The embattled Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya talks to the media.April 1, 2009
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On 1 April 2009, Mr. Tharit Charungvat, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry spokesman, responded to the press regarding the reaction by His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s remarks during the censure debate at the Thai parliamentary on 20 March 2009.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that the matter was a misunderstanding as to the correct interpretation of the terms used by Minister Kasit to describe the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The term the Minister used during the debate was “Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng”.
The Foreign Ministry as well as the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh already discussed with the Cambodian side to clear up this unfortunate misunderstanding.The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, also talked to the Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand.
The spokesman further explained that in Thai language, the word “Nak Leng” or “นักเลง” has several connotations, including, among others, tough guy, big-hearted person and sporting. When the Foreign Minister combined this word with the term “Suparb Burut,” which means a gentleman, into the term “สุภาพบุรุษใจนักเลง” (“Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng”), it clearly shows that he meant that His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen was “a gentleman” (“Suparb Burut”) with “a big heart”. (“Jai Nak Leng”) or a sportsman-like gentleman. Any Thais, when asked what “Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng” means, would concur that this term is a compliment.
Khmerization's note: Let's put this Thai phrase into a Cambodian context. The phrase "Suparp burut Jai Nak Leng" is exactly the same as the Cambodian phrase "Sopheap Boross Jet Neak Leng" (សុភាពបុរសចិត្តអ្នកលេង) which literally means "A gentleman with a ganger's heart" or "A gentleman with the heart of a gangster". While Mr. Kasit might want to deny his intention into using the phrase, he cannot deny the fact of the meaning of the word. It is an insult. Full stop.
Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On 1 April 2009, Mr. Tharit Charungvat, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry spokesman, responded to the press regarding the reaction by His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya’s remarks during the censure debate at the Thai parliamentary on 20 March 2009.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that the matter was a misunderstanding as to the correct interpretation of the terms used by Minister Kasit to describe the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The term the Minister used during the debate was “Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng”.
The Foreign Ministry as well as the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh already discussed with the Cambodian side to clear up this unfortunate misunderstanding.The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, also talked to the Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand.
The spokesman further explained that in Thai language, the word “Nak Leng” or “นักเลง” has several connotations, including, among others, tough guy, big-hearted person and sporting. When the Foreign Minister combined this word with the term “Suparb Burut,” which means a gentleman, into the term “สุภาพบุรุษใจนักเลง” (“Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng”), it clearly shows that he meant that His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen was “a gentleman” (“Suparb Burut”) with “a big heart”. (“Jai Nak Leng”) or a sportsman-like gentleman. Any Thais, when asked what “Suparb Burut Jai Nak Leng” means, would concur that this term is a compliment.
Khmerization's note: Let's put this Thai phrase into a Cambodian context. The phrase "Suparp burut Jai Nak Leng" is exactly the same as the Cambodian phrase "Sopheap Boross Jet Neak Leng" (សុភាពបុរសចិត្តអ្នកលេង) which literally means "A gentleman with a ganger's heart" or "A gentleman with the heart of a gangster". While Mr. Kasit might want to deny his intention into using the phrase, he cannot deny the fact of the meaning of the word. It is an insult. Full stop.
Below is an email from Mr. Dara Hyam, one of Khmerization's readers, sent this blog after he had read the report about Mr. Kasit Piromya's alleged insult of Mr. Hun Sen. Here it is:
Dear Khmerization,
In regards to Kasit Piromya called Mr. Hun Sen a " Gansgter or Nak Leng". I think it is the fact that Kasit Piromya deliberately insulted Mr. Hun Sen. Kasit knew exactly what's the meaning of this word, the closest word to English would be a Gangster as this word was adopted from our Khmer word and is used in the same context and meaning. And yes of course this word does to a certain extend indicating a person character as being tough as well but in a rather negative manner than positive, because we're living in civilized society now so to use this word to call someone just means of implying rather negative behaviour... like the person is a trouble maker. What Kasit can rather use instead is " Jai Nak leng" ( the heart of a gangster) or in Khmer" Jet Nak leng" is more dignified.. Further more it is unacceptable for Thai to insult Khmer in this way and particularly he is the foreign minister.... is this the foreign policy of Mr. Kasit?
with regards,
Dara Hyam
In regards to Kasit Piromya called Mr. Hun Sen a " Gansgter or Nak Leng". I think it is the fact that Kasit Piromya deliberately insulted Mr. Hun Sen. Kasit knew exactly what's the meaning of this word, the closest word to English would be a Gangster as this word was adopted from our Khmer word and is used in the same context and meaning. And yes of course this word does to a certain extend indicating a person character as being tough as well but in a rather negative manner than positive, because we're living in civilized society now so to use this word to call someone just means of implying rather negative behaviour... like the person is a trouble maker. What Kasit can rather use instead is " Jai Nak leng" ( the heart of a gangster) or in Khmer" Jet Nak leng" is more dignified.. Further more it is unacceptable for Thai to insult Khmer in this way and particularly he is the foreign minister.... is this the foreign policy of Mr. Kasit?
with regards,
Dara Hyam
2 comments:
The meaning of NEAK LENG is not difficult to understand among Khmers. It is not Pali or Sanscrit word but it is originally Khmer word and no need for Thai people to explain the meaning of this word to Khmers.
Its meaning seems to be complecated and difficult to understand among Thai people due to it is not their own word or the difficulty is derised from the irresponsibility of the person who speak this word out.
Mr. Kasit tried to play down the insult by saying the word "Nak Leng" means "lion-hearted" or "good-hearted". But the fact of the matter is "Nak Leng" in Thai is exactly the same as the Khmer word "Neak Leng" which means a thug or a gangster. So it is an insult. We don't need a linguist to do the explaining.
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