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The New York Times
Cambodia PM Severs
Ties to Gay Daughter
By AP from
nytimes.com on the Web. October 30, 2007
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia --
Cambodian's prime minister said Tuesday he was severing ties with his adopted
daughter, who is a lesbian, but appealed to people not to discriminate against
gays.
''My adopted daughter now has a wife. I'm quite disappointed,'' Hun Sen
said.
He made the rare revelation about his closely guarded family life during a
public speech at a student graduation ceremony.
Hun Sen said he plans to file a civil court case to disown his adopted daughter
so that she cannot claim any inheritance from his family.
''We are concerned that she might one day cause us trouble ... and try to stake
her claim for a share of our assets,'' he said.
The prime minister and his wife Bun Rany have three sons and two other
daughters. He said they adopted their third daughter in the mid 80's when
she was 18 days old. She has carried his family name ''Hun'' just like his
biological children. Hun Sen did not reveal her given name.
Although he is cutting ties with her, Hun Sen said he was not discriminating
against gays and appealed to society to show respect for them.
Sam Vuthy, coordinator of Women's Agenda for Change, a nonprofit Cambodian group
advocating gay rights, declined to comment on Hun Sen's decision regarding his
daughter but applauded his appeal not to discriminate against gays.
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