Kampuchea Thmey
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous
Phnom Penh: Pen Sovan, former prime minister in the era of the People's Republic of Kampuchea and now deputy leader of the Human Rights Party [HRP], has confirmed that he will sue The Cambodia Daily for publishing false news if this daily fails to make apology publicly.
Pen Sovan told Kampuchea Thmey on the afternoon of 15 December that the news published by The Cambodia Daily was untrue 100 percent. He added that journalists should not do too much fabrication; they should act correctly according to code of ethics and professionalism.
Pen Sovan also said that as Cambodians had the same sentiment, they were able to write everything freely, but they should have code of ethics and avoid litigations. He mentioned that he used to have the sentiment of regard for reporters of Kampuchea Thmey and Rasmei Kampuchea and so forth over their point of views in writing.
He pointed out that The Cambodia Daily had asked him for an interview about his background and that he had agreed to do so. However, later he had found that its writing was completely against the truth. He added that if The Cambodia Daily failed to apologize, he would take legal action against it outright.
Yun Samean, a reporter of The Cambodia Daily writing that article, declined to comment, arguing that he had no right to do so. It should be pointed out that on 15 December, The Cambodia Daily published an article, titled "Former Prime Minister Pen Sovan Wants To Defect to the Cambodian People's Party [CPP]," quoting him as talking a lot about his desire to join the CPP. The article also said that the samdech prime minister [Hun Sen] used to buy a car for Pen Sovan.
Regarding the news that Pen Sovan wants to defect to the CPP, a high CPP official disclosed that if it were true, the party would not accept him, because he used to be with the CPP. However, it would better if he stayed out of politics.
Pen Sovan was the prime minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea in 1981. Now, Pen Sovan, 72, is the vice chairman of the HRP of Kem Sokha. He used to attack the CPP severely during the campaign for the fourth parliamentary election in 2008.
Pen Sovan told Kampuchea Thmey on the afternoon of 15 December that the news published by The Cambodia Daily was untrue 100 percent. He added that journalists should not do too much fabrication; they should act correctly according to code of ethics and professionalism.
Pen Sovan also said that as Cambodians had the same sentiment, they were able to write everything freely, but they should have code of ethics and avoid litigations. He mentioned that he used to have the sentiment of regard for reporters of Kampuchea Thmey and Rasmei Kampuchea and so forth over their point of views in writing.
He pointed out that The Cambodia Daily had asked him for an interview about his background and that he had agreed to do so. However, later he had found that its writing was completely against the truth. He added that if The Cambodia Daily failed to apologize, he would take legal action against it outright.
Yun Samean, a reporter of The Cambodia Daily writing that article, declined to comment, arguing that he had no right to do so. It should be pointed out that on 15 December, The Cambodia Daily published an article, titled "Former Prime Minister Pen Sovan Wants To Defect to the Cambodian People's Party [CPP]," quoting him as talking a lot about his desire to join the CPP. The article also said that the samdech prime minister [Hun Sen] used to buy a car for Pen Sovan.
Regarding the news that Pen Sovan wants to defect to the CPP, a high CPP official disclosed that if it were true, the party would not accept him, because he used to be with the CPP. However, it would better if he stayed out of politics.
Pen Sovan was the prime minister of the People's Republic of Kampuchea in 1981. Now, Pen Sovan, 72, is the vice chairman of the HRP of Kem Sokha. He used to attack the CPP severely during the campaign for the fourth parliamentary election in 2008.
