Let shoulder together to successfully join this very important Rally

Op-Ed: Khmer Young

Dear Khmer Compatriots;

So, have you asked yourself what have you done for your country up to now? Have you voiced your concern about your country? Have you ever written letters of protest to those misbehavior leaders? Have you participated any rally or protest to show your solidarity to the world?

This is a chance for all Cambodian diaspora to shoulder together to this rally. Firstly, I am disappointed that the notice of this gathering is likely late, but by our commitment on unity and "walk the walk and walk the talk" philosophy, we have to go there together without procrastination.

Original text of Rally Announcement

Popular proverb keeps saying that "don't expect your country to do something for you, but you have to do something for your country" is truly reflecting to the ups and downs in our motherland, Cambodia. In the past, evidently Cambodian people including their leaders are relying all hopes to the country with one god-king like leader in bringing fate of the nation. Finally, the belief in leadership style of god-king like has brought us suffering and unbreakable trauma.

Current age of globalization, individuals have power to express and act out to define their own fate and family prosperity. People are the owner of the nation, not the leaders are the owner of our fate like a belief in a cave-man age of god-king.

So, have you asked yourself what have you done for your country up to now? Have you voiced your concern about your country? Have you ever written letters of protest to those misbehavior leaders? Have you participated any rally or protest to show your solidarity to the world?

This is a chance for all Cambodian diaspora to shoulder together to this rally. Firstly, I am disappointed that the notice of this gathering is likely late, but by our commitment on unity and "walk the walk and walk the talk" philosophy, we have to go there together without procrastination.

Of course, in this free land, each of us can pursue full rights to demonstrate, rally or dissent our opinion regarding wrong doing of those leaders.

America and Canada, their leaders are happy to be criticized and dissented. Those leaders put their success on the feedbacks of their people, like the retailers can sell much of their products by listening to the needs of the customers.

It is common sense for those brilliant and open-minded leaders to open space for their citizens to criticize and dissent them. It is common sense those practices prevailed them prosperity, democracy, justice and sustainability.

Yes, when we say this, Cambodia is very contradict. All dissenting messages are regarded as anti-government. Government mouthpieces have never sympathized those critics and put those critics into their agenda to successfully serve their people at all.

So this rally is not only an open door for exercising of our rights, but also to help improve livelihood of our brothers and sisters in Cambodia. More than this, it is a good tool for Hun Sen government to consider improve his leadership as well.

Beside of joining the rally, I appreciate the purposes aggregated in this rally agenda, and I would like to add few objectives more such as to request the US-ASIA summit of:
- Returning back all law-makers immunity to allow them exercise their duties freely without fear of political reprisal.
- To stop using court to silence the oppositions and dissents, and open way for the safe return of Sam Rainsy who is the president of Sam Rainsy Party.
- Stop all types of "abusing of power" by the top officers of incumbent government.

However, all suggested objectives of this rally are already absolutely beneficial to Cambodia as whole; and I would like to congratulate Michael Duong for take a lead of this rally and your teamwork to make this day meaningful for Cambodia.

In Solidarity,

Khmer Young