PHOTOS: Cambodia Town Freeway Blessing Ceremony by Malissa Tem

For full album, please visit: http://khmr.cn/M2ZUyB

Editor Eric Chuk (L) and photographer Malissa Tem (R) representing for Team Khmerican at the Cambodia Town freeway sign ceremony in Long Beach, California (All photos by Malissa Tem, © Khmerican 2012)

The representative of the Nethheng and Norodom families accept a sign for Cambodia Town Inc., for their monetary contributionto the freeway sign.

Monks beginning the blessing of the freeway sign.

The Cambodia Town sign before installation

In Lowell, Hopes ‘Cambodia Town’ Will Boost Business

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFAVD8mAbaI

Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer | Massachusetts, Lowell

“People of the Khmer community that we have in Lowell have contributed quite a bit over the last several decades.”

The city of Lowell, Mass., officially coronated Cambodia Town earlier this month. City officials hope the designation, which marks a section of the city where many Cambodian businesses are, will bring an improvement to people’s lives.

For residents like Chhun Vanndeth, a 23-year-old fishmonger at the city’s Ocean Garden Market, an improved economy would be welcome. He, like others here, says he thinks the designation could make a difference.

Khmer Town was inaugurated during the Cambodian New Year, and Chhun Vanndeth was busy preparing fish that would be cooked at the pagoda. He works at the market four days a week. When he can, he helps people move houses. He said he is saving for college.

Working to create a business improvement district in Cambodia Town

L-R: Richer San, first vice chair and Pasin Chanou, chair of Cambodia Town, Inc. are volunteers that have spent years working to create a property business improvement district for Cambodia Town. (Brittany Murray / Staff Photographer)

Also, in case you did not know:

Richer San (3rd from left) on trip to meet Xok An on July 12, 2007

April 26, 2012
By Greg Mellen Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH - Richer San walks to a file cabinet and pulls open a file drawer overstuffed with reports, surveys and studies that represent years spent working to create Cambodia Town in Long Beach and, more important, set up a business improvement district along Anaheim Street.

In July, Cambodia Town Inc., will celebrate its fifth anniversary, but San and his volunteer group are only about halfway through their efforts to get 235 of 470 businesses along the busy commercial corridor to commit to the business improvement district, or BID.

The formation of BIDs and property-based improvement districts, or PBIDs, was the topic of discussion at a Town Hall presented by the 6th Council District Office on Tuesday at McBride Park in the Central Area.

Event highlights Cambodian culture

03/29/2012
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

Want to go?

• What: Cambodian Culture Festival
• When: Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Where: MacArthur Park, 1321 Anaheim St.
• Admission: Free
• Info: 562-570-6816 or 562-367-7770

LONG BEACH - In the absence of a Cambodian New Year parade this year, organizers of the fourth annual Cambodia Town Culture Festival are expecting a big turnout for the daylong event Sunday.

"We've gotten a lot of feedback," said Richer San of Cambodia Town Inc., which is co-sponsoring the event. He predicted up to 2,000 visitors could attend.

A variety of music, fashion and dance presentations will be held on the main stage throughout the day and about 60 booths will be on the site with artisans and performers providing exhibitions and information on a wide array of art forms from Cambodian culture.

"This year will be very special," San said, noting that for the first time representatives for Cambodia's Islamic community, or Cham, have said they will attend.

Rapping the Message of Long Beach's Cambodia Town

Prach Ly in Cambodia Town | Photo by Matt Cohn

March 23, 2012
By Mike Sonksen
LA Letters

In 2011, the 20-block stretch of Anaheim Street from Atlantic to Junipero in Long Beach was officially declared "Cambodia Town." A large blue sign commemorates this on the districts borders. While the LBC's neighbor to the north, L.A., has districts like Thai Town, Little Armenia, Little Ethiopia, Koreatown, Little Tokyo and many more, the equally diverse Long Beach is known for Bixby Knolls, the Pike and Belmont Shore. Once known as "Iowa By-The Sea," the Cambodia Town designation is truly historic: it's the first ethnic district in Long Beach to be officially recognized by the city.

For stakeholders in the Long Beach Cambodian community, this is epic. Dating back to a cadre of Cambodian students that attended Long Beach State over three decades ago, the Long Beach Cambodian community has grown to almost 70,000, the largest concentration of Cambodians anywhere outside of Cambodia. They are especially thrilled to call Long Beach home, since they were forced out of Cambodia under murderous conditions.

Though I was born in Long Beach, most of what I know about Cambodia Town I learned from Prach Ly. Prach came to Long Beach from Cambodia at age 5 and has been here ever since. In 1999, just out of Jordan High School, Prach recorded a bilingual hip-hop album that described the horrors of Cambodia's Killing Fields. Prach had listened to his elders stories and retold them in a hip hop vocabulary. Furthermore he blended English with his native tongue, creating a tour-de-force unlike any other Long Beach hip-hop artist. Somehow the album was bootlegged and taken to Cambodia, where it went viral.

Long Beach Cambodia Town signs recognize ethnic neighborhood

Long Beach Cambodians gather at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street for the unveiling of the first Cambodia Town sign. After the first attempt to unveil the sign failed when the fabric covering the sign didn't move, residents watch as the second attempt is successful with some help from public works employees. (Scott Varley / Staff Photographer)

Long Beach Cambodians gather at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street for the unveiling of the first Cambodia Town sign. One of the Cambodian monks on hand for the blessing pauses to photograph the event as he leave. (Scott Varley / Staff Photographer)

Long Beach Cambodians gather at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street for the unveiling of the first Cambodia Town sign. City Councilman Dee Andrews has a good laugh as he points to the sign after the first attempt to unveil the street sign failed when they pulled on the rope and the sign cover remained. Public works employees removed some tape which allowed the second unveiling attempt to be successful. (Scott Varley / Staff photographer)

07/16/2011
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH — It's a simple sign, but it took almost a decade to get there.

