Sunday, February 17, 2008

By the People, For the People

Op-Ed by Justin C. Sok
February 2008


Last year, I had the opportunity to join with thousands of spectators to witness the Cambodian New Year parade. The parade was on the Anaheim street corridor, Long Beach, California. It stretched between Junipero Avenue and Orange Avenue.

Under the cloudy and gloomy sky, the weather at the moment was somewhat chilly with light winds. The sky was masked in thin dark clouds that appeared to linger, which was an ominous sign of impending rain. As the clock was ticking closer to the commencement of the parade, the Buddhist monks were chanting loudly with Pali and Sanskrit languages (Sot-thor) became more persistent. The Buddhist monks chanted, prayed, and began using a brush-like item, made from tree branches and leaves to splash the holy water at the committee members, staff, and volunteers and blessed them with good luck and prayed the parade to be a success. The Buddhist monks chanted to commemorate and prayed farewell to the old Thevada for having brought the people in the city through out the year in good spirits and prosperity. In addition, the Buddhist monks were also chanting to welcoming the new Thevada for the New Year hoping that the Thevada for this New Year would bring people good luck, prosperity, harmony, and unity.

Fortunately, a change in the wind had pushed off the haze and the sky became clear, which allowed the radiance of sun to shine through to instill people with warmth and hope. All of the sudden, we could hear people effervesced into cheers, which signaled that the parade would soon to begin.

Like drawing hummingbirds to flowers, the parade had brought thousands of diverse ethnic groups of people from within the city and as well as from other communities. The parade was lined with thousands of spectators cheering from both sides of the street. The people were pleasant and greeted one another. Some were sitting down, some were standing, and some people were slithering through the crowd in search of friends and families. Some small children were on their fathers’ shoulders for bird’s eyes view, and some other small children were sound asleep in their strollers, awaken once in a while to the loud cheers of the crowd. Some teenage children were trying to work their way through the crowd to the front for a better view of the floats. The peddlers were pacing back and forth on the street, yelling out selling their candies and toys, and promotional products such as New Year t-shirts, umbrellas, mats, paintings, and flags (American and Cambodian).

At the parade announcement booth, sound systems were blaring out Khmer music – Rom Vong, Saravann, Lam Leov, Rom Kbach, and some other Khmer New Year songs, etc. The parade was spectacular and the people were enthusiastically cheering as each float slowly passed by. I held the American flag in one hand and the Cambodian flag on the other. The flags were fluttering in the light wind, which symbolized the hope and dream for Khmer solidarity. Some people were waving their flags at the floats and screaming out, “Happy New Year!” and some people were dancing along with the music.

There were many community organizations from diverse ethnic groups that participated in the parade. The parade had over seventy floats. The Cambodian floats were decked out superbly with Khmer fabrics – Silk, Hol, and Pa-moung, and variety of colorful flowers. Each float had it own distinctive Khmer style. I enjoyed them all, especially, a group of Khmer men dressed up in the Khmer Angkorian era, Khmer women dressed up in traditional Khmer Sarong attire (Chong Pong), wearing leis, and carrying clay pots on their waists. A group of Khmer men dressed up in shorts were playing kick flying birdie game (Tort Sey). A group of Khmer elders dressed up in traditional farm attire and carried a bamboo sticks on their shoulders balancing bamboo buckets of palm juice on both ends.

As I watched the floats slowly passed by, my mind was also slowly reeling back into the past. I ruminated and reminisced about Cambodia and had flashbacks. It was not long ago that our Khmer people were living in a dark abyss. Although I was a young child, but I still have a vivid memories about the atrocities committed during the four years and eight months under the claws of the Black-clad Orders, Inc. It was not a dream or like in an animated movie. It was real. For centuries, Khmer people had suffered enormously. Our hopes, dreams and spirits were once shattered by carpet bombings, the Viet Cong, the invasion by the South Vietnamese, the Black-clad Orders, the invasion by the Hanoi government, the torture of our people in Thailand, and the civil war up to the late eighties. It happened so sudden that before I realized, I found tears filling my eyes and flowing down on my cheeks. I soon realized I was also one in among the survivors of the deadly storm, “The Killing Fields”. The parade had captured the attention of the world. It was a moment that we had spruced up of our Khmer culture image and to strut off of our Khmer pride.

