SRP MP Mu Sochua (L) and Licadho's President, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek (R)By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
04 September 2009
"When they sue us, they push us to the court, but once we countersue, they tell us not to and ask us to leave them to exercise their freedom of expression ... I think that we should have a clear grammar for democracy. We should not use democracy wrongly and out of grammar, causing people to copy a bad example" - Ong Yentieng, senior Hun Sen adviser and chairman of Hun Sen's regime human rights committeeThree prominent Cambodians are scheduled as key participants in a US congressional hearing on human rights this month, as concerns persist over the government’s ongoing treatment of dissenters.
Mu Sochua, a Kampot National Assembly representative for the Sam Rainsy Party who recently lost a defamation suit to Prime Minister Hun Sen, is set to join Kek Galabru, founder of the rights group Licadho, and Moeun Tola, head of the Community Legal Education Center’s labor program, in Washington Sept. 10.
“It’s high time that we all talk about the reality there, and we have enough evidence,” said Mu Sochua, who last month was ordered to pay more than $4,000 in fines and compensation after she brought a suit against Hun Sen for allegedly degrading remarks in a speech in April.
The three are scheduled to give testimony to the House of Representative’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, co-chaired by Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia, and James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, examining “a concerning trend in the Cambodian government’s overall human rights record,” according to the commission.
The commission cited as one reason for the hearing a July 29 Washington Post report of “a heightened crackdown on journalists and opposition activists” that “has provoked new concern that the government [of Cambodia] is engaging in widespread abuse of the nation’s legal system to muzzle its detractors.”
It also referred to Mu Sochua’s defamation case, diminished rights for workers and labor, and the eviction of people from their land without compensation.
Mu Sochua said in an interview in Washington Tuesday she would discuss these issues and the suspension of her own parliamentary immunity, along with another SRP colleague, which paved the way for two lawsuits.
“I would like to make it clear that the Sam Rainsy Party will not make an appeal to cut aid to Cambodia, so the Cambodian people should not worry about this,” Mu Sochua said. “We are here at the US Congress to provide truth about a grave situation that might affect democracy and human rights in Cambodia.”
Kek Galabru said she will ask the US to assist Cambodia in ensuring its courts are made independent and in finding ways to tackle land issues.
“The land issue is very important because it is the life and bread of some 80 percent of Cambodians living in rural areas,” she said by phone Wednesday.
“The US should help find a way to distribute land in a fair manner to ensure good, successful and positive developments where the majority of people benefit, not just a small group, leaving the majority in tears,” she said.
Meanwhile, shorter work contracts for workers after a US quota program ended and suits filed against labor leaders are a concern, said Moeun Tola, adding “past killings of [union leaders] have never been solved…which is a threat to the freedom of unions.”
The rights commission hearing was announced Aug. 25, and its examination of the situation in Cambodia is a rare instance. Along with the Cambodians invited are representatives from the US State Department.
“I am sorry that the commission only invited an opposition team, without inviting another side…to give a balanced report and find out the truth for a solution,” said Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
That the administration was not invited was “not fair, not neutral, and biased,” he said. “It won’t help promote human rights.”
Cambodia’s own human rights committee, headed by senior Hun Sen adviser Om Yienteng, was not aware of the hearing.
Om Yentieng, contacted Monday, said the government had not broken any laws in pursuing lawsuits against Mu Sochua and others.
“When they sue us, they push us to the court, but once we countersue, they tell us not to and ask us to leave them to exercise their freedom of expression,” he said. “I think that we should have a clear grammar for democracy. We should not use democracy wrongly and out of grammar, causing people to copy a bad example.”
27 comments:
Ong Yentieng , you better be happy that you are not invited because you will have to answer alot of questions about Human Rights in Cambodia that have been violated by the Government and they have plenty of evidences to show it to the Human Rights Commissioner . In Cambodia, you can say whatever you like too because you got the power... but in the US, everyone is egual no metter who you are. Ong Yentieng, it's going to be you against the world ... not just against the opposition parties and the NGO .
Mu the bru ha ha...
"democracy grammar"? I don't think this term is correctly used by one of Hun Sen's senior advisers. By defintion grammar is the rule teaching us about how to arrange words in a sentence, how to use punctuation marks, and how to change for of nouns or pronouns.
correction: how to change the form . . .
They're not losing their livelihood, They're losing their corrupt livelihood.
We made $1.00 a day just eat and die. We don't have any tv, karaoke, liquor, computer, internet, toy, bike, car, moto, laptop, running water and etc.
