Heng Soy's cordial reply to an irate "most likely" Thai reader of KI-Media

Preah Noreay perching on top Garuda (Angkor Wat era bronze)

Khmer are stupid and dumb, be a maid whore in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia to soup cooks. Earn few bucks every day and send it back to their children in the refugee camp to talk shoot on the Internet. My dogs wanna fudge Khmer.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your interesting remarks. I take it that you are probably a fervent Thai nationalist, are you not? Well, first of all, please know that if Khmer are stupid and dumb, we seem to be able to capture your faithful attention on a daily basis, the proofs to the effect are all your posted comments peppered throughout KI-Media. Nevertheless, every time I chance encounter your comments, it makes me feel like watching the movie “Dumb and Dumber” or its sequel “Dumb and Dumber…er” all over again, I wonder why? Do you know why?

Furthermore, there is nothing dishonorable about working as an honestly paid maid and soup cook, or even as a sex worker in Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia. Did you already forget that prostitution is practiced openly in Thailand, even though it is illegal? I am sure that you are fully aware that many of those sex workers in Thailand are Thai men and women as well. In addition, these workers, be they maid, soup cooks or sex workers, earn their keeps honestly with their hard labor, unlike their pimps and bosses – the majority of them in Thailand are Thai citizens – who are profiteering – read stealing - from the hard labor of these honest men and women.

As for sending money back to their children in the refugee camp, I was wondering where have you been all this time? Did you NOT know that these Cambodian refugee camps were closed since 1999, i.e. more than a decade ago? Do wake up because you are left far behind in time, even though I am dismayed to hear that you even know what the Internet is. Furthermore, if you were to look closely in western countries, you will notice that there are many Thai workers who are laboring in Europe, the US, Canada, etc... in order to be able to feed their family at home.

As for your dogs, please do send them over, if they can take the heat, that is. You see, I had been wanting to try this new PAD Thai recipe I read about, the recipe called for an oodle of soft noodle, lots of “kapik” and some meat in it. I was not certain as to what meat to add to it until you offered your dogs. I promise that I will not make a fudge out of them. I do thank you and anxiously wait for your shipment.

Yours sincerely,

Heng Soy, your neighbor to the east

History reminder for a forgetful reader

មានខ្មែរមួយចំនួន មិនដែលគិតអំពីពួកអាសៀម វាចង់យកដីខ្មែរនោះទេ គឺគិតតែអំពីយួនទៅវិញ។ យួនវាបានជួយក្បាលម៉ែឪវា ពួកវាមិនដែលគិតទេ។ ចុះអាសៀមវាយកដីខ្មែរតាំងពី ឆ្នាំ ១៣៥០មកម្តេចក៏ អាពួកវង្វេងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ វាមិនយកមកនិយាយផង? អាពួកទាំងនេះបើ បានកាន់កាប់ ស្រុកខ្មែរច្បាស់ ជាដូចអាឌុចទៀតហើយ។
A number of Khmer people never thought about Ah Siem wanting Khmer lands at all, they only think about the Yuons taking Khmer lands instead. The Yuons came to save their parent’ heads, they never think about it. How about Ah Siem taking Khmer lands since 1350, why these history-confused people do not talk about them? These people if they govern Cambodia, it will surely be like Ah Duch all over again.

The irate and forgetful reader probably did not follow the news closely enough to notice that:

• In November 2009, Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) organized a protest against the Thai troops presence in Cambodia. His group was prohibited from holding such public protest by the very same puppet regime that was installed by the Yuon invading troops in 1979.

Cops preventing Rong Chhun from holding a protest against the Siamese

• On July 15, 2010, CITA again organized a day of anger against the Siamese troop invasion of Cambodia in Preah Vihear, again CITA was prevented by cops of Hun Xen’s regime from holding such public protest against the Siamese.

