Human Rights Party candidate Kem Sokha, right, greets Khmer Society of Fresno executive director Tia Lam, left, and Nelson Tav before speaking at a town hall meeting in Fresno on Tuesday. Kem is on a tour of North America to raise support for the new party.Cambodian politician in Fresno
Dissident hopes to gain support for his party among Cambodians in the U.S.
04/25/07
By John Ellis
The Fresno Bee
Kem Sokha tried politics once, winning election in 1993 to Cambodia's parliament in the southeast Asian nation's first democratic election.
By 2002, he was chafing under the iron rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and resigned.
Now, the prominent dissident and social activist is returning to politics, heading up the newly formed Human Rights Party, which will field candidates in Cambodia's 2008 election.
He came to Fresno on Tuesday as part of a 15-city North American tour to drum up support for his party among the Cambodian community in the U.S. He spoke to about 50 locals, and he hopes they will take his message to Fresno's Cambodian community, estimated at 8,000 to 10,000.
"I want to inform my Cambodian friends to join us, to support us," Kem said. He is looking for help from those "who want to reform the country."
Kem knows it will be a formidable task. Earlier this month, the Cambodian People's Party dominated local elections.
He said the communist CPP holds power by rigging elections, buying votes from the nation's poor, and by using threats and intimidation.
But Kem also has hope. He decided to return to politics after being encouraged by people who came to see him on a two-week, 145-mile walk from Phnom Penh, the nation's capital, to the Angkor Wat temple complex.
"He's the Obama of Cambodia," said Fresno resident Paul Lek, referring to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is seeking the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Like Obama, Lek said, Kem is well-known and popular in his homeland, but people don't know much about his message. His North America trip, Lek said, is to build trust among Cambodian expatriates and to inform them about his party's platform.
Kem said he is the Human Rights Party's leader, but the movement is larger than one person and is about building a true democracy in Cambodia.
Kem may not be as well-known as Myanmar's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, but like her, he has been jailed by authorities cracking down on dissent.
Since he resigned from the Cambodian Senate, he has worked on grass-roots democracy among his nation's poor as director of the U.S.-funded Cambodian Center of Human Rights.
On Dec. 31, 2005, he was arrested by police on defamation charges after a standoff at his office. He spent 17 days in a prison cell, emerging as one of his country's human-rights leaders.
If Kem's Human Rights Party can put together a coalition in Cambodia's parliamentary democracy, he would be prime minister. Kem, however, has said he hopes to win 30 seats in the nation's 123-seat parliament.
The reporter can be reached at jellis@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6320.
By 2002, he was chafing under the iron rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and resigned.
Now, the prominent dissident and social activist is returning to politics, heading up the newly formed Human Rights Party, which will field candidates in Cambodia's 2008 election.
He came to Fresno on Tuesday as part of a 15-city North American tour to drum up support for his party among the Cambodian community in the U.S. He spoke to about 50 locals, and he hopes they will take his message to Fresno's Cambodian community, estimated at 8,000 to 10,000.
"I want to inform my Cambodian friends to join us, to support us," Kem said. He is looking for help from those "who want to reform the country."
Kem knows it will be a formidable task. Earlier this month, the Cambodian People's Party dominated local elections.
He said the communist CPP holds power by rigging elections, buying votes from the nation's poor, and by using threats and intimidation.
But Kem also has hope. He decided to return to politics after being encouraged by people who came to see him on a two-week, 145-mile walk from Phnom Penh, the nation's capital, to the Angkor Wat temple complex.
"He's the Obama of Cambodia," said Fresno resident Paul Lek, referring to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is seeking the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Like Obama, Lek said, Kem is well-known and popular in his homeland, but people don't know much about his message. His North America trip, Lek said, is to build trust among Cambodian expatriates and to inform them about his party's platform.
Kem said he is the Human Rights Party's leader, but the movement is larger than one person and is about building a true democracy in Cambodia.
Kem may not be as well-known as Myanmar's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, but like her, he has been jailed by authorities cracking down on dissent.
Since he resigned from the Cambodian Senate, he has worked on grass-roots democracy among his nation's poor as director of the U.S.-funded Cambodian Center of Human Rights.
On Dec. 31, 2005, he was arrested by police on defamation charges after a standoff at his office. He spent 17 days in a prison cell, emerging as one of his country's human-rights leaders.
If Kem's Human Rights Party can put together a coalition in Cambodia's parliamentary democracy, he would be prime minister. Kem, however, has said he hopes to win 30 seats in the nation's 123-seat parliament.
The reporter can be reached at jellis@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6320.
34 comments:
Kem Sokha is Obama? He is just an opportunist, i think.
All politicans are opportunist. including Hun.
