Thursday, June 07, 2007

Is breaking heads the best way to deal with the GW report?

The row between the Cambodian government and Global Witness continues. Hun Nenh is in favour of breaking heads -
    "If they [Global Witness] come to Cambodia, I will hit them until their heads are broken," was how the prime minister's brother and provincial governor, Hun Neng, responded to accusations that he and his wife were involved in the illicit trade. (Source)
Breaking heads might be personally satisfying for the governor but it is hardly a worthy response of a government. The response of this government is denial -
    The report has enraged government officials, who call it "fiction," and prompted the information ministry to ban it. (Source)
After its little temper tantrum, the government declared its intention to investigate the allegations and clear its name. It has not stated that it will use any means necessary but it is probably a given. It accuses Global Witness of a personal vendetta against the Cambodian government because of GW's expulsion from the country. Some entities have a tendency to accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of and perhaps this is the case here. The government takes any slights, perceived or otherwise, badly and overreacts. GW is saying what people have suspected for a long time.

Someone should try any prevent the governor from breaking too many heads before the legal right to "freedom of expression" bites back.

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