Cops preventing Rong Chhun and CITA from holding a protest against the Siamese during the day of anger against Thai troop invasion of Cambodia in Preah Vihear

• Now, who is protecting the Siamese interest? The Cambodian people protesting against the Siamese or the puppet regime installed by Hanoi whose leader is a good friend of Thaksin?

Hun Xen embracing his best friend and Siamese advisor Thaksin

Response to an irate anonymous reader

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

In regards to a post of an article on "toxic makeup and natural look" from the Phnom Penh Post, an anonymous KI-Media reader posted:

You people are f___ing so stupid. It's unbelievable. He [Hun Xen] specifically said that he only "appeal" not "order" that Khmer women should stick to their natural look. He even said that things like hair coloring and sh_t like that is fine with him. It's the nose job and plastic surgery thing that he is appealing for Khmer women to not be crazy about it.

KI, you are a group of manipulative a__holes. You guys are opportunists that take things out of context and twist it into something you can use to serve your agenda. No wonder the Khmer government wants to shut you down. I was supportive of your site because I saw it as a constructive criticism but stunt like this has been happening repeatedly to the point that you guys lose any support I have left.

You are no critical opposition. You are manipulative political opportunist. Put that on your banner if you want to be true to yourselves and your readers.

2:37 AM

Dear Sir/Madam,

We would like to thank you for your comment and we welcome your explicitly constructive criticism. However, with all due respect and as we indicated in our posting, the article (minus the photo) was written by reporters Cheang Sokha and Mom Kunthear from The Phnom Penh Post. We did not alter any words from the original article which clearly states that Mr. Hun Xen ‘ordered the Ministry of Health to strictly monitor the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics and urged Khmer women to project their “natural beauty”’. In spite of our limited knowledge of English, we did not read in the article any statement supporting your claim that Mr. Hun Xen issued any “order” for Khmer women to stick to their natural look. Nevertheless, we stand to be corrected should we miss the claim you made.

The original article can be found here:

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010030333011/National-news/hun-sen-warns-of-toxic-makeup-urges-emphasis-on-natural-look.html

Furthermore, should you believe that the Phnom Penh Post article strayed from your personal understanding of the true fact, you can write a letter to its editors at the following e-mail addresses:

• Michael Hayes, Senior Editor, michael.hayes@phnompenhpost.com
• Seth Meixner, Editor in Chief, sd_meixner@yahoo.com
• Philip Bader, Managing Editor, Philip.bader@phnompenhpost.com
• Kay Kimsong, Editor in Chief Post Khmer, kimsong.kay@phnompenhpost.com
• Neth Pheaktra, Managing Editor Post Khmer, pheaktra.neth@phnompenhpost.com

As for the autocratic regime in Phnom Penh wanting to shut us down, this is beyond our control and there is nothing much we can do. However, to be honest, sites like KI-Media are “dime a dozen”, re-starting our work merely requires signing up another new free account.

Finally, regarding political manipulation, we have to admit that, even if we are, we would merely be "childish amateurs" when compared to the well-oiled, well-heeled and well-funded machinery on display in Phnom Penh. Surely, we wouldn't be able to afford a “prestigious” crew such as the “Press and Quick Response Unit” set up the Council of Ministers, nor can we afford to pay mouthpieces like the “illustrious” Messrs. Phay Siphan, Khieu Kanharith, et al. More importantly, we surely wouldn't be able to sue anybody and everybody with "defamation and disinformation" after grabbing away their land, would we? Therefore, to credit us with “political manipulation” is to give us more credit than we actually deserve.

We remain grateful of your past support of KI-Media.

Yours truly,

KI-Media team

Clarification for an irate KI-Media Reader

Message posted by an "anonymous irate reader":

KI Media, you son of a bxxx. I believed you but you betrayed my trust, you motherfxxx. I just found out this news about dey krohom situation. According to this news, 93% of the people at dey krohom left with the compensation and only 7% refused to leave without higher compensation.

