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| Undated photo of Chak Sopheap. (RFA) |
RFA
A writer and activist talks about her work and her hopes for Cambodia.
Chak Sopheap, 25, holds a Master’s Degree in Peace Relations from the International University of Japan and has published English-language articles on the international website Global Voices Online, focusing on corruption, the democratic process, and freedom of expression. She also works with the Cambodian Center for Human Rights and is a founder of Youth Network for Change, a voluntary group dedicated to social change through participation in community events and youth camping. Born in Cambodia’s Kompong Cham province, she now lives in Phnom Penh with her parents and siblings.
"I am very much interested in writing the way researchers do—not leaning toward any one group in civil society or in human rights. I like to write to express the viewpoint of an independent researcher … I have noticed that a lot of people are interested in what I’ve written for Global Voices Online. People from Bangladesh, France, and Russia have translated them into their own languages and have contacted me in person to learn about the situation in Cambodia.
"My family was not well-off. We lived in need, because when my father left Kompong Cham for Phnom Penh, he came alone. By then, he only had one old bike. He struggled to earn a living and later saved up enough to buy a row house, which cost quite a lot at the time. I think that if it had not been for my father’s efforts, this day would not have come for me.
"I received my Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations at Cambodia University, and in Economics at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia. Later, I continued my studies overseas—I had always longed to further my studies in Japan and the United States … I was so proud to be able to study in Japan.
"For the time being, I want to put the knowledge I received during my studies in Japan to use in my country by continuing the work of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights and by working with friends and other civil-society groups, sharing the experience and knowledge that I have. In the meantime, I want to become an independent analyst.
"I am convinced that the more we human beings come to know each other, the more we will reduce our misunderstandings and disputes, and thus help our country become more tolerant. We can help to build peace among us, which is my first goal. The second goal I long for is to see our youth share their experiences so that they can generate more ideas and initiatives to help develop our society."
Original interview by Naline Pea. Khmer service director: Sos Kem.
23 comments:
Good luck on your work Sopheap! Khmer mentality in Cambodia is a milestone away from those who educated in the modern world.
Time change and so should Cambodia.
Best wishes....
Congratulation Sopheap for your works and dedication to your writtings. All Khmer are proud of you. I know I do.
Dear Sopheap
I love you, sister. So proud of you. Only young generation now can take ownership of Cambodia and move it forward.
Work hard, think hard, study hard will help Khmer rebuild.
I know you very well, Sopheap. And as always, I am very very proud of you. Keep the momentum. Good luck!!!
I'd share the same sentiment that every one has - you make us proud, Sopheap!
Cambodia will have a brighter future if more young folks work hard like you.
Show HS and BUn runny that you have to go to school to receive a degree, not just bought from the street and wear them on the shoulder: Dr. Bun Runny and Dr. Hun Sen without going to school... shame on HS & BUn Runy.
HS & BUn runy need to go to school please... dont earn a degree with out going to school.
HS & bun runny look down on education.
cpp.......anti-CPP.........pP
THE QUOTE " TUMPEANG SNORNG RUSSEY " ALWAYS SCARES ME. ASSUMING
YOU ARE TUMPAING, DID YOU FIND OUT
WHICH RUSSEY YOU PLAN TO SNORNG?
SIHANOUK, MONIQUE, HENG SAMRIN, CHEA SIM,HUN SEN, BUN RANY... WHY
NOT JUST BE YOURSELF, BE A KHMER
AND HELP OTHER KHMERS TO STAY KHMERS? WITH RESPECTS FROM AN OLD
MAN NEXT DOOR!!!imonas
The old generation(72 yrs old man) shows respect to Sopheap,the new Generation Me.Grandpa is very proud of you.Keep up your good work.
That man look like a girl.
HEY have respect for any educated Khmer, esp. Srey Khmer, watch what you saying to any Khmer woman out there.
Srey Khmer is intelligent, smart, and kind heart.
She is your sister, your mother, aunty, and maybe your daughter...
Have respect for any person....
Congratulation Sopheap!
It is great to see new generation with knowledges and universal mind.
Your perseverance has paid off and you have achieved what you set off to do.
As a cambodian,I am very proud of you and your success.
Your bright mind and not corrupted will have an impact to our social change for better.
Peasant
Khmer Tumpeangs are growing weak and sloppy. When they become Reussey, they are fragile.
