Please Sign the Online Petition to "Reject New Cambodia-Vietnam Land Border Map"

Reject New Cambodia-Vietnam Land Border Map

Published by Vanna Lanh on Jan 19, 2011

Category: National Affairs
Region: Cambodia
Target: Members of Parliament and The Constitutional Council of Cambodia

Web site: http://ki-media.blogspot.com/

Background (Preamble):

The Royal Government of Cambodia and the government of Vietnam are preparing to co-produce a newly drawn land border map based on the on-going demarcations and markers planting work along the border between the two countries.

We, the People of Cambodia, believe that such decision and action seriously undermine the Constitution of Kingdom of Cambodia, on the ground that the new borderline demarcation initiative is the implementation of the 2005 Treaty which is supplemental to the previous Land Border Treaty of 1985. The Treaty of 1985 had no legal standing whatsoever due to the fact that it was forged under a foreign occupation, when the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s military was propping up the puppet government of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK).

The Constitution of the Royal Kingdom of Cambodia, on Policy, Chapter IV, Article 55, stipulates that any treaty and agreement incompatible with the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, neutrality and national unity of the Kingdom of Cambodia shall be annulled. Therefore, the constitutional council of Cambodia needs to reject this new map.

Petition:

We, the Khmer people, would like to notify Your Excellencies that the Royal Government of Cambodia is publishing a newly drawn map of land border for Kingdom of Cambodia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

We are deeply concerned over the publication of the new map because it appears to be: on one hand, conflicting with the existing official reference map recognized as such by the constitution of Kingdom of Cambodia regarding her sovereignty ― Chapter I, Article 2; on the other hand, infringing upon Cambodia’s territorial integrity, particularly the new demarcations along the eastern borderlines.

We wish to call your attention that the spirits of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the existing official reference map placed in UN have already assured the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia.

We therefore, are calling upon all Members of Parliament to take necessary steps to urge the Constitutional Council of Cambodia to reject the legality of the newly drawn map.

Please Your Excellencies, accept our sincere gratitude and regards.

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Please sign the Petition to Human Rights Violations by Cambodian Government

PETITION TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT

September 20, 2010

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We, as Cambodian-Americans, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities, write to you today to express our deepest concern over the rapidly declining state of democracy in Cambodia. We seek your support and intervention to end the Cambodian government's policies and practices of forced land evictions in the name of development. Land-grabbing by the government is increasingly widespread throughout the country. It has caused enormous pain and suffering, with unimaginable long term consequences to the lives of many poor, defenseless people.

Secondly, the country's defamation law places severe restrictions on fundamental human freedoms. It is a legal tool designed to effectively silence any critics of the Cambodian government, corrupt officials and their relatives. The Cambodian government and its corrupt officials regularly use the court system, controlled by the ruling party, to convict journalists, victims of land disputes, political activists, and even the people’s elected representatives. For example, on November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, leader of the official opposition party. This was done without any regard for his elected rights or those of the people who chose him to be their representative.

Mr. Sam Rainsy is currently exiled in France, continuing to speak out to Cambodians and the world about the government's abuses. For his publicly spoken opinions, the Cambodian government is currently pursuing an 18 year prison sentence. Given the track record of the Cambodian court system, Mr. Sam Rainsy will be found guilty for sure.

There is a planned US-ASEAN summit during the 65th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2010. I implore you to take issue directly with the Cambodian government over this oppressive act.

We seek your support to end the on-going erosion of civil liberties and systematic human rights violations in Cambodia, by putting the Cambodian government on notice that such abuses can no longer be tolerated. We request you to help Mr. Sam Rainsy to return so he can resume his parliamentary activity and continue to promote democracy in Cambodia.

