Public Press Release in Response to H.E. Hem Heng, Cambodian Ambassador to US

April 22, 2010

To: All leaders, Members, General Publics and Media
From: Office of the Secretariat
Subject: CPP’s Propaganda on defection

Dear Friends,

The recent claim made by H.E. Hem Heng on the number of Cambodian-American and SRP-defection to the CPP was a political propaganda designed to fool people abroad and especially at home while the truth remains on the contrary.

This new propaganda campaign by the CPP-led government to lure Cambodian-American and others can be concluded as a positive sign, especially for Cambodia since it proves once again the government needs us and rather badly at this time, given the economic demise and political pressure inside the land. Unfortunately, the government prefers only our hard-earned cash, not our votes or political participation – a point many seem to overlook and seemingly content to be used and abused politically whenever it suits the government’s needs and taste. Not too long ago, many of the CPP supporters, including some low level officials have dished out at Cambodian abroad for fleeing the country under its repressive regime and for holding a dual-nationality.

Given issues facing the country today on all fronts: economic mismanagement, systemic corruptions, forced land evictions, border encroachments, false charges and judicial wrongful convictions, illegal logging and continued deforestation, and the political bullying of its main opposition, the government is trying hard to convince donors’ nations to overlook its own failure and credibility and getting Cambodian-American abroad to play American politics to its tune would be a new hope of consolidating its power and attract free money from donors.

One must understand the critical role Cambodian-American and others abroad are playing in shaping up the country’s future. It is a very encouraging sign to see that finally the government recognized the important contribution of Cambodian overseas, although it falls very short of allowing them to be a full-fledged Cambodian, by not allowing them to vote like other free people. Cambodian-American has played a political role in making a UN Comprehensive Peace Settlement possible at the foot-dragging of the pro-Hanoi regime, and it was Cambodian-American that have come together in defend of nation’s interests which eventually led to this new realization by the government of Cambodia. It is proving more than ever now that Cambodian-American and Cambodian abroad at large have the political clouds and necessary financial resources, the world class education to help shape Cambodian politics back home – something the CPP and its pro-Vietnam supporters are fearful most. As a result of such thinking, it has done all it could to deny Cambodian abroad, from day one during the negotiating process leading up to Paris Peace Accord, any significant political role in the democratic process, except sending cash, making pleasure trips to feed up the government’s somewhat mismanagement economic and social policy – the rich is getting richer and the poor are scrambling for food and shelters while others are on the list of being forced out due to development projects mapped out on the horizon.

We have seen a new game being deployed behind the cultural and religious scenes with a certain political inclination in order to try to promote the CPP’s popularity abroad. For a fact, a fund raising event was held to help Haitian quake victims was purportedly presented on Khmer TV Live by one of the CPP’s friend pretending that Cambodian-Montreal were celebrating January 7, 1979 which it wasn’t to start with. It caused enormous resentment in the community and those who showed up for the good cause they believed in. Was the CPP is trying to present to the donors’ nations and the free world that it has solid supports abroad while in reality it has very little, if any? Or is it simply loosing trust among Cambodian mass inside the land due to its long corrupted policies and practices? The jailing of farmers in defending of Vietnam’s planted poles deep inside Cambodia’s territory does not help the CPP-led government’s own image or argument, but rather damaging for good.

Without serious changes to political policies affecting dignity and existence of Khmer abroad it would be hard press for the CPP to convince most affluent Cambodian-American and else where to support it cause, solely for the money aspect. The Cambodian-American can play a vital role in rebuilding their nation, and it has to include all aspects of life, whether politics, economics or even education.

The Cambodian government needs to do a lot more than just asking for free money and encouraging Cambodian abroad to send in cash to prop up its repressive policy. It needs to have a more inclusive policy on Khmer account, a better treatment of Cambodian people vis-à-vis foreigners, abroad and inside the land. Otherwise, given the size and number of Cambodian-American communities across USA, 400-500 people, if that is true although highly questionable, after all these years since the opening day of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Cambodian government has a lot of works on its hands to come up with such a mediocre number – nothing much to brag about to only a drop in a bucket.

Cambodian-American and those living abroad are quite unique, educated most and they know their history well. It is unlikely that loving and caring Cambodian-American will play to the puppet tune of a highly pro-foreign government so long they remain in America.

His Excellency can spin on the number of defection and success of his membership drives abroad, but the reality remain still by far, USA is Sam Rainsy’s country and will remain as such until there is a complete change of attitude, policies and practices that genuinely serve real interests of the Cambodian people and their nation – something that the Cambodian government has failed and failed gravely.

The Secretariat of SRP-NA

Cc: Office of the President