By Carla M. Collado
Staff Writer
Downtown Gazette (Long Beach, California, USA)
For additional info, visit: www.StopSokAn.com
Click here to sign petition to block Sok An's appearance in Cambodia Town
Click here to sign petition to block Sok An's appearance in Cambodia Town
Plans for its largest annual celebration this April have Long Beach’s Cambodian community divided.
At issue is a scheduled appearance at the Cambodian New Year Parade by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who some in the community say they feel represents (and works for) one of the most corrupt governments in the world.
“He’s representing a government that is very corrupt, that oppresses people and violates so many human rights,” said Navy Phim, a resident who is leading the charge to rescind Sok An’s invitation and is circulating a petition protesting his appearance. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to put this person in a celebration.”
According to Borann Heam — vice president of the Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC), which organizes the parade — the decision to invite Sok An was part of an effort to start an open dialogue with the Cambodian government. With the United States continuing to do business with Cambodia, and with Long Beach’s Cambodian community being the largest outside of Cambodia, it is beneficial to establish that kind of dialogue with the country’s leaders, Heam said.
The delegation of local groups that visited Phnom Penh in December 2007 — including members of Cam-CC, Long Beach/Phnom Penh Sister Cities, Cambodia Town, Inc. and some Long Beach City Council members — first met with U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli, Heam explained. At Mussomeli’s recommendation that Cambodian-Americans engage the Cambodian government more, the delegation extended invitations to all government leaders to attend the New Year Parade, he added.
“This is an open invitation to anyone in the Cambodian government,” Heam said. “We’re not excluding any one party.”
When delegation members ran into Sok An, they personally invited him to the Long Beach event and he accepted, he said.
Phim said that Sok An’s participation in the parade also makes Long Beach appear to be taking sides in Cambodian politics, as it is a parliamentary election year in Cambodia (July) and Sok An is running for reelection in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. She is now pushing for Cam-CC to organize a town hall meeting so residents can express their opinions on Sok An’s visit.
“It’s very important for everyone to express their concerns, not only in Cambodia Town but in all of Long Beach,” Phim said. “It (his visit) reflects on everybody in the city.”
Phim said she has gathered about 1,000 signatures through her online petition protesting Sok An’s visit (the petition is addressed to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Cam-CC), and that there are other Cambodian groups circulating petitions as well.
She said she voiced her concerns at a Jan. 31 meeting of Cam-CC’s parade planning committee, but that committee members told her she was simply trying to make Sok An seem controversial when he’s not. Phim later was invited to speak at Cam-CC’s Feb. 10 board meeting and allowed to bring four people total, but declined the invitation.
“Four people don’t represent the whole community,” she said.
Heam said Cam-CC has done its best to answer Phim’s questions and address her concerns, and added that he understands why some Cambodian residents are worried about Sok An’s participation in the parade.
“There are speculations of human rights violations and a lot of corruption is linked to his name,” Heam said. “I don’t think he is a controversial figure. It’s just very sad that a few people are taking this opportunity to label certain figures controversial.”
Heam said Cam-CC encourages residents to express their opinions, as long as it is in a peaceful and nonviolent manner.
“We respect everyone’s opinion in the community,” he said. “People have the right to freedom of speech and if they feel that he is a controversial figure, then that’s okay. We encourage the community to engage with us.”
However, Cam-CC currently does not feel that it needs to revoke Sok An’s (or anyone else’s) invitation to the parade, and the community needs to respect that decision, Heam added.
Heam explained that Cam-CC has public meetings every month to update the community on plans for the New Year Parade and celebration, as it is the community’s largest event of the year. He said if residents organize a town hall meeting, the group would gladly attend to hear concerns.
He stressed the fact that Cam-CC has not decided whether Sok An will do more than just ride in the parade, and assured that the Cambodian leader will not get any special treatment.
The Fourth Annual Cambodian New Year Parade will take place April 6 along Anaheim Street (from Junipero Avenue to Orange Avenue), and the Cambodian New Year Celebration will take place April 12 at El Dorado Regional Park. Each event draws about 15,000 visitors.
To voice concerns over Sok An’s participation in the parade, e-mail Cam-CC at board@cam-cc.org. To sign Phim’s petition, visit www.stopsokan.com.
At issue is a scheduled appearance at the Cambodian New Year Parade by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who some in the community say they feel represents (and works for) one of the most corrupt governments in the world.
“He’s representing a government that is very corrupt, that oppresses people and violates so many human rights,” said Navy Phim, a resident who is leading the charge to rescind Sok An’s invitation and is circulating a petition protesting his appearance. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to put this person in a celebration.”
According to Borann Heam — vice president of the Cambodian Coordinating Council (Cam-CC), which organizes the parade — the decision to invite Sok An was part of an effort to start an open dialogue with the Cambodian government. With the United States continuing to do business with Cambodia, and with Long Beach’s Cambodian community being the largest outside of Cambodia, it is beneficial to establish that kind of dialogue with the country’s leaders, Heam said.
