In Remembrance of a Slain Hero, CHEA Vichea
A tribute to my friend assassinated 7 years ago this January 22 for his courage and his advocacy of democracy and labor rights.
We will never forget you.
WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?
1. Screening at the University of Michigan, 14 January 2011
A film clip of Born Samnang accused by the Cambodian government of killing Chea Vichea, here paraded before the press corps by the Cambodian police. 
Dr. Allen Hicken (director of University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies) introduces the panelists after the screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea?: Theary C. Seng, Prof. Nick Rine, Prof. John Ciorciari
Theary C. Seng, Prof. Nick Rine (Univ. Mich. Law School), Prof. John Ciorciari (Univ. Mich. School of Public Policy) discussing the film and the current state of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.
Dr. Allen Hicken, Theary C. Seng, Dr. Dorasy Paul (a friend from Theary’s law school years who received her Ph.D. in anthropology at Univ. of Michigan), Kate Wright (program manager at Center for Southeast Asian Studies) after the screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea?
2. Private screening in Manhattan, March 2010
Theary Seng with director Bradley Cox of "Who Killed Chea Vichea?" at Matt's Grill after a private screening of this brilliant labor of love!! New York City, 25 March 2010.
Thursday, 25 March 2010 A.M.
I am very much looking forward to the private screening with director Bradley Cox later this afternoon here in Manhattan.
This is a very brave film about a very brave person in a very brave movement by a very brave director and very brave producer!
I was honored to count Chea Vichea a good friend since 1995 upon my first return to Cambodia. We continued working (more accurately, 'volunteering') together as the labor movement took roots in 1997 with the mushrooming of the garment factories as a result of President Clinton's bestowing Most Favored Nation status to Cambodia.
In January 2004, I remember nonchalantly asking the driver of the law firm tasked to pick me up from the airport, "So, what's new here?"
"They killed Chea Vichea." I felt like lightning had struck me dead; it was not an answer I expected upon my move back to live in Cambodia. The assassination which occurred in broad daylight at a very busy intersection in the city center took place while I was in the air. My law firm warned me not to participate in any social/political movements, particularly not to take part in the funeral procession; I attended anyway, but stayed on the outskirts of the thousands-strong crowd, left to my own thoughts, floating about and in and out in a daze.
BRAVO! BRAVO! to you, Brad and Rich, for making this film !!
Here I am (middle, back) with Chea Vichea (4th from right) and other labor rights and democracy activists, including the first leader of the Free Trade Union of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUKC), Ms. OU Mary, sitting down (Phnom Penh, 1996).
Chea Vichea, 2nd from right.
Thursday, March 25 P.M.
I just watched the final version of Who Killed Chea Vichea? - a heart-and-soul, labor of love documentary film about the labor activist who was gunned down in broad daylight; the government wanted to send a message.
I watched this under-60 minute film, slated for PBS in the United States, with its brilliant, passionate, self-less director Bradley Cox at his makeshift office at the prime real estate of Columbus Circle of New York City. He had dedicated 5 years of his life, with absolutely no income, to make this story realized.
It's a brilliant, excellent, high-quality film which will win every award... I would not be surprised!
I had watched Plastic Killers, the in-production version of this very polished, highly professional Who Killed Chea Vichea?, when it was introduced in Cambodia and quickly, effectively confiscated by the police a year or so ago. Whereas Plastic Killers' values lie in the intense, probing, telling detailed information for an audience who already know Cambodia, this Who Killed Chea Vichea? is altogether a different film and strikes the perfect balance of information and context to absorb the general audience who may not know anything about Chea Vichea, or for that matter, Cambodia.
It's a must-see film for everyone !!!!!
Theary C. SENG
New York City, 25 March 2010
23 comments:
Hi Mike, in Cambodia not many people use internet because they are low educated and poor. and most people who use internet are educated people. Most people who use internet and KI blog are supporters of Sam Rainsy or they like Sam Rainsy. But most people voted for Hoon Xen, then most people who voted for Hoon Xen are stupid, low education. So most of CPP supporters and members including you are idiot, fool and stupid like their boss, Hoon. So if Sam Rainsy leads the country it must be better than Hoon.
Anyone is better than Hun Sen.
ដួចវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីឥញ្ចឹងអាពួកនេះវាមិនដែលចេះជួយ
ពលរដ្ធខ្មែរទេពីព្រោះអាពួកទាំងនេះវាមិនមែនជាខ្មែរនោះទេ។ខ្មែរមកនៅសហរដ្ធអាមេរិករាប់ឆ្នាំពួកវា
មិនដែលរាយការប្រាប់រដ្ធាភិបាលអាមេរិកថាពលរដ្ធខ្មែរលំបាកលំបិនយ៉ាណានោះទេ។អាពួកនេះខ្ញុំស្គាល់
តាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៨០មកពួកវាមិនដែលនិយាយពាក្យមួយ
មាត់ថាពលរដ្ធខ្មែរទាំងក្នុងស្រុកនឹងក្រៅលំបាកនោះទេ។ដួច្នេះសូមពលរដ្ធកុំសូវជឿអាពួកទាំង
ហ្នឹងពេក។វាប្រណៅតែកូនពួកវាក៏មិនបានផង។
I want to be like Mike.
Nobody knows nothing and nobody knows everything.
Educated or not, people have feeling and thoughts. Some educated people are wild and bad; some uneducated are good and have good heart; some others are educated and evil like Hun Sen; and some are modern but stupid like Sihanouk.
10:06PM! Hun Sen sound sooooooo Stuuuuuupid too!
let swere to your mother Can you say Hun Sen not stupid after listen to his speach?
Not to voi but the meaning and reasoning! I better to call stupid if I can be different from Hun Sen.
Is the girld plan to be PM of Camboia or mis Cabodia?
ney
nakk mean vijja te khvah panha chatt dukk tha min la'ar.
Who had knowledge but lack of wisdom regarded is not good, like Mr. mike he has knowledge but he has not wisdom.
Chao sambhass
And once more, photos of Theary. Why can she not just post her stuff on her own page? Why does even the most insignificant information that is vaguely related to Theary must be posted here, along with her photos? Its ridiculous.
it's pathetic to see people who cannot see Theary Seng's achievement.
All comments against her including vulgar term, they're only made her even famous through others eyes.
Theary Seng does not need to consult with you guys or ask your permission to do what she wants or wanted to achieve. She just did it as you can see with your own eyes wide shut.
It amuses me to see your comments to discredit her... and you cannot do a thing to bit her standard.
It's even more pathetic that they cannot accept a pretty woman with brains. Their brains are so puny, they cannot compute this, specially for Cambodian women to be smarter then them.
it's funny because i don't think Theary cares as she continues to do what she does.
I agreed with 4:57pm you'r right .
Mike just wants to get seat from CPP next term.
WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?
HUN SEN!!
Liberation through Invasion ( Theary Seng in her own words January 06, 2010 in KI)
No one could reasonably contest that the Vietnamese soldiers (accompanied by the Khmer Rouge defectors, e.g. Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim etc.) ended the Khmer Rouge genocide on 7 January 1979. In this regard, it was “liberation”. The presence of Vietnamese soldiers and KR defectors put an end to the KR regime on January 7. This is fact; it is not disputable. And we should all learn genuinely to say “Thank you”.
(Ms. Theary Seng’s in her own words September 17, 2010 in KI)
“Of course reconciliation has a religious connotation to it as well. I think is has been adapted by other religions but I really think that it’s more a Christian concept. I believe Buddhism is a philosophy, first of all; it’s a philosophy, not a religion. In the Buddhist concept everything is based on fate, so why do you need to reconcile if that is just the way it is? I don’t know enough about the other religions to speak on them, but because I know Christianity well, it’s hard to think about reconciliation without thinking of it as a Christian concept, even though it can be implemented and is being implemented in a very Buddhist society”.
Note:
1- Down with Cambodia
Vietnamization
2- Budhhist paths of non violence had been used by Mahatma Gundhi in India, MLK in U.S and Holy Dalai Lama in Tibet
chea vichea is a dump polititcal tools, Sam rainsy cousing chea vichea life. If you burn factory and people business you think you are safe. Sam rainsy using chea vichea for his benifite
2:30AM,
You've made your valid point to tell us why you are so upset with Theary Seng. I understand your strong position towards this young woman regarding the comment she made in January 2010.