On Saturday, about 100 residents and dignitaries gathered to officially unveil one of two signs that proclaim the Cambodia Town area of Long Beach on the southeast corner at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Anaheim Street.

"This has taken a long time," said Councilman Dee Andrews, in whose 6th District most of Cambodia Town is located. "This is long overdue, long overdue for a little small sign."

Also on hand were leaders in the Cambodian community, from Richer San and Sithea San, the outgoing head of Cambodia Town Inc., to Kimthai Kuoch and Sara Pol-Lim, who head up the Cambodian Association of America and United Cambodian Community, respectively.

‘Little Cambodia’ Under Development in Lowell

Bernard Lynch, far left, Lowell city manager, and five other city officials addressed about 100 Cambodians to ask for their participation in the project. (Photo: by Pin Sisovann)

Pin Sisovann, VOA Khmer
Lowell, Massachusetts Wednesday, 06 April 2011

“I’m delighted with the city plan and the fact that they came to listen to our ideas."

Cambodia-Americans in Lowell, Mass., are working with city officials to develop a “Little Cambodia,” which they hope will improve businesses and bring more jobs.

On March 31, representatives of the city met with members of the Cambodian community to present an idea for an area that would include businesses, an association and other services.

Suggested names for the area include “Little Cambodia in Lowell,” “Khmer Town in Lowell,” or “Khmer Cultural Village in Lowell.”

Bernard Lynch, Lowell city manager, and five other city officials addressed about 100 Cambodians to ask for their participation in the project.

Cambodia Town Celebrates Triumphs, Challenges

TRADITION. Dancers from the Khmer Arts Cultural Center perform a “Wishing Dance” before ceremonies at Cambodia Town’s Third Anniversary party. —Gazette photo by Darcy Leigh Richardson

Thursday, July 15, 2010
By Darcy Leigh Richardson
Editor
Long Beach Gazette (California, USA)

They came to Long Beach as refugees, many of them penniless, grieving the death of family and friends, and in fear of streets that reminded them of the jungles of Cambodia.

More than 30 years later, the Cambodian community, its friends and supporters, and city and state dignitaries gathered to celebrate the third anniversary of Cambodia Town, Inc. on Friday, July 9.

On July 3, 2007, the City Council voted to officially designate the area of Anaheim Street bounded by Atlantic Boulevard and Junipero Avenue as Cambodia Town.

But for the nonprofit cultural organization’s directors and board members, their story began decades before the recognition. Sithea San, chairperson of Cambodia Town, arrived in Long Beach as a refugee of genocide in August 1981.

Twenty years later, San and her husband, Richer, were instrumental in establishing a vision for the run-down streets in their neighborhood and had a plan to unite the Cambodian community.

“It was very challenging and we had to prove to the City Council why we should have Cambodia Town,” San said. “We had to organize events to share our culture and to show that Cambodia Town could be a tourist attraction in Long Beach, which is known as the International City.”

San admits the journey has not been easy, and challenges still loom. For example, the organization has been attempting to organize a Business Improvement District (BID), which would require all businesses in the district to contribute money to a community fund for events and neighborhood improvements. San said she envisions having enough support from business owners on Anaheim Street to form a BID in 2011.

“We want to see this community more vibrant and for businesses to be open late,” San said. “We don’t want to see businesses closing their doors at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. We want a nice coffee shop, an upscale restaurant and a jewelry mart… Another goal is to try and improve the facades of the buildings so they resemble Cambodian architecture and include Khmer characters to make this area distinct.”

San said 54th District Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, who attended the celebration and presented the Champion of Cambodia Town Award, has been working with the committee to lobby in Sacramento to erect a Cambodia Town sign visible from the 405 Freeway.

In addition to signs, San said her dream is for Cambodians to socialize with neighbors at a community center in the area. In recent history, as more Cambodian immigrants have had children who were born and raised in Long Beach, a concerted effort has been made to share a culture spanning thousands of years.

Events such as the Cambodian New Year Parade and the Cambodian Art Exhibition have become annual mainstays.

“We came here as refugees and we embrace the future,” San said. “Speaking for myself, I’m not going to forget the past. But I will not sit and have the past haunt me. I must move forward. Obstacles and stress come to me, but it makes me stronger. I tell myself, ‘You could survive then (the genocide under Khmer Rouge), so surviving now, why not?’”

Susan Huoy Lor, a Cambodia Town, Inc. founding board member, said she and her husband, Samuel Huot Lor, arrived in the neighborhood on Aug. 17, 1979.

Huoy Lor recalled escaping from the Khmer Rouge regime by walking through minefields to the Thailand border in 1979.

“I didn’t have milk to feed my son, and he was lost,” Huoy Lor said.

“My husband was an electronics engineer who went to university and we were lucky because intellectuals were (in danger). I remember I came to (America) with two sets of clothes. I walked on the street in rubber shoes. We had no money. We came here empty with two hands and two feet. Anaheim (Street) was ugly and dirty, but it felt like heaven to me.”

Huoy Lor said starting over was very difficult, but she and her husband had two children, a boy and a girl who are both excellent students. Huoy Lor said Cambodia Town has improved substantially and is cleaner and safer than years ago.

“We wanted to come together as a community so Cambodia Town could be here for our children,” Huoy Lor said. “The Cambodian people have always worked hard, and we will continue to work hard to build this community.”

Edward Sana Tan, chairman of the Cambodian-American Chamber of Commerce, said he arrived in Long Beach in 1984. Sana Tan, a general contractor whose business is on Anaheim Street, said he looks forward to the formation of a BID.