Our toilet would be digging dirt spot by spot for our poop around our shack. We worked sunrise till sunset and 7 a days a week to feed our whole family.
WORK, EAT, SLEEP, AND DIE..........
Sochua, you did a good job. I don't think any party can pay US$4,000 for a successful advocacy campaign like this. Down with CPP and Dogter Hun Sen! Down with dictator! A Dogter has its Day now!
It should say: Three Cambodian daughters to address U.S right commission.
It takes the Cambodian women to show Cambodian men how to respect human rights in our society.
Cambodian women have shown clear leadership over Cambodian men... More Cambodian women should enter politics to their of women and the rights for all Cambodian people.
Work,Eat,Sleep and will be prosper....
The thai don't even pay the Preah Vihear's market destrusction fine, why should she pay this $4000?
Dear all,
Now, we should wake up and identify who we are and what we do because individual or interested group who created this English website (KI media)in which almost information provided only in favor of opposition party, but it is not so helpful to the public interest in terms of sensibility, creativity, contructivity, productivity, and neatral judgement. If u say that Cambodia is not a demoncratic country, u a 100% wrong.
By the way, if u say that the demoncracy in Cambodia is not fully applied or partially carried out, of course your idea or judgement is sensible and valuable. However, for some extents, the demoncracy in Cambodia is still acceptable because Cambodia case is not as the same as other countries cases, we need sometime to make change.
In this regard, if I were u, anyway, I may be very shame due to the fact that information provided seems to be only one side attack individual person that lead to conflict of interests (your own problem). My suggestion is that u should provide fair and neatral information that would help our country and people. Especially; foreigners shall not be able to look down our nation due to the fact that we a in a unique unity. Why? Because it does not matter even we fight. We attack each other just in the purpose of progress and future develpment of our own nation. If we try to attack individual, we can not make thing change because of conflict of interest between supporters and oppositors. We can achieve a goal and do thing change unless we break the differences and combine those into commond interest, goal and vision.
We should learn from the past experiece, we lost when we broke, we won when we united.
From Thana
I am sorry, I am not intellectual person. My education backgrownd is little and my English is poor too.
Not bad Thana, you're absolutely right for saying that Cambodia has achieved partial democracy. The only point here is that you don't know what you're talking about and on what ground you're trying to argue. I don't really understand what you meant. KI only provide ground for discussion and all news contents post on its site are completely reproduced from other media outlets. If you say what some people say here are groundless, then try to understand the nature of discussion and others' viewpoints.
While the government of Cambodia working hard to rebuild Cambodia's infrastructure, such as building schools, roads, bridges, communications and so on, and rebuiding the economy- create new jobs, lay a new foundation for growth and bringing in investments. The SRP and their puppets like disgrace Mu Sochua are trying to destroy Cambodia. It is sad for Cambodia.
measthes@yahoo.com
To 10:25 AM: What did I mean is that through my observations KI Media is not provided information in terms of morality manner and it is not followed the press code as well when she uses tactics to attack one side and another side is free and receiving indirect supports.
Why? Because some of titles in newspapers, KI has changed the real meaning from what the other newspapers mentioned and also orginal name of the status quo persons which would lead to violation the IP right owners(Both original name owner and writer.
Try to balance right and obligation. Then, KI would become a useful press. Avoid not not defend, but KI should learn and think why people say like this. It is negative or positive views????? Anyone would change anybody's mind/concept provided that he/she to be a lead and ready to accept change first. Then the rest of others would follow.
From Thana
We all know very well, CPP can't stop the Corruption, Crimes, etc....
But please try to do your best and save the Democracy. One day we Khmer will be strong like during the Khmer Empire time.
Well, as human being, we can't stop corruption and crime. However, people can only take measure by reducing their rates.
Corruptions and crimes happen anytime, everywhere in the world not only in Cambodia.
5:07 PM
Westerner and European are not.
The rest of the world are mostly asian country are you name them.
Ah Meas Thes,
Shut the fuck up!
I can smell your breath from my computer screen.
My feeling, we do have different view about corruption and crime.
I know not that bad about the 2 subjects "corruption & crime." They still exist all over the planet. USA or European countries are developed countries, but they still have the problem with corruption and crime.
For a better Cambodia, first we all have to work hard to save the democracy, but please on the way of the Khmer society and Khmer culture.
To 11:33PM
You told me to shut up, I think you afraid that people will read the truth about Cambodia, right?.
I thought, you guys like democracy,why when people speak out about the truth, you want them to shut up?.
Shame on you!
measthes@yahoo.com
Thes Meas, you're support Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime who is killing innocent Khmer peoples.
