Opposition leader Sam Rainsy (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)31 December 2009
By K. Nearadey
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Komping Puoy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
“I, Sam Rainsy, is not important. I dare exchange my life, but [those Khmer farmers] must be released from jail, and their rice fields must be returned back to them…”. That was what Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy indicated to the Cambodian people in his telephone interview from Paris with the Candle Light Radio on Thursday afternoon.
Sam Rainsy indicated that the border delimitation between Cambodia and Vietnam was conducted without transparency. In particular, the planting of border posts under the aegis if the 1985 treaty that was conducted by the Hanoi puppet regime is simply illegal because the 23 October 1991 Paris Peace Accords already stipulated that all these treaties are null and void.
According to Sam Rainsy, the planting of border posts by the Cambodian and Yuon governments led to the loss of several hundreds of square kilometers of Khmer lands into Yuon hands. Furthermore, not only the Cambodian government did not protect Cambodian lands that were lost, it also inflicted sufferings on any Cambodian citizens who dare protest the loss of their land, and it even sent them to jail.
Sam Rainsy was summoned by the Svay Rieng provincial court after two Cambodian villagers, Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea, were ordered arrested on 24 December for their involvement in the uprooting of wooden stakes marking a border post.
Following a vindictive questioning from a caller asking his why he does not have the courage to come and clarify the court, Sam Rainsy replied: “I am not scared. I can go any time, however, I ask for the release of the villagers arrested and that their rice fields be returned back to them. As for me, Sam Rainsy, it is not important.”
Nevertheless, under this condition, Sam Rainsy chose to lead his political fight from overseas for now. He said that he does not want to entertain the lackey court. Sam Rainsy indicated that “if the CPP leadership under Hun Xen, Heng Xamrin, Chea Xim … was capable, why didn’t they confront the Khmer Rouge regime [on their own]? Why did they ask for help from the Yuons?”. Sam Rainsy indicated that it was through an external political fight that former king Norodom Sihanouk succeeded with the conclusion of the Paris Peace Accords on 23 October 1991.
Sam Rainsy indicated that the border delimitation between Cambodia and Vietnam was conducted without transparency. In particular, the planting of border posts under the aegis if the 1985 treaty that was conducted by the Hanoi puppet regime is simply illegal because the 23 October 1991 Paris Peace Accords already stipulated that all these treaties are null and void.
According to Sam Rainsy, the planting of border posts by the Cambodian and Yuon governments led to the loss of several hundreds of square kilometers of Khmer lands into Yuon hands. Furthermore, not only the Cambodian government did not protect Cambodian lands that were lost, it also inflicted sufferings on any Cambodian citizens who dare protest the loss of their land, and it even sent them to jail.
Sam Rainsy was summoned by the Svay Rieng provincial court after two Cambodian villagers, Mrs. Meas Srey and Mr. Prum Chea, were ordered arrested on 24 December for their involvement in the uprooting of wooden stakes marking a border post.
Following a vindictive questioning from a caller asking his why he does not have the courage to come and clarify the court, Sam Rainsy replied: “I am not scared. I can go any time, however, I ask for the release of the villagers arrested and that their rice fields be returned back to them. As for me, Sam Rainsy, it is not important.”
Nevertheless, under this condition, Sam Rainsy chose to lead his political fight from overseas for now. He said that he does not want to entertain the lackey court. Sam Rainsy indicated that “if the CPP leadership under Hun Xen, Heng Xamrin, Chea Xim … was capable, why didn’t they confront the Khmer Rouge regime [on their own]? Why did they ask for help from the Yuons?”. Sam Rainsy indicated that it was through an external political fight that former king Norodom Sihanouk succeeded with the conclusion of the Paris Peace Accords on 23 October 1991.