“The (Chamber of Commerce’s) function is to facilitate getting people their business license,” Sana Tan said.

“The community has changed. There used to be nothing (on Anaheim Street), but now there are mostly small, family-owned businesses that Cambodians feel comfortable going to through word-of-mouth. For the BID, we have 60% of the businesses (supporting), and that is progress.”

Long Beach Chief of Police Jim McDonnell attended the event and said he also has plans for Cambodia Town — the city’s Police Department is working to create a Cambodian Citizens’ Police Academy, where people of Cambodian descent can be recruited for the LBPD.

“I think people (in Cambodia Town) are communicating more with police officers when there are problems and we’ve built some bridges,” McDonnell said. “We still face some challenges. The community is dealing with a history of police in Cambodia being brutal, corrupt or worse.”

David Doung, the son of Kevin Kang, owner of Grand Paradise Restaurant where the event occurred, said he grew up in Cambodia Town and his parents opened the restaurant more than 20 years ago.

Doung said many people in the neighborhood were segregated 10 years ago and it was rare to see a familiar face on the street.

“The older generation has tried to teach (the younger generation) our culture and how easy it is for us,” Duong said. “The older generation came together to create Cambodia Town for our benefit so we can carry the torch. It’s up to us to make a difference.”

For more information, visit www.cambodiatown.org.

RESPONSE to THARY UNG’s misleading and defamatory comments of RICHER & SITHEA SAN and GOLDEN COAST BANK

Dear Friend,

Thary Ung’s email is misleading the public (with the help of Borann Duong who is a publisher of a Cambodian Newspaper) with the clear intention to defame and personally hurt us as well as the Golden Coast Bank, the first Cambodian charted bank in the United States of America, which we helped to establish in May, 2007 in Long Beach, California. We, Killing Fields Survivors, came to this country as refugees with few dollars and were able to help establish a commercial bank like other ethnic communities (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese) in the United States.

It appears that Thary Ung has no understanding of the operations and regulatory requirements of a commercial bank in the United States. She doesn’t understand the difference between an administrative “Cease and Desist Order” and a “Court Order.” However, before explaining about the bank’s operations and regulatory requirements, we want to share with you what appears to be Thary Ung’s animosity towards Golden Coast Bank, a community bank and the first Cambodian chartered Bank in U.S., which every Cambodian should be proud.

Please see the attached letter for additional information. Should you have any further question,

Do not hesitate to contact me at (562)367-7770.

Thank you

Richer San
562-367-7770 Cambodia Town, USA

Cambodia Town banners help shape identity of Long Beach area

Lisandro Rives with AAA Flag and Banner installs over eighty new banners in a two-day process that state "Welcome to Cambodia Town" along Anaheim Street in Long Beach on Wednesday. (Diandra Jay/Press-Telegram)

03/18/2010
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

LONG BEACH - Little by little, Cambodia Town's identity is taking shape.

On Wednesday a collection of banners that identify the area was installed on light poles along Anaheim Street.

The design for the banners emerged from an international online contest organized by the Arts Council for Long Beach and the winning entry came from an artist from Indonesia.

Community activist Richer San, who helped with the banner project, said representatives from a number of Cambodian civic and arts groups voted for the winning design.

Although he says the choice of the final design was democratic, he admits the winner was something of a personal favorite.

"I like things that are abstract," San said. "I think art shouldn't be just a picture but something more abstract."

"I think it's a strong graphic image," said Craig Watson, executive director of the Arts Council, noting that more than 100 pieces were submitted online.

The winning design depicts a dancer/guard in reds and rusts in a classic Apsara-style pose from a classical Khmer dance. In the background is an image of a sun slung low over the Angkor Wat temple complex. At the top of the banner is a sign in white letters that reads "Welcome to Cambodia Town." On the back, the welcoming message is repeated in Khmer, followed by a list of the sponsors.

The banners arrived just in time for two dance events this weekend, that are part of the Arts Council's "A lot" series on the empty lot at Anaheim Street and Walnut Avenue and two weeks ahead of the popular Cambodian New Year's parade on Anaheim Street.

Business owners have yet to create an economic improvement district needed to receive city funds and other procedural aspects remain in the works. However, with the banners, the Cambodia Town area has a little more sense of self. Cambodia Town, the stretch of Anaheim Street between Atlantic Avenue and Junipero Avenue was made mostly official by the City Council in July 2007 and has had that unofficial title for years.

greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291

Cambodian envoy fields questions

12/19/2009
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram

"Rodley's harshest criticisms of the government in Cambodia related to the lack of democracy and freedom of expression, and the culture of corruption that seems to go to the core of the society."

LONG BEACH - Carol Rodley didn't think the Long Beach community could come up with 90 minutes of questions about the country where she is stationed.

Obviously, the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia didn't know Long Beach.

Even after the two-hour time slot had run out at the Town Hall meeting at Mark Twain Library, people were still lining up to quiz her.

"It was great to come here," Rodley said. "This is a lively and engaged community."

Rodley's appearance in Long Beach on Saturday was sponsored by the Cambodia Town community group. About 65 people crowded into the community room at the library to hear the ambassador speak and field questions.

A career officer with the Foreign Service, Rodley was sworn in as ambassador in October 2008, after being stationed in Afghanistan as a counselor for political military affairs. She had been stationed in Cambodia in the late 1990s.

She said the Cambodia of today is far different from the one she left about 10 years ago.

"Compared to a place like Afghanistan, Cambodia doesn't look so bad," Rodley said. "It has a lot of problems, to be sure, but they're the usual problems in a developing, poor country."

Rodley gave a mostly positive report on the state of Cambodia, citing improvements in infrastructure, private sector economic growth and what she saw as a newfound confidence in the Cambodian people in her short speech before taking questions.

