PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet (pic) has labelled former opposition party leader Sam Rainsy a “traitor” for echoing Thai claims that Cambodian troops fired indiscriminately, as well as for failing to acknowledge Thai attacks that damaged homes and pagodas in Cambodia.
Manet said such remarks amounted to insulting and undermining the morale of Cambodian troops.
Speaking at the inauguration of National Road 10, a nearly 200km route connecting Samlot district in Battambang province with Koh Kong province’s Khemarak Phoumin town, Manet did not name Sam Rainsy directly but referred to a former opposition leader who recently accused Cambodia of firing on Thai civilians when the conflict erupted.
“Our soldiers and commanders on the front line had no plan to fire at civilian homes. They targeted only military bases after they were fired upon first. Yet a political leader abroad… went on a microphone and said our soldiers unfairly and viciously killed Thai civilians. For a Khmer to do this is like attacking his own army using Thai words. What is this? It is a very serious act of treason,” he said.
“Thai forces fired at our troops and our villages. They accused us of firing at their land and civilian homes. Then one of our own politicians publicly echoed their claims, allowing the Thais to spread the message that even Cambodians acknowledged that Cambodian soldiers fired at civilian homes and violated the law. Our soldiers did not do that,” he added.
Manet also hit back at former Radio Free Asia reporter Muong Nareth, who reportedly repeated Thailand’s allegations that Cambodian troops used the Preah Vihear Temple area as a military bunker.
The prime minister noted that Preah Vihear Temple sustained damage at more than 500 locations due to Thai airstrikes and shelling, with the Thai military alleging the presence of Cambodian military bunkers as justification for the assault.
Citing a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Manet said the bunkers near the temple were shelters intended for civilians and could also be used by soldiers seeking protection. They were not bunkers for storing weapons or supplies for military operations, he added.
“Thailand also has bunkers for civilians to take shelter,” he noted.
“That place had sandbags arranged for people to shelter inside. Our culture ministry has provided evidence that the bunker was for conservationists to take shelter. During the first five days of fighting, didn’t you see the women sheltering there?” he asked.
In addition to shelling Preah Vihear Temple, Thai troops also destroyed a temple restoration site, including a crane used for conservation work.
“After they destroyed our property, they laughed and claimed they had only fired at our military positions. What were they firing at that crane for? Were there any soldiers stationed there?” Manet asked.
“We brought journalists, Unesco and others to inspect the site. They saw it too. We are not hiding anything. This is the truth,” he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
