statements had not yet absolved Kasit of wrongdoing.
"We have not jumped to conclusions about the letter because we are examining how the meaning of the word changes from Thai language to English language," he said.
"We have not replied to the letter as well because we are waiting for a personal letter from Kasit to respond to what he said."
PRIME Minister Hun Sen lashed out at Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for allegedly branding him a "gentleman with the mind of a gangster", as Thai diplomats scramble for their dictionaries, claiming the phrase was a routine compliment that was lost in translation.
"I am neither a gangster nor a gentleman, but a real man," the prime minister said Tuesday during the inauguration of Samdech Hun Sen Quay in Preah Sihanouk province's Stung Hav district.
Hun Sen said the comments came to light in late March after lawmakers belonging to Thailand's opposition Puea Thai Party showed parliament video footage of Kasit referring to Hun Sen as a "gangster", during which Kasit amended his phrase to "gentleman with a mind of a gangster".
"If you used such language with other countries ... your country would drop down to a cheap status," said Hun Sen.
"If I insulted your king and queen, what would you say? If I insulted your prime minister or your ancestors, what would you say?"
Hun Sen also said he had an electoral mandate and requested the Thai government to respect the dignity of his office as the legitimate leader of Cambodia. "I am not angry with you, but you must use dignified words ... with other state representatives," he said.
Phay Siphan, spokesman of the Council of Ministers, agreed that the Thai foreign minister, as a professional diplomat, should not use such words to refer to the prime minister of another nation. "[Hun Sen] is an elected prime minister, and when he says things like this, it casts disdain on our nation," he said Tuesday.
A matter of semantics
But Thai officials have defended Kasit, saying the Cambodians mistakenly confused the Thai term nak leng - meaning "gangster" - with the phrase jai nak leng, which translates as "big-hearted", "generous" or "manly".
"Jai nak leng in Thai is a compliment, it is very positive," said Kamrob Palawatwichai, first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
"A man who is responsible for his work is also called jai nak leng. My foreign minister ... did not have any intention to mean it in a negative way."
In a letter to You Ay, Phnom Penh's ambassador to Bangkok, Thai Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Wirasakdi Futrakul claimed the term meant "big heart", and that if the term had been meant in a negative sense it would not have appeared next to the term suparb burut ("gentleman").
"My foreign minister was complimenting Hun Sen as a big-hearted or sportsmanlike gentleman," he wrote.
But Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the Thai statements had not yet absolved Kasit of wrongdoing.
"We have not jumped to conclusions about the letter because we are examining how the meaning of the word changes from Thai language to English language," he said.
"We have not replied to the letter as well because we are waiting for a personal letter from Kasit to respond to what he said."
7 comments:
How is it that Hun Sen being upset when he is be called a "thug", but not upset that the world label Khmer under his leadership as the poorest country, the highest illiteracy rate, and the top 10 corrupte country in the world?
SEN must know now that he acts and talks to his own nationals like a ganster, not as leader. SEN must
pay more attention to his countrymen than to foreigners.
In the Khmer language, the word “Nak Leng” means a person who is thug, gang or criminal.
Kasit Piromya was right.
Hun Sen is a gentleman with a thug-hearted.
or
Hun Sen is a gentleman with a gang-hearted.
or
Hun Sen is a gentleman with a criminal-hearted.
I am 100% agree with the Thai Foreign Minister.
I have a question for Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime.
Since Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime likes to assassinate innocent Khmer peoples.
Does Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime have any plan to assassinate the Thai Foreign Minister?
HS will know whether he is a gangster or a leader when he finishes his term. And believe me, evrything will come to an end: Pol Pot, Sihanouk, Saddam.
To make Hun Sen happy, Thai Government should order all their universities to send PhD degree to Hun Sen. Each university should have one degree for him from Social order, to TV administration, to Gambling control, Bodyguard training etc.. and etc.. Khmer Kandal Krong
Hun Sen said that he had an electoral mandate and legitimate.
Hun Sen is lying.
The Cambodian People's Party and the National Election Committee orchestrate an election frauds, during the Commune Election these two organization knew who voted for Sam Rainsy Party, so they change voter's name, age etc... etc... so that the voters are disqualified to vote.
And they bring in foreigners from Vietnam to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
This how Hun Sen think that his party win legitimate election.
My question is if Cambodian People's Party steal votes, does the Cambodian People's Party win?
I don't think so.
When you steal votes, you are not the winner.
When you steal, you are a theft.
Hun Sen is not a prime minister that had an electoral mandate.
Hun Sen is a dictator.
Hun Sen is a gangster.
-Thais have express his behavior to Cambodia Nation especially High Rank official up to PM.
In the past Thai Army made a lot of Suffering to Cambodia Refugees
- Thai has violated Khmer land... many times since Aug. 08
- Thai soldier has Broken down a GPS Machine of Cambodia delegate (in the face of Minister)in Tamoan teple
- Thai did not allow Cambodia Tourist(Boat Tour) to enter ThaiLand( all tourist got visa.. Diplomatic/Official Passports including high Rank officials Generals as well.
--- many other case
Now Thais play/test/look down to our PM.. If words good or bad positive/negative as Diplomat/representing Thai Nation.. Nak Leng shall not be used to compare with other leaders...
Thai considers our PM as a "Child" below 5 years old..
Any opologies shall not be accepted....
Thai FM as Thai PM want to play with a Child... test what will happen////
As a country of the world "Thai FM should be pushed to Resign.."
If no resignation Cambodia should not accept the opology..
Fighting and later attacking the Back is not good....
For the journalists.. writer... normal citizens.. publics using this TERM-Nak Leng is OK but as Foreign Minister... this act means LOOK DOWN...
Excellency Bandit PhD General Oknha Acha Knoy
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