Democratic crusader ... Chhay Son lives at Morphettville but is a member of the Cambodian Parliament.20 Jul 10
By David Goldsmith
Guardian Messenger (Australia)
THE quiet streets of Morphettville are far removed from the government halls of Phnom Penh.
But Chhay Son is equally at home in both.
As a member of the Cambodian Parliament since 1993, the 54-year-old spends large chunks of each year away from his family - wife Christina and their three children - and his comfortable Adelaide house.
But it’s a sacrifice the one-time refugee is prepared to make to promote democracy in the country of his birth, still bearing the scars of the bloody Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s.
“I like doing this sort of work because I believe I can contribute something,” the former high school teacher says of his role as an opposition MP.
“But without the support of my family you cannot do these sorts of things.
“They know what I’m doing there and that I’m not fooling around I’m committed to promoting democracy in the country and in the region.”
Mr Son was recognised with an OAM in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his service to international relations and to the community through the Cambodian-Australian Association of SA, which he helped establish in 1981, soon after his arrival in Adelaide.
He says the group aimed to help make life a little easier for others who had also fled the war-torn country.
“Many of them did not speak a word of English, particularly the older people and they found themselves really isolated,” he says.
“So I did what I could to set up the association to bring them together and support them to resettle in this new country.”
And while he enjoys his political role, he says there is “nothing better” than being back in Adelaide with his family.
“I don’t get much sleep in Phnom Penh,” he laughs.
“The country is still not able to enjoy the type of security I enjoy here.
“You feel 100 per cent secure (here), you’re with the family and you can have a good night’s sleep.
“I don’t wake up in the middle of the night and worry about anything.”
But Chhay Son is equally at home in both.
As a member of the Cambodian Parliament since 1993, the 54-year-old spends large chunks of each year away from his family - wife Christina and their three children - and his comfortable Adelaide house.
But it’s a sacrifice the one-time refugee is prepared to make to promote democracy in the country of his birth, still bearing the scars of the bloody Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s.
“I like doing this sort of work because I believe I can contribute something,” the former high school teacher says of his role as an opposition MP.
“But without the support of my family you cannot do these sorts of things.
“They know what I’m doing there and that I’m not fooling around I’m committed to promoting democracy in the country and in the region.”
Mr Son was recognised with an OAM in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his service to international relations and to the community through the Cambodian-Australian Association of SA, which he helped establish in 1981, soon after his arrival in Adelaide.
He says the group aimed to help make life a little easier for others who had also fled the war-torn country.
“Many of them did not speak a word of English, particularly the older people and they found themselves really isolated,” he says.
“So I did what I could to set up the association to bring them together and support them to resettle in this new country.”
And while he enjoys his political role, he says there is “nothing better” than being back in Adelaide with his family.
“I don’t get much sleep in Phnom Penh,” he laughs.
“The country is still not able to enjoy the type of security I enjoy here.
“You feel 100 per cent secure (here), you’re with the family and you can have a good night’s sleep.
“I don’t wake up in the middle of the night and worry about anything.”
21 comments:
The Guardian Messenger forgets to mention about Son Chhay used to work as a spy for Hun Sen during late 1990s and he had betrayed the party (Son San's party) which has created his political life.
Son Chhay's wife is not native Australian. She has migranted from Ukrain.
Lim Samet, Adelaide city
Lim Samet, why you're not died with Son San party ?
For you, a Australian not native is not a woman ?
Then you're a half-man ?
I believe 100% that you are not able to understand what I mean because you are an idiot..
It is hard to do something good, but some people on this page, did not understand of the reality. Therefore we should concentrate in talking about his work helping our country, but not about his private life or family background.
My congratulation Mr. Son Chhay for his courage and work for our country.
A Khmer from Europe
Mr:Son Chhay used to work as a spy for Hun Sen during late 1990 as he don't know Prime Minister Hun Sen Yuonese / Vietnamese slaver before, after he find out Hun Sen work & Yunoese / Vietnames slaver and now he work hard with Mr:Sam Reangy party, and our Khmer should know that from 1975 to 1979 during Khmer Rough / Pol Pot regime under A cruel Vampire Yuonese / Vietnamese hidden faces behind the killing fields already under Yunoese / Vietnamese control and the year 1975 to 1979 under Yuonese / Vietnamese control and kill our Khmer more than 3 millions Victim dies, because one of my cousin brother he's Yuonese / Vietnamese secret agent before the year 1975 & till 1977 the Yuonese / Vietnamese no longer used and killed him. from Cambodian Victim Melbourne Australia
To 5:48pm
Neither can I.
