PHNOM PENH: West Point’s Public Affairs Specialist, Francis J DeMaro Jr., has told EAC News that there is no distinction between local and foreign students at the school.

In an email sent in response to a question from EAC News last night at 11 o'clock on January 6, 2022 (Cambodian time) , Francis J DeMaro Jr. said, "Everyone that graduates from the U.S. Military Academy receives a Bachelor’s of Science degree. There is no differentiation or different requirements for international cadets.” He added, “I hope this helps clarify the controversy."

This confirmation from the US Military Academy can now be seen as the end of Sam Rainsy's unsubstantiated allegations attacking the value of Hun Manet's degree as a ‘level 2’ (‘second-class’) or honorary degree.

Hun Manet, 44, is the eldest son of Prime Minister Hun Sen. He was the first Cambodian to graduate from West Point Military Academy in the United States, and also holds a Master's degree in Economics from New York University and a Doctor of Economics from the University of Bristol.

On 25 December, Sam Rainsy gave an interview to foreign media published in Khmer stating that the degrees Hun Manet received from West Point Military Academy and New York University in the United States, and his PhD from Bristol University in the United Kingdom, are ‘second-class’ diplomas or honorary degrees.

In order to protect the validity of his degree, Hun Manet announced that he would like to call a bet with Sam Rainsy on "political life.” If Sam Rainsy could find evidence that he had obtained a ‘second-class’ or honorary degree, then he would resign from his position as future Prime Ministerial candidate of the Cambodian People’s Party.

However, after waiting two days with no response, Hun Manet added another request, asking Sam Rainsy to stop doing politics altogether because he did not have the courage to defend his argument and was giving a bad example to others.