Number One Southwark Bridge
London SE1 9HL
GREAT BRITAIN
Dear Mr. Barber,
Re: “Cambodia cracks down on dissenters” written by Mr. Tim Johnston
I was disappointed by your coverage “Cambodia cracks down on dissenters” which appeared on 26 July‘s issue of the Financial Times and, it is a very serious damaging report which I totally refute. Also, I do not recognise your correspondent’s allegation that a domestic issue of a sovereign country could cause any concern in the region.
On the contrary, Cambodia is a democracy which is fully committed to creating a modern and responsible civil society and those plays an increasingly prominent role in the national and international affairs and, recently, as you are well aware; the United States announced that it would give $161 million in aid this year to lower Mekong countries, including Cambodia.
Mr. Tim Johnston would have been well aware that under Cambodia's 1992 penal code, it is a criminal offence to spread disinformation and publish allegations which are both libellous and defamatory. By filing a formal complaint against Mrs. Mu Sochua, the Prime Minister has only exercised his legal rights in seeking to defend and protect his reputation. This is really no different from the situation in the UK where individuals have the right to sue for slander or libel if they feel their reputation has been impugned or besmirched.
Sadly to say that the quality of the professional standards and matured opposition parties in Cambodia is not always as high as it might be. I also wish to make clear that the Royal Government of Cambodia is entirely separate from the country's judicial system and is not involved in its decisions in any way.
Your correspondent seems unable to distinguish between government's policies and voluntary activity conducted by some people affected by the syndrome of “Martyrdom” certainly under political pressure and the principled conduct of core policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in a manner that reflects the values of the growing society in its attention devoted to the Cambodian people and the social and economic environment.
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen stated that political stability and social security appeared to be the main factors of growing progress in the social and economic development in Cambodia. The people of Cambodia now benefit from an ever-improving legal framework; and you should be aware that Prime Minister Hun Sen is fully in favour of a free press and freedom of expression for all in Cambodia, including newspapers which represent rival parties and interest groups.
Democracy and human respect relies on education and the country's own culture and tradition, on generally well understood and supported by the people of Cambodia.
Certainly, there is a lot more discussion to come and I would welcome any occasion to challenge your correspondent on this issue. I appreciate if the content of this letter could be broadly circulated.
With kind regards
Hor Nambora
Ambassador of Cambodia to the Court of St James’s
London, United Kingdom
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