Can you translate your phrase into English? You said "For you, a Australian not native is not a woman ? Then you're a half-man ?"
To 4:20pm
What's wrong with a "party switching?" Mr. Son may have thought he could help to change CPP but when he saw no chances, so he switched parties to SRP.
H.E. Mu Sochua was a member of CPP, and she too switched parties.
Son Chay is still working for HS. He still receiving his money secretly. Who know that Mu Sochua is a Viet spy sending to make trouble for Cambodia. Make us internally fighting each other all the times so that we cannot unite and strong.
TWISTED!!!
7:28pm
Judge the results of his work not him as a person.
Look who's talking? You are a spy yourself. I'm used to see these tricks, and don't expect to fool me. H.E. Son Chhay is doing a great work for his country.
Why trying to smear her (H.E. Mu Sochu) good name? Mu Sochua is not Youn name, it's Chinese. She is doing a great work for her country and her Khmer people.
Mu-Lan, the Chinese Woman Warrior
By Elisabetta LeJeune
Mu means Wood, and Lan means Orchid.
Hua means China, combined with Soc in Khmer means Peace.
Don't try to smear H.E. Mu SocHua good name.
I support her fight against Hun Sen's dirty policies.
I never know him personally, but I admire him for being constant in what he's been doing for his party and for Khmer people so far. Good luck, Mr. Chhay Son.
Don't be so stupid. A Viet spy do not use Vietnamese name. They would use Khmer or Chinese name to disguise themselves.
Do you know how under cover operation work? They seem to do good job on the outside, but feed the information to the enemy from behind. Do you know why HS know everything about the opposition plans? Because he has people in SRP leadership feeding him intelligent.
There are couple of dishonest people here trying to cause distrust among Cambodian people... so just be careful to negative bloggers...
HAY!!! all of you!
if you want to know WHO yourn or khmer... it's easy to know...
ANYTHING REGUARDING YOURN LIKE BOTHERS DISPUTE OR LAND OR YOURN PEOPLE SPILL OVER SROKE KHMER 5-6 MILLEANS SINCE 1979 TILL NOW... OR BUIL HOME FOR YOURN OR GIVE A LOTS THE LAND TO YOURN OR GIVE YOURN SO MUCH POWER AND RIGHT TO LIVING IN KHMER
5:48PM, Cool down dude, and stop calling people idiot. If you're so smart, how come your English is so poor?
Lim Samet - can you shed some more light on Mr. Son Chhay past political affiliation?
Thanks,
8:04 - It looks like you need to dig much deeper just to have some basic idea of what and how the "spy" world works.
How do you know what go through a person mind? It would be a deadly mistake to judge or trust a person based on his/her name and appearance.
i think it is a good sign that cambodia allows overseas educated khmer to participate in gov't there.
Think about this,
I beleive the time is enough for Hun Sen. He is real the King of TERRORIST in Cambodia. All the Khmer parties should file him to UN Court. Get him to UN-COURT as soon as possible.
Do we still keep him ruling in Cambodia or it's time for him to face with justice?
I am a spy.You are a spy .We are one big fucking spy .
Congratulation MO Son Chhay. You are a role model for many khemr who fights for justice for our country. Whatever your adversary says about you, ignore it. Keep doing what you are doing for the sake of our country. Your adversay has nothing to do for the good of Cambodian but bickering.
Again congratulation !!
From WA
មើលមួយភ្លែត ស្មានតែ ហ៊ាឆាយ ចិនកាប់ជ្រូក
នៅផ្សារដើមគរ។
8:35pm
Youn spies, Hun Sen spies you name it, they are all over, but leave H.E. Mu Soc Hua out of your evil agency in the plot.
She was sent to study abroad before Cambodia fell to Communist.
Youn keep encroaching into Cambodia and Yuon want Hun Sen to stay. H.E. Mu wants Hun Sen out, and he needs to be.
Don't you again try to force Khmer people to canabalism like you did to them in KR regime.
When I said you I assumed you don't love Khmers, and you know whom I referred to.
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