Commentary: Would Hun Sen swear?

23/2/2010
By Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com

From the border trip’s rambling diatribe public speeches and foreign press error in translation words, His Excellency X.O Cognac, Minister of Information and government spokesman, had held a press conference on 2/15/2010 to clarify and warn reporters to be careful in word choice in translating Khmer to other languages. He pointedly blamed press for misusing words curse for swear, gang for arbitrary or not conferred with as PM Hun Sen had lashed out at Siam leader, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, during his staged field trip donning crisp armed force fashions along border shanty towns in Preah Vihear region. Due to fear for his own security, the narcissistic PM cut one day short of his 5 day staged field trip.

His uncivility and unbecoming Khmer leader had drawn Siam emotional outbursts and rages. However his Excellency X.O Cognac stressed his PM did not curse Abhisit but wanted his affirmation by swearing before the mighty objects and let the punishment be death from plane crash, lightning struck, get shot by stray bullets, etc..if Siam did not violate Cambodia in July 2008. Mr. X. O Cognac scolded the press and reporters who had misused word curse in lieu of swear which makes the thug like PM Hun Sen very critical in ASEAN circle.

In civilized society most leaders used script as a guide in addressing people to prevent misspoken and misinterpretation. The speech writers would make it available for press consumption afterward. So in PM Hun Sen case, it’s Mr. X.O Cognac who did not do his job properly. This reminds us of a Khmer teaching riddle,”រនាបបាក់យករនាប ជួស សម្តីហួស គ្មានអ្វី ជួសបាន”.

Well had he not heard of the cliché “lost in translation”?

First of, it’s the spokesman job to issue written statement to press on whatever Hun Sen said in public. But I can share Mr. X. O Cognac frustration because PM Hun Sen always strays from scripts in public speeches. Usually he appears disorganized and added innuendo to score with his ministers or critics. According to his Excellency X.O Cognac, that wasn’t mattered that PM Hun Sen poking fun at and doing his ministers or generals dirty laundry list in open. This is a double talk, indeed, for a monkey that likes to drink expensive cognac for breakfast before doing state business.

Morally it’s not acceptable for a government leader to play national security and people safety at his belligerences. Most wars in the world history started with leader bad rhetoric, so PM Hun Sen shall learn to say less and stick to the scripted words from now on. In the same time, the government spokesman job is not to clarify things after fact. The statement shall follow the speech delivery afterward to prevent misunderstanding and misspoken.

On the swear point, I dare PM Hun Sen to swear, in straight face, like he dared PM Abhisit to do so before the mighty objects and be punished, otherwise if it’s untrue, to death by lightning strike, stray bullets, flight crashed, or drop dead instantly.

Wasn’t he who had ordered coup in July 1997 or let millions of Yuon migrant to make home in Cambodia? Wasn’t he who silenced people from outcry about Yuon encroachment on Khmer land and sea? Had he not ordered grenade attacks in day light on the protester rally in 1995? Had he not denied his ministers and generals committed rampant corruption on state time? Had he not signed treaties to grant Yuon rights to arbitrary move border markers deeper inside Khmer land and sea? Had he not amassed his wealth by exploiting government office? Had he not a despotic and kleptocratic?

I double dare him to come clean and swear that all above are not true.