The delegation of local groups that visited Phnom Penh in December 2007 — including members of Cam-CC, Long Beach/Phnom Penh Sister Cities, Cambodia Town, Inc. and some Long Beach City Council members — first met with U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli, Heam explained. At Mussomeli’s recommendation that Cambodian-Americans engage the Cambodian government more, the delegation extended invitations to all government leaders to attend the New Year Parade, he added.
“This is an open invitation to anyone in the Cambodian government,” Heam said. “We’re not excluding any one party.”
When delegation members ran into Sok An, they personally invited him to the Long Beach event and he accepted, he said.
Phim said that Sok An’s participation in the parade also makes Long Beach appear to be taking sides in Cambodian politics, as it is a parliamentary election year in Cambodia (July) and Sok An is running for reelection in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party. She is now pushing for Cam-CC to organize a town hall meeting so residents can express their opinions on Sok An’s visit.
“It’s very important for everyone to express their concerns, not only in Cambodia Town but in all of Long Beach,” Phim said. “It (his visit) reflects on everybody in the city.”
Phim said she has gathered about 1,000 signatures through her online petition protesting Sok An’s visit (the petition is addressed to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Cam-CC), and that there are other Cambodian groups circulating petitions as well.
She said she voiced her concerns at a Jan. 31 meeting of Cam-CC’s parade planning committee, but that committee members told her she was simply trying to make Sok An seem controversial when he’s not. Phim later was invited to speak at Cam-CC’s Feb. 10 board meeting and allowed to bring four people total, but declined the invitation.
“Four people don’t represent the whole community,” she said.
Heam said Cam-CC has done its best to answer Phim’s questions and address her concerns, and added that he understands why some Cambodian residents are worried about Sok An’s participation in the parade.
“There are speculations of human rights violations and a lot of corruption is linked to his name,” Heam said. “I don’t think he is a controversial figure. It’s just very sad that a few people are taking this opportunity to label certain figures controversial.”
Heam said Cam-CC encourages residents to express their opinions, as long as it is in a peaceful and nonviolent manner.
“We respect everyone’s opinion in the community,” he said. “People have the right to freedom of speech and if they feel that he is a controversial figure, then that’s okay. We encourage the community to engage with us.”
However, Cam-CC currently does not feel that it needs to revoke Sok An’s (or anyone else’s) invitation to the parade, and the community needs to respect that decision, Heam added.
Heam explained that Cam-CC has public meetings every month to update the community on plans for the New Year Parade and celebration, as it is the community’s largest event of the year. He said if residents organize a town hall meeting, the group would gladly attend to hear concerns.
He stressed the fact that Cam-CC has not decided whether Sok An will do more than just ride in the parade, and assured that the Cambodian leader will not get any special treatment.
The Fourth Annual Cambodian New Year Parade will take place April 6 along Anaheim Street (from Junipero Avenue to Orange Avenue), and the Cambodian New Year Celebration will take place April 12 at El Dorado Regional Park. Each event draws about 15,000 visitors.
To voice concerns over Sok An’s participation in the parade, e-mail Cam-CC at board@cam-cc.org. To sign Phim’s petition, visit www.stopsokan.com.
17 comments:
this is america. allow people to protest and demonstrate their dislike of a certain policy or ruler as long as there is no violence. i hope the long beach police are present at the parade to keep things in order. prtotest can make her/him think in terms of self-critic; it allows a person of that position to reform his/her mind, to be self-examined, as to what is wrong with me? so, i think it's ok to allow this by the authority of long beach, ca.
The funny thing is Navy Phim is campaigning against the appearance of Sok An in the 2008 Cambodian new year parade, but what I've heard is she's also trying to get a free booth from Ca-CC to promote her book.
What is the deal with this issue of Mr. Sok An... and the Long Beach Cambodian-American Community?
To Mr. 5:23 A.M
Stay on the issue. Navy Phim has the right to state her opposition to Ca-CC choice, and she has the right to speak her mind. Equally, she has the right to ask for a free booth. The worse Ca-cc can do to her request is to say no to the free booth.
But you are attempting to discredit her through personal attack in hope to force her into silent. Getting a free booth is a non issue. Her concern with Ca-CC's decision is the central issue.
So...why not just stick to this...?
We do not not know who Navy Phim is or how important this fellow by the name of Mr. Sok An is. What is important, we'd like to see Cambodian-American express their opinions, likes or dislikes, and that the authors of those opinion are not being forced into silence through destructive politics.
To Ms. Navy Phim,
Why are so against this fellow Sok An? Has his government prevented you or your relatives from entering Cambodia or impeding your relatives from finding jobs in Cambodia?
Many of my Cambodian-Americans friends and relatives went to Cambodia, and every body left us alone and my friends and relatives enjoy themselves greatly...
