R 060243Z JUN 02
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8519
S E C R E T PHNOM PENH 001361
FOR INR/B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2012
TAGS: CB PINR
SUBJECT: BIO: ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FOR HOR
NAMHONG, CAMBODIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
REF: PHNOM PENH 01099
CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE ALEXANDER A. ARVIZU. REASON 1.5(B)
THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION PROVIDED REFTEL.
1. (S) INR/B BIO FROM 1998 REPORTS THAT HOR NAMHONG'S
COLLEAGUES RESENT HIM FOR APPOINTING HIS RELATIVES TO KEY
MINISTRY POSITIONS. IN 1992, INR/B DESCRIBED HIM AS AN
OPPORTUNIST WHO LACKED HIS OWN POWER BASES, BUT GAINED
POSITIONS BY SEEKING ALLIANCES AND DOING FAVORS FOR POWERFUL
SOC LEADERS.
2. (S) AN UNDATED, UNATTRIBUTED REPORT ON FILE AT THE EMBASSY
CLAIMS THAT: HOR NAMHONG CAME BACK TO CAMBODIA AFTER THE
KHMER ROUGE TOOK OVER, BUT WAS NOT KILLED BECAUSE HE WAS A
SCHOOLMATE OF IENG SARY. HE BECAME HEAD OF THE BENG TRABEK
CAMP AND HE AND HIS WIFE COLLABORATED IN THE KILLING OF MANY
PRISONERS. AMONG THE VICTIMS WERE THE QUEEN'S SISTER NANETTE
AND HER HUSBAND METEVI (A RELATIVE OF SIRIK MATAK). HOR
NAMHONG ALMOST KILLED CHEM SNGUON AND HIS FAMILY (INCLUDING
CHEM WIDHYA WHO WAS WITH HIS FATHER IN THE CAMP) BECAUSE
SOMEONE HEARD WIDHYA LISTENING TO A FRENCH RADIO BROADCAST.
THE VIETNAMESE INVADED JUST BEFORE THE CHEM FAMILY WAS TO BE
KILLED. HOR NAMHONG'S WIFE ASKED IENG SAR TO HELP THEIR
DAUGHTER WORK WITH THE KHMER ROUGE REGIME. SHE POINTED OUT
THAT SHE HELPED IENG SARY BRING BACK A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE
KILLED. THE DAUGHTER CAME BACK. LATER, HOR NAMHONG'S WIFE
SAW HER DAUGHTER'S PICTURE ON THE WALL AT TUOL SLENG AND
FAINTED.
ARVIZU