Cambodia's government spokesperson said immoral acts and various insults against Cambodian leaders were taking place openly in Thailand without any action to stop them. The remarks followed some Thai nationals' public misuse of photographs of Cambodia's Senate President, prime minister and military leaders, including as targets in prize shooting games and as effigies for public humiliation.
On October 7, the spokesperson issued a statement strongly condemning these acts as degrading, lacking human dignity and unacceptable, and expressed deep regret that such insults were allowed freely in Thailand. By contrast, Cambodia's senior leaders had repeatedly urged citizens not to misuse portraits of Thailand's king or photographs of Thai leaders and not to discriminate against Thai nationals living and doing business in Cambodia. Despite serious insults from some Thai nationals on October 6, Senate President and Acting Head of State Hun Sen continued to urge Cambodians not to retaliate in kind. The spokesperson said this demonstrated Cambodian leaders' moral conduct towards Thailand's king and leaders.
The spokesperson stressed that although Cambodia was small, had a limited population and a still-weak economy, its leaders consistently upheld peace and peaceful solutions. They sought a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development and never treated neighbouring countries or any other country as an enemy.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television — Written by: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