So what is your bone?
Borann Heam is just a kid and I don't think he is ready for politic yet. Ahahhahhahhah
I think all of this is funny, very funny. I can't wait to see the outcome. It's going to be even more funny than this person, Navy Phim, trying to block Sok An from participating in the parade through partitions. hahahahaha
12:08 PM
you know who the funniest is? it is you who sit your fart azzz and watch others actively participating in khmer event. what have you done for your khmer community?
what is so wrong when a person expresses her opinion freely?
is everything about self-interest to you?
Do you have personal history with Ms. Phim or something?
I don't think Sok An will show up in Long Beach. I can bet you for it. He got his good life there where he is a real king in Cambodia. He is not that stupid. And after all, situation stirred up this community because one always tries to lead into a wrong direction without consent of other, that 's who he is Richer San. So stop fighting everybody, we all have to come after Richer San, alright...His action is to devide this event apart.
I don't think Sok An will show up in Long Beach. I can bet you for it. He got his good life there where he is a real king in Cambodia. He is not that stupid. And after all, situation stirred up this community because one always tries to lead into a wrong direction without consent of other, that 's who he is Richer San. So stop fighting everybody, we all have to come after Richer San, alright...His action is to devide this event apart.
Yah, that's right..call Mr. San to tesify, Cam-CC boards, else you are all colluded with Mr. San. If you Boards kick Mr. San out, no Sok An issue is heard. Dig the root of it, OK..
Richer San, he is for power and money, that's who he is. Since he comes back to Long Beach, he is working very hard tripping others just for his goal. Therefore, I don't think that is nothing wrong with him because others might have had the same thing, done same thing and failed. Richer reach his goad definitely, so cheer him up to his success and stop barking toward Richer....
The Richer San has already negotiate with hun sen for htier personal interests after the 2008 election. They may get any post in CPP govt as informed from PP.
Be vareful fiolk, in USA. CPP is trying to influence and control our people not only in Cambodia but even in USA. Do you want to be the slave of this criminal and violent govt of the traitor hun sen? Think about this, folk.
The Richer San has already negotiate with hun sen for htier personal interests after the 2008 election. They may get any post in CPP govt as informed from PP.
Be vareful fiolk, in USA. CPP is trying to influence and control our people not only in Cambodia but even in USA. Do you want to be the slave of this criminal and violent govt of the traitor hun sen? Think about this, folk.
Very interesting to see Cambodian-American voiced their concerns here.
A few questions to be ask here:
Is it the normal way of life for all Cambodian -American from all walks of life to attend to New Year parade in Long Beach?
- The answer is NO. It may be a handful of people but NOT all who will go there for a fun day out and others would rather stay home and celebrate New Year with families and friends [having BBQ and few drinks to calm their nerves and get ready for work again].
May be almost everybody aware that the Cambodia police chief's visa to the US has been revoked on many occasions in the past but his last conference in Las Vegas which drawn criticism within concerned department and the Bush administration did not stop him from attending simply because the US need him to be there and his force to help them.
Do you really think that the petition [stop any VIP from the Kingdom]will get somewhere if the VIP from Cambodia need to attend the UN head Quarter in New York - an American territory. The answer is NO.
Therefore, the conclusion is:
Please enjoy yourself is you will be there [show your solidarity].
Please stay away from the parade if you are unhappy [show your protest].
Finally, when the parade is done with, then the organizer will realize the impact [pros and cons about VIP invited to the parade]. Believed that parade costing times, efforts or may be great deal of money involved to make it happened, and by the end of the day; no money make during the parade is really bad for organizer and people having booth in the venue.
Join parade so we can show how angry we are toward KHAM-C, Kham-c. Please forget not to bring rock.
Who can promise to controle the violence after all this land problem and people overthere get killed with no justice done!
Ever heard about violence in USA (growde violent) ?
Hey in USA, you can burned the USA's flag but don't stir the violence! Then the one that go to jail is not the growd but the one who burned the flag will be punish by stiring the violence!
So the cas of Kham-C they can do any thing but do not stir the emotion of the vivtime of the killing field if any thing happen not the 1000 that go to jail!
Understand mr. and Mrs SANN???????
To have a communist corrupted leader such as Sok AN to come to Long Beach is a disgrace to the free democratic world! Under AH SOK AN leadership there is nothing sacred anymore because even Cambodian monks get beat up like little children!
Some Cambodian people claimed that by having AH SOK AN in the New Year Parade will help promote dialogue and understanding between Cambodia and United States! I disagree because AH SOK AN is an animal and he doesn't even what is right and what is wrong and he has no moral value whatsoever!
I don't deal with any fucken fool who doesn't have moral value okay!
Cambodia people shouldn't even discuss about AH SOK AN in the first place because it is a fucken waste of time! If AH SOK AN want to come to United States and he needs to come on his private visit so no Cambodian people can hear anything or say anything about him and that how it should be!
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