Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Ayuthyea, RFA)Unofficial Translation from French
January 17, 2010
Member of Parliament Sam Rainsy gave the following interview to French-language weekly magazine Cambodge Soir Hebdo, which published most of his answers on January 14, 2010.
Question: Do you think that the prime minister [Hun Sen] and the CPP really wish to see you arrested and sent to jail, or, is it rather just a threat that they do not plan to follow through with it?
Sam Rainsy: This is a problem that is beyond the reach of Prime minister Hun Sen, the CPP and even Cambodia altogether, because this involves relationships with Vietnam which is known to influence the current Cambodian leaders. One of the sensitive issues in these relationships with this powerful eastern neighbor is the border issue. By removing some wooden stakes planted in the middle of Cambodian rice fields that were presented as stakes for new border delimitation – in favor of Vietnam, as one would expect – I put my hands on a potentially explosive topic. I uprooted these stakes on 25 October, and the sharpest reaction to my action came from … Hanoi on 04 November, it was delivered by Vietnam’s prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung personally! (Read report here: http://tinyurl.com/ykt32ah). So, it is more serious than you imagine. They do not want to see other Cambodians following the footstep of Sam Rainsy and go to the spot to contest the new border delimitation – which is effectively very debatable as I will prove prior to the trial – and by doing so, they could risk opening a Pandora box. Therefore, an exemplary punishment should be inflicted on Sam Rainsy.
Question: You indicated that you are ready to return to Cambodia on the condition that the two farmers arrested in your place would be freed. You indicated in your autobiography that you were briefly detained during demonstrations following the 1998 election. Are you ready to go to jail, and if yes, do you think that it is possible to lead the main opposition party from a jail cell?
Sam Rainsy: I accept to assume, alone, the full and entire responsibility of my action. Without me, nothing would have happened on that day in this Svay Rieng border village. One must be logical: all the other people “implicated” in this affair are innocent. The two farmers who were arrested and who are currently still in jail must be freed, charges must be dropped against the three other farmers who fled, ancestral lands belonging to these unfortunate farmers must be returned and guaranteed to them. I don’t ask for anything for myself, and I am ready to go to jail if they fulfill my demand in favor of the innocent victims. The Cambodian pseudo justice must not be allowed to do anything it wants. Clearly, the two farmers who are jailed, Meas Srey and Prom Chea, are at worst scapegoats, and at best hostages. It is revolting. The popular movement will go on whether I am in jail or not, and replacement will come sooner or later.
Question: In case of sentencing, would you prevail your French citizenship? According to you, what role should France play in case one of its citizens is sentenced for political reasons? Did you already discuss this issue with the French ambassador in Cambodia?
Sam Rainsy: It is true that I have dual Cambodian and French citizenship. But in Cambodia, I am assuming my political responsibility as a Cambodian citizen, and I do not expect anything from the French authority.
Question: Following the examples set Kem Sokha, Cheam Channy, or even Dam Sith and Hang Chakra, do you consider that a stay in jail is a “classical” step for dissenters in Cambodia?
Sam Rainsy: I do not copy anybody in Cambodia. Each one of us must act according to our conscience.
-------
Original questions and answers in French
Question. Vous avez indiqué que vous étiez prêt à vous rendre au Cambodge à condition que les deux fermiers arrêtés à votre place soient libérés. Vous avez déjà été brièvement détenu lors des manifestations après les élections de 1998, comme vous l'indiquez dans votre autobiographie. Etes-vous prêt à aller en prison, et si oui, pensez-vous qu'il est possible de diriger le principal parti d'opposition depuis une cellule ?
Réponse. J'accepte d'assumer, seul, la pleine et entière responsabilité de mon geste. Sans moi, il ne se serait rien passé du tout ce jour-là dans ce village de la province frontalière de Svay Rieng. Il faut donc être logique: toutes les autres personnes "impliquées" dans cette affaire sont innocentes. Il faut libérer les deux paysans arrêtés qui sont actuellement toujours en prison, il faut cesser les poursuites contre les trois autres qui ont pris la fuite, et il faut rendre et garantir leurs terres ancestrales à ces malheureux paysans. Je ne demande rien pour moi-même, et je suis prêt à aller en prison si on satisfait à ma demande en faveur de victimes innocentes. Il ne faut pas laisser la pseudo justice cambodgienne faire n'importe quoi. Il faut le dire clairement: les deux paysans détenus, Meas Srey et Prom Chea, sont au mieux des boucs émissaires, et au pire des otages. C'est révoltant. Le mouvement populaire continuera même si je suis en prison et la relève sera prise tôt ou tard.
