Wednesday, 06 January 2010
By Sophan Seng Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
Dear Editor,
Reading your article “Three more sought in removal of post at Svay Rieng border” (January 4) broke my heart.
The villagers should be congratulated and taken care of by the government for their courage in publicly claiming their ownership of the rice paddies and denouncing the violation of their territory by Vietnamese authorities who have mismanaged the process of demarcating the border. Instead, as unbelievable as it may sound, these five farmers face a terrifying fate and the loss of their status as “good” citizens.
There have been different interpretations of this story within the media, but at the end of the day, no one can deny the truth: Cambodian people living along the borders with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam no longer dare voice their concerns about neighbouring countries encroaching on their territory and stealing their land for fear of reprisals.
On one hand, the government may have good reason to accuse opposition leader Sam Rainsy of acting as a provocateur in bringing news of Vietnam’s mismanagement of border posts to the public. But on the other hand, the government is following a course of action that could rob Cambodia of its strength as a nation and destroy the immunity of every parliamentarian.
At the grassroots level, Cambodian people living along the border will no longer dare to stand up and protest against the theft of their land by neighbouring countries. At the national level, parliamentarians – both government and opposition – will lose confidence in their abilities to serve the genuine interests of the people.
The government must evaluate the situation fairly if it is to effecctively represent the nation’s interests. I would like to appeal to the government to restore the prowess of elected parliamentarians and allow them to fulfil their duties, which are more important than those of the lower court of Svay Rieng. I would also like to appeal to the government to drop all charges against the five farmers – Prak Chea, Neang Phally, Prak Koeun, Meas Srey and Prom Chea – and release them without condition.
Sophan Seng
University of Hawaii
Full link: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010010630653/National-news/a-plea-from-afar.html
Reading your article “Three more sought in removal of post at Svay Rieng border” (January 4) broke my heart.
The villagers should be congratulated and taken care of by the government for their courage in publicly claiming their ownership of the rice paddies and denouncing the violation of their territory by Vietnamese authorities who have mismanaged the process of demarcating the border. Instead, as unbelievable as it may sound, these five farmers face a terrifying fate and the loss of their status as “good” citizens.
There have been different interpretations of this story within the media, but at the end of the day, no one can deny the truth: Cambodian people living along the borders with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam no longer dare voice their concerns about neighbouring countries encroaching on their territory and stealing their land for fear of reprisals.
On one hand, the government may have good reason to accuse opposition leader Sam Rainsy of acting as a provocateur in bringing news of Vietnam’s mismanagement of border posts to the public. But on the other hand, the government is following a course of action that could rob Cambodia of its strength as a nation and destroy the immunity of every parliamentarian.
At the grassroots level, Cambodian people living along the border will no longer dare to stand up and protest against the theft of their land by neighbouring countries. At the national level, parliamentarians – both government and opposition – will lose confidence in their abilities to serve the genuine interests of the people.
The government must evaluate the situation fairly if it is to effecctively represent the nation’s interests. I would like to appeal to the government to restore the prowess of elected parliamentarians and allow them to fulfil their duties, which are more important than those of the lower court of Svay Rieng. I would also like to appeal to the government to drop all charges against the five farmers – Prak Chea, Neang Phally, Prak Koeun, Meas Srey and Prom Chea – and release them without condition.
Sophan Seng
University of Hawaii
Full link: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2010010630653/National-news/a-plea-from-afar.html
11 comments:
Very good article, and thank you for speaking up on behave of all khmer particularly those farmer who been unjustly accused.
Time to rise up, speak up for each other khmer.
God bless all khmer and cambodia
I agree with all Khmer patriot.
Very brilliant and courageous article.
Thanks Sophan
Please realize that the Vietnamese were the master mind behind Pol Pot's killing Machine. They just fooled you and millions of other people. The Killing Field was committed by Viet/Hanoi.
