Retired King Norodom Sihanouk in a letter dated Sunday and posted on his Web site Monday again lashed out at “Lon Nolists” and an unnamed group of Khmer Krom, asking for them be sent before the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
He provided a list of people he thought should face the court—including Khieu Samphan, former Khmer Rouge head of state, Nuon Chea, Brother No 2, Ieng Sary, Brother No 3, and former rebel commander Ta Mok—and added that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, Bun Rany, fled to the jungle to fight Lon Nol after listening to one of his speeches.
“I ask for the international court to bring Lon Nolists, Sirik Matak and a group of Kampuchea Krom who show their faces only on e-mail…to the court with Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ta Mok and Norodom Sihanouk,” the retired monarch wrote.
Lon Nol and Sirik Matak in March 1970 took part in a coup that effectively removed then-prince Sihanouk from power. Both are dead, but the retired King in previous Web postings has accused their “progeny” of conspiring to ruin him in the eyes of history and the international community.
Referring to his March 1970 speech imploring Cambodians to join the National United Front of Kampuchea—better known by its French acronym FUNK—which was founded to fight Lon Nol and return then Prince Sihanouk to power, Norodom Sihanouk wrote: “Samdech Hun Sen and Lok Chumteav Bun Rany Hun Sen when they were young decided to flee to the jungle after listening to my message.”
Among others listed by the retired King as responding to his call to join FUNK were Finance Minister Keat Chhon, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, former justice minister Chem Snguon and former minister of public works and ambassador to Japan Ing Kiet.
Norodom Sihanouk also accused unnamed international historians of sullying his name.
“What sort of international historians are they?” he asked. “They change history from white to black, a dishonest, shameful deed. There is no truth at all.”