I would like to take this window of opportunity to thank community organizations such as the Long Beach-Phnom Penh Sister Cities, the Cam-CC, the Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce, the committee members and their staff, the Cambodian student organizations, volunteers, the Hispanic community, the African American community, the Hmong community, the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Fire Department, the Long Beach City council members, and the Honorable Mr. Bob Foster, Mayor of the City of Long Beach, for their continued support, dedication, and commitment for the annual Cambodian Cultural Parade. Most importantly, I would like to thank our Cambodian and Cambodian American people who are residing in Long Beach, and as well as the Cambodian people around the world, for their wholehearted cooperation and deep debt of gratitude to them for all their support, patience, and whose enthusiasm that provided the foundation for our voices.

The time is winding down and the Cambodian New Year is once again, fast approaching, and the spirit of our Cambodian New Year Celebration is here. I, and as well as, our Cambodian people that are living here and abroad, are anxiously anticipating for our big Celebration. Yes, the Cambodian New Year Celebration of April 13, 14, and 15! We are filled with excitement and anticipation.

I am optimistic that the annual Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade this year will sure to proceed as planned. But it would not happen without to wade through a horn of dilemma. After an officially approved and registered Cambodia Town in July of 2007, there was an avalanche of speculation and tidings that there were some committee members, with their own hidden agenda, that had gone overboard to invite His Excellency Mr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, as the Representative of the Royal Government of Cambodia, is scheduled to participate in the Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade and the ribbon cutting (inauguration) of Cambodia Town in April 2008. There have been rumors circulating in the Cambodian community that some committee members had exercised poor judgment when they invited His Excellency Mr. Sok An to participate in the Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade. The small lapse of their judgment has, indeed, amplified a tidal wave of disapproval from the Cambodian American community and as well as the Cambodian people around the world.

To my knowledge, it is a fair generalization to state that the annual Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade and Cambodia Town was established by the voices of the Cambodian and Cambodian American people that are residing in Long Beach. And we have the strong support of the Hispanic and African American communities, the local businesses, and other community organizations. The Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade and Cambodia Town was not established by a few Cambodian Community Congress delegates who claimed to represent Cambodian people living overseas. In the spirit of cooperation and fairness, this issue is being presented here for our concerned public and it is indeed, a thorny issue, which the public should be aware of. It is also fair to say that the Cambodian public, in general, would neither oppose any of the objectives of the annual Cambodian New Year Cultural Parade nor would we object to the proposal of inviting of any dignitary to participate in the inauguration of Cambodia Town. We, the Cambodian and Cambodian American people would want to embrace cultural diversity and would want to contribute to any possible action to help make the quality of life here in the city of Long Beach better (safe and secure, attract tourism, encourage cultural diversity, and economic and social development). More importantly, the Cambodian and Cambodian American people would want to make informed decisions about our heritage, cultural values, and ethnic pride.

However, it is outrageous and despicable to learn that the CCC delegates had made a decision to invite His Excellency Mr. Sok An to participate in the inauguration of Cambodia Town without an attempt to issue any public statement and/or hold any formal community forum or Town Hall meeting to open this issue for discussion and to receive input from the community. It is crystal clear that the delegates had undermined the people’s power and had completely disregarded the importance of the public opinion of the Cambodian community.

In late January 2008, a group of Koun Khmer intellectuals led by Ms. Navy Phim had attempted to create a dialogue with the board and/or committee members. Ms. Phim and her associates were invited to a meeting and they were not well received, however. The meeting was brief and the discussion was like “passing around the hot potato.” No one knew or could explain and/or elaborate about as to who had initiated the idea on the issue of the invitation. Instead, some committee members were steadfastly denied and provided a sketchy explanation. The verbal-knife throwing arguments started when Ms. Phim pressed the issue of the invitation, human rights violations, and corruptions of the Cambodian government. The next thing Ms. Phim and her associates realized was, they had gone frog-sticking without a light. The committee members refused to discuss the matter further and invited Ms. Phim and her associates to leave. When Ms. Phim and her associates did not leave, they left, turned off the lights, and closed the door. How selfish, unprofessional, and uncivilized they were!

