Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Attempts of this Monday afternoon in holding up 2 large banners of War Criminal Henry Kissinger and War Criminals Meas Muth / Im Chaem of Cases 003/4 in front of US Embassy



Account by Ms. Theary C. Seng


I was verbally harassed and intimidated carrying only my handbag and another bag (holding the 2 banners) by 30 something security personnel who showed up 30 minutes before I arrived onto the scene, according to Stephanie of Al Jazeera, who was with me for the first 40 minutes of the stand-off.  These men do not know any better.  They are anachronistic thugs of the Cold War years who only know intimidation, threats and violence as a way of keeping "social order" and maintaining "national security".  Tactics which have worked for them for the most part with vulnerable, poor local Cambodians.  

Some 30 security personnel had a stand-off with Ms. Seng who conspicuously stood on the top step of Sunway Hotel main entrance.  These security only showed up 30 minutes after Ms. Seng's arrival, after her public announcement stating her intention of holding up two banners in front of US Embassy Phnom Penh (view from Sunway Hotel, 19 Nov. 2012)

They don't know what to do with someone like me of both Cambodian and American cultures and upbringing and versed in law, and who is not visibly intimidated by them.  My sole presence (in stilettos, in professional attire with a bright Cambodian silk blouse), just standing on the top step of Sunway Hotel main entrance for the next 45-60 minutes had 30 grown adults, heavily armed, of large built, agitated with frustration in their inability to control and order me around through their run-of-the-mill intimidation.


These security thugs only know violence.  They spouted that they are "the law" but cannot tell me what that means in light of my rights as a citizen of a country claiming to be a democracy.

Ms. Theary C. Seng and 30 security personnel from various units.  Ms. Seng's presence drew out at least 15 more young men (the kind we think of when this Kew-Kew! Kew-Kew! wants dirty work done of the Bong Thom gang; and some more embedded in Sunway Hotel.  (US Embassy Phnom Penh, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012)

So, to start from the beginning:

We arrived 45-60 min after sending out the public message that we would be in front of US Embassy with 2 large banners. We encircled Wat Phnom next to the US Embassy slowly twice to take in the security situation. I decided that I would hold both folded banners (one in my hand bag, the other in plastic bag) and my assistant and I would walk on to Sunway Hotel (across from the US Embassy). We did to the attention of 30 big bulky men in various uniforms. My presence became a magnet, like a moth to a flame, for several of the head honchos started to approach me.  One of the leaders, a chubby guy who has never seen a gym before I am sure, whose face is familiar to me from other demonstrations and tense events of this nature, menacingly demanded to see my bags; I refused and continued to walk on the main open road to the main entrance of Sunway Hotel, where Al Jazeera was there (discretely without large camera, save iPhone4). I asked my assistant to separate from me and go inside Sunway Hotel and I conspicuously stood outside on the top steps of main entrance of hotel with Stephanie of Al Jazeera and her colleague with iPhone 4 a few meters away, but their profession not known to security, I don't think.  I would periodically translate in English for Al Jazeera; one of the chief honchos, the one of the first few to intimidate, like a little kid, interrupted: "I understood all that!" in English. 

View from inside Sunway Hotel, where security forces are embedded.  Here, Ms. Seng serenely stood on the top step of Sunway Hotel main entrance, with the security apparatus exhausted from receiving the same response from Ms. Seng, and some continuous filming and taking photos of her.
 

For the next 45 minutes, my conversations with chiefs of various security apparatus, some in uniforms, some not:

Security (S): Show me what's in your bag?

Theary (T): banners; no weapons.

S:  Show me!

T: Is that a request or an order.

S: A request. T: Then the answer is NO.

S: Why?

T: I don't need to tell you.

S: An order.

T: On what grounds?

S: Special day, matter of security.

T: Grounds must be reasonable.

S: We are the authority for security; we can checkWe have suspicion.

T: no you cannot without reasonable grounds; I am in heels, in silk, a human rights lawyer, with only record of peace work; now, what are your grounds to check my private bags? 

Another same-line of interrogation by new face, as staff of Sunway and security embedded in Sunway Hotel look on.
  It was like a broken record as each new security chief from the various sections had the same line of interrogation, receiving my same response.

On and on and on... for an hour, with me just standing there, very conspicuously.

