10/02/09 By Stephanie Guyer-Stevens
WeNews correspondent
Embattled Cambodian lawmaker Mu Sochua faces potentially dangerous fallout from her recent U.S. tour. But she takes home what she calls a promise by Hillary Clinton, an old ally, to investigate the country's human rights abuses.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (WOMENSENEWS)--Last week, Mu Sochua, the embattled Cambodian opposition lawmaker and longtime women's rights activist, left the United States facing an Oct. 2 court date in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
There, she will be appealing a guilty verdict in what human rights supporters have denounced as a sham trial.
She may also risk arrest for calling attention to human rights violations in Cambodia during her U.S. tour, which consisted of approximately 15 appearances, including a private meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sept. 10.
Just before her meeting with Clinton, Sochua gave an address in Washington, D.C., to the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, a nonpartisan group that advocates for international human rights.
In her address, Sochua described an alarming freefall in Cambodian democracy. She said she is particularly concerned about the surge in criminal prosecutions for defamation and disinformation against peaceful critics of the government over the past six months. She also said the core human rights violation in Cambodia today are "land grabs," particularly by the military, in the rural provinces.
Sochua's parliamentary immunity was lifted when she was sued by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for defamation, in response to a suit she had pressed against him, also for defamation.
'I Can Be Arrested Any Time'
"When I go home I can be arrested any time," Sochua said on Sept. 15 in Sacramento. She was addressing the World Affairs Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to expanding public understanding of international issues. "By speaking out like this in Cambodia the reports in government are that I'm a traitor and can be sued, and the sentence for this could be 20 years to life."
The Cambodian member of parliament and internationally known leader in women's rights was found guilty on Aug. 4 of defamation against Prime Minister Hun Sen, leader of the majority Cambodian People's Party. Cambodian human rights groups denounced the verdict as politically biased.
After meeting with Clinton, Sochua reiterated to her audiences across the United States, including the one in Sacramento, that she pressed the top U.S. diplomat to make future U.S. economic aid contingent upon taking action to end human rights abuses.
The office of Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, states that Verveer had been planning a trip to Cambodia to look into women's issues, including unemployment due to the current global economic crisis.
When Sochua heard that Verveer might be coming to Cambodia, she asked Clinton if the ambassador-at-large could also look into some of the issues that Sochua raised regarding the rule of law and freedom of speech.
In her Sept. 15 Sacramento address, Sochua encouraged supporters to petition Clinton to keep her promise about sending a special envoy to investigate human rights abuses.
Cambodia receives approximately $1 billion in annual foreign aid, of which $59 million is from the United States.
Alliance Dating to Beijing
Sochua and Clinton met in 1995 at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, said Alyse Nelson, executive director of Vital Voices, a Washington, D.C.-based women's leadership organization. Nelson says the two leaders have met several times in the ensuing 14 years. Clinton is a co-founder of Vital Voices, along with Madeline Albright, the secretary of state during the Clinton presidency.
Vital Voices gave Sochua a human rights global leadership award in 2005, presented by Clinton, who was then a U.S. Senator from New York. Nelson says Clinton has shown enduring support of Sochua and a willingness to "stand up for what she believes in."
Phay Siphan, secretary of state and spokesperson for the Cambodian Council of Ministers, harshly criticized Sochua's U.S. tour as a betrayal of the country. He was quoted by Radio Free Asia as calling her "a traitor to her oath taken before she occupied her position as a member of parliament."
Cambodia's majority People's Party defended its prime minister. "Prime Minister Hun Sen has always enhanced the reputation and honor of the National Assembly at national and international levels and promoted debates in the adoption of laws without prejudice," said a media statement by the party, which was published by Phnom Penh Post following Sochua's address to the Tom Lanton Commission on Human Rights.
Stephanie Guyer-Stevens is executive producer of Outer Voices. She has been documenting female leaders in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands since 2003.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (WOMENSENEWS)--Last week, Mu Sochua, the embattled Cambodian opposition lawmaker and longtime women's rights activist, left the United States facing an Oct. 2 court date in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
There, she will be appealing a guilty verdict in what human rights supporters have denounced as a sham trial.
