Jun 11, 2009 By Keith Eldridge
Komo 4 News (Washington, USA)
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Let's let bygones be bygones.
That's the proposal of a Cambodian refugee looking for a pardon from the governor. And the state Clemency and Pardons Board agrees.
Former gang member-turned-civic leader Manny Uch needs the pardon for a past crime to avoid being deported.
On Thursday Uch appealed to the state Clemency and Pardons Board, hoping Gov. Chris Gregoire will step in on his behalf and stop the federal government from sending him back to Cambodia.
"I'm confident going into this that I've done my best for the past 10 years. So give me a chance," he said.
As a child in the early 1980s, Uch fled the killing fields of Cambodia with his family. During his years in the U.S., he drove a getaway car during a robbery and served time.
Since then, he's turned his life around. He is now a city community leader who counsels young people to stay out of trouble.
Uch's story has even been profiled in an Emmy-nominated documentary titled "Sentenced Home." He has helped write success stories like that of Johnny Cheng, whom he counseled.
"It wasn't anything in particular that he really said to me. It's more of what I saw him doing," Cheng said.
But because of his earlier crime he could be deported under the federal immigration laws. That threat has been hanging over Uch's head for years.
On Thursday, Uch's supporters gathered on the steps of the state Capitol as he appealed to the board. Among the crowd was University of Washington Drama Professor Mark Jenkins, who wants to turn Uch's story into a stage production.
"This whole immigration law seems to be an awfully heavy sledgehammer that's causing personal tragedy more than it's protecting America," Jenkins said.
The Clemency and Pardons Board voted unanimously to recommend a pardon for Uch. But their vote is simply a recommendation to the governor.
The Governor's Office said Gregoire will consider the recommendation and make a final decision.
It's not known when the governor's decision will come. And while Uch waits, immigration could send him back to Cambodia at any moment. And he is not alone. Some 1,500 Cambodians are facing the threat of deportation nationwide.
That's the proposal of a Cambodian refugee looking for a pardon from the governor. And the state Clemency and Pardons Board agrees.
Former gang member-turned-civic leader Manny Uch needs the pardon for a past crime to avoid being deported.
On Thursday Uch appealed to the state Clemency and Pardons Board, hoping Gov. Chris Gregoire will step in on his behalf and stop the federal government from sending him back to Cambodia.
"I'm confident going into this that I've done my best for the past 10 years. So give me a chance," he said.
As a child in the early 1980s, Uch fled the killing fields of Cambodia with his family. During his years in the U.S., he drove a getaway car during a robbery and served time.
Since then, he's turned his life around. He is now a city community leader who counsels young people to stay out of trouble.
Uch's story has even been profiled in an Emmy-nominated documentary titled "Sentenced Home." He has helped write success stories like that of Johnny Cheng, whom he counseled.
"It wasn't anything in particular that he really said to me. It's more of what I saw him doing," Cheng said.
But because of his earlier crime he could be deported under the federal immigration laws. That threat has been hanging over Uch's head for years.
On Thursday, Uch's supporters gathered on the steps of the state Capitol as he appealed to the board. Among the crowd was University of Washington Drama Professor Mark Jenkins, who wants to turn Uch's story into a stage production.
"This whole immigration law seems to be an awfully heavy sledgehammer that's causing personal tragedy more than it's protecting America," Jenkins said.
The Clemency and Pardons Board voted unanimously to recommend a pardon for Uch. But their vote is simply a recommendation to the governor.
The Governor's Office said Gregoire will consider the recommendation and make a final decision.
It's not known when the governor's decision will come. And while Uch waits, immigration could send him back to Cambodia at any moment. And he is not alone. Some 1,500 Cambodians are facing the threat of deportation nationwide.
29 comments:
Deport his ass, and put him in Prey Sar. The United States simply does not need this criminal.
PPU
Just say sorry fools! you don't want to end up in cambodia! no job! no life! you may end up in jail there again...
You are so lucky Uch!!! Do more good things for more people, then your big luck will come to you.
The more you for others, the better chance you will have.
Good luck
Deport your whore mother first! and let your whore mother fuck with dogs in prey sar Ah Pleu!!
PPU! deport your whore mother first! and than let your whore mother fuck with dog in prey sar...