Petition:
As Cambodian-Americans, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities, we invite the United Statess to persuade the Cambodian government to:

• Defend the human rights of the Cambodian population from government abuses
• Steadfastly restore and guarantee the freedom of speech and freedom of expression
• Guarantee freedom for the protesters and human rights defenders
• Release all villagers jailed for protesting to defend their farm land
• Withdraw the arrest warrant for MP Sam Rainsy
• Restore immunity for MP Sam Rainsy

Thank you for your precious time and your utmost consideration to this matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Undersigned, Cambodian/American Community
Cambodia and other nationalities adhering to this petition

Click here to sign the petition online

Stop Suppression of Speech in Cambodia: Online Petition for President Obama

Petition for Mrs. Mu Sochua among the top 25 most popular petitions

2,000 signatures reached!

But, please keep on signing anyway!

To: President Obama

We, the undersigned, urge you to condemn the recent Cambodian Supreme Court decision against former Nobel Peace Prize nominee, long-time women’s rights activist, and Cambodian parliamentary member, Her Excellency Mu Sochua, in the alleged defamation case of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Cambodian Supreme Court’s ruling on June 2, 2010 exemplifies politically-motivated targeting of opposition leaders by Prime Minister Hun Sen, lack of judicial accountability and fairness in the proceedings, and a denial of Cambodian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and holding of their public officials accountable in the event of perceived breach of the law.

Earlier this year, the Cambodian government also initiated a politically-motivated lawsuit against Cambodian opposition leader, His Excellency Sam Rainsy, on the charges of falsifying public documents and distributing false information. H.E. Sam Rainsy could face up to 18 years in prison if found guilty.

As a result of H.E. Mu Sochua's and Sam Rainsy's cases, local human rights groups have decried freedom of expression in Cambodia to be in a "perilous state."

We are deeply concerned by the silencing of long-time, well-respected, and democratically-elected leaders who could be prevented from running in the next parliamentary elections. This would be a deep blow to democracy in Cambodia.

With more than US $60 million in assistance given to Cambodia in 2009, including in the areas of democratic reform and governance, the United States Government has the responsibility to denounce the Court’s decision as a threat to freedoms of speech and expression and the rights to fair judicial process, transparency, and legal representation.

By failing to speak out against these rulings, the United States would undermine its long-cherished values of freedoms of speech and expression and the rights to an independent and impartial judicial process, equality before the law, and legal representation.

We urge you, Mr. President, to make a strong statement against the recent Cambodian Court’s ruling in defense of our democratic values that serve to empower so many around the world.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Click here to sign the petition online

Online Petition to End Cambodian Government's Human Rights Violation In Cambodia

PETITION TO END CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT'S
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN CAMBODIA

Click here to sign the petition online

January 4, 2010

The Honorable Ann Syauta, Human Rights Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations
Room DC1-640
New York, NY 10017

Dear Her Excellency Syauta:

We, as American Cambodian origin, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities undersigned writing to ask for your support and intervention with respect to the declining state of human rights in Cambodia.

Cambodia has no real separation of powers; only on paper and in theory. Because the executive branch has total control over the legislative and judiciary bodies, people are extremely fearful to be on the wrong side of the government. The control runs deep, through a highly sophisticated patronage system, through reward and punishment. Almost all judges and legal practitioners are members of the ruling party. Justices of the Cambodian Supreme Court come from the elite ranks of the ruling party as well. The highest court will not strike down any unlawful passage of law contravening the Constitution, particularly when it comes to placing limit on freedoms of its people.

On November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, Members of Parliament (MP), without any regard for his rights or the people he represented, not to mention the integrity of the institution, itself–something which is excessively abusive and ridiculous by any democratic standard.

The revoking of MP Sam Rainsy's parliamentary immunity is a result of the abuse of power by the Cambodian government. We demands an end to the selective and undemocratic stripping of parliamentary immunity from Members of Parliament, whose duty is to represent the people and to act in their interest, particularly the MPs who speak for people who are deprived of their rights and abused by those in power. Two other opposition lawmakers, MP Mu Sochua and MP Ho Vann, were also stripped of parliamentary immunity after the government filed separate defamation lawsuits in June, 2009. This action is among several others recently taken by the Cambodian authorities aiming to silence dissents and intimidate the opposition.