For the next 90 minutes, the audience taxed Rodley's knowledge across an array of issues.

Rodley's harshest criticisms of the government in Cambodia related to the lack of democracy and freedom of expression, and the culture of corruption that seems to go to the core of the society.

Rodley said she received a lot of heat from the government when she cited a study that estimated that corruption cost Cambodia $500 million a year.

Among the positives Rodley saw were the recent conclusion of the first Khmer Rouge War Crimes Tribunal, and the arrest of others. She also said the inaugural group of Peace Corps volunteers to the country was an unqualified success and she was happy to find an arts community springing up in the country.

Greg Mellen 562-499-1291
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com

Festival To Celebrate Local Cambodian Artists, Culture

12.02.09
By Ryan ZumMallen
Long Beach News (California, USA)

This Sunday, an arts and crafts festival will feature demonstrations of traditional Cambodian techniques,

This Sunday, the Cambodian population of Long Beach will be on full display as an arts and crafts festival will feature dancers, local artists, traditional cooking demonstrations and much more in a celebration of this ancient culture.

The event will run from 10:00am-2:00pm this Sunday in the parking lot of the Mark Twain Library on 1325 E. Anaheim Street.

Long Beach is home to the largest concentration of Cambodian people in the country – some estimates are that Cambodians make up between 8-9% of the city’s population – and the stretch of Anaheim Street from Atlantic Avenue to Junipero Avenue is famously known as Cambodia Town.

An organization that represents that community called Cambodia Town, Inc. will host the event along with the office of Councilmember Dee Andrews, whose 6th District encompasses Cambodia Town. Andrews has been active in the community and assisted two local entrepreneurs in opening a shopping center in Cambodia Town this past July.

Contact Susan Needham (sneedham@csudh.com) or visit CambodiaTown.org for more information about this weekend’s festival.

Trying to get Cambodia Town off the ground

Street banner in Cambodia Town (Photo: Stéphane Janin, http://khmerabroad.blogspot.com)

Long Beach provided the designation but left financial support up to businesses in the area. Many have been reluctant to sign on, but backers of the district are working hard to persuade them.

November 1, 2009
By My-Thuan Tran
Los Angeles Times (California, USA)

Sithea San rejoiced when Long Beach officials designated a strip of Anaheim Street the nation's first Cambodia Town in 2007. The name would celebrate the largest Cambodian population center in the country and help revitalize the gritty neighborhood, she believed.

San envisioned one day looking down Anaheim Street and seeing facades resembling ornate Cambodian temples; a large-scale shopping center where tourists could sample Cambodian cuisine and buy handcrafts; and even a museum outlining the history of Cambodian Americans in Long Beach.

But years after the official designation, the fate of Cambodia Town remains in limbo. Long Beach officials did not commit city funds to improve the area. Backers have been struggling to persuade businesses on the 1.2-mile strip to shell out money to support a business improvement district, which is mandated by the city to pay for additional services, such as special signs, increased security, street cleaning and landscaping.

These are features that would lure investors and tourists to the area, said San, chairwoman of Cambodia Town Inc. But for businesses, many of them mom-and-pop shops hurt by the economic downturn, the extra services would mean paying $50 to $200 in extra fees per year.

"You can't blame the small businesses because they count every penny, and they don't necessarily feel the need" for the district, San said. "They are asking us, 'I already pay high taxes; why should I have to pay extra?' "

For San, a refugee who fled the killing fields in Cambodia with her family as a teenager, the answer is simple. "We should be proud to have Cambodia Town," she said. "In the U.S., we are the only place that has one."

On a recent Saturday afternoon, San and a dozen other Cambodian Americans walked down Anaheim Street to promote the district, which would run from Atlantic Avenue to Junipero Avenue.

San, who wore a navy blue Cambodia Town Inc. hat, carried a black binder containing glossy photos of ethnic districts in the area that she hoped Cambodia Town would resemble one day: Little Saigon in Westminster and Chinatown in Los Angeles.

The corridor is lined with Cambodian-owned restaurants, bakeries, markets and auto repair shops. It is also home to a hodgepodge of Latino-owned stores and Chinese and Vietnamese businesses.

The group needed about 185 businesses of the 370 along the corridor to support the district. At first, proponents reached out to owners they knew personally, and petitions were streaming in. Then they turned to businesses owned by those outside of their community. After several years of pounding the pavement, the group had 105 businesses on board.

"We're going to be more aggressive now," San said as she marched west on Anaheim Street in the beating sun, past vacant lots and drab strip malls with signs in the Khmer language. "It doesn't matter how long it takes."

Long Beach is known as the Cambodian capital of the United States. The port city is believed to have the largest concentration of Cambodians outside the home country, with an estimated 50,000, though 2000 census figures put the number at 20,000. Most were refugees who escaped the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s that claimed the lives of nearly 2 million Cambodians. Many settled around Anaheim Street, lured by its cheap housing and growing Cambodian American community.

"In the past, no one wanted to walk down Anaheim Street because it was considered a red-light district," San said. "It's a lot safer now, but we can do more. We want it to look clean and very nice to attract more people to shop."

A few steps behind San, Paul Chorn, 25, recalled that when he was younger, he hardly ventured onto Anaheim Street because of crime. But now he is proud that many Cambodian businesses have transformed the corridor into a safer, thriving area.

Chorn said the district would mean something more for his people. "With this designation, we can show that we are not people stuck in the era of genocide," he said. "We progressed for the better."

Chorn, San and several others walked into a strip mall at Anaheim and Orange Avenue. It was the third time the group had tried to get business owners in the plaza to sign the petition. Owners of a Cambodian supermarket, two restaurants, a design store and a video store have already signed up, but the group still needed the support of an Eastern herbal store, a dentist, a sandwich shop, a jewelry store and a pharmacy.