12:20PM you mean PPU mother?
WOW she get very good job,tell me I want PPU mother to clean my ass with her tongue I,m telling you that is hell!
If Khmer helps Khmer, Khmer lives longer and forever, but if Khmer hats Khmer, and destroy khmer, Khmer nation will die soon.
Why don't you change your mind and heart a little bit to let more Khmers stay peacefully.
Thanks
Ethical words?
Each of us has a duty to act ethically, morally. We should act only in a way that we believe others should do too. If you speak bad about me, I will speak bad about you, if you kill my family, I will kill yours, I will do in a way you did to me. What is this principle?? are you both ethical and moral???
12:42 PM
I say: deport his sorry ass; it's better to spend his time in Prey Sar -- or, perhaps put him through hard labor.
Pi Anh: PPU
12:46 PM
It seems that you are very strong man, but it also shows that you have no ethic/morality. Sorry, if you are not happy with what I say.
Power without morality is criminal!!!
1:04 PM
It is critically imperative to bear in mind that we're not dealing with an ordinary person here--we're dealing with a criminal; the guy is the culprit, and, therefore, must be punished for the crime in which he perpetrated--thus the time must be served. This guy does not need ethics or morality. And, I say: deport his sorry ass!
PPU
The guy is already served his time. Give him a chance.
The US government is not fair for all people.
1:29 PM
Life is not always fair. God must created us unequally.
PPU
It's too bad that Gary Locke -- the then governor (now Obama's Commerce Secretary)-- is not the governor of the state, and now he (the former criminal) has to ask Mr. Obama for his clemency.
PPU
Hi PPU,
can we be friend with each other. because i like to meet new friend and socialize. please contact me at my personal email address: serenitytranquility@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Serenity
1.54
Please e-mail me at this address: obama@gmail.com
PPU
Why The United States keeping sending gorrila like this one to Cambodia?. The US has no prison for them.....
If he comes to Cambodia, he will make a lot of problems to our poeple. He will be Bang Thom.
2:40 PM
Bang Thom?
That will never happen in my country. Rest assured, he'll be taught a HARD LESSON that he will never forgets.
PPU
US is not heaven place to live in...See!! finally you guy is deported to your homecountry... there is no good place rather than our monther land...
Khmer
Khmer,
There's no place like home (Prey Sar).
PPU
Pleae give this guy a chance, people make mistake in their life time, No one in this earth are perfect.
Send him to Afghanistan! We don't want trash in Cambodia.
PPU=Pee Poop Urine
typical Khmer mentality. Acting just like monkey seeing snake.
Uch should have a chance. Those who wanted him be deported are themselves critically lacked social wisdom. Just act and think like monkey seeing snake.
When monkey seeing snake, they shake tree branches to let their siblings fall into snake prey.
9:45 PM, PPU is no monkey, he is human just like you and I, but he is an angry low life scumbag dirty trash moron uneducated despicable low self esteem unhappy son of a bitch. I was told that his self esteem is low because his penis is too small. He is unhappy because his YOUN gay lover broke up with him because he was unable to performe in bed.
Are you all Khmer? How rudely you can use those words to Khmer people? I was shock and numb to read the first sentence of the whole comments especially from PPU. Imagine if that person was your father, son, brother, uncle, or newphew, what would he do? Do we know exactly what was the reason to cause him into trouble? Did he really want to be involve with that?
3:02 AM, I do agree with you 100%that we Khmer should love and embrace each other especially of what we had gone through, but this guy PPU is not Khmer. He may be Khmer physically, however, his tiny brain is Youn. When was the last time that he ever says any thing nice about Khmer. Since he is so ashame to be Khmer and love Youn so much, he should moved to Hanoi.
3:02 AM & 6:11 AM
What's your suggestion to have a civilized discussion here?
Do you think we should have the KI enrolled everyone , particularly Ah Jkuot 3:02 AM & 6:11 AM, in civility class before conducting discussion?
I believe eveyrone of you are relatively unruly rude and uncivilized.
Quite frankly, I have no affinity to use incendiary comments, but all of you who have precipitated.
Anyhow, everyone must be tired of my tireless compassion toward all of you.
Pi Anh: PPU
Miss transvertite PPU is Khmer but her brain is mixed up to love Youn.
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