UPDATED: Human rights activists cases still "under investigation"

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From Monovithya Kem by way of Phatry D. Pan

Please contact monovithyakem@yahoo.com for more information.


Hi there,

I'm Monovithya, Mitty You gave me your telephone number. She may have informed you already about the arrest of my father, Kem Sokha, and others. Please read the article below if you're not aware of the situation.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4572208.stm

The followings are what I am working on with a group of Cambodian American (and everyone else who's concerned) regarding my father's case. We need everyone's contribution, please contact me if you have any questions. Any help from you is much appreciated. Maybe you can pass this on to Cambodian American college students across the U.S. if you have the contacts. What they can do is writing to their congressman, senator, and other appropriate people to condemn the arrests and ask for their realease.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Monovithya Kem

Action Items:

1) Notify all Cambodian-Americans and American friends about Kem Sokha by email, phone and Internet. A UCIC website with daily updates, action being taken and contact as well as background info needs to be created.

Person in Charge: Everyone
Date due: Jan 9, 2006

2) Draft a letter to Congressional Contacts and supporters Re:
b) Informing them of Kem Sokha's (K.S.) recent arrest and situation/plight
c) include bio/write-up or info on K.S. -- (daughters should do this ASAP)
d) Ask them to call on President Bush, Congress and UN to pressure Hun Sen to release political prisoners and open dialogue for Democracy in Cambodia
e) Ask for support of UCIC Resolutions
f) Ask for meetings with Congressional and White House aides to discuss issue and wants
g) Ask for meeting with Members of US House and Senate with K.S. daughters and UCIC leaders to show support for K.S. and democracy in Cambodia.
Person in Charge: Warren Anderson
Date Due: Jan 4th, 2006

3) Hold a "Weekend of Prayer for Democracy in Cambodia" from Jan 13 -15th, 2006.
a) Fri 13th Jan Candle light Vigils. Main one in front of White House. Others in front of UN, State Capitols or City Halls around US.
b) Sat 14th Jan Hold Prayer Vigil for Democracy in Cambodia in Cambodian Temples around the US. Invite local press, dignitaries, American friends and politicians. Write letters or postcards to be sent to Pres Bush and politicians. Examples will be given.
c) Sun 15th Jan hold Prayer Vigil for Democracy in Cambodia in Cambodian churches. Same events/set up as in Temples.
d) A contact person is needed for each church and temple
e) Press releases will be written and sent out to all press
f) state and federal officials will be identified for invitations and letters of support will be requested (for KS and Cambodian democracy)
g) identify and invite other human rights groups/democracy advocates to all events (local, state and national chapters)
h) Put together a 10-15 min dvd about Cambodia, KS and his work for democracy in Cambodia. KS 's daughters should be the voice and face for the dvd. Pass it to press and show at Temples and churches.
Person in Charge: Venerable Monk and Sukry Path, with help from Warren Anderson. Also one person in charge of each state, Temple and Church in the US.
Date due: Jan 5th 2006

4) Put together a Bio/history of KS and Cambodia spoken and read by KS's daughters. Work with IRI, Congressional leaders and friends to try to get the daughters on "the News Hour", Larry King, Oprah Winfry, morning talk shows, VOA, Fox News shows, CNN, etc.

Theme - Cambodia was abandoned 30 years ago, suffered through Pol Pot and the Killing Fields and is still suffering under a Communist dictator. Please don't abandon Cambodia again, now that its people have leaders willing to stand up and fight for democracy through peaceful means.
Person in Charge: KS's daughters with help from Ven. Monk, Suykry and Warren
Date Due: Jan 5th

5) Contact Ambassador Boschwitz Re: UN Democracy and Human Rights Commission.
a) set up meeting and strategize.
Person in Charge: Warren Anderson
Date Due: Contact by Jan 3rd, 2006

6) Contact all local political/elected leaders representing communities with Cambodian Americans.
a) get member info to Suykry Path.
b) Warren will find political/elected leader info
c) Local Cambodians will contact the elected and political leaders in their area.
Person in Charge: Ven. Monk, Suykry and Warren
Due Date: Jan 9, 2006

[Message last modified 02-07-2006 11:52pm by phatry]

 Updated Jan 5, 2006

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From Monovithya Kem by way of Phatry D. Pan

Please contact monovithyakem@yahoo.com for more information.

A group of 15 NGOs followed by media went to meditate and free birds in front of Preysor Prison, where our activists detained, in the morning of Jan 7th.