The immunity-stripping of MPs is indicative to what lies ahead for a country which has become less and less tolerant on freedom of speech and expression by its people. Anything anyone says or does could be viewed as an act of incitement, a risk to the national interests or security of the nation. One can be easily jailed for asking the wrong question or simply disseminating information considered to be critical of those in power. The government is determined to send a clear threatening message to other elected MPs and the public of its zero-tolerance policy on any dissent vis-à-vis its own interests. Allow criminal charges to be brought against them for exercising their freedom of speech regarding matters of public concern.

We ask you to remain aware of the erosion of civil liberties in Cambodia, and to take any possible action to put the Cambodian government on notice that such abuse of power will not be tolerated by the international community. We are truly thankful for your concern about our issues of human rights and democracy in Cambodia. We hope that you and your colleagues will continue to play a vital role in re-directing Cambodia to be a nation with strong independent institutions.

We the undersigned, thank you for the opportunity to bring to your attention the key issues regarding the ongoing violation of human rights and democracy in Cambodia. The United Nations was established for precisely this purpose, the sharing of information and coordinated response to international failures in law, security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and conflict resolution.

Petition:

As Cambodian/American, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities adhering to this petition, we invite and recall United Nations to liaise with the Cambodian ruling parties, local and international media, local NGOs, and the civil society for securing the political crisis, which had already proven severe consequences on human rights abuses.

We request the United Nations to unwaveringly endeavor to the social development of Cambodia: We ask the United Nations to concretely commit to:

• Defend the human rights of the Cambodian population from government abuses
• Steadfastly restore and guarantee the freedom of speech and freedom of expression
• Guarantee the freedom for the protesters and human rights defenders
• Ensure the release of all villagers who jailed for protesting to defend their farm land
• Solidly demand to restore immunity for MP Sam Rainsy, MP Mu Sochua and MP Ho Vann
• Condemn Cambodian government to withdraw the arrest warrant for MP Sam Rainsy

We request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Officer to:

• Increase the basic rights of freedom for Cambodian citizens from fear
• Decrease of the harassment on the civil society in Cambodia and Human Rights defenders
• End land confiscation and forced eviction in Cambodia
• Continue to mediate Cambodian government

Thank you for your precious time and your utmost consideration to this matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Undersigned, Cambodian/American Community
Cambodia and other nationalities adhering to this petition

Online Petition to End Cambodian Government's Human Rights Violation In Cambodia

PETITION TO END CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT'S
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN CAMBODIA

Click here to sign the petition online

January 4, 2010

The Honorable Ann Syauta, Human Rights Officer
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations
Room DC1-640
New York, NY 10017

Dear Her Excellency Syauta:

We, as American Cambodian origin, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities undersigned writing to ask for your support and intervention with respect to the declining state of human rights in Cambodia.

Cambodia has no real separation of powers; only on paper and in theory. Because the executive branch has total control over the legislative and judiciary bodies, people are extremely fearful to be on the wrong side of the government. The control runs deep, through a highly sophisticated patronage system, through reward and punishment. Almost all judges and legal practitioners are members of the ruling party. Justices of the Cambodian Supreme Court come from the elite ranks of the ruling party as well. The highest court will not strike down any unlawful passage of law contravening the Constitution, particularly when it comes to placing limit on freedoms of its people.

On November 16, 2009, the National Assembly voted to lift the parliamentary immunity of Mr. Sam Rainsy, Members of Parliament (MP), without any regard for his rights or the people he represented, not to mention the integrity of the institution, itself–something which is excessively abusive and ridiculous by any democratic standard.

The revoking of MP Sam Rainsy's parliamentary immunity is a result of the abuse of power by the Cambodian government. We demands an end to the selective and undemocratic stripping of parliamentary immunity from Members of Parliament, whose duty is to represent the people and to act in their interest, particularly the MPs who speak for people who are deprived of their rights and abused by those in power. Two other opposition lawmakers, MP Mu Sochua and MP Ho Vann, were also stripped of parliamentary immunity after the government filed separate defamation lawsuits in June, 2009. This action is among several others recently taken by the Cambodian authorities aiming to silence dissents and intimidate the opposition.

