Rocket Attack in Siem Riep

Rocket attack terrifies Hun Sen.
5 October 1998
BBC Monitoring Service: Asia-Pacific

Source: `Sapordarmean Neak Prayut', Phnom Penh, in Cambodian 28 Sep 98 p1

Excerpt from report by the Cambodian newspaper `Sapordarmean Neak Prayut' on 28th September

Following the meeting of the new members of parliament in the historic city of Angkor last week that coincided with the remote control detonation of a B-40 rocket which was originally aimed at opposition leaders but which zoomed pass Hun Sen's motorcade instead, Hun Sen tried to put on a brave face and hide his deceitful nature.

A high-ranking official of the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] who asked to remain anonymous told this newspaper that Hun Sen was not a brave person. After the explosive barely missed his car, Hun Sen was scared nearly to death and, fearing the magical power of Angkor, he refused to drink the oath water at the ceremony in front of Angkor Wat. Hun Sen even suspected that certain fellow CPP members were behind the rocket attack.

According to the same source, the troops that were summoned to protect Hun Sen numbered more than 6,000, both in uniforms and in civilian clothes operating under the auspices of the Royal Government...