She may also risk arrest for calling attention to human rights violations in Cambodia during her U.S. tour, which consisted of approximately 15 appearances, including a private meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sept. 10.
Just before her meeting with Clinton, Sochua gave an address in Washington, D.C., to the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, a nonpartisan group that advocates for international human rights.
In her address, Sochua described an alarming freefall in Cambodian democracy. She said she is particularly concerned about the surge in criminal prosecutions for defamation and disinformation against peaceful critics of the government over the past six months. She also said the core human rights violation in Cambodia today are "land grabs," particularly by the military, in the rural provinces.
Sochua's parliamentary immunity was lifted when she was sued by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for defamation, in response to a suit she had pressed against him, also for defamation.
'I Can Be Arrested Any Time'
"When I go home I can be arrested any time," Sochua said on Sept. 15 in Sacramento. She was addressing the World Affairs Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to expanding public understanding of international issues. "By speaking out like this in Cambodia the reports in government are that I'm a traitor and can be sued, and the sentence for this could be 20 years to life."
The Cambodian member of parliament and internationally known leader in women's rights was found guilty on Aug. 4 of defamation against Prime Minister Hun Sen, leader of the majority Cambodian People's Party. Cambodian human rights groups denounced the verdict as politically biased.
After meeting with Clinton, Sochua reiterated to her audiences across the United States, including the one in Sacramento, that she pressed the top U.S. diplomat to make future U.S. economic aid contingent upon taking action to end human rights abuses.
The office of Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, states that Verveer had been planning a trip to Cambodia to look into women's issues, including unemployment due to the current global economic crisis.
When Sochua heard that Verveer might be coming to Cambodia, she asked Clinton if the ambassador-at-large could also look into some of the issues that Sochua raised regarding the rule of law and freedom of speech.
In her Sept. 15 Sacramento address, Sochua encouraged supporters to petition Clinton to keep her promise about sending a special envoy to investigate human rights abuses.
Cambodia receives approximately $1 billion in annual foreign aid, of which $59 million is from the United States.
Alliance Dating to Beijing
Sochua and Clinton met in 1995 at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, said Alyse Nelson, executive director of Vital Voices, a Washington, D.C.-based women's leadership organization. Nelson says the two leaders have met several times in the ensuing 14 years. Clinton is a co-founder of Vital Voices, along with Madeline Albright, the secretary of state during the Clinton presidency.
Vital Voices gave Sochua a human rights global leadership award in 2005, presented by Clinton, who was then a U.S. Senator from New York. Nelson says Clinton has shown enduring support of Sochua and a willingness to "stand up for what she believes in."
Phay Siphan, secretary of state and spokesperson for the Cambodian Council of Ministers, harshly criticized Sochua's U.S. tour as a betrayal of the country. He was quoted by Radio Free Asia as calling her "a traitor to her oath taken before she occupied her position as a member of parliament."
Cambodia's majority People's Party defended its prime minister. "Prime Minister Hun Sen has always enhanced the reputation and honor of the National Assembly at national and international levels and promoted debates in the adoption of laws without prejudice," said a media statement by the party, which was published by Phnom Penh Post following Sochua's address to the Tom Lanton Commission on Human Rights.
Stephanie Guyer-Stevens is executive producer of Outer Voices. She has been documenting female leaders in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands since 2003.
29 comments:
Enough is enough,Mr.Prime Minister! When will you wake up and realizes that your action is wrong and detrimental to the whole country. You've done some good deeds for the country but Cambodia needs a new leader to guide her for the future. Maybe it's time to retire and give the younger generation to lead the country. Twenty-something-year being the prime minister is enough, and now is the time to step down while on top.
2:46PM good comment and good writing.
Like that!
Khmer song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iT09V1Ro44&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb84E71yiS4&feature=related
Phay Siphan is not stupid but acting stupid just to hold on to his job .
khmer song
Yi Khun Prain Chen Beat tchngary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huZ1oiRMClI&feature=related
No phay siphan is absolutely stupid.