You motherfxxxs made me believe it was the whole community being evicted. What the fxxx is wrong with you fxxxing people? Why are you manipulating your readers like this?

http://khmernews.com/view/new-solution-for-91-families-in/2533/

Dear Sir/Madam,

First of all, we would appreciate it if you would leave our mother out of this debate, the poor soul has done nothing wrong here, and she is not a four-legged woman either, for as far back as we can remember, she was and is still walking on two feet just like your dear mother or any other human beings on this planet. Should you want to blame/accuse us on any issue, the freedom is entirely yours. On the other hand, we are glad to hear that the forced eviction issue in Dey Krahorm caught your attention.

That being said, if you were to carefully read the articles posted on KI-Media, you would notice a press release by Amnesty International we posted on 27 January 2009, in which you can clearly read that “150 poor urban families” living in Dey Krahorm “were forcibly evicted”. A few paragraphs later, you can also read the following statement: “Local authority representatives sold the land to the company, 7NG, in 2005 without the knowledge, participation or consultation with the affected community. Some 300 families were coerced into moving amid threats, harassment and intimidation, while 152 families continued to dispute the validity of the sale and refused to give up the land without compensation.”

From the above article, it is quite clear that some families moved out of the Dey Krahorm community prior to the forced eviction, whether that number is 93% or not, is quite debatable. Furthermore, the above article is but one of the many articles we posted on this issue regarding how many families accepted the offer made by the 7NG company and how many did not. Therefore, Sir/Madam, we are flabbergasted by your assertion that we have misled our readers. Was there any misunderstanding somewhere in your readings on this issue? If there is anything we can help to elucidate you further on this issue, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

(Flabbergasted) KI-Media team

Irate KI-Media Readers' comments

Dear KI-Media Readers,

We are pleased to post below some of the irate comments by our readers along with clarifications provided by our team members.

The first message is a reply to a comment we posted about possible "warning/threat" issued on Cambodian bloggers' involvement in politics. The second message is a criticism of KI-Media in general

Thank you,

KI-Media team
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Irate Message No. 1

KI, stop being playing dumb. You like to take things out of context, don't you? That so called warning could just be a statement in general for politics around the world. Look at how many people get killed in Columbia with the Cartel and in Italy with the Mafia. You are the king manipulating, ain't you? For all the truth is, that guy's comment is a general statement of how dangerous politics can become.

Now show us the whole commend that guy made and it'll probably take away this sadistic nature of the out of context manipulating you're trying to pull here. I usually support and encourage critics but when critics become a manipulating cynics, I'll damn you to hell. KI is very good at playing the drama queen. Now take off that make up and wipe off that lipstick[s], and take the dress off, ladies at KI.

o O o

Dear Sir/Madam,

It’s rather strange that you should ask where the comment was made when we clearly provided the link to the article and the comment attached to that article. Again, to be more specific, here is the link to the article and the comment. By the way, that was the entire comment left by that anonymous reader.

Click here for the link to article and "warning/threat"

Is politics dangerous? Of course, it is, as you rightly mentioned it, if you deal with the lawless Mafia or the illegal drug cartel, people can get killed, if you deal with a military junta or a communist regime, they will physically gag your mouth to prevent you from talking, or they will entirely ban you from talking in an international meeting. If you deal with a dictatorial regime, they will send their henchmen to shoot you in the street, like Cambodian journalists in the street of Phnom Penh. However, if you live a democracy, unlike those regimes cited above, people with different political background are allowed to speak up their mind and bring in a fresh bold look. People do not receive warning, cursing (such as lightning strike at noon time) or threats just for voicing their opinion.

As for your request to the ladies at KI (we hope you meant those who are part of KI-Media team) to “wipe off that lipstick,” we are glad to inform you that none of us could afford to buy lipstick yet, as its price is out of reach for students like us who live on packaged noodle and rice sent over from the countryside by our parents to supplement our meager diet. Regarding taking our "dress off," we regret to inform you that public nudity is not allowed yet in Cambodia, and we don't foresee its authorization in the near future either, at least as long as Lok Chumteav Thom Bun Rany is maintaining her iron grip on the moral code in Cambodia. With your request, Sir/Madam, are we to take it that you are one of the opposition to Lok Chumteav Thom Bun Rany?

