The Editor,

I am writing to inform you of my considerable surprise at the article [Letter

to the editor] entitled "Western Corruption" which appeared in your edition

of Nov 15-28 1996 under my name and was of a somewhat convoluted nature. I am neither

interested nor involved in this type of judgmental opinion, nor am I its author.

A newspaper such as yours, with serious claims to publishing information worthy of

public readership, should at least take care to check the authenticity of such information

and above all the source of such information before publishing it.

The fact that your newspaper published an article, fraudulently under my name, when

I am not the author, leads me to insist and demand that you enlighten me as to the

origin of that letter and prove to me that this article was written by my hand with

my own signature. I also insist and demand that a denial be made public through your

newspaper. Failing this, I shall be obliged to lodge a formal complaint against your

newspaper for defamation of my character and for misleading public opinion. I will

hold you responsible for this with all the consequences that may result from your

actions.

- Lamhien Samreth, Provincial Program Manager, CARERE/UNDP Battambang.

(Unofficial translation from the French)

Editor replies: The Phnom Penh Post deeply regrets the inconvenience and/or embarrassment

caused to Mr Samreth for what we have now learned was a fraudelent letter submitted

under his name. We extend to Mr Samreth our sincerest apologies. The type-written

letter was received through the postal system and a copy of the signed letter has

been forwarded to UNDP for their examination. The Post is willing to cooperate with

the proper authorities to conduct a full investigation as to who was the culprit

in this case.

To the best of our knowledge, this was the first instance of a forged letter having

been received by the Post in the four years and four months of our existence. We

will use this tragic experience as a lesson to increase our vigilence concerning

the origin and accuracy of subsequent letters we receive for publication.