Hun Manet, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and the commander of the army’s infantry. post PIX
Hun Manet, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and the commander of the army’s infantry, has called on Sam Rainsy to bet on the validity of his education from the US’ West Point Military Academy.
Rainsy, the “acting president” of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, said Manet’s education at West Point was diplomatic in nature and just for show.
Lieutenant General Manet, the eldest son of Hun Sen, said he would resign from his posts in the military should Rainsy be proven correct in saying his qualifications from WestPoint would not be recognised by the US.
Rainsy, on the other hand, would have to disappear from political life for good should his claims be found to be unsubstantiated.
“The 2nd degree is designed just for foreigners. It is provided only to foreigners and the instruction is not as strict. The exam is just for show so they can receive a degree with the name West Point on it. But it is not recognised by the US itself.
“How could you become a military commander in the US? If you were called on to fulfil the same duties as the Westerners, they would not recognise you. They said: ‘Take [the degree] home to your country and show it off.’
“It is a 2nd degree and was given for diplomatic reasons as the US wanted to build good relations. They give this to the sons of foreign prime ministers and presidents to show off in their home countries,” Rainsy told supporters in the US on Saturday.
Manet later responded with the wager to “defend his honour”.
“Mr Sam Rainsy, do you dare to accept a bet with me to back up your claims? I would normally never wish to bet in public in such a way, but I have no choice but to respond to your baseless attack and defend my honour and dignity.
“If the West Point Military Academy provides two types of degree as Sam Rainsy has claimed, especially with regard to the 2nd type being a fake or diplomatic degree provided only to foreign students, with the training at West Point really having different standards for foreign and American students, I will resign all my positions in the armed forces to become a civilian forever,” Manet said.
However if Rainsy could not could prove his claims then “I would like Mr Sam Rainsy to resign from politics forever”.
With Rainsy claiming to be an educated veteran politician with a degree from France, he would not be afraid to accept the wager, Manet added.
“If Sam Rainsy does not accept the bet or cannot show evidence to back up what he has said, it will show that he is a politician without responsibility and is not fit to be a role model for the next generation. I dare to speak, I dare to do and I dare to be responsible for what I have said,” Manet said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said on his Facebook page: “Please listen to my son talking about the traitor who slanders. Now it is time for my son to hit out at this traitor because he attacked my son first.”
Rainsy could not be reached by The Post for comment on Monday.
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