A threatening e-mail message addressed to Information Minister Khieu Kanharith and sent to television stations in Cambodia, if genuine, is the first such threat directed at a Cambodian government minister, Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak said on Tuesday.
The profanity-ridden e-mail, written in English and warning Khieu Kanharith to “be prepared…for your death,” was received by TVK General Director Kem Gunawath on Saturday and given to the Information Ministry that day, according to Chhum Socheat, ministry cabinet chief.
“If it is true, this is the first time a minister of the ruling government of Cambodia has received a threat,” Khieu Sopheak said, adding that the Interior Ministry has not received a complaint, but that it would investigate or provide guards to Khieu Kanharith as requested.
“Your comment to journalists really makes me even want to kill you!” reads the e-mail, whose author identified himself as “Kralahaumkon Archarsvar,” a pseudonym combining the names of two Indochine-era, anti-French rebel heroes. “As long as I have opportunity, then you shall be over!” the message warns.
Khieu Kanharith, who is also government spokesman, said a would-be assassin would have little trouble finding him.
“Everyone knows that I don’t have any bodyguards,” he said. “If killing me brings peace to Cambodia, I will accept this.”
He said he was not surprised by the threat as he replies to all the accusations made against the government.
The e-mail was also addressed to TV11, Apsara, TV9 and the Cambodian Television Network.
CTN producer Chum Kosal, who is an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said that his station had not received such a threat before. “The threat seems to be too extreme [to be serious],” he said.
Meng Ritha, acting secretary-general for the opposition party, speculated that the e-mail might be a government ploy rather than a genuine threat.
“I believe that this is a fake e-mail,” Meng Ritha said. “I do not believe a democratic activist would use the e-mail to threaten. Democratic activists would use only nonviolence,” he said.
