Hun Sen (L) and Bernard Kouchner, French minister of Foreign Affairs (Photo: Boris Horvat, AFP)15 July 2009
By Corrinne Callebaut
20minutes.fr
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Diplomacy – Hun Sen and Hor Nam Hong, his minister of Foreign Affairs, were invited by Paris to attend the national Bastille Day parade...
He would have been completely unnoticed, at least among the French news media. However, the Cambodian community noted their arrival because Hun Sen, Cambodia’s PM, is also known for his Khmer Rouge past and he is regularly pointed out by International organizations for repeated violations of human rights perpetrated by his regime. Hun Sen was present at the presidential podium, near Nicolas Sarkozy, under the latter’s invitation, during the 14 July Bastille Day parade.
“France maintains excellent relationships with Cambodia. In 1991, it (France) co-presided the Paris Accords which initiated the reconstruction process of this country, and since then, it constantly supported Cambodia’s prosperity through its cooperation actions,” the press communiqué from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated to justify Hun Sen’s presence in Paris.
Victims Indignation
Later in the French communiqué, “political discussions” were also brought up. These discussions “will be opportunities for exchanges over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, a jurisdiction that France had constantly supported politically and financially.” This remark enraged the Cambodian diaspora in France which counts a large number of Cambodians who were victims of Pol Pot’s regime.
“As President of the Association for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, I find Hun Sen’s visit upsetting, furthermore, I let Preisdent Nicolas Sarkozy know about this issue in a letter sent to him in the name of all the victims,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor indicated. “We cannot do anything against this, he was invited by the French government. On the other hand, what hurts us most is the fact that France welcomes Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs. If Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge, he was not part of the Angkar (organization, apparatchik), and quite to the contrary, [Hor Nam Hong] his minister was responsible for a concentration and torture center. This man should be on the list of the accused at the Khmer Rouge trial. Today, he is shaking hands with the French president. We are profoundly shocked.”
Letter sent to Nicolas Sarkozy
Numerous associations expressed the same feeling of sadness and indignation. The “Khmer M’Chas Srok,” a movement for the defense of human rights of the Khmer people, underscored in its open letter to Nicolas Sarkosy “the disarray of the Khmer People” which stems “from a poignant feeling of being orphans, deprived of good governance, deprived of social protection, and deprived of all dignity…”. The Cambodia’s Border Committee (CBC), in a letter sent to Sarkozy and signed by Dy Kareth, its vice-president, hopes that “human rights and rule of law issues” will be raised “in the spirit and with the positive contribution of France…”.
Hope to become a great nation nevertheless
In spite of their strong feeling on this issue, the Cambodian community in France also noticed that, through the presence of Cambodia’s PM at the official celebration, Cambodia will find its place on the world map again. “At least this is positive,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor said. “Cambodia is on the talk and the kingdom starts to have an international representation again,” she added. Malay Phcar, the founder of the Cambodge-vision website who lost three brothers and sisters, as well as both of his parents under Pol Pot’s regime, finds it “shocking to welcome Hun Sen … Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the strong Franco-Khmer friendship.”
Thus, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Strongman, was able to shine his lackluster image among the international community nevertheless, exiled Cambodians still have a bitter outlook on him, while still maintaining a strong hope for their country’s future.
He would have been completely unnoticed, at least among the French news media. However, the Cambodian community noted their arrival because Hun Sen, Cambodia’s PM, is also known for his Khmer Rouge past and he is regularly pointed out by International organizations for repeated violations of human rights perpetrated by his regime. Hun Sen was present at the presidential podium, near Nicolas Sarkozy, under the latter’s invitation, during the 14 July Bastille Day parade.
“France maintains excellent relationships with Cambodia. In 1991, it (France) co-presided the Paris Accords which initiated the reconstruction process of this country, and since then, it constantly supported Cambodia’s prosperity through its cooperation actions,” the press communiqué from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated to justify Hun Sen’s presence in Paris.
Victims Indignation
Later in the French communiqué, “political discussions” were also brought up. These discussions “will be opportunities for exchanges over the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, a jurisdiction that France had constantly supported politically and financially.” This remark enraged the Cambodian diaspora in France which counts a large number of Cambodians who were victims of Pol Pot’s regime.
“As President of the Association for the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Genocide, I find Hun Sen’s visit upsetting, furthermore, I let Preisdent Nicolas Sarkozy know about this issue in a letter sent to him in the name of all the victims,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor indicated. “We cannot do anything against this, he was invited by the French government. On the other hand, what hurts us most is the fact that France welcomes Hor Nam Hong, the minister of Foreign Affairs. If Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge, he was not part of the Angkar (organization, apparatchik), and quite to the contrary, [Hor Nam Hong] his minister was responsible for a concentration and torture center. This man should be on the list of the accused at the Khmer Rouge trial. Today, he is shaking hands with the French president. We are profoundly shocked.”
Letter sent to Nicolas Sarkozy
Numerous associations expressed the same feeling of sadness and indignation. The “Khmer M’Chas Srok,” a movement for the defense of human rights of the Khmer people, underscored in its open letter to Nicolas Sarkosy “the disarray of the Khmer People” which stems “from a poignant feeling of being orphans, deprived of good governance, deprived of social protection, and deprived of all dignity…”. The Cambodia’s Border Committee (CBC), in a letter sent to Sarkozy and signed by Dy Kareth, its vice-president, hopes that “human rights and rule of law issues” will be raised “in the spirit and with the positive contribution of France…”.
Hope to become a great nation nevertheless
In spite of their strong feeling on this issue, the Cambodian community in France also noticed that, through the presence of Cambodia’s PM at the official celebration, Cambodia will find its place on the world map again. “At least this is positive,” [Billon] Ung Bun Hor said. “Cambodia is on the talk and the kingdom starts to have an international representation again,” she added. Malay Phcar, the founder of the Cambodge-vision website who lost three brothers and sisters, as well as both of his parents under Pol Pot’s regime, finds it “shocking to welcome Hun Sen … Nevertheless, it is important to preserve the strong Franco-Khmer friendship.”
Thus, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Strongman, was able to shine his lackluster image among the international community nevertheless, exiled Cambodians still have a bitter outlook on him, while still maintaining a strong hope for their country’s future.
