Cambodian Ministry of Information requests foreign media to rectify mistakes regarding Hun Sen's "curses"

By Khmerization
Source: RFA

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith (pictured) held a press conference on 15th February in which he requested all foreign media to report correctly and truthfully regarding the Khmer-Thai conflicts in order to avoid fueling the conflicts and to avoid damaging the reputation of Cambodian leaders, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Kanharith's request is in reference to recent reports about Mr. Hun Sen's outbursts and supposed "curses" against the Thai Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Mr. Kanharith said Mr. Hun Sen did not curse Mr. Abhisit, but he was just asking him to swear that Thai troops did not invade Cambodia as claimed by the Thai PM. "In the past, there are a lot of misunderstandings. So, I would kindly ask you to correct those words. Samdech (Hun Sen) did not curse, Samdech only ask Abhisit to swear whether Thai troops invade Cambodia or not. If they didn't invade Cambodia, just swear. So, this kind of reportage has caused chaos and affects the reputation of the head of Cambodian government. It is an issue that seriously affecting (the leadership)", he said.

During the speech on 8th February in ta Moan Thom areas on the borders with Thailand, Mr. Hun Sen used strong words to attack Mr. Abhisit, including some words and sentences which many media have interpreted as curses. "If you don’t tell the truth about Siem (Thai) troops’ invasion in Cambodia on 15 July, let the magic objects break your neck, may you be shot, be hit by a car, may you be shocked by electricity or [may you be shot] by misfired guns", Mr. Hun Sen said in the speech.

Mr. Kanharith said the mistakes caused by the translations by some media allow some Thai politicians to use as excuses to attack Mr. Hun Sen and accuse him of interfering in the internal politics of Thailand. "Because of the past issue (of the wrong translations), many Thai media have used negative points to make comments, including Thai politicians, especially they commented that, among the 10 Asean countries, only Cambodia interfered to effect a change of government in Thailand, which is a fellow member country (of Asean like Cambodia). I wish to tell you all that, up until now, Samdech has never said that the Thai people must remove Abhisit or change anything. He only said that regarding the border issues, he doesn't want to talk now because he wants to wait for the new (Thai) government. Why did he say that? Because if the old government changes its policies toward Cambodia... The issue was because Abhisit used Preah Vihear issue to topple the Samak government as the reason. The government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen cannot negotiate with Mr. Abhisit's group if they still use Preah Vihear as a big issue (for their internal domestic and political consumption)", he said.

Mr. Kanharith also criticised foreign media for using the wrong word to describe the Cambodian species of the rare and nearly extinct crocodiles as "Siamese crocodiles", instead of the correct Cambodian term for the species which is "Kropeu Phnom" (mountain crocodile).