Xamdaach PM Hun Xen is "too busy" to see Ms Rhona Smith: RFA

Prof. Rhona Smith, 

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia

And her predecessor...

NB: Leaked recorded phone conversation between Prof. Rhona Smith and Xamdaach PM Hun Xen:


Ms Smith: Hello, am I speaking to Xamdaach Kati Bandit etc. PM Hun Xen?

HX: Yes, indeed ... and just who are you to get me up this early in the morning?

Smith: Ah, my apologies to you, Xamdaach. It's just that I have a short time in your wonderful country and a great workload to go through ... not to mention the time zone and the humidity here ... Not quite what we are used to in Great Britain this time of year! Look, could we meet before the end of this week to discuss some of my main findings for my scheduled report on the situation of human rights in your country?

HX: Let me get back to you via my secretary. By the way, I hope your report's findings validate my fear and recommendation I conveyed during our last meeting?

Smith: Pardon me, what was that?

HX: Well, the recommendation was that you and your team should look into issues of racial discrimination....

Smith: Oh, yes, indeed, racial discrimination. That's been among my major findings during this fact- finding assignment...

HX: Excellent, Ms Smith. Then we can certainly meet soon.

Smith: See you then. Thank you for your time.

...

Meanwhile one of HX's secretaries barged into his untidy bedchamber-cum-office having attentively eavesdropped on the phone conversation.

...

Secretary: May I Xamdaach?

HX: Go ahead spell it out! Did you overhear the good news about Ms Smith's findings regarding racial discrimination and the Opposition. I can't believe an highly educated, articulate English woman can be so easily fooled!



Secretary: No, Xamdaach, I believe she was referring to her findings on discriminatory practices and violations of indigenous peoples' rights in Stung Treng and else where. And she's not really English. I think she's either Irish or Scottish. I'm hoping she's the latter and not the former...

HX: What?! Are you saying she's not been a fool?

Secretary: No, Xamdaach.

HX: Then who is? Tell me!!

Secretary: You are, Xamdaach ...

HX: But those advisors...they...err...

Secretary: Yes, they did advise you on that front, but it's your job as PM to decide what to be done, and as usual you decided to follow them. This makes you the follower and them the PM and leader. In other words, you are the foolish one here, and have been all along...

HX: That's enough! I don't deserve all this insult from you. Have I not given you money, rank and made you my close confidant? Where is the sense of gratitude and loyalty?

Secretary: Xamdaach, it is out of precisely these sentiments that I am compelled to tell you the truth. Does it not occur to you that the principal reason why Ms Smith is here at all is because there are serious shortcomings in the way in which your government and administration have been running the country?

HX: OK, I get your hints! Tell Ms Smith what you told Mr Subedi that I'm too sick to see her.

Secretary: No, Xamdaach, you can't resort to using that same excuse twice in a row with these UN envoys. I'll tell her you are too busy...

HX: Whatever ...

....

CNRP HQ: No comment [-fearing defamation lawsuits for issuing any public comment?]

ACU: Could not be reached for comment [- too busy harassing Kem Sokha and his alleged mistress?].