Chorn and several others walked into a pharmacy.

Michael Saing, 25, explained to Ben Mai, whose wife is a pharmacist there, why the group wanted a business improvement district.

Mai, who is Vietnamese, said he understood. "I come from Orange County, and when I drive down Bolsa [Avenue] in Little Saigon, you can see there's a lot there," he said. "For you Cambodians, you have a big community, but you don't have something to represent you."

Saing said it took 15 years to get Little Saigon started. "You have to start somewhere," he said.

But Mai said the pharmaceutical industry is struggling. "I don't know if I can make this decision right now," he said. "I'm for improvement, but it is kind of expensive."

The group left the store and continued down the street. They popped into Lily Bakery, a French patisserie that also sells Cambodian sweets. The flowery fragrance of sesame balls and breaded banana wafted through the store.

Saing greeted three women standing behind the counter in Khmer. He showed them the petition, laying his binder over the counter where packaged spring rolls lay. The women asked several questions and said they would talk to the owner.

The group continued westward, turning into a Church's Chicken and two auto repair stores. No one signed.

Next, the group walked into a Cambodian broadcasting studio, the Khmer Media Network. They were greeted by Alexander Thong, president of the studio, who invited San to sit on a black leather couch as she explained the need for the improvement district.

Thong decided to sign. "We moved to Anaheim Street to be closer to the Cambodian center," he said. "Cambodia Town is my second home from my homeland."

The group's last stop was Edith's Beauty and Barber Shop, owned by Blanca Edith Rivas, who said she doesn't have many Cambodian costumers. Many decide to go elsewhere when they learn that the shop is not Cambodian-owned, she said.

But Rivas decided to sign the petition. "I know that what Cambodians say they are going to do, they do it," she said.

The group gathered outside in the shade of Rivas' building. They were joined by Long Beach Councilman Dee Andrews, whose district includes parts of Cambodia Town. He told them to keep up the effort. The group snapped a photo.

It had been two hours, and the group got five businesses on board, including a Vietnamese pho noodle restaurant, a pizza joint and a coin-operated laundry.

"You see, it's not easy," said Richer San, Sithea's husband. But he said they weren't discouraged. The group would try again soon, he said. He looked down the street and said he could one day see tourists streaming in from downtown Long Beach.

A Banner Day for Cambodians

Sihaneat Chea, attired as a Cambodian warrior, carries a Prasat Preach Vihear in honor of King Suryavarman, who reunited Cambodia in 1113. (Diandra Jay / Staff Photographer)

04/06/2008
By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)

LONG BEACH - Long Beach resident Phan Phin hasn't been back to Cambodia since his entire family was wiped out by the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

For Phin, 62, the Cambodian New Year Parade is a small taste of home.

"I love to see the culture," he said. "It helps me remember."

The fourth annual parade kicked off on Sunday with a colorful sea of floats, community groups and dance troupes in traditional costume.

Under sunny skies and warm weather, thousands of spectators lined the sidewalks of Anaheim Street between Junipero and Warren avenues, cheering "Happy New Year" and waving Cambodian and U.S. flags.

A handful of Buddhist monks began the festivities with a ceremonial prayer meant to bless the New Year, the Year of the Rat.

Organizer Danny Vong said this year's parade, with more than 80 entrants, was the city's biggest and best yet. The theme, "Cambodia Town For Diversity," is a celebration of the city's official designation of part of Anaheim Street between Junipero Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard as Cambodia Town in July.

Grand marshals included Long Beach Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews and activists Charles Song, Sweety Chap and Michael Sar.

Sar, a 26-year-old Cal State Long Beach student, was chosen to represent a generation of young people working to preserve their culture.

Born and raised in Long Beach, Sar has served as president and vice president of Cal State Long Beach's Cambodian Student Society, served on the 2006 parade committee and also worked to establish Cambodia Town.

"(The parade) is a positive event where Cambodians can celebrate their culture and also celebrate being American," he said.

Sophy Juli Nuth, 22, who trains in Khmer classical dance, is also trying to honor the past and embrace the future.

In an elaborate gold costume, Nuth performed a traditional blessing dance with the Khmer Arts Cultural Center.

"Cambodia was always big on the arts, but when the Khmer Rouge took over, it pretty much wiped it away," she said.

Long Beach resident Tim Keo, who fled Cambodia in 1979, remembers that time. Keo, now 62, says she attends the parade each year for the music and dance.

"It makes me so happy to see the young people dancing," she said.

Organizers said new this year was participation by representatives from the Cambodian government, including the county's ministries of tourism and culture and fine arts, and Council of Ministries.

Controversy emerged last week when an invitation was extended to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. The invitation caused an emotional response from community members opposed to the Hun Sen government, which has been linked to human-rights abuses.

Organizers were later told that the Cambodian official would not participate.

Despite the earlier controversy, Sunday's event was smooth and peaceful as the parade moved along Anaheim and spilled into MacArthur Park for a celebration with music, food and information booths.

Many employees and business owners along Anaheim stepped outside to watch.

"Of course we support them," said Mia Hutchins, an employee at Long Beach Transit. "It's our family. It's our neighborhood. This is Long Beach right here."

Cambodian New Year is typically a three-day celebration that falls in mid-April.

The Long Beach festivities continue on Saturday with the annual Cambodian New Year Celebration at El Dorado Regional Park.

