Hun Sen (L) and Bernard Kouchner, French minister of Foreign Affairs (Photo: Boris Horvat, AFP)15 July 2009
By Corrinne Callebaut
20minutes.fr
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Diplomacy – Hun Sen and Hor Nam Hong, his minister of Foreign Affairs, were invited by Paris to attend the national Bastille Day parade...
He would have been completely unnoticed, at least among the French news media. However, the Cambodian community noted their arrival because Hun Sen, Cambodia’s PM, is also known for his Khmer Rouge past and he is regularly pointed out by International organizations for repeated violations of human rights perpetrated by his regime. Hun Sen was present at the presidential podium, near Nicolas Sarkozy, under the latter’s invitation, during the 14 July Bastille Day parade.
“France maintains excellent relationships with Cambodia. In 1991, it (France) co-presided the Paris Accords which initiated the reconstruction process of this country, and since then, it constantly supported Cambodia’s prosperity through its cooperation actions,” the press communiqué from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated to justify Hun Sen’s presence in Paris.
Victims Indignation
Later in the French communiqué, “political discussions” were also brought up. These discussions “will be opportunities for exchanges over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, a jurisdiction that France had constantly supported politically and financially.” This remark enraged the Cambodian diaspora in France which counts a large number of Cambodians who were victims of Pol Pot’s regime.
“As President of the Association for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, I find Hun Sen’s visit upsetting, furthermore, I let Preisdent Nicolas Sarkozy know about this issue in a letter sent to him in the name of all the victims,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor indicated. “We cannot do anything against this, he was invited by the French government. On the other hand, what hurts us most is the fact that France welcomes Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs. If Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge, he was not part of the Angkar (organization, apparatchik), and quite to the contrary, [Hor Nam Hong] his minister was responsible for a concentration and torture center. This man should be on the list of the accused at the Khmer Rouge trial. Today, he is shaking hands with the French president. We are profoundly shocked.”
Letter sent to Nicolas Sarkozy
Numerous associations expressed the same feeling of sadness and indignation. The “Khmer M’Chas Srok,” a movement for the defense of human rights of the Khmer people, underscored in its open letter to Nicolas Sarkosy “the disarray of the Khmer People” which stems “from a poignant feeling of being orphans, deprived of good governance, deprived of social protection, and deprived of all dignity…”. The Cambodia’s Border Committee (CBC), in a letter sent to Sarkozy and signed by Dy Kareth, its vice-president, hopes that “human rights and rule of law issues” will be raised “in the spirit and with the positive contribution of France…”.
Hope to become a great nation nevertheless
In spite of their strong feeling on this issue, the Cambodian community in France also noticed that, through the presence of Cambodia’s PM at the official celebration, Cambodia will find its place on the world map again. “At least this is positive,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor said. “Cambodia is on the talk and the kingdom starts to have an international representation again,” she added. Malay Phcar, the founder of the Cambodge-vision website who lost three brothers and sisters, as well as both of his parents under Pol Pot’s regime, finds it “shocking to welcome Hun Sen … Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the strong Franco-Khmer friendship.”
Thus, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Strongman, was able to shine his lackluster image among the international community nevertheless, exiled Cambodians still have a bitter outlook on him, while still maintaining a strong hope for their country’s future.
He would have been completely unnoticed, at least among the French news media. However, the Cambodian community noted their arrival because Hun Sen, Cambodia’s PM, is also known for his Khmer Rouge past and he is regularly pointed out by International organizations for repeated violations of human rights perpetrated by his regime. Hun Sen was present at the presidential podium, near Nicolas Sarkozy, under the latter’s invitation, during the 14 July Bastille Day parade.
“France maintains excellent relationships with Cambodia. In 1991, it (France) co-presided the Paris Accords which initiated the reconstruction process of this country, and since then, it constantly supported Cambodia’s prosperity through its cooperation actions,” the press communiqué from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated to justify Hun Sen’s presence in Paris.
Victims Indignation
Later in the French communiqué, “political discussions” were also brought up. These discussions “will be opportunities for exchanges over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, a jurisdiction that France had constantly supported politically and financially.” This remark enraged the Cambodian diaspora in France which counts a large number of Cambodians who were victims of Pol Pot’s regime.
“As President of the Association for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, I find Hun Sen’s visit upsetting, furthermore, I let Preisdent Nicolas Sarkozy know about this issue in a letter sent to him in the name of all the victims,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor indicated. “We cannot do anything against this, he was invited by the French government. On the other hand, what hurts us most is the fact that France welcomes Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs. If Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge, he was not part of the Angkar (organization, apparatchik), and quite to the contrary, [Hor Nam Hong] his minister was responsible for a concentration and torture center. This man should be on the list of the accused at the Khmer Rouge trial. Today, he is shaking hands with the French president. We are profoundly shocked.”
Letter sent to Nicolas Sarkozy
Numerous associations expressed the same feeling of sadness and indignation. The “Khmer M’Chas Srok,” a movement for the defense of human rights of the Khmer people, underscored in its open letter to Nicolas Sarkosy “the disarray of the Khmer People” which stems “from a poignant feeling of being orphans, deprived of good governance, deprived of social protection, and deprived of all dignity…”. The Cambodia’s Border Committee (CBC), in a letter sent to Sarkozy and signed by Dy Kareth, its vice-president, hopes that “human rights and rule of law issues” will be raised “in the spirit and with the positive contribution of France…”.
Hope to become a great nation nevertheless
In spite of their strong feeling on this issue, the Cambodian community in France also noticed that, through the presence of Cambodia’s PM at the official celebration, Cambodia will find its place on the world map again. “At least this is positive,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor said. “Cambodia is on the talk and the kingdom starts to have an international representation again,” she added. Malay Phcar, the founder of the Cambodge-vision website who lost three brothers and sisters, as well as both of his parents under Pol Pot’s regime, finds it “shocking to welcome Hun Sen … Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the strong Franco-Khmer friendship.”
