Someone Is Lying

[Alternatives Watch]

Alternatives Watch – 20ix09


SOMEONE IS LYING


In the current episode of Cambodia politics, there are four potential
liars: SRP parliamentarian Mu Sochua, Cambodian foreign affairs
secretary of state Ouch Borith, US ambassador to Cambodia Carol
Rodley, and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. They all have
reasons to lie.

Mu Sochua may lie as she could not afford to disappoint her supporters
who have been hyped up by her rhetoric. Following her meeting with
Clinton, Mu Sochua claims the US will, at the end of September, inform
the Cambodian government that there will be conditions attached to US
aid. Mu Sochua maintains that a high level US delegation led by
Melanne Vereer – president Obama’s ambassador at-large for global
women's issues – will visit Cambodia to assess human rights
conditions. With such details, Mu Sochua is either telling the truth
or a good liar.

But the claims prompt Cambodia’s Ouch Borith to brand Mu Sochua a
liar. He asserts ambassador Rodley, whom he summoned to the ministry
of foreign affairs to clarify what had transpired in the meeting
between Hillary Clinton and Mu Sochua in Washington DC, has assured
him the US secretary did not respond to any of Mu’s requests. Mu will
thus be a liar if Ouch Borith accurately reports the outcome of his
meeting with Rodley. He lies, however, if Rodley in fact confirms the
parliamentarian’s claims.

There is a good reason for Ouch Borith to lie. Though the Cambodian
government may not need the US aid, it could do with a public
relations coup. A Mu Sochua run-away success will put a huge dent into
the ego of prime minister Hun Sen, who has been mounting pressures on
the parliamentarian to back down from their court tussle.

Or, ambassador Rodley could lie to Ouch Borith by not confirming the
Mu Sochua claims. The US Administration has moved decisively in recent
times to improve its relation with the Cambodia government with more
aid and high level visits. US defence secretary and Cambodian defence
minister are about to hold face-to-face meetings in Washington DC with
undisclosed agenda. US energy giant Chevron has submitted an
application to Cambodian authority for exploration rights in Cambodian
maritime areas. Confirming Mu’s claims could jeopardise the efforts.
Embassy spokesman John Johnson has declined to comment on the claims.

For the same reasons, secretary Clinton could just play lip service
and lie to protect the US interest that must dwarf any personal
regards she may have for Mu Sochua. She has not so far cared to
clarify the matter, keeping all concerned up in the air.

It may be difficult to prove now who is lying as all have conformed to
a requirement for a good lie: the meetings are one-to-one behind
closed doors, and mum’s the word. But sooner or later, it will become
clear who has lied. A major test comes if the US high level delegation
actually visits Cambodia as claimed. Or, they may just send a lower
level delegation, which is a compromise that makes everyone a liar.

Ung Bun Ang


Quotable Quote:

“Nixon is a shifty-eyed goddam liar...He's one of the few in the
history of this country to run for high office talking out of both
sides of his mouth at the same time and lying out of both sides.”

Harry S. Truman (1884–1972), U.S. president.
Referring to Richard Nixon.


A Lie or An Irony:

Duch, at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal hearing on 27 August 2009:

“… Another influence [on me] was from within the country. I used to
have close and distant grandparents who were poor telling me, ‘you are
a clever student, when you grow up you will definitely oppress me’. I
was determined then that [I] would not let their foresight turn
right.”

Duch did more than just oppressing them.