Dear Editor,

I am writing this email to you because of the accusation made by your media to Mr Sam Rainsy of racism for calling Vietnam as yuon. I would like to declare to you that I am not a supporter of the Sam Rainsy Party or a supporter of any group at all. My background is that I have a father of chinese origin and a mother who was half Cambodian and half Vietnamese. So I am a supporter of diversity and multicultural society.

Indeed, the word yuon is a Cambodian word to refer to Vietnamese (English), Vietnamien (french), Voatnam (Chinese Chao Zhou), Yieknam (in Vietnamese language) or Yia Nam (Chinese mandarin). Therefore in each language, each nationality has their word to call something differently. Your media accusation to Mr Sam Rainsy is indeed very provocative and inciting of hate rather than helping to promote cultural diversity.

I call on you to make a public apology for making a wrong judgment and inciting hatred among Vietnamese citizens and Cambodian opposition party members.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Meng Ly

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