Press release of demontration held on 29 October 2005

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PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE DEMONSTRATORS

Washington, DC 10/29/2005

Subject: Protest against the Governing practices of Prime Minister Hun Sen in Cambodia and his Administration for arresting and threatening innocent Cambodian people.

The Cambodian American for Human Rights and Democracy in Washington, DC and Cambodian communities and Friends from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Canada have come together in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC to protest and condemn Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Administration on human rights records and the governing methods and practices in Cambodia.

Hun Sen is the ruthless leader. He did not and does not obey any rules of law. He rules by repression, intimidation, and force. He ordered to arrest Mr. Mam Sonando, director of Beehive FM 105 radio station, and Mr. Rong Chhun, director of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association to put in Prey Sar prison, and a threat to arrest a number of Human Right and Democracy activists who have fled Cambodia.

Under his rule, there were numerous killings of newspaper columnists, union and civic leaders, and opposition party members who dared to criticize his policy and administration’s conducts. The criminals were never found nor arrested for the murders. Instead innocent, poor people ended up in jail for them.

Hun Sen has an absolute power to become dictatorship. The parliament is just a rubber stamp that approves his policy. The judiciary system is just a tool used to achieve his goals. Many innocent citizens, human rights activists, civic leaders, writers, the opposition party members, and any persons who are defenders of freedom, are imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. For example, Cheam Channy, a parliament member of an opposition party, was imprisoned because he was falsely accused of forming a shadow army.

Under Hun Sen’s rule and administration, most Cambodians become poorer and have one of the lowest standards of living in the world. Cambodia lost its territory to its neighbors. WHEREAS, the arrest and incarceration of Mam Sonando, director of Beehive Radio in Phnom Penh, raises serious concerns about press freedom in Cambodia; WHEREAS, Beehive FM 105 is the only independent Cambodian radio station, and thus symbolizes freedom of expression;

WHEREAS, the Cambodian authorities are using defamation charges against Mam Sonando following criticism of government policies aired by Beehive regarding a border agreement with Vietnam;

WHEREAS, Prime Minister Hun Sen has said publicly that he will use the courts to prosecute anyone critical of the government concerning the border issue;

WHEREAS, the prime minister's actions are creating a climate of fear that has had a chilling effect on press freedom and the freedom of expression in Cambodia;

WHEREAS, a number of human rights leaders, trade union activists, and opposition party members have fled the country, fearing arrest;

WHEREAS, Beehive Radio is a prime source for Cambodians to hear Radio Free Asia, the Voice of America, and other international broadcasters;

TODAY, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED:

1. We, Cambodian American for Human Rights and Democracy in Washington, DC, Cambodian communities and Friends from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Canada hereby call for the immediate release of Mam Sonando and Rong Chhun, without any conditions, and urge the Cambodian government to refrain from using defamation charges, or otherwise retaliating, against journalists who air criticism of government policies.
2. We urge Hun Sen and his Administration to respect universal human rights, and exercise democracy by releasing Chean Channy and other “prisoners of conscience”.
3. We urge Hun Sen and Cambodian Government to withdraw the defamation lawsuit and the charges against anyone critical of the government concerning the border issue.
4. We urge Hun Sen and his Administration to apologize to the Cambodian People for trying to abolish the Cambodian Monarchy.
5. We urge National Parliament not to ratify the additional treaty signed by Hun Sen and Vietnam on 10/10/2005.
6. We respectfully ask King Norodom Sihamoni to void additional treaty between Hun Sen and Vietnam from 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, and 2005.
7. We respectfully ask King in Thailand and the Royal Government of Thailand not to deport the Cambodian activists currently taking refuge in Thailand.