On Jan 12th, all NGOs will march to the Royal Palace appealing to the King for the release of our activists bringing with them signed petition from the people of Cambodia(Cambodian Center for Human Rights are collecting). They plan to march every Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands are signing CCHR's petition demanding the release of Kem Sokha and others. Once all signatures collected, CCHR will send the petition to all embassies, local and international press etc.

A press conference for Mrs. Kem Sokha is being planned in Bangkok.

CCHR activities resume as usual, the public forums are still being held. The staff and the participants are more active than ever.

Also the followings are updates on our 6 points:

As of Thru, January 5, 2006 we have:
1) Met w/Sen. Coleman’s St Paul office to express our concern and make them aware of the situation.
2) Have 15 Cambodian Buddhist Temples around the US set for the nation-wide Cambodian Prayer Day of Jan. 14, 2006.
3) A bio of Kem Sokha.
4) A website name freesokha.com. Should be up by evening of the 6th.
5) Have permit and plan for a “Candle – Light Vigil” in front of the White House on Jan. 13, 2006. 50 plus expected in attendance.
6) Have delivered the UCIC Resolutions passed Dec. ’05 to Sen. Coleman and Cong. Kennedy. Have requested Cong. Kennedy to sponsor the Resolution in the House.
7) Contacted Ambassador Boschwitz and are trying to set up a meeting.
Going forward we are asking for:
1) Both Cong. Kennedy and Sen. Coleman sponsor the UCIC Resolution passed at our meeting in Dec. ’05. We have made many valuable contacts in other Senate and House offices that are aware of the issues we are discussing.
2) Arrange a meeting between Sen. Coleman and Cong. Kennedy and State Dept officials on one side and the UCIC representatives and Kem Sokha’s daughter, Monovithya Kem, in D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 17th.
3) Help to get Warren Anderson, Suykry Path (both from MN) and the Venerable Monk, Yem Rithypol (from MA) invites/credentials to represent/observe opening ceremonies for the new US embassy in Phnom Penh on Jan. 17th, 2006.
Thank you all for your help and attention to this matter of great importance to our Cambodian-American friends.

[Message last modified 01-09-2006 10:56am by phatry]

 Updated: Candlelight Vigils

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From Monovithya Kem by way of Phatry D. Pan

Please contact monovithyakem@yahoo.com for more information.

United Cambodian International Council
ucic_speakers@yahoo.com


COMMUNITY COMMUNIQUE
6 January 2006


According to a Buddha’s Sutra:
Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world;
Through Loving-Kindness alone they cease;
This is an Eternal Law (The Dhammapada);

We Cambodian Americans, Buddhist Monks and Friends in major cities of the United States warmly invite All Our Fellow Khmer Compatriots and International Friends in America and the world over to join us on the Weekend of Great Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr., to Meditate and Pray for
Peace and Freedom for our Cambodian Civil and Human Rights Activists, who
have recently been arrested and imprisoned by the Hun Sen regime, on premises and schedules as listed below:

Candlelight Vigil and Appeal for Help
In front of the White House and US State Houses
Friday, 13 January 2006, 4:00-7:00pm

Loving-Kindness Ceremony
At major Buddhist Temples across America
Saturday, 14 January 2006, 9:30am-1:30pm-4:30pm

Prayer for Peace and Freedom
At some Churches in Cambodian-American Communities
Sunday, 15 January 2005, 10:00am-12:01pm



Please help invite and bring your families, friends, Representatives, Senators and other Public Officials to this unprecedented/concerted Weekend of Prayer Meditation and for Peace and Freedom in Cambodia.

Attachment: Cambodian Buddhist Temples
Committed Cambodian Buddhist Temples for our Events:

(1) Wat TriRatanaram (Lowell), 21 Quigley Ave., N. Chelmsford, MA 01863,Tel. 1-978-251-2587
(Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable SAO Khon, UCIC contact person: __________

(2) Wat Sanghikaram (Lynn), 110 Chestnut St., Lynn, MA 01902,Tel. 1-781-595-7907
(Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable THON Suphon, UCIC contact person: ___________

(3) Wat Khmer Palilay (Phila.), 240 Greenwich St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, Tel. 1-215-339-5830
(Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable SEM Sakhoeun, UCIC contact person: ___________

(4) Wat Khmer KampucheaKrom, 10505 Kettle Run Rd., Nockesville, VA 20181, Tel. 1-703-594-2174
(Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable THACH Suon, UCIC contact person: __________

