24 April 2009
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
The Club of Khmer Journalists (CKJ) decided not to support the undertaking of the former KR photographer who still wishes to find a buyer out of an official auction sale.
Nhem En decided to renounce for an official auction of the alleged Pol Pot’s shoes, he told Cambodge Soir hebdo on Friday 24 April.
The former KR photographer announced that he would put for auction, with starting bid at $500,000, a lot of items including a pair of shoes and two cameras.
When solicited by Nhem En to hold a press conference for the auction sale, the CKJ declined this request following its meeting on Tuesday 21 April.
The committee of the CKJ directors believed that it was only Nhem En’s personal undertaking, i.e. the ethics issue is questionable, as well as the authenticity of the items for sale. Furthermore, the announcement for the auction sale generated enough media coverage already.
“I will continue to find a buyer for Pol Pot’s shoes out of an official auction,” Nhem En announced when he was asked by Cambodge Soir Hebdo. “I am reminding that this [sale proceed] will allow for the financing of a tourist site dedicated to the memory.”
Nhem En, who had publicly apologized for his involvement in the KR regime on 25 January 2007 at the US embassy, announced that he had asked French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as Jean François Desmazières, France ambassador to Cambodia, to buy these shoes while recalling that “this country [France] helped Cambodia since long ago.”
“The Anlong Veng area is now unfavorably known as one of the last KR fiefs. If we create a museum there, it could become a second tourist site in the country, right after Angkor Wat,” Nhem En added while stressing that the site would include the houses and graves of Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen, as well as “Pol Pot’s restroom [W.C.].”
“Now, around Ta Mok’s house, there are restaurants, karaoke parlors … it is regrettable. I want to preserve the site for the Cambodian nation and people. All the objects belonging to Ho Chi Minh, Hitler, Saddam Hussen are preserved,” Nhem En claimed while rejecting the venality accusation and while indicating that he spent “more than $200,000” for the creation of the museum.
“Furthermore, Samdach Hun Sen encourage me to create a tourist site,” Nhem En said.
Nhem En decided to renounce for an official auction of the alleged Pol Pot’s shoes, he told Cambodge Soir hebdo on Friday 24 April.
The former KR photographer announced that he would put for auction, with starting bid at $500,000, a lot of items including a pair of shoes and two cameras.
When solicited by Nhem En to hold a press conference for the auction sale, the CKJ declined this request following its meeting on Tuesday 21 April.
The committee of the CKJ directors believed that it was only Nhem En’s personal undertaking, i.e. the ethics issue is questionable, as well as the authenticity of the items for sale. Furthermore, the announcement for the auction sale generated enough media coverage already.
“I will continue to find a buyer for Pol Pot’s shoes out of an official auction,” Nhem En announced when he was asked by Cambodge Soir Hebdo. “I am reminding that this [sale proceed] will allow for the financing of a tourist site dedicated to the memory.”
Nhem En, who had publicly apologized for his involvement in the KR regime on 25 January 2007 at the US embassy, announced that he had asked French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as Jean François Desmazières, France ambassador to Cambodia, to buy these shoes while recalling that “this country [France] helped Cambodia since long ago.”
“The Anlong Veng area is now unfavorably known as one of the last KR fiefs. If we create a museum there, it could become a second tourist site in the country, right after Angkor Wat,” Nhem En added while stressing that the site would include the houses and graves of Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen, as well as “Pol Pot’s restroom [W.C.].”
“Now, around Ta Mok’s house, there are restaurants, karaoke parlors … it is regrettable. I want to preserve the site for the Cambodian nation and people. All the objects belonging to Ho Chi Minh, Hitler, Saddam Hussen are preserved,” Nhem En claimed while rejecting the venality accusation and while indicating that he spent “more than $200,000” for the creation of the museum.
“Furthermore, Samdach Hun Sen encourage me to create a tourist site,” Nhem En said.
