Phnom Penh: Prime Minister Hun Sen gave VOD online news 72 hours to apologize to the Royal Government and Mr. Hun Manet after publishing the news that Mr. Hun Manet has signed aids to Turkey on behalf of the Prime Minister. After the deadline, the government may file a lawsuit.
PM Hun Sen posted on his Facebook page on February 11, 2023 that the VOD news may be confused or intentionally slander Hun Manet or the Royal Government while only the Prime Minister has the right
Expenditure order under the National Budget Law which is the Supreme Commander.
He announced a 72-hour apology from VOD and ordered the Royal Government's Attorney General, Mr. Ki Tech, to file a lawsuit to the court in case this online news outlets refused to apologize.
PM stated: "don't say we are threatening you (your rights have a border with the rights of others). Foreign friends or civil society, before commenting, please research this matter first, both facts and law. Finally, I would like to remind my warning to journalists on January 14, 2023 (journalists, do not abuse others, do not distort the truth).
PM Hun Sen stated that the government wants nothing more than transparent and right.
This morning, Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, asked VOD to present evidence after it was reported that he had signed a aid agreement with Turkey on behalf of the Prime Minister Hun Sen.
On the morning of February 11, 2023, Mr. Hun Manet wrote on his Facebook page: "I do not have the right to sign the government documents."
He said he had searched for relevant documents but found only one press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that had not been signed by anyone and that if VOD did not have the documents and published incorrect information, please do "sorry" As well as edit the information and publish to the public immediately so as not to confuse the public in this regard.
"I want nothing more than to be accurate and clear," he said.
On February 9, 2023, VOD reported that government spokesman Phay Siphan had stated that the sign by Hun Manet for providing aid to Turkey instead of PM is not wrong.
The report said: "The contradiction comes after the Cambodian government announced $ 100,000 in humanitarian aid to earthquake-stricken Turkey, with Hun Manet representing Prime Minister Hun Sen to sign the aid while Hun Sen is mourning the loss of his sister-in-law".
