Fight between Hun Xen and Sondhi, but Xok An asked kid scouts to issue a statement against Sondhi instead: Xok An's Circus Maximus

Scout-in-chief Xok An (All Photos: Council of Ministers)
Cub scouts who will be used as cannon fodder in the verbal fight between Hun Xen and Sondhi Limthongkul, courtesy of Xok An

03 Sept 2010
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Vice-PM Xok An, the minister in charge of the Council of Ministers and president of the Cambodian scouts association, asked the plenary congress of the scouts association where 174 members representing 70,000 scouts attended, to issue a statement to attack those Thai extremists who look down on Samdach Akkok Moha Xena Bat Dey Dek Cho Hun Xen, Cambodia’s PM.

The scouts 2nd congress was held in the morning of 02 September 2010 at the Council of Ministers where scout representatives from all the provinces and municipalities attended, as well the scout national executive committees and the scout provincial and municipal committees.

Xok An said that Sondhi Limthongkul used savage words to look down on Hun Xen, the respected PM of the Cambodian people, by chopping his head and using his blood to wash his feet while displaying Hun Xen’s head impaled on a pole, then later on, another ceremony was held whereby Hun Xen was tied to a banana tree trunk and he was slashed so that his blood can be used to wash Sondhi’s feet.

Xok An said that Hun Xen did not want the scouts to fight with Thailand, but the verbal attack and the serious disdain of the Cambodian leader cannot be left without an answer. In the name of the 70,000 national scouts, and in the name of Hun Xen, the president of the scout movement, the scouts must issue a statement, but that statement must no touch upon the bilateral relationships between Cambodia and Thailand, and it also must not touch on the interest of the Thai people. Furthermore, the scouts’ statement must not bear words that lack virtue unlike those used by the Thai extremists, i.e. this statement should be a lesson from a noble and Buddhist population.

Therefore, the scouts will issue a statement for the Thai people and government to teach such [Thai] people so that a single savage would not affect the friendly relationships between Cambodia and Thailand, and if [Thailand] let such person create problems, then it will foment fight between the two countries and there will be no gain for the two countries.

Xok An added that the head chopping to take blood to wash feet, and impaling the head on a pole are savage actc that existed thousands of years ago where the law of the jungle prevailed and when only savage could undertake such act. He added that in the Cambodian Constitution, even death sentence is banned and Cambodia cannot use such barbaric act.

In conclusion, Xok An said that a handful of Thai extremists led by Sondhi and others who are VIPs in a country with high culture, is it reasonable for them to use savage words to look down on the leader of a country that is sovereign and has full independence?

Only balding ole boys and ole gals in this "ole Boy" Scouts group?

Xok An (2nd from left) presenting the scout's scarf to Phay Siphan, his mouthpiece, on 01 June 2010. It's interesting to note that no pictures of children/youths who were presented with scarfs were shown in the youth-oriented event, only that of the chief and his indian. (Photo: PQRU)

OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES TO Reader Wattanak:

Yes, Sir, you are right, we erred. So ladies and gentlemen, please read the correct caption as follows:

Xok An (2nd from left) presenting the scout's scarf to Phay Siphan, his mouthpiece, on 01 June 2010. It's interesting to note that no pictures of children/youths who were presented with scarfs were shown in the youth-oriented event, only that of the thief and his thief (oops another mistake, we meant: "of the chief and his mischief")

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Xmer Scout Group

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Students flag unruly motorists

By Kang Chan Amrak
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 20, October 5 - 18, 2007

With a new traffic law on the books, high-school students in green uniforms directing traffic were a common sight on main city boulevards during morning rush hour last week.

The students were part of a 10-day traffic safety program initiated by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and organized by their schools in the wake of the new traffic law. The students received two days of training on the traffic law before going on duty.

The program was held to make people aware that the new law will be enforced as of Oct. 1 and also to give students the opportunity to be involved in a social project before the school term started, said Lak Sam Ath, the Secretary General of the National Association of Cambodian Scouts.

"Many citizens especially those from the countryside are not knowledgeable about the traffic law. They don't even know what actually causes the road accidents," said Sam Ath.

He said the scouts may do a similar program in Siem Reap or other busy cities in the future.

The scout's main duties were to raise red flags to halt traffic at pedestrian walks and to remind drivers to wear their helmets or seatbelts in accordance with the law. The law also prohibits talking on telephones while driving.

The students said most of the drivers respected the traffic law, but some high ranking officials and public servants - and foreigners - were difficult to deal with.

"The cars that drove fast and crossed the line mostly had RCAF plates," said Lim Tek Hour. "The foreigners driving embassy cars were even worse," he said.

"When I asked a man to fasten his seatbelt, he took off his pants belt and said 'yes, this is my seatbelt'," said Ny Vy Sona, an 11th grade student from Sisowath High School who was working at Preah Sihanouk Blvd. and Street 63.

Tek Hour, also from Sisowath High, said some drivers just looked at him and laughed.

"Some drivers intentionally crossed the pedestrian line in order to test how I was going to react."

Despite the difficulties, they said the duty was interesting.

"I think this work is successful, and I am happy that people listened to what we asked them to do," said student Nov Tam.

The students received 8,000 riel per day. Their reports will be filed with the ministry.