It will go down in the annals of Khmer history as the The Chilli Bomb Attack,

but the details on how heavy the barrage was at the Feb 16 assault on the Sin Lan

Ho garment factory have already become murky with time.

First hand sources who witnessed the spicey affair differ on how many bags of the

sauce were lobbed at the factory. Estimates range from 30 to 100 to 200.

On one issue all observers agree: a huge percentage of the liquid projectiles backfired,

with the rubber bands falling off shortly after launch, showering the attendant demonstrators

and journalists with goblets of the pungent juice.

The question still unanswered by pundits is: whose brainchild was the Chilli Bomb

Attack? Rumors abound as to a well-orchestrated conspiracy by certain politicians.

** One political observer notes that using the "C" word in reference

to the July events has now become politically correct. What happened last year can

now be referred to as a "Cabinet reshuffle".

** PPPost reader Giorgio Fabretti, the man heading the campaign to "Save

the Life of Pol Pot", wrote recently from Rome with the question: "Can

you help me to have a tel or fax or email where to send my application to visit Anlong

Veng?" Good question! Anyone who has Pol Pot's email address can contact Giorgio,

oddly enough, at: <[email protected]>

** A world's first is coming soon. Tentatively scheduled for March 8, the

Bayon Wanderers are headed for Pailin to partake in a football match with some of

Ieng Sary's boys. Just a bit of jock diplomacy.

** There's a huge debate raging over the hot dogs at Caltex's gas station

fast food outlets. One weiner addict says that quality of the frankfurters has gone

to the dogs, and that when you bite into one the inside is flourescent. Proper authorities

have been alerted who promised the issue would be looked into lickitty-split.

** One patron of Sharkeys is impressed by the owner's response to food complaints.

After a plate of spaghetti, one customer told the boss he had a Vesuvian like response.

The boss said "I know the problem. Go tell the cook and I will give you $10."

** Eco-activists want to know why the First Prime Minister went to Bokor National

Park touting the need for conservation, ecologically-sound practices, etc, but then

left a big pile of trash behind after the VIP picnic at the old Palace Hotel?

** Anyone who has fretted that there is not enough humor around town can now

relax. Benny is back. Thank God. We're due for a good joke.