Chhun YasithCambodia freedom fighter sentenced in fatal attacks
June 22, 2010
My-Thuan Tran and Scott Glover
Los Angeles Times
A Long Beach man convicted of orchestrating an attempted political coup in his native Cambodia that resulted in the deaths of three people was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to life in prison.
Yasith Chhun, former president of the Cambodia Freedom Fighters, was convicted in 2008 in connection with the Nov. 24, 2000, attacks in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Three members of Chhun's group were killed, and several Cambodian police officers and civilians were wounded.
Chhun, wearing a green windbreaker under chains around his waist, addressed the court in a tearful speech in which he talked of his suffering under the Khmer Rouge genocide that took the life of his father.
"I am not lucky like Americans who are born in this country," he said. " I was, unfortunately, born in Cambodia."
He said that after coming to the U.S. as a refugee in 1982, he felt he could no longer stand by as his native country descended into political chaos. "I had to do something for that country," he said. "I've been punished because I failed, that I'm not good enough to overthrow that government."
Judge Dean D. Pregerson said he did not believe Chhun was an "evil human being," but that the prison term was the consequence of Chhun's actions.
"I do not want to be the person who does not say to all those groups that, if you conspire against the U.S., that the U.S. will tolerate or be lenient to you," Pregerson said.
Chhun, who was convicted in 2008 of the attacks in Cambodia, plotted the assaults from his Long Beach office, prosecutors said.
After the attempted coup, he returned to the United States, took credit for the attacks in the media and said he would do it again, according to prosecutors.
The U.S. attorney's office took jurisdiction of the case based on the belief that Chhun had violated several federal laws governing the commission of crimes in foreign nations.
Prosecutors said Chhun went to Cambodia in 1998 to meet with military personnel opposed to the ruling Cambodia People's Party, headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. After the meeting, the Cambodian Freedom Fighters group was formed and Chhun was appointed president.
The military faction in Cambodia agreed that it would acquire weapons and that Chhun's group would be responsible for raising funds "for the violent overthrow of the Cambodian government," according to the U.S. attorney's office. A fund-raiser was held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors presented documents at trial in which Chhun allegedly wrote that he would "tear Hun Sen" apart. In a presumed reference to other government officials, he allegedly wrote he planned to "cut their necks" and "send them to hell to soon,"
In fact, Chhun hid on the border of Cambodia and Thailand while about 200 members of his group carried out the assault with AK-47 rifles, grenades and rockets.
Yasith Chhun, former president of the Cambodia Freedom Fighters, was convicted in 2008 in connection with the Nov. 24, 2000, attacks in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Three members of Chhun's group were killed, and several Cambodian police officers and civilians were wounded.
Chhun, wearing a green windbreaker under chains around his waist, addressed the court in a tearful speech in which he talked of his suffering under the Khmer Rouge genocide that took the life of his father.
"I am not lucky like Americans who are born in this country," he said. " I was, unfortunately, born in Cambodia."
He said that after coming to the U.S. as a refugee in 1982, he felt he could no longer stand by as his native country descended into political chaos. "I had to do something for that country," he said. "I've been punished because I failed, that I'm not good enough to overthrow that government."
Judge Dean D. Pregerson said he did not believe Chhun was an "evil human being," but that the prison term was the consequence of Chhun's actions.
"I do not want to be the person who does not say to all those groups that, if you conspire against the U.S., that the U.S. will tolerate or be lenient to you," Pregerson said.
Chhun, who was convicted in 2008 of the attacks in Cambodia, plotted the assaults from his Long Beach office, prosecutors said.
After the attempted coup, he returned to the United States, took credit for the attacks in the media and said he would do it again, according to prosecutors.
The U.S. attorney's office took jurisdiction of the case based on the belief that Chhun had violated several federal laws governing the commission of crimes in foreign nations.
Prosecutors said Chhun went to Cambodia in 1998 to meet with military personnel opposed to the ruling Cambodia People's Party, headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. After the meeting, the Cambodian Freedom Fighters group was formed and Chhun was appointed president.
