Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Voter Beware: To do ... Not ? [-A response to Cham Prasidh's call]

Tue, 24 Jul 2007
Opinion by Kok Sap
Posted online


In my opinion, I like to see that Cambodia becoming a prosperous and dignified nation as equal as to others around the globe. But after my recent witnesses of the living conditions and treatments set forth by Phnom Penh current government, I can't let Mr. Cham Prasidh exploiting and misleading US conscience. Obviously, Mr. Cham Prasidh seems convinced and taken Khmer-US voter as his hostage of no intelligence. So I surely hope with this little note, the US Representatives will call Mr. Cham Prasidh to the carpet.

-----
July 24,2007
Honorable……………….
District
US House of Representatives

Dear Sir/Madam:

Per Radio Free Asia, I understand Mr. Cham Prasidh, Minister of Commerce from current Cambodia regime, seeks support and approval from US government to grant exemption in tariff and quotas in import and exports trade from his country.

As a voter of Khmer origin, I am concerned and wishing US shall never allow exemption in tariffs or tax in trade with Cambodia current regime unless all cited concerns and problems in the following are given corrective actions without delay.

1. Professor Yash Ghai, envoy to UN Human Rights Council, last and this year reports needed remedial measures and prompt correction from current government,

2. World Bank `s Good Governance and Transparency Initiative, Poverty Reduction and Anti Corruption Laws, Land Grabbing and Deforestation /Illegal Logging must be seriously addressed by Cambodia National Assembly and Government promptly,

3. No more game on Khmer Rouge Trial that it needed to be in proceed as soon with broader investigation and all suspects in order to render proper justice to people and victims,

4. Freedom in expression and press must be observed and uphold at all times,

5. Account all revenue from trade under US tariffs and tax exemption, if considered, and Cambodia Commerce Ministry must make available all accounts for US Congress scrutiny before annually renewal or further status consideration,

6. Protect and Enforce worker rights to fair labor and compensation, and

7. WTO, WB and US Commerce must have rights and access to monitor closely on trade and labor union rights and practice under Cambodia current regime.

For so long that Cambodia, my surviving family members, friends, and colleagues remain behind are in state of intractable anguish and pain under current government regime negligence and suppression, which I am appealing to your consideration and assistance to ensure that proper law abiding measures and compliance be placed upon Cambodia Commerce Ministry before such exemption is allowed.

I sincerely trust that you will understand my concerns and as well my fellows who are living in US with broken hearts and agony as we have continuously received disturbing words from our kin in regards to how bad Cambodia government treats poor and under privilege folks. Therefore, I ask you to help bring civility and humanity to millions of unfortunate folk by demanding Cambodia current government to promptly and properly heed actions in above mentioned concerns accordingly.

Sincerely,

Kok Sap
Khmer-US voter

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

May Kok Sap prosper with his bone rotted. He is not Cambodian. Stuck in hell, fella

Anonymous said...

what a brainless idiot! do you know what you are doing and talking, Kok Slap? I respect your opposition and anger against the current regime but you dont have to oppose them all the time just for the sake of opposing esp. in a situation like this. What does khmer people have to lose if we were to get US's exemption from import tariff and such? idiot khmer american!

Anonymous said...

There is nothing to loose for poor Cambodians. But there is nothing to gain for them either. The benefits from this will only go to the factories’ owners and the high ranking officials. So, why we have to do this for them? The Hun Sen regime will not die if it does not get the exemption.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like some people get mad because he/she will loose something if the exemption is not granted. But, poor Cambodian people will not loose. Of cause, they don’t have any thing to loose.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia has everything to lose, 300000+ factory workers are facing the prospect of losing their jobs and how about their families who depend on them?

It is just a simple fact, and if you still cant see what at stake here, you are gay.

Anonymous said...

It is true that Cambodia has a long way to go, but there has been progress in many areas. Corruption is a problem but it is just as bad or worse in many countries such as VN, China, and even Thailand. I favor elimination of tariffs to the US and EU for Cambodian produced goods for a period of time because the one thing that is necessary for improving the standard of living is jobs. The RGOC has passed the new Investment law which offers incentives for foreign companies to locate in Cambodia. The labor law has been in effect since the early 90's after the formation of the Royal Government, and as a result, Cambodia is one of the few SE Asian countries with a union movement that has made the lives of workers in the textile, and hotel industries much better. Poverty can only be combatted by providing jobs and those jobs can be provided by foreign investment such as what has occurred since 1985 in VN.

Anonymous said...

I do agree with Kok Sap for if the exemtion is granted it will make hun sen's cronies stronger and stronger and push our poor people weaker and weaker and will have no chance to survive.