Opportunist do not put his life in the line of fire to fight for democracy and freedom of the people. Rainsy or Sokha is not an opportunist.
Kem Sokha would be Cambodia's Prime Minister one day? Not in a millionth! In our opinion, Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy will never be Prime Minister of Cambodia because they are much worse than Hun Sen in terms of openness, consideration for ideas, opinions and suggestions from people working for them and sense of responsibility towards their subordinates.
Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy should never be compared to either Aung San Suu Kyi or Barak Obama. Why? Because the role model for these TWO politicians is Pol Pot. Foreigners may not be so convinced, but Cambodian intellectuals everywhere, friends of these TWO men included, can bet their lives on this assertion of ours. JUST WAIT AND SEE!!!
Yes, people, you should wait and see and also do nothing to help Khmer like SR and KS.
If you know anything about US politic, Obama is like a "rock star" to his supporters. The rest of America really don't know much about where he stands on issues. That's why Obama is all over the US meeting people to deliver his plattform. KS is probably doing the same. And 2:36 i don't know which hun sen your describing, but he's not the one Cambodia perceived. He will always be known as a former khmer rouge Captain.
Yes the chance that Kem Sokha can become primister is as good as Hun Sen can be hanged by the people of Cambodia!
To 3:18AM,
Pol Pot regime which caused three million deaths from April 1975 to January 1979 should never be supported by even a single soul. Soon after we are fully aware of the fact that Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy would adopt the same policy as Pol Pot did 30 years ago if either one of these two men reached to the top, why on earth sould we support them? On the contrary, we should do our utmost to stop them from reaching to the top, otherwise Khmer people would relive the second Killing Fields.
FOR HEAVEN SAKE, PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT POTENTIAL DESPOTS AS CAMBODIA HAS SEEN SO MANY OF THEM ALREADY!!!
2:36 said "...they are much worse than Hun Sen in terms of openness, consideration for ideas, opinions and suggestions from people working for them and sense of responsibility towards their subordinates."
Hun Sen is a criminal. He can't be compaired with SR or KS. People will vote for them and one of these two parties will be the leading party in Cambodia one day.
I would like to support him only Mr.Kem Sokha is join with other Democratic Party to Kick Hun Sen ASS.Mass USA
To 3:46 AM
When you said
"Soon after we are fully aware of the fact that Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy would adopt the same policy as Pol Pot did 30 years ago if either one of these two men reached to the top, "
What is the fact? and what is the policy as Pol Pot. Please give me and all readers some proof to support your words. Thanks.
To 3:54 AM
If Sokha joins with Rainsy, Hun Sen will kick their ASS before anyone can do to Hun Sen.
If they stay away from each other is better for now.
To 3:27AM and 3:48AM,
Of course, Hun Sen is a communist, a crook, a criminal, a dictator and a killer. But at least, Hun Sen listens to his close associates whereas Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy listen to no-one.
These two men are the most stubborn human beings in our galaxy known as the Milky Way. Is this not a sign or personal trait of a dictator? If you said NO, we don't know what A DICTATOR really means.
To 3:46 AM
During Pol Pot, anyone who did not follow them or believe them is the enemy, Nol Nol, or CIA. Then during Vietnamese/Heng Samrin/Hun Sen, anyone who is not on their side is Pol Pot.
FOR HEAVEN SHAKE, you sound just like them.
To 4:12 AM
Have you ever worked or known RS and KS? or you just heard from a bunch of people.
They are not dictator like Hun Sen.
To 4:24AM,
Please be assured that except for their wives, we've known Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy more than anybody else. We are actually their former colleague.
Dear 4:37 and 4:24
I don't know about your exchange questions. But anyone who knows them is 99% know their wifes, especially Rainsy's wife. Rainsy goes anywhere with his wife. To me I think you two don't know them.
Listen folk, let's look at all this
from a win-win angle. If you
support Sokha, he will, in turn,
help you get you "Cambodian Town"
in Long Beach for you. He got the
right touch for it. How's that
sound?
Sound stupid...Sokha has nothing to do with Cambodian Town in Long Beach.
True, but that does not mean he
can't pull some strings to get you
your "Cambodian Town". Do you know
what I mean? We (CPP) can do it
with one hand tied behind our back;
however, since you hated us, you
are out of luck, buddy.
Well, it has not shown me any good sign of creation of Kem Sokha political party. Technically, Kem Sokha is bought by Hun Sen to create that party. You may know his background! He was released from Preysor Prison with Hun Sen’s conditions. He was Ta Son Sann political party member thereafter he betrayed his own party by taking some money from CPP to create chaos internal the party. You may remember H.E. Eing Moly, deputy director to Ta Son Sann party. Eing Moly and Kem Sokha are in the same gang. Hence, look at Eing Moly, where is he now? This is the fate of whomever who wishes to play political game with CPP. Finally you are abolished!
