The Khmer Rouge break into a cold sweat when they are called Khmer Rouge

Khmer Rouge No. 2 Regime. Top Row: Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin, Bottom Row: Nguon Nhel and Cheam Yeap

19 April 2011
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

The declaration made by Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy on 17 April, during the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the takeover of power by the Khmer Rouge, saying that the current regime in Cambodia is the Khmer Rouge regime No. 2, has attracted the ire of officials from the ruling regime. Some even went on to threaten with incitation on the people to demonstrate against the opposition party, while others threaten to sue Sam Rainsy. All these reactions came at a time when the public clearly know that these officials were indisputably Khmer Rouge.

Nguon Nhel, the 2nd vice-president of the NatAss (National Assembly) from the ruling CPP, threatened that his group were the ones who liberated the people from the KR regim, and he added that Sam Rainsy’s accusation could lead to a demonstration opposing the latter. Nguon Nhel went on to boast his bosses, saying that only the three Samd-achs [Hun Xen, Chea Xim and Heng Xamrin] were the ones who liberated the people from the Khmer Rouge on 07 January 1979, and they also pushed the KR leaders to trial.

Cheam Yeap, another CPP MP from Prey Veng province, expressed his anger, saying that calling the current regime as the Khmer Rouge regime No. 2 is defamation, and he threatened to sue [Sam Rainsy].