Cambodian-Americans discuss on the problem of human rights violations in Cambodia

Left to right: Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, Mr. Tung Yap of CAHRAD and Mrs. Mu Sochua

11 September 2009
By Moeung Tum
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

In the evening of Thursday 10 September 2009, over 60 Cambodian-Americans met at the Harvest Moon Restaurant near Washington DC to discuss their concerns on the human rights violations and the violations of freedom of expression in Cambodia.

These Cambodian-Americans came from the states of Virginia, Maryland, Philadelphia and a number of other US states. The met each other last night with the presence of three guest speakers: Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, Licadho President, Mr. Moeun Tola, Labor Director for the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) NGO, and Kampot SRP MP Mu Sochua.

The 3 speakers showed slides on the actual situation befalling in the Cambodian people: the hardship of poor Cambodians who are evicted by force from their homes, the use of armed violence on the Cambodian people, the melee scene from Mrs. Mu Sochua showing up at the tribunal to answer to the lawsuit brought up by Hun Xen’s defamation claim.

Dr. Pung Chiv Kek told the audience that, currently, freedom at the grass root level in Cambodia is violated and threatened. Moeun Tola said that, union activists who defend the workers’ rights are threatened, sued and fired by factory owners.

The meeting was organized by the Cambodian American for Human Rights and Democracy (CAHRAD) organization to review the latest situation on human rights violations and violations of freedom of expression in Cambodia. The goal is to provide a forum where Cambodian-Americans can help provide their input in the resolution on these issues based on their abilities and in compliance with the US law.