Thomico not happy that Sam Rainsy is using his parents’ names in the lawsuit

11 July 2008
Rasmei Kampuchea
Translation from Khmer by Heng Soy

On 10 July, Prince Sisowath Thomico expressed his unhappiness that opposition leader Sam Rainsy used his parents’ names in the lawsuit brought by Hor Namhong against him.

In an interview over the phone on Thursday morning, Thomico said: “I don’t want my parents’ names involved in the country politics because they are not involved in the current politics.” The prince added that Sam Rainsy should not mix a legal issue with politics.

Prince Thomico indicated that Princess Nanette and Prince Sisowath Methavy lived in the Boeng Trabek camp until November 1978 before they were taken away. Since then, Thomico lost track of his parents, and he did not know how his parents were killed. However, Thomico indicated that his parents dedicated their lives to serve the nation and to follow the Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk.

Thomico refused to comment on the letter Sam Rainsy handed over the tribunal on 09 July. Nevertheless, Thomico indicated that there are a number of people who used to live in Boeng Trabek with his parents, and they are still alive now.

On 09 July, Sam Rainsy read a letter confirming that Hor Namhong was the Boeng Trabek jail chief after Van Piny (the former Boeng Trabel jail chief).

While being unhappy to see Sam Rainsy’s involving his parents’ names in the lawsuit brought up by Hor Namhong, Thomico said that if Sam Rainsy wants to find justice, he should bring the case to the KR Tribunal [KI-Media note: Sam Rainsy did ask the KRT to take up the case, but the KRT refused]. Nonetheless, Sam Rainsy took this case to comment in a political speech instead, Thomico claimed.

Based on the past court victory on a similar case against King-Father, people believed that Hor Namhong has the advantage over Sam Rainsy, therefore, some commentators are concerned that this lawsuit could affect Sam Rainsy’s political life after the election.

Hor Namhong sued Sam Rainsy for cursing and misinformation, after Sam Rainsy declared that the Choeung Ek Memorial site, in April, that Hor Namhong was the Boeng Trabek jail chief. This case is still in the hands of the tribunal.

Testimonials from a former prisoner of Boeng Trabek: Princess Nanette’s Ordeal

Testimonials from a former prisoner of Boeng Trabek

Translated from French
Le texte original en français se trouve en bas du texte anglais

Princess Nanette’s Ordeal

Princess Sisowath Nanette, the older sister of Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, arrived at the Boeng Trabek camp in October 1977, directly from France, to join her husband, Prince Sisowath Metheavy. The latter, a former diplomat who remained faithful to Prince (currently King-Father) Norodom Sihanouk, returned to Cambodia since 1976, one year after the Khmer Rouge take over.

Following a short stay in Chraing Chamres, Prince Metheavy was sent to the Boeng Trabek re-education camp in February 1977, along with a group of former diplomats and high-ranking officials like himself, such as Chau Seng, Chea San, Norodom Phurissara, Ang Kim Khoan, Ieng Kounsaky, Van Piny and Hor Nam Hong.

Nanette lived in Boeng Trabek for six months only before she and her husband were taken away to be executed in April 1978. At her arrival in October 1977, Van Piny was the Khmer Rouge-appointed camp president, and his right hand man was Hor Nam Hong who held the title of vice-president.

The Metheavy-Nanette couple was not particularly mistreated under Van Piny. However, the situation changed quickly when Van Piny was replaced by Hor Nam Hong in November 1977. Hor Nam Hong (who was also known as Mit (Comrade) Yaem) and Borey (Mit Ry), his wife, took a perverse pleasure to make Nanette suffer morally and psychologically.

Toward the end of 1977, following a visit by a Chinese delegation, Hor Nam Hong blamed Nanette for “trying to steal the limelight,” because she “knew that people know her,” whereas everybody should tried to hide their identity in the presence of foreign visitors.

Striking event: Hor Nam Hong remained impassive when Nanette kneeled in front of him, begging him to intervene in her favor so that she could return back to France to be treated for her seizure. She told him that she was a French citizen and a baptized Catholic. Hor Nam Hong remained stoic.

