Response to The Guardian August 5, 2009Mr Alan Rusbridger
Editor
The Guardian
King’s Place
90 York Way
London N1 9GU
GREAT BRITAIN
Sir,
I was concerned and disappointed to read the report in yesterday’s Guardian (August 4) by your Southeast Asia correspondent Ian MacKinnon.
In his “Cambodian Diary,” Mr MacKinnon makes a number of serious allegations about the conduct of the Royal Government of Cambodia which I vigorously challenge.
First I would urge Mr MacKinnon to fully acquaint himself with the way the legal system operates in Cambodia before jumping to judgements of his own which turn out to be incorrect.
By filing a formal complaint against the parliamentarian Mrs Mu Sochua, the Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was merely exercising his legal right in seeking to defend and protect his reputation. It was the courts which convicted her of defamation and imposed the fine and damages.
After a troubled history, the people of Cambodia now benefit from the country being a constitutional democracy with an ever-improving legal framework. Mr MacKinnon should be aware that the workings of the Royal Government are entirely separate from the country’s judicial system which is not involved in court decisions in any way.
All Cambodians understand that they need to respect the verdict of the courts and the rule of law; but that advice applies equally to foreign nationals visiting – or residing in – Cambodia, including Mr MacKinnon.
It should not be the role of foreign media to use their publications as a platform for irresponsible, sensationalist and defamatory attacks on sovereign nations.
It should also be reiterated again and again that Prime Minister Hun Sen is fully in favour of a free press and freedom of expression for all Cambodians, including newspapers which represent rival parties and interest groups.
With kind regards
Hor Nambora
Ambassador of Cambodia to the Court of St James’s
London, United Kingdom
In his “Cambodian Diary,” Mr MacKinnon makes a number of serious allegations about the conduct of the Royal Government of Cambodia which I vigorously challenge.
First I would urge Mr MacKinnon to fully acquaint himself with the way the legal system operates in Cambodia before jumping to judgements of his own which turn out to be incorrect.
By filing a formal complaint against the parliamentarian Mrs Mu Sochua, the Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen was merely exercising his legal right in seeking to defend and protect his reputation. It was the courts which convicted her of defamation and imposed the fine and damages.
After a troubled history, the people of Cambodia now benefit from the country being a constitutional democracy with an ever-improving legal framework. Mr MacKinnon should be aware that the workings of the Royal Government are entirely separate from the country’s judicial system which is not involved in court decisions in any way.
All Cambodians understand that they need to respect the verdict of the courts and the rule of law; but that advice applies equally to foreign nationals visiting – or residing in – Cambodia, including Mr MacKinnon.
It should not be the role of foreign media to use their publications as a platform for irresponsible, sensationalist and defamatory attacks on sovereign nations.
It should also be reiterated again and again that Prime Minister Hun Sen is fully in favour of a free press and freedom of expression for all Cambodians, including newspapers which represent rival parties and interest groups.
With kind regards
Hor Nambora
Ambassador of Cambodia to the Court of St James’s
London, United Kingdom