(5) Wat Khmer Trigoda Jothi-gnano Chuon Nath, 1720 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026,Tel. 213-413-3321
(Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable CONG Sophan, UCIC contact person: _________
(6) Wat Dhammacakkaram, 8180 Windsor Dr., Mechenicsville, VA 23111, Tel. 1-804-730-3946
(TBA), Chief Monk: Venerable KIM Kang, UCIC contact person: ____________

(7) Wat Suvannkiry, 3864 52nd Street, San Diego, CA 92105, Tel. 1-619-280-7633
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable PRUM Khean, UCIC contact person: _________

(8) Wat Buddha Mondal Rangsey, 595 Weld County Rd. #7, Erie, CO 80516, Tel. 1-720-890-7290
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable ROUNG Mony, UCIC contact person: ____________

(9) Wat Dhammikaram, 177 Hanover St., Providence, RI 0207, Tel. 1-401-2724641
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable MEY Ros, UCIC contact person: _____________

(10) Wat SamakkiDhammikaram, 26 Rugby Rd., Brooklyn, NY 11226, Tel. 1-718-856-8918
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable LONG Mean, UCIC contact person: ____________

(11) Wat Khemarak Rangsey, 1601 Cunningham Ave, San Jose, CA 95122, Tel. (408) 923-2166
(Time: 6:00pm), Abbot: Venerable THACH Berong, UCIC contact person: _______________

(12) Wat BuddhasassanaRansey, 2533 Valentine Ave., Fresno, CA 93722, Tel. 1-209-276-2901
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm) Abbot: Venerable Noun, UCIC contact person: ______________

(13) Wat Munisotaram, 2925 220th Street E., Hampton, MN 55031, Tel. 1-651-463-3101
(TBA)
(14) Wat Dhammavisudddhikaram, 5032nd Ave. S.W., Rochester, MN 55902, Tel. 1-507-281-4808
(TBA)
(15) Wat New Town Rataram, 145 Boggs Hill Rd., Newtown, CT 06470, Tel. 1-203-270-1404
(Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable……, President: Mr. ME Pon , UCIC contact person:______
And more…

Sunday, 15 January 2006:
Other Community Temples and/or Churches? (TBA)

Please visit UCIC website: ucicweb.org.

[Message last modified 01-09-2006 11:08pm by phatry]

 Website Launched

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freesokha.com is finally up and running. Updates are made regularly. Please help spread the site. -P-

[Message last modified 01-09-2006 11:09pm by phatry]

Thanks, Phatry, for the site! I'd spread it to as many my friends as possible.

Yeah thanks again Phatry, I'll send those sites to my 2 or 3 Khmer friends I have. It should also be a "campaign to free Cambodia"

____________________________________
I'm a hater, yup.

Get the Cambodian Freedom Fighters to go free them. Or hire American mercenaries.

____________________________________
This is the year!

Updated: 1/11/2006

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From Monovithya Kem by way of Phatry D. Pan

For more information please contact monovithyakem@yahoo.com

On December 31st the Cambodian authorities arrested two leading human rights activists including Kem Sokha, Director of the Cambodia Center of Human Rights on charges of defaming the government. With these arrests the government has now jailed or issued arrest warrants for nine leading human rights and democracy advocates. The government has systematically attacked the pillars of democracy by targeting the leading activists for trade unions, human rights, free media, legal rights and democracy.

Please join IRI for a briefing on Thursday, January 12 from 10:30-11:30, to discuss these recent events, and a possible coordinated response from the international community.

International Republican Institute
7th Floor
1225 Eye Street, NW
10:30-11:30
Light refreshments will be served.


Please email me your rsvp.
Stacie Loucks
Resident Program Officer - Cambodia
International Republican Institute
202-408-9450 – Washington DC office

[Message last modified 01-12-2006 09:15am by phatry]

 Updated 1/10/2006

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PRESS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 10, 2006

PRESS CONTACT:
WARREN ANDERSON
(651)210-5738 WNAJR@AOL.COM

PRESS ADVISORY: FREE KEM SOKHA

U.S.A., JANUARY 10, 2006 - Kem Sokha, noted Cambodian human rights and democracy advocate and president of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, was arrested December 31, 2005 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The reason for this travesty of justice: a banner held at the December 10, 2005 Human Rights Day rally in Phnom Penh allegedly accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of illegally selling Cambodian land to Vietnam. Sokha is currently being held in a notorious prison outside Phnom Penh in a cell with common criminals.