Yes the French and the Americans left without leaving any hidden forces behind. However the Vietnamese, never left, they don't play fair like the other countries. They only pretended to leave. They made sure that they installed a Cambodian government that would work for them in realizing the Vietnamization of Cambodia. They shipped so many Vietnamese people to come and live in Cambodia. Sadly they will slowly take over Cambodia, because we have a crooked government that works for Vietnam and no Cambodians are not biased towards Vietnam, Vietnam has worked really hard over the centuries to earn our much deserved hatred and disgust for them. They learned from their former colonizer, Communist China. They are both evil countries, no regards for human rights, just only after their own national interest!
10:41 AM
From the continuation of history can we see this thing this way:
Viet have crouched into South East Asia for centeries and never sease to stop (It swallow whole of CHAM) and big chunk of Cambodia! already)
Just in mordern history after the end of Frech era the vietnamese had kidnap Cambodia Kids for future traine to controled Cambodia (Exemple: Pen Sovan)
This show that the Vietnamese Communist has a long long time plane to take over Cambodia!
In 1975 the Vietnamese Communist create Pol Pot and help Pol Pot take over Cambodia ( Vietnamese motherfucker is the creator of the killer monster Pol Pot)
After helped and doctrinated Pol Pot to Kill millions of Cambodia, motherfucker Vietnamese creat and invasion so they can get credit as a good guy and save the live of its spies (Hor NamHong, Kiet Chorn, and the liked)
Can any body see the fucking evil of the Vietnamese motherfucker!
May lightning strike the traitors of the nations and religion!
And motherfuckers go to hell!!!!!!
5:22 AM
5:26 AM
VN and Hun Sen have put a trap to catch Sam Rainsy off guard. The fake border marks were intentionally installed but not an official mark there to provoke Sam Rainsy to step into the trap. It is Hun Sen and VN plan all along.
Now other border marks at the same areas were pulled back after Sam Rainsy has stepped into the trap and stucked there.
I feel sad for Sam Rainsy but I pray for him to find way to come back. To step into a jail may not a bad thing, he may be end up garvanize his base supporters and sympathizersto his cause. the bad thing is has to endure hardship whiel he was in prison. Mandela was put in jail for more than twenty years. Penn Sovann was in VN jail for more than ten years
Sam Rainsy has never feared to make a mess in Cambodia because he always realised on his last resort is writing a apologise letter to Hun Sen, but now, thing is changed and the door is locked.
There are two things that Sam Rainsy has to decide:
1. Goes back to Cambodia to faces the Court and prepare himself goes to jail if the Court convicted him.
2. Give up politics and keeps living in France as long as he likes.
Some analysis already said that Sam Rainsy is not brave like Mrs. Aung San Suu Yi in Burma. He is the runner, but not a fighter.
Cheers.
Hun Sen is a real provocateur to divide Cambodians and bring benefit to VN.
Sam Rainsy will get his way back home under the pressure of western countries.
Now 3 American representatives till urge Hun Sen not to turn Cambodia into totalitarian state and allow Sam Rainsy back home safely.
9:57AM, your statement is not true at all.
9:57
You need to realize who the bad guys and the good guys are, because you haven't got a clue! Mr. Sam Rainsy is a true Patriot, and in the end good will triumph over evil. Hun Sen and all of CPP will meet their deserved fate soon!
Aung San Suu Yi is indeed a brave woman, but she has been under house arrest for how many years now, no word from her at all. The world knows nothing about Burma anymore, the situation in Burma is no longer of importance to the world. How much good Can Mr. Rainsy do for the people of Cambodia if he is locked up in jail, then again, Hun Sen will likely kill him and say it was suicide.
I congratulate the courage our 5 fellow Cambodian farmer have in highlighting these fact to the world of CPP stuff up that as expected to the gain of Vietnam.
I hear recently during the nights Vietnam authorities have quickly & swiftly gone and remove the temporary boarder posts without NO prosecution since the posts was on Cambodian Land, to aviod further risk if UN boarder expert happend to drop by unannouce to check the markers.
Can someone please tell me if those people on Vietnam side who remove the posts are being prosecuted like our Hero farmers and the powerless MP Sam Rainsy?
I am so ready to make sacrafice to defend the Motherland if she needs help to force the illegal Viets out of our land.
Khmer soldier USA
Post a Comment