The military faction in Cambodia agreed that it would acquire weapons and that Chhun's group would be responsible for raising funds "for the violent overthrow of the Cambodian government," according to the U.S. attorney's office. A fund-raiser was held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors presented documents at trial in which Chhun allegedly wrote that he would "tear Hun Sen" apart. In a presumed reference to other government officials, he allegedly wrote he planned to "cut their necks" and "send them to hell to soon,"
In fact, Chhun hid on the border of Cambodia and Thailand while about 200 members of his group carried out the assault with AK-47 rifles, grenades and rockets.
31 comments:
Yasith Chhun is a Khmer hero, Hun Sen is a Khmer traitor.
My dear HERO,
Mr. Chhun Yasith, you used the wrong weapons, you should use your pen, papers to United Nation they have technical staff to fix.
Use weapons or arsenal not work for these day. Especially, he use its in Cambodia that is totally mistakes. "War is not Solve the Problem for country, only Peace will be Free and Liberated"
I hope all Khmer compatriots should learn this lesson and do not make a mistake like him again. Thought!
Arch Sess!!!
We should continue to support this man. He took acion unlike many other political writers who just sit there and write what they wish would happen. This man took action. I hope this would encourage and inspire the disinfranchised people of Cambodia to rise up and overthrow this government. There are many ways you can make bombs as simple as to killing just one cpp or corrupt police or military. You can always move on up to groups!
CFF vs. CPP!
4:00Am why you so stupid! you see the wrong thing and still think it right?
We use pen and spread the wrong doing of ah Hun Xen for the world to know! Some thing come out strong it just an emotion of Humanbeing!
We the mass the people in million will kick ah Hun xen together!
Those of you who don't know how much suffering Mr. Chhun inflicted on the innocent Khmer people who were caught up in the fighting. One woman who was 9 months pregnant had her husband shot and killed in her arms during the CFF attack. He's no hero. He's a Zero. He deserves life and I'm glad to see that the U.S. Justice System still serves justice for the weak and innocent Cambodians who were victims of Chhun's action.
There were only 200 figthers ????
He thought he could do it with 200 fighters alone ??? What's happened to the rest of the fighters ???
What was the plain ???? Where were Ranarith fighters ???? Were they the same group ????
I confuse !!!!!
YASIT CHUN IS A MAD DOG TOO,HE IS JUST LIKE CPP CLOWN.IF YOU THINK ABOUT TO REVENGE LIKE A MAD CAT,YOU WOULD KILL SOME INNOCENT KHMER PEOPLES WHO WERE LIVING IN THE PHNOM PENH CITY TOO.ESPECIALLY,YASIT CHUN,HE`D FORGOT HE IS AMERICAN CITIZEN!.HE HAD USED AMERICAN COUNTRY AS A BASE TO ATTACK ANOTHER COUNTRY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IN CAMBODIA IS BEING DEAL WITH HUN SEN.THE CONCLUSION IS YOU MR,YASIT CHUN IS UNPROFESSIONAL IN THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ARENA.HE HAD BEEN USED BY SOMEONE.BEING SMART LIKE MRS,MOSAUCHAUVE AND SAM RENGSY.
Good to see him in federal jail for life. And too bad that some of CFF members are become CPP members even get an Ambassador job in phila, Pa. His Member sold him out to exchange some CPP position.
This is a case of justice gone wrong. Mr. Chhun's parents were killed by the same Khmer Rouge cadre, a group that Mr. Hun Sen and his gangs once belonged. All Mr. Chhun was to seek justice and he did it in self defense. What would you do if your parents were killed by the KR? Wouldn't you take action to defend your family? Mr. Chhun was unable to defend his family during the KR era--at which time his parents were brutally murdered.
his action definitely cost him his life. He's just a president for the CFF movement, but he choose to take further step the fighting portion of it. Even the US can't help him. he felt not only betryal by his friends but also the by the US.
I feel soory for him!