Pls watch the Tmil Tep Vong in Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Tep+vong&search=Search

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of 02:32AM &09:37PM you guys have the brilliant idea no matter what the world try to help Cambodian,but instead they help Hun Sen richer and stronger ever to dictate Cambodian people.
If Cambodian's leaders are intelligence.
This time is good time to let Vietnam out of Cambodia back because under international watching organizations, but this leaders seem like they do not
take advantage of the circumstances in stead they want to be the Vietnam slave for ever because of their power and disgust ignorant ,

Sad may god Buddha find the way to bring the quality
leaders to my Cambodia please!!!

Khmer Young said...

Kok Sab's letter doesn't oppose the US for tariff exemption, but he suggest some effective conditions to improve lives of Cambodian people rather than to serve those few rich people.

Current Cambodia government is rich of cronyism, nepotism and kliptocraticism.

Thanks Kok Sab
KY

Anonymous said...

This is not the first time that United States allowed Cambodia to have special treatment when dealing with tariffs and so on and I don't see much improvement in term of human right for Cambodian people! I see only more abuses in term of human right, religious right, worker right, right to ownership, right to political affiliation....I mean here in Cambodia only a handful of high corrupted Cambodian Vietcong slave officials are calling all the shot!
As far as I am concerned, AH HUN SEN created all the fucken laws and he stepped on all the fucken and at the end it is dirt poor Cambodian people who are the one who are paying for everything including many of the billion and billion of dollars foreign debts! When I began to see a bigger picture, it seems that nothing can save Cambodia including AH HUN SEN himself!

Now imagine that you got kick off of your and destroy all your crops and force you to go live some where far away from the city with no basic services such hospital, school, running water, market… and every fucken time it down pour and all your children got sick with nothing to eat! How do you feel? In addition, Cambodian people still live on less than a dollar a day!

By the way Cambodian people have nothing to lose because they are the poor of the poor! Please no more special treatment for AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave officials including Cham Prasidh, Minister of Commerce!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with Kok Sap. Until there is more and more European, US, and Japan investment in Cambodia, we should then asking for an exemtion. You should know why.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Kok Sap.

Somlor Ma-Chou Yuon

Anonymous said...

Guys, we should understand real situation. We need these factories running = work for poor ladies = tax to government. Corruption is not from this, but other like LAND, OIL, etc.

Don't be always negative. Be central as what scientists do and clean your mind as neutral.

We need you guys for helping cambodia, not to drag back to 1975-79.

Anonymous said...

We want to see the real situation of Hun Sen's government to handle this when there is no examption. Every year it exagerated about the GDP growth, but still many poor Cambodians make less than a dollar a day. The poverty could be worse if there is no money sent from oversea countries to support their relatives.

Anonymous said...

Excellent job, Kok Sap!

I'm a big fan of yours. I always enjoy reading your articles. Keep it coming, Bro!!!!

2L

Anonymous said...

Hello, We can not live without foreign aid at the momment. Look at our country suffering! Look at other rich countries, still owe lot of money to worldbank, including USA. We can only build country our own if we have good INDUSTRY or Tourism(is our potential). Industry need lot of SKILLED people. Do you know where are they? USA or abroad somewhere probably. We need million of investment for at least 20 years more, then the technology may be transfered to Cambodian. We ALSO need good people to stay in Cambodia, not to run away! I hate Western Country who give skilled people to immigrant into their countries. This is such a ROBBER style. I see Cambodia is improving from year 2000. you can compare from year 1980-1999. This is what we need.

Anonymous said...

To 4:53PM!

Do you know why Cambodia is somewhat improving better than the 1980-1999" It is because the Vietcong troop are moving out of Cambodia! The less Cambodia depends on the Vietcong and the better off Cambodia will be in the future and that is the promise!

Anonymous said...

Please tell me when the Hanoi- Vietcong ever moved out of Cambodia 10:29 PM??? Who's ah Hun Sen???

Anonymous said...

To 7:51A!

Ok! Let me make it clear here, the Vietcong only moved those full time Vietcong militaries in uniform! Now do you ever see any Vietcong armies carry gun in Cambodia? Of course not! But the Vietcong left behind so many Viet populations to help AH HUN SEN win the election or spying on AH HUN SEN! I have no doubt that many of the Vietcong military personals are disguised as civilian! It is hard to prove whether these Viet is a soldier or not because they don't carry gun in plain view! AH HUN SEN has no interest in proving or disproving the Vietcong because he is a slave and will always be thankful to the Vietcong in Hanoi for bring him to power in Cambodia! For experimentation, find a village or town where there are a lot of Viet populations and I suggest the use of ground radar or metal detectors to scan the ground to find any weapon! The Vietcong had been known in the past to use coffin to hide their AK-47s even rocket launchers!

For the second questions, it is too easy and I am not going to waste my time because you know who AH HUN SEN is already!