Hun Sen composes new song for Rainsy over return wager
PRIME Minister Hun Sen composed a song on Sunday as he exchanged barbs with Sam Rainsy on the latter’s claim that he would return to Cambodia on November 9. Hun Sen also volunteered to witness a bet initiated by a group of analysts on Rainsy’s return.
Hun Sen t it led his new song Partridge Crying 2019 and said it was composed in line with t he current situation.
In his t hird song targeting him, t he ly rics said prison was waiting for Rainsy should he return. The t wo prev ious songs he had composed were in response to a Rainsy-initiated bet about the release of CNRP president Kem Sok ha.
“Partridge cried out, but ibis is sure now . . . my darling that it is November 9. Prison missed you so much, please darling come in as you have wished to.
“In the past you were fickle, and you made me sad and ashamed. Please don’t joke this time. I am waiting for November 9 with the hope of meeting you.
“You come this time, the
prison is waiting for my heart. Please don’t change your mind. You should pity those who are waiting, even the prison is crying out. Please do as you promise.”
'Childish and stupid'
In response to Hun Sen’s new song, the acting president of the Supreme Courtdissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party said Hun Sen was childish and stupid.
“A responsible prime minister needs to devise and implement good policies and not write songs when it comes to responding to critics,” he told The Post.
Rainsy, who had fled abroad to escape a litany of court cases, conv ictions and warrants of arrest in Cambodia, had recently proclaimed he would return on November 9 – the first time he had put a definite date on his return.
Khan Sovan, a member of a group called Ang Prok Prach (a babble group) invited Rainsy to bet on the return. He said he would give Rainsy $1 million should he step on Cambodian soil.
“People want to give $1 million to Sam Rainsy in exchange for his return to Cambodia and be jailed and end his political career. People are fed up with him for shouting outside.
“He appealed to the EU to withdraw the Everything But Arms agreement, he begged the US to put pressure on Cambodia,” Sovan told The Post on Sunday.
He said Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to be t he witness i n t he bet, but adv ised that he should ta ke just 50 per cent of the money from Rainsy should he not come.
“If he comes even just a millimetre into Cambodian soil, he would win the bet. So, we will bring $1 million to him. But he [Rainsy] announced that he is not taking the bet. I think the public knows by this that he will not return,” Sovan said.
Sovan also had a phone conversation with Hun Sen on Friday. In a video clip posted on Sovan’s Facebook page, Hun Sen said he had posted a comment there.
“I a lready commented t hat I accepted to be t he wit ness [of t he bet]. You ca n check t hat. My comment sa id I ag reed to be t he wit ness of t he bet, but Sova nn must br ing t hat money to t he winner at a prison on November 9,” Hun Sen sa id in t he conversat ion.
In a follow-up to Rainsy, he told The Post that out of respect for our motherland, no amount of money should be associated with any bet relative to its future.
“We are polit icia ns, not gamblers. I would prefer t his kind of bet: Would Hun Sen accept to i mmediately step down if – I would say when – I ef fectively set foot on Cambodian soil on November 9, 2019? We can ask China to be a witness of such a bet,” he said.
Politica l analyst Lao Mong Hay said it was ver y regrettable t hat t he r uling elite has yet again resorted to a wager in t heir warfare against pol it ica l r iva ls.
“Gambling is a vice, and there is a law banning many forms of it. This is not the way to raise our standard of morality which is now so low,” he said.
Social analyst Meas Nee said the proclamation of Rainsy’s return and Hun Sen’s song composition were just means to politically take advantage over each other.
He said Hun Sen is trying to make Rainsy scared to return, while Rainsy claims his return is just to cause concern to the government.