If it's the case, this mistake has tainted her reputation and credential at the time she expressed the opinion. However, she has been committed to so many things for Khmer people to be benefited from the actions, and we ought to give her credit and respect for that achievement she's so well deserved.
I sincerely hope we could learn from each other with patriotic actions we have been committed. If they are not like Hun Sen, the CPP and their dogs, who are the traitors to Cambodia and Khmer people; we have to persistently lending support to one an other in any way we can, especially to all young generation with great potential like Theary Seng.
I believe this young woman is a true Kaun Khmer who is working very hard to heal her wound and finding closure for her past, which was very painful experiences to her lost. She has set many great examples for us to witness them, and I admire her courage and determination. Despite the mistake she made that could undermine her action if she does not recognize the real issues and facts about the 7th January 1979, it's time to shed our conservative challenge to hold her mistake endlessly. We all have to embrace the effective ways in sharing our responsibilities towards patriotism, and most of all, our conduct to promote the genuine national conciliation and harmony amongst Khmer compatriots.
This is the first and necessary step to be implemented with our attempt to rebuild Cambodia.
Yeay Tep
2:30, so you cannot accept anyone else who holds another religion? you possess the right to the TRUTH? we as Buddhists are supposed to accepting of all, but some of the comments here are so narrow minded and guttural nonsense.
also, i agree with Theary that it was "liberation through invasion". actually, its the perfect way to describe it. she is fair and not knee-jerk reacting without thinking. if you read her works and CAN UNDERSTAND, you may come to see that life is more supple, subtle and nuanced than the simple black and white world of fuzzy thinking and view you seem to hold.
Mr. Hun Sex Why do you give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam without consent from cambodian people?
Why do you and your relatives so rich?
Why do you promote only your family and relative?
Why do majority of cambodian ( 90% khmers) are poor but you and your relatives are so so rich?
Do you a criminal Mr. Hun Sen and your relatives after murdered K5 and 1997 event?
Can Mr. Hun Sen explain to us please ?
Why do FBI and CIA and UN and Human Right groups allow Mr. Hun Sen kill innocent people? Why?
Regards
Innocent Khmer
4:58 AM & 6:43AM
Same person I did not know you'd spoken for Ms. Seng or Ms. Seng herself...
I love to admire and accept any individual khmers compatriots who've been doing for cambodia that have not self promote like her. The main reason that her words and actions so far I knew were not been so suppotive by many in srok Khmers as well; for instance when she came in U.S a few weeks ago, many compatriots were in doubt that she could be thrustworthy and they did not attend her event even she promoted in KI prior her visit.
If you do not unsterdand people whose she intend to represent why she will be one ???
Father, Pere Venet a France Nationalist Christian is a lovely christian friend with buddhist belief ever said anything offense to Buddhist belief like Ms. Theary did not believve that Buddhism could be used to reconcile among Khmer KR victims, please advise holy Dalai Lama is that thrue ??? ...
I did not know If Ms.Seng herself admitted that YOUN invasion to Liberation Say "THANK YOU" Vietnam was that a mistake of her own ???
She live in America she know what not to Say and what to say...
The Rodney King incident a few year ago burned the Los Angelse big town to fire because one "N" words should not say...
You can not say words that will be prejudice against any religious belief specially in Public...
A law school like her should know better..
a Thank you Vietnam liberation she should know better..
Or she want to say anything like Sandat SEN ???? If she does not claim as a law school, America Bar Association I shall be close my case, say nothing...
Theary is awesome!
Ms. Seng sibling who was one time as A SRP President in U.S, he was a hard head, rock head, too arrogant he did not listen to team works.
Many SRP members had been less supportive because of him...
Like Brother like sister...
Saw his picture also one time in KI with Ms. Seng ...a few month ago....
KI is trying to promote Ms. Seng just like a seft promote of a former Alaska Gov. Sarah Paline to be a republican front runner and she was always bakfire from Media and the Public..she may not be a front as she thoughts...
Here one example from one media in U.S:
"Palin used it to criticize many in the media who said her political rhetoric may have contributed to the shootings. She later said her critics were taking issue with the phrasing in hopes of derailing her overall message".
Learn to be promoted yourself let people lift you up do not try to lift yourself up...
Post a Comment