Sincerely,

Socheata
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Irate Message No. 2

Looks like someone is actually more pissed off than your so called Hun Sen supporters. You don't have to be Hun Sen people to see that KI is a manipulating machine. I live in the US and have no political affiliation but I learn media study and criticism and KI is a text book example of what an unethical political machine is.

KI tries to look like an independent neutral source so its credibility is perceived more than if it represents itself as a one-sided site, which it is? essentially, this site's principle is broken by the people that run it at the core. Look at the upper left side, they preach all these virtuous ethical civilized way of commenting but they don't practice what they preach. It is kinda hard to get people to listen to you when you say one thing and do another. KI is known to be critics of the Hun Sen's government but I thought the site says it brings "sensitive news from Cambodia" so where is the scoops on other political parties like Sam Rainsy? Is Sam Rainsy that godly that he is perfect and has no bad things about him. Or is KI a Sam Rainsy sympathizer that turns blind eyes on its puppet master? KI is in so many ways essentially what they criticize Hun Sen's government for. It is no surprise really since it takes a hypocritical cynical bunch of people to do what the guys at KI do.

This comes from a guy that learns media study and criticism in college not Hun Sen's supporter like that guy above me can think about. I repeat once again. It doesn't take a Hun Sen's supporter to see that this site is nothing more than another politically agenda-based site. Just be a real independent person and knows a thing or two about unethical behaviors in journalism, you see that KI is one.

o O o

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are really glad to hear criticisms from someone who “learns media study and criticism in college” “who lives in the US,” and we readily admit that we are far from being perfect, after all, we are human beings and sometimes we do fail, just like anybody else.

As for us being an “unethical political machine,” we are afraid that you give us more credit than we actually earn. For one thing, this “political machine,” as you so generously labeled us, runs on a free blogging system because none of us could even afford to register our own website name, let alone pay a monthly fee to provide free service without receiving any financial contribution in return.

Is KI-Media (not KI which stands for Khmer Intelligence) a Sam Rainsy sympathizer? There is no question that we sympathize with human rights and democracy champions, regardless of whether those persons are named Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, Ung Bun Heang, Lao Mong Hay, Chhay Chanda, Khmer Young, Khmerization, Licadho, Pung Chiv Kek, Srey Sra’em, Sam Vichea, Chan Vichet, Chea Mony, Rong Chhun, Chak Sopheap etc… or not. In so doing, some of the titles of the articles we posted on KI-Media bear some of our sarcastic remarks or more precisely our exasperations which can be perceived as “critics of the Hun Sen’ government.” Nevertheless, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that 99.9% (or close enough to this number) of the postings are actual information provided by local and international media, including those affiliated with Mr. Hun Sen’s CPP ruling party. Does this mean that the majority of the local and international media, including mouthpieces of the CPP ruling party, are highly critical of Mr. Hun Sen’s government? According to your observation, Sir/Madam, it does sound like it, does it not?

Nonetheless, Sir/Madam, we warmly welcome your comments because we are certain that our readers have a mean to openly voice their dissenting opinions, unlike viewers of Cambodian-controlled media who can only have access to one-sided information, as this astute anonymous reader observed:

“If y[ou] have watched CTN or TVK, y[ou] are barely hearing anything about the opposition parties, but when y[ou] hear, [it’s] only the bad thing about them, especially Sam Rainsy is the most troublemaker.

Psychologically and poliSickally speaking, only the Mighty CPP and Samdech Doctoral Hun SenVarman are patriotically helping the poor, miserable, defendless Khmers. [Is] that true?”

Sincerely,

Luc Sâr