Alleged Chats Between Thy Sovantha and Hun Manith Leaked
Cambodia Daily | 29 November 2016
What appear to be leaked conversations between social media maven—and
erstwhile opposition activist—Thy Sovantha and one of Prime Minister
Hun Sen’s sons show the pair discussing plans for a protest against
opposition leader Kem Sokha.
The anonymous leak—posted online
Sunday in a 22-minute YouTube video—is an ironic reversal of fortune for
anti-opposition groups, who have had a field day with audio clips
leaked in March of alleged phone conversations between deputy opposition
leader Kem Sokha and an alleged mistress.
The
newly leaked Facebook chats, evidently between Ms. Sovantha and the
prime minister’s second son, Hun Manith, a major general in the army and
director of the Defense Ministry’s military intelligence unit, go back
to October last year.
A CPP spokesman said the conversations were
real and blamed the leak on someone hacking a smartphone after Maj. Gen.
Manith sold it.
Ms. Sovantha had been a staunch CNRP booster with
a massive social media following, but became dogged by accusations of
being a spy for Mr. Hun Sen’s ruling CPP in 2014 and finally broke with
the opposition in March, once the alleged audio of Mr. Sokha and his
mistress hit the internet. She quickly switched sides and began
attacking the CNRP, focusing her ire on Mr. Sokha’s alleged marital
infidelity.
The YouTube video scrolls through exchanges Ms.
Sovantha, who is in her early 20s, apparently had with Maj. Gen. Manith,
39, in an easy rapport of English, Khmer and emojis that include texts,
photos and audio recordings.
In an exchange on March 27 about her
plans for a march to put pressure on Mr. Sokha to admit the
affair—which he has not done to this day—Ms. Sovantha asks for help from
Maj. Gen. Manith’s youth group.
“Bong Nith, on Tuesday afternoon
at 2 p.m. we will march to the U.N., the National Rescue Party [CNRP
headquarters], then to Kem Sokha’s house,” she wrote. “I ask for 50
youth to march and drive their motorbikes.”
“I can’t let them
join; don’t want it to leak,” Maj. Gen. Manith replied. “Don’t hide your
force, Tha. Bring all of Tha’s youth to work and show how willing they
are. My force is kept only for necessities.”
Two days later, on
March 29, Ms. Sovantha sent a photo of the marchers outside the National
Assembly and Mr. Manith, replied: “Haha…congratulations!”
The
same day, Ms. Sovantha asked: “Now thinking of another way to incite
them. Bong Nith, do you have any ideas?” The general replied with a
laughing emoji.
Ms. Sovantha could not be reached by telephone. Neither she nor Mr. Manith replied to requests for comment via Facebook.
CPP
spokesman Sok Eysan said on Monday that the man’s voice in the audio
portions did sound like Maj. Gen. Manith, and said the leak likely came
from an old phone.
“I think it’s his voice. His phone was sold a
long time ago, then someone downloaded it and leaked it,” he said of the
conversation with Ms. Sovantha. “It is just a normal conversation. Why
do we need to care about it?”
"and finally broke with the opposition in March, once the alleged audio of Mr. Sokha and his mistress hit the internet. She quickly switched sides and began attacking the CNRP, focusing her ire on Mr. Sokha’s alleged marital infidelity"
ReplyDeleteWhat a total lie, I must defend Miss Thy Sovantha here even though, I never like or trust her.
The real reason for Miss Thy Sovantha to switch side was Kem Sokha ignored her one simple and fair question:
"WAS IT YOU AND YOUR VOICE IN THE ALLEGED SCANDALOUS RECORD? I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE MY NAME WAS IN THE RECORD AND REFERRED TO IN A VERY SEXUAL AND NEGATIVE MANNER."
Khmers need to learn to be honest, and to detect dishonesty. May I suggest you folks to find some superior race to learn from, and better yet, worship them.
Your manner is what brought you all the despite and hate. Have you wondered why you are looked down a lot?!!
When I came to America, within a few months the Whites spot me out, "Oh my God, what do we have here!!!" Then later on, they said, "Oh my God, you should have been born a German."