It is may be to the few that shared the same umbilical cords and have political affiliations to the Phnom Penh government but this is America. As the citizens of this country, Ms. Phim and her associates, the Cambodian public, and I, have our constitutional rights to participate and to have our voices heard. The parade will go on but the floats will set sail in high winds and uncharted waters. The Cambodian public is rightfully demanding a public hearing on the issue of the invitation and is planning to hold a peaceful demonstration if requested is ignored.

For additional info: http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/02/pursuing-dialogue.html

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

To all my be love country men and women please dont show up at parade. this is to show that we united again communist.

Anonymous said...

Justin C Sok an Sok An, I heard they both are related. So why raising red flag? Let Sok An in town so he can taste Cambodian American attitude here.

Anonymous said...

Boy this is cool. Let them parade and let Sok An come to see how we live so he don't screw up poor peopel all the time.
Freedom to all.
Don't blame Justin, he is afraid of getting killed by Yeik Cong in Long Beach. Ah Cong don't like our people to unite.

Anonymous said...

it's ok to protest by people who are unhappy or unsatisfied with the way gov't in cambodia operate.

Anonymous said...

yes people should have freedom to parade, and people should have freedom to unite. If I live in the US I won't join the parade because in srok khmer my people want to unite with khmer oversea. hope ah cong KK don't cose us trouble again.

Anonymous said...

hey. there're good real kk, k?
not all kk are trouble makers, but the fake kk, yep. all da youn wanna be kk to cause troubles. sad for us real kk.

Anonymous said...

What's your point, Mate (3:59)? There are good and bad people everywhere.

Anonymous said...

SOK and Sok made it TWO SOK, when Sok united KK has to run like hell. Also, RS will be just on conner awaiting for a blessing from Thevada and the monks chanting. And do not forget JD, the one who sold UCC's apartment, he is going to join the parade too.

Anonymous said...

What does it mean: Of people, by people, for people?

It's like you cut the tail of the hungry dog and give it to the same hungry dog to teat: OF THE DOG, BY THE DOG AND FOR THE DOG!

That what the CPP officials and especially the Corrupt SOK An are doing now.

Anonymous said...

what are you taking mate 8;03am? justin sok is not sok an. justin sok does not like sok an to come.

i as a person don't believe what these people wrote until I see both sides. usually one side always badmouth about its rivals.

we want to read another side if possible.

everyone wants a piece of pie, yep no afraid to talk band about any body. lets' hear both.

i side with no body, but listen to one side is dumb for any body.

Anonymous said...

This article made some interesting points, but to clarify, when we were at the parade planning meeting, they did not turn off the light and kick us out. The meeting was adjourned while we were still talking.

Thanks for the compliments about us being Koun Khmer intellectuals, but you are giving us too much credit. We are merely concerned members of the community.

Anonymous said...

". . . The meeting was adjourned while we were still talking. . ."

What would you expect the general public think about their behaviors toward you, Ms. Phim? Justin may be somewhat a little exaggerated but what the difference does it make? The point is they don't give a dumb ass about your concerned and anyone else concerned. They just want to do things whatever and whenever they feel like it like they are doing in Srok Khmer for years now.

By the way, if you get compliment/credit for your good deeds/work, you better take it and thank for it because Khmer people don't really give a dumb ass about compliment. The mentality of the older generation is that, eventhough you young and educated, they are still think that "they saw the sun light before you did".

Thank for sharing your concerned, Justin.

Anonymous said...

Ah Pler @ 8:05 is sound familiar like the two crooks (husband & wife) living in LB. They both are pretending to be nice people. But actually they are con artists, especially, Ah Pler JC Ning. His parents wished he would never have born. Pretty soon they will be the "talk of the town."