The all-day event features religious ceremonies, New Year games, cultural performances and music. Admission is $20 per vehicle parking at El Dorado if purchased in advance. For information, call 562-833-6128 or go online to the Cambodian Coordinating Council at www.cam-cc.org.

kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1305

Public Notice for Protest Against Sok An in Long Beach, California

Click on the text in Khmer to zoom in

Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Notice for
Protest Against Sok An

In the event that Sok An shows up his face at the ribbon cutting to inaugurate Cambodia Town and participates in the Cambodian New Year Parade which will take place on 06 April 2008, I have the honor to inform our beloved compatriots that, on Monday 31 March 2008, the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine had already issued us an authorization to hold our protest.

There will be two locations where the protestors can gather:

1. Along the sidewalk in front of the Monorom Restaurant, and
2. At the corner of Walnut Street and Anaheim Street where there is an empty lot.

Paper banners not attached to any pole which could be used as a weapon are allowed, however, loud speakers, weapons (including eggs, tomatoes, rocks), alcoholic beverages, etc… are not allowed. Similarly the use of racist and sexist language is prohibited. The protest will be non-violent.

To the contrary, if Sok An is not present during this occasion, our compatriots will have the opportunity to enjoy themselves during the ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurating Cambodia Town or during the Cambodian New Year Parade.

Thank you,

Ly Diep
31 March 2008

The Parade Objectives As of Today

Observation by Navy Phim
Originally posted at http://navyphim.com/blog/

The Cambodian New Year Parade objectives have seemed to change right before our eyes. Thanks to web archives, we are able to see what it used to be.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070701232029/
http://www.cambodiannewyearparade.com/Objectives.htm

Parade Objectives

• Highlight Cambodian Culture
• Focus on the Community and businesses on the Anaheim Corridor
• Spotlight on "Cambodia Town", the largest Cambodian Community outside Cambodia
• Improve community relationships among people of different backgrounds
• End the isolation and begin the participation of Cambodian-Americans in mainstream events
• Show unity in Cambodian community

As of today, the parade objectives have been changed to coincide with the invitation that was given to Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. I am not sure when exactly that change took place, but it must be very recent.

http://www.cambodiannewyearparade.com/Objectives.htm

Objectives of the Cambodian New Year Parade

The New Year Parade committee maintains a strict policy of non-discrimination regarding participation in the parade. The parade's main objectives are to promote Cambodian culture, harmony among diverse local communities, area businesses and neighborhoods, and particularly Cambodia Town USA. Political slogans and election campaigns are strickly prohibited.

In reference to the democratically-elected and internationally recognized Cambodian Government, we follow the official policy as defined by the U.S. Department of State. We believe past parade made positive impressions on participating Camboidan officials: they observed the joy and pride of the Long Beach Cambodian-Americans and the personal freedoms enjoyed by all citizens under the United States law.

Official Cambodian delegations participating in past parades and celebrations have included: H.E. Than Pok (Former-Secretary of State of Ministry of Education), H.E. Vora Kanthoul (Secretary of State of Ministry of Foreign Affairs), H.E. Sin Neung (Former-Parliament Member), H.E. Song Chhang (Former-Senator and current Advisor to the Royal Government), H.E. Dr. Widhya Chem (Former-Ambassador to UN and current Ambassador to Germany). Also participated from the economic and nongovernmental sectors, Mr. Sokha Kem (Former-Director of NGO Center for Human Rights), and Representatives from Cambodian Rice Miller Association and Small and Medium Size Enterprises.

While we acknowledge the current Cambodian government is not perfect, we follow the example demonstrated by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, promoting constructive dialogue and advocating change through peacefull means.

Regardless of the Cambodian government's political party affiliation, we will continue to invite official Cambodian delegations to participate in the parade. We promote freedom, democracy, and free trade activity in Cambodia by presenting the best of the American value system in action.

We welcome all participants who believe in our objectives. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, color, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion or political affiliation. We also prohibit discrimination based on any other factor prohibited by federal, state or local law.

Cambodian parade rift to get an airing

Community activist Socheata Has addressing the Long Beach City Council to oppose the presence of Sok An in Long Beach (Photo: Angkor Borey)

Justin Sok's so-called "thick-faced political buffons" who insist on inviting the controversial Sok An (Photo: Sok An's office)

Moderators to meet with both sides in dispute over official's invitation.

03/06/2008
By Greg Mellen, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)

LONG BEACH - Community members on both sides of a controversial decision to invite the deputy prime minister of Cambodia to participate in the annual Cambodian New Year parade will meet today to discuss their differences.

About 30 members of the Cambodian community attended Tuesday's City Council meeting. They presented the council with a petition comprising more than 1,000 signatures opposing a plan to have Cambodian leader Sok An ride in the April 6 parade.

There has been considerable confusion about who issued the invitation and whether it was properly made.

Mayor Bob Foster said at Tuesday's meeting that he never invited anyone to the parade - period.

Although the city provides support for the parade in certain areas, the City Council has no official role in the decisions the parade committee makes.

"It's not our parade," said 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews, in whose district most of the parade is held.

Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal said she was distressed at the emotions the dispute has dredged up.

"People expressed outright fear and trauma," Lowenthal said, adding that the city must do what it can to assuage that.

Melissa Morgan, the city's human dignity officer and Rene Castro from the California Conference of Equality and Justice, will moderate the meeting between parade organizers, who support Sok An's participation, and opponents.

Morgan and Castro said their roles are to facilitate dialogue but it is up to two factions to resolve differences.

"I'd like to see them just listen to each other and find out where we go from here," Morgan said. "They may not come to an agreement but I just hope they hear each other."

"What I hope to achieve by bringing the parties together is the increased understanding," Castro said. "There are no easy solutions."

There is a possibility that the point will be moot. There is considerable speculation that Sok An has decided to forgo the parade.

Parade organizer Richer San said Sok An has not confirmed that he will attend but that the invitation remains.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, a half-dozen opponents of Sok An's participation spoke to the council.

They cited Cambodia's dismal human rights record, corruption and other problems among their complaints.

