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.