“I do not want spies to only provide information. The spy needs to have skills to analyse fake news and news resulting from exaggeration…We need investigators that we call spies in all places and units.”
Prime Minister Hun Sen on appointing his son to head an academy that will train spies fighting terrorism. (The Phnom Penh Post cited in Southeast Asia Globe)
“We want a good relationship. There is a little bit of friction, a little bit of noise in the official bilateral relationship but we remain optimistic…We are advising that these steps that have taken place here that have backtracked on democracy could be reversed.”
Patrick Murphy, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia, the most senior US official to visit Cambodia since the CNRP was dissolved. (Reuters)
“What we’ve done is in the legal framework to defend Cambodia’s independence, peace and stability. We didn’t do anything illegal.”
Ouch Borith, secretary of state at the foreign ministry, after meeting Patrick Murphy, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia. (Reuters)
“The current oppression, if allowed to continue, will generate political instability as repressed dissent boils over; this will eventually trigger economic instability that will take the country backwards.”
Kem Monovithya, daughter of CNRP chief Kem Sokha, in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs. (Radio Free Asia)