What about Mr. Samean?
thank you america for not tolerating terrorist act from people like yasit chhun, etc! these people need to take a diplomatic skill classes or something. it goes to say that america do not support or tolerate terrorist using american soil to carry out terrorist attack on the gov't of cambodia. thank you, america and god bless america and cambodia.
So funny to me- America not support tolerat terrorist act against other country but they do by themself. i am strongly supported Chhun Yasith
Chun Yasit is an idiot like most people in KI. U people are so blind with hatred that want to kill other Khmer that think difference from us without mercy. Look, now what get this dumb ass into. Jail for life.
If this was a Cambodian court, people like SR and Mu Mu will cry injustice again. But since it is the US court, they are all shut up.
Mr. Chhun Yasit may have been used but when the US's foreign policy changed moving to be friend with Hanoi, he was sent to jail just like Fr. Lao Gen Vang Poa. Gen Vang Pao was just released and his Hmong Lao people were sent back to Lao.
Every thing they need somebody who are weak will be targeted, but whe they don't need, jail is the place.
Don't play with politics if we don't know how.
9;54am. Cambodia court is controlled by a one man named Hun Sen, and why do you think it is a justice court?
He was wrong and he should be convicted for the crime but the sentence is too harsh!
I would break him out of jail if I had the resources, and take him to a country with no extradition policies. He hasn't committed a SINGLE crime! He was fighting against and evil dictator!
Lifes in prison now he had serves ten years already, it's only around 8 or 9 more years he should be release if he's doing good in the Cell. lifes mean twenty five years in the Cell.
9:45AM,
I do agree with your comment. If a stupid Chhun Yasit has convicted by Cambodia's Court, SRP and its stupid supporters will cry out that unjust or political motivation. SRP, CFF and other anti government groups must aware that any attempt to bring down Cambodian government by force or unlawful strike, you will be punished no matter where you are?
Khmer in Sydney CBD
In the eyes of trators (refugees), the not-so-bright group would argue that the verdict is a travesty of justice, or the verdict is forcical; however, to the victims and the people of Cambodia,argument is not required, since the jury has spoken LOUD and CLEAR. On the behalf of the CPP and its members, including myself, we're very honored that justice has been served.
In addition, the vast majority of the time, these refugees have taken nationalism and patriotism too extreme, which grotesquely blind themselves that will undoubltedly put themselves on a glide path in the precipice of a colossal failure for their leaders and the party itself. Importantly, in a time of incertitude and hardships, we need a tenacious leader like Samdach Hun Sen to lead the country.
Moreover, suffice to say, I'm speechless, when these refugees are unflinchinglycalling the convicted criminal their "hero."
Pi Anh
maybe ah hengsoy should try to rescue cambodia like this son of a bitch did,but becarefull this time hun sen will gut you out into pieces for his crocodile dinner. ohh... i forggot ah hengsoy only know how to bark from computer.
Fucken LOSER!!!!!!!!!
Yasith Chhun is a freedom fighter. Cambodia should have many more people like Yasith Chhun who will stand up against the corrupted dictator Hun Sen. Freedom comes in a heavy price, and is worth to scarify for. The US judge believes Yasith Chhun is not an evil man but his action is responsible for the conviction. When will all of you stupid pro CPP cronies ever wake up to know you are in slavery under Hun Sen’s control? You life depends on his corrupted court’s mercy. You children’s future is compromised by Hun Sen’s misdirected economic planning. And Cambodia existence is a matter of time to be demised. Think future and read history about why Cambodia had war in 1970. War does not just happen. Yasith Chhun had suffered, and he fought to liberate Cambodia. Many heroes died in the batter field.
did you know that america hate all extremist group; we don't care who you are, if you advocate terrorist, extremist, hate, violence, etc, don't expect america to support or tolerate that, ok! in america, we like it when people do thing by the law of the land, not by jungle law, though! yasith chhun is a radical, extremist individual, ok! look, he carried out this heinous act that killed 6 people in cambodia. now you need to know american foreign policy with cambodia, we do not tolerate terrorist act, period, ok!