Ms. Seng:  As I am waiting for my truck to pick me up, around 15 men of the nature of The Bong Thom gang, embedded in Wat Phnom, came out.  Before leaving I asked the security now if they want to see the banners, with the threat that if they take them from me, I will scream really LOUD.  All the voices raised answered "YES!"  but then most backtracked when they realize it's more to my benefit than to theirs in attracting attention.  However, some of the more amused, smiling friendly faces who looked at me with approval and admiration, continued to say "YES".  As I wanted to join the Boeung Kak activists and not wanting my staff to wait too long, I got into the car.


Finally, I decided to join the Boeung Kak activists for their 6 p.m. vigil, but without realizing this decision of mine, another new security chief approached and said I can have my banner on the other side of the security barriers at Wat Phnom. 

I decided that I want them to escort me to my truck near Wat Phnom.

On our way to car, followed by all the 30 open security forces (which according to Sunway Hotel observers only showed up half an hour before we arrived; so they saw our public announcement). As we near the Wat Phnom road, another 15-20 men in their twenties in civil clothes came out; they were hidden in the Wat Phnom. They embedded people inside the Sunway Hotel; they embedded people in the Wat Phnom.  

 They continued to take photos of me, my staff; I posed for them. Took out my cameras and took their photos. Some in their security forces were smiling their approval of me; others were just plain mean COWARDS.

At least 3 motorbikes followed us, one with 2 people on it, all in civilian clothes, one acting like a motortaxi driver, except for the fact that my assistant noticed him from the very beginning at Wat Phnom carrying a walkie-talkie at his right pocket.  They followed us for at least 1 1/2 hrs of heavy traffic and all the way to my CIVICUS Cambodia office where there's a huge banner of War Criminal hung conspicuously for all to see.


We tried to join the Boeung Kak activists via the Tuol Kork roads, but even those were all blocked or stalled in stand-still traffic.



22 comments:

Anonymous said...

ហេតុអ្វី អ្នកនាង សេងធារី មិននិយាយពីអំពើ
ឧក្រឹដ្ឋកម្មរបស់ហ៊ុនសែនផង។ ដូច្នោះធ្វើឱ្យ
យើងខ្ញុំ ជាខ្មែរអាចសន្និដ្ឋានបានប្រាកដថា អ្នក
នាងដែលមានរូបឆោមដ៏ស្រស់ស្អាត ជាកញ្ជះ
ហ៊ុនសែន និង យួនយៀកកុងដាច់ថ្លៃ ដូចមតិភាគ
ច្រើនបានលើកឡើងក្នុងទីនេះ៕

Anonymous said...

Why picking Henry Kissinger for target practice? Why not picking Sihanouk, Mao Tse Tong, Hun Sen, Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, or Ho Chi Minh since they are the root cause of Cambodia's destruction? Theary Seng is either very well aware that picking someone else other than Kissinger would land her in trouble or she is siding with the communist. It is very shameful that she was educated in America but hold communism ideology instead.

Anonymous said...

For a Khmer American Lawyer Seng Theary picked Khmer Rouge leaders for her Dart Game. She also included Henry Kissinger, but she did not dare to pick Ho Chiminh who was behid Khmer ROuge to killed 1.7 millions Khmer.
"All Khmer must keep your eyes on this Lawyer"

Anonymous said...

ទោះបីជាអ្នកនាងមានចំណេះចេះចាំស្ទាត់យ៉ាងណា
ក៏នៅតែមានចន្លោះឃ្លាដ៏តូចសម្រាប់យើងខ្ញុំ ជាខ្មែរ
យល់ពីអ្វីដែលអ្នកនាងមានបំណងនិយាយ៕

Anonymous said...

When Prez Obama is in Cambodia Seng Theary should lead the protesters to ask Obama to pressure about Human Right in Cambodia. She should not take advantage of Khmer pepole to help her about her " Dart Game". Seng Theary is a "Yuon and Government Side"
Be more carefull with her Dart Game!

Anonymous said...

If she's not a youn agent, they won't let her roam the street like that. She would be whipped like a whore if she's not a youn agent. I don't trust this woman.

Anonymous said...

Theary, Please come back to live in USA to practice your so called law degree. It is better to stay in US rather than to create anarchy in Phnom Penh. your friend

Anonymous said...

The real Khmer history that we knew while we are still living:

- Ho Chi Minh wanted to create Indochina Federation composing of Vietnam - both North and South - Cambodia, and Laos.

- To execute his plan, he initiated the guerilla war against the South Vietnam.

- He created and brainwashed Khmer Vietminh to fight in Cambodia along with the Vietcongs.

