Hun Xen’s reaction to the “fake map” and the “fake Ruom Ritt”

Hun Xen claimed that he knows who Ruom Ritt is: he cannot talk and he is now ill (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
By Ly Meng Huor
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
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At the end, on Wednesday 24 Feb, PM Hun Xen couldn't help but to lash out his reaction to the loss of Cambodian territories along the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Hun Xen indicated that this is a case of “fake map” and “betrayal of the nation” that the government must legally sue. Today, Hun Xen also raised the case of the “fake Ruom Ritt” as well.

Hun Xen reacted, but he did not name Sam Rainsy directly. However, it is clear that the person aimed by Hun Xen is no other than Sam Rainsy, the opposition leader who published maps showing the location of the border delimitation stakes between Cambodia and Vietnam in Svay Rieng province that were planted on lands belonging to Cambodian farmers.

However, Hun Xen considered these maps to be fake and he declared that his regime will bring more charges to sue the opposition leader.

Hun Xen declared that the publication of these maps by Sam Rainsy is an act of betrayal of the nation because the government is busy with the aggression along the western border with Thailand, but Sam Rainsy is causing trouble along the eastern border with Vietnam instead.

In Sam Rainsy’s case, Hun Xen also warned diplomats in advance, telling them not to get involved in this case and not to accuse the government of silencing the opposition. He said that the opposition can still remain active in Cambodia, but there will be no pardon arrangement made for Sam Rainsy this time around.

A few minutes after Hun Xen delivered his speech, Sam Rainsy declared through a video-conference from France that he did not betray the nation and he is not afraid of additional sentences on him. However, he said that he will not enter the Cambodian court field.

Sam Rainsy still claims that all his documents regarding Cambodia-Vietnam border in Svay Rieng province are real because their confirmation was made by border engineers from French scientific institution and from a number of EU universities.

Regarding the case of Ruom Ritt, Hun Xen was in agreement with Sihanouk. Ruom Ritt, whose voice can be heard on the Internet US-based World Khmer Radio, also praised Sam Rainsy who allegedly produced fake maps. In this case, Hun Xen issued an order to take legal measures against the impersonator of Ruom Ritt, Sihanouk’s friend.

Nevertheless, the 22 Feb web broadcasting by the World Khmer Radio claimed once again that Ruom Ritt, the childhood friend of Sihnouk, made a public appearance at a Khmer Kampuchea Krom community meeting in Paris. Not only does Ta Ruom Ritt have a physical presence, and his voice can be heard on the airwave praising Sam Rainsy’s activity, he is also a healthy and alert man, and he is also much younger than Sihanouk as well.