The immunity-stripping of MPs is indicative to what lies ahead for a country which has become less and less tolerant on freedom of speech and expression by its people. Anything anyone says or does could be viewed as an act of incitement, a risk to the national interests or security of the nation. One can be easily jailed for asking the wrong question or simply disseminating information considered to be critical of those in power. The government is determined to send a clear threatening message to other elected MPs and the public of its zero-tolerance policy on any dissent vis-à-vis its own interests. Allow criminal charges to be brought against them for exercising their freedom of speech regarding matters of public concern.

We ask you to remain aware of the erosion of civil liberties in Cambodia, and to take any possible action to put the Cambodian government on notice that such abuse of power will not be tolerated by the international community. We are truly thankful for your concern about our issues of human rights and democracy in Cambodia. We hope that you and your colleagues will continue to play a vital role in re-directing Cambodia to be a nation with strong independent institutions.

We the undersigned, thank you for the opportunity to bring to your attention the key issues regarding the ongoing violation of human rights and democracy in Cambodia. The United Nations was established for precisely this purpose, the sharing of information and coordinated response to international failures in law, security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and conflict resolution.

Petition:

As Cambodian/American, citizens of the United States, Cambodia, and other nationalities adhering to this petition, we invite and recall United Nations to liaise with the Cambodian ruling parties, local and international media, local NGOs, and the civil society for securing the political crisis, which had already proven severe consequences on human rights abuses.

We request the United Nations to unwaveringly endeavor to the social development of Cambodia: We ask the United Nations to concretely commit to:

• Defend the human rights of the Cambodian population from government abuses
• Steadfastly restore and guarantee the freedom of speech and freedom of expression
• Guarantee the freedom for the protesters and human rights defenders
• Ensure the release of all villagers who jailed for protesting to defend their farm land
• Solidly demand to restore immunity for MP Sam Rainsy, MP Mu Sochua and MP Ho Vann
• Condemn Cambodian government to withdraw the arrest warrant for MP Sam Rainsy

We request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Officer to:

• Increase the basic rights of freedom for Cambodian citizens from fear
• Decrease of the harassment on the civil society in Cambodia and Human Rights defenders
• End land confiscation and forced eviction in Cambodia
• Continue to mediate Cambodian government

Thank you for your precious time and your utmost consideration to this matter.

Respectfully Yours,

Undersigned, Cambodian/American Community
Cambodia and other nationalities adhering to this petition

Please hep sign the online petition for the right of self-determnation for Khmer Krom people

The right to self-determination of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples
(United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960 and United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007 )

By virtue of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have three options to choose for their right of self-determination or self-government as follows:

1. Free association with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to self-govern in free association with Viet Nam and thus to become Vietnamese citizens;
2. Integration with Viet Nam, the administering Power that means to integrate into Viet Nam and thus to become also Vietnamese citizens; and
3. Independence that means want to become fully sovereign and fully independent people from Viet Nam.

And by virtue of article 3 of the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007, the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples have the right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Now, Therefore the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples who are the legitimate and rightful owners of their ancestral homeland, Kampuchea Krom territory or southern Vietnam, formerly French Cochin China, have their full and legitimate right to freely choose one of the above forms or models of self-determination for their self-government in accordance with the international laws.

This petition will serve as taking a survey of all Khmer Krom people’s political status or models of self-determination or forms of self-government where all Khmer Krom people inside Kampuchea Krom territory, all overseas Khmer Krom people, all Khmer Krom people in Cambodia and everywhere around the world, and all Khmer people in general can vote for either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3(independence) for their self-government in strict conformity with the above UN GA Resolution of 15 December 1960 and UN GA Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of 13 September 2007. This petition-survey will be sent to the United Nations to urge them to honor the will of the Indigenous Khmer Krom Peoples regarding their free choice for their self-government option in accordance with the international laws.

We urge all Khmer Krom people everywhere in the world to sign this petition-survey with their full name accompanied by either option number 1, option number 2 or option number 3 at their own freewill without external compulsion.

