On the morning of 6 October, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen responded to conduct he condemned as immoral, urging Cambodians not to imitate it or mistreat portraits of the Thai king or any Thai leader. His message as reproduced in the source follows:
Is this what is meant by a highly civilised people with virtue and morality?
Please do not commit such wrongdoing, which is inhumane and beneath animals. Whether this video was made by real people or by AI, it depicts wrongdoing, whoever the nationality or group involved.
Some compatriots previously asked me to let them respond by displaying photographs of the Thai king as targets for prize shooting, as some Thais have been doing.
I told them that if we think such conduct is wrong, we should not compete in wrongdoing, because it is inhumane and beneath animals.
I also explained that they wanted me to lose patience while the ceasefire was fragile, or at least incite some of our soldiers and people to retaliate in a hostile way.
I appeal to our compatriots not to mistreat portraits of the Thai king or any Thai leader.
Our country may be small, our population limited and our economy weak, but we must not be weak in morality. We must remain a dignified people with high moral standards.
If you feel hurt by Thailand or dislike it, please stop buying Thai goods and using Thai baht on Cambodian soil to strengthen our monetary independence.
Please take no action harming Thai companies or Thai people living, working and doing business in Cambodia. I still believe most Thais do not want to be enemies of Cambodians. Some Thais, including some leaders, wrongly judge that Cambodia faces economic hardship and shortages after Thailand closed the border.
I might thank the Thai leaders again for a blow that struck themselves. Cambodia previously spent no less than US$5 billion annually buying Thai goods. Redirecting that money to domestic goods creates markets for Cambodian products and an opportunity to strengthen our economy.
We never begged Thailand to sell goods here; we paid for them. Thai leaders should stop misunderstanding and insulting Cambodia. We know you are wealthier, but our purchases also gave Thai people markets and income.
Thai people who sold goods to Cambodia should not be angry at Cambodia over losing a major customer, because this was not Cambodia’s fault.
Finally, I tell compatriots, particularly near the Thai border, to exchange baht for riel or dollars soon, warning of future losses and vulnerability to threats, as with electricity, internet and fuel previously. Moving from baht to riel helps strengthen our national currency.
I attach the clip showing Thais displaying my photograph for prize shooting.
Edited by: ចិន្តា ទីទិ
