Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
VISA officials at the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh have made life difficult for Cambodian visa applicants, according to a Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker, who has requested an explanation from officials.
In a letter to Ambassador Carol Rodley dated Friday, SRP parliamentarian Son Chhay said many Cambodian visa applicants have endured "humiliation and great stress" at the hands of visa officers, who he claimed have rejected many genuine applications.
"[There have been] numerous complaints about consular officers at the Visa Service Section lacking clear ethical and professional guidelines, resulting in officers abusing their position of power, mishandling applications, treating Cambodians disrespectfully and misjudging what were often genuine applicants, at interviews, for fake applicants," the letter said.
He cited the case of an old woman who three times was denied approval for a visa to travel to the US to visit a daughter scheduled to undergo a serious operation, as well as students who were "shouted at and accused of being liars" when they tried to obtain travel documents.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he was "not aware" of any concerns relating to the issuing of US visas. The US Embassy had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
In a letter to Ambassador Carol Rodley dated Friday, SRP parliamentarian Son Chhay said many Cambodian visa applicants have endured "humiliation and great stress" at the hands of visa officers, who he claimed have rejected many genuine applications.
"[There have been] numerous complaints about consular officers at the Visa Service Section lacking clear ethical and professional guidelines, resulting in officers abusing their position of power, mishandling applications, treating Cambodians disrespectfully and misjudging what were often genuine applicants, at interviews, for fake applicants," the letter said.
He cited the case of an old woman who three times was denied approval for a visa to travel to the US to visit a daughter scheduled to undergo a serious operation, as well as students who were "shouted at and accused of being liars" when they tried to obtain travel documents.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said he was "not aware" of any concerns relating to the issuing of US visas. The US Embassy had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SEBASTIAN STRANGIO
12 comments:
Those American Officials at the Embassy have learned bad conduct from the Khmer Officials and used it against the Khmer People. In their mind, they think that all Khmer are bad people. They need to be more civil in their manner. If they disagree with what the Khmer applicants, they still can be considerate, instead of being harsh, rude, and dictatorial. I hope that those US Officials behave and act like educated people, not savage like.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leader of the Free Trade Union
Attempted Assassinations on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Attempted Murders on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders members and activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Under Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed all of these crimes above within Hun Sen Khmer Rouge government have ever been brought to justice.
UNDER AGE CHILD SEX
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed under age child sex.
Svay Sitha is a senior government official from Cambodian People's Party.
Svay Sitha had a sexual relationship with Tat Marina, she was only 16 years old.
Source: Human Rights Watch
ACID ATTACK ON TAT MARINA
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed acid attack.
"On December 5, 1999, Tat Marina, age 16, was severely disfigured in an acid attack in Phnom Penh. The attack was allegedly committed by Khun Sophal, the wife of a senior government official, Svay Sitha, because she was angry her husband had a sexual relationship with Tat Marina. Neither Khun Sophal nor those suspected of being her accomplices in the attack were brought to justice. Intense media publicity compelled the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Khun Sophal for attempted murder, but the police claimed that they could not locate her, although journalists reported that she was living at home as usual."
Source: Human Rights Watch
TORTURE AND MURDER ON PRAK SITHA WHILE IN CUSTODY BY MISNISTRY OF INTERIOR OFFICIAL
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed torture and murder.
"On the night of January 16, 2003, a street youth named Prak Sitha was beaten to death at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) headquarters after he was arrested and detained by off-duty MOI officers on suspicion of theft. His body - bearing numerous injuries to the head, torso, arms, and legs - was dumped at a Phnom Penh pagoda the following morning by ministry officers, in violation of police regulations regarding deaths in custody. No criminal charges were filed in connection with this death. In December 2004, the case was cited by the UN secretary-general's special representative for human rights in Cambodia - who stated that Prak Sitha died at the ministry "following beatings by a known police officer" - as an example of a "consistent and continuing pattern of impunity" in Cambodia."
Source: Human Rights Watch
PUT SAMPHORS WAS SHOT DEAD BY MEAN SOKCHEA, A RCAF MAJOR WORKING IN BRIGADE 70.
Hun Sen's personal Bodyguards Unit (Brigade 70) is a terrorist organization.
Hing Bunheang is a March 30, 1997 Grenade Attack suspect identified by the FBI.
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed murder, again.
"On September 4, 2008, Mean Sokchea, a RCAF major working in Brigade 70, shot dead 21-year-old waitress Put Samphors at a restaurant in Kandal province. Mean Sokchea, in a drunken stupor, fired his gun and apparently mistakenly hit Put Samphors in the stomach. She was taken to a hospital but later died of her wounds. Mean Sokchea was detained by the police overnight but was then released, allegedly after intervention by Hing Bun Heang. Put Samphor's family received US$2,700 from Mean Sokchea, and the police told them that their daughter was shot while authorities were chasing robbers."
Source: Human Rights Watch
There are a lot of true and honest people are being kicked out because they think they are fake applicants. Remember they can be sued, too, to deny your opportunity to be with your love ones.
U.S embassy is the symbol of American policy and government. This kind of impression is uncalled for. They must train more of their officers both the U.S and Cambodian nationals. They must understand the Cambodian situations. They are putting too much pressure on true and honest people and then deny them, just because they want to tighten their immigration policy.
I can visualize that there is an" evil spirit" at the US Embassy.
they have rules and regulation at the embassy, everyone must respect and obey it. however, if it outside the policy of the embassy, then the official is unethical in their behavior. but i don't believe so; there must be something wrong with the official who handle the visa department. well, hope the phnom penh post will request an interview with them to find out what's really going on there. things like this can be rectify once the ambassador herself is informed. it's a diplomatic thing here and would do the embassy and america a disservice if found to be true what they are doing is unethical or outside of the policy. keep demanding answer from the embassy!
THE FUCKING US AMERICAN WORKERS NEED A FUCKING SLAP IN THERE FACE............. SLAP THOSE FUCKERS
They want to receive some bribe in exchange for the visa . All the drug traffickers get their way easily to the states by giving some money in exchange for the visa.
Only lauk thom from CPP can get an easy VISA to enter Uncle Sam land.
The ex Criminal top cop,Hok Lundy was invited to US.
Agree with 12:28am!
or maybe somebody tries to bribe the visa official but did not work out, thus the leak of the secret deal! USA don't take bribe easily, you know! but again, only the phnom penh post interview will reveal the truth behind their action, if the allegation is true at all!
hey, please don't misinterpret it. it's a "stress", meaning it takes too long to process, thus causing frustration and stress. that's all. i think people are only requesting for the embassy to ease the process of applying for US visa, that's all. please don't mislead readers, here.
may i suggest if the embassy if so cautious about other nationality using khmer nationality for USA visa application, then the embassy is doing their job to carefully screen people to make sure they are khmer people, and not some other fake nationality trying to dodge the USA policy, etc... remember some crooks are trying to use cambodia as a transit place to go to the USA, so it is the US embassy's job to screen them carefully and thoroughly, that's all! thank you for your cooperation and patience.
from observation of a khmer person overseas.
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