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Showing posts with label Ou Sovann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ou Sovann. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
ភូមិខ្មែរ now officiated
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
New Cambodian consulate .. or new CPP-money-making consultants? Ou Sovann the CPP spy in Lowell?
Cambodian consulate office, Lowell, Massachusetts.Opposition Worries Over New Consulate
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
04 May 2009
With the new consulate in Lowell, Massachusetts, open just a week, opposition party supporters in the US said they were concerned the facility would not provide enough services for Cambodians and could be used instead to serve the ruling party.
Un Sokhom, an activist for the Sam Rainsy Party in Lowell, said the consulate was likely going to be used to open doors for businesses that would earn money for the Cambodian People’s Party.
“The establishment of the Cambodian consulate in Lowell is a chance and to open a door to suck the Cambodian and Cambodian-Americans’ money in order to support the ruling party in Cambodia,” he said.
Visa fees for foreign tourists are $20, business visas $25 and fees for pilots and crew $15. No visa fees are collected from diplomats, non-governmental organization staff, children under 12 and returning Cambodians. The consulate also earns money from passports and certificates of birth, marriage and death.
Un Sokhom said the consul-general, Ou Sovann, who was once a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, could be sending information on opposition supporters back to the CPP.
“Sam Rainsy Party activists both new and old are strongly concerned that Ou Sovann, consul-general, could report about people’s biographies who have political leanings to the opposition party in Cambodia, and he could report about Sam Rainsy’s activists activity in America,” he said.
During the run-up and aftermath of last year’s national election, the Sam Rainsy Party saw a raft of supporters declare allegiance to the CPP, which handily won the election.
Ou Sovann said he would work as consul under guidelines from the Cambodian government, and he denied prejudice of people or political parties.
“I don’t discriminate who is who, or any political party, at all, but only need to complete my duties as an official for Cambodian consulate affairs,” he said.
Another Sam Rainsy Party activist in Lowell, Long Chamreun, told VOA Khmer that he supported the establishment of the Cambodian consulate, but he suggested that the Cambodian consul and the Cambodian ambassador in Washington needed to accept protesters’ demands and report them to the Cambodian government.
“It is good because there are many Cambodian people living” in Lowell, he said. “But we have seen so far that in every protest in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Cambodian ambassador has never come out to meet the protesters or brought their appeals and demand letters to the Cambodian leader. I think if they dare to report this, the government in Cambodia would withdraw them from their positions in the US. I think to open this consulate is good so that we can do the protests in the future, because we have full freedom for demonstration.”
Sam Rainsy Party’s president for North America, Chea Kimly, told VOA Khmer that his party does not oppose the Lowell consulate or the defection of Ou Sovann, but he wants to see the new consulate work without political discrimination.
“There is nothing wrong if they really serve the people, but we want to see that service without political discrimination and without service only to some individuals or only one specific political party,” he said.
The Lowell consulate opened April 26, and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said at the opening ceremony the government hoped to have another, in Long Beach, Calif., in the near future.
Un Sokhom, an activist for the Sam Rainsy Party in Lowell, said the consulate was likely going to be used to open doors for businesses that would earn money for the Cambodian People’s Party.
“The establishment of the Cambodian consulate in Lowell is a chance and to open a door to suck the Cambodian and Cambodian-Americans’ money in order to support the ruling party in Cambodia,” he said.
Visa fees for foreign tourists are $20, business visas $25 and fees for pilots and crew $15. No visa fees are collected from diplomats, non-governmental organization staff, children under 12 and returning Cambodians. The consulate also earns money from passports and certificates of birth, marriage and death.
Un Sokhom said the consul-general, Ou Sovann, who was once a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, could be sending information on opposition supporters back to the CPP.
“Sam Rainsy Party activists both new and old are strongly concerned that Ou Sovann, consul-general, could report about people’s biographies who have political leanings to the opposition party in Cambodia, and he could report about Sam Rainsy’s activists activity in America,” he said.
During the run-up and aftermath of last year’s national election, the Sam Rainsy Party saw a raft of supporters declare allegiance to the CPP, which handily won the election.
Ou Sovann said he would work as consul under guidelines from the Cambodian government, and he denied prejudice of people or political parties.