Ah Norouk Aovi-chey!!

Anonymous said...

To Justin and Navy Phim,

You both can scream or yell as loud as you want. They will not listen to you. The plan has been set to go. There is no way back.

They will fight to death for their plan. If you don't like it, it's your problem.

Sorry !!!

Anonymous said...

So you are saying that Justin and Navy Phim are the only two live clowns that entertaining the deaths? Where are the rest of the so-called "Khmer people"?

I read both articles written by Justin and Phim. Their concerned are well taken. From what I have understood, both of them did not oppose the parade. They support the parade and Cambodia Town. However, Phim has opposed to the issue of the invitation of Sok An (human rights violations and corruptions, etc.). One may ask, what will be the image of the city for having invited this kind of dignitary?

Justin, on the other hand, raised the fundamental issue of freedom of expression and assembly. If you are living in the LB city, don't you care about what is going on or happening in your city? Don't they care about public opinions? Or, like Justin stated "they have their own hidden agenda".

Plain and simple. You don't want these kind of crooks do to you like they did to your parents.

You are right. It is Justin & Phim's problems. AND THAT HAS BEEN THE KHMER'S MENTALITY WE HAVE HAD SINCE THE DINOSAUR'S AGE! IT IS YOUR PROBLEMS NOT MINE!!!!

I'll join these two young people to fight the injustice.

Anonymous said...

This article is full of cliches!

Anyway, this article pretty much sums up why I choose to avoid the older so called "educated" generation. You're better off talking to a dog, at least with a dog, they will wag their tail or pant at you. People like Richer San and Co. think they know it all and will ignore your pleas. Why not target them personally as opposed to Chinee looking Sok An.

Anonymous said...

hey folk, let's that crook sok an come in and let's he taste some flying potatoes, eggs, and stones.

You are welcome, ah tor hear sok an!

FLYING POTATO!

Anonymous said...

TO 2:42

I know you are upset. I try to tell you the trust that those people will not listen to other people opinion. They have a specific agenda and plan to follow it no matter what.
Security has been prepared very carefully for the upcoming events.
You will not be able to change their mind. The more you oppose, the more benefit they will get. They can show the proof to their boss that they defend their cause to death.
Either way they will gain. The only thing that they have to do is to create more opposition. They will show that they sustain the opposition and then show proof to their boss.

Good Luck

Anonymous said...

http://stopsokan.com/

Anonymous said...

My poor people don't care you parade or not, k? we want to unite with our bro and is sis abroad.
Every body has agenda and wants something and want fame that was why they write to attack somebody they don't like. Justin and Phim hidden their agenda the same.

We did not see what inside closed door, all we read Justin and Phim made accusation.

We want to see both sides like someone just mentioned. Phim and Justin reminded me of the protest of students in PP went crazy burned US ambassy then do you know who behind them? Ah Yiek Nam Cong.
Always we hear one side of story this person and that person is bad, but themseves are good.

Freedom for all. Parade and no Parade let everyone chooses.

Anonymous said...

Agree. Freedom for all. I'm tired with this 1000 years barking at each others. Khmers are mostly lazy and don't like to work hard. When some get fair education they started to brag about it with the empty pockets. And they are good in killing each others. Khmer saw and Khmer Khmao are the same.

Anonymous said...

So who is Justin C Sok or who is Phim? I am just another kaun Khmer who don't care the parade will go on hungry strike or who will invite Sok An. I care if they can work together to help the ones who need at inside Cambodia.

There are all kind of helps. Some go to protest against Sok An because he works for CPP, because they care for the country and the poor Khmers, but some who invite Sok An because they too care for the country and the poor Khmers.
Some good detectors try to go along with the criminals that holding people hostage.


Mate 1;50am, I am with you on that. Tired of this 1k barking.

Anonymous said...

Article full of Cliches? Don't fool yourself dude.
You wrote and gave praise to yourself. Go mate 2;11am.

Anonymous said...

