To the editor,
I was stuck in Bangkok during the week of confusion when
Royal Air Cambodge was grounded. Thanks to Buddha, in two days I was able to
come back alive. I worried that I had to go to Bangkok again on Feb 16, but on
Feb 14 a friend told me that Royal Air Cambodge had started flying
again.
I walked to board the airplane. Like everybody else I saw a Boeing
737 aircraft with a beautiful Royal Air Cambodge logo on the outside. When we
were inside the aircraft I thought I was boarding the wrong plane, so I showed
my ticket and asked the stewardess "Am I boarding the right plane, is this Royal
Air Cambodge?" She said "Yes, this is Royal Air Cambodge (but a) Malaysian
aircraft (with) Malaysian crew. We have one Cambodian girl in the back." I was
stunned for a moment, then I sat down wondering still in my mind as to what
happened to us. In a few minutes I found myself listening to a Malay song in the
aircraft. It hurt my pride being a Cambodian, (so) I asked "With all due respect
to you and your culture, I do not mean to offend you, can I request a Cambodian
song in our proud new Royal Air Cambodge. I do not speak Malay." The polite
Malaysian crew responded with a smile "Sorry sir, we don't have a Cambodian
cassette as yet. We have requested it. I know how you feel sir, we
apologize."
I came back on Feb 18, the same aircraft, but this time I had
prepared my nerve so it was not a shock. The only Cambodian stewardess (who)
knew me (from) before gave me a breathtaking smile, and still I joke to her "May
I have a Cambodian paper and a Cambodian song please?" She quickly realized and
gave a second smile (and said) "Sorry Uncle, we don't have a Cambodian paper and
song... I do not like that either. (But) what can I do, I'm just an employee, we
do hope to improve though."
On Feb 20 I went to the Foreign
Correspondents Club to meet a friend. It was my first time there, and the first
thing I noticed with surprise (was hearing) a sentimental, heart-touching
Cambodian song in an environment where I had expected to hear American rock and
roll. What can I say? These days we live in a world of confusion. I heard that
rich men make their own environment... like building a wall so that the poor
cannot take a peep at them. The FCC plays Cambodian songs. I like that.
- Koy Ka Pit.
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