Washington
21 April 2008
An unknown number of former Cambodian Freedom Fighters, living in states across the US, were angered by a court’s guilty verdict in the case of Chhun Yasith, but many of them are now afraid to speak out, a friend of the leader said Friday.
“I spoke to them, and they are fearful they can’t speak about anything,” Kim Narin said. “They say maybe one day [authorities] might come and knock on the door and arrest us like the Khmer Rouge did.”
A second Long Beach resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the US trial of Chhun Yasith, who was found guilty earlier this month on charges related to an attack on the government in 2000, was politically motivated.
“I’m also afraid that US government is going to make some arrests of the CFF, and then we will see some big reaction from Cambodian Americans,” he said. “If only Yasith [is sentenced] there may not be much reaction.”
US federal court spokesman Thom Mrozek denied politics were behind the conviction, for which Chhun Yasith faces up to life in prison.
“We were not being pressured by the US government in Washington, DC, to do this,” he said. “We did this because we thought that it was an appropriate case to bring.”
Richard Callahan, Chhun Yasith’s defense lawyer, said Friday he was “greatly disappointed” with the trial result.
“The United States has prosecuted a man trying to save his suffering homeland 8,207 miles away,” he said in an e-mail. “This was a war by refugees from Cambodia against an oppressive Cambodian dictator. This was not a war against the United States.”
He plans to appeal the verdict, he said.
Chhun Yasith will be sentenced in September.
“I spoke to them, and they are fearful they can’t speak about anything,” Kim Narin said. “They say maybe one day [authorities] might come and knock on the door and arrest us like the Khmer Rouge did.”
A second Long Beach resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the US trial of Chhun Yasith, who was found guilty earlier this month on charges related to an attack on the government in 2000, was politically motivated.
“I’m also afraid that US government is going to make some arrests of the CFF, and then we will see some big reaction from Cambodian Americans,” he said. “If only Yasith [is sentenced] there may not be much reaction.”
US federal court spokesman Thom Mrozek denied politics were behind the conviction, for which Chhun Yasith faces up to life in prison.
“We were not being pressured by the US government in Washington, DC, to do this,” he said. “We did this because we thought that it was an appropriate case to bring.”
Richard Callahan, Chhun Yasith’s defense lawyer, said Friday he was “greatly disappointed” with the trial result.
“The United States has prosecuted a man trying to save his suffering homeland 8,207 miles away,” he said in an e-mail. “This was a war by refugees from Cambodia against an oppressive Cambodian dictator. This was not a war against the United States.”
He plans to appeal the verdict, he said.
Chhun Yasith will be sentenced in September.
9 comments:
i think the US ruling is a good case example that no one should use force to try to tople any gov't. diplomacy, negotiate and other method is more fruitful than violence. violence can only begot violence in retaliation, etc. make sure to exhaust all ways first before resort to violence; that was the message of this important court ruling in case someone didn't understand. god bless.
Double jeorpady,morally wrong
Attorney Callahan needs to appeal and bring case to Supreme Court docket.
this man is a US citizen and the US do not allow its private citizen to do such thing. this is tantamounted to a terrorist act which is against the US and cambodian law. hello!!! do you know the law? be educated please!
To 3:54AM
Maybe you can explain to US government for failing to bring those thugs to justice in the grenade attacked of 1997 by AH HUN SEN military bodyguards on peaceful demonstration by Cambodian people and American citizen!
What about the bloody military coup in 1997 by AH HUN SEN thugs to overthrow Cambodian democratic government!
You mother the fucker need to educate yourself first before you can educate other! I suggest you shut the fuck up!
354am,
Try www.wikipedia.org under the Bay of Pigs invasion search and look for R.Kennedy statement on an old law then 1868 0ne.
Better yet try Congressional library to read on topics then you will be really educated.
US citizen can sue or challenge government for wrongdoing per US constitutionality, US is not Nom Penh. Read,learn before running your mouth.
Yasith is still under the protection of Constitution and Supreme Court.
Chhun yasith was spy of CPP (Communist Pro youn Party) especially that is the tricks of ah Hun Sen in order to accuse Sam Rainsy but fortunately Sam Rainsy was not in Phnom Penh but in Takeo.
On November 24, 2000 projected by ah Hun Sen, Chhun Yasit forces (CFF Cambodian Freedom Forces) attacked Ministry of Defense and the Council of Ministers,
while ah Hun Sen was on Thai Visit, Sam Rainsy visited Khmer people at the Khmer-youn border in Takeo province, Ranaridh was abroad.
Remember that as schedules on November 28, 2000 ah youn president Tran Duc Luong took visit Phnom Penh for Khmer-youn border treaty.
But Chhun Ya sith didn't know those tricks, hoped to be "Oknha" and Prime Minister counsellor promised by ah Hun Sen.
Lon Rith maybe is the same case but a bit diferent that Lon Rith don't use forces.
Anonymous 3:54, How can you constitute the US pursuing a criminal charges against (US citizen) Chhun Yasith and turned a blind eyes on the grenade attack that injured one of the American civilian? Since you know about Cambodian/US laws; Shouldn't the law applied both way? You see were the US is going with this? The US well do whatever necessary to convict a United States citizens for wrongdoing, yet will ignored another US citizens who is in harms way. Please tell me what is the law? ^j^
Its political despite what is said. The CFF in America are afraid that the US will take their rights of free speech away so they will not talk. What happen to America, home of the free and the brave?
If Yusith is charged for this then the killers of the grenade attack on the opposition that injured an American citizen must also face trial, i.e. HUN SEN. Otherwise this whole farce of a case is all politically motivated and there is no such justice.
let the court decide, my dear.
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