Made in Saint Paul, the Capital of the State of Minnesota this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord, two thousand nine.

Sincerely,

Click here to sign the petition online

Petition to Ensure Human Rights and Democracy in Cambodia - Please Sign Online!

Subject: Petition to Ensure Human Rights and Democracy in Cambodia

Target:US Secretary of State, Hillary R Clinton
Sponsored by: Ros Visal - Philadelphia, PA.

Click here to sign the petition online

Petition Letter

Dear Secretary Clinton,

We, the undersigned, Cambodian-Americans wish to express our whole-hearted support to the Tom Lantos Hearing Commission concerning Deterioration of Human Rights and democracy in Cambodia, on September 10, 2009. We are touched by the courage and wisdom of those three witnesses who testified before the Hearing Commission. We are truly encouraged by the attention given to the overall issues and concerns by members of the commission, including the personal safety and security of the three witnesses.

We take this opportunity to convey our deepest thanks and gratitude to all concerned members of the United States Congress, Senators, staff, and Madame Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, for listening to The Plea for Help concerning issues such as land evictions, poor governance, corruption, the non-independency of Judicial system where bogus charges on defamation have been used to convicted and imprisoned any critics of the government. Such practices have resulted in many journalists either been threatened, killed and/or jailed, including the closing of independent newspapers. Elected members of parliament can be easily stripped of their immunity by a rubber-stamp parliament at a wink of the Prime Minister request.

America is the champion of human rights and democracy. As Cambodian Americans, we are inspired by the American people who have fought for democratic principles, human rights and rule of law. We share the same values, as democrats and we wish to see Cambodia on the right track to democracy to actually adhere to the principles and values of which it has signed and committed itself to in the Paris Peace Accord, not simply through lip-services. Too many injustices have gone unchallenged, and too many courageous lives, pro-democracy activists, have perished or gone into hiding for trying to advance our ideal. We do not want a facade of it, but a real genuine democracy.

Therefore, we are petitioning this to respectfully urge you as respective member of the United States Representatives, Secretary of States, to help ensure that Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government respect the signed treaty outlined in the Paris Peace Accords, and make correction to end their judicial practices of silencing the dissident voices - respecting and upholding the Cambodian peoples fundamental rights of freedoms.

Petition Overview

As an American Cambodian origin, we are writing to express our appreciation for your support of the on-going democratic process in Cambodia and to highlight some of the vital actions that were implemented by the current ruling government of Cambodia.

The current government has brought so many negative changed to Cambodia. Here is lists of some of the unethical actions of the current government in Cambodia that I believe are must mentioning:

The Paris Peace Agreement in 1991: The primary objective of this agreement should be the advancement of the Cambodian nation and people, without discrimination or prejudice, and with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedom for all. The Cambodian current government have not fully implemented this Paris Peace Accord which agreed and signed by: Secretary General of the United Nations, the United States of the America and 18 other countries of which Cambodia was presented by 4 parties to the agreement, namely FUNCINPEC, KPNLF, PDA and CPP.

The Judiciary System: Out of its conviction to justice, the government has not established an independent court system that works for the people. In todays Cambodia, justice is not served for every citizen; innocent people get penalized for a crime and high ranking government is above the law.

The Parliamentary System: The government has no truly representative parliamentary system comprised of members elected directly by the people and responsible to the people.

The Freedom of Speech: Not consistent with the constitution to materialize, the government has not given people rights to speak the truth about their immoral characterizations. If someone does exercise these rights, he/she will get conviction of defamation and will be prosecuted. The freedom of speech is a milestone underachievement for the people of Cambodia.

The Human Rights: Cambodian citizens, politicians and journalists critical of the government face violence and intimidation and are barred from equal access to the broadcast media. In addition, the judiciary remains weak and subject to political influence.

The Force Evictions: Recently, the evictions were carried out without proper compensation to the villagers instead with excessive force by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, military police and civilian police officers armed with guns and lethal weapons. Such as inhumane evictions in Cambodia have caused thousands of families to lose their land, homes and livelihoods, and left them destitute.