Dear KI-Media Readers,
Please find below a template petition letter to send to US Senators to request their interventions to ensure human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press in Cambodia. The template was originally written by Mr. Justin Sok who sent out this letter to US Senators from 50 US States.
Thank you!
-------------
[Insert current date]
The Honorable [Insert Senator’s full name]
[Insert local office district address (see bottom for a list)]
Subject: Petition to Ensure Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, and Freedom of the Press in Cambodia
Dear Senator [Insert Last name of Senator]:
There is on-going corruption in the form of illegal evictions, human trafficking, and threats made against innocent citizens, Buddhist monks have been physically beaten and jailed, and political activists, journalists, and elected officials from the opposition parties are being intimidated and blackmailed, and others have been threatened by lawsuits and jail. This has been the political situation in Cambodia.
In the recent past, the government of Cambodia was able to suppress the people’s freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Mr. Kem Sokha, then was the Chairman of the Cambodian Center of Human Rights (CCHR), and Mr. Yeng Virak, head of the Community Legal Education Center were arrested for allegedly defaming the Hun Sen government in connection with a banner displayed on International Human Rights Day, which read, "I will not vote for anyone who intimidates me." Mr. Mam Sonando, a vocal radio host of the Beehive Radio Station and a journalist and Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teacher’s Association, were arrested and allegedly charged with defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in connection with the country's sensitive border issue. Mr. Cheam Channy, opposition parliamentarian, was arrested and charged with the false claim of forming a “secret army”. Mr. Dam Dith, Chief Editor for Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper was arrested and jailed and allegedly charged with defamation and disinformation. In addition, Mr. Sam Rainsy, President of the Sam Rainsy Party, was threatened to be stripped of his Parliamentary immunity and had a lawsuit filed against him on defamation and disinformation. President Sam Rainsy had to write a personal letter of apology to Prime Minister Hun Sen. There were also a number of leading democratic proponents and political activists that were thrown in jail, forced to seek refuge in exile, and others were assassinated, and still some were forced to pay the fines and write a personal letter of apology to the Cambodian government.
In the recent months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has, once again, allegedly orchestrated with the judicial system and his military police, unleashed a series of raids to make arrests and carry out a monstrous political assault on the social and political organizations including the non-governmental organizations, journalists, the opposition parties, community and political activists, teacher associations, union workers, student associations, and the general public. Mr. Hang Chakra, Editor in Chief for the Khmer Machas Srok Newspaper was arrested and thrown in jail. He was forced to write a personal letter of apology to Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. Mu Sochua, a member of Parliament for the opposition party has been charged with defamation by the ruling party for having stood up to defend her reputation. MP Mu Sochua has been stripped of her Parliamentary immunity. She was being fined and threatened with jail, should she refuse to pay the fines. Mr. Ho Vann, another Member of Parliament for the opposition party has also been stripped of his Parliamentary immunity. He is facing jail time and fines of more than $50,000.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and his high-ranking government officials are continuing to make threats to the general public, and the rights of the people are being infringed and suppressed. While he is playing the role of savior, Prime Minister Hun Sen, on the one hand, is deploying his high-ranking government officials to intimidate, arrest, jail and sue any individual who would dare to criticize him or his government. When the activists were arrested and jailed, Prime Minister Hun Sen and his officials would demand that the accused individuals pay fines and write a personal letter of apology, if they wish to avoid jail time.
America was built on the principles of democracy and the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment including freedom of expression and freedom of the press are among the fundamental touchstones of our democracy. America stands tall and defends individual freedom and protects our citizens under the Constitution. America is well-known as a country that is a fearless advocate of democratic principles and the protection of human rights around the world. As one of your constituents, a freedom-loving Cambodian-American citizen, I stand with my fellow Cambodian-Americans and Americans alike, petitioning to respectfully urge you Senator (Insert Last name of Senator) to enforce this Resolution to ensure human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press in Cambodia. In order to ensure democratic progress in Cambodia, I call upon you Senator (Insert Last name of Senator) and our respected representatives to the United States government to raise this grave matter in Congress to call for congressional action to ensure that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government officials will abide by the rule of law, to end Hun Sen government’s practices of silencing the dissident voices of the Cambodian people, and to put an end to the oppression of the people’s fundamental rights of expression, freedom of the press, assembly, and religious freedom. I appeal to our United States government to put a stop to the Hun Sen government’s raids and any other abuses made on the Cambodian people and to be made accountable for his government’s actions.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name here]
[Insert your full name]
Please find below a template petition letter to send to US Senators to request their interventions to ensure human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press in Cambodia. The template was originally written by Mr. Justin Sok who sent out this letter to US Senators from 50 US States.
