Hun Sen reacts to criticisms leveled at his wife26 June 2007
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized a group of opponents who criticized his wife, the Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen, for donating ambulance trucks to the military police force.
On Tuesday, Hun Sen labeled those who criticized his wife as a group of people who like to curse others even if his wife’s donation was done for humanitarian purposes only.
Hun Sen’s criticisms took place after at least two different sources criticized the Chumteav Hun Sen for donating 24 ambulance trucks to military police forces in all the provinces and municipalities of Cambodia.
The donation was made during a ceremony held in Serey Sophoan district, Banteay Meanchey province, last week.
Kim Suor Phearith, a SRP MP, criticized the donation by saying that he was surprised to see that these ambulance trucks were not donated to hospitals but were instead given to military police forces which have no medical expertise whatsoever.
At the same time, Mar Sophal, an official with the Comfrel organization, also criticized Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen who donned military uniforms during her visit to the troops in Sihanoukville.
Mar Sophal criticized that the Chumteav’s visit, even though it was not done with the election campaign in mind, looks suspiciously like it was done to attract the support from the troops for the CPP during the upcoming election.
In response to the criticisms against his Chumteav, Hun Sen said, during a ceremony for handing diplomas to students from the European Union Institute: “Suddenly, they raised (the issue) that is was so strange that (the ambulance trucks) were donated to the military police, and not to the hospitals. It’s turning into this instead. (They said that) to attract votes, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany, in the past, donned a military uniform and is going around attracting votes. I am telling you the Cambodian armed forces will not vote for the opposition group because, every day, you curse them all the time, why would they vote for you? I believe that it will turn out to be like this, because everyday, (you say) the soldiers are corrupt, everyday, (you say) the cops are corrupt, everyday, (you say) the PM (military police) are corrupt, with all these cursing, how can they vote for you? Believe me, they will not vote for you, there is no need to attract (votes by Bun Rany). But, this is a humanitarian duty. And now that I am providing more aid today, they will say that it is done to attract votes. OK, you can say anything you want, I am asking you right now to vote for me in 2008, vote for the CPP.”
Kim Suor Phearith said today that his criticism was only to provide a viewpoint on an event that took place: “I don’t have any reaction because this is the viewpoint of the prime minister, however, for me who has the technical knowledge, I was surprised that ambulances, i.e. vehicles used to save life, were donated to an entity which has no medical expertise.”
Mar Sophal explained that his criticisms on Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen are based on investigation report, and also because he wants to see that the election be conducted fairly only.
On Tuesday, Hun Sen labeled those who criticized his wife as a group of people who like to curse others even if his wife’s donation was done for humanitarian purposes only.
Hun Sen’s criticisms took place after at least two different sources criticized the Chumteav Hun Sen for donating 24 ambulance trucks to military police forces in all the provinces and municipalities of Cambodia.
The donation was made during a ceremony held in Serey Sophoan district, Banteay Meanchey province, last week.
Kim Suor Phearith, a SRP MP, criticized the donation by saying that he was surprised to see that these ambulance trucks were not donated to hospitals but were instead given to military police forces which have no medical expertise whatsoever.
At the same time, Mar Sophal, an official with the Comfrel organization, also criticized Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen who donned military uniforms during her visit to the troops in Sihanoukville.
Mar Sophal criticized that the Chumteav’s visit, even though it was not done with the election campaign in mind, looks suspiciously like it was done to attract the support from the troops for the CPP during the upcoming election.
In response to the criticisms against his Chumteav, Hun Sen said, during a ceremony for handing diplomas to students from the European Union Institute: “Suddenly, they raised (the issue) that is was so strange that (the ambulance trucks) were donated to the military police, and not to the hospitals. It’s turning into this instead. (They said that) to attract votes, Lok Chumteav Bun Rany, in the past, donned a military uniform and is going around attracting votes. I am telling you the Cambodian armed forces will not vote for the opposition group because, every day, you curse them all the time, why would they vote for you? I believe that it will turn out to be like this, because everyday, (you say) the soldiers are corrupt, everyday, (you say) the cops are corrupt, everyday, (you say) the PM (military police) are corrupt, with all these cursing, how can they vote for you? Believe me, they will not vote for you, there is no need to attract (votes by Bun Rany). But, this is a humanitarian duty. And now that I am providing more aid today, they will say that it is done to attract votes. OK, you can say anything you want, I am asking you right now to vote for me in 2008, vote for the CPP.”
Kim Suor Phearith said today that his criticism was only to provide a viewpoint on an event that took place: “I don’t have any reaction because this is the viewpoint of the prime minister, however, for me who has the technical knowledge, I was surprised that ambulances, i.e. vehicles used to save life, were donated to an entity which has no medical expertise.”
Mar Sophal explained that his criticisms on Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen are based on investigation report, and also because he wants to see that the election be conducted fairly only.