Question. Envisagez-vous, en cas de condamnation, de vous prévaloir de votre nationalité française ? Quel rôle, selon vous, devrait jouer la France en cas de condamnation d'un de ses ressortissants pour des raisons politiques ? Avez-vous déjà discuté de ce sujet avec l'ambassadeur de France au Cambodge ?
Réponse. Certes, j'ai la double nationalité cambodgienne et française. Mais au Cambodge je prends et assume mes responsabilités politiques en tant que Cambodgien et je n'attends rien des autorités françaises.
Question. Après les exemples de Khem Sokha, Cheam Channy ou encore Dam Sith et Hang Chakra, considérez-vous qu'un séjour en prison est une étape "classique" des opposants au Cambodge ?
Réponse. Je ne prends exemple sur personne au Cambodge. Chacun agit selon sa conscience.
January 17, 2010
Member of Parliament Sam Rainsy gave the following interview to French-language weekly magazine Cambodge Soir Hebdo, which published most of his answers on January 14, 2010.
Question: Do you think that the prime minister [Hun Sen] and the CPP really wish to see you arrested and sent to jail, or, is it rather just a threat that they do not plan to follow through with it?
Sam Rainsy: This is a problem that is beyond the reach of Prime minister Hun Sen, the CPP and even Cambodia altogether, because this involves relationships with Vietnam which is known to influence the current Cambodian leaders. One of the sensitive issues in these relationships with this powerful eastern neighbor is the border issue. By removing some wooden stakes planted in the middle of Cambodian rice fields that were presented as stakes for new border delimitation – in favor of Vietnam, as one would expect – I put my hands on a potentially explosive topic. I uprooted these stakes on 25 October, and the sharpest reaction to my action came from … Hanoi on 04 November, it was delivered by Vietnam’s prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung personally! (Read report here: http://tinyurl.com/ykt32ah). So, it is more serious than you imagine. They do not want to see other Cambodians following the footstep of Sam Rainsy and go to the spot to contest the new border delimitation – which is effectively very debatable as I will prove prior to the trial – and by doing so, they could risk opening a Pandora box. Therefore, an exemplary punishment should be inflicted on Sam Rainsy.
Question: You indicated that you are ready to return to Cambodia on the condition that the two farmers arrested in your place would be freed. You indicated in your autobiography that you were briefly detained during demonstrations following the 1998 election. Are you ready to go to jail, and if yes, do you think that it is possible to lead the main opposition party from a jail cell?
Sam Rainsy: I accept to assume, alone, the full and entire responsibility of my action. Without me, nothing would have happened on that day in this Svay Rieng border village. One must be logical: all the other people “implicated” in this affair are innocent. The two farmers who were arrested and who are currently still in jail must be freed, charges must be dropped against the three other farmers who fled, ancestral lands belonging to these unfortunate farmers must be returned and guaranteed to them. I don’t ask for anything for myself, and I am ready to go to jail if they fulfill my demand in favor of the innocent victims. The Cambodian pseudo justice must not be allowed to do anything it wants. Clearly, the two farmers who are jailed, Meas Srey and Prom Chea, are at worst scapegoats, and at best hostages. It is revolting. The popular movement will go on whether I am in jail or not, and replacement will come sooner or later.
Question: In case of sentencing, would you prevail your French citizenship? According to you, what role should France play in case one of its citizens is sentenced for political reasons? Did you already discuss this issue with the French ambassador in Cambodia?
Sam Rainsy: It is true that I have dual Cambodian and French citizenship. But in Cambodia, I am assuming my political responsibility as a Cambodian citizen, and I do not expect anything from the French authority.
Question: Following the examples set Kem Sokha, Cheam Channy, or even Dam Sith and Hang Chakra, do you consider that a stay in jail is a “classical” step for dissenters in Cambodia?
Sam Rainsy: I do not copy anybody in Cambodia. Each one of us must act according to our conscience.
-------
Original questions and answers in French
Question. Vous avez indiqué que vous étiez prêt à vous rendre au Cambodge à condition que les deux fermiers arrêtés à votre place soient libérés. Vous avez déjà été brièvement détenu lors des manifestations après les élections de 1998, comme vous l'indiquez dans votre autobiographie. Etes-vous prêt à aller en prison, et si oui, pensez-vous qu'il est possible de diriger le principal parti d'opposition depuis une cellule ?