"Hi-Tva Roati-pvear ,Akroati-Pvear ,Liti phutaing Niro-Pakthi,Sob-loka phikaing-viraing,Tamahaing Pru-mi Pream-naing"
"He who has given up delight and aversion,come to coolness,rid of bases of becoming,who is victorious over the whole world,-him I call a Brahman" Buddha
Putho ,Puthaing ,Aknichaing,Aknakta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onDjy--ne0o&feature=channel_page
Dream on Mu Sochua if you think US government values you more than Hun Sen. Can you become a mature and professional politician? Perhaps not in this lifetime?
Politician is not a professional. A free open society and democratic world like the EU/US/AU,etc -- politician's power rest on the People.
If the Constitution is well written, the laws should be clearly states the people has the power to abolish the politicians abuse power, corrupt, scandal, and has no interest for the country.
Where did you get the idea that it's a professional? Please don't tell me Hun Sen and his cronies went to school. They all spoke in FIRST GRADE level.
It's ashame our Native country, Cambodia being labeled by Thailand/Vietnam as LAND of UNDEREDUCATED.
The officials are very INSECURE PEOPLE IN CAMBODIA, otherwise they would be able to take the criticism from the people. In order to shunt the public knowing the TRUTH, THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT using everything in their disposed to silent the public.
THERE ARE NO CHECK & BALANCE IN CAMBODIA'S LAW... WOULDN'T U AGREE?
7:36PM - I am sure you heard the expression professional killer or hitman before, right? There is nothing professional about being a killer or hitman, in the strict sense of the word.
But in this context, the word professional simply means being sophisticated at what you do, bad or good, or outsmart your peers, competitors or opponents.
7:36PM,
I was poor and grew up in Cambodia. I hated and continue to hate those corrupted officials in all political parties. But that did not prevent me from working hard and do my best to get education.
Some people blame politicians for their own laziness. I hope you not one of those. It's not politicina faults if Yuons and Siems call Cambodia the Land of Uneducated. France treated us the same way if you read some of the documents French wrote about us.
We, the peole, must learn to work harder if we want the nation prosper. Yes, I agree with you politicians have a major role and responsibility, but we too. We have to do our parts and prove it to the world that we are not as incapable as they think.
Best to address Cambodia human rights,Khmers voters in US write to US Senators/US House members in own district raise concerns and suggestion/s for elected officials to consider and hopefully take action in writer behalf.
Hun Sen now is not the same as Hun Sen prior to 1977.He's surrounded by foxy evils and vultures days in days out.All they whispered in Sen's ears are flattery and nicety of his half educated decisions.
Most of his advisors were the unemployed/unqualified for real entry level job from Long Beach like Sreng,Siphan,Than or Paris Ong Viet Tien etc...
How can we expect Hun Sen to be himself logical thinking.
Actually, those supporting her are in the US based on so-called human rights issues. The reality is that Cambodia has made great strides since the formation of the Royal Government an while there have been questionable events over the 16 years of the RGC existence, it is far from a hot bed of human rights violation as see and others of her party choose to characterize it.
You can not expect Hun Sen to change something if all you do is criticizing him. But if you recognize his achievements and reasonably suggest him where he should improve, then there is a better chance he will listen to you.
Don't underestimate Hun Sen. I think he knows which advisors are incompents and which ones are reliable. Like any human being, once a while he got carried away by the flattery, but over all he is in control and follows his instinct.
In the spirit of cooperation and criticize constructively, I believed that P.M. Hun Sen has done a lot of good things as well such as sending Khmers overseas to study to train in other country, let foreigner (partially) build road, bridges, but there are a lot that need to be done in order to bring Cambodia up to par with other develop countries such as Thailand? if you look at their streets/roads they have better road better systems, traffic is in order unlike Cambodia which still has a lot of things to be done.