"We Cambodians in America are concerned that Hun Sen is working to kill democracy by silencing those brave enough to stand up to his bully tactics and gang of thugs," stated Suykry Path, Co-Chair of the "United Cambodian International Council" (UCIC), an umbrella group of Cambodians and their organizations from France, Canada, Australia and the United States. "We call on Cambodians everywhere to get in touch with the governments and leaders in their adopted countries for the defense of freedom, human rights and democracy in Cambodia. We call for the immediate release of Kem Sokha and the other political prisoners Hun Sen is trying to silence,"urged Path.

Free Kem Sokha activities are being spearheaded around the United States and the World. Cambodian - Americans, as well as concerned American friends, have set the weekend of January 13 - 14 for two days of prayer and action for Kem Sokha and all the people of democracy starved Cambodia. Activities include:

January 13, 2006 - Washington, D.C. from 4pm - 7pm. Candlelight prayer
vigil for Kem Sokha in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave.
Buddhist Monks to lead prayers.
January 14, 2006 - Across the United States – Loving-Kindness Ceremony
at major Buddhist Temples, Including the following:
Wat TriRatanaram ( Lowell ), 21 Quigley Ave., N. Chelmsford , MA 01863
,Tel. 1-978-251-2587 (Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable
SAO Khon.

Wat Sanghikaram ( Lynn ), 110 Chestnut St . , Lynn , MA 01902 ,Tel.
1-781-595-7907 (Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable THON Suphon.

Wat Khmer Palilay (Phila.), 240 Greenwich St. , Philadelphia , PA
19147 , Tel. 1-215-339-5830 (Time: 9:30am to 1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable
SEM Sakhoeun.

Wat Khmer KampucheaKrom, 10505 Kettle Run Rd. , Nockesville , VA 20181
, Tel. 1-703-594-2174 (Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable
THACH Suon.

Wat Khmer Trigoda Jothi-gnano Chuon Nath, 1720 Beverly Blvd. , Los
Angeles , CA 90026 ,Tel. 213-413-3321 (Time: 1:30pm-4:30pm), Chief
Monk: Venerable CONG Sophan.

Wat Dhammacakkaram, 8180 Windsor Dr. , Mechenicsville , VA 23111 ,
Tel. 1-804-730-3946 (TBA), Chief Monk: Venerable KIM Kang.

Wat Suvannkiry, 3864 52 nd Street , San Diego , CA 92105 , Tel.
1-619-280-7633 (Time: 9:30am-
1:30pm), Chief Monk: Venerable PRUM Khean.

Wat Buddha Mondal Rangsey, 595 Weld County Rd. #7, Erie, CO 80516,
Tel. 1-720-890-7290 (Time:9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable ROUNG Mony.

Wat Dhammikaram, 177 Hanover St. , Providence , RI 0207, Tel.
1-401-2724641 (Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable MEY Ros.

Wat SamakkiDhammikaram, 26 Rugby Rd. , Brooklyn , NY 11226 , Tel.
1-718-856-8918 (Time:9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable LONG Mean.

Wat Khemarak Rangsey, 1601 Cunningham Ave , San Jose , CA 95122 , Tel.
(408) 923-2166 (Time: 6:00pm), Abbot: Venerable THACH Berong.

Wat BuddhasassanaRansey, 2533 Valentine Ave. , Fresno , CA 93722 ,
Tel. 1-209-276-2901 (Time: 9:30am-1:30pm) Abbot: Venerable Noun.

Wat Munisotaram, 2925 220 th Street E. , Hampton , MN 55031 , Tel.
1-651-463-3101 (TBA)

Wat Dhammavisudddhikaram, 5032 nd Ave. S.W. , Rochester , MN 55902 ,
Tel. 1-507-281-4808 (TBA)

Wat New Town Rataram, 145 Boggs Hill Rd. , Newtown , CT 06470 , Tel.
1-203-270-1404 (Time: 9:30am-1:30pm), Abbot: Venerable, President: Mr.
ME Pon.

Those attending the Loving-Kindness Ceremony at the Temples will be asked to write letters to their Senators and Members of Congress. Local government leaders and elected officials have been and will be invited to attend at each Temple.

"I am encouraged by these efforts made by Cambodians in America and around the world," stated Monovithya Kem, Kem Sokha's oldest daughter, here in the United States. "On the day I left Cambodia to bring my younger sister to school in America, our father was arrested. Since then the Cambodian community here and around the world have made my sister and I here and my mother in Cambodia feel certain that my father and his fight for democracy in Cambodia is not and will not be forgotten."