Thank you!
-------------
[Insert your full name]
[Insert your Home Numbers, Street address]
[Insert City, State, and Zip Code]
[Insert your Email address]
[Insert your Phone Numbers]
[Insert your Home Numbers, Street address]
[Insert City, State, and Zip Code]
[Insert your Email address]
[Insert your Phone Numbers]
[Insert current date]
The Honorable [Insert Senator’s full name]
[Insert local office district address (see bottom for a list)]
Subject: Petition to Ensure Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, and Freedom of the Press in Cambodia
Dear Senator [Insert Last name of Senator]:
There is on-going corruption in the form of illegal evictions, human trafficking, and threats made against innocent citizens, Buddhist monks have been physically beaten and jailed, and political activists, journalists, and elected officials from the opposition parties are being intimidated and blackmailed, and others have been threatened by lawsuits and jail. This has been the political situation in Cambodia.
In the recent past, the government of Cambodia was able to suppress the people’s freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Mr. Kem Sokha, then was the Chairman of the Cambodian Center of Human Rights (CCHR), and Mr. Yeng Virak, head of the Community Legal Education Center were arrested for allegedly defaming the Hun Sen government in connection with a banner displayed on International Human Rights Day, which read, "I will not vote for anyone who intimidates me." Mr. Mam Sonando, a vocal radio host of the Beehive Radio Station and a journalist and Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teacher’s Association, were arrested and allegedly charged with defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in connection with the country's sensitive border issue. Mr. Cheam Channy, opposition parliamentarian, was arrested and charged with the false claim of forming a “secret army”. Mr. Dam Dith, Chief Editor for Moneaksekar Khmer newspaper was arrested and jailed and allegedly charged with defamation and disinformation. In addition, Mr. Sam Rainsy, President of the Sam Rainsy Party, was threatened to be stripped of his Parliamentary immunity and had a lawsuit filed against him on defamation and disinformation. President Sam Rainsy had to write a personal letter of apology to Prime Minister Hun Sen. There were also a number of leading democratic proponents and political activists that were thrown in jail, forced to seek refuge in exile, and others were assassinated, and still some were forced to pay the fines and write a personal letter of apology to the Cambodian government.
In the recent months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has, once again, allegedly orchestrated with the judicial system and his military police, unleashed a series of raids to make arrests and carry out a monstrous political assault on the social and political organizations including the non-governmental organizations, journalists, the opposition parties, community and political activists, teacher associations, union workers, student associations, and the general public. Mr. Hang Chakra, Editor in Chief for the Khmer Machas Srok Newspaper was arrested and thrown in jail. He was forced to write a personal letter of apology to Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. Mu Sochua, a member of Parliament for the opposition party has been charged with defamation by the ruling party for having stood up to defend her reputation. MP Mu Sochua has been stripped of her Parliamentary immunity. She was being fined and threatened with jail, should she refuse to pay the fines. Mr. Ho Vann, another Member of Parliament for the opposition party has also been stripped of his Parliamentary immunity. He is facing jail time and fines of more than $50,000.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and his high-ranking government officials are continuing to make threats to the general public, and the rights of the people are being infringed and suppressed. While he is playing the role of savior, Prime Minister Hun Sen, on the one hand, is deploying his high-ranking government officials to intimidate, arrest, jail and sue any individual who would dare to criticize him or his government. When the activists were arrested and jailed, Prime Minister Hun Sen and his officials would demand that the accused individuals pay fines and write a personal letter of apology, if they wish to avoid jail time.
America was built on the principles of democracy and the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment including freedom of expression and freedom of the press are among the fundamental touchstones of our democracy. America stands tall and defends individual freedom and protects our citizens under the Constitution. America is well-known as a country that is a fearless advocate of democratic principles and the protection of human rights around the world. As one of your constituents, a freedom-loving Cambodian-American citizen, I stand with my fellow Cambodian-Americans and Americans alike, petitioning to respectfully urge you Senator (Insert Last name of Senator) to enforce this Resolution to ensure human rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press in Cambodia. In order to ensure democratic progress in Cambodia, I call upon you Senator (Insert Last name of Senator) and our respected representatives to the United States government to raise this grave matter in Congress to call for congressional action to ensure that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government officials will abide by the rule of law, to end Hun Sen government’s practices of silencing the dissident voices of the Cambodian people, and to put an end to the oppression of the people’s fundamental rights of expression, freedom of the press, assembly, and religious freedom. I appeal to our United States government to put a stop to the Hun Sen government’s raids and any other abuses made on the Cambodian people and to be made accountable for his government’s actions.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name here]
[Insert your full name]