I believed that P.M. Hun Sen and his entourage has amassed enough money, so maybe now it's time to turn around and start serving the people the country and turn yourselves into a nationalist and still keep your loots that way people might respect you more and who know maybe you even win the next election and if you don't you can sit and watch the opposition to see if they can do better than CPP or not? after all you have all your elements (military and police) in place. Maybe the opposition can unwind any bad deal with Vietnam and once the deal is unwind we all can deal with each other i.e. CPP, opposition, Vietnam, in a fair trade or equity.
There are a lot that can be done or maneuver internationally about current situation and as all of you said, P.M. Hun Sen got a bad advisor(s)
to common 8:03 PM, probably you do not poor eneough to understande the word of no choices, some poor might be lazy but some had no choice to choose their way to go to school. for example ihad watch a movie of combodia call neak sree on you tupe. in this movies show me that this familly have no choice, to get a better life, they been trying to hard to probided their familly need but they can not do more than that. you all should go to you common 8:03 PM should see you tube movie call Neak sree. than you will understand the word no choice.
Why this bitch wanted outside world interfer with Cambodia's internal matter. That was what happened in the 1970s. This bitch is just so plain stupid.
to common 11:53 PM, my advice to Hun Sen is that give the opposition party have public tv, radio and other things braod cast, so if Hun Sen say something to opposition party bad this bad those let Opposition party have a chance to defend them self on tv, radio etc......, for example i see ch 5 talking about mu this mu that but mu do not have any chane to defend herself, if he is tought pm why don't he let opposition party defend themself inside of the country so they don't have to ask other country to help.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Executions
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
8.03pm: absolutely true to most of cases, one has to fight on whether you're in certain condition. No one was born rich, rich with knowledge, you have to work for it. earn it yourself, and for yourself. even if you're poor, you can still make yourself to become something better, not necessary a millionair, but a better person than your normal condition. I speak for mysefl because I was one of the poor, I am still poor, but I hold an engineering degree.
Good for you 2:36AM. As long as we keep working hard, there will always be a better future for us.
i'm glad the USA is smart to see for themselves instead of buying rumour or being bias to cambodia by taking side with opposition group. it goes to say the USA is the real world leader, really. god bless america and cambodia.
If you act stupid, you are stupid.
AH Phay Siphan is stupid.
Why would you act stupid for?
2:46 PM You're extremely right...
Ah Sen will run thru 2012, 2018 and 2023. I can handle the truth!
He's running for Commissioner of Poker Player in srok Khmer. We all dead by the time because all kind of disaster out there.
Cambodian governments need to be more open to our society by allowing all individuals to have the freedom of speech. Governments need to learn to step into a world of having a sense of humour. Like Aust, people can joke around about their political leaders without getting into trouble. The freedom of speech does not always mean that serious and political leaders no need to make a big deal out of it, like a resting workers or editors and imprisonment them, in doing so to shut them up and so on. This is wrong, good governments don't need to use and abuse their power. Prime Minister Hun Sen on the other hand needs to allow all political leaders the right to debate to reach a common goal and common interest to improve the quality of lives of its citizen e.g. create a welfare system like all for one and one for all; increasing new infrastructures such as roads, housing, hospital and schools, migrating more people etc ( the more people we have the better to keep the country alive, as well it will improve in the management of our country) and at the same time, all political leaders need to learn to move away from personal conflicts but more focusing on what else needs to done, like maybe the improvement between one country to the next like, Asian nations come together as one, Asian nation money e.g. would be called “Asiano or Asian Mono” which is similar to European nation money called “Euro”. We need to think about what is more productive? E.g. everyone is equally important (one death is too many), also try to create an international safety net and allowing the free trade to happen for prosperities for all of our Asian nations. Aust
Hun Sen needs to include all Khmer diplomats like Mu Sochua, Theary Seng and others female activists as a team members because they are very significant figures in our society as they are in the face of educated people and we need educated people to run the country!, by doing so is to let other races know that we are as compatible as them. In addition, it is easier for other diplomats to communicate with us as well. Hun Sen needs to place more value on our diplomats which in turn it will place more value on him and his constitutions. Aust
Dream on dude. Hun Sen will not take advices from no one except from Viets.
correction: incompetent or incompetence
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