By Ly Diep
Angkor Borey
Khmer Voice Overseas
01 May 2006
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
On 30 April 2006, a meeting was held in Long Beach, organized by a group of Khmers, with no objective other than displaying their support for the activity of Mr. Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), who completed his visit [in the US] last week.
Dr. Tith Naranhkiri, Ph.D. in economy and former professor at John Hopkins University, was the guest speaker of the meeting. Besides his presentation on the history of the swallowing of Khmer territories by the Vietnamese, Dr. Tith greatly surprised the audience consisting of 60-70 people, by continuously repeating his admiration for Mr. Kem Sokha.
The former advisor of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of Funcincpec; former advisor of Mr. Sam Rainsy, president of Sam Rainsy Party (SRP); and finally proclaimed by Mr. Kem Sokha as his “supreme advisor” in Washington DC, seems to want to show that among all the horses in Cambodia, he is only left with the Kem Sokha horse whom he can bet on.
However, Dr. Tith declared: Mr. Kem Sokha cannot jump into the Cambodian political arena by abandoning his human rights work, because Khmer people need him (Kem Sokha) in this field. Dr. Tith believes that in the future, Khmer people will win over the dictators and the corrupt people … when Khmer people fully understand democracy and their political rights.
CCHR was formed in 2003 under the support from the International Republican Institute (IRI) which provides about $800,000 in funding annually. According to its charter, CCHR’s mission is to promote, educate, and protect Cambodian people on “human rights.” This Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) cannot be involved in “politics.”
Following Mr. Kem Sokha’s release by Prime Minister Hun Sen, under the intervention of the US State Department, Mr. Sam Rainsy started to criticize Mr. Kem Sokha, accusing him of using CCHR as a stepping stone for forming his own “political party” in order to compete in the 2008 legislative election.
Because of this [accusation], during his latest visit to the US, Mr. Kem Sokha repeatedly declared that he will not return to the political arena, i.e., he will remain as a defender of human rights only.
Doubts still linger among Khmer observers on Mr. Kem Sokha’s intention of forming a political party. Therefore, the meeting organized by Dr. Tith in Long Beach, is also under the scrutiny of everyone. What push people to follow this event, is the short notice presence of a representative from the Khem Veasna party (Mr. Khem Veasna was a former SRP member of parliament who was kicked out of the party, he later formed his own political party) participating in the meeting.
What did not come out [of the meeting], is the fact that Dr. Tith did not show any sign on the plan for forming any political party. However, there is one point that is puzzling, it is Dr. Tith’s support for a NGO which already has a set mission, and a sufficient financing for proper operation.
“No one has ever seen somebody organizing a meeting only to support a NGO,” an elder guest who participated in the meeting told Angkor Borey. “If Mr. Naranhkiri believes that only Mr. Kem Sokha is doing the right thing, he (Naranhkiri) should go to work in CCHR with Mr. Kem Sokha directly.”
This guest added: “The acting as an outside opinion provider (an advocate) is not different from betting on a horse. Does the horse bettor need to organize a meeting to show off his horse which no one even knows when it will enter the competition?”
Dr. Tith told the participants of the meeting that: he supports Mr. Kem Sokha in opposition to former King Sihanouk and Mr. Hun Sen only. Should Mr. Kem Sokha change from this position, he (Tith Naranhkiri) will abandon Mr. Kem Sokha immediately.
When these words were heard pronounced by Dr. Tith, everybody became confused on Dr. Tith’s intention because he earlier forcefully declared and limited Mr. Kem Sokha not to be involved in politics. People want to know: if Mr. Kem Sokha, CCHR president, has the right to oppose former King Sihanouk, a retired king, or not? And what about human rights violation?
Recently, after the Sam Rainsy Party declared that it was pulling out of the “public forums” organized by CCHR, Mr. Hun Sen declared that he will send CPP representatives to participate and replace the SRP. We hope that: Dr. Tith Naranhkiri will not get mixed up in his support and providing opinion to Mr. Kem Sokha!!
Dr. Tith Naranhkiri, Ph.D. in economy and former professor at John Hopkins University, was the guest speaker of the meeting. Besides his presentation on the history of the swallowing of Khmer territories by the Vietnamese, Dr. Tith greatly surprised the audience consisting of 60-70 people, by continuously repeating his admiration for Mr. Kem Sokha.
The former advisor of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of Funcincpec; former advisor of Mr. Sam Rainsy, president of Sam Rainsy Party (SRP); and finally proclaimed by Mr. Kem Sokha as his “supreme advisor” in Washington DC, seems to want to show that among all the horses in Cambodia, he is only left with the Kem Sokha horse whom he can bet on.
