Opinion: To Be or To Be Not Where We are

January 19, 2008
Opinion by Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://NeoKhmer.com

Regarding: Cambodia Town Pressure Released on January 10,2008
By Honteux Peter Long
President - Cam-CC President and Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce
By Ong Oak-nha Richer San
Chair - Cambodian New Year Parade and President of Twin City Lon Bitch-Nam Vang moi

Hurray it’ s official, made in Nam Vang moi by the knuckle Heads from Long Beach. The highly steamed Heads individually issued Press Release on January 10, 2008 in a defense. The Heads seemed to be profusely defending own action at the expenses of the City Long Beach Cambodians. It appears the Heads were drawing parabolas for their namesake from the worldly non- ambitious Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and staunchest Dr. Martin Luther King Junior.

Funny as it seems, either Gandhi or King resembled in characters of the Cambodia Town Heads. For Gandhi’s be the change to change the world and King ‘s one has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws must obey just laws. Either one of the heads possesses no moral not to say legal to start with. Both Heads were confused to elevate self agendas at level of such worldly revered figures. Both deceptively bow to the agent of unjust laws then insult the local protesters as trouble makers for such rare event which will dignify Long Beach immensely.

Shamefully the Heads argued their action in the shadow of Mr. Gandhi and Dr. King revered integrity. Between Oak-nha Nam Vang moi- Lon Bitch city and Honteux Cam-CC/CACC Head’s proclamation, Political slogans and election campaigns are strictly prohibited. Honteuse Sithea San absurdly boasted anh hai Sok Anh is likened to all Long Beach Cambodians parent. They forget because of the invisible hands of anh hai Sok Anh pull anh mot Hun Sen head to be be in Hanoi boxer short in oppressing own kind. Other hand Dr. King echoed from his ideological principal, Mr. Gandhi, to famously argue there are just and unjust laws made by men in the 50’s. Although he adamantly advocated one must obey just laws and so the same for one must disobey unjust laws. Surprisingly the Heads misunderstood both Gandhi and King initial motif.

Indignantly the Cambodia Town heads boast in the Pressure Release, the democratically-elected and internationally recognized Cambodian government, we follow the official policy as defined by the U.S. Department of State. But all seem suffering from amnesiac episode of the coup in July 1997. Because of the bloody coup that was led by the de facto Hun Sen clique ,the kingly father of Killing Fields criminals, Sihanouk, has secretly decreed Hun Sen the head of de facto government to be forever leader for the bamboo kingdom in October 2004.

Because of such action, US Black Book had listed Hun Sen de facto government as illegal and publicly known human rights violator since. The question for the Heads of Cambodia Town, were they the voice of Long Beach majority and US laws? All know well that anh hai Sok Anh is an agent of the unjust laws. Yet the Heads behave in own pejorative to succumb to the despots entrapment. What happened to Long Beach Cambodians moral and legal stance? Can’t they do without Cambodia de facto government presence?

In the Heads argument, “we acknowledge the current Cambodian government is not perfect, we follow the example demonstrated by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, promoting constructive dialogue and advocating change through peaceful means. Not too fast either one of the press releasers is Gandhi or Dr. King.

Oak-nha (in tien viet means house of oak ) Richer San own recent statement in Press-Telegram , "Cambodians must put aside homeland politics." Listen closely who’s talking now, “Regardless of the Cambodian government’s political party affiliation, we will continue to invite official Cambodian delegations to participate in the parade. We promote freedom, democracy, and free trade activity in Cambodia by presenting the best of the American value system in action.”

Both Heads promote demagogue and reactionary posture in the name of Long Beach more than anything else. Hypocritically the duet sang,” We welcome all participants who believe in our objectives. My question is how many believe in what these heads words? Yet they cast out threats,” We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or political affiliation. We also prohibit discrimination based on any other factor prohibited by federal, state or local law.” Although a quick reminder, have any towner caught the multiple head snake yet? No doubt, for sure, Cambodians shall put politics in Richer San’s where the sun does not shine once for all.

From the website, I wonder aloud whether the Cam-CC and CACC is really in compliance with the IRS 501(c ) (3) codes, which usually prohibit political activity or political lobbying and misrepresenting in foreign government interest? I do hope the IRS needs not to peek in each Head portfolio and closet. Both Cambodia Town, Inc and Cam-CC seemed busy in twisting tongues against own cheeks. With all the pretty faces in silky outfits and American suits standing shoulders to shoulders with the dictator personal guru, I am not surprised to read this Pressure Release.