Mit Ry, Hor Nam Hong’s wife, persecuted Nanette in particular. One day, Mit Ry severely reprimanded Nanette because she spoke a few words in French, either by habit or by inattention. On another occasion, because she tried to make up somewhat her hair, Nanette earned the following reprimand from Mit Ry: “Stop being a Parisian. You are disconnecting yourself from the revolution.”

At the Khmer New Year, around mid-April 1978, Nanette picked some flowers to offer to Hor Nam Hong, hoping to obtain from him some friendship or pity. Hor Nam Hong rejected this submission gesture, and he scolded Nanette for her “bourgeois habits. He promptly turned his back to a crying Nanette.

Several days after the Khmer New year, the Metheavy-Nanette couple was taken away by the Khmer Rouge to be later executed.
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Témoignage d'un ancien détenu de Boeng Trabek

LE CALVAIRE DE LA PRINCESSE NANETTE

La Princesse Sisowath Nanette, sœur aînée de la Reine-Mère Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, est arrivée au camp de Boeng Trabek en octobre 1977, venant directement de France pour rejoindre son mari, le Prince Sisowath Metheavy. Celui-ci, ancien diplomate fidèle au Prince (actuellement Roi-Père) Norodom Sihanouk, était rentré au Cambodge depuis 1976, un an après la prise du pouvoir par les Khmers Rouges.

Après un séjour à Chraing Chamrès, le Prince Metheavy a été envoyé au camp de rééducation de Boeng Trabek en février 1977, avec un groupe d'anciens diplomates et hauts fonctionnaires comme lui, notamment Chau Seng, Chea San, Norodom Phourissara, Ang Kim Khoan, Ieng Kounsaky, Van Piny et Hor Nam Hong.

Nanette a vécu à Boeng Trabek pendant seulement six mois, avant d'être emmenée avec son mari pour être exécutés tous les deux en avril 1978. A l'arrivée de Nanette en octobre 1977, le président du camp nommé par les Khmers Rouges était Van Piny, secondé par Hor Nam Hong qui avait le titre de vice-président.

Le couple Metheavy-Nanette n'était pas particulièrement maltraité sous Van Piny. Mais la situation changea rapidement quand Van Piny fut remplacé par Hor Nam Hong en novembre 1977. Hor Nam Hong (qui était connu aussi sous le nom de Camarade ou Mit Yaem) et sa femme Borey (Mit Ry) prenaient un malin plaisir à faire souffrir moralement et psychologiquement Nanette.

Vers la fin de 1977, après le passage d'une délégation chinoise, Hor Nam Hong reprocha à Nanette de "chercher à se faire remarquer" par les Chinois, parce qu'elle "se savait connue", alors que tout le monde devait s'éclipser devant des visiteurs étrangers.

Scène bouleversante: Hor Nam Hong est resté impassible quand Nanette s'est mise à genoux devant lui, le suppliant d'intervenir en sa faveur pour qu'elle puisse repartir en France pour reprendre son traitement médical contre l'épilepsie. Elle lui disait qu'elle était citoyenne française et qu'elle avait été baptisée (selon la confession catholique). Hor Nam Hong est resté de marbre.

La femme de Hor Nam Hong, Mit Ry, s'acharnait particulièrement sur Nanette. Un jour, Mit Ry réprimanda sévèrement Nanette parce que celle-ci avait prononcé, par habitude et par mégarde, quelques mots en français. Un autre jour, parce qu'elle mettait un brin d'élégance dans sa coiffure, Nanette s'attira cette remontrance de Mit Ry: "Cessez de vous prendre pour une Parisienne. Vous ne faites qu'aller à l'encontre de la révolution."

Au nouvel an khmer, vers la mi-avril 1978, Nanette avait cueilli des fleurs pour les offrir à Hor Nam Hong en espérant obtenir de lui un peu d'amitié ou de pitié. Hor Nam Hong a repoussé ce geste de soumission et a reproché à Nanette ses "habitudes bourgeoises". Il tourna aussitôt le dos à Nanette qui pleurait à chaudes larmes.

Quelques jours après ce nouvel an khmer, le couple Metheavy-Nanette fut emmené par les Khmers Rouges du camp de Boeng Trabek pour être exécutés peu de temps après.