Miss Kem is leading the struggle for her fathers freedom through meetings and discussions with Cambodian communities here in the U.S. and around the world. Monovithya is also involved in lobbying members of the U.S. Congress, many friends and acquaintances of her father, Kem Sokha, through his struggle for freedom and democracy in Cambodia.

More information and an update of activities may be found at http://www.freesokha.com and http://www.ucicweb.org.

 sad...

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nothing going on in Long Beach. Really sad

Someone in Long Beach should do something.

From: Mabbeskal (Kal) Man

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quote:

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Dear Cambodian-American friends,

Now that you all know how important Kem Sokha is for Cambodia, he is worth every single minute of our time and effort to be spent to help liberate him from this communist-Vietnamese-styled and deadly prison of Hun Sen.

Please spread the words to your friends and do your utmost to reach out to your CONGRESSMAN IN YOUR DISTRICT and BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS IN YOUR STATE by writing them or go to meet them in their offices ( the best way), using a group of people, or an organization, if you have one, or at least your oneself. To find the names of your Congressman and Senators, use the following link: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/index.html

You can write your own letter or you can use the model letter that we provide, here attached, for this very purpose. The more Congressmen and Senators we contact the better the chance to help Kem Sokha get out of jail alive.

His wife, daughter, and sister called us today and are asking all Cambodian-Americans for their strong support to do the above to help their husband, father. With tears, they said "please help him. He is innocent"

Dearest compatriots, how can we ignore Kem Sokha family's cries for help? We don't think you can. But, if you cannot do it yourself, for some reason, please look for another friend of yours who are Cambodian-Americans to do it for you and for the sake of Cambodia.

And, if you do take action as per our request, it is important that you inform us of which state you are in and which Congressmen and Senators you have contacted.

Also, It is highly recommended to write Amnesty International by going to the following web site: http://web.amnesty.org/contacts/index/eng-000

Warmest regards,


Mr. Naranhkiri Tith, P.H.D. (user344111@aol.com)

Mr. Kal Man (mabskl@comcast.net or mabskl@aol.com or senhuonman@yahoo.com)

Miss Veronica Ngi (vn4alpha@yahoo.com)





Important Notice.: If you are not in the USA, please work with your own government of your adopted country, but please also contact your friends or families in the US (US is very important). Just in case we could not reach to all of them, please send us all their email addresses for future contact messages from us or tell them to email us. If you see emails sent to you that are not the following mabskl@comcast.net, mabskl@aol.com, senghuonman@yahoo.com, user344111@aol.com, they are not from us. In case of any doubt, you can contact us any time. We welcome any input in regard to helping Cambodia. We will reply back to you in due time according to our time and availability. If anyone who do not want to be in this emailing list, please let us know and we will remove your name of the list. Thank you for your patience and constant support.

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this is the attached letter:

quote:

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January 3, 2006

To: US Congress, US Senate, and all elected officials

We write to inform you and urge your intervention to save the life of a prominent human rights activist and defender of democratic principles in Cambodia, Mr. Kem Sokha. He was arrested at the Cambodian Center of Human Rights (CCHR), where he served as chairman, on December 31, 2005 on charges of defamation against the government. This is another outrageous demonstration of the Hun Sen government’s continued oppression of the people’s fundamental rights and liberties.

The United States as the most vocal advocate of democracy and human rights in the world must condemn, in the strongest terms, Cambodian dictator Hun Sen for his practice of silencing dissident voices or there will be more tragic loss of democratic proponents, including Mr. Kem Sokha. In fact, a few months ago journalist Mam Sonando and President of the Cambodian Independent Teacher’s Association, Rong Chhun, were arrested and jailed. In prior years (2003-2004), a number of leading democratic proponents were gunned down. A deteriorating and dangerous political environment such as this greatly strains Cambodia’s emerging and very fragile democracy.

We firmly believe that the United States must take a more visible and forceful role to fight to stop this trend to protect democratic forces for basic freedom and real change in Cambodia. If the political environment is not conducive to real democratic progress, substantial social and economic development cannot occur. Cambodia is badly in need of structural reform at all levels, especially in governance. A government by popular consent through the use of intimidation and violence will dampen any hope for genuine and sustainable development.

Your help is urgently needed! This is consistent with the U.S. administration’s highly proclaimed democracy-promotion policies to free people from terror and tyranny imposed by governments, such as Hun Sen and his government.