Réponse. J'accepte d'assumer, seul, la pleine et entière responsabilité de mon geste. Sans moi, il ne se serait rien passé du tout ce jour-là dans ce village de la province frontalière de Svay Rieng. Il faut donc être logique: toutes les autres personnes "impliquées" dans cette affaire sont innocentes. Il faut libérer les deux paysans arrêtés qui sont actuellement toujours en prison, il faut cesser les poursuites contre les trois autres qui ont pris la fuite, et il faut rendre et garantir leurs terres ancestrales à ces malheureux paysans. Je ne demande rien pour moi-même, et je suis prêt à aller en prison si on satisfait à ma demande en faveur de victimes innocentes. Il ne faut pas laisser la pseudo justice cambodgienne faire n'importe quoi. Il faut le dire clairement: les deux paysans détenus, Meas Srey et Prom Chea, sont au mieux des boucs émissaires, et au pire des otages. C'est révoltant. Le mouvement populaire continuera même si je suis en prison et la relève sera prise tôt ou tard.
Question. Envisagez-vous, en cas de condamnation, de vous prévaloir de votre nationalité française ? Quel rôle, selon vous, devrait jouer la France en cas de condamnation d'un de ses ressortissants pour des raisons politiques ? Avez-vous déjà discuté de ce sujet avec l'ambassadeur de France au Cambodge ?
Réponse. Certes, j'ai la double nationalité cambodgienne et française. Mais au Cambodge je prends et assume mes responsabilités politiques en tant que Cambodgien et je n'attends rien des autorités françaises.
Question. Après les exemples de Khem Sokha, Cheam Channy ou encore Dam Sith et Hang Chakra, considérez-vous qu'un séjour en prison est une étape "classique" des opposants au Cambodge ?
Réponse. Je ne prends exemple sur personne au Cambodge. Chacun agit selon sa conscience.
21 comments:
Vietnam does so many evil things to khmer over and over.
Khmer will never forget, and will alway call them ah youn.
Well, Sam Rainsy must stick with his conviction on this border issue, and he need not back down either. All cambodian MPs are incumbent upon their duties to stand up and fight against territory enchroachments by our neighbors. Rainsy's action of removing those border demarcated posts also opened up a new can of worms as evidenced by the cpp's removal of more border stakes. One can see that Rainsy did the right thing for khmer people.
Dear Sam Rainsy,
You yourself is the best weapon for Cambodian people to protect Cambodia. You are too important for the Cambodian people. I urge you NOT to go the Phnom Penh court. They never find justice for you. In stead this court will convict you and book you into jail without seeing day light again to please CPP Hun Sen and Hanoi.
We know you are so loyalty to your people, so don't give up yourself to CPP-Hanoi. They look at you as an insect and they wow to crash and flush you any time you step on Phonom Penh soil.
Without you, no one dare enough to dare doing what you did. You are a brave man, you are truely a Khmer hero. You need to stay out of that jail to lead abroad. One day you will lead Cambodia the way it should.
Thank you for your sacrify and May God bless you and you party ALWAYS. Death to CPP-Hun Sen, death to Hanoi. Long live Sam Rainsy and your party!
Khmer WA
There are two main obstacles that Sam Rainsy is facing:
1. Svay Rieng province will trial him in criminal case on 27 January 2010.
2. He is desparated need money to pay the University fee (around $50 000) for his daughter who is studying in USA. He has asked Mr. Gnek Bun Chhay (Deputy PM) for borrowing some moneys but Mr. Gnek Bun Chhay said no money, later on, Sam Rainsy has borrowed $5000 for one woman, but she gave him only $1000.
Politician can't even has enough money to pay the school fee for his kid, how he can have money to help other Cambodian people??
Khmer in USA
Oh now 11:45 USA don't exaggerate this issue. Pherhaps you ears full of wax and you don't hear well or you are blind. This is not RS's case. RS is not that person. RS gives his whole salary to the party every month. He doen't need to borrow from a guy like Nheck Bun Chay. your are out of mind mr. 11:45. You must be learn to do this spin trict to serve your master. It't time to clean your ears or have your eyes check. I can give you free coupon if you need one.
