Sam Rainsy: “If they sue me, they help provide advertisement for me, therefore, I thank them.”Saturday 26 April 2008
By Brevin Rasmei Kampuchea Daily Newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Courtesy of Ki-Media
Phnom Penh – On 25 April, opposition leader Sam Rainsy pushed vice-prime minister Hor Nam Hong to sue Hero-King Norodom Sihanouk who is currently residing in Siem Reap province, saying that he is only repeating what King Norodom Sihanouk said only, therefore, if Hor Nam Hong sues him, he should sue King-Father instead.From Vancouver, Canada, where he is drumming support from overseas Cambodian people, Sam Rainsy told Rasmei Kampuchea over the phone that: “I only repeated what the former monarch said only. Therefore, if I am sued, he should sue King Norodom Sihanouk instead.”He added that: “This is not my problem. I have sufficient document. This is not Sam Rainsy’s issue.”Sam Rainsy involved this issue on former Hero-King, by basing on the event which took place 18-year ago in Paris, when King-Father accused Hor Nam Hong as the Boeng Trabek jail chief, and then, Hor Nam Hong sued the king back at the French tribunal. Sam Rainsy reminded that that in 1990, he helped find a lawyer to defend King-Father against Hor Nam Hong’s lawsuit. He added also that, at that time King-Father lost the case in the first trial, however, he could have won if he decided to appeal the case and he would gather witnesses from Cambodia to oppose the case in the French tribunal. But, King-Father did not want to see the case lengthened, and he decided not to appeal the case.At the same time he is pushing Hor Nam Hong to sue the Hero-King rather than him, Sam Rainsy also said that he will help King-Father to clean up the former monarch’s honor. He said that he has witnesses whose relatives, parents died at Boeng Trabek. He will bring these witnesses to the court to confirm that what King-Father said was true. He said that any lawsuit brought up against him will help him receive more support from the Cambodian people. He said: “If they sue me, they help provide advertisement for me, therefore, I thank them.”Beside this, Sam Rainsy said that this lawsuit against him at the Phnom Penh municipal court is not correct. The lawsuit should be brought to the KR Tribunal which includes the UN participation because this issue is related to the Pol Pot regime.On 22 April, Hor Nam Hong sued Sam Rainsy for diffusing false information and defamation, after Sam Rainsy accused him (KI-Media note: in fact Sam Rainsy did not name Hor Nam Hong by name) of being the Beong Trabek jail chief during the SRP commemoration for the victims of the KR regime held on 17 April 2008, at the Choeung Ek Memorial killing field. However, besides saying that he was only repeating King-Father’s words, Sam Rainsy also said that, at the time, he did not name Hor Nam Hong explicitly.According to the Cambodian law, Sam Rainsy could face jail sentence if the court find him guilty of diffusing false information insulting Hor Nam Hong. The lawsuit against Sam Rainsy creates concerns that it could block the political life of the opposition leader, and it will mar the political atmosphere just before the upcoming 27 July 2008 election. However, Hor Nam Hong said that he will end the lawsuit in order to lighten up the atmosphere, should Sam Rainsy apologizes to him and he recognizes that he misspoke. However, Sam Rainsy plans to return to Cambodia on 29 April, and there is no apology given by Sam Rainsy at this time.
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