Fact Check: Hun Sen Riding with Cambodian King Altered
Cambodian top officials have been criticized by the supporters from opposition parties especially those who are on the prime minister's side. Meanwhile, a photo showing Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, riding a motorbike with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni was posted recently on a social media platform. It was reshared and reacted with many mixed comments and it may be believed to be real by some Cambodian Facebook users. However, after running a Google Reverse Image search, it proves that the photo above was actually altered.
This is about our investigation of this claim.
Social Media Claim
On November 17, 2021, one of the Facebook users posted two photos into the Facebook group called “Kampuchea Krom Khmer Homeland” which shows Cambodian top officials King Norodom Sihamoni traveling by motorbike with Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen. The photo above may be believed by some Facebook users to be a real photo as there are a number of mixed-reactions and comments from the Facebook users. The following screenshot captured from the user’s post shows scenes of Prime Minister Hun Sen riding a motorcycle with King Norodom Sihamoni.
The photo above that shows the scene of Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni traveling through the motorcycle was also found and published on a website called Cambodia.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo Cambodia had started to check and verify this photo directly by running a Google Reverse Image search, which brought us to the sources containing the following photos.
A photo of the exact same form and shape was found on the official Facebook page of Prime Minister Hun Sen which was posted on December 21, 2019. In his article, he also confirmed that this photo was taken on June 17, 2016 at the point of Koh Kong Bridge. The following is an excerpt from the official Facebook page of Prime Minister Hun Sen in Khmer which translates in English as “This evening I will go to the Sea Festival in Kampot. This sea festival is from December 20 to 22, 2019. Compatriots and young people are invited to enjoy tonight's art show and shop at the many booths organized at the event venue as well as stay at the beach in Kampot. I wish all my compatriots happiness and a happy weekend”.
Similarly, a photo of the same format and shape was also found on the website called Post Khmer, published on June 21, 2016. This photo does not show the photo that Mr. Hun Sen accompanied King Norodom Sihamoni travelling by motorbike at all. The following is an excerpt from the Post Khmer website with the caption which translates in English as “The Prime Minister apologizes for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle”.
Post Khmer News Report | Archived Link
According to another website called Youth Cambodia, published on June 24, 2016 also shows the photo of Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, traveling by motorbike as well. The website states in Khmer which translates in English that “Samdech Techo Hun Sen's cabinet official confirmed that Samdech Techo may travel by riding a motorbike to the police station to pay a fine”.
Youth Cambodia Link | Archived Link
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You may find the details of this fact-check in Khmer language here as well.
Conclusion
Fact Crescendo Cambodia has found that the photos posted by the above users are altered. This photo was edited before being posted on social media. This photo was actually taken when Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, missed wearing a helmet when riding a motorbike with local people nearby Koh Kong bridge on June 17, 2016.