Khmer and viet have always been good friends,but the wicked one are the Chiness and the USA and they used khmer to attack viet because viet choose to be part of the USSR. Anyway, half of the Khmer population are now vietkhmer, we might as well be one. we must promote unity, by treating each other kindly. Without viet's help we would not be who we are today. So, stop calling each other's name. we need one another if we want to be more successful. K. intelligent
Sam Rainsy has plenty of moneys which left from his crook father (Sam Sary) and his corruptor father in law (Nhek Choulong). He grew up as an elite son, that is why he's really afraid to stay in Cambodia's jail. He got advice from his traitor father that "Be a politician in Cambodia, never ever forget the word 'Run' and run fast".
If khmer don't love Khmer, no one in the world will love them. Khmer gov't needs to learn from Aust, try to create a system to protect all for one and one for all. Both opposition leaders need to learn to work together as a team (both left and right are significantly important, the main issue is to be more focused on how to generating income for the nation, e.g. transporting rice, fish and other materials as well as try to import all machinaries for doing the job!. labouring by the use of machinaries not by human energy in which it will be too slow. Aust, is only 200 years old and is far more developed than those countries which existed 1000 of years old! Khmer needs to learn from the Aust way of life as quick as possible,or else we will have nothing left. Aust
To Khmer USA,
You are Hun Sen's dick sucker. A guy who wanted to borrow money from Hun Sen is not Sam Rainsy. He might be Kem Sokha. If you don't know well about Sam Rainsy, please don't say shit to him. Sam Rainsy never does bad thing like what you raised. I think you, yourself always please Hun Sen for title in government and money. I let you know Sam Rainsy has a son who's currently working in the US. He's IT specialist that earn almost 10,000 US dollars a month. If you khow nothing about him and his family, please do not bark like a dog.
Khmer in Kentucky, USA
Khmer in Kentuky,
Sam Rainsy has another daughter who is studying at Yale University in USA. She's very good in sucking American's penis and kiss white guy's ass.
Her name is Rachel Sam.
Do you have any proof for your barking, Hun Sen's dick sucker, Khmer USA?
1:21 PM. How da hell you knew that she's sucking a Redneck dick? Probably you the that's sucking the Rednick dude. Mabe that Rednick already screw your ass already fuckin idiot ass hole.
Correction Redneck
To the Low-life, disgusting dog who first borught up Sam Rainsy's children in this discussion: What do the children have anything to do with the Father, you vermin? If you want to criticise Sam Rainsy, then it's fine, he is in politics and is open to critiques. But the children have nothing to do with it. When did Sam Rainsy ever talk about his children? They have always been separate from his political life. So if you want to be involved in politics and politcal discussions, then learn to distinguish between the players and their families. The Hun clan is one of the most corrupt on this earth, but have you heard anyone mentioned Hun Manet, Hun Mana, or even the barbarian Hun To, while talking about their father/uncle? It is people like you that allowed Pol Pot and his supporters to kill entire families just because one person committed a "sin". So learn from the past, before someone comes for your children one day, just because you may have done something wrong to them.
I think those Low-life vermins have nothing to bark for the sake of Khmer sufferring that's why? They choose to live their lives that way. Perhaps they were raised by breeding Hanoi dogs. So my friends let's move on to the subject benefit our country and let them be their own piece of shit in USA. We have so much to concern about our farmers in jails, factory workers have no job, Thai killing our people daily... We need to find way to help them instead. Long live Khmer sneha Cheath.
Khmer from WA
Eh Dr. Xam Run Shit
Are you holding dual Khmer-French Nationalities? If so, your supporters won't trust you any more, because you are not real khmer. Whatever you are trying to bark, it is just for the sake of your bullshit political game.
Khmer
4:33 PM,
every body knows that you are Yuon.
Sam Rainsy is our hero.
He protect Khmers against Yuons.
We don't want Yuon like you here.
Go away Yuon we don't want you among with us.
Logically, with the conditions that Sam Rainsy requested to drop charges and free the two farmers from jail and return their rice fields and guaranteed to them. Once this happens, the Sva Rieng court will have no ground to proscute Sam Rainsy any more. Sam Rainsy did not do any wrong. The rice field is belong to a private owner. The sticks were pulled out due to the request of the owner.
Logically, with the conditions that Sam Rainsy requested to drop charges and free the two farmers from jail and return their rice fields and guaranteed to them. Once this happens, the Sva Rieng court will have no ground to proscute Sam Rainsy any more. Sam Rainsy did not do any wrong. The rice field is belong to a private owner. The sticks were pulled out due to the request of the owner.
Wow, Sam Rainxy has a daughter who is very good in sucking and kissing American's ass! She must be learn those skills from Mu Sochua. Well done
Post a Comment