Opponents also said the invitation violated the parade's own entry rules, which say entrants must be noncontroversial and should not advocate a political candidate.

Each side has met with CCEJ separately.

greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291

Excerpt From Long Beach City Council Meeting's [-Evan Braude is not a representative of the mayor's office]

Transcript
Meeting held on March 4th, 2008

Councilwoman Uranga: Who invited the gentleman [Sok An]?????. That's why I had concerns in the establishment of Cambodia Town, it is not in my eyes a governmental agency. ??..If it came from the city then it's appropriate for you to come here and ask us to take that back. If it didn't come from the city, then we need to figure out where it came from. ?? If there was a representative from the mayor's office, or no, then we need to clear that up.

Socheata Has: The Press Telegram story named representatives from Cambodia Town, from the Cambodian Coordinating Council, Long Beach Sister Cities, and also named Mr. Evan Braude, uh?? as, I don't remember the exact wording, but it lead me to believe he was a representative of the city.

Mayor: Let me clarify that: he was not and is not a representative of the mayor's office. No representative of the mayor's office was on that trip. I've made this very clear to everybody.

Socheata Has: I understand, thank you sir.

Councilwoman Uranga: Can we make it clear if it was anybody from the vice-mayor's office?

Mayor: I don't believe that it was anybody from the vice-mayor's office either.

Socheata Has: I'm so sorry, our problem also: we have been trying to understand where the invitation comes from because when we heard about it we thought we would go the source and speak with them but we have been unable to get answers, so I'm just as confused.

Mayor: We'll try to help you find out where this invitation came from and then sort that out because it certainly didn't come from here, at least not to my knowledge.

Socheata Has: Sir, regardless of where the invitation came from, we present a petition to the city council, to the mayor, the vice-mayor, we basically are seeking help from any source that can help us on this.

Mayor: I understand, and I think it's pretty clear what your position is and why so I certainly will take a look at it and the council will as well.

Socheata Has: Thank you very much and I also presented the clerk with copies of our petition signatures and supporting documents.

Mayor: I really appreciate that and thank you, and thank you for the manner in which you all testified as well.

Mayor: Thank you all for testifying and thank you for the respect which you've shown as well.

Sok An's office: "Official" invitation received to attend Long Beach events from Cambodian delegation

Respected KI-Media Readers,

In view of the confusion generated by our posting of the unofficial English translation of the article published by Mr. Ly Diep of Angkor Borey (click here to read the original article in Khmer), we understand that Mr. Sok An's office claimed that it received an "official" invitation for him to attend the events in Long Beach (see article below). This "official" invitation was delivered to him by a Cambodian delegation from Long Beach, California, which also included Lawyer Evan Braude, the representative of the Mayor of the City of Long Beach.

On 04 March 2008, during a Long Beach City council meeting, Mayor Bob Foster dismissed that he officially invited Sok An to come to Long Beach, and he offered to find out further who handed this invitation to Sok An. Justin Sok reported that Mayor Bob Foster called on city staff to act as mediators for the purpose of bringing together the two groups to clear the air at the special meeting, which will be on this Friday, March 7, 2008.

While there was no official invitation from the City of Long Beach, the invitation for Sok An has not yet been withdrawn, as of today.

KI-Media apologizes for any confusion on this issue, in spite of the fact that the article posted by Mr. Ly Diep was factual.

Thank you,

KI-Media Team
-----------

Royal Government presence and participation in the ribbon cutting (inauguration) of Cambodia Town and the yearly Cultural Parade in Long Beach City during the upcoming Cambodian New Year

Posted in Khmer at: http://www.pressocm.gov.kh/index.html
Website of the Cambodian government Office of the Council of Ministers
Unofficial translation from Cambodian to English
(Originally posted by Angkor Borey)

Left to right: Peter Long, Gary Ung, Richer San, Sok An, Edward Tan and Evan Braude (Photo: Sok An's office)

The Long Beach delegation taking a picture with Sok An (Photo: Sok An's office)

His Excellency Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, accepted the invitation, as the representative of the Royal Government of Cambodia, to participate in the ribbon cutting (inauguration) of Cambodia Town and the yearly Cultural Parade in Long Beach City, California, USA, during the upcoming Cambodian New Year. The declaration of this acceptance to the official invitation was made during an audience held between His Excellency and the Cambodian delegation from Long Beach, USA.

The delegation provided a report about its effort and success in the official registration and formation of Cambodia Town in Long Beach, California, USA. Mrs. Sithea San, the director of Cambodia Town and the leader of the delegation consisting of 15-person group representing 4 associations and organizations, and the representative of the Mayor of Long Beach city, as follows:

1. The Cambodian Coordinating Council represented by Mr. Peter Long,
2. The Long Beach-Phnom Penh Sister Cities represented by Mr. Richer San,
3. The Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce represented by Mr. Edwards Tan,
4. Lawyer Evan Braude, the representative of the Mayor of the City of Long Beach.

Besides recounting to His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister about the experience in the formation of the Cambodia Town which was officially registered on 03 July 2007, and the experience acquired by other nationalities to form their towns in the USA, in order to protect and provide cultural, economic, social developments, and to show and protect their respective national culture, the Long Beach delegation expressed their thanks and gratitude to the Royal Government for providing moral and political support in the formation of this unique Cambodia Town in the world. His Excellency Nguon Nhel, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, also intervened to support the formation of Cambodia Town at the Long Beach City Hall during His Excellency’s visit to the western United States.

