Left: Dam Sith being arrested in mid 2008 and below, Dam Sith's letter of apology to Mr. Hun Sen.
Source: Khmer Sthapana and Deum Ampil
Reported in English by Khmerization
Mr. Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper, has been summoned to appear before the court on 14th of July in relations to a series of articles critical of the government, but the case against him was dropped by the order of PM Hun Sen when Mr. Dam Sith sent a letter of apology and agreed to cease the publication of his newspaper.
Mr. Dam Sith was jailed in mid 2008 after he quoted opposition leader Sam Rainsy's speech alleging that the Cambodian Foreign Minister, Mr. Hor Namhong, was a Khmer Rouge leader. He was released after international pressures and after he apologised to Mr. Hor Namhong.
It is not clear which particular articles which prompts the government to sue the editor, but sensing that he had run out of option to defend himself, the editor was quick to apologise. In his apology letter he wrote: "I have nothing else to depend on to escape the court charges against me."
Political analyst predicted that Mr. Dam Sith will defect to the ruling Cambodian People's Party in the not too distant future and will be offered a plum job in within the already bloated bureaucracy.
Human right groups have expressed concerns over a surge in legal actions against members of the civil society and opposition activists. In June two opposition MPs, Mrs Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann, were stripped off their parliamentary immunity after they were sued by the government. A few days ago, Mrs. Mu Sochua's lawyer, Mr. Kong Sam Onn, was forced to apologise to Prime Minister Hun Sen and after he joined Mr. Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, the government dropped the cases against him.
Reported in English by Khmerization
Mr. Dam Sith, editor-in-chief of Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper, has been summoned to appear before the court on 14th of July in relations to a series of articles critical of the government, but the case against him was dropped by the order of PM Hun Sen when Mr. Dam Sith sent a letter of apology and agreed to cease the publication of his newspaper.
Mr. Dam Sith was jailed in mid 2008 after he quoted opposition leader Sam Rainsy's speech alleging that the Cambodian Foreign Minister, Mr. Hor Namhong, was a Khmer Rouge leader. He was released after international pressures and after he apologised to Mr. Hor Namhong.
It is not clear which particular articles which prompts the government to sue the editor, but sensing that he had run out of option to defend himself, the editor was quick to apologise. In his apology letter he wrote: "I have nothing else to depend on to escape the court charges against me."
Political analyst predicted that Mr. Dam Sith will defect to the ruling Cambodian People's Party in the not too distant future and will be offered a plum job in within the already bloated bureaucracy.
Human right groups have expressed concerns over a surge in legal actions against members of the civil society and opposition activists. In June two opposition MPs, Mrs Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann, were stripped off their parliamentary immunity after they were sued by the government. A few days ago, Mrs. Mu Sochua's lawyer, Mr. Kong Sam Onn, was forced to apologise to Prime Minister Hun Sen and after he joined Mr. Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, the government dropped the cases against him.
Below is Mr. Dam Sith's letter of apology to Prime Minister Hun Sen:
08 July 2009
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy for KI-Media
Kingdoom of Cambodia
Nation – Religion – King
Apology and forgiveness request letter
From Dam Sith, Editor-in-chief of the Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper
To
Highly respected Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor Hun Xen
Prime minister of the kingdoom of Cambodia
Nation – Religion – King
Apology and forgiveness request letter
From Dam Sith, Editor-in-chief of the Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper
To
Highly respected Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor Hun Xen
Prime minister of the kingdoom of Cambodia
First of all, I ask your permission to express my highest respect and to give my most sincere apology to Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and all the high-ranking leaders of the CPP party because, in the past, I did not act properly over and over again and I seriously affected the honor of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and the CPP leadership through my Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper. At this time, I understand all my serious mistakes and I regret them and I am extremely saddened by them in my life.
At this time, I have nothing else to depend on to escape the court charges against me. Because I observed the generosity of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor to members of other parties who came to join Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor, and Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor always forgive these people and he also gave them the opportunity to build the country under the win-win policy of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor, therefore,
at this time, I am asking for the highest permission of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor to forgive me so that I can escape the court charges against me.
In exchange for the generosity of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and the CPP leadership, I promise to discontinue the publication of the Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper after I receive the pardon from Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor.
I promise to support the ingenuous win-win policy of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor in the building of the country for progress,
In conclusion, I am praying the angel protecting the throne and all the magic items in the kingdom to help preserve Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and his Chumteav, as well as his male and female children, his male and female grandchildren, so that they may be blessed with the 4 Buddhist gems.
With my highest respect,
Phnom Penh 08 July 2009
(Signed) Dam Sith
At this time, I have nothing else to depend on to escape the court charges against me. Because I observed the generosity of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor to members of other parties who came to join Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor, and Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor always forgive these people and he also gave them the opportunity to build the country under the win-win policy of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor, therefore,
at this time, I am asking for the highest permission of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor to forgive me so that I can escape the court charges against me.
In exchange for the generosity of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and the CPP leadership, I promise to discontinue the publication of the Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper after I receive the pardon from Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor.
I promise to support the ingenuous win-win policy of Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor in the building of the country for progress,
In conclusion, I am praying the angel protecting the throne and all the magic items in the kingdom to help preserve Samdach Akkok Moha Sena Bat Dey Dek Chor and his Chumteav, as well as his male and female children, his male and female grandchildren, so that they may be blessed with the 4 Buddhist gems.
With my highest respect,
Phnom Penh 08 July 2009
(Signed) Dam Sith
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