However, Dr. Tith declared: Mr. Kem Sokha cannot jump into the Cambodian political arena by abandoning his human rights work, because Khmer people need him (Kem Sokha) in this field. Dr. Tith believes that in the future, Khmer people will win over the dictators and the corrupt people … when Khmer people fully understand democracy and their political rights.
CCHR was formed in 2003 under the support from the International Republican Institute (IRI) which provides about $800,000 in funding annually. According to its charter, CCHR’s mission is to promote, educate, and protect Cambodian people on “human rights.” This Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) cannot be involved in “politics.”
Following Mr. Kem Sokha’s release by Prime Minister Hun Sen, under the intervention of the US State Department, Mr. Sam Rainsy started to criticize Mr. Kem Sokha, accusing him of using CCHR as a stepping stone for forming his own “political party” in order to compete in the 2008 legislative election.
Because of this [accusation], during his latest visit to the US, Mr. Kem Sokha repeatedly declared that he will not return to the political arena, i.e., he will remain as a defender of human rights only.
Doubts still linger among Khmer observers on Mr. Kem Sokha’s intention of forming a political party. Therefore, the meeting organized by Dr. Tith in Long Beach, is also under the scrutiny of everyone. What push people to follow this event, is the short notice presence of a representative from the Khem Veasna party (Mr. Khem Veasna was a former SRP member of parliament who was kicked out of the party, he later formed his own political party) participating in the meeting.
What did not come out [of the meeting], is the fact that Dr. Tith did not show any sign on the plan for forming any political party. However, there is one point that is puzzling, it is Dr. Tith’s support for a NGO which already has a set mission, and a sufficient financing for proper operation.
“No one has ever seen somebody organizing a meeting only to support a NGO,” an elder guest who participated in the meeting told Angkor Borey. “If Mr. Naranhkiri believes that only Mr. Kem Sokha is doing the right thing, he (Naranhkiri) should go to work in CCHR with Mr. Kem Sokha directly.”
This guest added: “The acting as an outside opinion provider (an advocate) is not different from betting on a horse. Does the horse bettor need to organize a meeting to show off his horse which no one even knows when it will enter the competition?”
Dr. Tith told the participants of the meeting that: he supports Mr. Kem Sokha in opposition to former King Sihanouk and Mr. Hun Sen only. Should Mr. Kem Sokha change from this position, he (Tith Naranhkiri) will abandon Mr. Kem Sokha immediately.
When these words were heard pronounced by Dr. Tith, everybody became confused on Dr. Tith’s intention because he earlier forcefully declared and limited Mr. Kem Sokha not to be involved in politics. People want to know: if Mr. Kem Sokha, CCHR president, has the right to oppose former King Sihanouk, a retired king, or not? And what about human rights violation?
Recently, after the Sam Rainsy Party declared that it was pulling out of the “public forums” organized by CCHR, Mr. Hun Sen declared that he will send CPP representatives to participate and replace the SRP. We hope that: Dr. Tith Naranhkiri will not get mixed up in his support and providing opinion to Mr. Kem Sokha!!
4 comments:
Imagine if this Tith had more than one PhDs like Hun Sen? How advisory he could be to any one in Cambodia politic?
This guy qualified as swimmer instructor to full grown crocodiles? Isn't this an extraordinaire intellectual of Khieu Samphan caliber from U. Sorebone? I meant Sorbone!
This PhD was not a looser, really.He is sore looser as if a circus monkey with coconut fruit silently wondered how the heck I am going to eat this dumb yoeur fruit without eat its srakey first? How Intellectual Ong Thit no Tith,xorely Bac si Thith dac biet
My comment is not about Dr. Tith, but about the writer himself, Mr. Ly Diep or in Western name of Anthony Diep. This guy claims to be journaist, but lacking of ethic of professionalism. He is arrogan, and vulga. He parises no one, but himself.His know only one way is blindly critise, criticise, and criticise.He will use whatever tast of language to support his lunatic idea regardless how rubblish, vulga, or below human consumption.
Well, great to hear about mr. Tith, but i just want to say about Mr. Kem Sokha. I think he is so proud of what he has done and he really plans to have his own Party.
I think if that comes true he is not the smart guy and has the true will to help the contry. I mean whenever Kem sohan has new party the democrats will will devided and let Hun Sen win forever.
And also remeber the people support Kem sokha in the name of NGO but not in political leader. He must realize the case of Mam Sonangdo.
if the US support him ..no need other to help..they all just leaches..eeyore!
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