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| Foreign Minister Hor Namhong aka Comrade Yaem (Photo: AFP) |
Monday, 18 July 2011
James O'Toole
The Phnom Penh Post
FOREIGN Minister Hor Namhong summoned a senior American embassy official last week in protest over a United States diplomatic cable released by the anti-secrecy organisation WikiLeaks that accused the minister of participating in Khmer Rouge atrocities.
In a cable from the US embassy in Phnom Penh dated June 2002 that was one of hundreds of such dispatches made public by WikiLeaks last week, Alexander Arvizu, the embassy’s former deputy head of mission, cited an “undated, unattributed report on file” at the embassy that made allegations about Hor Namhong’s role at Boeung Trabek prison under the Khmer Rouge.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned Jeff Daigle, the US deputy head of mission and charge d’ affaires, to protest against the allegations in the cable, which the ministry said was “full of unacceptable maligned indictment”.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia calls for comments from the Embassy of the United States of America in Phnom Penh on this highly defamatory report,” the statement read.
The report in question says Hor Namhong survived the Khmer Rouge because he was a “schoolmate” of former KR foreign minister Ieng Sary.
“He became head of the Beng Trabek [sic] camp and he and his wife collaborated in the killing of many prisoners,” the US cable cites the report as saying.
A 2008 embassy cable, however, states that there is “little or no evidence” for such accusations, which have been raised repeatedly against Hor Namhong by opposition leader Sam Rainsy. That cable recounts efforts by then-US ambassador Joseph Mussomeli to mediate between Sam Rainsy and Hor Namhong after the former was threatened with legal action in relation to the allegations.
In April of this year, the self-exiled Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia of defamation and inciting discrimination against Hor Namhong and sentenced to two years in jail by a Cambodian court for public comments he made in 2008 regarding the foreign minister’s role at Boeung Trabek.
However, a 2008 decision against Sam Rainsy by a French court, which ordered him to pay a symbolic, one-euro penalty for similar comments made in his autobiography, was overturned by the French Supreme Court in April.
US embassy spokesman Mark Wenig said in an email yesterday that Daigle had indeed met with Cambodian officials on Thursday, and that he had “related to the Foreign Minister that the US relationship with Cambodia is strong and based on common interests and shared goals”.
“We are confident that the partnerships the Obama administration has worked so hard to build in Cambodia will withstand this challenge,” Wenig said.
8 comments:
I just love to see Comrade Yaem (Hor Nam Hong) face everyday on front page in every day news. It to remind me and everyone that comrade Yaem is struggling to escape from dragging into hell. May GOD judge this old man (Comrade Yaem/Hor Nam Hong) according to his crimes against humanity.
Hor Namhong if infact involved in the killings, he must step down immediately and let the the court decide his faith. BTW, he isn't that effective in the FM position.
Reading this paragraph:
"In April of this year, the self-exiled Sam Rainsy was convicted in absentia of defamation and inciting discrimination against Hor Namhong and sentenced to two years in jail by a Cambodian court for public comments he made in 2008 regarding the foreign minister’s role at Boeung Trabek." I am sensing that Comrade Yaem has a powerful evil force behind him, not Hun Sen but YUON HANOI. Comrade Yaem (Hor Namhong) committed such crimes and now the whole world knew all about him, and he has the power to put anyone who accused him in JAIL? If it was not truth then why Rainsy paid only one EU?
Be Patient my innocense people!! This killer Comrade Yaem will have his day and our good GOD will judge this killer "Yaem" for refusing to repent his great sins.
I say we indict Whore 5 Hong for the crime and add him to the tribunal case. WikiLeaks don't lie. Karma is coming for you......Whore!
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl, President Ms. Rattana Keo,
Change will come soon! be prepare for new faces in ours Khmer government!
Doogy hor has been pocketing MFA's money through doddy hor sothun, has been taken money from designated MFA officers to a broad
hor is a bad temper, is now running for lawyer to save his case with the state department
To: 8:47PM
Good if it's change for the better for our beloved Cambodia.
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