- At the time Cambodia was a neutral country. It should not take side with any countries that were engaging the war.

- Sihanouk has permitted the Vietcongs to use Cambodia as a sanctuary to attack the South Vietnam and the US.

- That prompted the US and Kissinger to take some actions against Cambodia.

Up to this point, we can clearly conclude that Henry Kissinger suggested the US to bomb Cambodia only after Sihanouk had allowed the Vietcong to hide inside Cambodia and attack the US.

Please be reasonable and fair, who is at fault at this point?

If my statements here are not true or right, please tell me where ?

Right now, the whole country worships Sihanouk. For me, if Cambodia is not currently under Vietnam’s control, I would worship Sihanouk too. The downfall of Cambodia was originating and stemming from Sihanouk who asked the Vietcong to invade Cambodia (right after he was toppled) and helped the Khmer Rouge to seize the power and killed Khmers..

Concerning one of the current situation in Cambodia,Theary Seng's action would only alienate the US and hurt the poor Khmer people who are currently seeking help from the US.

How Hilary Clinton feels when she sees that Henry Kissinger's sign in front of the US’s embassy?

Furthermore, Seng Theary's actions have shifted Khmer attention from the real issues such as the NEC’s overhaul, the mass influx of the Vietnamese who had already granted the right to vote by the CPP, the human right abuses such as the killing of Chhut Vuthy, the Mam Sonando's incarceration, the Sam Rainsy's return, the land grabbing, the economic marginalization, the border issue, etc...

There are so many actions that a person can do and admire for and deplore a persons who is only talk behind the computer - a coward such as myself.

But, I want to emphasize that Pol Pot made actions too. He thought he killed Khmer people because he loved Cambodia. Those Khmers that he killed were enemies of Cambodia, according to Pol Pot.
When Pol Pot made such stupid action, it opened the door for Vietnam to take advantage of by pushing its Khmer Vietminh to kill Khmers too, and the blames were totally on Pol Pot. And please look at the result of the so called "ACTIONS".

Please try to imagine the consequence of Theary Seng’s action? Will it help or hurt Cambodia?

In brief, it is so important that we talk first before we take any action, weighing whether that action will help or hurt Cambodia. Maybe the one who sit behind the computer from time to time might have a fruitful idea to help Cambodia too, and there are a variety of help…

Bun Thoeun

Anonymous said...

Theary Seng want publicity without the consequences. Ms. Theary Seng are you crazy. Are you working for the Chinese government. Cambodians face so many problem, land eviction, 2.2 million hectare of Cambodian given to 100 or individuals with foreign companies, corruptions and rule of laws. Why you pick on Henry Kissinger accept world renounced diplomat from 40 years ago. Are you nuts or just as in competence and coward like Sam Rainsy.

Anonymous said...

12:27 AM,

You said, "Are you nuts or just as in competence and coward like Sam Rainsy." You confused us, why you include Mr. Sam Rainsy as a coward?

He risked his life and save Cambodian farmers at the border and he worked very hard to save Cambodia and help Khmer people who are the victims of Vietnamese CPP crooks and Hun Sen who is the Vietnamese puppet.

Anonymous said...

សេង ធារី :..(មានពេលបាយហាង)
-ខ្លួនឡាំប៉ាគ្មានសេរីភាព ក្នុងការលេងល្បែងកូនក្មេង
គប់ព្រួញ!
(ហ៊ី!...ហ៊ី!..ហ៊ី!..ហិ!...
ខ្ញុំនឹងបន្តលេងទៀត..ហិ!...ហិ!..
សូមអរគុណ!)(ភាសាមាយាដូចយួន)។
_________________________________

ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ : (គ្មានអាហារហូបចុក)
-គ្មានសេរីភាពក្នុងការតស៊ូប្រជាមតិ ទាមទារ
ដីធ្លី,ផ្ទៈសម្បែងដែល អាយួនហ៊ុន សែននិង
អាយួនយៀកកុងដ៏សាហាវយងឃ្នង
ដែលបានវាយធ្វើបាបរឹបអូសឆក់ប្លន់ ប្រមូលទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិខ្មែរ,
និងបាញ់សម្លាប់ខ្មែរចោលជាបន្តបន្ទាប់......
_________________________________
ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរ :
-មានពេលឯណាឥតប្រយោជន៍ទៅលេងល្បែង
ក្មេង គប់ព្រួញឆ្កួតៗ-ឡប់ៗ មិនគ្រប់ទឹក....
ដូចនាងយួនទំយើម្នាក់នេះ។
_________________________________