GHHUN YASITH IS A KHMER HERO
do not want to see one innocent life get get lost to pay for freedom
if CFF remove cpp .we rebuild our country,everyday cpp kill hundred life in cambodia not by the bullet
also kill the hold KHMER generatoin
I think Chhun Yasith was used either by Hun Sen or the US. When I said by Hun Sen I meant by Yuon Hanoi. I disagree with the words "terrorists", Chhun Yasith is a real liberator, but an idiot liberator.
It was a strategy that Yuon Hanoi designed to lure the nationalists out, and the same as Yuon Hanoi did in K-5. In one of my document if I can find I'll share, said The US supported and sponsored the resistance in K-5 against Yuon Hanoi, then something even more dramatic, Yuon Hanoi spies were among those Khmer nationalists as they always have been, and there're a voice of King Sihanouk in the radio, caused a lot of confusion.
The facts King Sihanouk didn't make the call to his people.
Think about this. If the film makers can make Tom Hank (Forest Gum) shaking hand with former Presidents Kennedy and Nixon before his existence, Yuon Hanoi or a skilled in the art also can make anyone's voice.
For the fears of Capitalists, Yuon Hanoi were paranoid, but finally Hanoi agreed to work with the US to isolate China from SEA; and K-5 was dissolved and Pol Pot was dead. K-5 was real but no single event, date or statitic marks what had happened.
Now today China rises and the politic games keep changing. Will the US save Yuon Hanoi from China? I doubt it.
In short, all politicians are learnt to lie.
maybe people like yasith chhun, etc, have some good idea, etc, however, they lack the method to relay those good messages, etc... one thing yasith chhun don't understand is that you don't use violence against violence. it's never right! this isn't the dark ages or stone ages, you know. nowadys, using law of the land is the best route to achieve changes, etc..., really! if you don't understand that, you are still living in the dark ages or stone ages, really! cambodia needs a lot of education. why? partly it was due to the stupid KR era, partly due to the ancient system of hierarchy tradition or system that takes time to wane out eventually. cambodia needs to adopt and incorporate new concept, new idea, now education, new way in terms of reforms, etc... yes, cambodia can use lots of reforms in our way and our country because we share our country with the world. we are not a lonely people or country on the planet, you know. so, we have to incorporate and adopt to the world as well as maintaining our own identity as well. it's ok to adopt, to learn from other countries, other people, etc, of the world, really! we must not isolate our country and people any longer, instead, we ought to embrace all good changes in our change. we are so lack of many things like material things we see all over the world. why? one thing for sure, we cannot continue to isolate and be ignorant any more. it's ok to embrace reforms in our country. don't use violence like this yasith chhun guy, though; instead use the law of the land; it is the right way to do so. god bless.
Yasith Chhun should be reconized as one of the first modern age Khmer Heroes. Many Cambodian immigrants and citizens living across the world and in the United States understand his decision and willingness to commit these acts of espionage and violence. Although his actions were not justifiable nor moral they were based on the foundations of liberation, freedom, and the unconditional love for the people and country of Cambodia. His decision is understandable by only those who have lived and seen the attrocities and acts commited by the infamously corrupt and despised puppet leader Hun Sen. The khmer people have suffered greatly by this former khmer rouge commander. He has killed many more innocent people than Chhun had mistakenly and tragically killed. He has kicked his own people off their homes and land leaving them to suffer all in will of selling that land to foreign corporations and monopolies. He has stopped all political opposition towards by suppressing freedom of speech and
killing those that dare to demand their voices to be heard. He bought out the king's party and arrested and executed all of its top members and soldiers. He controls all aspects of the economy by illegally
logging ancient forest, controlling all mineral and oil deposits and systematically selling them to the vietnamese than rather use it for the betterment of
the cambodian people. He has "gestapo" units all
around to enforce his influence amongst the private
sector of society to silence any defamation or
resistance against him.
Yasith Chhun's decision is supported by the cambodian immigrants in America who still to this day witness their family members suffering under Hun Sens rule.
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