I do aware that all of Cambodian politicians, I can say like this, are bad and worst therefore we should better to choose the bad one not the worst one. On the other hand, it is unacceptable that one person lead one country long lasting of his life. Buddha is also changed in certain period of time. What about human being? Hun Sen is unable to compare with Buddha anyway so that he has to take off his position and let others new leaders to lead the Cambodia country. Since we have not changed yet, we are not known who is good or bad.
Finally let me emphasize my idea. I do not support Kem Sokha party because it is not working any longer by the way. He needs to use a lot of time to convince people. He may learn from Norodom Ranarith party already. The party gets zero communal chief furthermore Cambodian people knows Prince Ranarith more than Kem Sokha, I guess. I am not trying to discourage his plan but it is not working.
I support two main parties policy in Cambodia, CPP and SRP.
KS is not bought by CPP. Eing Moly was the one who was bought by CPP to distroy Son San party. KS has never betrayed Son San Party. You can ask Son Sobert about that issue.
I support KS and his party because it has better policy than CPP and SRP.
ahahhahahhahahahhahah!
These days all the fucken Vietcong are afraid of Mr. Sam Rainsy or even Kem Sokha! There is a good reason to why the Vietcong is so afraid because once Cambodia become fully democratic country and the Vietcong communist government can no longer deal with Cambodia and so the iron curtain (the new Berlin Wall) will go up between Cambodia and Vietname!!!ahahhahahhahah
Now just imagine for a moment! Of all the fucken hardship the Vietcong will have to face especially with limited natural resource which can't support the Vietcong population and the upraising among Vietcong population will follow and eventually the over throw of the Vietcong communist government!!
At this very momment, Cambodia is helping feeding the Vietcong population in the million,million, and million!!!!Cambodia can no longer help feed the Vietcong population any longer because too many Cambodian people are facing hardship!! Cambodia can no longer owe the world in billion of dollars just to feed the Vietcong population!!!!Cambodia must move away from this insanity if Cambodia want to become advance, prosperous, and peaceful country!!!!This is the fucken reality of Cambodia today!!!
This is the issue of GUN,BUTTER,AND BREAD!!!
Not GUN,GERM,AND STEEL!!!
To 3:46 AM you have evidence to support your claims of Pol Pot regime which caused three million deaths from April 1975 to January 1979? I guess not some Khmer are either moron or idiot just like one dick head going around KI.
For that motherfucker 10:06 AM you're not David Copperfield moron.
After Ta Son Sann party was abolished, Kem Sokha was not even trying to form Ta Son Sann party but instead seeking for power in FUNCINPEC party for a long period of time. Kem Sokha is power sucker as well as cheater. He is bought by Hun Sen.
Hey guys, whatever happenned to the
new LonNolian's party? How do you
rated them? Do you think they can
help the SRP with the large
Democratic Movement?
Oh, please don't compare idiot KEM SOKHA to senator OBAMA.
Senator OBAMA was a law professor from Howard University wHILE kS was only a high school graduated(bac 2).
Hi folks, mark my word, OBAMA is famous but he will not be elected to the White House,period. He can go as far as Democratic nominee for the White House bid.
After Ta Son Sann party was abolished, Kem Sokha tried to rebuild the party but the majority of the party voted to join FUNCINPEC for some reason. Ask Son Sobert about that.
Its nice to read some of ignorant. That's why Cambodia is 2 steps back and the yourns are two step forward. An oh btw, ks has an law degree and MS in Chemistry. And you can't compare cambodian political system to US political system. The comparion of KS and OBAMA may be that the people don't know these men.
Stupid Cambodian.
Kem Sokha is not bought by Hun Sen. The one who tries to put down Kem Sokha or Rainsy again and again is the one bought by Hun Sen to scream in this IK comment.
Whatever, but the truth is, after
2008 Cambodia will moved forward
much faster with the CPP alone.
I can't wait! Mua hahahaha
ahahahhahahahhahahahah!
AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave field the same old candidates and why would any Cambodian people continue to vote for any bastards which have failed them for more than 30 years!!!!!Unless the fucken NEC manipulating the fucken voting process!!!!!
Yeh...Here goes another victory for AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave who claimed that only he can bring stability and prosperity to Cambodia while continue to kill Cambodian people at the same time!!!!!
I have yet to see any government that continue to kill their own people while maintain stability at the same time!!!!!!
AH HUN SEN is a modern con artist!!
After 2008 CPP will moved slower than a snail. You will see mother fucker.
Post a Comment