By Lyle Moran
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts, USA)
LOWELL -- Kosal Suon, a 36-year-old Cambodian-American, said at recent gatherings with family and friends the conversation has frequently turned to one topic: President Barack Obama's visit to Cambodia.
The Lowell resident said when he discusses the first visit by a sitting American president to the Southeast Asian country he can hardly contain his excitement about what the trip means for Cambodia's future.
"Most people want Cambodia to become democratic and have fair elections," said Suon, who teaches English to English-language learners at the Lowell Adult Education Center. "I feel like with President Obama's visit he can help the country become Democratic.
"I can feel the sense of hope everyone has for President Obama
Suon's high hopes for the impact Obama's visit can have on the country's outlook and thankfulness the president is making the journey to Cambodia were shared by many other Cambodian-Americans in Lowell interviewed Monday.
Obama arrived in Cambodia Monday and was scheduled to leave today after attending the East Asia Summit being held in the country.
Sopheaktra Nara, 26, of Lowell, said the excitement of the people of the Cambodia about Obama's visit has her even more thrilled about the trip.
Nara said her sister, who is still in Cambodia, went to the Phnom Penh Airport and took photos of Obama's arrival, which were posted on Facebook.
It's just so exciting that the person everyone sees as the king of the world is there," said Nara, who moved to the U.S. four years ago and is a part-time employee at the Red Rose restaurant.
She is hopeful Obama will urge Cambodian leaders to increase educational opportunities for those who live in the poorest areas of the country.
Like Suon, former Lowell City Councilor Rithy Uong said he is optimistic President Obama can encourage the Cambodian government to become more democratic when it comes to elections, especially with an election
Uong, the first American of Southeast Asian descent to be elected to any office in the United States, also hopes the president expresses disapproval to the Cambodian government for two specific "anti-democratic" incidents.
The first is the 20-year jail sentence given last month to Mam Sonando, the owner of a popular Cambodian radio station that was home to discussion about elections, as well as sensitive issues such as labor rights and human trafficking.
Sonando was sentenced on charges he had been part of a secessionist movement.
Uong also said he would like the president to request that opposition parliament leader Sam Rainsy, the leader of the united democratic opposition, be allowed to
Rainsy remains in exile in order to avoid a 12-year sentence on what many observers deem politically motivated charges.
"I am very grateful the president is visiting Cambodia and I hope he deals with those two issues because he would be a respected voice," Uong said.
City Councilor Vesna Nuon, also of Cambodian descent, called the president's visit a "huge honor" and an opportunity for Obama to address human-rights issues in Cambodia.
Nuon said Obama could try to persuade the Cambodian government to be more tolerant of the rights of the media to print what they want and not shut down voices of opposition.
The Cambodian economy could also benefit from increased ties to the U.S., which Obama could help create, said Nuon.
"If the economy of the U.S. would open its doors to bring more Cambodian products to the U.S., it would be a huge economic boost to Cambodia," Nuon said.
Sambath Yim, 48, of Lowell, also expressed a desire that the president could help boost Cambodia's economy through his visit, which in turn would help out struggling Cambodians.
"I'm thrilled he is there and hope he can really help Cambodians who are without work," Yim said.
Follow Moran on Twitter @lylemoran.
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