The delegation also received the assurance for the cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and Cambodia Town in Long Beach, a Cambodian center, not only to serve the interest of Cambodian people living in this US region, but it can also turn into a gate leading to cultural, economic and administration center representing the interests of Cambodians living in the kingdom of Cambodia as well. Cambodia Town which is a center representing Cambodian culture, Cambodian pride, and is also a market for Cambodian agricultural products, as well as a center for information helping in the coordination for financial loans between the USA or other nations that want to loan funds to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

His Excellency Sok An hopes that other overseas Cambodians will follow the path for the formation of Cambodia Towns in their respective countries of residence also, in order to participate in the exchange of political and economic opinions for the Cambodian edification both overseas and inside the country. The Cambodian culture can also be propagated through Cambodia Town using Cultural Parade activities with the participation of other nationalities living in their respective regions. The fourth yearly parade which is participated by tens of thousands people, is a historical event for overseas Cambodians to show their Cambodian identity, Cambodian culture, Cambodian pride, because Cambodia used to an empire during the Angkor Wat historical era.

During this meeting, an memorable and historical exchange of souvenirs took place between the delegation and His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, following an interest shown and a detailed explanation on the current policy and economy. What was of interest, were two topics raised by His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister which also attracted the interest of the delegation: “We are proud of our past, and we are proud of and extremely happy with what we currently have.” Another point was the fact that the Royal Government is proud of the progress made in the political situation led by the Royal Government under the smart leadership of Samdech Akak Moha Senabadey Decho Hun Sen, which, in addition to bringing 2 digits economic growth, received the international concurrence in the formation and the administration of the tribunal in charge of judging the former Khmer Rouge leaders along with the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia (ECCC), and this tribunal has been recognized as:

1. Providing a judgment through the tribunal by spending as little as possible, in comparison to other international criminal tribunals. The Cambodian tribunal will spend only $56 million during its 3-year operation planned.
2. The judgment will take a short duration of 3-year period only, in view of the old age of the suspects (i.e., Khmer Rouge leaders).
3. Displaying the cooperation goals between the country where the incident took place and other international countries, in order to secure the sovereignty of the Nation which represents the interest of the victims, and the universal international standard (by the co-judges).
4. What is the universal exemplary benefit is the representation by national and international co-judges under the formula where there are 3 Cambodian co-judges and 2 international co-judges, but that all decision must be based on a positive vote by 4 judges, in order for the decision to be accepted. This is exemplified by the actions at the ECCC which took place in the past.
5. Transparency and participation of the population in the judgment, this means that, in the questioning and actions that take place in the court chambers, they are available for public viewing on TV and by the public (friends of the court).

The audience ended in a cordial and highly fruitful atmosphere. The same delegation will receive the authorization for an audience meeting with Samdech Akak Moha Dhamm Pothisal Chea Sim, the representative of the King and President of the Senate, in the afternoon of 09 December 2007, as well as with His Excellency Nguon Nhel, the Vice-President of the National Assembly, the delegation will express its greeting, its thanks and its gratefulness to the Parliament institution, and the King who supported and cooperated with Cambodia Town.

“Quid pro quo”

March 6, 2008
Opinion by Justin C. Sok

All it takes is a few snowflakes to start the avalanche. It was crystal clear that they were the ones, with their lapse of judgment, which caused all the commotion in the Cambodian and Cambodian-American community and Cambodian people abroad for the past months.

Someone had asked me, “Was I surprised about the whole issue?” At first I thought it was so odd to hear such a ridiculous rumor. But once I learned about whom these people were, I was not surprised at all. It’s so pathetic and disgraceful for the Cambodian people, the City of Long Beach, and the Cambodian people around the globe. It is quite clear to the public that, in fact, they have had their own hidden agenda. As a matter of fact, they are the political buffoons with their thick-faced, who would love to ingratiate and grovel at someone’s feet for better shade. These are the kind of people, which can be called the “Basking in reflected glory” – by associating with other high-ranking people, they hope that some of their glory will rub off on them, too.

I was present at the City Council meeting to offer my support for our Cambodian and Cambodian-American community. I would like to briefly give a scenario for the public to see what went on in the City Council Chamber. It was the last item on the City Council Agenda: Public – Immediately Prior to Adjournment. After the speeches presented about the “invitation issue” by an agglomerate of intellectual Cambodian-Americans, Mr. Mayor Bob Foster threw in the towel to signify that he and the rest of his City Council members have heard enough about the issue. Ironically, the atmosphere in the Council Chamber was even more appalling when Mr. Mayor Bob Foster yielded motions to get responses from the City Council members if any of them and/or any city staff had heard or were involved with the “invitation issue” claimed to be made by the Cam-CC representatives. Every City Council member had no firsthand knowledge apropos of the “invitation issue”. Mr. Mayor Bob Foster then offered his support for our voices and yielded the motion to further investigate the “invitation issue” to be made by the designated city staff and to be the mediators for the purpose of bringing together the two groups to clear the air at the special meeting, which will be on this Friday, March 7, 2008.

I learned that if you were to make such grave accusations, you would be better damn certain. Let’s put it on the record, the Cambodian and Cambodian-American people were cleared certain that the accusations they had made were true. The facts are objectively real, while the truth must conform to the facts. So if you can’t find the facts, you can never prove the truth. Guess what? The people found the facts, and they had proved the truth. Therefore, to the so-called Cambodian Community Congress delegates, just when you think you got the world by the neck, you find out the world has got you by the head and tail. Just remember, the best place to put up a show of a pile of dirt SANds is at somewhere else and not on Anaheim street corridor.

My hat is off to the group of our Cambodian and Cambodian American people who had the courage to stand up before Mr. Mayor Bob Foster and the City Council members to contest for our good cause. You are the backbone and the bulwark of law and order to fight against the injustice made upon the weak. Our objective about the whole issue was not to show the world about the “Us against them” or vice versa. But it was clearly about the benefits for the majority, and that’s how democratic principle works.

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Justin C. Sok
March 6, 2008
California