“I don’t discriminate who is who, or any political party, at all, but only need to complete my duties as an official for Cambodian consulate affairs,” he said.
Another Sam Rainsy Party activist in Lowell, Long Chamreun, told VOA Khmer that he supported the establishment of the Cambodian consulate, but he suggested that the Cambodian consul and the Cambodian ambassador in Washington needed to accept protesters’ demands and report them to the Cambodian government.
“It is good because there are many Cambodian people living” in Lowell, he said. “But we have seen so far that in every protest in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Cambodian ambassador has never come out to meet the protesters or brought their appeals and demand letters to the Cambodian leader. I think if they dare to report this, the government in Cambodia would withdraw them from their positions in the US. I think to open this consulate is good so that we can do the protests in the future, because we have full freedom for demonstration.”
Sam Rainsy Party’s president for North America, Chea Kimly, told VOA Khmer that his party does not oppose the Lowell consulate or the defection of Ou Sovann, but he wants to see the new consulate work without political discrimination.
“There is nothing wrong if they really serve the people, but we want to see that service without political discrimination and without service only to some individuals or only one specific political party,” he said.
The Lowell consulate opened April 26, and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said at the opening ceremony the government hoped to have another, in Long Beach, Calif., in the near future.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Massachusetts Cambodians To Get Honorary Consul
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
10 March 2009
Original report from Washington
10 March 2009
The US government has green-lighted the establishment of a consulate for Cambodia in Lowell, Mass., home to around 35,000 Cambodians.
Ou Svoan (? Sovan?), currently an adviser the Cambodian Embassy, will be named as honorary consul, Kouy Koung, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told VOA Khmer.
“The opening of more Cambodian consulates, such as in Lowell, Massachusetts, demonstrates more strength and more solid cooperation in every field” with the US, he said. “This honorary consulate will not only help Cambodian interests over there [in Lowell], but it is also make a good bilateral relationship.”
An official, for East Asia Pacific Affairs at the US State Department, confirmed the consul decision, made at the request of the Cambodian government, calling it “an appropriate part” of a bilateral relationship.
Cambodia has a consulate in operation in Seattle, Washington, where around 15,000 Cambodians live. It had a second consulate Long Beach, Calif., home to the highest number of Cambodians in the US, around 50,000, which Kouy Koung said the government was considering opening again.
The opening of a consulate in Lowell should have happened “a long time ago,” Lowell resident and former city council member Oung Rithy told VOA Khmer. “There are so many Cambodians living in Lowell.”
The honorary consul in Lowell should be a person who is able to press for Cambodian interests in America, he added, and “should be a person who dares to speak, dares to question, dares to question and to challenge.”
Cambodians traditionally “soften” for foreigners in discussions or challenges, “so this even lets the foreigner look down on our Khmer people,” he said. “A person who comes to work in this position should know his or her duty clearly and should have good English as well.”
Ou Svoan (? Sovan?), currently an adviser the Cambodian Embassy, will be named as honorary consul, Kouy Koung, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told VOA Khmer.
“The opening of more Cambodian consulates, such as in Lowell, Massachusetts, demonstrates more strength and more solid cooperation in every field” with the US, he said. “This honorary consulate will not only help Cambodian interests over there [in Lowell], but it is also make a good bilateral relationship.”
An official, for East Asia Pacific Affairs at the US State Department, confirmed the consul decision, made at the request of the Cambodian government, calling it “an appropriate part” of a bilateral relationship.
Cambodia has a consulate in operation in Seattle, Washington, where around 15,000 Cambodians live. It had a second consulate Long Beach, Calif., home to the highest number of Cambodians in the US, around 50,000, which Kouy Koung said the government was considering opening again.
The opening of a consulate in Lowell should have happened “a long time ago,” Lowell resident and former city council member Oung Rithy told VOA Khmer. “There are so many Cambodians living in Lowell.”
The honorary consul in Lowell should be a person who is able to press for Cambodian interests in America, he added, and “should be a person who dares to speak, dares to question, dares to question and to challenge.”
Cambodians traditionally “soften” for foreigners in discussions or challenges, “so this even lets the foreigner look down on our Khmer people,” he said. “A person who comes to work in this position should know his or her duty clearly and should have good English as well.”
