By Wendy Thomas Russell, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)
LOS ANGELES - Seven years ago, Yasith Chhun sat in his 10th Street accounting business, chatting excitedly about his recent failed coup of the Cambodian government - and openly promising to attempt another.
This week, his demeanor is sure to be far more subdued.
Now 51, Chhun faces a federal trial in U.S. District Court on charges stemming from the very conduct he once was so proud to share. Jury selection concluded Tuesday, and opening statements are scheduled for today before Judge Dean Pregerson.
If convicted, Chhun could be sentenced to life in prison.
Chhun was arrested in 2005 after a lengthy FBI investigation into possible terrorist activity generated out of his Long Beach business. He is charged with conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.
Until his arrest, Chhun's tax-preparation business, as well as his political views, were widely known in Long Beach's large, tight-knit Cambodian community.
According to an indictment, Chhun's anti-communist rebel group, the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, attempted to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen's government in November 2000 by launching an attack on several government buildings.
The coup failed almost immediately, but at least three people were killed - all of them rebels - and others were injured.
Interviewed by the Press-Telegram in June 2001, Chhun spoke freely and fearlessly about what he termed "Operation Volcano," the name given to the attack.
He detailed, matter-of-factly, his mission to bring American-style "freedom, justice and democracy" to his former country. He bragged about the publicity he had received, and he chatted about his ambitious rebellion as if it were a board game.
"It's like playing chess," he said, laughing. "Put (the pieces) where the horse is and where the king is."
The "king" Chhun referred to was Hun Sen, a former communist who staged his own bloody coup in 1997 and then called an election a year later under pressure from international leaders.
Hun Sen won the election, but many continue to believe he is a corrupt, dictatorial leader masquerading as a liberator. He has been accused of doing little to save the country's 17million people from poverty, disease, crime and oppression.
Because so many others agreed with CFF's opposition to Hun Sen, Chhun was able to raise money for his cause in the United States. In May 2000, for instance, he staged a fundraiser on the Queen Mary.
Members of Chhun's group were convicted in Phnom Penh in 2001. Because the United States has no extradition treaty with Cambodia, however, Chhun himself was tried and convicted in absentia.
Because he was certain he had committed no American crimes and had no plan to return to his native country, Chhun told the newspaper he was confident in his choices.
"You cannot be a rabbit to control a tiger," he said at the time. "I am not scared of anything."
wendy.russell@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1272
This week, his demeanor is sure to be far more subdued.
Now 51, Chhun faces a federal trial in U.S. District Court on charges stemming from the very conduct he once was so proud to share. Jury selection concluded Tuesday, and opening statements are scheduled for today before Judge Dean Pregerson.
If convicted, Chhun could be sentenced to life in prison.
Chhun was arrested in 2005 after a lengthy FBI investigation into possible terrorist activity generated out of his Long Beach business. He is charged with conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.
Until his arrest, Chhun's tax-preparation business, as well as his political views, were widely known in Long Beach's large, tight-knit Cambodian community.
According to an indictment, Chhun's anti-communist rebel group, the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, attempted to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen's government in November 2000 by launching an attack on several government buildings.
The coup failed almost immediately, but at least three people were killed - all of them rebels - and others were injured.
Interviewed by the Press-Telegram in June 2001, Chhun spoke freely and fearlessly about what he termed "Operation Volcano," the name given to the attack.
He detailed, matter-of-factly, his mission to bring American-style "freedom, justice and democracy" to his former country. He bragged about the publicity he had received, and he chatted about his ambitious rebellion as if it were a board game.
"It's like playing chess," he said, laughing. "Put (the pieces) where the horse is and where the king is."
The "king" Chhun referred to was Hun Sen, a former communist who staged his own bloody coup in 1997 and then called an election a year later under pressure from international leaders.
Hun Sen won the election, but many continue to believe he is a corrupt, dictatorial leader masquerading as a liberator. He has been accused of doing little to save the country's 17million people from poverty, disease, crime and oppression.
Because so many others agreed with CFF's opposition to Hun Sen, Chhun was able to raise money for his cause in the United States. In May 2000, for instance, he staged a fundraiser on the Queen Mary.
Members of Chhun's group were convicted in Phnom Penh in 2001. Because the United States has no extradition treaty with Cambodia, however, Chhun himself was tried and convicted in absentia.
Because he was certain he had committed no American crimes and had no plan to return to his native country, Chhun told the newspaper he was confident in his choices.
"You cannot be a rabbit to control a tiger," he said at the time. "I am not scared of anything."
wendy.russell@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1272
15 comments:
Undoubtedly, subversion of government is a serious crime, does not matter how you look at it. I hope the justice will be served.
Indeed,government suppress and oppress people day and night deserves no credit.
Each government house is full of cronies and crooks,people starve and beg to live yet the government high officials live lavishly and capriciously mistreat critics.
Is it called a government or bunch of thug woth guns in large offices.
Conscience will tell who's wrong?
Congratulation Uncle Sam's foreign policy !
To please the Evil tyranny regime of Hun Sen , Uncle Sam has to arrest someone who's loyalty to America.
The criminal Hok Lundy will be arm in arm with US to arrest more Khmers who dare to anti-Hun Sen.
And again congratulation Uncle Sam!!!!
you do the right things for your own interests.
We wonder why US did losed the war in Vietnam & recently in Iraq.
American double standard, they needed Hun Sen government to fight against the so call Terorist, therefor Chhun's capture is more or less a present to The Hun Sen government. Many American raised fund to support the struggling against the dictator Gov but they are not under the radar, only Chhun's activity is. They even gone further now, turnning a blind eye on regime that still inflict on the suffering of the great many Cambodian
Just throw the idiot behind bar with the hardcore convicts and save the cost of the trial for something else better. He's not worthed the money.
I'm with you, 7:02 PM. One moe thing to add to your comment regarding the American interest of Cambodia is doing oil mining business with the country.
hey you should try legal and peacefull way dude!
respect the live of the living and properties!
He desrve it or the world will get in big chaos!
Uncle SAM will sacrifice Chunn Yasith in the name of fighting the war on terrorism and to gain more friendship among dictators around the world!
And what is wrong with that?
11:56 pm...Nothing's wrong with that except that Hun Sen needs more Vietnamese prostitutes to corrupt Cambodia and finishing off the Vietnamization of Cambodia.
Vietnamese prostitutes?
Ask the American, ask the French or any nationals in the world about the Vietnamese's true colors!!! Need we say more?
Ah Vicious Killer Xam Rainxy must also be prosecuted along with the terrorist Yaxith Chhun for masterminding the Killing of Khmer People.
One must understand the law [re: this trial] of USA, where an American citizen is being accused of terrorist act again a state [country] outside USA and where USA considers as state at peace.
Apart from that trial, it is another trial that the person must answer - the fraud [re tax return and business].
USA deemed to have a policy that its citizen[s] shall only be trial by USA within it territory and not by any foreign country
We don't care but Ah vicious killer Xam Rainxy must be included in the trial. It doesn't matter in the US, in Cuba, or in China, so long Ah notorious Killer doesn't go unpunished for his crime against humanity.
519am you daddy Saddam Hunsen is not a killer?
You must be somewhat related to him: cause you're blind!
Nope, my daddy Saddam Hunsen is a savior of all Khmer people.
On the other hand, Ah Xam Rainxy is a vicious Khmer Killer.
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