Hun Sen Reacts to Vietnamese Media Report on Coronavirus

Hun Sen Reacts to Vietnamese Media Report on Coronavirus

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday reacted strongly to a Vietnamese state-run media report stating Vietnam will insist on the medical declaration for travelers from Cambodia over COVID-19.

The VNA on Friday posted its article on its website titled “Medical declarations implemented for travelers from EU and Cambodia”.

The report said Vietnam’s Health Ministry has requested provincial or municipal People’s Committees to get medical declarations on COVID-19 for visitors who traveled through the European Union or Cambodia as of midnight Saturday.

It said health officials will insist on medical declarations at border gates with Cambodia.

“Provinces and cities should arrange English and Khmer interpreters to work at the border gates to support and screen medical declaration forms,” it said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Road 55 in Pursat province yesterday, Mr. Hun Sen demanded the VNA take down false news on COVID-19 about Cambodia.

“On Saturday and Sunday, I asked our Foreign Affairs Minister [Prak Sokhonn] to send a letter to the Vietnamese [embassy]. It is not related to the Vietnamese government, but the VNA,” he said. “It published negative news about Cambodia.”

Mr. Hun Sen said the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh responded saying Vietnamese authorities recommended all nationalities who entered Vietnam be screened.

“Why did the VNA report Vietnam is restricting the people from Europe and Cambodia?” he asked. “It means Cambodians are restricted. It is unacceptable for us.”

“I ordered Prak Sokhonn to contact the Vietnamese side and found out they reported another new article, however, the previous one remains posted,” Mr. Hun Sen said.

“If VNA still refuses to take down the story, we will send another protest letter to Vietnam. Why was Cambodia targeted as a risk for Vietnam?” he said.

“If Cambodian people who are suspected of having the virus go to Vietnam, will they treat us?” he said. “It is not serious but the Vietnamese media still reported it this way.”

However, an updated article was later changed to “Compulsory e-health declaration for all passengers entering Vietnam.”

The article said Vu Duc Dam, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, ordered compulsory electronic health declarations for all passengers entering Vietnam.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong refused to comment.

Moeun Chhean Narith, director of Cambodia Institute for Media Studies, said yesterday news on COVID-19 should be accurately reported.

“News is like a double-edged weapon. If it is accurately reported, it will contribute to society. If it is incorrectly reported, it will cause a negative impact on our country,” Mr. Chhean Narith said.