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sunday, June 08, 2008
SRP USA/Canada Press Release on some of the "alleged SRP defectors" from overseas
Sam Rainsy Party – USA/Canada
Date June 07,2008
Press Release
Within the last few days, local news scattered sporadically on the web and others in regard to Mr. Ou Sovann's defection from SRP to CPP. As members of SRP in USA and Canada, we fully respect his decision to choose political as his choice and we even wish him best for his new path. However, there are also amusing news regarding two unfamiliar individuals: Mr. Meas Marin and Mr. Hak Chan Sokhom, despite their past association with the SRPUSA/Canada, who had left and dismissed from SRP-USA/Canada for many years ago.
Virtually, they are unknown to many SRP members throughout US and Canada. To inflate their credibility, they recently claimed to be the important members of SRP-USA/Canada prior to joining CPP. As President of SRP-USA/Canada Chapter, I am compelling to clarify the truth and rectify the false claim of these individuals whether their defection will somehow affect the party in anyway.
(1) Mr. Ou Sovann, prior to his defection, was an active member of SRP State Chapter in Massachusetts, functioning in capacity as honorary president who held neither influence nor decision-making. Due to threat and persecution from CPP, SRP in Phnom Penh City helped him to flee Cambodia. In United States, claimed to be SRP member and assassination threat from CPP, he eventually gained legal political asylum and currently residing in Lowell, Massachusetts. Between 2004 and 2006, Mr. Ou Sovann was appointed as adviser to SRPUSA/Canada, yet he held no decision making. His term as advisor to SRP-USA/Canada was expired in 2006.
(2) Mr. Marin Meas was a former member who had abruptly left SRP-USA/Canada after failing to win SRP-USA/Canada presidency position in 2004. Rumor suggested that he later joined FUNCINPEC but failed to gain significant recognition from his new affiliation. Officially, he now becomes a CPP member. Despite his false claim, Mr. Meas Marin defected from a "party", but he certainly did defect from SRP since his membership was expired since 2004. The SRP-USA/Canada still retained original copy of his resignation.
(3) Mr. Hak Chan Sokhom was a former vice president of KNP (Khmer Nation Party) in West coast, California, who was dismissed from KNP due to his misconduct in late 1998. Later, he joined FUNCINPEC and was selected as FUNCINPEC reserve number two candidate in Kep district for the last term. Prior to joining CPP, he claimed to be prominent SRP member but failed to inform the public about his past affiliation with FUNCINPEC (The SRPUSA/Canada has a copy of Funcinpec's MP candidates or we can check with NEC to obtain a copy). Obviously, one can not claim to be a defector from a party that he or she does not belong to.
Despite their bogus claim, these defections have no negative impact upon the SRPUSA/Canada at all. Their attempts to falsify their positions and affiliation with SRPUSA/Canada are simply to show off and to entice the selection of CPP. The focus and direction of SRP-USA/Canada remain vibrant and strong regardless of these minor obstacles in our ways.
I have no comment in regard to false claims from Mr. Meas Marin and Mr. Hak Chan Sokhom since they were not member of SRP-USA/Canada. Nevertheless, in regard to Mr. Ou Sovann, as a former member of SRP-MA, we would like to thank him for taking his time and providing services to SRP throughout the past years. Despite our differences, we wish him best in his new endeavor with his new political party, CPP.
Virtually, they are unknown to many SRP members throughout US and Canada. To inflate their credibility, they recently claimed to be the important members of SRP-USA/Canada prior to joining CPP. As President of SRP-USA/Canada Chapter, I am compelling to clarify the truth and rectify the false claim of these individuals whether their defection will somehow affect the party in anyway.
(1) Mr. Ou Sovann, prior to his defection, was an active member of SRP State Chapter in Massachusetts, functioning in capacity as honorary president who held neither influence nor decision-making. Due to threat and persecution from CPP, SRP in Phnom Penh City helped him to flee Cambodia. In United States, claimed to be SRP member and assassination threat from CPP, he eventually gained legal political asylum and currently residing in Lowell, Massachusetts. Between 2004 and 2006, Mr. Ou Sovann was appointed as adviser to SRPUSA/Canada, yet he held no decision making. His term as advisor to SRP-USA/Canada was expired in 2006.