Sincerely,

---

____________________________________

nothing goin on? why is it that as capable human beings we wait for others to lead when we ourselves see the need in the effort? are we too lazy to be involved in the independance and freedom of our motherland that we'd rather wait to see than to take action when the need arises? philoflora, i've seen your pix from cambodia and i know you love that country. do something! lb has the largest freaking population outside cambodia and no one is doing anything to support the guys being jailed!? it's an outrage! pathetic.

quote:

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Originally posted by philoflora
nothing going on in Long Beach. Really sad

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Isn't most of the KC members are from LB? Why don you guys do something?

quote:

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Originally posted by ENCORE
nothing goin on? why is it that as capable human beings we wait for others to lead when we ourselves see the need in the effort? are we too lazy to be involved in the independance and freedom of our motherland that we'd rather wait to see than to take action when the need arises? philoflora, i've seen your pix from cambodia and i know you love that country. do something! lb has the largest freaking population outside cambodia and no one is doing anything to support the guys being jailed!? it's an outrage! pathetic.

quote:

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Originally posted by philoflora
nothing going on in Long Beach. Really sad

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Saturday, January 14th, 2006 @ 22:48 UTC Daughters of Jailed Cambodian Human Rights Activist Fight for Freedom of Expression

Photos courtesy of Warren Anderson, UCIC

Kem Monovithya, 24, and Kem Samathida, 18, the daughters of imprisoned Human Rights activist Kem Sokha are in the US and working with Cambodian Americans to garner support for their father’s release and to call attention to the crackdown on freedom of expression and democracy in Cambodia.

On December 31, 2005, Kem Sohka, Cambodian Center for Human Rights‘ director, and Yeng Virak, head of the Community Legal Education Center, were arrested for allegedly defaming the government in connection with a banner displayed on International Human Rights Day. So far, five individuals, either journalists, trade unionists, or prominent human rights activists have been arrested based on complaints filed by the government or its leaders. Most relate directly to opinions expressed about Prime Minister Hun Sen of the dominant Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), and criticisms over sensitive border issues with neighboring Vietnam.

Critics, including the United States, the United Nations, World Bank and international human rights groups , have condemned the government’s actions and said they show Cambodia, under Hun Sen’s rule, is becoming more authoritarian than democratic.

While their father was being taken to Prey Sar prison, Kem’s daughters were en route by jet to the United States where they attend school. They did not know of the arrest until they arrived in Washington, DC where the younger daughter Samathida will begin classes on January 17th.

A Candlight Vigil was held in front of the White House last night organized by an umbrella organization, United Cambodian International Council (UCIC), made up of many Cambodian diaspora groups. Monovithya Kem was one of the featured speakers and updated the audience on her father’s condition in prison. The United Cambodian International Council (UCIC) co-chairs, Suykry Path from Minnesota and the Venerable Monk Rithipol of Massachusetts, also made remarks.

“I am encouraged by these efforts made by Cambodians in America and around the world,” said Monovithya Kem. "I feel certain that my father and his fight for democracy in Cambodia is not and will not be forgotten.”

Today, Loving-Kindness Ceremonies ("Bon Psay Meta" in Cambodian) were held at major Buddhist Temples across America. I reached Kem Sokha’s younger daughter, Samathida, by phone who told me that she was touched by support she and her sister are receiving from Cambodian Americans and others.

She went on to say that her father’s arrest is very wrong. "Cambodian people have brains, they think and they want to be able to speak their minds. But, if the government doesn’t like what you say, you are put in jail. We are voiceless in our own country." She urged those who care about freedom of expression to put pressure on the Cambodian government to release her father and all those who have been jailed. "Please do not abandon Cambodia."

The two daughters will meet with U.S. Representatives and Senators in Washington, D.C. tommorrow to make a personal appeal and deliver letters of support from the Cambodian NGOS, Cambodian Americans, and others.

Perhaps they will start a blog to continue to tell their story and plead for their father’s release and demand freedom of expression in Cambodia.

Beth Kanter

Breaking News!

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Free at last, free at last!!!

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/jan/1290483.htm

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=73743

Great

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I am glad something can be done, even if its bail.

I just heard that Khem Sokha and a few others have been freed. That's good news.

____________________________________
licadho.org/campaign

As a 'gift' huh.. how very generous of him ..really

____________________________________

he shouldn't be jailed for defamation charge in the first place!