-រឿងល្បែងគប់ព្រួញនេះបើសេង ធារី ខ្លួនពិតជាខ្មែរ...មានភាពក្លាហាន ពិត​ប្រាកដគួរណាស់តែត្រូវមានរូប
ពួកអាមេមេឃាតករអ្នកកាន់-អំណាចផ្ដាច់ការ
នៅភ្នំពេញសព្វថ្ងៃនេះដែល ECCCកំពុងត្រូវការ មានដូចជា:
-អាយួនខ្មៅ ........ហ៊ុន សែន
-អាយួនខ្មៅ ........ជា ស៊ីម
-អាយួនខ្មៅ.........ហេង សំរិន
-អាយួន............ហោ ណាំហុង
-អាយួន............កៀត..ឈុន
-អាខ្មោចយួន........ហូ ជីមិញ
_______________________________

Anonymous said...

She is definitely one of the Hun Sen dog.

Anonymous said...

No samdach Decho Hun Sen closed the door and bully President Obama about what is really mean by Human Right? and he shows all the documents during Vietnam war, half millions of Cambodians were death by B-52 Bomb. Samdach Decho Hun Sen ask question back to president Obama "Were these victims not Human being and deserve Human Right too?" and President Obama can't say a word afterward.

CIA,

Anonymous said...

Seng Theary if you wanted to charge Kissinger for the war crimes against Cambodian people you don't have to play your dart games.You are a lawyer you should know better than this.

Anonymous said...

OBAMA ,ជាប់ជាចំណាប់ខ្មាំង
របស់នាយខែងរ៉ែង (ង្វៀង)ហ៊ុន សែន,
ព្រោះ​«បិទទ្វារ»
​ឬ« បិទទ្វារវ៉ែ OBAMA»?

Anonymous said...

10:25 PM,

Why don't you read her open letter to President Obama?

Anonymous said...

Ah Hun Sen will change something if people cut his penis.

So, we need to remove Ah Hun Sen's penis first.

Anonymous said...

Where she gets money from to support herself in Cambodia?

Prostitution, US Welfare or Hun Sen's salary?

She is a waste.

Anonymous said...

Bun Thoeun,

Did Theary's action hurt Cambodia?

I guess NOT!

Your analysis is too shallow!

Anonymous said...

Yes, she hurts Cambodia, the worst one is she hurts me.

He he he

Anonymous said...

ហេតុអ្វី សេងធារី មិនធ្វើការថ្កោលទោសដល់មេ
ខ្មែរក្រហមយៀកមិញក្បត់ ឧក្រឹដ្ឋកម្មសង្រ្គាម
ឆ្លៀតសម្លាប់ខ្មែរក្នុងរបបប៉ុលពត ទាំងបីរូបផង?
មិនត្រឹមតែប៉ុណ្ណោះសោត ថែមទាំងមានឈ្មោះ
ជាក្បត់ប្រទេសជាតិដោយកាត់ដីគោក ទឹក កោះ
ឱ្យទៅយួន!

បើយើងនិយាយពីរឿងសម្លាប់ដោយចំហរនិង
លួចលាក់ វិញ ជាង៣០ឆ្នាំកន្លងមកនេះ តើ
បុគ្គលទាំងបីរូបសម្លាប់ពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរអស់ប៉ុន្មាន
អ្នក? ដូច្នេះ វាគួរណាស់តែ សេងធារី លើក
បញ្ហាទាំងនោះមកបង្ហាញសាធារណជនផង៕

Anonymous said...

និយាយទៅ មីជម្លើយង្វៀងសេង ធារី​ស៊ីជោរដ៏ឆ្នើម-ដ៏មហិមានេះជាស្រីយួនយៀកកុងបង្កប់,
និយាយសំដីផ្អែមពុត តែដល់ពេលវាឡាំប៉ាគឺយួនទាំង ​អាចម៍។ដល់ចប់ធ្វើចលាចល ឡាំប៉ាដើម្បីឧ្យអ្នកកាសែតថត....
.....សូមអរគុណ!យ៉ាងផ្អែម(មាយាstyleយួន )។

នាងនេះចង់ធ្វើខ្លួនល្បីខាង ឡប់ឆ្កួត
ឲ្យដូចអាយួនខ្មៅ ស៊ីជោរហ៊ុន សែន៕