You are and small others Khmers Tumpeang successed and smart but not enough to pull off Cambodia from the deep hole.
Congratulation Sopheap,
Thanks for your spirit of the Koun Khmer's heart..
Indeed, your mom is very happy that all her cooking have been nurture a true Koun Khmer that dedicate herself not just to her family but to her nation!
If someone shows respect to other person,s/he,indeed,will get the respect back.Why Khmer lack of educated people,Khmer Rouge killed them(three years and eight months,there were no schools).The 30 years in Hhun Sen rule how much can Khmer Generation Me get through high eduction?
This girl worked so hard to get her Master Degree.
If someone here gets a high educated or not,they showed respect to Sopheap;if s/he didn't,s/he disrespect her.
11:58 pm - you are going a bit too far...why should anybody show respect to her? If anybody want to show respect to her because it is truely come from their heart, but you can't ask people to recpect just because she get a master!
If you have been in Cambodia, you can see many "generation me" that got high degree from abroad, they are humble, dedicate and taking to be a part of the process to rebuild Cambodia. You should hangout with the "generation me" some time in PP or anywhere in Cambodia - than you will see that there are many more Koun Khmers in the country are dedicate to build the nation!
So don't be so idolize this one person...you could spoil her! She could think that she is the only one that can build the country...than she will be big introuble! Because...building a nation,it needs to tak a councert efford from each and everyone of Koun Khmer to rise up to their duty to protect and to rebuild their nation. In addition Khmer nation is not just belong to her, but belong to all Koun Khmers, thus, all Koun Khmers have the right to rebuild Khmer nation and design the society the way they want...
so 11:50 - not so extream OK - calm down...look wise and deep into Khmer's future and for khmer future..
dang it mango. Is it just me or anyone else too who notice that she looks exactly like the "Ugly Betty" but in a Cambodian version. Lol.
She is one "Ugly Betty" Cambodian.
OMG! She is so ugly. She would scare the readers away, because of her look. Poor child! Do something, would you? No offend, people! and she's only 25? she looks like 50. Oh! look at the big scary mold? BTW, I would run away if I ever see her face to face.
2:49 am
She is even more uglier than the "Ugly Betty" LOl!!!
2:49AM, 4:39AM, and 4:41AM
The three of you, if you are not one individual who imitates to generate negative comments for your joyful ignorant, have you ever carefully looked at yourself in the mirror?
Perhaps you may be bestowed with a good look by nature, but your personal self looks much worse than a monster. Your words to describe this young lady are
unacceptable to a common sense, and damaging to one self esteem.
I urge you to reconsider your behavior and cautiously exercise your freedom of speech. This is not funny, and not only reflecting your idiotic fracas, but creating disharmony among us here who are trying to promote and support KAUN KHMERS achievement.
I am sure of Sopheap's intelligent and confident to deal with such UGLY comments, and would forgive your irresponsible self destruction in this matter without denting her high developing spirits.
Remember, it's not cool to be a bully.
Yeay Tep
2:49AM, 4:39AM, and 4:41AM,
Look at yourselves closely in a mirror!
Do you think you look good and handsome? Are you living in a western country?
If so, go and ask a beautiful white girl if she would date you.
If she says "No" and asks you to get lost, then you know that you may not look as handsome as you think you do and perhaps in her mind you look really horrible.
Don't feel bad! You deserve it as your comment on Sopheap is not only unacceptable, but it also shows your lack of good and decent character and good manner as a good Khmer man.
Shame on all of you!
IT SHOULD RATHER SAY, TUMPIENG WILL REPLACE RUSSEI. THEREFORE THERE MUST BE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT TUMPIENG ARE WELL NOURISHED AND READY TO REPLACE RUSSEI.
8:38 am,
YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN! BUT FOR SURE THESE TUMPIENG DEFINATELY NEED THE SHADE OF RUSSEI TO BE WELL PROTECT THE TUMPIENG BEFORE IT CAN REPLACE THE RUSSEI. THUS, I HOPE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE RUSSEI THAT HELP THE TUMPIENG TO GROVE WELL AND STRONG!
Relax, people, relax!!!
Seriously, people? if you don't call this ugly, what would you call? KI shouldn't have posted her picture in the first place. What were you thinking? I know she's intelligent and all that but beauty? ZERO. She should bleach her skin and seek cosmetic work.
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