Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a second public caution in a week to Facebook users who “insult” him after several altered photographs of his family visit to Sihanoukville appeared on social media.
The doctored photographs showed Hun Sen with an amputated arm standing with his wife, Bun Rany, who was also depicted striking a pose that is considered offensive in Cambodian culture.
“My wife and I, with a crowd of children and our grandchildren, took a holiday at the beach during the international New Year and took the opportunity to meet Cambodian people to find out about their living conditions, and we took some photos as a souvenir,” Hun Sen wrote on Facebook yesterday.
“It is deceitful and cheap behaviour for opposition activists who think that nobody is watching their acts, which cause damage to my honour and my family . . . They must be responsible before the law,” he added.
On Monday, Hun Sen warned Facebook users who insult him that they could be tracked down by police in a matter of hours. Earlier this month, the premier complained of people using his official Facebook page to poke fun at disability by calling him a “blind eye guy”.
Sok Eysan, ruling Cambodian People’s Party spokesman, said that no legal action against social media users identified by Hun Sen as “extremists” had yet been taken.
“I don’t have any information about actual legal measures taken by the premier’s lawyer or authorities yet,” he said.
Yim Sovann, opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party spokesman, said the opposition “does not support personal attacks and we do not support this attack”.
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