20 August 2007By San Suwith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
To Cambodian people, Angkor Wat is a symbol of Khmer soul, of Khmerness, and whoever touches it or uses it for commercial purposes, they always face protests.
For example, on Monday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teacher’s Association (CITA), asked Hor Nam Hong, the deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, to order the Cambodian ambassador in France to look into the case of Iradium, a Paris-based company, which distributes phone calling cards under the name of “Meilleur Angkor” (Best Angkor). The calling cards which bear a picture of Angkor Wat, have the letters Viet Nam written above the picture of Angkor Wat, rather than a sign saying Cambodia because Angkor Wat belongs to Cambodians.
Rong Chhun indicated that he received this information from French-Cambodians living in Paris during his visit to Europe. Apparently, the Iradium company is owned by Vietnamese businessmen who sell phone calling cards.
Rong Chhun said: “Our compatriots living in France are very concerned about this company which uses the picture of Angkor Wat on their phone calling cards, and instead of having a sign saying Cambodia, the company put Viet Nam instead. This is a concern expressed by our compatriots living in France, it is also the concern of CITA and the Cambodian public as well. We are concerned about the Vietnamese arrogance which uses a picture of Angkor Wat, the soul of our nation, and pasting their country’s name above it instead.”
Rong Chhun said that French-Cambodians have sent a petition to the Cambodian embassy in France once already, but they did not see any action taken by the Cambodian ambassador to Paris yet. This is the reason why he decided to send a letter in the name of CITA to Hor Nam Hong.
Rong Chhun added: “Mr. Hor Nam Hong must order the Cambodian ambassador to Paris to review this case, and demand a clarification from this company regarding this issue, and asking this company to erase the words Vietnam out and add Cambodia instead.”
RFA could not determine whether the ministry of Foreign Affairs had reacted on this request yet or not.
For example, on Monday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teacher’s Association (CITA), asked Hor Nam Hong, the deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs, to order the Cambodian ambassador in France to look into the case of Iradium, a Paris-based company, which distributes phone calling cards under the name of “Meilleur Angkor” (Best Angkor). The calling cards which bear a picture of Angkor Wat, have the letters Viet Nam written above the picture of Angkor Wat, rather than a sign saying Cambodia because Angkor Wat belongs to Cambodians.
Rong Chhun indicated that he received this information from French-Cambodians living in Paris during his visit to Europe. Apparently, the Iradium company is owned by Vietnamese businessmen who sell phone calling cards.
Rong Chhun said: “Our compatriots living in France are very concerned about this company which uses the picture of Angkor Wat on their phone calling cards, and instead of having a sign saying Cambodia, the company put Viet Nam instead. This is a concern expressed by our compatriots living in France, it is also the concern of CITA and the Cambodian public as well. We are concerned about the Vietnamese arrogance which uses a picture of Angkor Wat, the soul of our nation, and pasting their country’s name above it instead.”
Rong Chhun said that French-Cambodians have sent a petition to the Cambodian embassy in France once already, but they did not see any action taken by the Cambodian ambassador to Paris yet. This is the reason why he decided to send a letter in the name of CITA to Hor Nam Hong.
Rong Chhun added: “Mr. Hor Nam Hong must order the Cambodian ambassador to Paris to review this case, and demand a clarification from this company regarding this issue, and asking this company to erase the words Vietnam out and add Cambodia instead.”
RFA could not determine whether the ministry of Foreign Affairs had reacted on this request yet or not.