Do me a favor don't ever tell anyone that you are Khmer, because you make Khmer peoples look bad.
To 12:18AM(anonymous),
You the one that make Khmers look bad, becuase you always talk bad about Khmers, you should be ashame of yourself for called yourself Khmer and talk bad about Khmer to the world. I believe your kids don't even speak, read and write Khmer. And event don't have Khmer names. My kids are born in foreign land and are living in foreign land, but they speak, read and write Khmer fluently and all have Khmer names. I am proud to call my self Khmer, and my kids are proud to call themselves Khmers.
And by the way I think the disgrace Mu Sochua kids are probably don't event speak Khmer.
Budha bless Khmers all.
measthes@yahoo.com
Thes Meas,
The fact that your kids were born in a foreign land, speak, read and write Khmer fluently does not mean anything much to Cambodia if they don't or have not done anything much for the Cambodians and Cambodia, itself.
Don't forget that the Khmer Rouge also speak, write and understand Khmer fluently, but turned out to be the very persons who destroyed Cambodia.
It is good that you teach your kids about Khmer. However, there are other Cambodians or other races who do the same thing to their kids so you have not done anything special to be considerd better.
Your kids were born in a foreign land, whichever it is. They receive or will receive education, healthcare and other necessary services from the government of the country in which you live. Don't you think they also have an obligation to defend and protect the land in which they were born and grow up?
What country do you think the Vietnamese kids who were born in Cambodia should defend when war breaks out between Vietnam and Cambodia?
For me I think they should defend Cambodia, what do you think?
Anet Khmer
To 7:35AM(Anet Khmer)
I hope there won't be war between Cambodia and Vietnam, nor between Cambodia and other nations. But if there is war between Cambodia and Vietnam, I think they should defend Cambodia, but I would not trust thems. For myself and my kids,we do not believe in obligation to the country we borned, but only to our ancestors, which is Cambodia. By the way, we plan to go back to live in Cambodia in near future.
measthes@yahoo.com
Thes Meas,
You sound like a reasonable Khmer who loves your country and ancestors. I would commend you on your love for your native country.
Good luck with whatever plan you make for your family.
Anet Khmer
To 7:35 AM: I am aware that what Thes Meas said is right. Of course, his sound and judge looks original Kmher because what he and kids are doing a right thing for Cambodian and Cambodia.
Why? Because even they are now living in foreign land, but they are not saying bad about their country and people like some of others did. Their indirect contribution is also valuable and important. I agreed with u Thes Meas. Congratulations Thes Meas.
To Thes Meas
You are completely wrong and you cannot represent me.
Do you understand?
I talk bad about Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime not talk bad about innocent Khmer peoples to the world.
Khmer:
Innocent Khmer peoples
Victims of Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime.
Victims of Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime.
Victims of Hun Sen Death Squad.
Victims of Hun Sen's Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Victims of Hun Sen's Phnom Penh Municipal Police.
Khmer Rouge/worse than animal:
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Hun Sen Death Squad (Hun Sen's personal Bodyguards Unit (Brigade 70))
Hun Sen's Phnom Penh Municipal Court
Hun Sen's Phnom Penh Municipal Police
I did not make Khmer Peoples look bad. I make a murderers (Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime) and supporters of a murderers look bad. In fact I defend innocent Khmer Peoples (journalists, political opponents, leader of the free trade union, innocent men, women an children). And you support criminals that kill Khmer peoples. The only reason why I communicate with you is I want you who is unfit to be Khmer to wake up from this comma of supporting criminals. The Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime is actually worse than animal. Animal usually don't kill their own kind, but the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime kill their own peoples. You support murderers (Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime) so this make you worse than animal.
Thes Meas, stop compairing you to me, there is nothing of you that is better than me. Keep in mind that you are not Khmer, you are Khmer Krorhorm (worse than animal) who's support Khmer Rouge killing innocent Khmer peoples.
Why are you talk about your children and others children. This is not about children, it's about you.
Thes Meas, I would like to remind you that you are not Khmer. You are unfit to be Khmer. Khmer peoples don't murder Khmer peoples. Khmer peoples don't support a murderer killing Khmer peoples.
What don't you understand?
You can call yourself Khmer Rouge, Khmer Rouge supporter or worse than animal. But you are not Khmer.
So, don't tell anyone that you are Khmer, because you'll make Khmer peoples look bad.
Thes Meas, if I feel that you're continue to support criminals (Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime), I will give you a title infront of your name. And don't tell me that I don't give you a chance.
To Thes Meas
Also, I will put your name on my hate list.
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