Thus, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Strongman, was able to shine his lackluster image among the international community nevertheless, exiled Cambodians still have a bitter outlook on him, while still maintaining a strong hope for their country’s future.
15 comments:
hey hey! the KR was history already. cambodia had overcome that already. now we focus on development and forward so we can be competitive with the rest of the world as well. be smarter, please; cambodia needs smart individuals to lead our beautiful country. stop making trouble for a change, would you! god bless cambodia.
khmer/french friendship forever. god bless france and cambodia.
Monsieurs Le Francais are not able to see Hun Xen' policies because they see some oil. N'est pas!!!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Below there are the comments where are extracted from Le Figaro news paper,July 20 2009 , around the Bastille Day of France,July 14 2009.
Instead of 5 days state visit French government had cut down to 2 days.
It was no official talking between Sarkozy & Hun Sen in the Elysee Palace.
Hun Sen to the country of human rights
14/07/2009 at 16:41
1st Minister, placed by the strength of the Vietnamese invasion, the former Khmer Rouge commander Pol Pot, was celebrated at the feast of 14 July NLE. The community of Cambodians citizens french asks: his visit and his meetings with the French authorities (Minister of Foreign Affairs, MPs, Senators ...) they would be beneficial to the Cambodian people?
This honor restore its reputation, it would encourage even more the strong man to continue to commit its packages (human rights, political assassinations,, arbitrary arrests of elected officials, journalists ...). Or, we hope they are beneficial to the Cambodian people to know that after "wiped the floor french feet the blood of its packages and received lessons from France, human rights, democracy , freedom, the strong man of Phnom Penh apply the happiness of the people. A follow on his return! If it did not change its policy undemocratic, it would not deserve its place on the podium of 14juillet, National Day of Freedom
Barang @
13/07/2009 at 19:34
I understand your outrage but your Prime Minister has no place in France because of its trajectory. The friendship between France and Cambodia will exist forever, but your prime minister who abuses his countrymen does not represent the real Cambodia. When it was the marionette of the Marxist government of Vietnam, he liked little France.
Everyone in Cambodia is corrupt, except the poor who constitute the majority. C is with them that France is a friend, not with these corrupt, whether it be a symbol of Hun Sen or the symbol of the royal family who is re-filled pockets since 1991.
All international organizations are saying in their reports.
before it is long ...
13/07/2009 at 18:53
will scroll on side by side IDF and Hamas ... Mujahideen and Al-Qaeda ... Khmer Rouge or stuffed!
Ingrid Betancourt and Gilad Shalit will be heard in the gallery ...
N Cambodia has no place in the parade
13/07/2009 16:26
Corrupt countries, represented by the Hun Sen gangster whose wife requires Cartier jewelry closes its doors in order to spend millions of euros of the people of Cambodia, Cambodia should not be represented at the celebration of French democracy.
The Royal Family, represented by the great Prince Ranaridth thief (elder brother of the King), which has the same s exile in Malaysia in 2006 in order to avoid prison, represents an incredible corruption, while he lived in a modest 2-room flat in Aix in Provence during the exile from 1975 to 1991.
99% of Cambodians are trying to survive on less than one euro per day.
N this country has no place here July 14. When true democracy will be installed, France will give him all the honors.
5:21 AM
Why it is hard to swallow for having Hun Sen in France?
Sarkozy Socialist is also fucking dictator thug. Do you know he now is a dictator? He fired everyone who dares to speak up against him. He controls al TV stations, because his best friend owned all the TV stations. The midgit Sarkozy enjoys fucking beautiful girls while his wife is going wild on the streets.
more money, more honey. me love you long time!
Carla Bruni is a men's eater. She loves sex. Now she complains for not having fun anymore. She likes to go to the bar spreading her sexy beautiful legs and drinking wine kissing men. Life is no fun as a first Lady for her.
Sarkozy's wife makes the ugly big butt Michelle going crazy for being so jealous. Men I tell you that women are so damned good inseduction either they are ugly like Michelle or pretty like Bruni.
i love being sexy, too. i like wearing mini skirt and be myself without too much rules and regulations telling me what i can and cannot wear to a party, especially on my off time or on liberty. i love having fun, too. more power to french and khmer ladies! god bless france and cambodia.
And I can't wear mini skirt because I am a man.
Never again I will eat french fries but only the freedom fries.
Forget the french. they are communists who created the khme rouge. So when you see bernard kouchner shakes hand with hun sen, you see two communist friends bond to solidify their bullshit communist policies.
whatever!
Saddam Hunsen, said bonjour my buddy I need to wire-transfer my account here (France). Bernard asked how much. Oh, I have alot of MONEY over power. O.K. let's talk about it.
Afterward, Hunsen said bingo (crossing his finger), will you join me for lunch they had McDonald (drive-thru). Both never had it before. We always have fancy 3 meals a day aren't we.
Bernard said damn I've made a wrong decision. Cambodia going to hate me for this.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Assassinations
Assassinate Journalists
Assassinate Political Opponents
Murders
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Under Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed all of these crimes above within Hun Sen Khmer Rouge government have ever been brought to justice.
Awesome job, 11:11AM you're brave like I do, we need to stand up, speak up and show our KHMER PRIDE.
We need to fight these LAW VIOLATOR wipe out soon. We need changes for our poor Khmer not rich bitches Khmer.
Poor will never win not even 1/4 of it. Only rich will win 100%.
All asian country are discriminate the rich against the poor.
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