Who’s your daddy?

Pen Sovann (Photo: AP)

Pen Sovann: I am the father of 02 December and 07 January

27 July 2010
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Once again, Pen Sovann, the former prime minister of Cambodia at the beginning of the 80s and currently vice-president of the Human Rights Party, told his party members on Sunday that he was the one who led the army to liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge regime. According to The Phnom Penh Post, Pen Sovann told about 200 HRP party members at the party headquarters that: “I am telling you that I am the father of 02 December and 07 January. I was the true president of the CPP.” He added: “I formed the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK).” He said that when he formed the 1979 government, he nominated Heng Xamrin, the current president of the National Assembly, to the position of chairman of the council of the revolutionary people of Kampuchea, and Chea Xim, the current president of the Senate, to the position of minister of Interior. Pen Sovann was nominated as the PRK prime minister in 1981, but he was subsequently arrested [by Hun Xen] and jailed in Vietnam for 10 years because he opposed the Vietnamese leaders’ policy of sending Viet immigrants to settle in Cambodia, as well as other Viet plans.