(2) Mr. Marin Meas was a former member who had abruptly left SRP-USA/Canada after failing to win SRP-USA/Canada presidency position in 2004. Rumor suggested that he later joined FUNCINPEC but failed to gain significant recognition from his new affiliation. Officially, he now becomes a CPP member. Despite his false claim, Mr. Meas Marin defected from a "party", but he certainly did defect from SRP since his membership was expired since 2004. The SRP-USA/Canada still retained original copy of his resignation.
(3) Mr. Hak Chan Sokhom was a former vice president of KNP (Khmer Nation Party) in West coast, California, who was dismissed from KNP due to his misconduct in late 1998. Later, he joined FUNCINPEC and was selected as FUNCINPEC reserve number two candidate in Kep district for the last term. Prior to joining CPP, he claimed to be prominent SRP member but failed to inform the public about his past affiliation with FUNCINPEC (The SRPUSA/Canada has a copy of Funcinpec's MP candidates or we can check with NEC to obtain a copy). Obviously, one can not claim to be a defector from a party that he or she does not belong to.
Despite their bogus claim, these defections have no negative impact upon the SRPUSA/Canada at all. Their attempts to falsify their positions and affiliation with SRPUSA/Canada are simply to show off and to entice the selection of CPP. The focus and direction of SRP-USA/Canada remain vibrant and strong regardless of these minor obstacles in our ways.
I have no comment in regard to false claims from Mr. Meas Marin and Mr. Hak Chan Sokhom since they were not member of SRP-USA/Canada. Nevertheless, in regard to Mr. Ou Sovann, as a former member of SRP-MA, we would like to thank him for taking his time and providing services to SRP throughout the past years. Despite our differences, we wish him best in his new endeavor with his new political party, CPP.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Hun Sen used the cases of Meas Marin and Ou Sovann to stir doubts about SRP’s ability to raise funds among overseas Cambodians
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Even though opposition leader Sam Rainsy claimed that the SRP financial condition and grass root base support face no problem, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek, President of the Licadho human rights organization, told The Mekong Times that: “The issue with the SRP is (1) the financial issue, if overseas SRP supporters overseas stop providing assistance, the SRP financial condition will decline because the local SRP supports do not have much money, but the overseas SRP supporters have money. (2) With the departure of these major party members, will they take with them supporters also or not? This is not clear yet, and we have to wait to see the actual results at the upcoming election.” Dr. Pung Chiv Kek said that those overseas defectors will not affect the votes, but it could only affect some financial support for the party only.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Meas Marin and Ou Sovann offered $500 and $100 each to buy into the CPP ... anybody willing to offer more for a "His Excellency" title?
Two Cambodian-American join the CPP
04 June 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
04 June 2008
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Hun Sen indicated that two Cambodian-American joined the CPP rank during the inauguration of a school on 04 June. Hun Sen said that the pair are Cambodians living in the US, and they were former advisor to the SRP for the USA and Canada. Hun Sen’s revelation adds to the list of 9 other SRP defectors who joined the CPP.
Hun Sen named the two men as being, Meas Marin, the son of Meas John, a VOA radio broadcaster, and Ou Sovann, the SRP advisor for the USA and Canada.
According to Hun Sen also, the pair offered a contribution to support the CPP and to rebuild the country. They have offered $500 and $100 each, respectively. “Money does not count, it comes from the heart. And with this, how can anybody say that the CPP buys its followers, didn’t they come on their own?” Hun Sen asked while indicating that he is expecting others to follow suit.
Hun Sen also indicated that that he will abstain from giving any speech during the month long election campaign, as he did in the past.
Hun Sen named the two men as being, Meas Marin, the son of Meas John, a VOA radio broadcaster, and Ou Sovann, the SRP advisor for the USA and Canada.
According to Hun Sen also, the pair offered a contribution to support the CPP and to rebuild the country. They have offered $500 and $100 each, respectively. “Money does not count, it comes from the heart. And with this, how can anybody say that the CPP buys its followers, didn’t they come on their own?” Hun Sen asked while indicating that he is expecting others to follow suit.
Hun Sen also indicated that that he will abstain from giving any speech during the month long election campaign, as he did in the past.
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