Nonetheless, one has to recognize a sparkle can ignite immense wild fire. In that, I do wish Long Beach stays close to its original integrity which needs no oppressive agent to celebrate its New Year event in 2008. For all harmony, face saving, the Heads may need to sit down and reflect since Long Beach is under US laws and for sure its citizens can indeed express their interests against foreign evil within the frame of democracy. Gathering from the heads reaction, one can wonder how, who, where, when, whom, and why both Oak-nha and Honteux have audacity to spit on Long Beach folks face again and again? Who got paid?

---------------
Delegate in rank (*)
Courtesy from www.khemaratimes.com and CACC blocked its site:

Cambodia Town, Inc.

Ambassador Sichan Siv
Honorary Chair, Refugee carves out niche in America
OFFICERS
*******Lord of the Ring Sithea San, Chairwoman
Phillip Thong, First Vice-Chair
Danny Vong, Second Vice-Chair
Pasin Chanou, Secretary
Tony Taing, Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS
Evan Braude, Attorney & Former Councilmember of Long Beach
Sandy Cajas, President and CEO Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Rosana Chanou, Computer Analyst of the Boeing Company
Meng Kim Chea, Owner California Nissan Services
Al Day, President Long Beach African-American and CEO President of ATA Global & Associates, Inc.
Sakphan Keam, Commissioner Long Beach Human Relations Commission
Krithny Horn, Former President Friendly Club
****Extraordinaire Honteux Peter Long, Chairman Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce and Cambodian-Coordination Council
Dr. Susan Needham, Associate Professor CSU- Dominguez Hills
** Edward Tan, Board member Central Area Project Committee

Advisory Council of Cambodia Town, Inc.
Sweety Chap, Marketing Director Khemara Times (Bi-lingual English-Cambodian newspaper)
Bikkhu Kong Chhean, Khemara Buddhist Karam (Also known as Willow Buddhist Temple)
Him Chhim, Chairman Cambodian Association of America (CAA)
Dan Durke, Financial Analyst at LBCSU
Mariko Kahn, Executive Director Pacific Asian Counseling Services
David Kreng, Retired Nuclear Power Engineer, Founding Member of Asian Engineering Society
Harrison Lee, President Cambodian Veteran Association
Hout Lor, Board Member Cambodian-Coordinating Council
Thommy Nou, Former Chair Cambodian-American Chamber of Commerce
Professor Leo P. Pandac, President of the Pilipino Federation
Charle Parks, Retire Long Beach Police Commander
***** Ong Oak –nha Richer San, Chairman Long Beach-Phnom Penh Sister City
Pastor Luth Sin, Long Beach Nazarene Church
Bunsorng Tay, President Cambodian Preservation of Culture and Art
Dr. Karen Quintiliani, Professor LBCSU

Historical Speech: Our Dream Has Come True on July 3rd, 2007!
Cambodia Town, USA
July 4, 2007
I would like to take this momentous occasion to acknowledge all members of the Cambodian-American community and friends in attendance on July 3, 2007 at the Long Beach City Council meeting and all those who were there in spirit. Without the hard work and contribution from each and every one of you, the official designation of the “Cambodia Town” would still be just a dream. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Let this success be a starting point for us to work even harder to build a better “Cambodia Town” for the community and the city of Long Beach. We can make “Cambodia Town” a “must visit” destination.
THANK YOU
******* Honteuse Sithea San, Chairwoman
sithea@yahoo.com
About us: Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC) is founded in 1999 as non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status. The major activity that Cam-CC currently takes on is the Cambodian New Year Celebration. Cam-CC hosted the first New Year Celebration in 2000 at El Dorado Park. Cam-CC continues to host Cambodian New Year each year. The first major success started in 2005 when the organization were support by hundred of volunteers to making the event safe and fun. In 2007, Cam-CC hosted two events for the first time after merging with Cambodian New Year Parade Association in 2006.
Goals : The primary objectives and purposes of Cam-CC are:

(a) To provide advocacy for the Cambodian-American community in order to promote the welfare and protect the interests of Cambodians at the City, County, State and Federal levels;

(b) To provide community leadership through consensus building activities, needs assessments, and effective programming;

(c) To preserve Cambodian culture and share it with others in the community in order to foster understanding and alleviate nuisance between different ethnic groups;

(d) To represent a unified voice for the Cambodian-American community by the gathering of leaders of the community into one collective body in order that all members of the community can contribute; and

(e) To support and organize community projects, such as Cambodian New Year’s Festival and other cultural events