Cambodian-Americans call for speed up in the trial of former KR leaders

19 April 2009
By Khim Sarang
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Cambodian people from many states in the US cannot forget 17 April 1975, the date when the Khmer Rouge took over Phnom Penh and started the killing of more than 2 million Cambodians during their 3 years, 8 months and 20 days reign.

Tung Yap, President of the Cambodian-Americans for Human Rights in Democracy (CAHRAD) organization, said that, besides the commemorations for the victims, his organization also appeals to the KR Tribunal to speed up the trial process for the former KR leaders, and to provide justice.

Tung Yap said: “Today, we are all gathering to light candles to commemorate all our compatriots who died during the Pol Pot genocidal regime. We pray that the spirits of these victims will push the KR Tribunal to speed up the trials prior to the death of the KR leaders, and that justice will be provided.”

Democracy Group Calls on Cambodians to Vote

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
26 May 2008

The Cambodian-American for Human Rights and Democracy Association is urging all capable Cambodians to vote in July’s general election.

“Khmer people should change their leader through election,” said association president Yap Kem Tung. “Don’t stay at home; your ballot is very valuable to change the country.”

The Democracy Association was established to monitor the judicial, political, rights and democracy sectors of Cambodia, he said, speaking on the third anniversary of the group.

The association “is working hard to raise funds from Cambodia people who live in America in order to help the Students’ Movement for Democracy for opening an education session on human rights, democracy and law to the Cambodian youths,” said Mong Heng, an adviser to the association.

The association gave about $4,500 to the student’s group, he said.

The Democracy Association has 11 members, based in Virginia, and has urged senators in Washington to help in the release of defrocked monk Tim Sakhorn, who was detained by Vietnamese authorities in mid-2007 following his reported ejection from Cambodia.