COMMUNIQUÉ
Canada, our adopted home, a nation which holds truths to basic principles and values of human rights, freedom and democracy, that we, as Cambodian-Canadian, once victims of past communist regimes, are able to gather to express our views freely as free men. Not in Cambodia, our former country where democracy has merely existed on paper, and in theory - NOT in real life. Freedom of speech and the press has been taken away to a larger extend, so did was our freedom to a peaceful assembly. Today’s demonstration would have landed all participants in prison, if it were held in Cambodia. As such, we could not be free in Cambodia and so the same can be said to an entire population of Cambodia who are currently waking up to a new reality of political oppression orchestrated under the criminalized defamation act.
As Cambodian-Canadian, we come together on this November 28, 2009, to express our deepest concerns to the deterioration state of democracy in Cambodia once enjoyed under UNTAC. Furthermore, to call on our great Canadian government and donors’ countries to put an end to the systemic violation of human rights and freedom orchestrated by the Cambodian authorities. It is the only way to ensure long term peace and stability of the country as well as the region as stipulated under the spirit of signed Paris Peace Accord 1991.
Since the Cambodian executive body has effective control over three branches of the government, it has used the courts to effectively criminalize anyone on defamation charges, placing strict restriction on freedom of speech, the press and expression. Several journalists and other critics of the government have been imprisoned as a result of such practices.
The stripping immunity from elected members of parliament (MP), Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mrs. Mu Sochua, and Mr. Ho Vann, is a way to intimidate and silence opposition critics. It discourages people’s representatives from speaking out critical of government policies. Furthermore, it prevented them from fulfilling their elected roles and responsibilities.
These are the reasons which led to our gathering today:
- Cambodia has no real separation of powers, only in theory.
- Cambodian National Assembly functions merely as a rubber-stamp institution
- Cambodian Courts are systematically biased - NOT an independent body.
- Legal professionals are subjected to government intimidation as in the case of MP. Mu Sochua vs. PM Hun Sen.
- Journalists and government critics have been jailed or killed while others remain outside the country, convicted in absentia on bogus defamation charges.
- Cambodian government has aggressively acted to seal the mouths of its critics and its political oppositions through its highly vague defamation act.
- On-going land evictions have caused severe hardship on Cambodian victims across the country.
- International Emergency aids were selectively and intentionally given to only the government’s party members and their families while denying others belonging to an opposition groups (reported on Radio Free Asia).
- Stripping immunity from elected members of parliament without any regard for the rights or any concerns of the people whom they represented at their districts.
- Political killings and persecution still remain problematic for those who seek to involve in the process. One opposition activist has been recently axed to death, while many have fled overseas to escape jail times convicted on defamation charges.
- Reconvene on the signed Paris Peace Accord of 1991.
- Pressure Cambodian government to respect its international obligations signed under the Paris Peace Accord of 1991.
- Pressure Cambodian government to end the erosion process of civil liberties by calling for an end to its authoritarian policy and practices.
- Call for an immediate restoration of immunities to all elected members of the National Assembly: Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mrs. Mu Sochua and Mr. Ho Vann.
- Take all necessary steps to force for an overhaul to the highly corrupted Cambodian judiciary system. It’s a must, since the court itself has been totally corrupted through a well managed patronage scheme - Reward and Punishment.
- Call for releases of all imprisoned journalists and an end to political persecution.
- Condemn the flawed defamation law which has been used unconstitutionally to suppress people’s rights and freedom on issues critical to corruption and government’s improper activities.
- Call for an end to forced land evictions.
- Revoke as well as NOT providing Visa entries into the country by any corrupted official, including any human rights violators.
17 comments:
Bravo SRP!!! Down Down pouk ah Viet subservients.
Congratulation!!!
Thank you and welcome the courage. Khmer around the world should do. We are against no one; but fight for the people of Cambodia.
We thank to our heros, our ancestor; not the Yuon communist and also the one who interfers our issue for it envation.
Samaki and reunited to protect our country, our people.
Let freedom rise and parachey a communist ganster and the invader.
YES KHMER, YES KHMER.
NO MORE YOUNS AGRESSOR!
Congratulations!!!
Cry hard Sam Rainsy's people, don't disturb our luxurious life, don't destroy our wealth, actually we are happy with our nice home, car, monies.
We demand the Cambodian government to restore Mr. Sam Rainsy immunity as soon as possible or the riot and chaos will be taken place in Phnom Penh and in front of Hun Sen's Strong hole at Ta Kmao.
Bravo SRP!
Death to CPP!
Death to King Sihamoney!
Death to all khmer Traitors and Nation Traitors!!!
Great job Khmer in Canada. Keep on the courage. Only the outside Khmer can help bring down the CPP-Hanio.
we[khmer brothers,sisters in canada] won't let pouk Bonn Bo Re Wa Youn Cpp sell cambodia To Youn. we will fight to death,and we keep on eye on Cpp's member in Canada.
PaRa Chey Pouk Ah Cpp Youn slaves ! Para chey Pouk Ah Cpp Khmer blood sucker ! ParaCchey Pouk Ah Cpp Kbot Jiet khmers....!
Congratulations Khmer Canadian especially those had travel from Montreal area. Your voices will keep democracy in our motherland alive and that the most important we can give to our Khmer brothers and sister there. Thanks you. Thanks you very much.
Does anyone has clue who is CPP 2:03AM dog is? I think this short tail small brain lives in Montreal area.
warning to Youn slaves cpp's member oversea,Don't be so happy To abuse khmer farmers.the real justice will prevail. not Hanoi's court.o.k.....
Thank you Khmer Canada for effort in helping out our motherland.
Let's call out to all Khmer from around the world for UNITY and SOLIDARITY.
Together we can!
Let the c'kar k'baal bai know that we're not going out without a fight.
We must act now in order to preserve our country as will as our ancestry.
Thank you dear Cambodian brothers and sisters that sacrifice your precious times gathering and demonstrating for our home land for the thirst of the democracy of Cambodians that cpp is the viet's puppet government controlling the freedom.
SRP... if you don't see coffin you don't drop your tears?
You will see "Tong kmaoch" infront of your house soon.
i need CppYoun slaves.hurry up! we pay excellent ! hurry Up ! Only cpp oversea.
canada don't even have an embassy in cambodia anymore! go figure!
All the cpp living in usa, canada and europe go to cambodia to pay tax in our home country
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