Signs denouncing Sam Rainsy appeared at several educational institutions in Phnom Penh on Thursday, just days after two academic associations issued statements calling for students to protest the opposition leader’s return from self-imposed exile.
But while some school officials say the announcements were made at the behest of students, it was difficult Thursday to find any students who openly supported the signs or admitted to putting them up.
“Sam Rainsy is a criminal who we cannot forgive,” read one sign, handwritten on white poster board and hung outside the Royal University of Law and Economic Science. “Sam Rainsy is a dictator who ruins the country,” charged another.
“Sam Rainsy is a traitor because he appeals to foreign countries to cut off aid to the Cambodian people,” a third alleged.
The signs were meticulously placed, and similar messages were posted outside the Royal University of Fine Arts South Campus and Chaktomuk High School. But not everyone agreed with the messages.
“I think it’s wrong for a university to get involved in politics,” said Ken Rudy, 67, an advanced English teacher at RULES.
“I don’t think it’s our business as educators to endorse a particular political party as opposed to another,” he said.
“I think it is not right,” said Va Vanak, 20, a second-year law student. “Because Mr Sam Rainsy does good and he wants to help the people.” He cited as an example Sam Rainsy’s opposition to raising prices for fuel and goods.
At RULES on Thursday, the university’s security guards followed reporters who were attempting to interview faculty and students, and scrutinized the interviews. Almost all faculty members declined to comment on the signs, claiming to know nothing about them-even though they were prominently displayed on the school’s front gate. Some suggested they were the work of students.
But many students said they didn’t know who was responsible for the signs.
“I want to know who put it up,” said Pan Vantha, a student at RULES. “If the students put it up, it means the director of the school allowed it. They wouldn’t dare to do it on their own,” he added. “I think it was permitted by the director,” said Phanna Oeurng, 20, an economics student. “But maybe not.”
One French Embassy official said the signs were likely the work of school administrators.France has long supported the university financially. RULES on Tuesday issued a statement signed by its director, Youk Ngoy, calling for protests against Sam Rainsy and accusing the opposition leader of being behind opposition lawmaker Cheam Channy’s “shadow army.”
Youk Ngoy declined to comment on the signs Thursday.
A similar statement was issued by the Cambodian Higher Education Association and signed by its head, In Viracheat, who said that students spontaneously demanded protests against Sam Rainsy after seeing demonstrations against Prime Minister Hun Sen in Paris and New York.
Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association, claimed that the anti-Sam Rainsy protests, which have yet to be held, were approved by Phnom Penh municipality. He also alleged that the Ministry of Education had called school principals and directors to its offices to advise them on how to protest. “Some teachers feel unhappy with the directive to participate,” Rong Chhun said. “Teachers should have the freedom to demonstrate or not. Let them decide.”
Mam Bun Neang, first deputy governor of Phnom Penh, said the protests could not have been approved in advance. “If Sam Rainsy has not come [to Cambodia] yet, how can we give permission?” he asked. Pok Than, secretary of state at the Education Ministry, said he knew nothing about the signs.
“For sure it has to have the approval of the most senior person of the school, and he’s a civil servant,” said Mu Sochua, an opposition party member.
“If he wants to express his opinion, fine. But the schools should be a neutral location.”
“Will the students who do not agree with the signs be allowed to put up their own signs?” she asked.
“I thank them for implying that I am very powerful,” Sam Rainsy wrote in an e-mail Wednesday when asked about the planned protests.
“My adversaries control the army, the police, the administration, the [media], the country’s economy. As for me, I have nothing but my pen.”
