13 August 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

"If you act as a pig, you shouldn't be scared of hot water" - Khmer saying

On Wednesday, Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), called on Hun Xen, the government leader, to resign because the latter is afraid of criticisms. Rong Chhun indicated that, as a public figure, Hun Xen must accept constructive criticisms from the public. Rong Chhun told a pro-SRP newspaper that: “As a public official or a member of the government, one must accept criticisms from civil society, unions and the people, as well as from local and international reporters. And one must be open-minded, if one is afraid of criticisms from civil society, from newspapers, from international opinion, one should resign, one should resign from being a public figure because for a country that is firmly democratic, public figures must accept criticisms from civil society, from the population as well as from the national and international opinion. One should not crack down on freedom rights and on the freedom to participate in the national edification.”