United We Stand Divided We Fall
Many tales, many obstacles, many proverbs, Cambodians always fight, that our nature to keep us alive, we were the warriors (that what we should always be) we always separated and single minded that what our nemesis always wanted us to be. Every chance that we can be united, there always the obstacles, Corruption this dictator that!!! Most educated Cambodians abroad white washed to be the true westerners departed idea of contributing or assisting our motherland. The middle classes are too busy making a living, and the educated wanted to be (opportunists) wanted to contribute or sucking up for the title or favor from the motherland. When can the real Khmers really wanted to unite without condition or border line? When can we bring real peace and unity for the Khmer sake? Remember how the European colonizing the eastern part of the world? If many of us don’t remember, it was NATIONALISM.
“United we stand divided we fall,” is what Abraham Lincoln uttered in his Gettysburg address during the American Civil War. Lincoln was right about America’s internal struggle during the division between Northern states from Southern states. Americans fighting Americans had made the country weak and unstable. The principle behind this powerful quote is simple yet very complex in nature, the idea of unity, of being one, of a single cell functioning with millions of other cells to become a working tissue. Khmers everywhere must learn the idea of unity and work together.
Cambodia has suffered from many internal struggles. From the time of Angkor, powerful God-Kings were constantly at war with one another. The worst enemy of Khmer is neither Vietnamese nor Thai, it is we. The Khmer Empire once stretched endlessly to the borders of China, but the empire slowly declined and as each King usurped the other. The enemies of Khmers took advantage our internal division and were able to attack during our most vulnerable time. Let’s recount some of the historical facts. During Angkor Empire, one opened the inside gates to let the enemies in. During Lonk Vek, we cleared the bamboo trees to let enemies gain victory. During the recent Pol Pot’s era, we let the Vietnamese in. Do we need more facts?
Many people within our vicinity now wanted to be CAMBODIANS, the Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese so they can own the real property (LAND!!!) in Cambodia. They don’t want us (Khmer Educated Abroad) to have a present to compete with them in Cambodia. So they are trying to find the way to separated us. So that way, they can take the advantage of our motherland and her resources. But of course, they are now Cambodians, but do they really care of what Cambodia needs? Only the Khmer Nationalist (NATIONALISM) can carry on the idea to keep the nation alive. So, keeps the torch burning. We can always fight for whatever issue to benefit the country but not each other. If we do fight each other, think of who is going to benefits?

PmeanJaya

Anonymous said...

For certain, Cambodian people inside won't unite with your champanzes. The country continues to develop, and the champanzes don't whave money to buy properties in Cambodia don't blame foreigners who have money to buy.

Anonymous said...

Go mate 11;20AM. I thought the same thing. Intellectual? Self important is clear.

Anonymous said...

When God speak to me and I listen because God have the moral authority! But when AH SOK AN speak to Cambodian people and no Cambodian people want to listen to him because he has no moral authority therefore he shouldn't come to Long Beach!

Case closed!

Anonymous said...

For 1:45am, your personal opinion already indicated that you are not even equated to a chimpanzee; you are not even Kone Khmer. So go ahead praise the foreigner dollars. We Khmer are talking here, stay out !!!

Anonymous said...

I correct my old post:

yes people should have freedom to parade, and people should have freedom to unite. If I live in the US I WILL join the parade because in srok khmer my people want to unite with khmer oversea. hope ah cong KK don't cause us trouble again.

3:51 AM

Anonymous said...

I'm kaun khmer and I won't be part of the protest but I will join the parade. I want to listen what Sok An is going to say and how will he do to help poor families in Srok Khmer.


I agree with 1:45AM about buying the real estate in Cambodia. I think Khmer oversea have to buy the properties that may slow down the foreigners.

If I have the money I will buy it too.

Anonymous said...

This letter is nothing more than a shameless self advertisement.

Anonymous said...

"self advertisement"

Is he a gigalo or a male escort?

I don't think he is from San Francisco, do you?

Let the your doctor check your head, because I think your head may have some watter-logged!

Anonymous said...

Go mate 12;16pm.
This writer is looking for attentions. Yep what a shamless self advertisement. Young intellectuals ?? LOL :)))