The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), Hun Manet, considers the response of Sam Rainsy, the “acting president” of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was posted on his Facebook page as a loss to the “bet” the former had issued.

Rainsy had earlier alleged that Manet’s bachelor’s degree with the name West Point Military Academy on it was fake.

In his post on Tuesday, Manet said Rainsy responded that he didn’t need a bet, which meant that Rainsy didn’t dare to bet and defend his claims.

Rainsy also tried to divert the topic of his statement – Manet’s bachelor’s degree from West Point – to other matters. Manet said this is a clear indication of Rainsy retreading his steps.

“The phrase ‘no need to bet’ means that he is not daring enough to take up the bet. I request him to stop commenting further on this matter as I have many other affairs to take care of.

“I have no time to entertain his comments when he is not being brave to defend his statements. Let the public be the judge.

“Yesterday [September 30] I asked Rainsy if he is brave enough to bet with me to defend words he said in public which is related to my bachelor’s degree from West Point. I thank him for providing the answer through the level of courage he has shown in defending his words,” said Manet.

While Rainsy failed to accept Manet’s dare on the bet, he has continued to disparage the latter’s bachelor’s degree and family, as well as the education system in Cambodia. Rainsy even used the term “second degree” to refer to Manet’s bachelor’s degree.

“In the case of Hun Manet, I want to speak of the second degree reflecting the receiving of knowledge and skills – a level lower than standards of simple studies in the US,” Rainsy claimed.

He claimed that the US and EU have such second degrees designed just for foreigners. The degree could bring about political relations that were useful for the country or the bloc.

True knowledge and skills, Rainsy said, were proven through practical work and through showing responsibility without taking an oath or a bet just like a child.

Centre for Policy Studies director Chan Sophal said the bet between Rainsy and Manet was unlikely to happen. “The one who has wrongly accused the other didn’t dare to bet. He would still be the same politician, while the other would still be an army chief.

“That the accuser does not dare to bet . . . it goes without saying that he speaks nonsense and without any basis. Fanatics who follow him will still follow him. Those who hate him will hate him much more, while moderate people will stay away from him. This is only my view,” he said.

The Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute director Kin Phea said Rainsy is the man who had always liked to attack, incite and defame others without clear reasons or basis.

“Rainsy is a man with mental problems because he has always accused everybody without reason. He does not dare to bet because he speaks on a whim and without reasons. He has no argumentation to defend himself. His language always incites and defames others which mislead the public,” he said.

On Monday, Manet said when placing the bet that he would resign from all positions in the government if Rainsy can proof his degree with the name West Point on it from the US was fake or just a diplomatic degree.

Manet said if Rainsy could not show any evidence, then he has to disappear from the political scene forever. Rainsy dared not take the bet.

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